Reactivating XPO’s Wilbert Vano

Central New Jersey's busy coastal transport corridor is no stranger to traffic, with its myriad of commercial ports, airports, factories, and congested highways. It's no surprise that the area produced the state's precision-driving champion, Wilbert Vano. The 48-year-old driver from Colonia boasts a track record of victories, including five grand champion blue ribbons at a state level, and is set to return to the National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) for the 13th time. After a disqualification in 2023, Vano made a triumphant comeback in this month's trucking tournament in Atlantic City, where he secured a trophy in the 3-axle category, as well as best-in-show recognition. By doing so, he gained a ticket to the "Super Bowl of Safety", which is the National Truck Driving Championships. This comeback will provide him with the chance to defend his 3-axle national title won in 2022. The NTDC event is scheduled to take place from August 21-24 in Indianapolis, and will see state-level winners from across nine categories compete for the grand championship. As an industry expert, I can emphasize the significant role events like the NTDC play in promoting safety and precision in transport, which remains a vital sector of the economy. Vano epitomizes the dedication and skills required in this industry and deserves commendation. Wilbert Vano, a 48-year-old truck driver from Colonia, New Jersey, has become renowned in his field for his dedication, expertise, and focus. With 20 years of experience in precision-driving, Vano has the impressive record of achieving top overall score in the trucking national championship in 2022. He continues to set his sights high, aiming to be among the top five drivers in the national championship. According to Vano, part of his success lies in the ability to perform under pressure, especially in a category as competitive as the 3-axle class. A crucial part of competition includes a rigorous pre-trip vehicle inspection and a comprehensive understanding of industry rules and regulations - practices that Vano has evidently mastered. The New Jersey trucker warns against complacency, explaining that a state-level victory is not a predictor of success at the national level. Several other New Jersey drivers also won in various categories, including Thomas Michi (4-Axle), Doug Simonelli (5-Axle), Joseph Drayton (Flatbed), Kevin Byrnes (Sleeper Berth), Ron Price (Step Van), Eddie Conrad (Straight Truck), Antonio Domazetovski (Tank Truck), and Mario Camacho (Twins). As transportation experts, we can appreciate the training and precision driving skills required to achieve this level of success in the fiercely competitive world of trucking. Moving forward, the industry may benefit from leveraging the experiences and strategies of drivers like Vano to further improve transportation efficiency and safety.