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Minnesotans Head To National Truck Driving Championship

BURNSVILLE, Minn. (WCCO) -- America moves by truck, down long and distant freeways to the marketplaces of large cities and rural towns. Seems like whatever we eat, wear, buy or build is transported every hour of every day.

But getting goods to stores and mills safely and on time is the sole job of the men and women behind the wheel. It is also why truck drivers like Bill Krouse start each day doing a big rig's pre-check.

"If this hose is not hooked up, you have no brakes," said Krouse as he walked around his 18-wheeler.

From the cab of his semi-trailer, Krouse has logged more than 2 million accident-free miles.

"I've been a driver for 32 years," Krouse said.

Taught by his truck driving father, Krouse now hopes to crown his own career. So on a training course set up by his employer, YRC Freight in Burnsville, Krouse is polishing his skills.

"The thing I like about going to nationals is that you're competing with the best drivers in the country," Krouse said.

Krouse is one of nine Minnesota commercial truck drivers headed to the American Trucking Association Nationals in Indianapolis. It is a competition to match skills with the best drivers around.

"The national champions come from every state," said John Hausladen of the Minnesota Trucking Association. "There are nine different classes of vehicle and configuration, from flats to twin trailers to single trailers."

To win, drivers must ace a written test, pre-check and be accident free. Only then do they tackle the difficult road course.

"You're doing precise driving. You're getting close to something without hitting it and that's how you get your points," said Krouse.

Hard enough being precise in a car -- imagine towing a 53 foot trailer behind your cab. After the first challenge, the scale stop, it only gets harder, guiding the big rig through offset barriers without hitting any.

"If you have to pull into between two trailers to park, back into two trailers to park, this would be the situation you're in," Krouse said.

Highway hazards are constant, so scoring at the "road kill" challenge means coming close without touching a toy goose lying on the road. And remember, drivers like Krouse can't see over the hood of the truck to see their right front wheel.

"It's a game of inches and that inch right there might have just cost me competing," he said.

But the final problems soon tell if he's got what it takes. Sitting in the cab -- 60 feet from the trailer's bumper -- he'll back the rig into a loading dock, with not an inch to spare.

"Got to get as close to the gate as I can without hitting it," Krouse said.

Imagine threading a needle with bulky truck tires. Rolling through a long, narrow line of tennis balls is next to impossible with that long trailer. Touch any of the balls and you will lose points, and likely the title.

"Anybody tells you that there's not a little bit of luck involved, they're wrong," Krouse said. "There's skill and luck involved."

The final test on the practice course is quite literally stopping on a dime. Scoring this close to perfect just might land Krouse in Saturday's national finals.

"270, I've never done a 270 out here," he said.

Thrity-two years in a big rig gives him the experience you want in a truck driver. But Krouse credits his father for giving him the drive to be the very best.

Nothing less than a safe, skilled and proud truck driver, who is helping to keep American moving.

"And if you beat the best you're considering yourself one of the best drivers in the country," said Krouse, "and that's what it's all about."

This will be Krouse's sixth trip to Nationals where his best finish was 12th.

Competition begins Thursday and concludes on Saturday when the champion is crowned.

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