MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Purolator Courier Ltd., Canada’s largest courier company, has announced that two Purolator couriers finished in first and second place at the National Truck Driving Championship in Moncton, N.B. Sept. 18 – 24.

Representing Ontario, Purolator courier Karen King from Owen Sound took the first prize in the step-van class. Karen is the first woman to ever compete at the national level in a truck driving championship and for her win received a standing ovation at the awards dinner.

“I was so nervous and excited throughout the awards dinner,” King said. “I didn’t know until they announced my name that I had won.”

Tom Jacobs, a Purolator courier and accomplished driver from Regina, Sask., who has consistently done well at the provincial level, represented Saskatchewan for the first time and finished the competition in second place.

There are three parts to the competition that takes place over two days: a written test, a pre-trip inspection and finally a road test. King said she felt very confident after her written exam and driving test, knowing she had done well on both.

“The pre-trip inspection can be very difficult. Often I find more corrections than the required five, however it’s being able to identify the right five that counts. They can range from missing safety stickers to a dented license plate and anything in between,” she said.

Purolator saluted King and Jacobs for their success and said they are proud of their achievement.

“These successes are a testament to the culture of safety and training at Purolator. Couriers do take pride in this culture,” said Bill Henderson, vice president, field sales and operations.