The International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) recently celebrated the best “industrial athletes” in the foodservice industry at its annual skills and safety competition for truck drivers and warehouse associates.
The IFDA National Championship was held at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida.
“This year, 190 professional truck drivers and 79 warehouse associates showcased their skills, with 71% making their competition debut,” Mark S. Allen, IFDA president and CEO, said in a news release. “Their precision, knowledge, and expertise in navigating the challenges were truly impressive.
“It’s a privilege to honor the top talent in the foodservice distribution industry for their excellence and dedication to safety. Congratulations to all.”
Competitors participate in one of five categories and are awarded first through third place. In warehouse, there are two categories, double-pallet jack and reach truck; and there are three categories in trucking, straight truck, three-axle, and five-axle.
Collectively, the 190 truck drivers represent 2,304 accident-free years, have 2,238 years with their current employer, and 3,309 total years in the trucking industry, IFDA reported.
In addition to bragging rights, the winners receive a medal and a cash prize. Winners also receive a championship jacket. The awards were handed out at an Oct. 26 banquet.
Here are the 2024 results:
Double pallet jack
- First place: Jon Moore, Dot Foods
- Second place: Lafayette Maxie, McLane Company
- Third place: Andrew Newby, US Foods
Reach truck
- First place: Dylon Maes, Shamrock Foods
- Second place: Cameron King, Shamrock Foods
- Third place: Eron De La Cueva, Performance Food Group
Two-axle
- First place: James Falconburg, Nicholas & Company
- Second place: Steve Ross, Performance Food Group
- Third place: Daniel Trevino, McLane Company
Three-axle
- First place: Jason Swordling, Ben E. Keith
- Second place: Lino Garcia, Performance Food Group
- Third place: Michael Fergison, Cheney Brothers
Five-axle
- First place: Michael Sinclair, Performance Food Group
- Second place: Charles Spence, McLane Company
- Third place: Sam Duron, McLane Company
A Rookie of the Year award also was given to the top-scoring first-time competitors in the driving and warehouse categories. The 2024 Warehouse Rookie of the Year was Dylon Maes, a reach truck driver with Shamrock Foods, and the 2024 Driving Rookie of the Year was Michael Sinclair, a five-axle driver from Performance Food Group.
Individual awards were issued to those who scored perfect on the pre-trip portion of the competition, which involves competitors conducting a safety inspection of their equipment prior to its use. The perfect pre-trip exams include:
- Shamrock’s Luis Barker, who was perfect on the three-axle truck
- Ben E. Keith’s Pablo Escobar, who was perfect on the double pallet jack
- Sysco’s Jay-R Garcia, who was perfect on the double pallet jack
- Performance Food Group’s Steven Rouse, who was perfect on the five-axle truck
- Shamrock’s Jeremy Smith, who was perfect on the double pallet jack
Team awards were also handed out to the top-performing teams in each category. Shamrock Foods received the 2024 Warehouse Team Award and McLane Company received the 2024 Driving Team Award.
The 2025 IFDA National Championship will be held Oct. 23-25 in Orlando at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.
