Spain · U.S. · AI Safety · Fortune Technology
At the ‘Super Bowl of trucking,’ a driver who taught 14 years lands the golden belt buckle
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This summer has been full of competition: from Spain winning the World Cup, to the NBA finals where the Knicks saw a historic comeback, to now, where an event in which drivers across the country are putting pedal to the metal and competing in the National Truck Driving Championships, colloquially known as the “Super Bowl of trucking.”
Key facts
- Large trucks were involved in 5,218 fatal crashes in 2024, up 30% over the past decade, according to National Safety Council data
- This year’s competition saw 429 drivers from 49 states who have logged a combined total of nearly 775 million safe driving miles throughout their careers, which is over 31,000 circles around the earth
- For example, a loaded tractor trailer requires 20% to 40% more distance than cars to stop, according to data analyzed by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
- In 2024, large trucks accounted for nearly one in ten (9%) of all vehicles involved in a fatal crash, according to a National Safety Council study
Summary
“The entire motivation of this program is to make them better on the road and to continue to drive safe,” said Jacob Pierce, executive director of the American Trucking Associations’ Safety Management Council. In 2024, large trucks accounted for nearly one in ten (9%) of all vehicles involved in a fatal crash, according to a National Safety Council study.
Eric Ramsdell—a Walmart tank trunk driver who took first place in his division—said the championship reflects a responsibility that follows drivers on the road.