Episodes

Shortly 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, ...

Dion Saiz from FedEx Express joins Jimmy Mac to discuss what it’s like to represent FedEx as a Road Team Captain for the ATA. Dion got his start 26 years ago following in his father’s footsteps. His now-retired dad was a Road Captain, as well. The two were the first father-and-son duo to compete in the nationals in the same year. Dion tells Jimmy that competing at the NTDC makes you a better driver everyday. The post Trucking Is A Family Tradition For Dion Saiz appeared first on PodWheels.

What does a truck driver do upon retiring? If you are Greg Nauertz, an America’s Road Team Captain, you hop in an RV with wife Caroljane and you zip around the country visiting family, attending class reunions and simply enjoy life on the road. Jimmy Mac gets the 411 from Greg on life as a retired professional driver. Greg also talks about what it was like being a Road Team Captain. Looking at the industry today, Greg shares his observations about the variety of opportunities available in the tr...

Gary Langston, President and CEO of the Indiana Motor Truck Association, tells Jimmy Mac about how important trucking and the interstate system is to the state of Indiana. Indiana specializes in moving stuff on wheels, but, as Gary shares with Jimmy, the trucking industry is about the drivers. The post IMTA’s Gary Langston Talks Indiana, Trucking & The NTDC appeared first on PodWheels.

ATA President and CEO Chris Spear joins Jimmy Mac to take a look at why Indianapolis, with the numerous highways that criss-cross through it, but also the plethora of activities going each day, was an ideal choice to host the NTDC event. Chris takes this opportunity to recall the amazing work by the men and women of the trucking industry during the COVID pandemic and beyond – once again demonstrating the essential need for trucking in our everyday lives. The post ATA President & CEO Chris Spear...

In this podcast, we hear from one of the most experienced professional drivers who earned the honor of making the trip to the National Truck Driving & National Step Van Championships. With 42 years behind the wheel and now 22 visits to the NTDC in his career driving log, ABF’s Ralph Garcia talks with Jimmy Mac about the dedication involved with being a part of the national championships. He also shares with Jimmy that getting ready for nationals is a year-round endeavor. It is also a family affa...

Beyond the opportunity to compete for national title honors, there are a number of reasons that make the NTDC an event that calls to drivers across the country every year. And while numerous drivers will note the camaraderie, family, community and focus on safety, veteran driver Steve Fields tells Jimmy Mac that he also comes to NTDC to learn about the new equipment that the industry introduces. Steve notes only the best is featured at the event. One of the new improvements he particularly enjoy...

Jimmy Mac gets an opportunity to catch up with Alphonso Lewis, a veteran driver for Yellow with 30 years of experience. As Jimmy notes, Alphonso has been involved with Wreaths Across America for a number of years. An NTDC Grand Champion in 2007, Alphonso has been to the national championships 10 times. As he tells Jimmy, every NTDC trip is special, but the 2022 championships have a very refreshing feeling because of the NTDC’s return following the pandemic. For Alphonso, being a champion is abou...

America’s Road Team Captain Tina Peterson is enjoying the honor of serving as a course announcer at NTDC 2022. In this chat with Jimmy Mac, Tina shares how she discovered the trucking industry at the age of seven while growing up in Wyoming. As a Road Team Captain these days, Tina understands the importance of being an inspiration to young girls and teens as part of the Share the Road program. She is also the owner of a seven-truck fleet that is based in St. Paul, Minnesota. The post NTDC Voice...

Jimmy Mac is joined by John Brownawell from Yellow Freight Systems, his fiance Cindy Spinella and their son, Raylan. John tells Jimmy that the NTDC weekend is filled with camaraderie and family fun, but it is also one of stress and nervousness because all 50 competitors are champions. It’s the same for Cindy, who tells Jimmy watching from the stands is just as nerve-wracking. John shares what it is like hearing your name called as the winner of the state championship. The post The Brownawells M...

In this episode, Jimmy Mac visits with industry veteran Steve Smalley, who is volunteering at NTDC 2020. This year, Steve, who has been to many NTDCs over the years as a competitor, is working as an equipment handler at the event. Steve is part of the team making sure that all of the trucks and equipment are in great working order so that all of the competitors have an equal chance to do their best. As a six-time state champion, Steve shares some stories with Jimmy about dealing with nerves duri...

In her visit with Jimmy Mac, America’s Road Team Captain April Coolidge talks about the career path that brought her to trucking. April is a North Carolina-based professional driver for Walmart who is volunteering at NTDC. Prior to trucking, April was a real estate broker and when the market collapsed she followed her father’s footsteps and became a professional truck driver. She continues to do real estate in her free time. April loves visiting schools as a Road Team Captain to talk about being...

In this podcast, Jimmy Mac spends some time chatting with Rhonda Hartman. She is a 40-year veteran of the trucking industry, and she is also a Captain on America’s Road Team. Rhonda is an Iowa-based professional driver for Old Dominion Freight Line and she is part of ATA’s volunteer group at NTDC 2022. As you’ll hear, Rhonda is a trainer for Old Dominion who has developed ways to communicate and teach people from different countries about driving a truck. Rhonda is also a part of the new Women-i...

Scotty Davis is a well-respected veteran of the trucking industry and he is no stranger to the National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships. Scotty is in charge of the equipment and maintenance at NTDC 2022. In this edition of the podcast, Scotty joins Jimmy Mac to talk about his role at the event and why he chose to volunteer his time at age 69. As you’ll hear, Scotty notes that he brings years of experience as a driver and a safety instructor, as well as a cool level head...

Jason Wing is the Vice President of Safety and Transportation Operations at Red Classic and he is Chairman of the National Truck Driving & National Step Van Driving Championships for 2022. Jason shares with Jimmy Mac what he is looking for in a company before he agrees to work for them. Safety, camaraderie and community are high on his list, and those are characteristics that he finds important with the NTDC. Jason also discusses why any company should encourage their drivers to strive to make i...

Patti Gillette is a veteran of the NTDC and she talks to Jimmy Mac about the road all the competitors take to be a part of the national championships. Patti is a past NTDC Chairman, and is currently NTDC Vice Chairman and Vice President and COO of the Colorado Motor Carriers Association. Patti has been on the NTDC Committee for numerous years and her late husband Sam Gillette was a volunteer. As you’ll hear, the road to become a state champion and qualify for the NTDC event are not all the same....

Tony Spero, the 2006 NTDC Grand Champion and a driver with ABF Freight out of Connecticut, talks about what it takes to continue to compete at the NTDC. This year, Tony is competing in the Tanker Division in the National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships. Tony shares with Jimmy Mac not only how important it is to practice on weekends throughout the year, but how vital it is to study for the written test. The mental part of the weekend is just as important and challenging ...

Darren Hawkins, CEO of Yellow and Vice Chairman of ATA, talks about having 13 Yellow drivers in Indianapolis at the National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships. He tells Jimmy Mac, host of Dave Nemo Weekends, why the competition’s emphasis on safety is so important and why it is the reason he encourages drivers to enter the event. Darren and Jimmy also talk about the value of the drivers from different companies sharing tips on safe driving during the weekend. The post NT...

Byron and Bob Bramwell are a father and son who have made trucking a family tradition. At NTDC 2022, they are giving back to the industry by serving as volunteers at the event. During their visit with Jimmy Mac, we are reminded that the NTDCs place a focus on the top professionals behind the wheel and families. As you’ll hear during this interview, the NTDC also features plenty of smiles and laughs. In fact, Byron and Bob, as you’ll hear, are so entertaining they could host their own comedy show...

Ina Daly is another veteran at this year’s National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships in Indianapolis. During his conversation with Ina, Jimmy Mac takes Ina back to her experience during her first year at the competition. Looking back, Ina tells Jimmy about being a 26-year-old rookie who didn’t know there would be a written test, much less a book to study from. Moving into the present day, Jimmy talked to Ina about the ATA’s new initiative Women In Motion. The post Veter...

Wayne Crowder, a FedEx Freight driver from Kentucky, talks to Jimmy Mac about what it takes to win at the nationals. Wayne is an America’s Road Team Captain who has claimed three national championships during his days as an NTDC competitor. Wayne is also the only rookie to ever earn the title of Grand Champion when he claimed the competition’s top honor in 2004. Wayne tells Jimmy Mac what the drivers are dealing with when it comes to solving the problems put in front of them at the The National ...

Gina Jones, an America’s Road Team Captain tells Jimmy Mac, host of Dave Nemo Weekends, what it’s like becoming a track driver a little later in life and what it is like driving with her husband. Spoiler alert, giving each other space is one of the keys. Gina also tells Jimmy that driving a two-wheeled vehicle has similarities to driving one with 18 wheels. It’s also about safety and getting home at the end of each day. The post Meet Gina Jones, America’s Road Team Captain & Woman In Motion app...

On the opening day of the National Truck Driving & National Step Van Driving Championships, we got a look at the road course that will put the driving skills of the competitors to the test. We also got a chance to talk to Jason Wing of Red Classic and Rodney Myers of FedEx Freight. Jason is the Chairman of the NTDC 2022 event and Rodney is serving as the Vice Chairman for NTDC 2022. As you’ll hear, it’s not only been a long road for the competitors to get to NTDC 2022, but it’s been quite a jour...

The 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 PodWh...