FedEx Freight will send a team of 111 professional drivers to the 2026 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) in Pittsburgh, with the group featuring 18 drivers who won the Grand Champion title in their respective states this year and nine former national champions.
The drivers will compete for national titles across nine truck classes and vie for the prestigious National Grand Champion award. The NTDC tests competitors on several aspects of professional driving, including a written examination, pre-trip vehicle inspection and a demanding driving skills course.
FedEx Freight has built a strong record at the national competition. Since 2003, its drivers have won 53 National Championship titles and seven National Grand Champion honors. The company’s 2026 team includes three defending national champions from last year’s competition.
Two former National Grand Champions are also returning to the event. Jackie Reed of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, who won the title in 2024, and David Comings of Wahpeton, North Dakota, the 2025 National Grand Champion, will compete again this year. The experience of the FedEx Freight team extends well beyond the competition. Collectively, its 111 drivers have recorded more than 230 million safe-driving miles. The group includes 96 drivers who have each completed more than one million miles without a safety incident and 22 drivers who have exceeded three million accident-free miles.
Together, the drivers bring more than 2,950 years of professional driving experience to the 2026 national competition. The National Truck Driving Championships are organised annually by the American Trucking Associations and are widely known as the “Super Bowl of Safety.” The competition traces its history to 1937, when it was established as the National Truck Roadeo.
Drivers must first qualify through their state-level truck driving championships before earning a place at the national event. The competition recognises drivers who demonstrate strong knowledge, vehicle-handling ability and a consistent commitment to road safety. For FedEx Freight, participation in the NTDC also highlights the importance the company places on professional driver development and safe freight transportation.
FedEx Freight is a major North American less-than-truckload carrier, offering Priority, Economy and Direct services. The company operates a network of more than 365 locations with nearly 30,000 vehicles, including about 17,000 tractors, and approximately 40,000 team members. Its network serves customers across all 50 US states, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The company combines transportation operations, technology and data-driven processes to provide reliable freight services.
