Once Don Jones got a taste of winning vehicle class championships and going to Nationals for the first time back in 2022, the FedEx Freight veteran from Montana has not stopped winning. In this episode of the podcast, Don takes some time to look back at a run that now includes five consecutive vehicle division titles and the 2026 Grand Championship trophy for Montana.

As you’ll hear, Don was so stunned that could barely believe his ears when his name was called as Montana’s Grand Champion. But Don took the time to cherish the moment with his wife who has supported his dedication to safety and the trucking industry across a career that includes more than one million safe miles driven.

Don and his wife have never been to Pittsburgh. And while he is looking forward to the trip and the opportunities ahead to compete at NTDC 2026, Don offers some inspirational words at close of the episode for all those competitors who are making their first trip to the Nationals.

OUR FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: Founded in 2007, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including nicotine and smoking cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers. To learn more about the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and all of the offerings available from SCF, including how you can support their important work to help professional drivers and their families, visit TruckersFund.org.

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