Editorial: 426 + 1

A hearty congratulations is in order for the all the competitors at the National Truck Driving Championships, and one gutsy trucker, whose recent heroics have been witnessed by more than 1 million people.

We first tip our cap to Jeffrey Langenhahn, who was named the 2014 NTDC Grand Champion.

The Con-way Freight driver from Wisconsin took first place in the Twins division, on his way to topping the 425 other drivers competing in Pittsburgh.

“I feel like I’m in a dream,” Langenhahn told Transport Topics as well-wishers shook his hand at the awards banquet.

From the step van contest won by FedEx Express’ Christopher Shaw to the numerous other challenges won by top scorers, the event was a true “who’s who” of one of the nation’s most difficult and demanding professions.

And even for those who maybe didn’t perform quite as well as they had expected, the talent required to earn a coveted spot in the NTDC competition is an accomplishment in its own right.

It takes focus, determination and, of course, safety skills to achieve that level of success.

It is also that mindset that can so easily turn a humble truck driver — one focused simply on doing the job — into an Internet sensation.

Take David Fredericksen.

After witnessing an automobile strike a tractor-trailer on Interstate 10 north of Gulfport, Mississippi, on Aug. 11, Fredericksen didn’t let a giant fireball stand in his way of doing the right thing.

He grabbed his fire extinguisher to fight back the flames and then helped pull a 1-year-old girl from the back seat of the burning car while other travelers helped rescue her grandmother.

Even after such a heroic act, Fredericksen didn’t seek the spotlight. It wasn’t until his son uploaded the video from the truck’s “dash cam” more than a week later that anyone really became aware of the incident.

And, within days, the video was viewed more than 1.3 million times — a figure still rapidly rising.

Stories of Fredericksen’s heroics have appeared in media outlets across the world, including ABC’s “Good Morning, America.”

From the sounds of it, however, it doesn’t seem Fredericksen is letting any of this go to his head.

“I don’t feel like a hero; I feel like a Good Samaritan,” he said.

Truck Driver. Hero. Grand Champion. Good Samaritan.

Whatever we call them, it’s certainly good to have them.