Ray Simon has been named the Grand Champion of the American Trucking Association’s National Truck Driving Championship three times—an achievement not yet duplicated by another driver.

This year’s 69th annual competition was held in August in New Orleans, and while Simon didn’t compete in this year’s competition, he says it’s getting tougher.

The rigorous competition consists of a written exam, a personal interview, and a field test chock-full of driving obstacles. During the personal interview, for instance, the driver is given ten minutes to find multiple defects and safety hazards planted on a piece of equipment. And according to Simon, the field test has gotten tougher in recent years with obstacles placed closer together.

Nothing compares with the challenges that drivers face daily on the road, though, he says. Congestion is getting worse and everyone has a “me first” hurriedness that makes driving more dangerous. Fortunately, today’s trucks have better equipment and safety features like anti-lock brakes that makes the going a little easier.