A Mississippi man was recently named America's top truck driver at the 2024 National Truck Driving & Step Van Championships. The American Trucking Associations announced that Jackie Reed, a professional driver with FedEx Freight from Collinsville, Mississippi, was named the Bendix Grand Champion. The news comes prior to the start of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, which began September 15.
Reed was one of 422 of the nation’s most elite truck drivers from 49 states who competed in Indianapolis. Known as the “Super Bowl of Safety,” this annual event dates back to 1937.
Over the past year, truck drivers participated in their state championships to earn the right to advance to the National Truck Driving Championships in Indianapolis. Mississippi held its competition in Gulfport in May. This year’s national finalists represent 65 trucking companies and have accumulated 685 million accident-free miles in their professional driving careers.
“Jackie demonstrated the precision and professionalism we have come to expect from NTDC champions,” said American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear. “While all of our competitors are champions, he separated himself from even this elite field, showing the skills that have produced three million miles of accident-free driving over his 34-year career. Congratulations to him and to all our NTDC participants.”
“I congratulate Jackie on this outstanding achievement and thank him for his dedication to keep America moving safely,” said Senator Roger Wicker.
“Our economic health relies heavily on trucking for the delivery of goods and services across the country," said Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith. "Congratulations to our own Jackie Reed for setting a championship-level safety standard for making those deliveries."
“I am proud of Jackie Reed’s much-deserved recognition as the 2024 Grand Champion of the 87th National Truck Driving Championships,” said Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03).“Jackie’s record proves that he has had a career of excellence, and I am grateful for his expertise in this vital profession.”
Over the past few days, the drivers competed in nine vehicle classes: step van, straight truck, 3-axle, 4-axle, 5-axle, flatbed, tank truck, twins, and sleeper berth. They went head-to-head in a variety of events designed to measure their driving prowess, industry knowledge and dedication to safety.
Reed took home the Bendix Grand Champion award, as well as first place in the tank truck vehicle class. He has been a professional driver for 34 years, accumulating three million safe driving miles. In 2022, he was named the Mississippi Grand Champion in the 3-axle category. Last year, he took second place in Mississippi’s 2-axle category.
