Nevada’s Wilson is Back in the Game

A familiar face will again be competing at the National Truck Driving Championships this August in Minneapolis. 

UPS’ Gragg Wilson, the Nevada-based standout, punched his ticket to the renowned super bowl of trucking safety earlier this month in Reno. The convincing win in the tanker division has guaranteed him a fifteenth appearance in the trucking industry’s precision driving summer classic. 

The national grand champion in 2023 will compete in the tanker class. 

“When they called my name, I was elated. I was surprised and I was relieved,” Wilson recently told Transport Topics. “I’m very honored to make it again. I’m going to do the best I can to represent Nevada, my company and the industry in Minneapolis.”

Wilson’s NTDC illustrious record includes the vehicle inspection award in 2000, taking part in Nevada’s blue ribbon performance in the state team category in 2018, and earning the tanker class title en route to the grand champion trophy two years ago. 

Reacting to his NTDC best-in-show, he explained the tournament has been a rewarding experience during his career because of the camaraderie. As he put it, “I like seeing all my friends, and I’m always hopeful to see them again at nationals.”  

For an encore, Willson followed his grand champion award by earning a spot on the prestigious America’s Road Team. Per background information American Trucking Associations provided, “Gragg was named Nevada Trucking Association’s 2019 Driver of the Year. He received FedEx’s 10-, 25-, and 30-Year Safe Driver Awards. Gragg received the FedEx President’s Safety Award. He was awarded the UPS Three-Year Safe Driving Certificate.”

The National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships will be held Aug. 20-23 in Minneapolis.