PITTSBURGH – More than 400 professionals converged on Pittsburgh, Aug. 14-17, 2019, to compete for national championships in their trucking specialties. Nebraska drivers shined as Adam Stroup of FedEx Express in Omaha won the National Step Van Championships and Sgt. Ben Schropfer of the Nebraska State Patrol has been crowned Grand Champion of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s North American Inspectors Championship for 2019.
“All of our Nebraska champions who went on to compete in the national championships gave a whole new meaning to the phrase, ‘Go Big Red,’ ” said Kent Grisham, Nebraska Trucking Association President and CEO. “They all spent hours practicing and engaging with others in our industry. These are good people who take care of their families, friends and communities. That’s what it’s all about. But these two men really brought our Husker spirit home in a super-tough, competitive environment.”
BEN SCHROPFER
Schropfer, of Nebraska City, has been a major asset to the Nebraska Trucking community. Recently, he presented a DOT Inspection class for a hundred diesel techs in Lincoln.
In Pittsburgh, Schropfer, 37, competed against 51 other inspectors covering hazardous materials, bulk packaging and passenger vehicles. He identified safety risks placed by officials for the competition. Tears welled at the ceremony where Schropfer was cheered on by his Nebraska neighbors, patrol partners and family. Speaking with Transport Topics, Schropfer said the hardest part of the competition was, “sleeping in a hotel room with four girls.” His biggest fans, wife Trina, and their four daughters, ages two to eight, were at the awards ceremony.
Schropfer is a 14-year veteran of NSP, stationed in Nebraska City, and is assigned to the Carrier Enforcement Division. He has previously won the Nebraska Inspector Championship in 2010, 2011, 2014, and 2016.
The Nebraska Inspector Championships are held each year as part of the Nebraska Truck Driving Championships. Each participant goes through a table-top exercise, various hands-on inspections, and a personal interview.
ADAM STROUP
Stroup pulled off some big scores to bring the Step Van National Championship to Nebraska. Stroup has worked for FedEx Express for 21 years logging 750,000 safely driven miles. He and his wife Jen have three children, Parker, 15, Beran, 7, and Stella, 4. Stroup has been to nationals for the past four years. “It just means the world to be considered one of the best with one of the greatest safety programs they put on,” Stroup said.
Other state champions competing in Pittsburgh were: Three-axle class-Eric Stein, Werner Enterprises; Four-axle class-David Dye, FedEx Freight; Five-axle class-Thomas Rott, Grand Island Express; Five-axle sleeper class-Tim Dean, Werner Enterprises; Tank truck class- Larry Derr, Werner Enterprises; Flatbed class- Luke Beiermann, Lyman-Richey Corp.; Twin-trailer class-Terry Durham, Werner Enterprises; Step van class-Adam Stroup, FedEx Express; Mixer truck class-John Brezina, Lyman-Richey Corporation.
Those competing in the National Truck Driving Championships devote countless hours of practice and must remain accident-free throughout the entire year. Drivers master their driving skills, perfect their pre-trip inspection technique and study the history of the trucking industry, safety and security laws, first aid and fire safety. Nine class national champions are named. This year, 427 drivers competed from 82 different companies. More than 2,000 spectators were on hand to watch the events at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.