Life On The Road

Lewis wins national truck driving title

Alphonso “Al” Lewis, a Roadway professional truck driver based in Montgomery, AL, was named the 2007 National Truck Driving Grand Champion. Lewis’ driving skills and knowledge of transportation and truck safety topped those of 377 other drivers from all across the U.S. in the National Truck Driving Champion-ships, held in Minneapolis, MN.
     Lewis has logged 21 accident- and injury-free years as a driver. Lewis is the first African-American winner in the 70-year history of the Championships.
     The 70th annual “Super Bowl of Safety” is sponsored by the ATA. The contestants were the state champions in eight truck types from all 50 states.
     In their respective classes, drivers tested their expertise in the driving skills they use daily. The competition challenged their know-ledge of safety, equipment and the industry. The skills course tested drivers’ ability to judge distances, maneuver tight spaces, re-verse, park and position their vehicle over scales, before barriers or around curves.
     Lewis also won the individual four-axle truck driving competition. Lewis succeeds Dale Duncan as the National Grand Champion. Duncan won this year’s Tank Truck division. Jason Matte, a five-axle driver for FedEx Freight from Pearl, MS was named 2007 Rookie of the Year.
     The top three finishers in each class:

Straight Truck Class:
1. Scott Watts, FedEx Express (Anchorage, AK), 2. Robert Crowder, Wilson Trucking Corporation (Eden, NC), 3. Leroy Williams Sr., Con-way Freight (Zachary, LA)

3-Axle Class:
1. John Hazlett, ABF Freight System (Philadelphia, PA), 2. Louis Medders, Yellow Transportation (Holly Hill, FL), 3. Randy Reed, FedEx Express (Tulsa, OK)

4-Axle Class:
1. Alphonso Lewis, Roadway (Montgomery, AL), 2. Dave Parkhurst, Yellow Transportation, (Laveen, AZ), 3. Les Gonsor, Con-way Freight (Watertown, SD)

5-Axle Class:
1. Kevin Scott Harris Sr., ABF Freight System (North Greenbush, NY), 2. Brooks Washburn, FedEx Freight (Rio Rancho, NM), 3. Brian Walker, UPS Freight (Randleman, NC)

Flatbed Class: 1. John Smith Jr., FedEx Ground (Tupelo, MS), 2. Brian Walton, Fed-Ex Freight (Aurora, CO), 3. Joseph Rienert (Hooksett, NH)

Tank Truck Class: 1. Dale Duncan, Con-way Freight (Chula Vista, CA), 2. Tommy Winston, FedEx Freight (Greenville, SC), 3. Lynn Springer, Roadway (Molalla, OR)

Twins Class: 1. Dennis Day, Con-way Freight (Lawrenceville, GA), 2. Steven Beckwith, USF Reddaway (Fort Lupton, CO), 3. Gary Mar-tin, FedEx Ground (Sacramento, CA)

Sleeper Berth Class: 1. David Zimmerman, Wal-Mart Transportation (Denver, CO),
2. Warren Lewis Jr., Hannaford Trucking Company (Lewiston, ME), 3. Bill Anthony, FedEx Express (Boston, MA)