Ralston Resident Is State Truck Driving Champion

LINCOLN, Neb., July 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Jimmy O'Neill, ofRalston, was named the best professional truck driver inNebraska after winning the three axle competition and receiving the highest overall score in the eight competing categories at the 2008 Nebraska Truck Driving Championships. The annual event is sponsored by the Nebraska Trucking Association.

O'Neill, who drives for FedEx Freight, now qualifies to compete in the American Trucking Associations' National Truck Driving Championships August 19-23, 2008 inHouston, Texas -- also known as the "Super Bowl of Safety." The winners from each of the seven other categories are also eligible to compete in the national championship.

Nearly 400 drivers from all 50 states will compete inHouston for four days, challenging their driving skills, and knowledge of safety, equipment and the industry. From 18-wheeler five axle sleepers to tank trucks to twin trailers -- they will drive a course that recreates situations truck drivers face daily. These maneuvers will include: an alley dock, a rear line stop, a side park, a scale stop, a right turn, a front line stop, and straight line driving through a diminishing clearance.

On Saturday night, August 23, one contestant will drive away as the 2008 National Grand Champion Truck Driver.

"The Truck Driving Championships represent the culmination of the industry's dedication to safety," said Nebraska Trucking Association President Larry Johnson. "I congratulate all the contestants, and I hopeNebraska roots for our drivers as they move on to Nationals in Houston."

Nebraska winners for each category included:

Frank Daily, Bosselman Carriers,Holdrege, Neb. (Straight Truck)

Jimmy O'Neill, FedEx Freight,Ralston, Neb. (Three-Axle)

Sam Wilson, Con-way Freight,Grand Island, Neb. (Four-Axle)

Toby Kort, FedEx Freight,North Platte, Neb. (Five-Axle)

Michael Luna,Grand Island, Neb. (Five-Axle Sleeper)

Elmer Branzovsky, FedEx Freight,Fremont, Neb. (Tankers)

Mark Olson,Omaha, Neb. (Flatbed)

Clinton Rast, ABF Freight System, Inc.,Omaha, Neb. (Twins)

ATA's Truck Driving Championships include top professional truck drivers from around the nation competing at state and regional levels to make it to the national competition Aug. 19-23 inHouston, Texas. The NTDC annually attracts over 2,000 cheering friends, family, colleagues and spectators. For more information, visit the 2008 National Truck Driving Championships website: www.truckline.com/aboutata/ntdc/2008

The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other trucking groups, industry-related conferences, and its 50 affiliated state trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier inthe United States.

The American Trucking Associations leads the effort for safer highways, focusing on greater education, enforcement and enhancement of traffic safety laws for all drivers. ATA also supports slowing down traffic through a reinstatement of a national maximum speed limit of 65 mph for all vehicles and limiting truck speeds at the time of manufacture. www.truckline.com

SOURCE American Trucking Associations

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