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August 16, 2000 10:28 AM, EDT

EW ORLEANS — Filling out forms. Standing in line. Picking out equipment. Before a competitor in this year’s National Truck Driving Championships started a truck engine and maneuvered between the traffic cones and tennis balls on the field course, he or she had to undergo a series of preliminary activities.

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The pressure mounted almost from the moment drivers arrived Aug. 9 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

Drivers were assigned to meeting rooms based on the class of truck in which they were competing. There were nine vehicle classes: straight truck; three-, four- and five-axle tractor-trailer; sleeper; tank; flatbed; twins and auto hauler.

After registering, drivers were sent downstairs to a corner of the vast, gloomy competition hall to pick out the truck in which they will compete. Pinkish beams from the lights high in the rafters reflected off the sides of the 14 highly-polished trucks donated by industry suppliers for contestants to use. Drivers standing in line for a chance to check out the truck cabs glanced nervously at their watches as the judges remind them of the short time remaining for vehicle selection.

For the full story, see the Aug. 14 print edition of Transport Topics. .