Winder Resident to Compete in 'Super Bowl of Safety'

A Winder resident has qualified to compete in the American Trucking Associations' National Truck Driving Championships — a competition also known as the "Super Bowl of Safety".

Jerry Roberts, who drives for YRC, qualified in one of seven categories — twin trailers — for the event, which will be held Aug. 9 through 13 in Orlando, Fla.

Almost 400 drivers from across the country will compete over the course of four days, challenging their driving skills and knowledge of safety, equipment and the trucking industry. Participants will complete a course that recreates situations truck drivers face daily — maneuvers potentially including an alley dock, a rear line stop, a side park, a scale stop, a right turn, a front line stop and straight line driving through a diminishing clearance. A single contestant will drive away as the 2011 National Grand Champion Truck Driver.

Tim Vogt, a Loganville resident who drives for Con-Way Freight, took top honors in the tankers division, while Todd Hester of , who drives for UPS, won in the flatbed category.