The American Trucking Associations congratulated 427 professional truck drivers who qualified for the 2019 National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships.

“As we celebrate the 82nd National Truck Driving Championships, the passion and dedication of the competing truck drivers to their craft is no different than the first. The vehicles have changed, the safety training has improved and the stakes have grown, but the focus and precision among the field of competitors is something that comes naturally to the 427 participants and more than 3.5 million truck drivers throughout the country,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “Trucking and the American economy benefit greatly from the dedication of these men and women to their skill, and we wish them luck as they compete to be the 2019 National Truck Driving Championships Bendix Grand Champion.”

To qualify for the NTDCs, truck drivers must maintain a year of accident-free driving and win their vehicle class at the state-level truck driving championships. Professional truck drivers progress from the state championships to nationals, competing in eight classes of truck and one step van class. The competition consists of a written examination that tests drivers’ knowledge of trucking facts, rules, statistics and safety protocols; a pre-trip inspection that tests drivers’ ability to identify defects on the vehicle; and a challenging driving course that assesses precision and strategy.

The National Truck Driving Championships are taking place August 14-17 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Professional truck drivers will compete for the title of National Champion in the nine vehicle classes, with one driver taking home the overall title of 2019 National Truck Driving Championships Bendix Grand Champion.