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Viking Freight Drivers Set to Compete for Top Honors

7 August 2000

Viking Freight Drivers Set to Compete for Top Honors; Team of Six Highly Skilled Drivers Travel to New Orleans for National Truck Driving Championships

    SAN JOSE, Calif.--Aug. 7, 2000--With a commitment to promote good driving habits, six drivers from Viking Freight Inc., the leading LTL (less-than-truckload) carrier providing Western regional transportation service and a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. , will travel to New Orleans to compete in the National Truck Driving Championships (TDC), August 9 - 12. These drivers represent Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah, where they won various first place awards in state championships during the last few months.
    "Each year the competition continues to grow, adding more excitement and challenge to both the state and national championships," said Scot Bishop, Viking's director of human resources, safety and training. "Our employees and customers take pride in our drivers' accomplishments, whether it's everyday safety, on-time deliveries, or in the championship arena."
    Only drivers who win first place awards in their state championships are invited to participate in the national competition. Viking's six first-place state winners, who will demonstrate their talents in New Orleans, are:

    Doubles
    -- 1st - Wes Brinkley, Chico pickup and delivery (P&D) driver,
    California

    Three Axle
    -- 1st - Jeff Smit, Portland P&D driver, Oregon
    -- 1st - Gregg Wilson, Reno P&D driver, Nevada

    Five Axle
    -- 1st - Richard Anderson, Phoenix P&D driver, Arizona

    Straight
    -- 1st - Carol Craig, Reno P&D driver, Nevada

    Twins
    -- 1st - Bill Sorrels, Salt Lake City P&D driver, Utah

    "Our drivers see their participation in this competition as a valuable benefit of working for our company," said Tom Suchevits, Viking's vice president of human resources. "They are excited to have the opportunity to showcase their abilities as professional drivers, as well the opportunity to show their Viking team spirit."
    Viking's other state winners were selected in ten driving categories and the winners in each event, excluding the six first place winners mentioned earlier, were as follows:

    Best Pre-trip Award (perfect equipment inspection score)
    -- Chris Outen, Portland P&D driver, Oregon

    Doubles
    -- 3rd - David Marquez, Fresno line driver, California
    -- 3rd - Brian Mallory, Fontana P&D driver, California

    Flatbed
    -- 2nd - Bud Deforest, Salt Lake City P&D driver, Utah
    -- 3rd - Bruce Wilson, Reno P&D driver, Nevada

    Three Axle
    -- 2nd - Pat McGovern, Denver P&D driver, Colorado
    -- 2nd - Dan Shamrell, Portland P&D driver, Oregon
    -- 3rd - Brian Hait, Salt Lake City P&D driver, Utah
    -- 3rd - Chris Mahony, Salt Lake City P&D driver, Utah
    -- 3rd - Mike Thacker, Fontana P&D driver, California

    Three Axle Grand Champion (competition's highest score)
    -- Jeff Smit, Portland P&D driver, Oregon

    Four Axle
    -- 2nd - Steve Beck, Reno P&D driver, Nevada
    -- 2nd - Rich Fleming, Portland P&D driver, Oregon
    -- 2nd - Dennis Triano, Santa Clara P&D driver, California
    -- 3rd - Jerry Lambert, Portland P&D driver, Oregon
    -- 3rd - Manual Medeiros, San Leandro P&D driver, California

    President's Safety Award - P&D
    -- Wes Brinkley, Chico P&D driver, California

    Straight
    -- 2nd - Chris Outen, Portland P&D driver, Oregon
    -- 3rd - Charlie Woodland, Phoenix P&D driver, Arizona

    Twins
    -- 2nd - Brad Clyne, Phoenix P&D driver, Arizona
    -- 2nd - Tracy Ellis, Salt Lake City line driver, Utah
    -- 2nd - Ted Hunger, Denver line driver, Colorado