Sharpsburg Resident is State Truck Driving Champion

/PRNewswire/ -- John Dillon, of Sharpsburg, was named the best professional truck driver in Georgia after winning the flatbed competition and receiving the highest overall score in the eight competing categories at the 2009 Georgia Truck Driving Championships. The annual event is sponsored by the Georgia Motor Trucking Association.

Dillon, who drives for Con-way Freight, now qualifies to compete in the American Trucking Associations' National Truck Driving Championships August 18-22, 2009 in Pittsburgh, Penn. -- 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 in Pittsburgh 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 may 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 22, one contestant will drive away as the 2009 National Grand Champion Truck Driver.

"The Truck Driving Championships represent the culmination of the industry's dedication to safety," said Georgia Motor Trucking Association President & CEO Edward Crowell. "I congratulate all the contestants and I hope Georgia roots for our drivers as they move on to Nationals in Pittsburgh."

Georgia participants at National for each category include:
Kevin Dean, YRC, Rockmart, Ga. (Straight Truck)
Michael Britt, UPS Freight, Dallas, Ga. (Three-Axle)
Thomas LaSalata, UPS Freight, Buford, Ga. (Four-Axle)
Thomas Turner, Martin-Brower, Carrollton, Ga. (Five-Axle)
Dennis Day, Con-way Freight, Lawrenceville, Ga. (Five-Axle Sleeper)
Clarence (AL) Churchwell Jr, UPS Freight, Stone Mountain, Ga. (Tankers)
John Dillon, Con-way Freight, Sharpsburg, Ga. (Flatbed)
Joseph Obregon, ABF Freight System, Ellijay, Ga. (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. 18-22 in Pittsburgh, Penn. The NTDC annually attracts over 2,000 cheering friends, family, colleagues and spectators. For more information, visit the 2009 National Truck Driving Championships website: www.truckline.com/Federation/Councils/slpmc/NTDC/Pages/Default.aspx .

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