ROCHELLE — Local resident Jason King recently took second place in the straight truck division at the 2025 Truck Driving Championships (TDC) State Truck Rodeo in Tinley Park June 6-7. The Kings resident competed in the event for the second time in his capacity as a truck driver for UPS.
The event is put on by the Illinois Trucking Association and there are nine divisions, with winners qualifying for the national competition. Drivers at the State TDC compete to showcase their skills, knowledge, and safety practices.
The competition is made up of a pre-trip inspection, a written test and driving course. King finished with 229 total points after scoring 34 points in the written test, 45 points in the pre-trip inspection and 150 points in the skills course. Joseph Carson won the division with 272 total points. Eight drivers competed in King’s division.
The pre-trip involves six minutes to find 15 hidden defects on the truck, such as a cracked headlight or mirror, something stuck in the driveshaft, a beer bottle placed on the floor or an inoperable headlight. The written test is 40 questions, and the driving course includes six objectives including a loading dock portion, a scale stop and precision turns.
“I wanted to try it,” King said. “It makes you a better driver. It's the state level and it's the best of everybody from different companies throughout the state. Three years ago I knew they did it at the company and I asked about participating. My first year I was in the flatbed division and then I took a year off.”
King has worked at UPS for five years and regularly drives a sleeper semi cross-country, starting in Chicago before stops in New Jersey, North Carolina, Arizona and back to Chicago. The longtime area resident has driven trucks since 1998, starting out at Maplehurst Farms.
The TDC State Truck Rodeo took place at the Tinley Park Convention Center and 15 teams competed, King said. Companies that sent drivers include UPS, FedEx Freight, FedEx, Walmart, DHL, Dominion, and Landstar.
“It means a lot to me to be the second-best driver in the state in my division,” King said. “I wasn't expecting much. I had some problems in the third and fourth portions of the driving course. It just makes you better. It was good for me to go and compete and watch everyone else. Because it's the best of the best. I plan on doing it more in the future. I'd like to get first next year and get the chance to compete at nationals. Next year that's in Pittsburgh. I aspire to that one day. I enjoy driving trucks. It was something I always wanted to do.”
