Maverick Driver Qualifies for National Competition

 

Maverick Transportation driver Keith Graham, of Statesville, NC, qualified as one of eight drivers who will represent the state of Arkansas in the National Truck Driving Championship in New Orleans, LA in August.

Graham, a rookie in this year’s state competition, placed first in his class at the Arkansas Truck Driving Championship recently held at the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Springdale, AR.

Thirty trucking companies entered 171 drivers in the annual state industry competition. Drivers must be nominated by their employer for the annual competition and meet certain safety performance guidelines in order to compete. Graham has been a professional truck driver for 5 years and has logged more than 500,000 safe driving miles.

“The national competition showcases the safest truck drivers in the United States. It is the highest professional achievement that a commercial truck driver like Mr. Graham can obtain so it’s quite an honor to qualify,” said Lane Kidd, president of the Arkansas Trucking Association.

Drivers at the state competition were evaluated on their performance in a personal interview, a written exam regarding federal and state regulations, a “pre-trip” inspection to look for any equipment defects, and a skills competition in which each driver must safely negotiate his/her truck and trailer around a skills course that tests their parking, backing, and turning skills. Other companies entering drivers included such major carriers as J. B. Hunt Transport, ABF Freight System, FedEx, and Wal-Mart Stores.

Based in Little Rock, Arkansas and operating over 1,000 units, Maverick has over 25 years experience providing flatbed services to the steel and building material industries coast-to-coast. The company has a variety of driving opportunities available for over-the-road drivers. To learn more about opportunities available with Maverick call the Recruiting Department at 800-289-1100 or visit the website at www.drivemaverick.com.