CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – For an incredible third time, professional truck driver Larry Gorby, a driver for XPO and resident of Charleston, was named Grand Champion of the West Virginia Trucking Association’s Annual Truck Driving Championship, held Saturday, April 20th, in Parkersburg.
Gorby, who has been a professional truck driver for 33 years, took the top honor after competing in a variety of skill and safety tests. He has competed in 23 WV Truck Driving Championships, winning his class of competition 6 times, and the Grand Champion Award 3 times.
Traci Nelson, President of the West Virginia Trucking Association, said, “The purpose of the Truck Driving Championship is to give trucking professionals the opportunity to test their driving and safety skills against their West Virginia peers. The competition mirrors what professional truck drivers must do day-in and day-out to maintain safety records unmatched by any other segment of the driving public.”
In addition to the driving competition, which included 36 professional truck drivers representing multiple West Virginia-based motor freight companies, the association recognized drivers for their 2023 safety accomplishments during an awards ceremony Saturday.
Nelson said Ronald Schoonover of Elkins, WV, who drives for Houff Transfer, was honored with the WV Professional Driver of the Year Award. Schoonover has driven over 4 million miles in his 40-year career with no accidents.
Guy Barry a driver with Houff Transfer and an Inwood resident, earned the West Virginia Public Service Commission Driver of the Year Award. Smith has driven for 40 years and has logged over 4 million miles with no accidents.
Other winners include:
First Place Straight Truck – John Thompson, Hurricane, WV, FedEx Freight
First Place 3-Axle Tractor Semi-trailer – Mike Roberts, Eleanor, WV, XPO
First Place 4-Axle Tractor Semi-trailer – Larry Gorby, Charleston, WV, XPO
First Place 5-Axle Van – Ernest Adkins, Huntington, WV, Walmart Transportation
First Place Tank Truck – Brett Thompson, Ripley, WV, Walmart Transportation
First Place Flatbed – Justin Moody, Beckley, WV, Walmart Transportation
First Place Twin Trailers – William Adkins, South Point, OH, FedEx Freight
First Place Sleeper Berth – Jordan Jordan, Henderson, WV, Walmart Transportation
First Place Step Van – Brandon Wuletich, Caldwell, OH, FedEx
Pre-Trip Inspection Award – William Adkins, Southpoint, OH, FedEx Freight
Rookie of the Year:Â Ernest Adkins, Huntington, WV, Walmart Transportation
Team Champion Award: XPO
All first-place drivers will compete in the American Trucking Associations’ National Truck Driving Championship – also known as the Super Bowl of Safety – taking place in in Indianapolis, August 21-24.
For additional information, contact Traci Nelson at (304) 345-2800.