Five drivers representing FedEx Corp. operating companies placed among the top finishers at the 2005 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) in Tampa Aug. 16-20.

The five driving professionals, who each earned the right to compete in the NTDC by capturing first-place honors in state-level truck driving championships, competed against nearly 400 others for national titles in eight different classes of vehicles.
Darrell Kimbrell, a 12-year FedEx Freight driver from Birmingham, Ala., earned the title of National Champion in the Twins class. Kimbrell has accumulated more than a million accident-free miles during his 24-year driving career.
Additionally, four other FedEx drivers finished among the top three in their respective classes:
• Louisville, Ky.-based FedEx Freight Driver Wayne Crowder, the 2004 National Grand Champion, placed second in the Flatbed class.
• Don Nehring, a contractor for FedEx Ground domiciled in Memphis, was third place in the Straight Truck class.
• Steve Thordarson, a driver for FedEx Freight based in Fargo, N.D., took third place in the 4-Axle class.
• FedEx Freight Driver Thomas Winston, based in Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C., finished third in the Tank Truck class.
"The honors achieved by Darrell, Wayne, Don, Steve and Thomas exemplify the superior level of professionalism and dedication that our 76,000-plus drivers, couriers and contractors bring to every delivery, every day," said Frederick W. Smith, chairman, president and chief executive officer, FedEx Corp. "In addition, the performance of the entire FedEx team at the NTDC reflects our collective ongoing commitment to the safety of our driving force and the motoring public."