Shows
Featured Archives | PodWheelsMiddleton and Guzman: Definitions of TDC Spirit and Dedication To Safety
Over the past 17 years, Ramon Guzman of FedEx Freight and Mike Middleton of Old Dominion Freight Lines have become the very definition of why the National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships stand as the longest running safety program in the history of trucking. While they have each dreamed of competing at the nationals (Ramon earned a spot at NTDC 2025 as California’s Flatbed Champion after 17 years between titles), the most important numbers they have put on the board during their careers are safe miles and the ability to participate in their State TDCs year after year....
2026-04-3027 minLiner NotesMiddleton and Guzman: Definitions of TDC Spirit and Dedication To Safety
Over the past 17 years, Ramon Guzman of FedEx Freight and Mike Middleton of Old Dominion Freight Lines have become the very definition of why the National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships stand as the longest running safety program in the history of trucking. While they have each dreamed of competing at the nationals (Ramon earned a spot at NTDC 2025 as California’s Flatbed Champion after 17 years between titles), the most important numbers they have put on the board during their careers are safe miles and the ability to participate in their State TDCs year after year....
2026-04-3027 min
National Truck Driving ChampionshipsMiddleton and Guzman: Definitions of TDC Spirit and Dedication To Safety
Over the past 17 years, Ramon Guzman of FedEx Freight and Mike Middleton of Old Dominion Freight Lines have become the very definition of why the National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships stand as the longest running safety program in the history of trucking. While they have each dreamed of competing at the nationals (Ramon earned a spot at NTDC 2025 as California’s Flatbed Champion after 17 years between titles), the most important numbers they have put on the board during their careers are safe miles and the ability to participate in their State TDCs year after year....
2026-04-3027 minNTDC News Archives | PodWheelsSpotlighting Arizona State Grand Champion Nate Voss and Team UPS
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 th...
2026-04-2537 minFeatured Archives | PodWheelsSpotlighting Arizona State Grand Champion Nate Voss and Team UPS
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 th...
2026-04-2537 minLiner NotesSpotlighting Arizona State Grand Champion Nate Voss and Team UPS
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 th...
2026-04-2537 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsSpotlighting Arizona State Grand Champion Nate Voss and Team UPS
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 th...
2026-04-2537 minNTDC News Archives | PodWheelsCelebrating Chris Poynor’s Repeat As State Grand Champ
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 th...
2026-04-2253 minFeatured Archives | PodWheelsCelebrating Chris Poynor’s Repeat As State Grand Champ
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 th...
2026-04-2253 minLiner NotesCelebrating Chris Poynor’s Repeat As State Grand Champ
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 th...
2026-04-2253 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsCelebrating Chris Poynor’s Repeat As State Grand Champ
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 th...
2026-04-2253 minNTDC News Archives | PodWheelsGoing ‘Behind The Cones’ At Washington’s State TDC
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...
2026-04-2056 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsGoing ‘Behind The Cones’ At Washington’s State TDC
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...
2026-04-2056 minNTDC News Archives | PodWheelsReady For Your TDC? Positive Mindset Remains A Key For Trucking’s Captain Kirk
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 ap...
2026-04-1425 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsReady For Your TDC? Positive Mindset Remains A Key For Trucking’s Captain Kirk
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 ap...
2026-04-1425 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsMaine’s David Crocker Hits The Note On and Off The Driving Course
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...
2026-04-031h 00National Truck Driving ChampionshipsReed and Comings: An Appreciation for Winning It All And Starting The Climb Again
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 th...
2026-03-2843 min
Destinations From PodWheelsLong Haul Paul’s Journey To MATS Big Stage Is A 39-Year RunThis Friday (March 27th), Long Haul Paul Marhoefer will see the fulfillment of a dream that has been 39 years in the making when steps on the Freedom Hall stage at the 2026 Mid-America Truck Show. For this edition of Destinations, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson caught up with Long Haul Paul to discuss the honor of serving as the opening performer on the main stage that will be headlined by Frank Foster on Friday night. Long Haul Paul also takes us inside his journey to reach this special moment in a career that has combined working as a professional driver...
2026-03-241h 01National Truck Driving ChampionshipsUPS Building Team Spirit With Strong Safety Drive Results
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...
2026-03-2321 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsPaul Barnes of UPS Earns Safety Drive’s Grand Champion Title
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 th...
2026-03-1515 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsSpotlighting NTDC Legend Ina Daly Ahead of Arizona’s TDC
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 co...
2026-03-1339 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsInspired By 2025, New York’s Zack Bourque Looking To Take Next Big Step
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.
...
2026-03-0433 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsNTDC Rewind: Celebrating Pennsylvania’s NTDC Legend Bob Dolan
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.
2026-03-0256 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsSpotlighting Darius Uible, Road Team Finalist and Man Behind The Camera For UPS
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 Po...
2026-02-2646 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsNTDC 2026 Committee Chairman Heath Arnold Excited About Road To Pittsburgh
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...
2026-02-2358 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsRewinding To 2010: Recalling Carl Krites’ NTDC Grand Champion Run
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...
2026-02-2153 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsRecalling The Great John Lex and Memories of NTDC 2019 in Pittsburgh
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...
2026-02-1451 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsTaking A Trip Back In Time To Pittsburgh and NTDC 2019
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...
2026-02-1144 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsFlorida’s Miguel Sanchez Still Savoring First NTDC Division Champions’ Crown
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 hi...
2025-12-0739 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsCourse Design Chief Frank Ems Looks Back On NTDC 2025
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 be...
2025-11-0836 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsOne Month Later, NTDC 2025 Chairman Robert Foskey Looks Back On The Championships
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...
2025-09-2031 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsCelebrating Professional Drivers’ Dedication To Safety, Service & Community
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 t...
2025-09-1928 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsChampions’ Chat: Dan Shamrell Reflects On NTDC Career While Rollin’ With Roland
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, wh...
2025-09-1625 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsAppreciating The Performances and Achievements By Nation’s Top Drivers at NTDC 2025
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...
2025-09-1455 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsNTDC Wednesday Rewind: Alex Ayala Values Carrying H-E-B’s Banner and Promoting Safety
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...
2025-09-1013 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsChampionship Saturday Moment Rewind: Jersey Legend Wilbert Vano Continues To Inspire
Not long after the finalists had been announced and the vehicle parade ended on Championship Saturday in Minneapolis, PodWheels witnessed a moment that we will be featuring with this rewind episode which truly embodies the full spectrum of competition and respect that takes place each year at the NTDCs. Wilbert Vano, a six-time State Grand Champion and true legend from New Jersey with XPO, had struck up a conversation with Matt Lamielle, a General Manager with DHL Supply Chain. Matt is part of the DHL Team looking to grow his company’s participation and success in both the State TD...
2025-09-0913 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsRewinding To Two Weeks Ago, Looking Deeper Into NTDC 2025
Recorded four days after the closing night of NTDC 2025, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson and Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero sit down for an extended look at what took place in Minneapolis during NTDC Week for 2025. As you will hear, Greg is actually still onsite in the Twin Cities at the time of the recording. This episode touches on many topics and a number of award winners from the competition, including going behind the scenes to hear about Eugene’s conversations with the participants in the championship round after they had finished their drives.
You will al...
2025-09-0752 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsMaine NTDC Rewind: Lewis Now Four Generations Deep In Reaching Nationals
One of the many highlights of PodWheels’ onsite coverage of NTDC 2025 in Minneapolis was the time that we spent with the Lewis family. As part of our NTDC 2025 Rewind Series, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson takes us back to Friday of NTDC week when he talked with Warren, Nate and Andrew Lewis, representing three of the four generations of their family who have won Maine State TDC State titles, making regular trips to the Nationals.
As you will hear in this episode of the podcast, the Lewis Family TDC tradition began in the 1950s with Warren’s fath...
2025-09-0620 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsNTDC Host Rewind: Minnesota’s John Hausladen Inspired By Professional Drivers
On Thursday of NTDC Week, PodWheels had the opportunity to sit down and have an extended conversation with John Hausladen, who has served as the President & CEO of the Minnesota Trucking Association since 1996. As you will hear in this episode of the podcast, NTDC 2025 marked the fourth time during John’s tenure with the MTA that the Twin Cities have served as the host of the National Championships.
As John shares with the podcast, the dedication to safety and overall professionalism in the face of continual challenges have left an indelible impression upon him across his nearly 30 ye...
2025-09-0215 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsNAIC Rewind: Looking Back At 2025 Inspector’s Challenge Competition
In this NTDC Rewind edition of the podcast, we are going to highlight the North American Inspectors Challenge, which is the annual event conducted by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. We will hear the acceptance speech from this year’s winner of the Inspector’s Challenge, Dustin Henderson with the Texas Department of Public Safety. We will also hear an interview with Captain Robert Zak of the Commercial Vehicles Section of the Minnesota State Patrol, which served as the host agency for this year’s NAIC event.
NAIC was created by CVSA to recognize roadside inspectors and enforc...
2025-08-3133 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsLooking Back At NTDC 2025 Grand Championship With The Comings Family
About 45 minutes after David Comings held the Bendix NTDC Grand Championship trophy for the first time while his entire family celebrated the realization of a career dream on the NTDC 2025 stage in Minneapolis, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson was able to catch up with David and all of “Team Comings.” As we continue our NTDC 2025 Rewinds, this episode brings you a very fun, in-the-moment interview that features David, his wife, Judy, and their six children, who range in age from teenagers to young adults.
At this point on Championship Saturday, Team Comings was still processing the events of N...
2025-08-3014 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsRewind With ATA Chairman: Dellinger Salutes Commitment To Excellence At NTDC
Recorded on the opening day of NTDC 2025 Week, ATA Chairman Dennis Dellinger tells our podcast that he was so impressed with his visit to the National Championships in 2024 that he made plans to be onsite in Minneapolis for the entire run of NTDC 2025. As you will hear in another episode from our NTDC 2025 Rewind Series, Dennis was part of the Champions Orientation Meeting on Wednesday, taking the podium and sharing a warm welcome and words of encouragement.
During his conversation with PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson, Dennis expressed his appreciation for the achievements and, in particular, the...
2025-08-2818 minNational Truck Driving Championships2023 NTDC Grand Champion Gragg Wilson Shares Retirement Plans
Not long after the finalists had been announced on Championship Saturday, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson walked up to say hello to two of the past Grand Champions – Wayne Crowder (2004) and Gragg Wilson (2023). In addition to having their names etched forever on the Bendix Grand Champion trophy, both Wayne and Gragg have served as Captains on America’s Road Team. And, as we learn in this edition of the podcast, Wayne and Gragg will share another title within the next few months. Gragg will be joining Wayne in retirement.
While the Championship Round driving course was being set...
2025-08-2510 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsNorth Dakota’s David Comings Shines Brightly In Becoming 30th NTDC Grand Champion
Championship Saturday at NTDC 2025 was filled with memorable moments and North Dakota’s David Comings of FedEx Freight shared the realization of a career goal with his six children and his wife Judy cheering him every step of the way. On the eve of his 23rd wedding anniversary, David was able to hand the Bendix NTDC National Championship trophy to Judy that he earned as the 2025 Grand Champion. In this episode of our podcast, you will hear David’s full acceptance speech and our interview just as David walked off the stage.
PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson and...
2025-08-2439 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsAn All-Time Legend Returns For Friday Fun At NTDC 2025
When the second day of driving and pre-trip competition got underway on Friday of NTDC 2025 Week, the annual celebration of safety welcomed Minnesota native and NTDC Legend Ray Simon as one of the spectators. Ray is the only professional driver who has won three National Grand Championships, and Ray accomplished his trifecta during the only three times he qualified for NTDC. Now retired and living in nearby St. Cloud, Ray made the trip to the Minneapolis Convention Center, where he was greeted by some old friends as well as current competitors who still marvel at his unmatched record at...
2025-08-2344 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsGetting To Know JoyRide Logistics: A Friend of the Podcast Sponsor Spotlight
The NTDC 2025 Podcast salutes JoyRide Logistics as a Friend of the Podcast Sponsor of our onsite coverage from Minneapolis of this year’s National Championships. JoyRide Logistics will also be joining us for our post-event coverage of all things NTDC, and we wanted to provide you an opportunity to get to know the story of JoyRide Logistics and the company’s commitment to safety.
In the days prior to traveling to Minneapolis for NTDC 2025, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson chatted with Kemal Balihodzic, the Executive Vice President of JoyRide Logistics. As you will hear, Kemal shares his fasc...
2025-08-2312 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsLearn More About Project 61: A Friend of the Podcast Sponsor Spotlight
The NTDC 2025 Podcast is grateful for the support of Project 61 as a Friend of the Podcast Sponsor of our onsite coverage from Minneapolis of this year’s National Championships. Project 61 will also be joining us for our post-event coverage of all things NTDC, and we would like to invite you to learn more about Project 61’s beginnings and the work the organization is doing to improve the lives of professional drivers.
Just prior to making the trip to Minneapolis, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson caught up with Jeremy Reymer, the founder of Project 61. In this Sponsor Spotlight, Jere...
2025-08-2319 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsRecord Number Of Women State Champions In Spotlight At NTDC 2025
On Day Two of NTDC 2025, five vehicle divisions hit the course and went through the Pre-Trip phase of the National Championships, and Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero filled his notebook (and audio recorder) with many great conversations. With a record 15 state champions in the NTDC field, Eugene caught up with Ina Daly, Haley Ooms and Karen Roderick to get their perspectives on what they experienced on the course as well as the growth in the number of women who have qualified for NTDC.
Eugene shares his tour and his audio highlights of Day Two with Greg...
2025-08-2248 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsWalmart’s Senior Director of Fleet Safety Jason Ahten Discusses Positive Impact of NTDC Program
What do the National Truck Driving & National Step Van Driving Championships mean to the Safety Directors whose companies have drivers who qualify to reach the NTDC competition? Our NTDC 2025 Podcast asked that question and a few more about what has been called the “nation’s longest-running safety program” when we talked with Jason Ahten, who is the Senior Director of Fleet Safety for Walmart Transportation. Jason also serves as a member of the all-volunteer NTDC 2025 Organizing Committee.
In a conversation recorded on Wednesday of NTDC Week with PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson, Jason shares with us how the Wa...
2025-08-2218 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsDay One Of NTDC 2025: Warm Welcomes, Walkthroughs and Test Taking
The NTDC 2025 Podcast opens our onsite coverage of the National Championships in Minneapolis with a look back at Day One. PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson and Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero share their reflections on Opening Day of NTDC 2025. You’ll hear the heartfelt speech from Jackie Reed, the 2024 NTDC Grand Champion. You’ll also hear the fun welcome to the host state by John Hausladen, the President and CEO of the Minnesota Trucking Association. As you’ll hear, Greg and Eugene recorded this episode in the arena at the convention center as the competitors began to do their...
2025-08-2138 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsNTDC 2025 Is Here! Let The Fun Begin
As the champions prepare to gather in Minneapolis for today’s Driver Orientation Meeting on the Opening Day of the National Truck Driving & National Step Van Driving Championships, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson and Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero take some time to look back on our podcast journey on the Road To Minneapolis. They also provide a look ahead at what will be taking place at NTDC 2025.
As you will hear, both Greg and Eugene have a great sense of anticipation for the start of NTDC 2025, like the arrival of the ho...
2025-08-2043 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsPart 3 Of NTDC 2025 Preview Series: Looking At Tanker, Sleeper and Twins
In the finale of our three-part preview series, Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero and PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson take an inside look at the competitors lining up in the Tanker, Sleeper and Twins vehicle classes. As you’ll hear, the Tanker Division alone has three previous National Grand Champions, including Jackie Reed, the 2024 Grand Champion. Sleeper is filled with accomplished veterans and newcomers seeking to grab the gold. Twins features a strong group as well, including Colorado’s Dave Mogler, who won a National Championship last year in 3-Axle.
JoyRide Logistics is focused on being a wor...
2025-08-1927 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsNTDC 2025 Preview Part 2: Going Inside 4-Axle, 5-Axle and Flatbed
Our division-by-division preview of NTDC 2025 continues with deep dives into the 4-Axle, 5-Axle and Flatbed vehicle classes. Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero and PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson discuss the return of Joe Hicks, the defending 4-Axle National Champion and the pride of Rhode Island.
The 5-Axle Class features a pair of two-time National Grand Champions with the return to competition of Dale Duncan from Utah along with the 20th NTDC appearance of Roland Bolduc, NTDC Grand Champion in 2017 and 2022 from Connecticut. This episode also shines a spotlight on Flatbed, and among those state champions discussed...
2025-08-1829 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsNTDC Division Preview Series: Get The Latest On Step Van, Straight Truck and 3-Axle
As we count down the final hours to the start of NTDC 2025 in Minneapolis, Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero and PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson introduce the first episode of a three-part series that looks at all nine vehicle class divisions. In Part One, Eugene and Greg will be focusing on Step Van, Straight and 3-Axle, talking about competitors and how things look going into the Nationals. It’s a fun conversation that places a spotlight on each of the divisions. JoyRide Logistics is serving as our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode. JoyRide Logistics is fo...
2025-08-1728 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsNorth Dakota Grand Champion David Comings Bringing Family Cheering Section To NTDC 2025David Comings of FedEx Freight has been looking forward to making a family trip to neighboring Minnesota ever since he qualified for NTDC 2025 in Minneapolis by winning the 5-Axle vehicle class at the North Dakota Truck Driving Championships on June 21. The fourth career vehicle class state title for David opened the door to position him to earn his first State TDC Grand Championship.
A father with a family of six children, David had quite the cheering section back in June, and, as he shares with us in this edition of the podcast, David and his wife have...
2025-08-1628 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsIn The Money Once Again: North Carolina’s Michael Bills Arriving At NTDC With Third State Grand ChampionshipA veteran of North Carolina Truck Driving Championships since 2011, Michael Bills of FedEx has become a regular qualifier for a trip to the Nationals. In 2025, Michael navigated his way to his ninth state vehicle class title while also claiming his third Grand Championship crown competing in the Tar Heel State. In this edition of the podcast, Michael talks about his TDC and NTDC experiences with Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero.
In the closing section of this episode, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson discusses the long list of accomplished competitors who have qualified for this year’s 3-A...
2025-08-1524 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsGroendyke Transport’s Bret Woodring Looking Forward To His Rookie Trip To NTDCWhile Bret Woodring from Groendyke Transport was pleasantly surprised to hear his name called as the Tanker Division State Champion at the Oklahoma Truck Driving Championships in June, he was so stunned by the next announcement that a friend had to tell Bret, “It’s you, dude!” In this episode of the podcast, Bret shares the moment he realized that he had earned the Grand Championship for the state of Oklahoma, an honor Bret accomplished in only his second year of competing at the state TDC.
Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero and PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thomps...
2025-08-1440 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsMinneapolis NTDC Trip Brings Scott Lorio Together With His FatherYou can understand why Scott Lorio of FedEx Freight put a special circle around the dates for NTDC 2025 in Minneapolis. Of course, Scott who has become a regular within the NTDC by winning four state titles and two State Grand Championships while competing in Montana wanted to go back to NTDC this year. But, as Scott shares with us, his victory in the Twins Class en route to securing his third Montana State Grand Championship meant he had punched his ticket to Minneapolis, which also happens to be where his father lives. Scott will indeed have a special cheering...
2025-08-1343 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsFun Facts & Insights From Your NTDC 2025 Podcast Co-HostsAs our series is just two episodes away from our 50th release of 2025, we wanted to take a moment to step back from our spotlight interviews to share some fun facts and insights from your NTDC 2025 Podcast co-hosts, Eugene Mulero and Greg Thompson. As you’ll hear, this episode was inspired by Eugene, who wanted to provide our audience with the opportunity to get to know the people behind the microphone asking the majority of the questions you hear in this series.
While Eugene and Greg do touch on a few notes related to NTDC, the majority of...
2025-08-0533 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsUpdate On NTDC 2025 Preparations From ATA’s Jacob Pierce As Final Countdown BeginsSeven months and 45 episodes ago, Jacob Pierce from the American Trucking Associations was the first featured guest on this podcast just three days into the start of the New Year. Now, as we stand less than three weeks away from the start of NTDC 2025, Jacob returns to the show to talk to us about the months-long preparations and what we can expect in Minneapolis when the competition begins on August 20th. For those new to the podcast, Jacob is an Executive Director for ATA overseeing the Safety Management Council and the Transportation Security Council. And when it comes to...
2025-08-0253 minNational Truck Driving Championships11-Time Oregon Grand Champion Dan Shamrell Ready For His 19th NTDC TripHow do you become a living legend within the NTDC Community? That’s the one question we did not ask Dan Shamrell, who is our featured guest on this episode of the podcast. First of all, Dan is far too humble to try to attempt to answer that question. As you will hear in this episode, Dan would much rather talk about his family, the friends he’s made through his experience in state and national competitions and, most importantly, his focus on staying safe on the road.
Dan’s record is the stuff of legends and it spea...
2025-07-3047 minNational Truck Driving Championships‘Rhode Warriors’ Chris Maxwell And Al D’Angelo Celebrate Joe Hicks In TDC Look BackIn the days prior to winning what would be his 7th career Rhode Island State TDC Grand Championship, Joe Hicks of XPO was being honored on the floor of the Rhode Island State House. Joe heard a proclamation from the Rhode Island Speaker of the House being read to commemorate his National Championship victory in 4-Axle at NTDC 2024.
Alongside Joe at the State Capitol that day was his XPO Service Center Manager Al D’Angelo, who also serves as the Chairman of the Rhode Island Trucking Association. Joining Joe and Al for the ceremony was Chris Maxwell, wh...
2025-07-1028 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsTim Stanga Captures Grand Champion’s Gold In Silver State TDCFor 2025 Nevada TDC Grand Champion Tim Stanga, the journey back to the NTDC took a little more than a decade and included a move to Las Vegas. The last time Tim was part of the Nationals field was in 2014 when he qualified as part of Team Arizona as a state champion. Tim put himself in contention for the gold of the Silver State’s Grand Championship by first winning the 4-Axle Vehicle Class State Title. In this episode, Tim shares his recent memories on his day at the Nevada TDC with Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero.
In...
2025-06-2130 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsCertain Recognition: TTA TDC Awards Banquet Crowns Champs & Honors Driver of the YearFor this episode of the series, PodWheels went on the road to attend the Tennessee State TDC Awards Banquet that was held on the first Saturday in May, following the two-day competition. Hosted by the Tennessee Trucking Association, the State TDC Banquet not only honors all the competitors seeking to be a part of NTDC 2025, but the evening is also reserved to spotlight the state’s Driver of the Year. With nearly three million safe driving miles compiled over a career that spans some four decades, Terry Certain of XPO definitely earned his time on stage when he was in...
2025-06-1827 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsGeorgia’s Herschel Evans Pays Tribute To Matt Awbrey With Grand Championship WinFor Herschel Evans and for everyone involved in this year’s Georgia Truck Driving Championships, the event was a true emotional rollercoaster. The cheers for the hard-earned victories that secured championships and positions in the NTDC 2025 field were softened by the fact that the Georgia Trucking Community had lost a champion and a friend with the passing of Matt Awbrey following the first day of the competition.
Matt and Herschel had been friends and TDC training partners for many years, and Herschel had worked with Matt again prior to this year’s Georgia TDC. As you will hear...
2025-06-1133 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsRollin’ With Roland: Talking With Jimmy Dixon Ahead Of Tri-State TDCsAs the competitors prepare to hit the course this Saturday in the Tri-State TDCs, we saved an interview that two-time National Grand Champion Roland Bolduc recorded with Jimmy Dixon earlier this year for our Rollin’ With Roland features. Both Roland and Jimmy are slated to be a part of the field at the Tri-State as the TDCs for Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts will decide who qualifies from those respective states to go on the Road To Minneapolis for NTDC 2025. As you’ll hear, Roland gets Jimmy to look back at his run during NTDC 2024 when he earned a thir...
2025-06-0657 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsTaking Stock Of The Journey So Far On The Road To MinneapolisJust before the State Trucking Driving Championships got rolling again on May 31, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson sat down with Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero to dedicate an episode of the podcast to looking back at the state TDCs that are already in the books on the Road To Minneapolis. Recorded on May 30th, Greg and Eugene discuss the fact the NTDC 2025 field will feature four previous National Grand Champions with the prospect of even more legends joining an all-star national championships field. Will Minneapolis be an NTDC where the experience of the Old Guard shines through? Or...
2025-06-0237 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsWashington’s Chris Poynor Surprised By Fourth State TDC Grand ChampionshipDespite having won two national championships, multiple state championships and claiming three previous state grand championships, Chris Poynor was not expecting to hear his name called when the Washington Trucking Associations announced its 2025 State Grand Champion in mid-April. As you’ll hear in this super-sized state grand champion edition of the podcast, Chris holds a deep appreciation for his victories in the 2025 Washington State TDC.
Chris, who recently surpassed two million safe driving miles in his career that spans more than 25 years, takes us inside his approach to road safety and his preparations for the state and na...
2025-05-3158 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsRickey Oliver Shines Once Again As The Mississippi TDC Grand ChampionIn listening to what Rickey Oliver shared in this edition of the podcast, he was quite surprised to hear his name was called as the Grand Champion of the Mississippi Truck Driving Championships. In fact, despite earning 10 previous berths to compete at the NTDCs, Rickey still had a moment of doubt when the Mississippi Trucking Association officials announced the top three finishers in the 5-Axle Class. The announcement of Rickey as the 5-axle champion erased any doubts as the veteran Walmart driver earned his 11th vehicle class state title. The 2025 Mississippi State Grand Championship was the third overall for...
2025-05-2930 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsNew Jersey’s Wilbert Vano Prepares To Take His Shot at 14th Trip To NationalsThe countdown to the New Jersey Truck Driving Championships is down to a matter of days as May 31 approaches. It should be no surprise that five-time Garden State Grand Champion Wilbert Vano has his sights set on making his 14th NTDC trip. The 2023 New Jersey Driver of the Year, Wilbert earned his first National Championship at NTDC 2022, winning the top trophy in the 3-Axle Division. For this episode of the podcast, Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero had an opportunity to talk to Wilbert a few weeks ago, just as the weather was warming up and Wilbert was beginning...
2025-05-2438 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsLouisiana Grand Champion Chad Rudesill Builds On Family TraditionIn this State Grand Champion episode, we get to know Chad Rudesill, who claimed the top title at the nation’s first State TDC on the schedule. Chad closed out February with a performance that earned him the honor of becoming the Grand Champion of Louisiana. Chad’s victory in the 3-Axle Division set the stage for his first Grand Champion title. Chad’s father, Patrick, who inspired his son to join the trucking industry and eventually enter the TDC arena, brought home the third-place trophy this year in the 5-Axle Division. As Chad shares with Transport Topics Senior Report...
2025-05-1720 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsFun, Fundraising & TDC Practice Runs: Looking Back At Safety Drive For A Cure EventFor this episode of the Official Podcast of NTDC 2025, we will be rewinding the clock back to Saturday, March 23rd, when PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson made an onsite visit to the 14th Annual Safety Drive For A Cure, which took place in Atlanta. Led by America’s Road Team Captain and TA Citizen Driver of the Year Herschel Evans, the Safety Drive For A Cure is a fundraising event supporting the mission of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. The Safety Drive annually brings together some 200 drivers from across the country who are gathering for a great cause and en...
2025-04-241h 11National Truck Driving ChampionshipsTaking You Inside The NTDC Organizing Committee’s ‘Pre-Trip’ Visit To MinneapolisEach year, the NTDC Organizing Committee makes a visit to the host site for the National Championships months ahead of the event taking place. This year, the NTDC Organizing Committee circled mid-March as the date to visit the Minneapolis Convention Center to conduct a “pre-trip” inside the facility, hold planning meetings and tour the immediate area that will be the home for the 2025 National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships. Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero also made the trip to Minneapolis and he was able to interview seven members of the NTDC Organizing Committee for this edit...
2025-04-1756 minDestinations From PodWheelsSpotlighting Eugene Mulero’s Teaching Work With Students At George Mason UniversityIn this episode of our Destinations Podcast Series, we will be spotlighting Eugene Mulero, a Senior Reporter from Transport Topics, who you can also hear on the National Truck Driving Championships Podcast from PodWheels. As you will hear through this episode, Eugene is also a part of the faculty at George Mason University. On February 24th, Eugene was a featured guest on the Dave Nemo Radio Show, which is broadcast nationally on SiriusXM’s Road Dog Trucking Radio. As part of his interview with Eugene, veteran broadcaster Dave Nemo took some time to place a spotlight on Eugene’s work...
2025-03-0317 minNational Truck Driving Championships2024 Darmstadter Award Winner Richard Sweeney Shares Career Reflections With Roland BolducWe are thrilled to introduce a new segment on the podcast with our first Rollin’ With Roland feature interview. As you will hear, two-time NTDC Grand Champion Roland Bolduc sits down to have a competitor-to-competitor conversation with Richard Sweeney. A perennial member of the NTDC field and a model of driving excellence from the state of Massachusetts, Rich was selected as the recipient of the Neill Darmstadter Professional Excellence Award during NTDC 2024. Roland, who is Rich’s long-time training partner, takes the conversation back to Rich’s first experiences in trucking as a kid and learning how to drive under...
2025-02-0348 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsLooking Ahead By Flashing Back: Experiencing Championship Saturday MorningAs we begin to look toward the State Truck Driving Championships to begin the first miles on the road to NTDC 2025 in Minneapolis, our podcast thought it would be an ideal time to roll back the clock. This episode will allow us to actually do a rewind to Championship Saturday Morning last year in Indianapolis. At NTDC 2024, we had an opportunity to be on the arena floor during the Parade of Champions. In this edition of the podcast, you will hear what is a time capsule of some great conversations with a collection of State Champions from 2024. Among those...
2025-01-2538 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsMeet National Champ Brandon Hardy: Reigning NTDC Five Axle Title HolderOur National Champions Series continues on the podcast as we spend time with Brandon Hardy, the reigning NTDC champion in the 5-Axle division. You will hear Eugene Mulero’s in-depth conversation that covers Brandon’s career in trucking and his experiences within precision driving that led to his title run at NTDC 2024 in Indianapolis. Along with hearing Brandon’s reflections on becoming a national champion, this episode also explores the importance of preparation, staying humble and consistently improving.
Questions Or Feedback: Do you have a question for NTDC 2025 Podcast co-hosts Eugene Mulero and Greg Thompson? Is there a feat...
2025-01-2231 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsATA’s Jacob Pierce Ready To Start On The Road To Minneapolis And NTDC 2025The time has arrived to officially start our podcast journey toward NTDC 2025 and the road to Minneapolis. The first mile of the trip begins with our interview with Jacob Pierce from the American Trucking Associations. Jacob is an Executive Director for ATA overseeing the Safety Management Council and the Transportation Security Council. For anyone new to the NTDC and new to our podcast, Jacob is the point person on staff at ATA serving as the liaison for the National Truck Driving & National Step Van Driving Championships.
Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero and PodWheels Executive Producer Greg...
2025-01-0345 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsGiving Thanks For Our Listeners And Launching Our National Champions SeriesAs Thanksgiving Day approaches, our podcast takes some time to reflect on the past year and the tremendous support of our listeners. Also, in this episode, you will hear the first segment in our National Champions Series as we begin to feature the nine professional drivers who earned the title of National Champion at NTDC 2024. We will be starting this series with an onsite visit talking to NTDC 2024 Grand Champion Jackie Reed, the National Champion in the Tanker Division. PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson spent some time with Jackie just before he was honored for his achievements at NTDC 2024...
2024-11-2516 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsCelebrating Grand Champion Jackie Reed & Special Memories of NTDC 2024In this can’t miss episode, our podcast returns after a brief break to feature the first in-depth interview with Jackie Reed, the Grand Champion of NTDC 2024. Jackie spoke with Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero. The interview featured in this episode took place as the initial excitement over Jackie’s first national title in the Tanker Class had also started to become the reality of claiming the Grand Champ’s title. You’ll also hear part of the conversation that PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson had with Jackie in October. In addition to looking back at Jackie’s amazing ru...
2024-10-2738 minDestinations From PodWheelsHonoring Music Legend Dickey Betts By Revisiting 1983 InterviewThis episode of Destinations is being shared by PodWheels to pay tribute to Dickey Betts, a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band. It’s been almost six months since Betts’ passing at the age of 80 in mid-April. Earlier this year, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson revisited his personal archives and the 1983 interview he had set up with Betts and Chuck Leavell, the one-time keyboard player for the Allman Brothers who has also been a part of the Rolling Stone for 42 years and counting. Thompson was in Minnesota at the time of Betts’ passing and he was able to connec...
2024-10-0756 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsConvoy Of Hope Shines In First Trip To NTDCThe Convoy Of Hope is familiar with answering the call for assistance. As an organization dedicated to feeding children throughout the world and a specialist in providing help with disaster response, the Convoy Of Hope knows how to get involved and lend a hand. Prior to NTDC 2024, Convoy Of Hope got a request from the event organizers about providing equipment to be used on the course in Indianapolis. Convoy Of Hope responded by providing equipment that included a well-appointed, dry-van trailer with the organization’s logo shining across the course like a moving billboard. PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson ha...
2024-09-1506 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsCelebrating Carl Krites’ Emotional & Inspirational Visit To NTDC 2024On Championship Saturday, XPO’s Wilbert Vano was pleasantly surprised when he spotted an old friend walk into the Indianapolis Convention Center as the championship drive-off round was taking place. Fellow XPO driver Carl Krites, who earned the 2010 National Grand Championship with his mother in the stands cheering him to victory, was making his first visit to the NTDC in many years. Born in a small town in Ohio, Carl had many family and friends on hand when he won it all in Columbus 14 years ago. PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson spent some time chatting with Carl and Wilbert, and...
2024-09-0715 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsNTDC Competitors Hit The Driving Course: An Inside LookAs the competitors from five of the driving classifications hit the driving course, our podcast team of PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson and Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero worked to take our listeners inside the happenings at NTDC 2024. Eugene caught up with two-time Grand Champion Roland Bolduc, and Greg sat down with Ben Atkinson, who shares the amazing story of how he reached the nationals this year. As you will hear, Ben’s third-place finish in Twins at the Florida TDC and his diligence in maintaining a spotless safe driving record prior to NTDC paid a surprising dividend. Eu...
2024-08-2433 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsDay One of NTDC 2024: Going Behind The Scenes In IndianapolisAs we hit the ground in Indianapolis for the NTDC 2024, our podcast was on hand for the orientation and welcome for this year’s field of competitors. In this episode of the podcast, Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero and PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson take you behind the scenes of Day One. You will hear welcoming presentations from Senator Mike Braun from Indiana and Gragg Wilson, the 2023 NTDC Grand Champion. We close out our look behind the scenes by listening to Jason Wing from the NTDC Organizing Committee leading this year’s field of competitors through the Truck Driv...
2024-08-2221 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsNTDC 2024 Organizing Committee Chair Patti Gillette Is Ready For IndianapolisOn August 9, our podcast had the privilege of welcoming special guest Patti Gillette, who is the Chairwoman of the NTDC Organizing Committee for the 2024 event. Patti was very generous with her time as we covered a number of topics of interest for the participants who have reached the nationals, their families and the fans of the event. Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero and PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson conduct an interview you don’t want to miss ahead of the start of NTDC 2024.
We would also like to invite you to read the latest NTDC coverage fr...
2024-08-1947 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsEugene Mulero Looks Back At NTDC’s History With Radio Legend Dave NemoIn this special episode of the podcast, we will be bringing you a segment from the Dave Nemo Weekends radio show that originally aired during Father’s Day Weekend. Trucking Radio Pioneer and legendary broadcaster Dave Nemo had asked Eugene Mulero from Transport Topics to join him on Dave Nemo Weekends, which airs every Saturday and Sunday from 7:00 to 11:00 Eastern Time on SiriusXM’s Road Dog Trucking Radio Channel 146.
For this episode of Dave Nemo Weekends, Dave had asked PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson to ride in the jump seat for the course of the show. As you...
2024-07-1428 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsSpotlighting FedEx’s Dan Shamrell & Tim Blair On Road Back To NTDCAs we close out May and begin the final countdown to NTDC 2024, we will spend some time talking with Dan Shamrell from Oregon and Tim Blair from Tennessee. In addition to being members of the FedEx Team who have earned a spot in this year’s Nationals in Indianapolis, Dan and Tim have both shown the power that the pre-trip phase in the competition can have on your score. As you’ll hear, Dan, in winning the Grand Champion’s title in Oregon, is making his 18th trip to the NTDC. Meanwhile, Tim is now the two-time Tennessee state champi...
2024-05-2943 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsNTDC Nevada Shocker & Our Chat With Georgia’s Herschel EvansIn this supersized edition of the podcast, you will hear an interview with the 2024 Grand Champion from Nevada, Matt Hart. Podcast co-host Eugene Mulero, a Senior Reporter with Transport Topics, talks with Matt about earning the top prize in the Silver State, and Eugene also discusses the stunning news that Gragg Wilson, the 2023 NTDC Grand Champion, finished second in the Nevada state qualifier. This means Wilson will not be able to defend his championship this year in Indianapolis. You’ll also hear PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson’s interview with Herschel Evans, a two-time National Champion from Georgia who has l...
2024-04-251h 00National Truck Driving ChampionshipsRoad To NTDC 2024: State Championships First Hurdle For Past Champs & All CompetitorsRecorded on April 3, the second episode of 2024 edition of our NTDC series takes you inside this year’s first state championship, which was held in Louisiana, and we also discuss the approaches the past two National Grand Champions are taking to prepare for their respective state driving competitions. You will hear interviews conducted by Eugene Mulero, a Senior Reporter with Transport Topics, as he talks with defending National Grand Champion Gragg Wilson and Roland Bolduc, the 2023 National Grand Champion. Eugene also speaks with Corey Mitchell, who claimed the Louisiana State Grand Champion’s title this March. In addition to thos...
2024-04-0838 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsDestination Indy: Road To NTDC 2024 Begins With State CompetitionsPodWheels Powered By RadioNemo is thrilled to once again rev up our podcast series dedicated to the National Truck Driving & National Step Van Driving Championships. We plan to have at least one episode per month leading up to NTDC 2024 this August in Indianapolis. Eugene Mulero, Senior Reporter for Transport Topics, will join us for the series. As you will hear, Eugene, who co-authored the book “From Roadeo To TDC” chronicling the history of the event, holds a great admiration for the skill and professionalism of the men and women who move the American economy.
In this episode, we’l...
2024-03-2541 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsNTDC Rookie Tim Blair Taking The Time To Savor His First Trip To The NationalsAs he looked out over the road course one day before he would be driving on it, Tim Blair, a State Champion from Tennessee, was all smiles. Tim, who first competed at the state level in 2019, tells Greg Thompson from PodWheels about his journey to reach the NTDCs. Tim, who also became a Captain for the Tennessee Road Team this year, also shares his thoughts on the opportunity to be a part of what has become a celebration of safety.
The post NTDC Rookie Tim Blair Taking The Time To Savor His First Trip To The Nationals...
2023-08-1810 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsEddie Pennington Capping 47-Year Trucking Career With 12th Trip To NTDCsSome 22 years after Eddie Pennington began his trucking career in 1976, he won his first of 12 State Championships in Florida. The 2023 edition of the NTDCs will be his last run at the nationals as Eddie plans to retire at some point in the next year. Tim Taylor, a Captain with America’s Road Team and a friend of Eddie’s, asked PodWheels to spend some time talking with Eddie and looking back a career that includes four million safe driving miles. Tim, who is a course announcer at NTDC 2023, joins Greg Thompson from PodWheels in our chat with Eddie.
Th...
2023-08-1721 minDestinations From PodWheelsLong Haul Paul Discusses Legends of the Lost Highway CDIn this Liner Notes edition of our Destinations Series, Long Haul Paul Marhoefer goes in-depth on the making of his newest CD release, Legends of the Lost Highway. Greg Thompson from PodWheels met Long Haul Paul while he was on the road to have an extended conversation about the album and a recording career that began when Paul was in his mid 50s. In this episode, you’ll hear Paul share some of the inspiration behind the album and you’ll also hear the first track on the CD, The Legend of Johnny Ray, and how the drummer for Jerr...
2023-05-2315 minDestinations From PodWheelsCelebrating Roland Bolduc’s Grand Championship VictoryTo mark the six-month anniversary since we launched the PodWheels Powered By RadioNemo platform, we are taking an exit ramp that will roll us back to mid-August when we were onsite at the National Truck Driving & National Step Van Driving Championships. Roland Bolduc earned his second career Grand Champion title at NTDC 2022. As we look forward to an exciting road ahead for PodWheels, we spent some time with Roland, who we asked to look back at his dedication to excellence and the road that brought him to the NTDC podium with the Grand Champion’s trophy in his hands....
2022-10-2131 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsCelebrating Roland Bolduc’s Grand Championship VictoryTo mark the six-month anniversary since we launched the PodWheels Powered By RadioNemo platform, we are taking an exit ramp that will roll us back to mid-August when we were onsite at the National Truck Driving & National Step Van Driving Championships. Roland Bolduc earned his second career Grand Champion title at NTDC 2022. As we look forward to an exciting road ahead for PodWheels, we spent some time with Roland, who we asked to look back at his dedication to excellence and the road that brought him to the NTDC podium with the Grand Champion’s trophy in his hands....
2022-10-2131 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsSpecial Feature: Taking You Inside The NTDC Road CourseOn the first day of the competition, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson had the opportunity to spend some time at NTDC 2022 with four captains from America’s Road Team. While Captain Rhonda Hartman provided Greg with a view of the road course problems the competitors encounter during a ride-along in a truck on the media course, Captain Wayne Crowder, who is the 2004 NTDC Grand Champion, took us for a guided tour of the actual road course from a golf cart. The combination of the two ride-alongs will help put listeners in the driver’s seat at the NTDC.
Th...
2022-08-1924 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsJimmy Mac Reflects On Trip To NTDC 2022Shortly after finishing up two days of onsite broadcasting the Dave Nemo Show from NTDC 2022 in Indianapolis, Jimmy Mac, the host of Dave Nemo Weekends, sat down with Greg Thompson of PodWheels to get Jimmy’s immediate impressions of his first-ever trip to the National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships. While he touched on several different highlights that stood out for him, NTDC 2022, Jimmy observed that, whether it was with a driver competing in the event, a volunteer, a fleet owner or an official, this championship event from the ATA, featured a common threads of camaraderie, sa...
2022-08-1909 minNational Truck Driving ChampionshipsPreview: NTDC 2022, ATA’s Super Bowl Of Safety Aug. 16-19The National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships will be taking place in Indianapolis August 16-19. The Dave Nemo Show and PodWheels Powered By RadioNemo will be onsite at NTDC 2022. As we prepare for the event that NTDC host the American Trucking Associations calls the Super Bowl of Safety, PodWheels put together a preview of our coverage coming to you from the national championships. Jimmy Mac, the host of Dave Nemo Weekends, and Greg Thompson, executive producer at PodWheels, look ahead to NTDC 2022. During this podcast, we’ll share a portion of Greg’s NTDC 2019 interview with Scot...
2022-08-1412 minDestinations From PodWheelsMerle Haggard’s Connection To TruckingIn our debut episode of the Exit Ramp from PodWheels Powered By RadioNemo, we learn about the strong connection that Country Music legend Merle Haggard developed with professional drivers and the trucking industry. Jimmy Mac, the host of Dave Nemo Weekends, talks with Greg Thompson, the Executive Producer of PodWheels, about the brief performance that Merle Haggard and his band gave at the 1998 U.S. Xpress company picnic. You’ll hear Greg tell Jimmy the story behind how Merle was a guest at the picnic and why he and his band decided to play a five-song set for a group of...
2022-04-0915 min