Puyallup Truck Driver Jaime Bautista to Represent the US at World Championship
FedEx driver Jaime Bautista is part of the first American team to compete in the international professional driving competition in Germany.
Jaime Bautista, a 36-year-old FedEx truck driver from Puyallup, has been selected for Team USA, the first team to represent the United States internationally, and is heading to the 33rd UICR Professional Driving World Championship in Eppelheim, Germany.
International Professional Driving Championship
Jaime Bautista will compete in the championship organized by the Union Internationale des Chauffeurs Routiers, the largest international professional drivers association. The event in Eppelheim will take place from September 9 to September 12.
Team USA Roster and Nature of the Competition
The competition does not involve any speed or track racing; instead, drivers will showcase road safety and driving precision. Competing on behalf of the American Trucking Association, Bautista is one of 14 drivers on the first American team to compete against 21 different countries.
Career Journey and Achievements
Bautista began his career as a truck driver in 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and started working with the Washington Trucking Association. After taking first place in his first state competition in 2022, he has won first place in every state competition he has entered.
Youngest Driver and Heavy Vehicle Category
As the youngest driver on the Team USA roster, Jaime Bautista will compete in the tractor-trailer category. He will operate a massive tractor-trailer weighing 40 metric tons with a freight capacity of approximately 88,000 pounds.