150 drivers from 48 states representing FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) operating companies will compete in the National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) in St. Louis, Mo., Aug. 11-15.  
Each FedEx driver earned the right to compete in the NTDC by winning at state-level truck driving championships. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) sponsor the NTDC, which is designed to recognize industry leadership in safety and to promote professionalism among truck drivers.
“FedEx drivers are among the safest in the industry,” said Frederick W. Smith, chairman, FedEx Corp. “I’m proud of the 1,812 FedEx team members who qualified to compete at the state level and the 150 finalists competing nationally.”
Here are some facts about the 2015 FedEx NTDC competitors:
• Collectively, the drivers have more than 3,100 years of professional driving experience among them.
• In total, the team has safely driven more than 191 million miles during their careers—enough to circle the globe nearly 7,670 times.
• More than 87 of the FedEx competitors have driven professionally for 20 years or more.
• More than 38 have each accumulated at least one million miles of safe driving.
• 24 have won five or more state championships.
At the NTDC, the FedEx drivers will be among nearly 430 competitors who will vie for national titles in nine different classes of vehicles and for the National Grand Champion title.  The drivers accumulate points by demonstrating their driving skills and knowledge of the industry through a written exam, pre-trip inspection and driving-skills challenge.
Ron Gabel who drives for the Great Bend facility will drive Straight Truck.
In 2014, 138 driving professionals from 45 states representing FedEx Freight, FedEx Ground, and FedEx Express qualified to compete at the NTDC by winning their respective state’s competition and driving accident-free for at least one year. Four FedEx drivers captured National Champion titles in the Flatbed, 3-Axle, Straight Truck and Step Van classes. Six other FedEx drivers earned top-three finishes in their respective vehicle classes.