Liner Notes

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Aug 2026

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About the show

In-depth interviews with musical artists and other special features designed to learn more about them, their music and their perspective on life.

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10 recent

August 31, 202629 min

Exploring The Value Of Alignment Around Goals and Consistency of Company Leadership

As trucking and logistics companies work to make the most of the opportunities in today’s transportation market, the Grawe Pod focuses this episode on the importance of ensuring your organization has the best alignment around the goals you are trying to achieve. Additionally, the discussion also highlights the value of consistent messaging from company leadership and utilizing well-communicated standard operating procedures that consider all the departments within your organization. Grawe Group Founder and CEO Doug Grawe is once again joined on the podcast by Gary Randall, who is an Executive Business Partner with the Grawe Group. As you will hear, Doug and Gary discuss how misalignment starts at the top of an organization, how one-off exceptions can create confusion across recruiting, operations and dispatch. Their discussion features a look at why establishing clear expectations does indeed matter for overall company morale while also impacting key areas, including driver retention, sales and risk management. If your company is having difficulty gaining traction in the current market, or, if your company is seeking to gain more momentum in today’s market, this episode can help as an effective starting point for examining how your company is aligned and the operating procedures you have in place as you look to pursue available opportunities. To learn more about the Grawe Group, visit the firm’s website, TheGraweGroup.com . The post Exploring The Value Of Alignment Around Goals and Consistency of Company Leadership appeared first on PodWheels .

August 31, 202615 min

Ballad of Miguel Corral Jr. Hits Grand Championship Note

In our search to close out what has been another amazing month of August in covering all things NTDC on the highest note we could find, PodWheels discovered a song that had been created to honor and celebrate the NTDC 2026 Grand Championship won by Miguel Corral, Jr. of UPS. As PodWheels learned in reaching out to this year’s Grand Champion, the song had been written and produced by his son, Miguel Corral, III, as a gift to his father and as a way to offer a special celebration of the 2026 Grand Champion title. As you will hear in this episode, it also serves a powerful way to commemorate a journey that began in 2012. The song was made into a very heartwarming music video that Miguel, Jr. has shared on Facebook. As the Grand Champion told PodWheels, his son created the production with an AI Music Maker. PodWheels would like to thank the Corrals for allowing us to share what we are calling the “Ballad of Miguel Corral, Jr.” Video Recommendation: At the close of this episode, we mention a new video that was developed by Phil Edwards, a YouTube producer who recently discovered the National Championships and secured a media credential to cover NTDC 2026. Phil released his video on August 30th and we highly recommend taking a few minutes to watch what he has produced. Phil really captures the spirit of NTDC with his latest release entitled “ I Went To The Super Bowl of Trucking. “ 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 Ballad of Miguel Corral Jr. Hits Grand Championship Note appeared first on PodWheels .

August 29, 202635 min

Rigs Without Cigs: Larry Sonnabend Celebrates Seven Years As Non-Smoker

For this episode of the series, SCF Health and Wellness Manager Julie Dillon introduces us to Larry Sonnabend, a veteran professional driver who successfully utilized SCF’s Rigs Without Cigs program after struggling for years with attempts to quit smoking. In sharing his story, Larry looks back on the day seven years ago when, through the help of SCF’s first-ever driver health initiative, he was able to become tobacco free. As you will hear, Larry notes the important role that Julie and the structure that SCF set up played in being able to go the distance after trying other programs and wanting to quit for years. Larry describes how smoking used to shape every part of life on the road, including route planning and choosing fuel stops in particular states based on cigarette prices. Not long after joining the Rigs Without Cigs program, Larry encountered some major life stress points, with a separation from his wife that ultimately ended in divorce at the top of the list. Despite those personal challenges, Larry was able to stay strong in his commitment to stop smoking, and he credits the accountability check-ins and the steady encouragement from the Rigs Without Cigs program community as major keys to his success. The conversation in this episode covers practical replacements that helped Larry stay tobacco free, especially sunflower seeds, flavored toothpicks, prepped food, and more water. Larry also breaks down the financial cost of smoking on the road, estimating thousands of dollars a year in cigarette spending. In addition, Larry talks about the health changes he noticed after quitting, including better sleep, less morning coughing, and realizing how constantly sick he had felt while smoking. To learn more about SCF’s Rigs Without Cigs Program, please click here . The post Rigs Without Cigs: Larry Sonnabend Celebrates Seven Years As Non-Smoker appeared first on PodWheels .

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 .