2010 PROVINCIAL TRUCK DRIVING
CHAMPIONSHIPS WRAP-UP-APPROVED

The popular AMTA Truck Driving Championships took place on June 19 at Red Deer’s Westerner Park with 57 top drivers from across the province competing for prizes and honorary titles. The annual event, hosted by Alberta Motor Transport Association, is regarded by many as the Olympics of trucking.

The competition challenges each driver to demonstrate his or her driving and inspection skills, knowledge and professionalism through a series of rigorous tests. The drivers undergo a written examination, personal interview, pre-trip inspection test and finally, the most visible – the skills test.

Finalists in each of six categories move on to compete at the national truck driving championships which will be held in Winnipeg, Manitoba later this year.

Truck driving championships are considered one of the industry’s most effective safety programs. Known to many as the “Olympics of Safety,” these annual competitions inspire drivers to operate collision-free for the right to compete.

“The championships are a great incentive for professional truck drivers to operate safely, because they must be collision-free for at least one year prior to the competition,” says AMTA Executive Director Mayne Root, “Many of the competitors have millions of accident-free driving miles to their credit.”

The annual competition of truck safety inspectors is held in conjunction with the driving championships and resulted in an impressive roster of top ranked inspectors.

Congratulations to all competitors for their outstanding performance and demonstration of commitment to excellence.

The event standings are as follows:

Step Van Division
First place:  Randy Smith - Canadian Freightways
Second Place: Kevin Pasini - Sokil Express Lines Ltd
Third Place: Patrick Cuthbert - Westcan

Straight Truck Division
First Place: Keith Franklin - Canadian Freightways
Second Place: Richard Trusz - Fedex Freight
Third Place: David Bulechowsky - City of Calgary

Single, Single Division
First Place:  Darren Tychkowsky - Fedex Freight
Second Place: Calvin Briggs - Grimshaw Trucking
Third Place: Patrick R Thorne - Canadian Freightways

Single Tandem Division
First Place: Dale Fryklund - City of Calgary
Second Place: Keith Day - Bison Transport
Third Place: Glen Harris - Grimhaw Trucking

Tandem, Tandem Division
First Place: Paul Mills - Canada Safeway Ltd
Second Place: Rod Harrison - Canadian Freightways
Third Place:  Douglas Hersey - TST Overland

B-Train Division
First Place: Steven M Calhoun - Canadian Freightways
Second Place: Robert Smith - Canadian Freightways
Third Place: Lonnie Wilton - Canadian Freightways

Grand Champion:
Paul Mills - Canada Safeway Ltd

Rookie of the Year:
Scott Gee - Sokil Express Lines Ltd

Team Award went to:
Canadian Freightways Calgary
Lonnie Wilton
Rick Ross
Patrick Thorne
Dustin Slawson
Randy Smith

Grand Champion:  Paul Mills - Canada Safeway Ltd
On left: Dean Paisley - President AMTA - Lethbridge Truck Terminals
On Right: Bryan Egan - Roadeo Marshall  - Duckering Transport

Step Van: First place:  Randy Smith - Canadian Freightways




Straight Truck: First Place: Keith Franklin - Canadian Freightways


 

Single Single: First Place:  Darren Tychkowsky - Fedex Freight

Single Tandem: First Place: Dale Fryklund - City of Calgary

Tandem Tandem: First Place: Paul Mills - Canada Safeway Ltd

B-Train: First Place: Steven M Calhoun - Canadian Freightways

Rookie of the Year: Scott Gee - Sokil Express Lines Ltd




Team Award: Canadian Freightways Calgary
Lonnie Wilton, Randy Smith, Rick Ross, Dustin Slawson, Patrick Thorne