PMTA Names FedEx Freight Driver Mark Carver Its 2025 Driver of the Year
The Professional Motor Truckers Association (PMTA) has selected Mark Carver, a FedEx Freight driver from Kearney, Missouri, as its Driver of the Year for 2025. Carver earned this recognition after winning the Straight Truck National Championship on August 29, 2025. As a captain on the FedEx Freight Road Team, he has logged more than 3.5 million safe-driving miles over his 27-year career.
This award highlights Carver’s skill in precision maneuvering and commitment to safety, qualities essential for straight truck operators who navigate tight spaces and urban routes daily. Professional drivers value such championships because they set benchmarks for safe operation across vehicle classes.
FedEx Freight Dominates 2025 National Truck Driving Championships
The 88th American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) National Truck Driving & Step Van Championships (NTDC) concluded August 20-23 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The event drew 425 drivers from 56 companies across 49 states, representing a collective 756 million accident-free miles.
FedEx Freight and Federal Express Corporation fielded more than one-third of the competitors, sending 174 drivers announced from Memphis, Tennessee, on August 13, 2025. This team included five defending champions from the 2024 NTDC and 18 past national champions.
David Comings, a FedEx Freight driver from North Dakota, claimed the prestigious Bendix Grand Champion title. Comings also secured first place in his step van category, demonstrating excellence in both pre-trip inspections, driving skills, and written tests.
Key FedEx Freight Achievements at the NTDC
FedEx Freight drivers excelled across multiple categories. Since 2003, FedEx drivers have won eight National Grand Champion titles, 76 national class championships, and 11 National Rookie of the Year honors. This year’s team built on that legacy with strong state-level performances: 24 drivers earned their state’s Grand Championship, and eight first-time competitors were named state Rookies of the Year.
Notable results included:
- Stephen Johnson, FedEx Freight from Mississippi: 1st place in his category.
- Samuel Bryant, FedEx Freight from Tennessee: 2nd place.
- Gary Luster, FedEx Freight from Tennessee: 2nd place.
- David Comings, FedEx Freight from North Dakota: 1st place and Grand Champion.
- David Mogler, FedEx Freight from Colorado: 2nd place.
- Todd Flippin, FedEx Freight from Colorado: 2nd place.
- Nick Gaudette, FedEx Freight from Colorado: Recognized for team contributions.
Colorado drivers, including several from FedEx Freight, helped their state win the team championship for the highest collective score.
Broader Context of the National Championships
Originating in 1937 as the National Truck Roadeo, the NTDC requires drivers to qualify through state-level championships. Competitors face rigorous challenges: a pre-trip inspection, a skills course testing backing, parking, and straight-line driving, and a written safety exam. These events emphasize accident prevention and operational proficiency, directly relevant to daily hauling challenges faced by professional drivers.
At the closing ceremonies, ATA also honored Jeffrey Reed, a UPS driver from New Mexico, as the 2025 Rookie of the Year. Such recognitions underscore the industry’s focus on experience and newcomer excellence alike.
For FedEx Freight drivers like Carver and Comings, these victories reinforce the Road Team’s role in promoting safety standards. The Road Team captains, such as Carver, represent carriers at events and advocate for best practices among peers.
Why These Wins Matter to Professional Drivers
National championships provide tangible benchmarks for safe miles and skills. With FedEx Freight drivers comprising a significant portion of the field and securing top honors, the results highlight the carrier’s investment in driver training. Professional drivers from other operations can study these performances to refine their own techniques, particularly in competitive classes like straight trucks and step vans used in LTL freight.
The event’s scale—425 elite drivers with millions of safe miles—reminds the trucking community of the high standards required to qualify and compete. Wins by drivers like Carver, with his 3.5 million miles, validate long-term dedication in an industry where safety directly impacts careers and road partners.
PMTA’s selection of Carver as Driver of the Year ties directly to his national straight truck win, celebrating a driver whose career exemplifies the precision needed for regional and pickup-delivery runs. Similarly, Comings’ Grand Champion status elevates FedEx Freight’s standing while inspiring state qualifiers nationwide.