Greencastle driver competes at national truck championships

ORTHO KRETZER

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Con-way Freight's professional drivers, including a Greencastle man, headed to Minnesota recently to compete in the 2007 National Truck Driving Championships.

Otho Kretzer of Greencastle, who operates a five-axle sleeper, was among more than 50 Con-way drivers, including 2006 Grand Champion Dale Duncan, who competed in one of a series of eight individual equipment classes. Participants must demonstrate a mastery of the critical safety skills that have allowed this group to drive more than 80 million accident free miles. Con-way Freight is a less-than-truckload (LTL) freight carrier and subsidiary of Con-way Inc

Con-way's team, representing 33 states, comprised 27 veteran competitors and 25 newcomers to the National Championship.

To compete in the national event, drivers must have won state championships in their respective equipment classes. When a state champion is unable to attend, the next top finisher is tapped to be the state's representative at nationals.

"The physical and mental demands placed on these frontline professionals are tremendous. The best in the business have stamina, patience, foresight, good organizational skills and the ability to quickly analyze and respond safely to the constantly changing conditions of their workplace - our nation's roads and highways," said John G. Labrie, president, Con-way Freight. "Our national competitors have risen to the top of their profession due to unwavering dedication to their craft and being the best at what they do."

Con-way competitors and their guests traveled to Minneapolis at the company's expense to participate in the competition. The National Champion of each class also receives a check for $1,000, a plaque and a gold belt buckle from the American Trucking Associations (ATA).

Each Con-way driver qualified to compete at the state competition by maintaining an accident-free safety record for the previous year. At the national competition, each driver faces testing in four areas: a personal interview, a timed written exam, a pre-trip inspection test and a driving skills test.

Including Dale Duncan's 2006 Grand Champion win, nine Con-way drivers have won National Champion honors and received new pickup trucks from the company over the past eight years.

Kretzer also picked up a first-place award in this year's Maryland Truck Driving Championship held during June at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium.

It was Kretzer's fourth trip to the State Championship representing Con-way Freight. He competed in the 5-Axle Sleeper equipment class.

Kretzer has been a Con-way Freight driver sales representative since 1995. The 24-year veteran of the trucking industry is based at the Hagerstown service center and has traveled more than 1.7 million accidentfree miles in his career.

"The state competitions are an exhibition of the top-level skills and knowledge of trucking professionals across the nation," said David S. McClimon, president of Con-way Freight. "As a first-place winner, Otho Kretzer represents Con-way's commitment to safe driving practices a Con-way Freight core value and we are all proud of his exemplary achievement."