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Event

2026 Truck Driving Championships

Date / Time: 
June 19, 2026
Location:
Cajundome - Lafayette, LA
Event Link
2026 Truck Driving Championships

The 2026 Louisiana Truck Driving Championships will take place Friday, June 19 – Saturday, June 20, 2026 at the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana. Testing, pretrip, the course and the awards banquet will all be held on the Cajundome's campus.

To compete in the Louisiana Truck Driving Championships, drivers must meet specific eligibility standards designed to ensure fairness, professionalism, and safety. All contestants must certify the following:

  • Must have been continuously employed by their current employer for the 12 months prior to this year’s TDC
  • Must have actively performed regular truck or step van driving duties during those 12 months
  • Cannot have been away from regular driving duties for more than a total of 30 calendar days in the past 12 months
  • Cannot have had a preventable fleet motor vehicle accident in the past 12 months. (For accidents deemed as preventable, please see the NTDC guidelines. If you feel your driver meets these guidelines, please email our staff - lmta@lmta.la for confirmation.)
  • Must hold the proper CDL (or DL for Step Van) with required endorsements for the class entered
  • Cannot have served on a State Truck Driving Championships Committee in the past 12 months
  • Cannot compete in a class recently won at the state level or competed in at Nationals within the restricted time period outlined in TDC rules
  • Cannot receive pay, bonus, or other compensation for practice time

Please read the full Driver Entry and Release Form for complete rules, eligibility requirements, and submission instructions before registering.

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This annual event brings together the best of Louisiana’s trucking professionals for two days of skill, safety, and camaraderie. In addition to the driving competition, we will also present the Louisiana Safety Awards, including:

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Driver Registration

There is a $50.00 registration fee per each competitor. This is to be remitted online at the time of registration. All drivers must complete registration by end of business, Friday May 1, 2026 to compete.

For registration instructions, materials and to complete forms online, please visit the event page.

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What’s Changing from Previous Years?

  • The location has moved from Baton Rouge to Lafayette.
  • The event will be hosted at the Cajundome (climate-controlled venue) and surrounding buildings on the UL campus. This includes all events from the competition (testing, pretrip and course) as well as the awards banquet.
  • Application timelines have shifted from early in the year to the spring - Driver registration will open March 1.

More details coming soon: Driver registration, sponsorship opportunities, and the full schedule will be released in the coming weeks—stay tuned for updates!

We can’t wait to see you in Lafayette for another great competition and to celebrate the outstanding professionals who keep our industry safe.

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Fleet Safety Awards

Presented by Great West Casualty Company

The Louisiana Fleet Safety Award recognizes motor carriers operating in Louisiana that demonstrate outstanding safety performance within their service category. Awards are based on accident frequency rates and overall safety programs, highlighting companies that prioritize professionalism, accountability, and a strong safety culture.

Winners are selected by a panel of industry safety professionals and recognized at the Louisiana Truck Driving Championships Awards Banquet.

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Safety Professional of the Year

Presented by the LMTA Foundation

The Safety Professional of the Year Award recognizes an individual responsible for leading and supervising safety activities within a truck fleet who demonstrates exceptional commitment to highway and industrial safety.

This award honors professionals of high integrity whose leadership and achievements have made a measurable impact on safety performance and safety culture. The recipient will first be announced at the Truck Driving Championships Awards Banquet and will later be recognized at the LMTA Annual Convention during the Officer Installation Banquet, with complimentary convention registration and hotel accommodations. The recipient will also be featured in Open Road magazine.

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Truck Driver of the Year

Presented by the LMTA Foundation

The Truck Driver of the Year Award recognizes a professional driver who demonstrates an outstanding record of safe and courteous driving, acts of heroism or highway courtesy, and meaningful contributions to highway safety.

This award honors drivers who exemplify professionalism, responsibility, and pride in their role within the trucking industry. The winner will first be announced at the Truck Driving Championships Awards Banquet and will later be formally recognized at the LMTA Annual Convention during the Officer Installation Banquet in July, with complimentary convention registration and hotel accommodations. The recipient will also be featured on the cover of Open Road magazine with a full feature story.

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