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Arzona grand champion and 4-Axle winner David Coffel (left) shares a smile with Straight Truck winner David Zdanek. (FedEx Corp.)

To some, driving a commercial truck in the Arizona heat might not sound enjoyable. But for professional precision drivers based in the Grand Canyon State, the highly competitive and unique maneuvering of large trucks is a rewarding experience.

On April 13, nine truckers surpassed their peers at Arizona’s annual truck driving championship. Their blue ribbons in separate vehicle classes earned the drivers trips to this summer’s National Truck Driving Championships. FedEx's David Coffel won the 4-axle vehicle class as well as top pre-trip vehicle performance and the tournament’s overall best-in-show.

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Winning his first grand champion trophy secured for Coffel his fourth trip to the summer classic. Last year, Coffel took home an NTDC title in the straight truck vehicle class.

2024 National Truck Driving Championships

�³��:��Winners from nine categories at the state level who have��advanced to the national competition, where a Grand Champion will be crowned

�³󲹳�:��Contestants are judged on a written exam, pre-trip inspection and driving skills

When: Aug. 21-24

Where: Indianapolis

His winning strategy at the state contest last month entailed simply to accrue as many points as possible in what competitors call the “back room.” This “back room” aspect of competition consists of an exam of industry regulations and a pre-trip vehicle inspection. The driving course is the tournament’s third challenge.

“So we had a perfect pre-trip this year and, you know, had a really, really good test and that with a solid course was enough to pull it off,” he told Transport Topics on April 26. “And that was a very gratifying and humbling experience.”

After the state contest, Coffel’s focus has shifted to the national competition.

“In the next couple of weeks, we’ll start getting back at it,” he said.

Getting to Know You

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Name: David Coffel

Age: 36

From: Phoenix

Vehicle class: 4-axle

Favorite music genre: Rock

Sports hero: Former NFL wide receiver Calvin Johnson

Describe your style: “Casual”

Last place visited: Bearizona Wildlife Park

Most memorable NTDC moment: “After I drove the course last year, when I was coming back from the bullpen and I got to see my wife after the run — that was my most memorable moment. Because that was kind of when I knew that we had a really good run and that we had a chance at it.”

After three appearances at the industry’s Super Bowl of Safety, accentuated by last year’s national title, a zen-like competitor’s mindset and fierce determination has blossomed within him.

“Nationals is just: Go out there and drive the truck. Every year I go back, I get a little bit more comfortable with the spotlight, the stage — kind of being in that environment,” he explained. “I still get nervous, but, you know, it becomes a little bit more of like, ‘OK, I’ve seen this before, done this before. Do it every day.’ So just do it. Do it again one more day. Drive the truck.”

The years of putting in the long hours training trucking maneuvers on the weekends have created an appreciative spirit specific to the national event.

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To hear Coffel describe it, “[NTDC is about] how important what we do every day is. How important being safe is. That the only way we can do the competition is because we’re accident-free for a year. We’re safe on the roads. We’re safe with the public.”

Also qualifying for the national stage is longtime competitor Ina Daly of XPO. She punched her 17th trip to nationals after winning the flatbed vehicle class. Daly, last year’s recipient of NTDC’s Neill Darmstadter Professional Excellence Award, won a national title in 2013. The feat marked the first top finish for a woman at NTDC.

Coffel considers Daly a mentor. They share a commitment for training and preparation.

“She’s been a huge encouragement; so much wisdom,” he affirmed, adding that she encourages him to “keep practicing, keep working.”

After qualifying for NTDC, a jubilant Daly told TT: “If I want to win another national title, I gotta have to work at it.”

3-Axle: Chase Peterson, Shamrock Foods

5-Axle: Nathan Voss, UPS

Sleeper Berth: Greg Ryan, Walmart

Step Van: Juan Rodriguez Torres, FedEx Ground

Straight Truck: David Zdanek, FedEx Freight

Tank Truck: Steven Garner, Shamrock Foods

Twins: Mike Alpine, ABF Freight