NASHVILLE, TN (September 16, 2012)—To roars of applause, nine winners individually took to the stage at the awards banquet that was the culmination of the 2012 IFDA Truck Driving Championship, held September 14-16 in Nashville, TN. There were backslaps from team members and hugs from spouses as each winner was announced. Passing through the crowd, winning drivers were congratulated by competitors from other companies in recognition of the significant achievement. The Championship, which tests the skills and knowledge of food industry drivers and celebrates the safe operation of commercial vehicles, is the only national competition designed for a specific industry.
“It’s a competition, but camaraderie is high,” said Tom Zatina, president of McLane Foodservice Distribution and chairman of the International Foodservice Distributors Association, the organization that holds the championship. “This is an event that in a very direct manner supports the strong safety culture we work to achieve at our companies. It’s a great reward for drivers across this industry, and for our drivers at McLane Foodservice, to compete in this national competition. It really highlights the skills a driver applies each day in doing their job well and in doing it safely,” said Zatina. McLane Foodservice Distribution sent drivers and managers from 10 of the company’s divisions.
The competition includes 5-Axle, 3-Axle, and Straight Truck categories. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place winners in each category received a cash award and competition medallion. 1st Place winners also received a Champion's Jacket and a truck magnet declaring them Champions in the 2012 competition.
(Left to right back row) Scott Michaud of Performance Foodservice, Edward Britton of The Martin-Brower Company, Brad Nicol of The Martin-Brower Company, Michael Lynch of Kraft Foods, and Todd Hewines of GFS Ontario. (Left to right front row) Steve Tribe of Nicholas & Company, Duane Kaitoku of Southern Wine & Spirits, Andre Lamontagne of GFS Quebec, and Pat Swanson of Cash-Wa Distributing.
5-Axle (48-foot Tractor/Trailer)
1st Place – Scott Michaud, Performance Foodservice – Springfield, Springfield, MA
2nd Place – Brad Nicol, The Martin-Brower Company, L.L.C., Orlando, FL
3rd Place – Edward Britton, The Martin-Brower Company, L.L.C., North Little Rock, AR
3-Axle (28-foot Tractor/Trailer)
1st Place – Pat Swanson, Cash-Wa Distributing, Kearney, NE
2nd Place – Todd Hewines, GFS Ontario, Milton, ON
3rd Place – Michael Lynch, Kraft Foods, Inc., Northwest Region
Straight Truck
1st Place – Steve Tribe, Nicholas & Company, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT
2nd Place – Andre Lamontagne, GFS Quebec, Quebec, QC
3rd Place – Duane Kaitoku, Southern Wine & Spirits, Kapolei, HI
Read more on the IFDA website: http://www.ifdaonline.org/webarticles/anmviewer.asp?a=845&z=1
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