These competitions are designed to help truckers recognize their own abilities. Most companies are willing to pay the entry fees for drivers who have the desire to compete. Drivers are qualified if they have been employed by the same company for one full year and have no accountable accidents. Each year truckers compete at state level, in their usual driving division. First place winners of each class, go on to compete at a national level.
National competition consists of the same testing as the state.
The difference being, drivers are competing with the best of the best from all fifty states. The competitions motivate drivers to study for the written test, without the pressure of passing. Drivers get the opportunity to express themselves in a series of questions during an oral test. Understanding of the direct relation between stress, mental fatigue and physical fatigue is gained. The competition provides the opportunity to do an eight minute pre-trip inspection.