Truck Topics
Some fancy drivin' at FedEx!
"Saturday was a beautiful day, we couldn't have asked for better weather," says FedEx Custom Critical Safety Specialist Michelle Terwilliger and organizer of the FedEx Custom Critical “Safety Takes Priority†Skills Challenge 2005.
Held this past Saturday on June 4th, the event took place at the FedEx Custom Critical headquarters in Green, Ohio.
Michelle continues, "It's a chance to get our contractors together for some free food and fun, regardless of whether they're competing or not."
This was the fifth year for the “Safety Takes Priority†Skills Challenge which was open to FedEx Custom Critical drivers in cargo van, straight truck and tractor classes. Contestants competed for a variety of prizes from vendors and from FedEx Custom Critical.
This year's event saw 25 contractors competing for top honors. There were 61 contractors (including those who competed) and more than 50 volunteers from FedEx Custom Critical in attendance, bringing the total to more than 100.
Michelle says, “I’ve always thought of the Skills Challenge as a sort of family reunion for our contractors. They’re out on the road so much, but this gives them a chance to catch up with each other, and also with us here in the home office.â€
Contestants competed in three categories of the contest:
1. Pre-trip inspection in which contestants have to spot defects on several truck photos. This was a change from last year, when contestants found defects on an actual vehicle.
2. A written exam covering safety procedures and trucking industry knowledge.
3. A driving course that featured an interesting mix of designs:
This year's course was made up of "continuous driving problems," Michelle explains. "This course featured everyday driving situations and it was as close as possible to the course that they use at the State championships in Columbus."
The two back parking lots of the FedEx Custom Critical property were used for the driving part of the test, offering simultaneous testing of straight trucks and tractors.
One procedural change for 2005 was that Skills Challenge contestants were permitted to use their own vehicles. Last year, all contestants used the same vehicles.
FedEx Custom Critical's own Safety Facilitators performed the judging duties using the American Trucking Association's "National Truck Driving Championships" (NTDC) criteria.
"I believe that the FedEx Custom Critical agents enjoy the Skills Challenge as much as the drivers do. The employees love it; they get to put a face with the voice on the phone and they get to give back a little bit."
And the winners were (drum roll, please):
Cargo Van
1st Place - Timothy Head
2nd Place - Dean Curtis
3rd Place - Melvin Shank
Straight Truck
1st Place - Mitch Seidt
2nd Place - Jake Buzza
3rd Place - Jim King
Tractor
1st Place - Bill Henry
2nd Place - Lee Duncan
3rd Place - Larry Brandenburg
First place winners in each class received a leather jacket embossed with a FedEx Custom Critical logo, a souvenir patch and a championship plaque. Second-and third-place winners get a souvenir patch and a commemorative plaque.
In addition to the free lunch provided to the competitors, there was entertainment with a DJ providing a musical backdrop for the event.
There’s more to the Skills Challenge than the contest itself. During the competition, the vendors in attendance held raffles for their products throughout the day.
The vendors included:
*Fyda Freightliner of Columbus
*Safety Vision
*Leyman Liftgates
*Everblades (heated windshield wiper blades)
*Travel Centers of America (T/A)
*Roadmaster Active Suspension
Congratulations to all of the winners who proved their skill behind the wheel and to the FedEx Custom Critical employees who gave their time to conduct this annual event.
Karl Kussow, Manager, Safety says, "This is a fun way for us to focus on what’s most important to the trucking industry - safe driving.â€