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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
