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American Trucking Associations’ National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships have been canceled due to coronavirus-related concerns.
ATA President Chris Spear in an April 6 letter informed professional truck drivers, ATA members and state trucking association executives of the decision to cancel the event, which was scheduled to take place August 19-22 in Indianapolis and is often called the “Super Bowl of Safety.”
“Our industry’s creed and the very spirit of these competitions is ‘safety first,’ and this decision reflects that,” Spear wrote. “It’s made out of an abundance of caution on behalf of the professional drivers competing at the state level, along with the state associations, companies and family members who organize, host and cheer on the competitors.”
Spear also noted that, because most drivers are unable to practice and compete at the state level during the pandemic, the decision maintains the integrity of a “national” championship.
NTDC is an opportunity for hundreds of the most skilled truck drivers in the country — representing different states and different classes of vehicle — to compete against one another. During the event, drivers must complete a written test, a pre-trip inspection and a skills course.
RELACIONADO: State Championships Schedule
The event draws crowds of supporters, many of whom are friends and family members of the competing drivers. Spear said ATA’s decision marks the first time since World War II that the event has been canceled.
ATA’s decision was released in the days following several state trucking associations’ announcements that they would be canceling their championships. The state championships determine the qualifiers who advance to NTDC.
Judges watch a tank truck reversing in Pittsburgh last year. (John Sommers II for Transport Topics)
Arizona, New Hampshire, Vermont and Connecticut canceled their state truck driving championships over coronavirus-related concerns within the last week. Over the past couple of weeks, 10 states decided to postpone their truck driving championships.
In his letter, Spear said ATA will look forward to holding the event next year in Minneapolis.
“Thank you for every mile you run and every delivery you make,” Spear wrote. “You make your families, our industry and entire country proud.”
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Source: https://www.ttnews.com/articles/ntdc-canceled-because-coronavirus-concerns
