Truck drivers from all over the state plan to gather in the Iowa State Center’s parking lot to showcase their driving skills.

The 41st Annual Iowa Truck Driving Championships is showcasing 119 professional drivers on June 24 and 25 beginning at 1 p.m. Friday and ending at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.

“It’s like state wrestling for truck driving,” said Brenda Neville, vice president for the Iowa Motor Truck Association.

“They really are the best of the best.”

She estimated a crowd of more than 400 would show up.

The championship is sponsored by the Iowa Motor Truck Association and the Iowa Council of Safety Management.

More than 50 volunteers helped organize the event and officials from the Iowa Highway Patrol, Iowa Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration should be on hand to assist with the event.

In order for drivers to qualify for the event, they must pass a series of eligibility requirements in advance.

The drivers must have an accident-free record, employment at the same company for 12 months prior to the event and knowledge of the rules and regulations of the industry.

“We’re testing their livelihood,” Neville said. “It is a very somber and serious event. The drivers take it very seriously.”

Once the winner is chosen, he or she will advance to the 2005 National Truck Driving Championships at the Tampa Convention Center in Florida from Aug. 16 to Aug. 20. In addition to the competition, the general public has several opportunities to participate in various activities throughout the competition.

The Iowa Highway Patrol sponsors a bike rodeo for kindergarten through 8th grade students, which encourages awareness and bike safety for children, and free truck rides are available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the general public.

Neville said that anyone from TV, radio or any other media outlet is also encouraged to participate in a driving challenge scheduled at noon on Saturday.

“There will be an experienced driver that will ride along, making sure the truck doesn’t exceed first gear,” Neville said.