The Oregon Trucking Association held the state trucking driving championship at the FedEx Freight in North Portland on Saturday, May 16, 2026.The Oregon Trucking Association held the state trucking driving championship at the FedEx Freight in North Portland on Saturday, May 16, 2026. Before getting behind the wheel, seasoned drivers have to take a written and pre-trip inspection test. If they pass, they then can move on to the driving portion of the competition. Before getting behind the wheel, seasoned drivers had to take a written and pre-trip inspection test. Once passed, they stepped onto one of two courses to flaunt their driving skills in their vehicle of choice. Drivers have to be accident-free for one year in order to participate.Before getting behind the wheel, seasoned drivers have to take a written and pre-trip inspection test. If they pass, they then can move on to the driving portion of the competition. There were nine categories for drivers to participate in, including the Three-Axle Tractor-Semitrailer, Twin Trailers and Step Van.Before getting behind the wheel, seasoned drivers have to take a written and pre-trip inspection test. If they pass, they then can move on to the driving portion of the competition. In total, 107 people signed up for this year’s contest, said the organization’s president and CEO, Jana Jarvis.A little girl roots for Walmart at Oregon's Truck Driving Championship. The final portion of the competition took place on obstacle courses where drivers had to complete different skill-related challenges. One challenge required trucks to drive straight through rows of cones. Other tests involved backing up between narrow metal posts and turning sharp corners.Attendees watch the event at the FedEx Freight in North Portland. Local FedEx driver Chris Outen said he is passionate about the event’s safety-focused mission. Now in his 30th year of competition, Outen said he spends his free time visiting schools to teach children about being safe on the road. To him, it’s about “working on our professionalism and making sure that we’re not just safe, we’re courteous to everybody around us,” he said.The Oregon Trucking Association is an advocacy group that started in Oregon in 1939. They provide community and education for truck drivers in the state. Outen has 12 state titles and has been to national championships all over the country. “This is our Super Bowl,” he said. It’s “the cream of the crop of our industry.”The Oregon Trucking Association is an advocacy group that started in Oregon in 1939. They provide community and education for truck drivers in the state. The winners of each category on Saturday qualify to compete on behalf of Oregon for the National Truck Driving Championships in Pittsburg later this summer.The Oregon Trucking Association held the state trucking driving championship at the FedEx Freight in North Portland on Saturday, May 16, 2026. The winners from each category at the state level qualify to participate in the national competition. ©2026 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit oregonlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Before getting behind the wheel, seasoned drivers have to take a written and pre-trip inspection test. If they pass, they then can move on to the driving portion of the competition.Before getting behind the wheel, seasoned drivers have to take a written and pre-trip inspection test. If they pass, they then can move on to the driving portion of the competition.The Oregon Trucking Association held the state trucking driving championship at the FedEx Freight in North Portland on Saturday, May 16, 2026. The winners from each category at the state level qualify to participate in the national competition.The Oregon Trucking Association held the state trucking driving championship at the FedEx Freight in North Portland on Saturday, May 16, 2026. The winners from each category at the state level qualify to participate in the national competition.The Oregon Trucking Association held the state trucking driving championship at the FedEx Freight in North Portland on Saturday, May 16, 2026. The winners from each category at the state level qualify to participate in the national competition.Several groups brought grills to the event to cook hamburgers and hot dogs for attendees.Several groups brought grills to the event to cook hamburgers and hot dogs for attendees.