Epic Trucking Showdown Highlights of the 2014 Arkansas Trucking Championship By ATR Staff The most talented truck drivers
and technicians brought their skills to the John Q. Hammons Convention Center in Rogers, Ark. for the annual statewide competitions. The Arkansas Trucking Championship was presented by the Arkansas Trucking Association July 10–12, 2014. One hundred and six (106) drivers and 44 technicians com- peted for the right to be named “Grand Champion.” The event included something for
everyone: a Technician Training Fair and a Commercial Vehicle Inspection Competition for Arkansas Highway Police on Thursday; the pre-trip inspec- tions and the Technician Championship on Friday; and the driving skills contest and an awards banquet for competitors and their families on Saturday. Many competitors earn their par-
ticipation by competing in smaller internal drills. The truck driving com-
petitors must hold an accident-free record of at least 12 months prior to the championship, with some participants boasting no-accident records for over 20 years. They come to earn the cumulative top scores of three categories: pre-trip inspection, written examination, and driving skills. Gary Mars made Walmart
Transportation proud when he won the 2014 Grand Champion title. Not only did Mars win the highest number of cumulative points, he also scored the most points in his division earning 1st place in the 5-Axle class. This was Mars’ sixth year to participate in the cham- pionship. Worthy of the highest 2014 title, Mars has consistently earned top scores in multiple classes (Sleeper 2010- 2011, Twins 2012, and 5-Axle 2013- 2014). He was also the 2014 recipient
of the highest score on the written exam. Mars holds a no-accident record for all of his 22-year, 2.4 million mile truck driving career. “The whole team and I are very
proud for Gary particularly this year,” said Walmart’s Private Fleet Safety Director Steven Garrish. Mars had con- sidered dropping out of the competition to be with his terminally-ill mother- in-law. However, she encouraged him to compete and win for her. “Gary is a natural leader,” continued Garrish, “Other drivers look to him for advice, and he serves on the accident-review committee at Walmart and his local safety committee. He does more for safety than a lot of other drivers and on his own time.” Last year, Mars placed 11th
in the nation in the 5-Axle class. On August
Jeffery Helmick, J.B. Hunt Transport, is named Rookie of the Year.
Winners group: The 2014 Arkansas Championship Team (l to r): Loren Hatfield, ABF Freight; Pat Hayes, Walmart Transportation; Robert Williams, USA Truck; Gary Mars, Walmart Transportation; Deborah Conn, FedEx Freight; Eric Brockette, FedEx Freight; Ronnie Cotton, FedEx Freight; Larry Gaskill, Old Dominion Freight Line; Tony Strickland, Old Dominion Freight Line
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ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 4 2014
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