Truckers to compete for top driving award

July 18, 2006
Nearly 400 top professional truck drivers from all across the United States soon will be heading for New Orleans to compete in the 2006 National Truck Driving Championships to be held August 15 to 19 in New Orleans' Ernest N Morial Convention Center. The Super Bowl of Safety is hosted annually by American Trucking Associations.

Nearly 400 top professional truck drivers from all across the United States soon will be heading for New Orleans to compete in the 2006 National Truck Driving Championships to be held August 15 to 19 in New Orleans' Ernest N Morial Convention Center. The Super Bowl of Safety is hosted annually by American Trucking Associations.

The contestants are the state champions in eight truck classes from all 50 states. In their respective classes, from 18-wheeled five-axle sleepers to tank trucks to twin trailers to straight trucks and more, they will compete for four days, challenging their driving skills, and knowledge of safety, equipment and the industry. The skills course tests drivers' ability to judge distances, maneuver tight spaces, reverse, park, and position their vehicle exactly over scales, before barriers or around curves.

When it is all over on Saturday, August 19, a new National Grand Champion Truck Driver will be named, as well as individual class champions and a state champion team. Collectively, these drivers represent over 400 million accident-free miles of driving. The event annually attracts more than 100 volunteers and 2,000 cheering friends, family, colleagues and interested spectators. All indications show that 2006 in New Orleans will be no different.

For more information go to truckline.com.