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Aug 2026

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The Podcast Network Dedicated to Spotlighting the Trucking Industry

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August 26, 202614 min

NTDC Rewind: Celebrating The Rick Cates Finals Course

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 contributions to the NTDC Program by placing his name on the Finals Course. In this episode you will also hear, Jacob Pierce, who oversees the NTDC Program for the ATA, present Rick with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Following both presentations, you will hear Rick’s words of wisdom and the notes of thanks that he shared with packed houses at Finals Friday and the NTDC Banquet. FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: The Lutzie 43 Foundation is our Friend of the Podcast for this episode of the NTDC 2026 Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org . The post NTDC Rewind: Celebrating The Rick Cates Finals Course appeared first on PodWheels .

August 15, 202611 min

Meet Miguel Corral of UPS: Your 2026 NTDC Grand Champion

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 at the awards banquet in Pittsburgh as well as his immediate thoughts on achieving a dream 14 years in the making. FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: The Lutzie 43 Foundation is our Friend of the Podcast for this episode of the NTDC 2026 Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org . The post Meet Miguel Corral of UPS: Your 2026 NTDC Grand Champion appeared first on PodWheels .

August 14, 202619 min

FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs Making The Most Of His Week At NTDC 2026

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. Administrator Barrs, the former chief official with the Florida Highway Patrol, also highlighted accomplishments of law enforcement officials who qualified to compete in the 2026 North American Inspector’s Challenges, which is being held in Pittsburgh this week alongside NTDC 2026. As you will hear, Administrator Barrs carved out time during NTDC week to meet face-to-face with a number of the State Champions competing at NTDC 2026. Administrator Barrs and members of his FMCSA team went the extra mile by visiting the bullpens during the driving competition. Administrator Barrs noted that in his current position one of the best parts of his job is the opportunity to engage with the diverse people who keep the trucking industry and the economy moving. Additionally, Administrator Barrs hails trucking as a noble profession that deserves more attention in workforce development. FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: The Lutzie 43 Foundation is our Friend of the Podcast for this episode of the NTDC 2026 Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org . The post FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs Making The Most Of His Week At NTDC 2026 appeared first on PodWheels .

August 14, 202626 min

Placing Our Spotlight On The North American Inspector’s Championship

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 David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The NAIC participants will each have their names announced as they shake hands with the NTDC Committee Members and other dignitaries on stage, which will include FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs. PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson paid a visit to the site of this year’s NAIC event in Pittsburgh. As you will hear in this edition of the podcast, Greg went inside all things NAIC with Alex Bugeya, who currently serves as the secretary for the NAIC Program. A former commercial motor vehicle inspector, Alex, in advancing to the finals as a rookie, talks to us about becoming the 2009 NAIC Grand Champion. In addition to sharing his personal experience with the program, Alex walks us through the history of NAIC, a program created over 30 years ago designed to recognize and honor frontline roadside inspectors as well as promote the importance of their work while testing and refining their skills through competition and advanced training. OUR FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: Founded in 2007, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including nicotine and smoking cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers. To learn more about the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and all of the offerings available from SCF, including how you can support their important work to help professional drivers and their families, visit TruckersFund.org . The post Placing Our Spotlight On The North American Inspector’s Championship appeared first on PodWheels .

August 13, 202654 min

Honoring Rick Cates: Forever ‘The Senator’ Of NTDC

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 been a constant presence, staying involved with the National Championships for more than 50 years. Prior to NTDC 2026, Rick announced that he would be stepping back and, while maintaining his lifetime position as a committee member, he would be retiring from his active role in the NTDC program. On Championship Friday, Rick will once again be in the NTDC receiving line congratulating each of the 429 State Champions and all the law enforcement officials participating in the North American Inspectors Challenge on all they have accomplished. Each handshake will be a moment of thanks and praise. In that same spirit of gratitude for his service, PodWheels talked to Rick a few weeks prior to the start of NTDC 2026, and we held this special episode honoring the man known as the “Senator of NTDC” until we reached the eve of Championship Day. During his conversation with PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson, Rick looks back at his years in trucking and the decades he devoted to NTDC. From all of us at PodWheels, Thank you Senator Cates for your service to the NTDC and for your countless contributions to the trucking industry. FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: The Lutzie 43 Foundation is our Friend of the Podcast for this episode of the NTDC 2026 Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org . The post Honoring Rick Cates: Forever ‘The Senator’ Of NTDC appeared first on PodWheels .

August 13, 202650 min

Roland With Jim Kohr: Looking Back, Looking Ahead and Talking About The Heart Of NTDC

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 about the importance of mentorship and lending a hand to help those who are staying safe and working at their craft the best opportunity to succeed. If you are looking to get involved in the TDC program in your state or you are looking to get better as a competitor, Jim and Roland go deep and share a number of valuable insights during one of the best episodes we have released in nearly 300 episodes of this series. OUR FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: Founded in 2007, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including nicotine and smoking cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers. To learn more about the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and all of the offerings available from SCF, including how you can support their important work to help professional drivers and their families, visit TruckersFund.org . The post Roland With Jim Kohr: Looking Back, Looking Ahead and Talking About The Heart Of NTDC appeared first on PodWheels .

August 12, 202640 min

Day One of NTDC 2026: Semifinal Driving Course Revealed

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 this year, to get his thoughts on the semifinal course and having the honor of the first run as well as the responsibility of showing what’s possible at each of the six scoring stations. Speaking of honors, Lifetime NTDC Committee member Rick Cates was asked to provide FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs with a tour of the semifinals course as well as lead the former Florida State Trooper to the area in the Convention Center where the CVSA is holding the North American Inspectors Challenge this week. Administrator Barrs, who will be onsite at NTDC 2026 later this week, spoke to the 429 State Champions who assembled for this year’s Drivers Meeting. We’ll close this edition of the show with an interview recorded a stone’s throw from the semifinal driving course as the competitors were doing their walkthrough. Greg caught up with Wayne Crowder, a past National Grand Champion who has served as a course judge in the two years since he retired. Greg asked Wayne to take us inside of Day One and to look back at 2004 when Wayne became the only driver to win the National Grand Championship as a rookie-rookie. FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: The Lutzie 43 Foundation is our Friend of the Podcast for this episode of the NTDC 2026 Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org . The post Day One of NTDC 2026: Semifinal Driving Course Revealed appeared first on PodWheels .

August 9, 202623 min

PMTA’s Rebecca Oyler Is Ready For NTDC’s Return To Pittsburgh

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 some of her duties as the President and CEO of the host state’s trucking association. She actually broke some news on the podcast, sharing with us that, while she will be front and center to present the State Team trophy on Championship Friday night, Rebecca is bringing in a very strong pinch-hitter to deliver the welcome from the PMTA during Tuesday’s driver meeting. Past National Grand Champion and NTDC legend from Pennsylvania Bob Dolan will be providing the welcome message on Tuesday to the 429 State Champions gathering for the Driver Meeting to kickoff NTDC 2026. OUR FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: Founded in 2007, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including nicotine and smoking cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers. To learn more about the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and all of the offerings available from SCF, including how you can support their important work to help professional drivers and their families, visit TruckersFund.org . The post PMTA’s Rebecca Oyler Is Ready For NTDC’s Return To Pittsburgh appeared first on PodWheels .

August 9, 202630 min

No Bull: South Dakota’s Terry Luthy Riding To NTDC 2026 As Rookie State Grand Champion

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 bull rider. That’s correct, Terry knows what it’s like to climb aboard and hang on while the bull charts his course for a few exhilarating and sometimes terrifying seconds. As you’ll hear, Terry feels much more comfortable these days being behind the wheel of his truck and having minutes to navigate a course at the Nationals steeped in a tradition that dates back to days when it was first called the “Roadeo.” Given the overall focus on safety within trucking and particularly on the course during the Nationals, as Terry told us, the only thing that is at risk of getting hurt during an NTDC driving run is a rubber duck. As he prepares for his first-ever driving run at an NTDC, Terry is recalling the lyrics from the Chris LeDoux song “The National Finals Rodeo.” FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: The Lutzie 43 Foundation is our Friend of the Podcast for this episode of the NTDC 2026 Series. Founded to honor the legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen, the Lutzie 43 Foundation is dedicated to make sure that the tragedy that took his life would never have to be repeated. Philip was a standout athlete, a beloved teammate, and a man of tremendous character. Today, the foundation that carries his name is working to change the driving culture across the Southeast and beyond by tackling distracted driving, impaired driving, and unsafe habits behind the wheel. To learn more about the Lutzie 43 Foundation and how you can use 43 Key Seconds to run through an important safety checklist before starting your vehicle, visit Lutzie43.org . The post No Bull: South Dakota’s Terry Luthy Riding To NTDC 2026 As Rookie State Grand Champion appeared first on PodWheels .

August 8, 202635 min

Driving Course Chairman Wes Herek Is Following Some Big Footsteps

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 Chairman Frank Ems, who succeeded another highly respected Course Chairman in Robert Foskey. To his credit, Wes has embraced the challenge and he’s sought out counsel from Frank and Bob while also gathering input from all the members of his committee. Additionally, Wes spent time talking with and then reviewing the course design with Lifetime NTDC Committee Member Rick Cates, a mentor to Wes, who has more than 50 years of experience serving in various roles at the Nationals. So, what will the semifinals and finals courses look like at NTDC 2026? While we did ask for hints and clues, Wes was careful to not reveal any details. Though, as you’ll hear, Wes is a big fan of seeing drivers have opportunities to score points on NTDC courses that are both challenging and fair. OUR FRIEND OF THE PODCAST SPONSOR: Founded in 2007, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund is the only nationwide nonprofit that provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund also provides several free prevention health and wellness programs for OTR drivers in an effort to keep them on the road, including nicotine and smoking cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers. To learn more about the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and all of the offerings available from SCF, including how you can support their important work to help professional drivers and their families, visit TruckersFund.org . The post Driving Course Chairman Wes Herek Is Following Some Big Footsteps appeared first on PodWheels .