28 / 30
28
Oregon Truck DISPATCH
www.ORtrucking.orgMEMBER NEWS
Q:
You come from a strong trucking background. How has
your career evolved to where it is today as a long-time
driver for FedEx?
A:
Trucking has always been a part of my life. I remember
going to the terminal with my mom as a boy, to pick up
my dad after work. The smells and sounds of those big
trucks are etched into my memory. And like most boys, I
wanted to be just like my dad. We were living in Portland,
and on weekends we would go to Hood River to see my
grandmother. Sometimes I would go down to the truck
shop—which was a young boy’s paradise.
After high school I started my career as a production
welder at Portland Willamette company, then welded at
the shipyards and ended up at Zidell Corporation as a
maintenance mechanic. One afternoon, my dad called
and asked if I would be interested in coming to work
with him and drive a truck. I fell in love with the freedom,
adventure and challenges that truck driving brought.
In the mid-80s, Mid-Columbia Motor Freight sold out to
Oregon Freightways and then to Viking Freight, which
was acquired by FedEx Corporation. That later changed
to FedEx Freight, Inc., I have been with FedEx for almost
24 of my 38 years as a professional driver.
Q:
What are your values as a driver, and what would you
say to new drivers just starting their careers?
A:
I tell new drivers that safety is always first; and the best
way to get there is to use the five keys of the Smith
System® (aim high in steering, get the big picture, keep
your eyes moving, leave yourself an out, and make sure
they see you). It’s not only our safety, but the surround
ing public that we are entrusted to keep safe. This is why
we train at FedEx to be safety-aware at all times.
Q:
Tell us how you started competing at the Truck Driving
Championships and what TDC means to you.
A:
The Portland team—Dan Shamrell, Chris Outen,
Curt Davis and Jim Rudd—challenged me to join them
in competing in the Oregon TDC. These guys are some
of the best truck drivers in the industry. We challenge
each other to be better drivers and stewards of the
trucking industry. Each team member has become a
lifelong friend. After three attempts at trying to place at
the state level, I won and qualified to complete at the
National TDC. With a little luck and skill I won first
place in the 4-Axle Class at the National Truck Driving
Championships. The TDC makes you more aware of
your abilities as a driver and gives you a sense of pride in
your capabilities. My only regret is waiting most of my
career to get involved in the competition.
The National TDC was everything my teammates told
me, and much more. It’s a
celebration of safety
and a
gathering of the most positive-thinkers in the trucking
industry. I’m already doing what it takes to get back
to next year’s competition by always driving safe!
◉
Background information:
Bradley Lester is a third
generation Oregon truck driver, born in Portland, Ore.
in 1956 to Richard and Barbara Lester. His grandfather,
Jesse Lester, started Lester Auto Freight, in Hood River,
Ore., in the 1920s.
Bradley A. Lester
Driver, FedEx Freight
By Tina Kayser, OTA Staff
Oregon and National TDC Champion 4-Axle