Behind the wheel

Steve Johnson has been driving truck for more than 15 years. Still, he's a little nerv-ous about his next assignment.

Over the next few days, he'll be expected to answer some tough questions and prove his truck-driving prowess in front of an audience of specta-tors and competitors.

Johnson, of Lake Park, Minn., is a driver sales repre-sentative for Con-way Freight in West Fargo.

He is heading for Minneapo-lis today (Tuesday) to compete in the 2007 National Truck Driving Championships, considered the Super Bowl of truck driving, according to a news release.

Johnson is competing in the five-axle sleeper class, in which he won the North Da-kota state title. But he won't be able to drive the truck in which he'll be competing until the championships.

"Everybody goes in blind so we all have a fair chance," he said.

To win the state title, he had to compete in a written exam, which tests general trucking knowledge, safe-driving rules and first aid.

He had to do a personal in-terview with North Dakota state troopers to assess his attitude toward the industry, management and enforcement agencies.

He had to undergo a pretrip inspection to show knowledge of the equipment and an abil-ity to fix problems that may arise.

And he had to take a driving test to demonstrate his skills in braking, parking, backing up and maneuvering through tight spots.

Johnson will have to do it all over again for the national competition, only this time he'll be pitted against the best drivers in the nation.

"Second doesn't cut it. Sec-ond doesn't cut it out on the road," he said. "You have to be number one when you do things as far as safety."

To win would be a great honor, Johnson said. But even if he doesn't win, he said the experience is a good way to learn about improving safety.

"Our company takes a lot of pride in safety," Johnson said. "We practice for these things so we're better out on the road."

Johnson has been with Con-way Freight for 6 years. He has been a licensed truck driver since 1992. Before that, he drove a grain truck for his family's farm.

Richard Thomas, Con-way Freight West Fargo Service Center manager, said the five-axle sleeper division is a tough class.

"He's a competitive guy every day," Thomas said of Johnson. "He does a good job every day. He worked hard in the practices leading up to it."

In addition to the state title, drivers must be accident-free, both preventable and nonpre-ventable accidents, in the 12-months leading up to the national competition, Thomas said.

"The driving champion-ships have always been a focus for us," Thomas said. "We encourage as many driv-ers to compete as are willing to do so."

Tim Schneider, a Con-way Freight West Fargo Service Center driver, has partici-pated in two national champi-onships. He said it's "a little overwhelming when you go for the first time."

Robert Fiest of Bismarck is also competing in the three-axle class.

The American Trucking As-sociation's Safety and Loss Prevention Management Council hosts the National Truck Driving Champion-ships each year. This year's competition is at the Minnea-polis Convention Center.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Tracy Frank at (701) 241-5526