6/15/2011
On June 10 & 11, 2011, the Missouri Trucking Association held the 44th Annual Missouri Truck Driving Championships at the Prime, Inc. CDL Training Lot in Springfield, MO. In addition to offering sponsorship to the state competition, this was the third year Jennifer Mason, Roberts Perryman’s Director of Client Relations, was a judge. “People ask me all the time what qualifies me to be a judge. Fortunately I am always on a team of judges, not judging alone, where we are instructed carefully what merits to look for and how to score.”
This year the event was relocated from Joplin, MO as a result of the devastating tornado in Joplin, in which area hotels temporarily began serving as emergency relief centers and much-needed accommodations for local residents left homeless after the storm. The Missouri Trucking Association dedicated an evening of its event to a fundraiser in which more than $10,000 was donated by attendees to help rebuild Joplin.
The two-day event evaluated over 150 drivers on their knowledge of the industry, first aid, safety and security, and required federal vehicle inspections. The participants were then interviewed by industry experts before competing on a point-value-assessed driving skills course of six obstacles to be completed under actual everyday conditions.
Over 500 on-lookers at the Awards Banquet Saturday evening saw David Wiechers of Belton, Mo., receive the prestigious “Grand Champion” title as Missouri’s best of the best. David, a driver for ABF Freight System of Kansas City, Mo., achieved this recognition by outscoring all other competitors in four elements of skill and knowledge.