Over the past three months, 50 drivers from Ruan operations in five states have competed in their individual state’s Truck Driving Championships, and three will advance to the national competition later this year! This year Ruan increased our presence by entering competitions in Iowa, Minnesota, Maryland, Florida, and Wisconsin. This two-day events include a written exam and personal interviews to evaluate the drivers’ knowledge of the trucking industry and DOT rules and regulations. In addition, drivers compete in a driving skills test where they must navigate a series of problems designed to simulate obstacles one may face as a professional truck driver. They also conduct a judged pre-trip inspection with a goal of identifying 10 defects on the test vehicle.
To be eligible to compete at a state Truck Driving Championship, a driver must meet strict safety and professionalism guidelines, including being accident-free for the previous 12 months. Drivers must possess a CDL license and can compete in one of several divisions, including: 
- Straight Truck
- Three-Axle Tractor-Semitrailer
- Four-Axle Tractor-Semitrailer
- Five-Axle Tractor-Semitrailer (Tank)
- Five-Axle Tractor-Semitrailer (Van)
- Five-Axle Tractor-Semitrailer (Flatbed)
- Five-Axle Tractor (Sleeper Cab)-Semitrailer (Van)
- Twin Trailers
- Step Van
These competitions showcase the incredible skill possessed by professional drivers, and Ruan is proud to be represented by the 50 men and women who competed this year. We are also proud to announce that three Ruan drivers earned first place in their individual divisions and will be headed to the National Truck Driving Championships in Columbus, OH! The drivers who will be traveling to Nationals in August are:
- Edward Borntrager, Wisconsin, Five-Axle Day Cab division
- Jason Gaulitz, Wisconsin, Five-Axle Tanker division
- Michael Nichols, Maryland, Five-Axle Tanker division
Congratulations to all of our competitors and stay tuned to our blog for more information on the National Truck Driving Championships!