National Truck Driving Championships

A special series from PodWheels that seeks to go deep into the NTDCs, sharing stories and perspectives through our comprehensive coverage of the National Truck Driving Championships, which are hosted annually by the American Trucking Associations. We begin each year by covering the state TDCs and the activities around the state competitions before going onsite at the Nationals and sharing stories following the NTDC event.

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Episodes 286

NTDC Rewind: Celebrating The Rick Cates Finals Course
3d ago · 14:17
Our NTDC Podcast Series returns after a brief break to refresh our batteries following an amazing trip to Pittsburgh for the National Championships. In our first rewind episode from our time onsite at NTDC 2026, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson takes us back to the announcement made on Finals Friday that named the finals course after Rick Cates. Long known as “The Senator” of NTDC for his 50-plus years of involvement in the championships and his position as a Lifetime Member of the NTDC Organizing Committee, Rick was honored by the Organizing Committee as they immortalized his contri
Meet Miguel Corral of UPS: Your 2026 NTDC Grand Champion
15d ago · 11:42
On Friday, the National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships crowned the 30th Grand Champion since the inception of the competition’s top trophy in 1987. After earning the 4-Axle National title earlier in the evening, Miguel Corral of UPS heard the news he had been waiting to hear for 14 years. Miguel was announced as the 2026 NTDC Grand Champion. PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson was waiting with his microphone as Miguel and his wife, Cici, exited the stage with the NTDC Benedix Grand Championship trophy. We invite you to hear Miguel’s speech to the packed house
FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs Making The Most Of His Week At NTDC 2026
16d ago · 19:16
For our 80th episode of the NTDC 2026 Series, PodWheels has the distinct privilege and honor of welcoming Derek Barrs, the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Administration, to join us for our onsite coverage in Pittsburgh. During an interview with PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson, Administrator Barrs focused a large portion of the conversation on the example being set for the trucking industry by the accomplishments of the 429 State Champions who each won their vehicle divisions while also staying safe for an entire year – just to qualify to be a part of NTDC 2026. Administr
Placing Our Spotlight On The North American Inspector’s Championship
16d ago · 26:20
Just a little more than 25 years ago, the American Trucking Associations and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance began holding Trucking’s National Championships concurrently with the North American Inspector’s Championship. NAIC is law enforcement’s equivalent to the NTDCs. On Friday of NTDC Week, ATA and CVSA will present their championship awards at a banquet that features officials from each organization. Championship Friday will actually begin with the law enforcement officials competing in NAIC 2026 joining the 429 NTDC State Champions for the Parade of Champions inside PIttsburgh’s Da
Honoring Rick Cates: Forever ‘The Senator’ Of NTDC
17d ago · 54:24
As we release the 78th episode of our series this year, we are on the eve of Finals Friday, the day all the State Champions are honored and the National Championships will be decided. One of the most personal parts of Championship morning is watching all the State Champions go through a long receiving line that includes all of the members of the NTDC National Committee and other gathered dignitaries. Each State Champion shakes the hand of all the committee members and the dignitaries before receiving their 2026 NTDC belt buckle. Rick Cates is a Lifetime Member of the NTDC Committee who has bee
Roland With Jim Kohr: Looking Back, Looking Ahead and Talking About The Heart Of NTDC
17d ago · 50:58
Recorded a few weeks before the onsite start of NTDC 2026, we held this special edition Rollin’ With Roland until the driving days of the competition began during NTDC Week. Two-Time National Grand Champion Roland Bolduc sits down with New York TDC Titan Jim Kohr, who tells Roland about his retirement plans that will make 2026 his final National Championships as a competitor. Over the course of this “players-only” conversation, Roland and Jim take us back into their careers and discuss the importance of paying it forward to everyone involved with or interested in the NTDC Program. They talk ab
Day One of NTDC 2026: Semifinal Driving Course Revealed
18d ago · 40:06
The Road To Pittsburgh has reached its final destination as the NTDC 2026 Podcast is onsite at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in the heart of the Steel City. PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson talked with the first person to navigate the semifinal course for NTDC 2026. Two-Time National Champion Leo Flack is a member of the NTDC Committee, and his job for the past couple of years at the Nationals has been to provide the video example that is shared with the State Champions during the annual Drivers Meeting. Greg talked with Leo, who is retiring from the NTDC Committee after th
PMTA’s Rebecca Oyler Is Ready For NTDC’s Return To Pittsburgh
20d ago · 23:33
In this episode of the podcast, we visit with Rebecca Olyer, who is the President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association. As you will hear, NTDC 2026 will be the first edition of the National Championships that Rebecca has attended since she took her post to lead the PMTA in 2021. While she is very familiar with the State TDC through the large event Pennsylvania holds each year, Rebecca is looking forward to seeing Nationals staged in Pennsylvania, especially during a year when the United States is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the nation’s birth. We talked to Rebecca about
No Bull: South Dakota’s Terry Luthy Riding To NTDC 2026 As Rookie State Grand Champion
21d ago · 30:03
Terry Luthy from FedEx Freight will have two very unique experiences in tow when he arrives at NTDC 2026 this week in Pittsburgh. First of all, Terry will have the honor of representing South Dakota as the State’s Grand Champion, winning that title and the 5-Axle Division as a rookie. (He also posted the best score on the State TDC course and became the overwhelming choice to win the Rookie of the Year). As he shares with us in this interview recorded on August 5th, the other unique qualification that Terry will bring to NTDC 2026 is the experience from his high school days as a competitive bu
Driving Course Chairman Wes Herek Is Following Some Big Footsteps
22d ago · 35:00
On Sunday morning, two days before the August 11th official start of NTDC 2026, Old Dominion’s Wes Herek will lead the Driving Course Committee out to the floor of the David L. Lawrence Center in Pittsburgh. The months of planning, discussion and reviewing design options will actually come to life as Wes and his group of volunteers will set up the layout for the semifinal round course. Our podcast had the opportunity to visit with Wes in late July, and, as you’ll hear, he knows that leading the Driving Course Committee means that he’s following in the legendary footsteps of prior Course Chairm
XPO’s Steve Iburg Cherishes Return To NTDCs As Iowa Grand Champ
22d ago · 24:24
As a professional driver with more than two million safe miles to his credit, XPO’s Steve Iburg understands the important roles that patience and persistence play in his success on the road. As he shares with us in this episode of the podcast, Steve continued to be persistent, even when his patience was tested, in his quest to return to the Nationals. A five-time state champion from the state of Iowa with his first title arriving in 2015, Steve had not taken home a first-place trophy since 2023 and the State Grand Championship that he won in 2017 felt like it was 20 years ago. Coming into the
NTDC Veteran Volunteer Carlos Ortiz Embraces Pre-Trip Lead Role
23d ago · 28:27
As a veteran volunteer at the NTDCs, Carlos Ortiz was ready when the opportunity arrived for the New Jersey-based Safety Professional with NFI Industries to lead the 2026 Pre-Trip competition that will take place in Pittsburgh. In this edition of the podcast, we take some time to look back with Carlos at his involvement in both the NTDCs and the New Jersey TDCs over the years. We also look ahead to NTDC 2026 and discuss the work that Carlos and the Pre-Trip Committee have been doing to prepare for the Nationals. This is his first year leading the Pre-Trip Committee after working for a number o
Final Countdown: NTDC 2026 Chair Heath Arnold Placing Spotlight On 429 State Champions
24d ago · 35:03
As the Chairman of NTDC 2026 National Organizing Committee, Heath Arnold is greatly appreciative of all the work that has been done by the committee, the volunteers, ATA staff and everyone involved in the preparation for this year’s National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships that begin in Pittsburgh on August 11th. While Heath also knows that he’ll be front and center for most of the ceremonies related to NTDC 2026, he tells us in this episode of the podcast that the spotlight should always be focused on the 429 State Champions who will be gathering in Pittsburgh. Over
Final Countdown: ATA’s Jacob Pierce Checking His List Twice
25d ago · 31:42
What is involved in being ready to welcome State Champions from across the country to the National Truck Driving & National Step Van Driving Championships? Our podcast asked that question and discussed a range of topics with Jacob Pierce, the Executive Director of the Safety Management Council & Transportation Security Council of the American Trucking Associations. Jacob also serves as ATA’s liaison to the NTDC National Organizing Committee. As you will hear over the course of the conversation, we talked with Jacob in mid-July about the preparations for the Nationals and the final items on his
First Vice Chair Scott Dewey Counting The Days Until NTDC 2026
26d ago · 26:20
By Tuesday evening of next week, NTDC 2026 will be officially underway as the state champions from across the country will have gathered for the initial driver meeting and orientation, the written test will be in the books and the walk-through of the semifinal course will have taken place. In this final countdown edition of the podcast, we spend some time talking with FedEx Freight’s Scott Dewey, who is serving as the First Vice Chairman of NTDC 2026. Recorded in mid-July, Scott takes us through the preparations the NTDC Committee goes through to bring together the National Championships. As S
Don Jones’ Big TDC Run Now Includes Montana’s Grand Championship
27d ago · 21:45
Once Don Jones got a taste of winning vehicle class championships and going to Nationals for the first time back in 2022, the FedEx Freight veteran from Montana has not stopped winning. In this episode of the podcast, Don takes some time to look back at a run that now includes five consecutive vehicle division titles and the 2026 Grand Championship trophy for Montana. As you’ll hear, Don was so stunned that could barely believe his ears when his name was called as Montana’s Grand Champion. But Don took the time to cherish the moment with his wife who has supported his dedication to safety and
Florida’s Miguel Sanchez of UPS Returns To Nationals In Grand Fashion
28d ago · 30:02
In early June, Miguel Sanchez completed the circle on what has been an incredibly successful 12-month run for the veteran UPS driver. Competing in the Florida State TDCs, Miguel made a successful defense of his Twins Class title and he also brought home the Sunshine State’s Grand Championship for the second consecutive year. During this edition of the podcast, Miguel looks back at the events that have taken place since last June, which also include winning the National Championship in the Twins Division during NTDC 2025 last August and his selection as a Captain on America’s Road Team in Janua
8-Time State Grand Champ Joe Hicks of XPO Looks Ahead To NTDC 2026
1mo ago · 25:18
XPO Million Miler Joe Hicks is incredibly humble given all that he has accomplished over his career on the road and while driving at the State TDCs and in the Nationals. He’s quietly becoming a legend in his home state of Rhode Island, and Joe is one of the top competitors everyone expects to see at the NTDCs. As you will hear in this episode of the podcast, the 2026 Rhode Island TDC provided the opportunity for Joe to win his eighth State Grand Championship and his 12th vehicle class title. Joe also holds the distinction of having a proclamation read at the Rhode Island State House. The procl
From Competitor to Champion: Eric Ramsdell’s Road to the NTDC and Beyond
1mo ago · 31:39
When veteran Walmart driver Eric Ramsdell won the Tanker Class title at the Arizona State TDC earlier this year, he did not take another trip to the NTDCs for granted. Instead, as he has done every year since he first qualified for his first Nationals in 2000, he savored the moment and valued the opportunity. A winner of two National Championships and multiple State Grand Championships, Eric is dedicated to safety and he loves having the chance to compete. As Eric shares with us in this edition of the podcast, the State TDCs and the NTDCs actually bring him back to some early childhood memorie
XPO’s Ernie Budlowski Looks Back At His Fourth State Grand Championship
1mo ago · 33:53
Even though Ernie Budlowski ventured into some new territory within a familiar place during the 2026 Connecticut State TDCs, the veteran XPO driver still found the route to a championship result. As you’ll hear in this edition of the podcast, Ernie has been a part of 22 editions of the Connecticut State TDCs. He’s now won 15 State Titles and, in 2026, Ernie added the Sleeper Class championship to his TDC career accomplishments, which now includes first-place trophies across five different vehicle classes. This year, Ernie brought home the State Grand Championship for the fourth time in his car
FedEx Freight’s Kevin Lemar Achieves Rare Three-Peat In Delaware
1mo ago · 29:46
There’s no question that Kevin Lemar of FedEx Freight has established an impressive track record for winning at the Delaware State TDC. As you’ll hear in this episode of the podcast, Kevin has won a Vehicle Division title and qualified for Nationals in each of the past four years – the first four years since he began competing in the State TDCs. With his Delaware Grand Championship victory last month, Kevin now holds a rare three-peat as a State Grand Champion. As Kevin tells us during our conversation, he wants to follow in the inspiring footsteps of his FedEx Freight teammates and earn his f
Perseverance Pays Off At Oklahoma’s TDC For ABF’s Darrin Kirby
1mo ago · 23:54
A few years ago, ABF Freight veteran Darrin Kirby encountered some moments of doubt as he found himself falling back with his finishes in the Oklahoma TDC. At one point as Darrin shares with us in this episode of the podcast, he thought about stepping aside from the competition and the time it takes to prepare for the State TDC. That’s when Darrin’s wife, Kathy, spoke up. She believed in Darrin, asking him to stick with it and knowing the hard work would allow him to break through. Darrin, who won his first state title in 2024 after competing at the TDC since 2014, had a good feeling coming in
FedEx Freight’s Terry Covey Shines Again As Kansas Grand Champion
1mo ago · 26:16
Terry Covey from FedEx Freight seems to shift into a special competitive gear when the Kansas TDC is held in even-numbered years. The State Grand Championship trophy Terry earned during the 2026 TDC can now find a place in his house next to the Kansas Grand Championships he won in 2024 and 2022. Competing in the Sleeper berth class this year, Terry has also made trips to the Nationals in Tanker and Flatbed. As he shares with us in this episode, Terry’s love for trucking comes from recalling the days as a seven-year-old when he began riding with his father, who was an owner-operator. A long-tim
Ohio’s Tom Congrove Of UPS Pleasantly Surprised By Return Trip To Nationals
1mo ago · 30:57
To say that Tom Congrove’s first Ohio TDC State Grand Championship was a surprise would be one of the biggest understatements of the 2026 State TDC Season. A 42-year veteran professional driver who has called UPS his home for the past seven years, Tom didn’t even think he would hear his name called in his 5-Axle Vehicle Division. During the driving portion of the competition, Tom got caught up in the moment and forgot to take the truck out of reverse after completing a backing problem on the course. That oversight cost Tom a 25-point deduction and his bid to return to the Nationals after his f
Grand Champion Mike Chatterton Tops Purple Wave At Missouri’s TDC
1mo ago · 25:38
As one of six competitors from FedEx Freight to qualify for NTDC 2026 during the Missouri TDC, Mike Chatterton was not expecting to hear his name called as the Show-Me State’s Grand Champion. As he details to us in this episode of the podcast, Mike was still overwhelmed with the feeling of earning the 2026 Tanker title after finishing second to Walmart’s Mike Carpenter in 2025. This year, Chatterton, as he notes in this episode, edged out Carpenter, primarily on the strength of his backroom performance. Chatterton, who won the Missouri State Grand Championship in 2022, credits the positive thi