Cave City trucker wins Arkansas driving championship, heads to nationals

Cave City’s Marcus Rush accepts his first-place trophy from an Arkansas Trucking Association representative at its annual Truck Driving Championship in Rogers. Image provided by the Arkansas Truckers Association.

With three million safe-driving miles under his belt, Marcus Rush of Cave City proved he’s still at the top of his game, winning first place in the tank truck division at the 2025 Arkansas Truck Driving Championship.

The annual competition, hosted by the Arkansas Trucking Association, took place on June 27-28 at the Rogers Convention Center and featured 140 professional drivers from across the state. Participants faced off in a trio of rigorous challenges: a pre-trip inspection, a written exam, and a driving skills test.

“Drivers like Marcus and the other competitors volunteered to step into the spotlight and put their skills on display,” said Arkansas Trucking Association President Shannon Newton. “The professionalism and expertise that they demonstrate reflect the caliber of people who keep Arkansas moving. They didn’t need to prove anything to anyone, but they showed us all what dedication to excellence looks like.”

Rush, a Walmart Transportation driver for the past eight years and a 25-year industry veteran, is no stranger to competition. He has entered the state championship seven times across three different truck classes and will now make his fifth trip to the National Truck Driving Championships since 2007.

Outside the cab, Rush enjoys kayaking and trail riding. He lives in Cave City with his wife, Wendi.

Rush will join eight other Arkansas drivers at the National Truck Driving Championships, held Aug. 20-23 in Minneapolis, where the country’s top drivers will compete for national titles. The event is organized by the American Trucking Associations and highlights safety, skill, and professionalism on America’s roads.