Van Buren-based USA Truck has named Mike Barnes, Darrell Bloodworth, Steven Cazee, Joseph DeMuth, Joseph Ghoshen, Mark Johnston, Tom Miller, Ken Petti, Robert Williams and Jodie Yoder to its driving team for the 2015 Arkansas Truck Driving Championship, which will take place June 11-13 in Rogers.
Driving team members earned their spots during the 2015 USA Truck Driving Championship on May 15 in Van Buren. Team members earned the opportunity to compete by being collision-free and employed with USA Truck for at least one year.
Competitors were scored on three components: written exam, vehicle inspection and driving skills course. Yoder compiled the highest cumulative score — along with the top vehicle inspection score — to earn USA Truck Grand Champion honors. He was also USA Truck Grand Champion and third overall at the state level in 2012. Yoder, a military veteran and a Haubstadt, Ind., resident, has been with USA Truck since October 2008.
Cazee (second overall) had the best score on the driving skills course and Miller (fourth overall and 2014 USA Truck Company Driver of the Year) turned in the highest written exam score. Williams, the 2014 USA Truck Grand Champion and 2014 Arkansas Grand Champion Runner-Up, returns to Rogers to defend his state title in the Sleeper classification. He placed second out of 111 competitors overall and topped the 33 entrants in the Sleeper classification in 2014.
“This event has become more prominent within our company each year, and rightly so,” said Jeff Lester, executive vice president, risk management and safety for USA Truck. “Our driving championship is a great way for our driver team members to showcase their skills and test themselves in competition. It’s also an opportunity for us to honor them for their good work, professionalism and dedication to safety. We look forward to competing and excelling at the state level.”