National Truck Driving Championships

This edition of the podcast takes a flight out to the state of Washington to visit with XPO veteran driver Robert Dean. After earning the State Grand Champion’s crown in 2023, Robert brought home two second-place finishes in the vehicle division competition in both 2024 and 2025. Meanwhile, Robert’s cousin and fellow XPO teammate Chris Poynor has claimed back-to-back State Grand Champion titles in the Evergreen State in 2025 and this year. As you’ll hear during our feature interview that begins at the 24:00 mark of the show, Robert talks about the importance of the training that he and Chris have done over the years as one of the keys to being always in the hunt at the State TDC. Robert also shares that he and Chris have incorporated the use of a drone to get an aerial view of their practice runs, which has helped in their efforts to sharpen their skills on the driving courses they set up. PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson and NTDC Historian Eugene Mulero open this edition of the podcast by looking at the State TDC calendar that is happening in the early part of May. And, along with a discussion of adding drones into TDC training sessions, Greg asks Eugene to give us a brief history on the flight of the NTDC duck and how the duck has become a very popular tradition at the Nationals.  OUR FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: Founded in 2007, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including nicotine and smoking cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers. To learn more about the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and all of the offerings available from SCF, including how you can support their important work to help professional drivers and their families, visit TruckersFund.org. The post XPO’s Robert Dean On His Soaring Return To NTDC With State Flatbed Title appeared first on PodWheels.

When veteran Frito Lay driver Tony Johnson heard his name announced as the Grand Champion at the Georgia State TDC Banquet on April 24th, he admittedly did a double take. Tony was still basking in the glow of winning back-to-back state titles in 5-Axle. He knew that he had punched his ticket to the NTDCs for the third time in the last four years. Being Georgia’s Grand Champion was not something that was on his radar. As you’ll hear, Tony felt a bit like a lottery winner when his name was called as the recipient of the Guy Young Award, which is presented to the Grand Champion of Georgia. In this episode of the podcast recorded less than 48 hours following his State TDC victories, Tony shares his initial thoughts and emotions about his performance on the course, in pre-trip and the written test. He also talks about how examining his experience in previous years at Nationals in the State helped him prepare, allowing him to approach the course in what became a more effective manner this year. Tony hopes to ride the momentum from the State TDC, along with more hard work and a Top 15 showing in last year’s Nationals, as part of his effort to reach the 5-Axle runoff and beyond at NTDC 2026. FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR:  The Lutzie 43 Foundation is our Friend of the Podcast for this episode of the NTDC 2026 Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org. The post Just Peachy: Frito Lay’s Tony Johnson Wins 1st State Grand Champion Title appeared first on PodWheels.

Veteran UPS driver Nate Voss carried a sense of purpose and determination into the Arizona TDC in Tempe on March 28th. Having qualified for the Nationals as a State Champion in 2024 and then finishing second in the Arizona TDC in 2025, Nate knew what it was like to be part of the NTDCs and what it felt like to have to wait until next year. When Nate heard his name called as the 2026 5-Axle Arizona TDC Champ, there was no doubt a feeling of both joy and relief. Now, as you’ll hear during our feature interview in this episode, Nate’s expectations on a day where everything came together for him did not include hearing his name announced as the 2026 Arizona State Grand Champion. Nate looks back on his big day and earning his first career State GC title during a fun conversation with Darius Uible, a fellow TDC participant and UPS teammate who competes out of Kentucky. PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson and NTDC Historian Eugene Mulero take some time in the opening of the show to recognize Dale Brenaman, the 2018 National Champion in Straight Truck, who has served as an inspiration and a mentor for an endless number of his UPS teammates. Dale hung up his keys for the final time this week, calling it a career and beginning his retirement. OUR FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: Founded in 2007, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including nicotine and smoking cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers. To learn more about the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and all of the offerings available from SCF, including how you can support their important work to help professional drivers and their families, visit TruckersFund.org. The post Spotlighting Arizona State Grand Champion Nate Voss and Team UPS appeared first on PodWheels.

With our first State Grand Champion interview of 2026, the podcast heads west to the Evergreen State to talk with XPO’s Chris Poynor, who won the top title in the Washington Trucking Associations’ TDC. Chris has now gone back-to-back in earning the state’s Grand Championship and this year’s crown represents his fifth career State GC.  Chris, a two-time National Champion in Twins, qualified for his 11th NTDC by winning Washington’s 3-Axle title. NTDC Historian Eugene Mulero interviewed Chris a few days following his big day at the Washington TDC. In fact, the interview took place on the morning of Chris’ actual birthday. As you’ll hear, the opportunity to compete for a spot in the Nationals never gets old for Chris, who values safety with every mile he drives. Following the interview with Chris, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson takes some time to thank our listeners for the tremendous growth the podcast has seen during the first quarter of 2026. FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR:  The Lutzie 43 Foundation is our Friend of the Podcast for this episode of the NTDC 2026 Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org. The post Celebrating Chris Poynor’s Repeat As State Grand Champ appeared first on PodWheels.

For the past five years, Abigail Potter has overseen the planning and onsite event coordination for the Washington State Truck Driving Championships. As the Director of Safety and Compliance for the Washington Trucking Associations, Abigail views the Evergreen State’s TDC as one of the most important dates on her calendar. Having started her career in trucking with the American Trucking Associations after working in the nation’s capitol as a staff member for two U.S. Senators, Abigail values the opportunity to spend time with professional drivers, learning about their lives on the road and the challenges they face. As you will hear in this episode of the podcast, Abigail has the highest level of respect for the men and women behind the wheel who are working to move the nation’s economy. As part of that respect, she is always looking for ways to make each year’s Washington State TDC better than the previous one. PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson caught up with Abigail just four days after the WTA had crowned its state champions, putting the 2026 TDC in the books. During this in-depth conversation, Abigail takes listeners “behind the cones” for a look at the effort that goes into successfully hosting the WTA’s TDC, including what she has learned through the years. Greg also talks to Abigail about the experiences she gained while at ATA and how she has approached working in her role with the Washington Trucking Associations. As she shares with our listeners, the perspective and feedback that professional drivers provide, especially during the State TDC, have become invaluable to Abigail in role at the WTA. OUR FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: Founded in 2007, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including nicotine and smoking cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers. To learn more about the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and all of the offerings available from SCF, including how you can support their important work to help professional drivers and their families, visit TruckersFund.org. The post Going ‘Behind The Cones’ At Washington’s State TDC appeared first on PodWheels.

As we prepare to enter the heart of State TDC Season, our podcast takes some time to go inside our interview vault to highlight 12 of the conversations that NTDC Historian Eugene Mulero had with drivers who made it to the championship runoffs at NTDC 2025. With practice and study sessions happening in the remaining 47 states preparing to hold State TDCs during the 2026 season, we thought it might serve as a bit of inspiration to look back at the first thoughts from members of last year’s field who earned a place in the NTDC Championship round. During this edition of the podcast, you will hear the instant reaction from 12 of the “Top Guns” as they exited the truck and the finals course after their respective run. The “At The Top” moments shared in this episode will feature the following finalists: Andy Bryant (Straight Truck), Mark Carver (Straight Truck), Connor Christensen (Step Van), Terry Covey (Tanker), Eric Davidson (Step Van), Eric Flick (Sleeper), Chris Flippin (Twins), Matt Futral (Step Van), Nick Gaudette (Flatbed), Edward Hill (Flatbed), Gary Luster (3-Axle) and Chad Rudesill (3-Axle). FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR:  The Lutzie 43 Foundation is our Friend of the Podcast for this episode of the NTDC 2026 Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org. The post Some Championship Perspectives With TDC Season Preparing To Ramp Up appeared first on PodWheels.

How do you earn a State TDC Championship in multiple vehicle classes and qualify for the Nationals over seven straight NTDCs dating back to 2017? For Old Dominion Freight Line’s Glen “Captain” Kirk, the first step toward winning consecutive state championships and competing for national championships begins with the belief that he will succeed. PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson spent some time in mid-March with Glen at the 15th edition of Safety Drive For A Cure, the NTDC-style charity event that has raised nearly $500,000 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation over its history. In addition to discussing his approach to preparing for competition and talking about his run to the 3-Axle National Title in 2017 during his first trip to the NTDCs, Glen shares the experience of being called to serve on America’s Road Team. As you’ll hear, Glen cherishes the opportunities he had to be an ambassador for the industry while truly becoming Trucking’s Captain Kirk.  OUR FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: Founded in 2007, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including nicotine and smoking cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers. To learn more about the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and all of the offerings available from SCF, including how you can support their important work to help professional drivers and their families, visit TruckersFund.org. The post Ready For Your TDC? Positive Mindset Remains A Key For Trucking’s Captain Kirk appeared first on PodWheels.

In this episode, we get to spend some time with Jason Damron, who finished second in 5-Axle at the 2025 Kansas State TDC after qualifying for the 2024’s Nationals in Indianapolis. As you’ll hear, Jason was just two points away from Eric Moss’ total earned as the Kansas 5-Axle Champion. Rather than dwelling on the would’ve, could’ve and should’ve’s from his day at the State TDC, Jason began looking at the next step in what he could learn and give back to the NTDC Community. With our conversation, Jason tells us how he reached out to the NTDC Committee Organizers and became a volunteer at NTDC 2025 in Minneapolis. We also talked with Jason about being called to serve as a Captain on America’s Road, with his selection happening in January. Recorded onsite at Safety Drive For A Cure 2026, Jason discusses his experience of what it means to him to be a part of the Organizing Committee for Safety Drive, the NTDC-style charity event that has raised a record $75,548 so far during its 2026 run. This year edition of Safety Drive featured more than 250 professional drivers from across the country participating in the Atlanta-based event.  SAFETY DRIVE is still accepting donations as the event’s organizers, volunteers and participants continue to work to drive their all-time fundraising total over the past 15 years to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation to the $500,000 mark. If you would like to make a donation to Safety Drive, please click here. OUR FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: Founded in 2007, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including nicotine and smoking cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers. To learn more about the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and all of the offerings available from SCF, including how you can support their important work to help professional drivers and their families, visit TruckersFund.org. The post Jason Damron Embraces Opportunities To Learn and Serve With NTDC appeared first on PodWheels.

One of the more frequent requests from our listeners in the past few weeks has centered around taking you behind the scenes of the State TDCs. As part of honoring our listener feedback, we caught up with Emily Crane, the Vice President of Safety and Engagement for the Georgia Trucking Association. Now in her second year as a member of the NTDC Organizing Committee, Emily is the go-to person for any question related to the Georgia TDC. So, as we enter the final countdown to the Peach State’s NTDC qualifying competition on April 23-24, we talked with Emily about the planning, the attention to detail and all the considerations that have to be addressed to be ready for a State TDC. We also took the opportunity to ask Emily to look back at last month’s Safety Drive For A Cure, the annual charity event featuring an NTDC-style competition where she serves on the Organizing Committee. The months of March and April have been extremely busy for Emily. In between Safety Drive and the final preparations for the Georgia TDC, Emily was in Oklahoma City to attend the ATA’s 2026 Safety, Security & Human Resources National Conference. As you’ll hear from our conversation on this episode of the podcast, Emily has a true passion for programs that promote safety excellence, and she has the highest level of admiration for professional drivers and the mile-by-mile work they do in moving the American economy. INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING AT GEORGIA’S TDC? As Emily shared in this episode, she has set up an online sign-up sheet for anyone interested in serving as a volunteer at Georgia’s State TDC. There’s no experience necessary. The GTA Team can provide onsite training and you’ll be ready to roll. To learn more and to sign up, please click here. SAFETY DRIVE is still accepting donations as the event’s organizers, volunteers and participants continue to work to drive their all-time fundraising total over the past 15 years to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation to the $500,000 mark. If you would like to make a donation to Safety Drive, please click here. FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR:  The Lutzie 43 Foundation is our Friend of the Podcast for this episode of the NTDC 2026 Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org. The post How Do Event Organizers Prepare For A State TDC? appeared first on PodWheels.

Our podcast series opens up our vault to share a previously unreleased Rollin’ With Roland interview that two-time NTDC Grand Champion Roland Bolduc did in 2025 with Jim Wilcox. A regular as a competitor at NTDC with multiple State Championships to his credit, Jim earned the Professional Excellence Award in 1994 before he transitioned to serve as a long-time volunteer at NTDC following his retirement as a driver in 2010. Excelling in his service to others at NTDC over the years, Jim earned the Volunteer of the Year at the Nationals in 2018. As you will hear over the course of this conversation between two good friends, Roland looks back on Jim’s career in trucking, which was highlighted by Jim’s selection to America’s Road Team in 1990 and earning the honor of becoming a TA Citizen Driver of the Year in 2017. The Jim Wilcox Travel Center remains a fixture to this day in Albuquerque. Now retired and spending a great deal of time with his grandchildren, Jim fondly remembers the importance the TDC and NTDC programs meant to him and how striving to be involved in the competition continues to inspire professional drivers to be at their best at all times. FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR:  The Lutzie 43 Foundation is our Friend of the Podcast for this episode of the NTDC 2026 Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org. The post Roland Rolls Back The Clock To Spotlight NTDC Award Winner Jim Wilcox appeared first on PodWheels.

David Crocker, the 2025 Tanker Champ from the state of Maine, already knew the importance of striving for excellence even before he began his professional driving career or first attempted to compete at a State TDC. Prior to entering the trucking industry, David had to meet the challenge of providing the perfect finish on custom-made guitars for a list of clients who included Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members Carlos Santana, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Paul McCartney. At the 14:42 mark of this episode, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson welcomes David back to the podcast to talk about the career David mastered before getting behind the wheel, looking back at the days when he handled the custom finishing work during a decade with Paul Reed Smith Guitars in Maryland. David, as he shares during the interview, earned the assignment of placing custom paint designs on guitars, including instruments  from some of the greatest recording artists in music history. As you’ll hear, Greg talks to David about how he has taken the skills he developed in the precision work he did in crafting the final look of a special guitar to what David does on the road as well as the driving course. This May, David will be seeking to make an encore appearance at the NTDCs after making it to Nationals for the first time in 2025. This super-sized edition of the podcast includes a fun discussion at the 49:00 minute mark with an initial look at the results from the TDC in Arizona. NTDC Historian Eugene Mulero joins Greg to run through the list of the first-in-the-nation qualifiers for NTDC 2026.  FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR:  The Lutzie 43 Foundation is our Friend of the Podcast for this episode of the NTDC 2026 Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org. The post Maine’s David Crocker Hits The Note On and Off The Driving Course appeared first on PodWheels.

With 55 years of contributions and dedication to NTDC, Rick Cates has become a fountain of knowledge, a go-to person and a true institution with the National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships. Rick is so well respected within the NTDC Community and across the trucking industry that he has been given the honorary title of “The Senator.” In this episode of the podcast, NTDC Historian Eugene Mulero talks with Rick as he shares the news that, following the conclusion of NTDC 2026 in Pittsburgh, Rick will be retiring from his duties on the NTDC Organizing Committee. Eugene looks back with Rick on his five-plus decades in the trucking industry and his long relationship with NTDC that spans a little bit more than half of the Championships’ 89-year history. Rick reflects on the countless friendships he has built through NTDC and he takes us behind the scenes recalling the role he’s played over the years as part of the group talking to the finalists before the runoff on NTDC’s Championship Morning. FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR:  The Lutzie 43 Foundation is our Friend of the Podcast for this episode of the NTDC 2026 Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org. The post NTDC Legend Rick Cates Announces Retirement Plans Following NTDC 2026 appeared first on PodWheels.

With the State TDC Season officially underway, our podcast wanted to share a recent conversation we had with the previous NTDC Grand Champions from the past two years. PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson had the unique opportunity to visit in person with 2024 Grand Champion Jackie Reed and 2025 Grand Champion David Comings in person while they were both at this year’s Safety Drive For A Cure. As you will hear, both Jackie and David share a mutual respect for doing the work and following the process to be prepared for competition while staying safe with every mile that they drive. Many of the insights that Jackie and David share related to their experiences over the past couple of years can serve as both a blueprint and an inspiration for anyone looking at making another run at your State TDC or entering your State TDC for the first time. It’s a fascinating conversation between the last two people who have climbed to the top of the NTDC Mountain, and it’s clear they understand getting back to the Nationals is a step-by-step process that begins by being ready for your State TDCs. SAFETY DRIVE is still accepting donations as the event’s organizers, volunteers and participants continue to work to drive their all-time fundraising total over the past 15 years to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation to the $500,000 mark. If you would like to make a donation to Safety Drive, please click here. FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR:  The Lutzie 43 Foundation is our Friend of the Podcast for this episode of the NTDC 2026 Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org. The post Reed and Comings: An Appreciation for Winning It All And Starting The Climb Again appeared first on PodWheels.

As we continue to share our collection of interviews from Safety Drive For A Cure, we wanted to highlight one noticeable arrival that was new to Safety Drive this year. That was none other than the red, white and blue covering the ATA’s Image Trailer, complete with its Big Rig Driving simulator inside. The Image Trailer, which has been a presence at NTDC for many years now, was onsite for the first time at Safety Drive, and it proved to be a perfect fit for the day. Regular listeners to the NTDC Podcast know that Herschel Evans, the chief organizer behind Safety Drive, is a veteran Captain of America’s Road Team, and a number of the participants as well as volunteers over the years also have Road Team credentials to their credit. For Safety Drive 2026, the American Trucking Associations not only sent its Image Trailer, but the ATA also had a collection of Road Team Captains and two staff members take part in what was a memorable day at the UPS Smart Hub in Atlanta. During this episode of the podcast, we will be joined by Nikki Thomas, the ATA’s Vice President of Industry Affairs. Sareena Barnes, who is a Senior Associate in the Industry Affairs Department, will join us as well. Nikki and Sareena, who served as timekeepers during the pre-trip portion of the competition, will be talking to us about their first impressions of being onsite at Safety Drive.  SAFETY DRIVE is still accepting donations as the event’s organizers, volunteers and participants continue to work to drive their all-time fundraising total over the past 15 years to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation to the $500,000 mark. If you would like to make a donation to Safety Drive, please click here. FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SCF AT MATS: The St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund Team will once again be at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville. March 26-28. SCF is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. SCF also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road. The SCF booth will be located in the Atrium section of Kentucky Expo Center. The SCF Booth Number is 40648. SCF will be hosting its MATS Silent Auction on Thursday, March 26 in the South A Lobby of the Expo Center. To learn more about the Silent Auction and SCF at MATS, please click here. The post ATA Image Trailer and Road Team Captains Perfect Fit At Safety Drive appeared first on PodWheels.

How did UPS send 40 State Champions to Minneapolis to compete at NTDC 2025? One of the building blocks in last year’s run can be traced back to the annual Safety Drive For A Cure charity event. And while the 2026 State TDC season is just beginning, Team UPS capped off the NTDC “pre-season” by assembling another large group to participate in this year’s Safety Drive, which was once again held at the UPS Smart Hub in Atlanta. In this edition of the podcast, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson wrapped up his day onsite by chatting with Eric Davidson and Pete Dreisbach, who are UPS State Champions from Kentucky. Greg also talked with Nevada’s Randy Stromlund, a long-time NTDC standout who was the Nevada State Champ in 3-Axle last year. As you’ll hear, Randy has served as a mentor to a host of drivers at UPS who have competed at the TDC and National levels. For this interview, Randy, Eric and Pete brought along Dominic, a new driver with UPS who was experiencing his first taste of competition at this year’s Safety Drive. FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SCF AT MATS: The St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund Team will once again be at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville. March 26-28. SCF is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. SCF also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road. The SCF booth will be located in the Atrium section of Kentucky Expo Center. The SCF Booth Number is 40648. SCF will be hosting its MATS Silent Auction on Thursday, March 26 in the South A Lobby of the Expo Center. To learn more about the Silent Auction and SCF at MATS, please click here. The post UPS Building Team Spirit With Strong Safety Drive Results appeared first on PodWheels.

Seeing both Tim Blair from Tennessee and Mark McLean from New York at Safety Drive 2026 is perfect confirmation that TDC Champions and National Title holders make the trip to Atlanta from near and far to sharpen their competitive driving skills at Safety Drive. In this episode of the podcast (at the 19:20 mark), we’ll hear from Tim and Mark, who are part of a FedEx Freight Team that brought another large contingent from across the country to the NTDCs last year. For Mark, his trip from the Empire State represented his first visit to Safety Drive. As the reigning Grand Champion from New York, Mark made the most of his initial Safety Drive experience by claiming the Twins Division Championship. Meanwhile, Tim, who caught the attention of everyone at the NTDC in 2023 as a rookie winning the Pre-Trip competition, was once again in his element at Safety Drive. Tim tied for best score on the Pre-Trip portion of Safety Drive. While the opportunity to experience the challenges of a top-shelf driving course, written test and pre-trip against some best drivers in the country served as the perfect practice session as Mark and Tim seek to return to the Nationals in 2026, both FedEx Freight veterans were also drawn to Safety Drive because of the money the event raises to support the work of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Recorded on the Monday following Safety Drive, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson is joined on this episode by NTDC Historian Eugene Mulero. SAFETY DRIVE is still accepting donations as the event’s organizers, volunteers and participants continue to work to drive their all-time fundraising total over the past 15 years to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation to the $500,000 mark. If you would like to make a donation to Safety Drive, please click here. FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR:  The Lutzie 43 Foundation is our Friend of the Podcast for this episode of the NTDC 2026 Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org. The post Mark McLean and Tim Blair Give Back While Sharpening Skills At Safety Drive appeared first on PodWheels.

While Safety Drive 2026 featured a collection of past National Champions, State TDC Champions and no less than four past NTDC Grand Champions testing their knowledge and skills, the competition that took place at the UPS Smart Hub in Atlanta was a distant second to the primary mission of Safety Drive. The record field of competitors, with over 250 professional drivers, joined with the volunteers, the sponsors and other friends of Safety Drive to raise $75,548 that goes directly to support the work of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. The money raised to date for Safety Drive 2026 represents a single-year record amount in the 15-year history of the event. During this episode of the podcast, you will meet Alissa Karas, who is a Director in the Fund-Raising Department at the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Alissa serves as the lead liaison between the Foundation and the Safety Drive Organizing Committee that is led by America’s Road Team Captain Herschel Evans. As our podcast listeners know, it was Herschel who has been the driving force behind launching and growing Safety Drive into a premiere NTDC-style event that has now raised over $491,000 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation over Safety Drive’s 15-year history.  As you’ll hear in our conversation with her on Safety Drive Saturday, Alissa has a deep appreciation for the dedication of the nation’s professional drivers and the giving spirit that lives within the people of the trucking industry. SAFETY DRIVE is still accepting donations as the event’s organizers, volunteers and participants continue to work to drive their all-time fundraising total for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation to the $500,000 mark. If you would like to make a donation to Safety Drive, please click here. FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR:  The Lutzie 43 Foundation is our Friend of the Podcast for this episode of the NTDC 2026 Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org. The post Trucking’s Caring Heart On Full Display At Safety Drive 2026 appeared first on PodWheels.

Safety Drive For A Cure 2026 became a memorable trip to Atlanta for Paul Barnes of UPS. The reigning Illinois State Sleeper Division Champion who finished sixth at NTDC 2025, Paul was part of a record field of over 250 professional drivers who helped Safety Drive exceed the organizers’ fundraising goal by delivering $75,548 to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Now, in its 15th year, Safety Drive For A Cure has raised over $491,000 with a charity-benefit driving competition modeled after the NTDC that regularly draws State and National champions from across the country. With his combined efforts on the course, in the pre-trip phase and taking the written test, Paul is traveling home to Illinois with the Sleeper Berth Championship and the day’s top competitive trophy, the Grand Champions’ Award from Safety Drive 2026. For this episode of the podcast, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson spent the day onsite at the UPS Smart Hub in Atlanta covering Safety Drive 2026, and Greg talked with Paul just minutes after the UPS veteran driver was announced as this year’s Safety Drive Grand Champion. SAFETY DRIVE is still accepting donations as the organization led by America’s Road Team Captain Herschel Evans continues to work to drive their all-time fundraising total for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation to the $500,000 mark. If you would like to make a donation to Safety Drive, please click here. FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR:  The Lutzie 43 Foundation is our Friend of the Podcast for this episode of the NTDC 2026 Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org. The post Paul Barnes of UPS Earns Safety Drive’s Grand Champion Title appeared first on PodWheels.

In honor of International Women’s Day that was celebrated on March 8th, our podcast shines the spotlight on Ina Daly, the veteran XPO driver and the only woman to win a National Championship in the history of NTDC. With the Arizona State TDC just around the corner on March 28th, the timing is perfect to look back at Ina’s career accomplishments as she has become a regular at NTDC over the past two decades. In 2023, the NTDC Organizing Committee honored Ina with the Neill Darmstadter Professional Excellence Award. For this episode, we will be featuring a conversation that NTDC Historian Eugene Mulero had with Ina while she was in Washington DC last summer. As you’ll hear, Ina talked about the significance of being involved with the Women In Motion program from ATA and she also discussed what it takes to prepare to be ready for competition. NEW FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: PodWheels is honored to welcome the Lutzie 43 Foundation as a Friend of the NTDC 2026 Podcast Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org. The post Spotlighting NTDC Legend Ina Daly Ahead of Arizona’s TDC appeared first on PodWheels.

When the 15th edition of Safety Drive For A Cure opens its NTDC-style competition this Saturday, Brent and Laura Darnell will have already been onsite at the UPS Smart Hub in Atlanta before the sun rises. For Brent and Laura, along with a legion of volunteers led by chief organizer Herschel Evans, Saturday’s charity benefit for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, will represent a coordinated effort that has been almost a year in the planning and execution. In this edition of the podcast, we talk with Brent and Laura as they entered the final week of preparations. We also spend some time learning about how deep trucking’s roots are a part of their family traditions, with Brent being a fourth-generation professional driver. In addition, Brent and Laura shared how their family has become involved in Brent’s preparations for the Georgia TDC over years, and they share their memories of Brent’s third-place finish in the 3-Axle Division last summer at NTDC 2025. SAFETY DRIVE NOTES: There are still some openings for volunteers to help onsite in the Atlanta area on March 13-14. If you are going to be in the Atlanta area this weekend and are interested, you can sign up to become a volunteer by clicking here. You can also support the drivers who have entered the competition or the cause in general by making a donation. You can learn more by visiting Safety Drive event page by clicking here. To stay updated on what’s happening with Safety Drive you can visit the Safety Drive’s Facebook Page, by clicking here. NEW FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: PodWheels is honored to welcome the Lutzie 43 Foundation as a Friend of the NTDC 2026 Podcast Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org. The post Brent and Laura Darnell: Answering The Call and Winning By Serving Others appeared first on PodWheels.

For Atlanta-based XPO veteran driver Tim Vogt, the 15th edition of the Safety Drive For A Cure Benefit scheduled to run this coming Saturday is one of the most important dates on the calendar. In addition to getting a highly competitive test of his TDC skills ahead of Georgia’s Championship this April, Tim is part of the lead group of volunteers who will be working to ensure the Safety Drive record field of 265 professional drivers, their families, friends, supporters and Star Families will have a memorable time at Safety Drive 2026. This NTDC-style competition benefits the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, and the Star Families attending the event are families who have a child impacted by brain cancer. All the money raised through Safety Drive goes to support research to find a cure for pediatric brain cancer. During this edition of the podcast, we talk with Tim about his career in trucking, which includes serving as an America’s Road Team Captain since 2015 along with being a constant presence at the Georgia TDC and being a part of past NTDC fields. Tim, who has more than 1.5 million miles as a local driver in one of the country’s busiest metro areas, serves as a trainer and mentor to drivers who are entering the industry with XPO. As you will hear, Safety Drive is one of the many opportunities to make a difference that Tim has discovered during his 27-year career in the trucking industry. FINAL WEEK SAFETY DRIVE UPDATE : There are still some openings for volunteers to help onsite in the Atlanta area on March 13-14. If you are going to be in the Atlanta area this weekend and are interested, you can sign up to become a volunteer by clicking here. You can also support the drivers who have entered the competition or the cause in general by making a donation. You can learn more by visiting Safety Drive event page by clicking here. To stay updated on what’s happening with Safety Drive you can visit the Safety Drive’s Facebook Page, by clicking here. OUR FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: Founded in 2007, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including nicotine and smoking cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers. To learn more about the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and all of the offerings available from SCF, including how you can support their important work to help professional drivers and their families, visit TruckersFund.org. The post Veteran Driver Tim Vogt Continues To Find Inspiration Through Annual Safety Drive Event appeared first on PodWheels.

How would you respond if you landed one point short of reaching the runoff in your vehicle division at Nationals? Zack Bourque, the two-time reigning Tanker State Champion from New York, was forced to look squarely into that very challenge the moment he got his envelope following the call of the runoff finalists at NTDC 2025. As you’ll hear in this episode of the podcast, Zack refused to get eaten up by disappointment. Instead, he continued to work to make the most of his time onsite with all the driving professionals who were gathered in Minneapolis last summer. During this interview with PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson, Zack shares how he used the afternoon and evening of 2025’s Championship Day to be a part of group conversations with a number of the runoff participants, including eventual 2025 National Grand Champion David Comings. Zack also talks to us about the important mentoring role that Jim Kohr, a TDC and NTDC stalwart from New York, continues to play in Zack’s development as a professional driver and NTDC competitor. While Zack is counting the days to New York’s TDC in June, he knows that, in order to compete, he has to maintain his safety-first focus on the job as a driver for Wegmans Food Markets. And, when it comes to this winter, staying safe has included driving through many snow-filled days. OUR FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: Founded in 2007, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including nicotine and smoking cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers. To learn more about the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and all of the offerings available from SCF, including how you can support their important work to help professional drivers and their families, visit TruckersFund.org. The post Inspired By 2025, New York’s Zack Bourque Looking To Take Next Big Step appeared first on PodWheels.

With a record that was highlighted by five National Championships, one Grand Championship and the Professional Excellence Award during his NTDC days, Bob Dolan put together a hall-of-fame driving career and remains a legend in his home state of Pennsylvania. In this edition of the podcast, we will be featuring Eugene Mulero’s 2025 interview with Bob that was part of Eugene’s work on the second edition of the NTDC History Book that he co-authored with Jacob Pierce. As you will hear, Bob closed out his NTDC career in 2019 in Pittsburgh by helping Pennsylvania secure the State Team Trophy. In the closing section of this episode, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson and Eugene send out a huge note of thanks to our listeners while touching on a number of topics. Greg shares that the news that the series has seen a steady rise in listenership during the first two months of this year in comparison to the solid January and February numbers the show yielded in 2025. As you will hear, Greg takes a moment to invite listeners to submit their feedback and share their ideas for future episodes by sending a message to the following email address: [email protected]. SAFETY DRIVE 2026 VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP: As we noted in the episode, the organizers for the 15th Annual Safety Drive For A Cure are still looking for volunteers to help onsite in the Atlanta area on March 13-14. You can sign up to become a volunteer by clicking here. There are a wide range of volunteer opportunities to support what will be the largest competitive field in the history of Safety Drive, which benefits the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. You can also support the drivers who have entered the competition or the cause in general by making a donation. You can learn more by visiting Safety Drive event page by clicking here. To stay updated on what’s happening with Safety Drive you can visit the Safety Drive’s Facebook Page, by clicking here. OUR FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: Founded in 2007, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including nicotine and smoking cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers. To learn more about the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and all of the offerings available from SCF, including how you can support their important work to help professional drivers and their families, visit TruckersFund.org. The post NTDC Rewind: Celebrating Pennsylvania’s NTDC Legend Bob Dolan appeared first on PodWheels.

During this episode of the podcast, Darius Uible takes us behind the scenes with Team UPS. A finalist to serve as an America’s Road Team Captain for 2026-27 and a veteran driver for UPS, Darius has become a fixture at the NTDC in recent years with his video work. Darius, an accomplished videographer who is a regular competitor at the State TDC in Kentucky, was asked by UPS a few years ago to photograph and video the efforts of the members of Team UPS as they compete at the Nationals. As you will hear, Darius tells PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson how his NTDC video gig came together and what it means to him to be able to record company history while also sharing in the experience of his UPS teammates as they compete at the Nationals. During this episode, you will hear the feature interview that Darius conducted with UPS teammate Jeff Reed, reflecting on earning Rookie of the Year honors at NTDC 2026 while competing in the Twins Division. In the closing section of the podcast, Greg talks with Darius about his experience this January going to Washington DC as a finalist this January to be a Captain for America’s Road Team. Darius also offers a window into the early preparation by Team UPS for the upcoming State TDC Season. You’ll hear Greg ask Darius about his thoughts on breaking through to become a State Champion in Kentucky this May and qualifying for NTDC 2026 in Pittsburgh. OUR FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: Founded in 2007, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including nicotine and smoking cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers. To learn more about the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and all of the offerings available from SCF, including how you can support their important work to help professional drivers and their families, visit TruckersFund.org. The post Spotlighting Darius Uible, Road Team Finalist and Man Behind The Camera For UPS  appeared first on PodWheels.

This episode of the series is highlighted by our feature interview with Heath Arnold, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee for NTDC 2026. Heath joins the podcast about 26 minutes into the episode, providing us an update on the onsite visit that the NTDC Organizing Committee made earlier this month to Pittsburgh’s David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Heath talks to us about the meticulous planning and hundreds of details that must be covered in preparation for this August and NTDC 2026. For instance, the committee measures the distance between the bullpens and the driving course as part of working to keep things running in a timely fashion during NTDC week. Heath also shares with us how the Organizing Committee works with the feedback they received from participants and attendees at NTDC 2025. It’s all part of the work that goes into seeking to enhance the experience for those who are a part of NTDC 2026. During the course of the interview, Heath breaks some news for us, noting that both the driving course and pre-trip segments of the competition in Pittsburgh will each have a new sub-committee chairman this year. During this episode, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson also talks with Eugene Mulero about his first blog post for 2026 in the RoadToNTDC.com section of the PodWheels website. Eugene will be sharing some notes and the inspiration behind his column that he is calling At The Top. OUR FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: Founded in 2007, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including nicotine and smoking cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers. To learn more about the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and all of the offerings available from SCF, including how you can support their important work to help professional drivers and their families, visit TruckersFund.org. The post NTDC 2026 Committee Chairman Heath Arnold Excited About Road To Pittsburgh appeared first on PodWheels.

For this episode of the show, we open the vault once again to feature the interview that Eugene Mulero had with Carl Krites, the Grand Champion of NTDC 2010. Last year, as Eugene was developing the second edition of the From Roadeo To TDC history book with co-author Jacob Pierce, he caught up with Carl to look back on what even Carl admits was an unexpected run to a national championship in his vehicle class and the Grand Championship. In the closing portion of this episode (at 32:51), PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson also spends some time discussing the NTDC career of Dan Shamrell, who collected 550 out of a possible 600 points in the two drives he made at NTDC 2025 en route to the 3-Axle National Title. Greg also talks with Eugene about Eugene’s first experience covering an NTDC back in 2017. You’ll hear Eugene look back on how his time on the ground in Orlando nine years ago served as the spark that eventually inspired the development of the NTDC History Book project. To buy a copy of the From Roadeo To TDC history book online, please click here. OUR FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: Founded in 2007, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including nicotine and smoking cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers. To learn more about the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and all of the offerings available from SCF, including how you can support their important work to help professional drivers and their families, visit TruckersFund.org. The post Rewinding To 2010: Recalling Carl Krites’ NTDC Grand Champion Run appeared first on PodWheels.

Our NTDC Podcast closes out our series of conversations with the 2025 Vehicle Class National Champions by sharing the inspiring story of Merle Ashbaugh. In winning the Sleeper Class Division at NTDC 2025, Merle not only earned his first National title, but he also wrote his name into the history books at DHL – becoming the carrier’s first-ever National Champion. As you’ll hear in this episode of the podcast, it was quite poetic that Merle became the first to claim a first-place trophy at NTDC for DHL. Having enjoyed his experience in state TDCs and having qualified for the Nationals in 2017 at his previous company, Merle asked DHL about getting involved in the NTDC program at the state level shortly after joining the company. About a year later, Merle won his vehicle class at the Ohio TDC and went to Columbus for NTDC 2023. Merle’s success at the state level created momentum, inspiring other drivers at DHL to get involved at the state level. Merle’s lone state and national participation in 2023 opened the door, showing what is possible. By 2025, DHL had 47 drivers enter State TDCs across the country. In addition to Merle qualifying in the Sleeper Class, DHL Team members Wally Mejia, 3-axle, and Ron Zoz, a finalist in 5-axle, were a part of NTDC 2025. SAFETY DRIVE 2026 VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP: As we noted in the episode, Merle will be one of the 250 professional drivers participating in the 15th Annual Safety Drive For A Cure 2026, the benefit for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation that is coming up on March 14th in Atlanta. The Safety Drive organizers are still looking for volunteers to help onsite March 13-14. You can sign up to become a volunteer by clicking here. There are a wide range of volunteer opportunities to support what will be the largest competitive field in the history of Safety Drive. You can also support the drivers who have entered the competition or the cause in general by making a donation. You can learn more by visiting Safety Drive event page by clicking here. To stay updated on what’s happening with Safety Drive you can visit the Safety Drive’s Facebook Page, by clicking here. OUR FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: Founded in 2007, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including nicotine and smoking cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers. To learn more about the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and all of the offerings available from SCF, including how you can support their important work to help professional drivers and their families, visit TruckersFund.org. The post Merle Ashbaugh’s First National Title Makes History For DHL appeared first on PodWheels.

To highlight the return of the NTDC to Pittsburgh this year, we continue our look back at NTDC 2019, the first time that PodWheels had the opportunity to cover the National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships. This edition of the podcast revisits the 2019 retrospective that we produced from our time at NTDC 2019. The rewind portion of the show opens with PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson recalling the contributions that John Lex made to the coverage by the podcast in Pittsburgh. This section of the show is highlighted by the interview that Greg did with John, a little more than three years before John passed away following his battle with cancer. A Captain with America’s Road Team, John, who had more than three million accident-free miles during his 32-year career, was the recipient of the Mike Russell Trucking Image Award in 2016 and he earned the Trucking Cares Foundation Premier Achievement Award in 2021. For this return to 2019, Greg is joined once again by Barry Courter, the co-founder and co-host of The What Podcast, which covers Bonnaroo and other music festivals. Along with sharing highlights from Championship Saturday, Greg and Barry share their thoughts about being onsite for the Parade of Champions and the Awards Ceremony. The retrospective also features interviews with back-to-back NTDC Grand Champion Scott Woodrome as well as the family of Nebraska State Patrol Sergeant Benjamin Schropfer, the CVSA’s North America Inspectors Challenge Grand Champion. SAFETY DRIVE 2026 VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP: As we mentioned in this episode, the 15th Annual Safety Drive For A Cure 2026 is coming up on March 14th in Atlanta. While all 250 spots for competitors are filled for this event that benefits the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, Safety Drive organizers are still looking for volunteers to help onsite March 13-14. You can sign up to become a volunteer by clicking here. There are a wide range of volunteer opportunities to support what will be the largest competitive field in the history of Safety Drive. You can also support the drivers who have entered the competition or the cause in general by making a donation. You can learn more by visiting Safety Drive event page by clicking here. To stay updated on what’s happening with Safety Drive you can visit the Safety Drive’s Facebook Page, by clicking here. OUR FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: Founded in 2007, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including nicotine and smoking cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers. To learn more about the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and all of the offerings available from SCF, including how you can support their important work to help professional drivers and their families, visit TruckersFund.org. The post Recalling The Great John Lex and Memories of NTDC 2019 in Pittsburgh appeared first on PodWheels.

As we countdown the days to the first State TDC that serve as the first miles on this year’s Road To Pittsburgh, our series would like to take our listeners back to NTDC 2019, the last time the NTDC was held in the Steel City. NTDC 2019 also marked the first time that PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson attended and covered the National Championships. In this episode of our series, Greg brings us the retrospective the PodWheels Team put together from seven years ago. You’ll also hear the story of how Greg was first introduced to the NTDC Program through a memorable experience at the Tennessee State TDC. As you’ll hear, Greg is joined on this retrospective edition by Barry Courter, the co-founder and co-host of The What Podcast, which covers Bonnaroo and other music festivals. Highlights of the retrospective episode originally produced in August of 2019 include interviews with 2007 NTDC Grand Champion Alphonso Lewis and his wife Regina. Alphonso made the runoff in 2019 and Regina was leading his cheering section. OUR FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: Founded in 2007, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including nicotine and smoking cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers. To learn more about the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and all of the offerings available from SCF, including how you can support their important work to help professional drivers and their families, visit TruckersFund.org. The post Taking A Trip Back In Time To Pittsburgh and NTDC 2019 appeared first on PodWheels.

To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Super Bowl and to get into the championship spirit, our podcast is doing a bit of a rewind with this episode. Greg Thompson and Eugene Mulero will be taking listeners back to the day of the Championship Runoff at NTDC 2025. We will be sharing a collection of the interviews that Eugene did just as the “Top Guns” of 2025 were exiting their trucks on the floor of the Minneapolis Convention Center. Among the featured drivers in this rewind are Ernie Budlowski, Robert Crowder, Todd Flippin, Glen Kirk, David Hall, Adam Heim, Dave Mogler, Kenneth Regeth and Dan Shamrell. This edition of the podcast closes with a bit of an exit ramp departure from NTDC as Eugene and Greg spend a moment recalling the comedic genius of actress Catherine O’Hara, who passed away on the day this episode was recorded. WELCOMING A NEW FRIEND OF THE PODCAST: We are thrilled to welcome the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund as our newest Friend of the Podcast Sponsor. Founded in 2007, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including nicotine and smoking cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers. To learn more about the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and all of the offerings available from SCF, including how you can support their important work to help professional drivers and their families, visit TruckersFund.org. The post Championship Runoff Rewind: NTDC’s Version Of The Playoffs appeared first on PodWheels.

We are honored to welcome back America’s Road Team Captain and TA Citizen Driver Herschel Evans to the podcast. The driving force behind the annual Safety Drive For A Cure, Herschel takes us inside what it takes to bring together a premiere “preseason” TDC-level event that has now raised over $400,000 to support the work of the Pediatric Brain Cancer Foundation. As the calendar turned to February, Safety Drive had reached its capacity for entries with 250 registrations and Safety Drive now has a waiting list for competitors. As you’ll hear in this episode of the podcast, Herschel and his Safety Driver Organizing Team are still seeking volunteers to work on the event, which will be held in Atlanta on March 14. You can sign up to become a volunteer by clicking here. There are a wide range of volunteer opportunities to support what will be the largest competitive field in the history of Safety Drive. In addition to filling a role at Safety Drive as a volunteer, Herschel shares that you can support the drivers who have entered the competition or the cause in general by making a donation. You can learn more by visiting Safety Drive event page by clicking here. To stay updated on what’s happening with Safety Drive you can visit the Safety Drive’s Facebook Page, by clicking here. During this episode of the podcast, Herschel takes us back to the early days of Safety Drive For Cure and he also reflects on what has been an amazing career in the trucking industry highlighted by his commitment to safety and making a difference in the communities he serves. Coming off a third-place finish at NTDC 2025 in the Sleeper Class, Herschel’s career includes two National Vehicle Class Championships in NTDC competition. Looking ahead to the future, Herschel also shares some thoughts on how Safety Drive is looking to grow in the coming years. Our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode of the NTDC 2025 Series is PROJECT 61. Driving health. Fueling life. Supporting the heroes behind the wheel — that’s what PROJECT 61 is all about. Project-61.org is the web address where the change begins. If you’re a driver — or if you care about someone who is — head over to Project-61.org. You’ll find resources to get started, including access to a free mobile app built specifically for life on the road — plus a chance to take the Trucker Health Pledge and show your support for the men and women behind the wheel. You can even make a donation to help PROJECT 61keep doing this important work across the industry. The post Herschel Evans Preparing For Record Field At Safety Drive For A Cure appeared first on PodWheels.

In his work on the second edition of the From Roadeo To TDC history book on NTDC last year, Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero had the opportunity to conduct an extended interview with Mike Alpine, the 2004 National Champion in the Auto Hauler Vehicle Class. Now, as you’ll hear beginning at the 19-minute mark of this episode, Mike holds the distinction of being the final Auto Hauler National Champ as that vehicle class was not offered as part of the competition beginning in 2005. What makes Mike’s accomplishment in 2004 even more impressive and memorable is the fact that he was competing as a rookie in the last run of the Auto Hauler Class. During this 2025 interview that Eugene conducted, you will also hear how Mike returned to the TDC and NTDC 18 years later in 2022 representing ABF Freight and the state of Arizona. Mike, who holds the incredible accomplishment of over four million accident-free miles, returned to the nationals as an Arizona State Champion in 2023 and 2024. Mike’s observations on what the NTDC means to him and the indelible impression that being part of the competition made on his dedication to safety can be heard throughout this interview. This episode of the podcast opens with Greg Thompson and Eugene Mulero noting the selection of two recent NTDC National Champions as Captains on America’s Road Team for 2026-27. Greg and Eugene salute Mississippi’s Jackie Reed and Florida’s Miguel Sanchez on being a part of the new class of America’s Road Team Captains, which was announced on January 20th. In 2024, Jackie won the Tanker Division National Title en route to earning the honor of becoming NTDC’s Grand Champion for that year. Miguel claimed the 2025 Twins National Championship after winning the Grand Championship at the Florida TDC. We hope you enjoy this super-sized episode of our series. To buy a copy of the From Roadeo To TDC history book online, please click here. Our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode of the NTDC 2025 Series is PROJECT 61. Driving health. Fueling life. Supporting the heroes behind the wheel — that’s what PROJECT 61 is all about. Project-61.org is the web address where the change begins. If you’re a driver — or if you care about someone who is — head over to Project-61.org. You’ll find resources to get started, including access to a free mobile app built specifically for life on the road — plus a chance to take the Trucker Health Pledge and show your support for the men and women behind the wheel. You can even make a donation to help PROJECT 61 keep doing this important work across the industry. The post Time Capsule: Taking Trip With Mike Alpine Back To 2004 Championship appeared first on PodWheels.

As part of our 2025 National Champions Series, Ed Hill from FedEx Freight joins the podcast to look back at winning his first career National Championship last August in Minneapolis. The pride of Delaware, Ed first entered his state TDC in 2022 and he came away with the Rookie of the Year, a state title and a trip to the Nationals. As you will hear, Ed returned to be a part of the elite NTDC field in 2023 and 2024 before making his fourth consecutive Nationals last year. It was at NTDC 2025 in the Flatbed Division that Ed heard his name called for the runoff and then as a National Champion. In this episode, we take a look back at Ed’s career in trucking, his experiences at NTDC and how he was able to breakthrough in 2025 with his first Vehicle Class National Crown. Our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode of the NTDC 2025 Series is PROJECT 61. Driving health. Fueling life. Supporting the heroes behind the wheel — that’s what PROJECT 61 is all about. Project-61.org is the web address where the change begins. If you’re a driver — or if you care about someone who is — head over to Project-61.org. You’ll find resources to get started, including access to a free mobile app built specifically for life on the road — plus a chance to take the Trucker Health Pledge and show your support for the men and women behind the wheel. You can even make a donation to help PROJECT 61 keep doing this important work across the industry. The post Steady Climber Ed Hill Recalls Reaching Flatbed Summit At NTDC 2025 appeared first on PodWheels.

Greg Thompson and Eugene Mulero are back on the show together for the first time in a few weeks, and their first topic of 2026 is the upcoming Safety Drive For A Cure. For those who may not know, Safety Drive is the annual charity event led by America’s Road Team Captain Herschel Evans. This event brings together NTDC hopefuls from across the country in an annual campaign that raises money for Pediatric Brain Cancer Research while also providing professional drivers the opportunity to get some high-level “Spring Training” competition prior to the State TDC Season. In their discussion of the upcoming 15th edition of the Safety Drive, which will take place in Atlanta on March 14, Greg and Eugene talk about the opportunity to volunteer at the event. You’ll also hear Greg and Eugene talk about reaching the 100-episode milestone for podcast releases of the NTDC Series in 2025 as well as some of their plans for coverage of the TDC Season and NTDC 2026. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for Safety Drive 2026, please click here. If you would like to register to compete at Safety Drive 2026, please click here. To learn more about Safety Drive and how your donations help the work of the Pediatric Brain Cancer Foundation, you can visit the Safety Drive’s Facebook Page, by clicking here. Our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode of the NTDC 2025 Series is PROJECT 61. Driving health. Fueling life. Supporting the heroes behind the wheel — that’s what PROJECT 61 is all about. Project-61.org is the web address where the change begins. If you’re a driver — or if you care about someone who is — head over to Project-61.org. You’ll find resources to get started, including access to a free mobile app built specifically for life on the road — plus a chance to take the Trucker Health Pledge and show your support for the men and women behind the wheel. You can even make a donation to help PROJECT 61 keep doing this important work across the industry. The post Sending Out A Call For Safety Drive 2026 Volunteers appeared first on PodWheels.

For this National Champions’ edition of the podcast, we look back at NTDC 2025 and Jeff Langenhahn’s run to the title in the Tanker Class. All things considered, it was clear Jeff was poised to have a great week last August. After all, Minneapolis was relatively close to his home in Wisconsin and that meant it was easy for members of Jeff’s family to make the trip. While Jeff, the 2014 NTDC Grand Champion, had the NTDC Grand Champs from 2023 and 2024 with him in Tanker, he also had his daughter, son-in-law and young grandson in the crowd cheering him to what became his third National Championship in his 12th NTDC trip that now includes seven appearances in the final runoff. As you’ll hear in this episode, we take a trip back to August with Jeff and his experience at NTDC 2025. We also discuss his career both at NTDC and his many years on the road with XPO, which includes more than two million accident-free miles driven. As we look ahead to NTDC 2026, Jeff will be ready to make another run to qualify for the Nationals. Our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode of the NTDC 2025 Series is PROJECT 61. Driving health. Fueling life. Supporting the heroes behind the wheel — that’s what PROJECT 61 is all about. Project-61.org is the web address where the change begins. If you’re a driver — or if you care about someone who is — head over to Project-61.org. You’ll find resources to get started, including access to a free mobile app built specifically for life on the road — plus a chance to take the Trucker Health Pledge and show your support for the men and women behind the wheel. You can even make a donation to help PROJECT 61 keep doing this important work across the industry. The post Revisiting Jeff Langenhahn’s Tanker Title Run, Third National Crown In Stellar Career appeared first on PodWheels.

To open our fifth season of the NTDC Podcast Series, we have pulled an unreleased interview from our vault that two-time National Grand Champion Roland Bolduc did last year with John Greene. As you will hear, the conversation takes us back to 2023 when Roland and John made the trip to Columbus as fellow members of Team Connecticut. John brought home the National Championship in the 5-Axle Van Division, while Roland earned the top trophy in the 5-Axle Sleeper Class. Those 2023 championship performances, along with contributions from other NTDC stalwarts (including Tony Spero in his final year at NTDC before his retirement), helped in Team Connecticut’s drive to win the State Team Competition at NTDC. Friend Of The Podcast: JoyRide Logistics is serving as our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode. JoyRide Logistics is focused on being a world-class, customer-focused business. JoyRide is driven by its people and their dedication to provide valuable solutions to meet the challenges of today’s supply chain. To learn more about JoyRide Logistics, visit JoyRideLogistics.com. The post Rollin’ Down Memory Lane With John Greene’s 2023 National Title Run appeared first on PodWheels.

To say that 2025 was an unforgettable year for FedEx Freight’s David Comings would be one of the grandest understatements of the past 12 months. At NTDC 2025 in Minneapolis, David earned his first vehicle class National Championship before hearing his name called as the 2025 National Grand Champion. To make these first-in-his-life experiences even more memorable, David’s six children – ranging from college to high school ages – were onsite during the competition and they were all gathered at the annual NTDC banquet as he accepted his awards with his wife Judy at his side on the eve of their wedding anniversary. In the months that followed his first National Grand Championship, David has made a number of special trips and appearances, including being spotlighted at the American Trucking Associations’ annual Management Conference and Exhibition in San Diego. And, as you’ll hear in this edition of the podcast, David has continued to keep everything in perspective, recalling how last year’s fifth-place finish at the nationals inspired him to work harder in 2025.  David also shares with us that, no matter what level of success he achieves in competition, everything he does always comes back to safety and the mile-by-mile attention to detail that is needed on today’s roads. David’s inspiring story and his ever-present humility provided the perfect way for the podcast to close out 2025 as we look ahead to continuing our coverage into the New Year and beyond. Our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode of the NTDC 2025 Series is PROJECT 61. Driving health. Fueling life. Supporting the heroes behind the wheel — that’s what PROJECT 61 is all about. Project-61.org is the web address where the change begins. If you’re a driver — or if you care about someone who is — head over to Project-61.org. You’ll find resources to get started, including access to a free mobile app built specifically for life on the road — plus a chance to take the Trucker Health Pledge and show your support for the men and women behind the wheel. You can even make a donation to help PROJECT 61 keep doing this important work across the industry. The post 2025 National Grand Champion David Comings Reflects On His Memorable Year appeared first on PodWheels.

As we prepare for the calendar to turn to a new year on the podcast, we wanted to share this Rollin’ With Roland edition of the series that we recorded a few weeks after the close of NTDC 2025. At that time, we caught up with two-time National Grand Champion Roland Bolduc, who has graciously contributed a collection of competitor-to-competitor interviews to this podcast throughout 2025. Following a run in Minneapolis that saw Roland return to the Final Five runoff and finish second in 5-Axle Vehicle to David Comings (also the 2025 National Grand Champion), we wanted to get Roland’s perspective on what has been an amazing year within NTDC, filled with returning champions and a large number of rookies gathering to compete in what Roland calls the annual “Family Reunion.” It’s a must-listen conversation with a 20-time State Champion and NTDC qualifier who offers a collection of valuable observations while sharing congratulations for all the National Champions. Our listeners will especially enjoy the perspective and joy Roland experienced in watching David Comings excel at the Nationals in 2025. Friend Of The Podcast: JoyRide Logistics is serving as our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode. JoyRide Logistics is focused on being a world-class, customer-focused business. JoyRide is driven by its people and their dedication to provide valuable solutions to meet the challenges of today’s supply chain. To learn more about JoyRide Logistics, visit JoyRideLogistics.com. The post Observations & Congratulations For 2025: A Year-End Rollin’ With Roland appeared first on PodWheels.

As we approach Christmas Day, our podcast wanted to find a way to celebrate this season of giving and the gifts that are found by serving those in your community. We decided to reach out to Emily Crane, the Vice President of Safety and Engagement for the Georgia Trucking Association, to give her an opportunity to look back at what has been a memorable year. In 2025, Emily was part of the NTDC Organizing Committee for the first time in her 20-year career in trucking. To hear the joy in Emily’s voice as she talks about the State and National Driving Championships and to hear what it means to her to serve on the all-volunteer NTDC Organizing Committee is a testament to the power of giving back. As you will hear, our wide-ranging conversation looks back at Emily’s career in trucking and how she initially got involved with the NTDC before earning an invitation to join the Organizing Committee. Speaking of giving back, we’ll also discuss the Safety Drive For A Cure, an annual fund-raising event led by America’s Road Team Captain and 2025 Georgia State Grand Champion Herschel Evans. Safety Drive For A Cure, which is held in the Atlanta area and will be returning this coming March, has become a very popular TDC-style competition that is also fund-raiser for the Pediatric Brain Cancer Foundation. We also take a moment to reflect on the impact that Matt Awbrey made with his career and life in trucking. Matt passed away during the Georgia State TDC and Team Georgia honored him during their trip to NTDC 2025. Friend Of The Podcast: JoyRide Logistics is serving as our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode. JoyRide Logistics is focused on being a world-class, customer-focused business. JoyRide is driven by its people and their dedication to provide valuable solutions to meet the challenges of today’s supply chain. To learn more about JoyRide Logistics, visit JoyRideLogistics.com. The post First-Year NTDC Committee Member Emily Crane Looks Back On A Memorable 2025 appeared first on PodWheels.

Mark Carver from FedEx Freight made the most of his second consecutive year at the Nationals, taking what he learned in Indianapolis in 2024 and turning it into NTDC gold in Minneapolis this past August. Returning as the Straight Truck Champion from Missouri, Mark put it all together to navigate the course, the written test and the pre-trip to ultimately hear his name called on Championship Saturday night as a National Champion at NTDC 2025. Looking back on his journey to his first national title, Mark credits the continued encouragement he received from his training partner at his home terminal as well as the onsite support he experienced from his FedEx teammates. Friend Of The Podcast: JoyRide Logistics is serving as our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode. JoyRide Logistics is focused on being a world-class, customer-focused business. JoyRide is driven by its people and their dedication to provide valuable solutions to meet the challenges of today’s supply chain. To learn more about JoyRide Logistics, visit JoyRideLogistics.com. The post Recalling How Mark Carver Broke Through To Win His First National Championship appeared first on PodWheels.

To say that Miguel Sanchez of UPS savored and valued every moment of the journey that brought him to the reality of winning the Twins Division National title at NTDC 2025 would be one of the understatements of the year. PodWheels caught up with Miguel a few weeks after he had brought the top trophy in Twins for his first National Championship back to his home terminal in the Jacksonville area. As you’ll hear, he was still wrapped in the total joy of his experience in Minneapolis. Miguel wanted the trophy to first come to the terminal to honor his teammates and to serve as a point of inspiration for the future. Miguel’s conversation with PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson does more than simply relive the memorable moments of the Florida State Grand Champion’s run to a National crown. What Miguel shares with Greg captures the spirit of camaraderie, family support and competition that stands at the heart of the annual NTDC competition. Friend Of The Podcast: JoyRide Logistics is serving as our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode. JoyRide Logistics is focused on being a world-class, customer-focused business. JoyRide is driven by its people and their dedication to provide valuable solutions to meet the challenges of today’s supply chain. To learn more about JoyRide Logistics, visit JoyRideLogistics.com. The post Florida’s Miguel Sanchez Still Savoring First NTDC Division Champions’ Crown appeared first on PodWheels.

For the next installment in our 2025 National Champions’ Series, we place Mississippi’s Stephen Johnson in the spotlight. Recorded in mid-October, Stephen reflects on the experience of winning the NTDC 2025 title in the 4-Axle Class. A veteran driver with FedEx Freight, Stephen called upon his initial experience at the Nationals in 2023 to help prepare him for success in Minneapolis this past summer. Cheered on by his wife and daughter while also enjoying the support of Team FedEx, which included 2024 National Grand Champion Jackie Reed (who is his training partner from Mississippi), Stephen put it all together to realize the dream of winning a National Championship. Friend Of The Podcast: JoyRide Logistics is serving as our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode. JoyRide Logistics is focused on being a world-class, customer-focused business. JoyRide is driven by its people and their dedication to provide valuable solutions to meet the challenges of today’s supply chain. To learn more about JoyRide Logistics, visit JoyRideLogistics.com. The post Mississippi’s Stephen Johnson Looks Back On His First National Title appeared first on PodWheels.

Would you like to hear how the fire hydrant became part of the semifinal driving course at NTDC 2025? Would you like to go inside some of the processes involved when it comes to deciding the challenges that are included for the driving courses at the Nationals? Frank Ems, who oversees the work of the NTDC committee responsible for the driving course layout, joins PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson as we look back at NTDC 2025. It’s a fun conversation that highlights the thought and care Frank and the Driving Course Committee take in doing their work over many months before actually arriving onsite at the Nationals. Friend Of The Podcast: JoyRide Logistics is serving as our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode. JoyRide Logistics is focused on being a world-class, customer-focused business. JoyRide is driven by its people and their dedication to provide valuable solutions to meet the challenges of today’s supply chain. To learn more about JoyRide Logistics, visit JoyRideLogistics.com. The post Course Design Chief Frank Ems Looks Back On NTDC 2025 appeared first on PodWheels.

We are thrilled to launch our NTDC 2025 Champions Series by welcoming Dan Shamrell, who met the challenge of winning a National Championship in his final appearance at an NTDC. Prior to arriving in Minneapolis for NTDC 2025, Dan had shared his plans to retire before the end of 2025 after 38 years on the road with FedEx Freight. Dan, an 11-time State Grand Champion from Oregon, had reached the Nationals 19 times over his career. He knew the 3-Axle field would once again be a gauntlet just to make it to Championship Saturday and driving in the finals. Yet, as Dan shares on this episode of the podcast, he felt an inner peace during his time in Minneapolis that kept a sense of calm that opened the doors to his 3-Axle Championship victory. Dan looks back with us on his final NTDC and a sterling career that is marked by his daily excellence on the road and within the field of precision driving. Our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode of the NTDC 2025 Series is PROJECT 61. Driving health. Fueling life. Supporting the heroes behind the wheel — that’s what PROJECT 61 is all about. Project-61.org is the web address where the change begins. If you’re a driver — or if you care about someone who is — head over to Project-61.org. You’ll find resources to get started, including access to a free mobile app built specifically for life on the road — plus a chance to take the Trucker Health Pledge and show your support for the men and women behind the wheel. You can even make a donation to help PROJECT 61 keep doing this important work across the industry. The post Dan Shamrell Looks Back On His Final Champions’ Drive At NTDC appeared first on PodWheels.

David Crocker, the Tanker State Champion from Maine, had just finished his first-ever run on the driving course when our podcast caught up with him in Minneapolis during the second day of NTDC Week. David’s interview is part of the collection of chats that we recorded onsite at NTDC 2025, and it’s one we decided to save to close out our Rewind Series that is part of our ongoing post-event coverage that will extend through the end of the year. David, part of a large rookie class at NTDC 2025, was in a vehicle class that featured the past two National Grand Champions, Gragg Wilson (2023) and Jackie Reed (2024). As you will hear in our interview, David found the experience quite memorable and inspiring. Friend Of The Podcast: JoyRide Logistics is serving as our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode. JoyRide Logistics is focused on being a world-class, customer-focused business. JoyRide is driven by its people and their dedication to provide valuable solutions to meet the challenges of today’s supply chain. To learn more about JoyRide Logistics, visit JoyRideLogistics.com. The post One More Rewind: Chatting With Maine’s David Crocker On His First NTDC appeared first on PodWheels.

Almost one month to the day that the NTDC 2025 Organizing Committee began its onsite work to prepare for the Opening Day of this year’s Championships, PodWheels caught up with NTDC 2025 Chairman Robert Foskey. In this episode of the podcast, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson asks Bob to reflect on what took place in Minneapolis during the third week of August. As you will hear, Bob shares notes of praise for everyone who came together to make NTDC 2025 a memorable event for all who were part of this year’s National Championships. As a past State Champion and a participant in the NTDC program, Bob has a unique perspective when it comes to the experience drivers and their families have at the nationals. The work by the Organizing Committee, the ATA staff and all the volunteers that came together in Minneapolis represented an effort that was more than a year in the making. As he shares, Bob, who now relishes holding the title of Immediate Past Chairman, is quite grateful for all the work done by the entire team responsible for NTDC 2025. Recorded on the Thursday of National Driver Appreciation Week, Greg also took a moment to ask Bob what Driver Appreciation means to him. Our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode of the NTDC 2025 Series is PROJECT 61. Driving health. Fueling life. Supporting the heroes behind the wheel — that’s what PROJECT 61 is all about. Project-61.org is the web address where the change begins. If you’re a driver — or if you care about someone who is — head over to Project-61.org. You’ll find resources to get started, including access to a free mobile app built specifically for life on the road — plus a chance to take the Trucker Health Pledge and show your support for the men and women behind the wheel. You can even make a donation to help PROJECT 61 keep doing this important work across the industry. The post One Month Later, NTDC 2025 Chairman Robert Foskey Looks Back On The Championships appeared first on PodWheels.

The NTDC 2025 Podcast dedicates this episode to spotlighting the importance of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week by looking back at the achievements at NTDC 2025 and on the highways by the 425 state champions who gathered in Minneapolis for this year’s edition of the National Championships. PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson and Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero also discuss the contributions that members of this year’s NTDC field made within their communities, their states and across the country. In this edition of the podcast, you will hear the reading of the proclamation presented on the floor of the Rhode Island State House of Representatives honoring Rhode Island native Joe Hicks of XPO. Eugene and Greg also share a number of other notes of appreciation for the mile-by-mile work and the dedication to safety embraced each day by professional drivers across the country. Friend Of The Podcast: JoyRide Logistics is serving as our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode. JoyRide Logistics is focused on being a world-class, customer-focused business. JoyRide is driven by its people and their dedication to provide valuable solutions to meet the challenges of today’s supply chain. To learn more about JoyRide Logistics, visit JoyRideLogistics.com. The post Celebrating Professional Drivers’ Dedication To Safety, Service & Community appeared first on PodWheels.

As we continue to celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation Week on the NTDC 2025 Podcast, we are thrilled to bring you a Champions Appreciation edition with a special Rollin’ With Roland episode of the series. About one month prior to the NTDC 2025 competition in Minneapolis, two-time National Grand Champion Roland Bolduc had an opportunity to sit down with Dan Shamrell, a highly accomplished previous national champion who has claimed the State Grand Championship of Oregon 11 times during his storied career. Before they both competed in their respective vehicle divisions in Minneapolis, Roland wanted a chance to interview Dan, who would be making his 19th and final appearance at an NTDC. Roland, who qualified for his 20th NTDC in going to Minneapolis, knew that Dan would be retiring from trucking before the end of the year. With Dan winning the 2025 3-Axle National Championship on his final drive at NTDC, PodWheels made the decision to hold this great conversation between FedEx Teammates and fellow champions until we reached Driver Appreciation Week. We hope you enjoy what is now a wonderful time capsule as Dan looks back on his career is this memorable Rollin’ with Roland episode. Our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode of the NTDC 2025 Series is PROJECT 61. Driving health. Fueling life. Supporting the heroes behind the wheel — that’s what PROJECT 61 is all about. Project-61.org is the web address where the change begins. If you’re a driver — or if you care about someone who is — head over to Project-61.org. You’ll find resources to get started, including access to a free mobile app built specifically for life on the road — plus a chance to take the Trucker Health Pledge and show your support for the men and women behind the wheel. You can even make a donation to help PROJECT 61 keep doing this important work across the industry. The post Champions’ Chat: Dan Shamrell Reflects On NTDC Career While Rollin’ With Roland appeared first on PodWheels.

As this year’s celebration of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week begins, the NTDC 2025 Podcast dedicates our 80th episode release of the year to take an initial look back at a number of the top performances across the nine vehicle divisions in the competition that brought together 425 state champions from across the country. Recorded on September 3, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson and Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero spend some time going inside the final results from NTDC 2025 in Minneapolis. You’ll hear Eugene and Greg share some tidbits that they learned while talking with some of the competitors and NTDC organizers during NTDC Week. You’ll also hear Eugene look back on the initial reaction he received from folks at NTDC 2025 and others following the release of the second edition of the NTDC History Book that Eugene co-authored with Jacob Pierce, who is the ATA liaison for NTDC. Friend Of The Podcast: JoyRide Logistics is serving as our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode. JoyRide Logistics is focused on being a world-class, customer-focused business. JoyRide is driven by its people and their dedication to provide valuable solutions to meet the challenges of today’s supply chain. To learn more about JoyRide Logistics, visit JoyRideLogistics.com. The post Appreciating The Performances and Achievements By Nation’s Top Drivers at NTDC 2025 appeared first on PodWheels.

As we continue our NTDC 2025 Rewind Series from our time onsite in Minneapolis, PodWheels is rolling it back to Wednesday of NTDC Week when we caught up with a friend we met in Columbus two years ago. In 2023, PodWheels Executive Producer was introduced to Alex Ayala, who serves as a Safety Consultant for H-E-B Grocery. As you will hear in this edition of the podcast, Alex works with the H-E-B drivers who qualify for the NTDCs. And, in 2025, while competing in the state of Texas, Alex and H-E-B experienced the joy of seeing six of their drivers win their vehicle divisions and qualify for the nationals. During his conversation with Greg, Alex also shares his history with the State TDCs and the Nationals, including serving as a volunteer while he was part of the Safety Department at H-E-B. Alex has actually been involved with the state and national competitions in various roles since 1966. Following his retirement from H-E-B, Alex began serving as a Safety Consultant for the company with a primary focus on the Texas State TDC and the NTDC. As Alex tells Greg, one of his most important roles at the nationals is to secure his place in line on Wednesday of NTDC Week to hang the H-E-B banner that honors all of the company’s competitors in this field of champions. As you will hear, Alex was onsite at the Minneapolis Convention Center as the doors opened on Wednesday of NTDC Week to be the first line to enter the competition hall. Our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode of the NTDC 2025 Series is PROJECT 61. Driving health. Fueling life. Supporting the heroes behind the wheel — that’s what PROJECT 61 is all about. Project-61.org is the web address where the change begins. If you’re a driver — or if you care about someone who is — head over to Project-61.org. You’ll find resources to get started, including access to a free mobile app built specifically for life on the road — plus a chance to take the Trucker Health Pledge and show your support for the men and women behind the wheel. You can even make a donation to help PROJECT 61 keep doing this important work across the industry. The post NTDC Wednesday Rewind: Alex Ayala Values Carrying H-E-B’s Banner and Promoting Safety appeared first on PodWheels.