The “Super Bowl of trucking,” the National Truck Driving Championship, is this week, and one Rhode Island native is on his way to St. Louis to compete.

David Lumpkin is a courier for FedEx Express in Warwick and competed this May in the Rhode Island Trucking Championships, coming out on top for the third year in a row.

The competitions have three parts: a written test on safety and regulations, a timed “pre-trip” where competitors must spot all of the manufactured defects on their truck, and a driving obstacle course.

The “serpentine” course, which is timed, features obstacles such as back-up and pulling in to a loading dock as closely as possible; going through “grease alley,” maneuvering around a series of tennis balls; and even getting a specific tire as close to a rubber duck without crushing it.

The nationals are this week, and more than 500 truck drivers from across the country will be competing in various trucking classes, such as flatbed, tractor trailer and Lumpkin’s category, step van.

Despite never placing at nationals the past two years, Lumpkin, who started driving with FedEx in 1992, is confident this will be his year.

“Over the years I’ve learned a little something extra here and there every year,” he said. “I’ve learned you can have a good or bad day at nationals and this year I am pretty confident I will have a good day.”

Every year his scores improve, but this year he has been practicing much more than he has in years past.

He and his practice partner, Nick Sionno, operations manager for FedEx Express, have set up a course at their facility, running simulations after work, and every night Lumpkin reviews the American Trucking Association’s Fact for Drivers book.

He said, “I need to stay on my game for when nationals come around.”

In July Lumpkin even participated in the Chairman’s Challenge in Indianapolis, a sort of training camp for all FedEx drivers who won the championships in their home states.

“You have a chance to practice with your peers from all over the country. It really helps you get ready for nationals,” Lumpkin said.

He said the three-day training camp is really beneficial for “first timers” because they can know what to expect and aren’t “blindsided” by the competition at nationals.

Kevin Van Guilder, communications advisor for FedEx Express, said more so than anything else the national competition is about safety.

“This competition speaks to the dedication and professionalism of truck driver,” he said. “Winners act as role models to others.”

Lumpkin said that when you’re on the road every day you need to stay safe not just for yourself but for every other driver too.

“Competitions like these just heighten your awareness on the road,” Lumpkin said. “I think people can take vehicles for granted and forget that bad things can happen when you’re not aware of your surroundings.”

Van Guilder said the “cream of the crop” would be at the nationals, displaying how important safety is to them.

He said, “It’s a pretty intense competition. Drivers take this very seriously. This is their bread and butter; they take a lot of pride in this.”

The national competition is August 11 through 15 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Lumpkin’s wife, Norma, son Stephen and training partner Sionni and Senior Manager Scott Wilbur will be going to cheer him on at the national competition.