Nebraska Truck Driving Championships Crown FedEx Freight Driver Grand Champion

Who won the 2026 Nebraska Truck Driving Championships?

Paul Badgett of FedEx Freight took the 2026 grand champion title at the Nebraska Truck Driving Championships. Logan Booker of Walmart Transportation earned Rookie of the Year, the highest overall score among first-time competitors. Nine class winners advance to the ATA National Truck Driving Championships in Pittsburgh August 11-14.

The Nebraska event drew drivers from every size of carrier, from single-truck owner-operators to national LTL fleets. Ten truck classifications competed. Drivers faced four tests: a written exam, a personal interview with the Nebraska State Patrol, a pretrip inspection, and a six-problem driving course.

What the competition tests

The driving course challenges the skills drivers use daily on the road. Competitors navigated six problems designed to mirror real-world scenarios. The pretrip inspection scored drivers on their ability to spot defects before a trip. The written exam covered regulations and safety procedures. The oral interview with state patrol tested industry knowledge and professionalism.

Awards went to the highest combined scores across all four areas. Companies with three or more drivers competed for team awards, given to the carrier whose drivers posted the highest overall average.

Other award winners

Todd Gimpel of FedEx Freight won the Professional Excellence Award for the second straight year, the highest written test score. Logan Booker also took the Kurt Everett Vehicle Condition Award for the top pretrip inspection score. That award is named for a long-time Championships committee member.

Joseph Busch of ABF Freight won the Jerry Wessel Award, given to drivers who have competed or volunteered at least five years. The award honors the driver with the highest rating for professionalism, industry knowledge, and attitude during the event. It's named after a long-time NTDC leader.

What happens next

First-place winners in each class advance to national competition. Nine class winners will compete at the American Trucking Association's National Truck Driving Championships in Pittsburgh August 11-14. The mixer truck class winner advances to the National Mixer Driver Championship in Nashville in October.

The Nebraska event is one of dozens of state-level tournaments held across the country each spring and summer. State champions compete at nationals for the title of best professional driver in their class.

Why this matters for owner-operators

State and national driving championships recognize the precision skills professional drivers use every day. The competitions test the same abilities that keep CSA scores low and insurance premiums manageable: thorough pretrip inspections, safe maneuvering in tight spaces, and regulatory knowledge.

For small fleets hiring drivers, state championship experience signals a driver who takes the craft seriously. Competitors volunteer their time to test against peers and often bring that same attention to detail to daily operations. The pretrip inspection scores in particular reflect the kind of driver who catches defects before they become roadside violations or worse, crashes that spike a small fleet's insurance renewal.

If you're an owner-operator or small-fleet driver, your state trucking association likely runs a similar event. Competing costs nothing but a day of your time. You'll meet other drivers, get feedback from state patrol on your pretrip, and if you place, you'll have a credential that matters when you're looking for your next gig or trying to negotiate a better rate with a broker who wants proof you're a safe bet.