David Comings Living the Dream as NTDC Grand Champion
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MINNEAPOLIS — FedEx Freight driver David Comings of North Dakota envisioned himself as being a champion trucker. Now he's living the dream.
Comings bested representing 56 companies Aug. 23 at Minneapolis Convention Center and for his efforts was awarded the Bendix Grand Champion trophy at the .
He earned his place in the record book competing in his fourth nationals in the 5-axle class.
“It is a surreal moment. It has been a dream,” Comings said of his victory.“I just was determined this year and dreamt about it and dreamt about it to the point I am like: ‘I have to stop dreaming about this or I am going to get disappointed.’ I just want to do this so bad and to be standing here now talking to you guys with these trophies I just can't believe it.
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“I feel it's such a privilege just to be counted as one of the 425 safest drivers that's here. To get the trophy for national champion, it's like, ‘Hey, I am a national champion now.’ And then to hear my name with this; It's hard to even process that my name gets up there with those [grand champions].”
Comings’ victory gives FedEx the two most recent grand champions, joining Jackie Reed from Mississippi last year at Indianapolis The blue ribbon award debuted in 1987, 50 years after the start of NTDC.
Congratulations David Comings of Freight, the Bendix Grand Champion!
Read more: — American Trucking (@TRUCKINGdotORG)
The tournament’s final round presented a series of difficulties for Comings. For the two rounds of competition, drivers are required to maneuver through an intricate course as well as take part in a pre-trip vehicle inspection.
”It was challenging. It was good. I really liked the obstacles they chose. They were the ones I’ve worked on, but definitely they shrunk the scoring pads and gave us room to work with,” he told Transport Topics after wrapping up his final-round runoff.
Notably, Comings also took the tournament’s award for best performance on the written exam of industry regulations.
“One thing I’ve learned is everybody learns differently,” he said of his strategy for studying for the written exam, “What’s worked for me is just continuing to listen and listen and absorb it that way a lot of [the] time. It takes a lot of time to soak in all the knowledge that’s in that book.” The NTDC test is based on ATA’s Facts for Drivers. The book is available in audio-format.
NTDC 2025 grand champion David Comings of North Dakota checks his side mirror while navigating the course at Minneapolis Convention Center on Aug. 23. (American Trucking Associations)
Earlier this year, Comings was grand champion of the North Dakota Truck Driving Championships. prior to the contest, Comings reflected on his role with Team FedEx.
“It’s truly an honor and a privilege to be a part of the team and each year connect with old friends and make new friends,” he said. “I think in my first year I made a few friends from different places and we connected and then the next year a few more came in and you just get to know more people and it’s so fun to rub shoulders with other safety-focused drivers.”
Comings also acknowledged NTDC’s blue ribbon had been top of mind for years.
“My goal is to one day hold that grand champion trophy,” he said,
ATA President Chris Spear addressed the drivers in the morning, then later paid tribute to Comings: "This week, David put on a master class of precision and professionalism that define NTDC." (American Trucking Associations)
“Congratulations to David on his extraordinary achievement,” said. “Over the course of three decades and 3.1 million accident-free miles, David has proven his driving prowess and commitment to safety.This week, David put on a master class of precision and professionalism that define NTDC, emerging from an elite field of highly skilled competitors.
"Here in Minneapolis, the best of the best of the nation’s truck drivers showed to the world what our industry is all about. Each one is a champion in his or her own right, leading with safety and setting the bar high.”
Today we celebrated our champions, announced our finalists, and revved up the energy with a Parade of Equipment! But the day isn’t over yet. Tune in tonight to ATA’s Facebook page as we livestream the announcement of the Bendix Grand Champion. — American Trucking (@TRUCKINGdotORG)
“For nearly nine decades, NTDC has been an inspiring exhibition of passion and skill, and this year was no exception,” added Dennis Dellinger, ATA chairman and CEO of Cargo Transporters Inc. “On behalf of all ATA members, I extend heartfelt congratulations to David—and to all of this year’s champions—for an incredible performance at the NTDC. I also want to thank the countless volunteers who make the truck driving championships so special, from the state-level competitions all the way to the crowning of the grand champion.”
Placing second and third in the 5-axle class were Comings’ FedEx teammates Connecticut’s Roland Bolduc and Kentucky’s John Willinger, respectively. Bolduc is this year’s Connecticut grand champion and a NTDC grand champion in 2017 and 2022. Willinger is an award-winning driver from the Bluegrass State.
NTDC could be defined as the intersection of competition and camaraderie. (American Trucking Associations)
The drivers from Colorado, led by FedEx Freight’s David Mogler, competing in his final NTDC, took home the team title. FedEx Freight’s Nick Gaudette from Team Colorado won the vehicle condition award for best pre-trip at NTDC.
Dick Gillespie at NTDC 2023 in Columbus, Ohio. (Judd Hanson/Transport Topics)
During the awards gala, the NTDC committee recognized the contributions of two-time grand champion Dick Gillespie (1988, 1991), famous for winning every award in tournament history (vehicle class titles, professional excellence, volunteer of the year). The veteran driver, who is approaching retirement, continued to inspire competitors at the event.
“When I’m talking to a driver, I’m just giving them good luck, ‘I hope you do a good job,’” Gillespie told TT on Aug. 22. Former grand champions at the gala greeted Gillespie on the stage. They included Bob Dolan (1990), , Dale Duncan (2006, 2009), Jeff Langenhahn (2014), Bolduc, Scott Woodrome (2018, 2019), Gragg Wilson (2023) and Reed. Notably, Langenhahn from Wisconsin with XPO was named the Tanker class division winner.
The Parade of Equipment is a highlight of every NTDC. (American Trucking Associations)
“Over the past few days, we have witnessed extraordinary feats of skill, precision and determination as the nation’s finest professional truck drivers tackled complex courses and rose to the challenge,” NTDC Chairman Robert Foskey said. “Their mastery of their profession and commitment to safety have been nothing short of inspiring.”
Dustin Henderson with the Texas Department of Public Safety took home the North American Inspectors Championship (NAIC) Jimmy K. Ammons Grand Champion Award. The event is hosted by the . “NAIC was created to recognize roadside inspectors and enforcement personnel – the backbone of the commercial motor vehicle safety program in North America – and promote uniformity, consistency and reciprocity of inspections through training, education and competition,” per CVSA.
Dustin Henderson of the Texas Department of Public Safety took top honors in the North American Inspectors Championship, sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. The event is held in conjunction with NTDC. (American Trucking Associations)
NTDC 2025 Winners
Step Van: 1, Logan Montandon, FedEx, Texas; 2, Matthew Futral, FedEx, Georgia; 3, Connor Christensen, UPS, Illinois
3-Axle: 1, Dan Shamrell, FedEx Freight, Oregon; 2, Gary Luster, FedEx Freight, Tennessee; 3, Brent Darnell, Southeastern Freight Lines, Georgia
4-Axle: 1, Stephen Johnson, FedEx Freight, Mississippi; 2, Jeremy Steger, XPO, Wisconsin; 3, Robert Crowder, Old Dominion Freight Line, Virginia
5-Axle: 1, David Comings, FedEx Freight, North Dakota; 2, Roland Bolduc, FedEx Freight, Connecticut; 3, John Willinger, FedEx Freight, Kentucky
Flatbed: 1, Edward Hill, FedEx Freight, Delaware; 2, Adam Heim, FedEx Freight, Idaho; 3, Kenneth Rageth, FedEx Freight, Wyoming
Sleeper Berth: 1, Merle Ashbaugh, DHL Supply Chain, Ohio; 2, Todd Flippin, FedEx Freight, Colorado; 3, Herschel Evans, Aubrey Silvey Enterprises, Georgia
Straight Truck: Mark Carver, FedEx Freight, Missouri
Tank Truck: 1, Jeff Langenhahn, XPO, Wisconsin; 2, Ernie Budlowski, XPO, Connecticut; 3, Glen Kirk, Old Dominion Freight Line
Twins: 1, Miguel Sanchez, UPS, Florida; 2, David Mogler, FedEx Freight, Colorado; 3, David Hall, ABF Freight, Arkansas
Rookie of the Year: Jeffrey Reed, UPS
Team: 1, Colorado (Captain: David Mogler, FedEx Freight); 2. Illinois; 3, Virginia
Vehicle Condition: Nick Gaudette, FedEx Freight, Colorado
Written Exam: David Comings, FedEx Freight, North Dakota
Neil Darmstadter Professional Excellence: Leroy Williams Sr., XPO
Sam Gillette Lifetime Volunteer Award: Linda Nodland
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