Some of the nation’s best truckers and truck inspectors are converging on Milwaukee this week to compete in contests designed to honor the best of the best.

More than 400 truck drivers will compete in the American Trucking Associations’ 2002 National Truck Driving Championships, to be held Tuesday through Saturday in the Midwest Express Center.
The contestants are the state champions (in nine truck types) from all 50 states. In their respective classes -- from 18-wheeled five axle sleepers to tank trucks to twin trailers to straight trucks -- they will compare their expertise in the driving skills they use daily. The tests include an alley dock, a rear line stop, a side park, a scales stop, a right turn, a front line stop, and straight line driving through a diminishing clearance.
When it is all over on Saturday, August 17, the U.S. will have a new National Grand Champion Truck Driver, along with individual champions in each truck size. The state team with the highest score will also be honored.
In addition, fifty commercial vehicle inspectors from the United States, Canada, and Mexico will take part in the 2002 North American Inspectors' Championship August 13-17 at the Milwaukee Convention Center as they compete for the title of North America's "Grand Champion Inspector."
This annual championship challenges the skills of inspectors and provides the contestants with an opportunity to receive hands-on training and education on the latest commercial vehicle issues and technologies. This event will include security training to enhance the inspectors' abilities to guard against terrorist activities on the highway.
The annual North American Inspectors' Championships are sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and are held in conjunction with the National Truck Driving Championship.