Jan Vineyard, President of the association, said, “The purpose of the Truck Driving Championship is to give trucking professionals the opportunity to test their driving and safety skills against their West Virginia peers. The competition mirrors what professional truck drivers must do day-in and day-out to maintain safety records unmatched by any other segment of the driving public.”

In addition to the driving competition, which included 42 professional truck drivers representing multiple West Virginia-based motor freight companies, the association recognized drivers for their 2015 safety accomplishments during an awards banquet Saturday evening.    

Vineyard said Paul R. Goldizen of Marlinton, WV, who drives for Burns Motor Freight, was honored with the WV Professional Driver of the Year Award.  Goldizen has driven over 2.8 million miles in his 31 year career with no accidents.   

Clarence S. Jenkins, Jr., who works for UPS Freight and is a Poca, West Virginia resident, was honored with the State Police Safety Award.  Jenkins has driven more than 5.2 million miles in his 45 year career with no accidents. He has won his class of competition at the WV Truck Driving Championships 17 times.  This is also the third time that Jenkins has been honored with the State Police Safety Award. 

Jeff Smith, a driver with XPO Logistics and a Cross Lanes, WV resident, earned the West Virginia Public Service Commission Driver of the Year Award.  Smith has driven for 26 years and has logged over 3 million miles with no accidents.  He has won a Million Mile award with XPO Logistics.  He is a Gulf War Veteran who served his country for eight years as an Army Ranger.

Other winners include:

First Place Straight Truck – Charles Randolph, Belle, WV; Pitt Ohio

First Place 3-Axle Tractor Semi-trailer – Tim Hodges, Hurricane, WV; UPS Freight

First Place 4-Axle Tractor Semi-trailer – Jay Thompson, Charleston, WV; UPS Freight

First Place 5-Axle Van – Joe Boyles, Grafton, WV; XPO Logistics

First Place Tank Truck – Nick Backes, Hurricane, WV; Pitt Ohio

First Place Flatbed – Kenneth Grimmett, Fayetteville, WV; XPO Logistics

First Place Twin Trailers – James Priddy, Charleston, WV; FedEx Freight

First Place Sleeper Berth – Clarence S. Jenkins, Jr., Poca, WV; UPS Freight

First Place Step Van – Robert Vance, Chapmanville, WV; FedEx Ground

Pre-Trip Inspection Award – Stephen Estep, Marmet, WV; FedEx Ground

Rookie of the Year:  Jeffrey E. Moore, Nitro, WV; FedEx Freight

Team Champion Award: UPS Freight

All first place drivers will compete in the American Trucking Associations’ National Truck Driving Championship – also known as the Super Bowl of Safety – taking place in Indianapolis, IN, August 10 – 13, 2016.