XPO’s Robert Dean Wins Washington Title, Qualifies for NTDC

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There are many opponents this yr who’ve already certified for the Nationwide Truck Driving Championships. However few have their nationals-qualifying cousin to thank for securing a ticket to the massive present.

Robert Dean, a longtime skilled driver with XPO, took prime honors on the Washington Truck Driving Championships final month competing in what has turn out to be his favourite car class: flatbed.

His championship run in April marked his debut because the Evergreen State’s grand champion and his fifth qualifier to the nationals, a match promoted because the “Tremendous Bowl of Security.”

With greater than three many years of expertise as a industrial driver, Dean defined the highway to his current statewide blue ribbon honors was made attainable by an excellent drive on the abilities course. He additionally credited his excessive marks on the written examination of guidelines and laws, and excelling in what has turn out to be his forte: the pre-trip inspection.

Washington’s grand champion expressed appreciation for the assist he receives from his employer, XPO, associates and colleagues, his spouse, Joanna Dean, a person he described as his largest fan and staunchest supporter. Importantly, he expressed a deep appreciation for his coaching associate, mentor and cousin Chris Poynor, an XPO driver and an NTDC qualifier within the 3-axle class. (Poynor has turn out to be a constant nationals qualifier lately.)

In regard to coaching, Dean articulated a deep perception in making time for what’s vital, similar to getting ready himself for state and nationwide transportation security tournaments. In lower than a month, Dean stated he intends to renew intense coaching routines with Poynor.

2023 SCHEDULE: Each state date

Their plan will likely be to schedule driving workouts almost each weekend till nationals kicks off in mid-August. This yr’s summer time traditional will likely be held in Columbus, Ohio, and certain will function greater than 400 skilled drivers from each state.

“My technique is, when, proper earlier than I apply, I take the programs that I’ve seen and my cousin [Poynor] has seen. And we put them collectively and we attempt to guess what issues they [will] throw at us,” Dean stated not too long ago when requested to clarify his complete technique of coaching. He went on: “And we apply these.”

Dean acknowledged that coaching alongside Poynor is the type of motivation that conjures up him to raise his degree of efficiency behind the wheel of the flatbed. Such coaching additionally helps him to adapt to high-pressure conditions — a helpful talent to have at nationals.

“Each him and I’ve received a number of occasions at our state degree in our class and gone to nationals. So, he received final yr. I received final yr. So we each went to nationals. And it’s type of ironic we each win this yr after which I win grand champion, and now we’re going to nationals collectively once more,” Dean noticed. He competed at nationals in 2022 within the flatbed.

So far as a secret weapon that Dean makes use of to his benefit at competitions, that must be sustaining a constructive perspective and visualizing sound maneuvers and outcomes. Such psychological coaching will solidify his confidence forward of NTDC.

Or as he put it, “I really feel good going to nationals.”

Different class champions from Washington:

• 3-Axle: Chris Poynor, XPO
• 4-Axle: Andrey Grishchuk, XPO
• 5-Axle: Michael Dickinson, USF Reddaway
• Sleeper Berth: Joe Ryles, Walmart
• Step Van: Jaime Bautista, FedEx Categorical
• Straight Truck: Carl Gibson, The Boeing Co.
• Tank Truck: Aleksandr Dragonchuk, Walmart
•  Twins: Josh Jenkin, Peninsula Truck Strains

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