Roland Bolduc Crowned Grand Champion at 85th National Truck Driving Championships

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Roland Bolduc, a professional driver with FedEx Express, was named Bendix Grand Champion tonight at the conclusion of the 85th National Truck Driving and Step Van Driving Championships.

Bolduc, competing in the sleeper berth, bested a field of 408 drivers with nearly 730 million combined accident-free miles to claim the coveted title of Grand Champion at this year's Super Bowl of Safety.

"Congratulations to Roland and the great team at FedEx for being crowned Bendix Grand Champion," said American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear. "It has been a long road for these drivers to get here, and to emerge as the best of a truly elite group is a tremendous honor. Roland's commitment to safety and professionalism is an example of what this industry and this event are truly about."

This is Bolduc's second Bendix Grand Championship, having won the coveted title in 2017. A resident of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, he has more than 2.5 million safe driving miles in his more than 40-year-long career. Bolduc was named an America's Road Team Captain in 2000.

In addition, ATA crowned Tyler Tollefson, from FedEx Freight, as 2022 Rookie of the Year. To compete as an NTDC rookie, a driver must be a first-time competitor at their state competition who advanced to nationals. This year, there were 22 rookies competing at the National Truck Driving Championships.

ATA also recognized the state of North Carolina with the NTDC Team Championship, placing five drivers into the finals. New York finished second in the team competition and Connecticut finished third.

The National Truck Driving Championships are made possible by dozens of NTDC committee members and volunteers who judge the course, serve as liaisons to the drivers, conduct course walk-throughs and perform a number of other key tasks. As such, ATA and ATA's Safety Management Council honor one volunteer each year with the Sam Gillette Volunteer of the Year Award. This year's Sam Gillette Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Michelle Wells of the South Dakota Trucking Association.

In addition, Anthony Spero, a professional driver with ABF Freight System Inc., was recognized with the Neil Darmstadter Professional Excellence Award as the competitor "who most exemplifies all the best attributes of a professional truck driver."

"NTDC was a tremendous success thanks to all the drivers, staff and volunteers who made it happen," said ATA Chairman Harold Sumerford Jr., president of J&M Tank Lines Inc. "After two long years, it was great to be back and see this competition in person, getting to observe the professionalism and dedication to safety of these drivers was a great privilege."

Champions from each of the nine vehicle classes were also announced. Joining Bolduc on the list of national champions are:

Three-Axle Division   

Four-Axle Division

Five-Axle Division

Flatbed Division

Sleeper Berth Division                                               

Straight Truck Division                      

Tank Truck Division                          

Twins Division                                               

Step Van Division

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward

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SOURCE American Trucking Associations