To view photos from the 2009 championship on FDTalk, the online community for foodservice distributors, Click here. (You will be required to sign in to view the images)
Promote Safety & Reward Your Best in this International Competition
Truck Driving Championships help reduce losses, improve morale, and show your insurance carrier that you “walk the talk” when it comes to safety. This is the only national-level competition held for the food distribution industry. Drivers representing foodservice distributors, foodservice manufacturers with private fleets, retail/wholesale distributors, self-distributing retail supermarket companies, and other types of food companies across North America gather to compete each year. We urge you to consider sending your best drivers to compete in this important safety event!
Truck Driving Championship Brochure & Registration Form
(Acrobat Reader 5 or higher required)
An Important Tool in Your Total Safety Program
The Food Industry Truck Driving Championship can be an important tool in your total safety program and is a powerful incentive for superior performance. Not only do winners receive cash awards, along with trophies and medals, but the companies they represent also receive recognition for their strong support of safety. Anyone who has witnessed this competition has seen the remarkable camaraderie and pride displayed by the contestants. There are few things as rewarding for a driver as the chance to represent his or her company in this international championship.
The annual Food Industry Truck Driving Championship is the only international safety event that recognizes the hard work and safe driving that food distribution drivers do on a daily basis. It provides them with an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills through three challenges:
Driving Course Problems
A series of six driving course problems—simulating everyday operating conditions—test the skills of the driver in handling individual problems and in evaluating the overall driving situation when moving from one problem to another.
Written Examination
The written exam consists of questions that measure a driver’s knowledge of safety and operating procedures. Awareness of highway safety rules and regulations, as well as first aid and fire-fighting procedures are important for successful completion of the examination. All questions that appear on the exam have been carefully screened to ensure fairness for all drivers (see below for source).
Vehicle Inspection
Each driver conducts a vehicle inspection to uncover five (5) “planted” equipment defects and safety hazards and to determine the readiness of the vehicle for operation. Drivers are scored based on the number of defects they identify.
The source for the 2009 written examination was the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations Handbook and the 2009 Facts for Drivers. These publications may be obtained through J.J. Keller & Associates or by calling (800) 327-6868.
For drivers to compete in this national competition, they must have won a company or local/regional competition. IFDA has produced a guide that can help companies conduct a successful competition. This complimentary guide discusses materials and personnel needed to conduct a competition, course layout, individual challenges, and insights on the written exam and pre-inspection portions. This guide is a perfect primer to help you set up a company competition.
