Richland, Miss. – Four drivers from KLLM
Transport Services were among the top award winners at the
Mississippi Trucking Association’s Truck Driving
Championships, recently held in Tupelo. First place winners
advanced to the National Truck Driving Championship.
At this trucking competition, the 37th annual for the Mississippi
Trucking Association, KLLM drivers Steve Jones, Bill Fambro, Tim
Gillette and Kevin Lavespere won awards in their respective
categories. Jones (of Monroe, La.) won first place in the five-axle
sleeper division. Fambro (of Biloxi, Miss.) won first place in the
tanker division. Gillette (of Cullman, Ala.) won first place in the
three-axle division. And, Lavespere (of Montgomery, La.) placed
third in the flatbed division.
The driving competition is held to improve safety by promoting,
encouraging and rewarding driving practices that are safe and
responsible. During the competition, each driver must complete a
written examination to test his/her knowledge of the trucking
industry, driving rules, first aid and other key subjects.
Field-testing is done to measure each driver’s ability to
identify safety defects in the equipment. Finally, drivers are
required to maneuver tractor-trailers through obstacles that test a
driver’s ability to operate safely in close quarters.
The Mississippi Truck Driving Championship was held at the Lee
County Agricultural Complex in Tupelo. More than 100 drivers from
companies and transportation carriers across Mississippi
participated in the event. Individual state winners advanced to the
National Truck Driving Championship, scheduled for August 21-25 in
Minneapolis.
“The drivers competing in this event are the best Mississippi
has to offer,” said Vince Schott, KLLM’s Vice President
of Information Services and Safety. “Only those drivers with
spotless safety records were eligible to compete, and first had to
win their own company’s driving championship to even qualify
for the state event. We commend these drivers for their commitment
to promoting and improving safety on our nation’s
highways.”
“Our company is extremely proud of its drivers and the safety
record we have achieved,” said Jim Richards, Chief Operating
Officer at KLLM. “This is important to us, our customers, and
most importantly, the motoring public. KLLM’s drivers and
staff remain fully committed to the practice of safe driving
behaviors that help protect highway travelers from harm.”
About KLLM Transport Services, Inc.
KLLM is the largest Mississippi-based transportation company, and
one of the largest in the southeastern United States, operating a
fleet of trucks, temperature-controlled trailers and dry-haul vans.
They provide transport of truckload freight to customers throughout
the continental United States and Mexico, and maintain a fleet of
company-owned tractor/trailers and owner operators. For over 40
years, KLLM has been transporting perishable commodities and dry
haul cargo. To learn more about KLLM, call 866-874-5556 or visit
www.kllm.com.