The 2026 Tennessee Truck Driving Championships concluded on May 2. The two-day event took place at the FedEx Freight facility in Antioch for the driving portions and the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro for the written exams and awards banquet.
Participants competed across nine distinct equipment classes with three competition phases that tested a different part of their industry knowledge. The written exam measured knowledge of safety rules, regulations, and operating procedures, while the pre-trip inspection phase required competitors to spot planted defects and explain what they found. Finally, the driving course allowed participants to showcase their abilities and test each driver's skills behind the wheel.
After a long day of competition, the winners were finally crowned at the banquet. We're proud to share this year's drivers who will be representing Tennessee at nationals this year.
First-place winners from each category will now prepare for the next level of competition. These drivers will represent Tennessee at the ATA National Truck Driving & Step Van Driving Championships. The national event is scheduled for August 11 through August 14, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
View more photos from this year's TDC here.
2026 Championship Results
Grand Champion – James Sowder – FedEx Freight
Rookie of the Year – Donnie Shelby – XPO Logistics
Team Trophy – The Martin-Brower Company
INSPECTOR CHALLENGE 2026:
Runner Up: Trp. Will Whitson
Winner: Trp. Dallas Lange
Step Van: 1st: Roy Daniels – FedEx Corporation
• 2nd: Ethan Thennes – FedEx Corporation
• 3rd: Derek Snoderly – FedEx Freight
Straight Truck – 1st: Samuel Bryant – FedEx Freight
• 2nd: Jeffrey Johnson – Old Dominion Freight Lines
• 3rd: Christopher Massingill – ABF Freight System Inc.
3-Axle – 1st: Brian Turner – Old Dominion Freight Lines
• 2nd: Nathaniel Meadows – FedEx Freight
• 3rd: John Turner – FedEx Corp.
4-Axle – 1st: Brandon Gilpatrick – FedEx Freight
• 2nd: Michael Cole – FedEx Freight
• 3rd: Donald Walker – FedEx Freight
5-Axle – 1st: William Shepherd – Tranco Logistics
• 2nd: Juan Nava – Huff and Puff Trucking, Inc.
• 3rd: John Lemmons - UPS
Tank – 1st: Ray Shelton – FedEx Freight
• 2nd: Ed Hauhn – The Martin Brower Company
• 3rd: Robert Pardee – Old Dominion Freight Line
Flatbed – 1st: James Sowder – FedEx Freight
• 2nd: Covey Thompson – The Martin-Brower Company
• 3rd: Josh Arwood – Old Dominion Freight Line Inc.
Twin-Trailers – 1st: Steve Marlow – ABF Freight System
• 2nd: Timothy Blair – FedEx Freight
• 3rd: Michael Young – FedEx Freight
Sleeper – 1st: Jeff Barton – FedEx Freight
• 2nd: Robert Moxley – Titan Transfer
• 3rd: Michael Andrews – Walmart Transportation
Thank you, 2026 TDC Sponsors
Thank you to all of this year's sponsors for supporting this event.
Elite Sponsors
- Alliance Interstate Risk
- PrePass Safety Alliance
- Vertical Alliance Group
Specialty & Event Sponsors
- Averitt Express, Inc. (Judges Lunch Sponsor)
- Clarke Power Services, Inc. (Cash Awards Sponsor)
- FedEx Freight (Insurance & Challenge Coin Sponsor)
- Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (Insurance Sponsor)
- Ozark Motor Lines, Inc. (Course Sponsor)
- Tennessee Steel Haulers, LLC (Class Sponsor)
- Titan Transfer, Inc. (Scoring Sponsor)
- Truck Parking Club (Judges Gift & Golf Cart Sponsor)
We also want to thank all the incredible volunteers and State Troopers who managed the course, registration, and banquet logistics.
