CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The West Virginia Trucking Association today announced the winners of its 2026 Truck Driving Championship, honoring the state’s top professional drivers for their skill, precision, and commitment to safety. Roy Smith of Walmart Transportation, a resident of Sophia, West Virginia, was named Grand Champion after competing in the annual event.
Smith, who has driven professionally for 10 years and has logged 1 million miles, earned the top honor in his first championship win after competing in three state Truck Driving Championships. The competition tested drivers across a series of skill and safety challenges designed to reflect the demands of professional truck driving.
“The purpose of the Truck Driving Championship is to give trucking professionals the opportunity to test their driving and safety skills against their peers,” said Traci Nelson, president of the West Virginia Trucking Association. “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.”
Also recognized was Mark Nelson of Houff Transfer, who was named the West Virginia Professional Driver of the Year. Nelson has driven for 26 years, including 24 years with Houff, and has done so without an accident.
Class Winners:
Grand Champion: Roy Smith, Walmart Transportation, Sophia.
Straight: Nick Backes, Pitt Ohio, Belle.
Three Axle: Jerrold Friend, FedEx Freight, Capon Bridge.
4-Axle: Roy Smith, Walmart Transportation, Sophia.
Van: Alexander Atkins, Pitt Ohio, St. Albans.
Tank: Larry Gorby, XPO, Charleston.
Flat: Chris Wigal, DHL, Washington.
Twins: Stephen Hartman, FedEx Freight, Martinsburg.
Sleeper: William Adkins, FedEx Freight, South Point, Ohio.
Step Van: Brian Ash, FedEx, Clarksburg.
Rookie: Thomas Smith, DHL, St. Marys.
Pre-Trip Inspection Award: Justin Moody, Walmart Transportation, Beckley.
Team Award: Pitt Ohio.
The championship celebrates the professionalism of West Virginia’s trucking industry and the men and women who help keep freight moving safely across the state and beyond. First-place drivers will advance to the American Trucking Associations National Truck Driving Championship in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 11-14.
