For second time, professional truck driver Mike Markham, a driver for Old Dominion Freight Lines and resident of Belpre, Ohio, was named Grand Champion of the West Virginia Trucking Association’s Annual Truck Driving Championship held Saturday, June 21, at Grafton. Markham, who has been a professional truck driver for 29 years, took the top honor after competing in a variety of skill and safety tests. He has competed in multiple Truck Driving Championships, and won the Grand Champion Award in 2023.

Traci Nelson, President of the West Virginia Trucking Association, said, “The purpose of the Truck Driving Championship is to give trucking professionals the opportunity to test their driving and safety skills against their peers. The competition mirrors what professional truck drivers must do day‑in and day‑out to maintain safety records unmatched by any other segment of the driving public.”

In addition to the driving competition, which included dozens of professional truck drivers representing multiple West Virginia‑based motor freight companies, the association recognized drivers for their 2024 safety accomplishments during an awards ceremony following the event. Nelson said Nick Backes of Hurricane, who drives for Pitt Ohio, was honored with the West Virginia Professional Driver of the Year Award. Backes has driven more than three million miles during his 40‑year career with no accidents. Jeremy Gray, a driver with Old Dominion Freight Lines and a Williamstown resident, earned the West Virginia Public Service Commission Driver of the Year Award. Gray has driven for 18 years and has logged more than 2.5 million miles with no accidents.

Other winners include:

- First Place Straight Truck – Alexander Atkins, St. Albans, Pitt Ohio
- First Place 3‑Axle Tractor Semi‑trailer – Mike Roberts, Eleanor, XPO
- First Place 4‑Axle Tractor Semi‑trailer – Cole Miltenberger, Ridgeley, Pitt Ohio
- First Place 5‑Axle Van – Steve Looney, St. Albans, ABF Freight
- First Place Tank Truck – Mike Markham, Belpre, Ohio, Old Dominion Freight Lines
- First Place Flatbed – Justin Moody, Beckley, Walmart Transportation
- First Place Twin Trailers – Vince May, Sitka, Ky., FedEx Freight
- First Place Sleeper Berth – David Roberts, St. Albans, Walmart Transportation
- First Place Step Van – Brandon Wuletich, Caldwell, Ohio, FedEx Freight
- Pre‑Trip Inspection Award – Mike Roberts, Eleanor, XPO
- Rookie of the Year – David Roberts, St. Albans, Walmart Transportation
- Team Champion Award – Pitt Ohio

All first‑place drivers will compete in the American Trucking Association’s National Truck Driving Championship – also known as the Super Bowl of Safety – taking place in Minneapolis, Minn., Aug. 20‑23.

Top Drivers Honored at WV Truck Driving Championship

The West Virginia Trucking Association’s Annual Truck Driving Championship, held on June 21 in Grafton, recognized professional truck drivers for skill and safety. Mike Markham of Old Dominion Freight Lines won the Grand Champion award for the second time, while other drivers received awards for safety records and first‑place finishes in various truck categories.