Rich Sweeney competing at the 2023 National Truck Driving Championships in Columbus.
Reminder Publishing submitted photos
CHICOPEE — Chicopee-based LTL Class A XPO driver Rich Sweeney is preparing to compete in the Super Bowl, but not the one that takes place in February.
From Aug. 11-14, Sweeney will participate in the National Truck Driving Championships in Pittsburgh after placing first in the flatbed category at the Massachusetts Truck Driving Championship.
Known as the “Super Bowl of Safety”, the NTDC recognizes and promotes the highest standards of safety on the roads by hosting a premier annual truck driving competition.
The event has been organized by the American Trucking Association since 1937 and showcases the nation’s top drivers’ skills, safety knowledge and professionalism.
To qualify for the state truck driving championship, drivers must remain accident-free for the year prior and log many miles. Sweeney has been driving for about 40 years and has over 2 million consecutive miles of safe driving under his belt.
Once qualified, drivers compete on highly technical, obstacle-laden courses which demand precision and skill. The NTDC also tests drivers on mechanical skill, requiring them to spot defects in a simulated pre-trip inspection and a written exam on trucking rules and regulations.
“It just showcases the best drivers in the industry,” Sweeney stated. “It’s probably one of the biggest safety events that the ATA holds. They basically showcase the driver and what we do every day.”
Winners can earn first, second and third place in each class. Other awards include grand champion, professional excellence award, vehicle condition award and rookie of the year. Sweeney said he has competed in the state championship about 30 times, and the upcoming national competition will be his 18th time qualifying for the event. He finished as high as second place.
“It feels unbelievable,” Sweeney stated when reacting to his qualification. “I don’t want to say it’s a new experience every year, but it just makes you feel good because driving a year without any accidents is very tough, so to be able to qualify for this and do it again is what I enjoy.”
Besides networking, Sweeney said he enjoys attending the event because many of the people involved have become a family to him.
In 2024, Sweeney received the Neill Darmstadter Professional Excellence Award, presented to the contestant who best exemplifies the attributes of a professional truck driver.
He talked about the unbelievable feeling he had when his name was announced. “That just means you’re respected by all other competitors,” Sweeney said. “I didn’t even know I would qualify for that.”
The NTDC is the nation’s premier stage that rewards drivers who keep America’s roads safe daily.
According to its website, XPO is “a leading LTL freight company with a world-class network, technology and service. [The] platform simplifies LTL shipping, offering instant freight quote options.”
Sweeney explained that LTL stands for “less than truckload,” which means he does multiple stops a day. A truckload is a full 53-foot trailer. He said that sometimes while on his run, he might have anywhere from 15 to 17 stops.
“You get to know people very well,” Sweeney stated. “What I enjoy the most is seeing the customers, and you get to make friends, and they also become family too. You see them every day; you talk about how the mom and dad are doing, how the kids are doing, etc. It breaks up your day, and basically, we become friends.”
