For second time, professional truck driver Mike Markham, a driver for Old Dominion Freight Lines and resident of Belpre, Ohio, was named Grand Champion of the West Virginia Trucking AssociationÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Annual Truck Driving Championship held Saturday, June 21, at Grafton.
Markham, who has been a professional truck driver for 29 years, took the top honor after competing in a variety of skill and safety tests. He has competed in multiple Truck Driving Championships, and won the Grand Champion Award in 2023.
Traci Nelson, President of the West Virginia Trucking Association, said, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThe purpose of the Truck Driving Championship is to give trucking professionals the opportunity to test their driving and safety skills against their peers. The competition mirrors what professional truck drivers must do day-in and day-out to maintain safety records unmatched by any other segment of the driving public.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
In addition to the driving competition, which included dozens of professional truck drivers representing multiple West Virginia-based motor freight companies, the association recognized drivers for their 2024 safety accomplishments during an awards ceremony following the event.
Nelson said Nick Backes of Hurricane, who drives for Pitt Ohio, was honored with the West Virginia Professional Driver of the Year Award. Backes has driven more than three million miles during his 40-year career with no accidents.
Jeremy Gray, a driver with Old Dominion Freight Lines and a Williamstown resident, earned the West Virginia Public Service Commission Driver of the Year Award. Gray has driven for 18 years and has logged more than 2.5 million miles with no accidents.
Other winners include:
First Place Straight Truck ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥“ Alexander Atkins, St. Albans, Pitt Ohio
First Place 3-Axle Tractor Semi-trailer ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥“ Mike Roberts, Eleanor, XPO
First Place 4-Axle Tractor Semi-trailer ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥“ Cole Miltenberger, Ridgeley, Pitt Ohio
First Place 5-Axle Van ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥“ Steve Looney, St. Albans, ABF Freight
First Place Tank Truck ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥“ Mike Markham, Belpre, Ohio, Old Dominion Freight Lines
First Place Flatbed ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥“ Justin Moody, Beckley, Walmart Transportation
First Place Twin Trailers ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥“ Vince May, Sitka, Ky., FedEx Freight
First Place Sleeper Berth ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥“ David Roberts, St. Albans, Walmart Transportation
First Place Step Van ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥“ Brandon Wuletich, Caldwell, Ohio, FedEx Freight
Pre-Trip Inspection Award ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥“ Mike Roberts, Eleanor, XPO
Rookie of the Year: David Roberts, St. Albans, Walmart Transportation
Team Champion Award: Pitt Ohio
All first-place drivers will compete in the American Trucking Association's National Truck Driving Championship ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥“ also known as the Super Bowl of Safety ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥“ taking place in in Minneapolis, Minn., Aug. 20-23.
