For the first time ever, 11 professional truck drivers competed for the title “Fittest of the Fleet” during Prime Inc.’s annual company picnic on August 31, 2013. The competition was created by Prime’s Driver Health and Fitness Director Siphiwe Baleka to further transform the commercial truck driving industry by creating a culture of fitness within it. Each driver competed in three timed events testing their strength speed, endurance, agility, and athleticism. Rodney McCloud took the men’s title while Aimee James took the women’s title.

Event number one consisted of two rounds of 10 dumbbell squat thrusters, 20 kettle bell swings, 30 push-ups and 60 jump ropes. The men used two 20-pound dumbbells and a 20-pound Kettlebell. James, the only female competitor, used 10-pound dumbbells and a 10-pound Kettlebell. The second event featured a single round of 20 burpees, a 20-yard sprint, 20 more burpees, another sprint, and 20 more burpees to finish the round.

In the third and final event, the drivers had to exit their trucks, quickly dolly down the landing gear, carry an 80-pound sandbag to the rear of the trailer, complete 20 knee-to-chest sit ups, open the trailer door and run to the back wall, run back and exit the trailer, close the trailer doors, carry the sandbag again around to the passenger side, drop the sandbag and duck under the trailer to the opposite side, dolly up the landing gear, duck back under the trailer, pick up the sandbag and carry it around the front of the tractor back to the driver’s door, do five front squats with the sandbag, enter the truck, and close the door.

At the end of the day, Rodney McCloud scored 145 points to win the Men’s Division. Justin Boschee took second place with 130 points, and George Robertson took third place with 121 points.

The Top Five Overall were Rodney McCloud with 145 points, followed by Justin Boschee with 125 points, George Robertson with 116 points, Aimee James with 107 points, and David Nelson with 98 points.

The Fittest of the Fleet competition started at Prime and is now challenging other carriers to host their own events using the same format in order to bring together the champions of each fleet into a national competition. To qualify for the National Fittest of the Fleet competition, drivers must win their carrier’s title.