Episodes

As this year’s celebration of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week begins, the NTDC 2025 Podcast dedicates our 80th episode release of the year to take an initial look back at a number of the top performances across the nine vehicle divisions in the competition that brought together 425 state champions from across the country. Recorded on September 3, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson and Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero spend some time going inside the final results fr...

As we continue our NTDC 2025 Rewind Series from our time onsite in Minneapolis, PodWheels is rolling it back to Wednesday of NTDC Week when we caught up with a friend we met in Columbus two years ago. In 2023, PodWheels Executive Producer was introduced to Alex Ayala, who serves as a Safety Consultant for H-E-B Grocery. As you will hear in this edition of the podcast, Alex works with the H-E-B drivers who qualify for the NTDCs. And, in 2025, while competing in the state of Texas, Alex and H-E-B ...

Not long after the finalists had been announced and the vehicle parade ended on Championship Saturday in Minneapolis, PodWheels witnessed a moment that we will be featuring with this rewind episode which truly embodies the full spectrum of competition and respect that takes place each year at the NTDCs. Wilbert Vano, a six-time State Grand Champion and true legend from New Jersey with XPO, had struck up a conversation with Matt Lamielle, a General Manager with DHL Supply Chain. Matt is part of t...

Recorded four days after the closing night of NTDC 2025, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson and Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero sit down for an extended look at what took place in Minneapolis during NTDC Week for 2025. As you will hear, Greg is actually still onsite in the Twin Cities at the time of the recording. This episode touches on many topics and a number of award winners from the competition, including going behind the scenes to hear about Eugene’s conversations wi...

One of the many highlights of PodWheels’ onsite coverage of NTDC 2025 in Minneapolis was the time that we spent with the Lewis family. As part of our NTDC 2025 Rewind Series, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson takes us back to Friday of NTDC week when he talked with Warren, Nate and Andrew Lewis, representing three of the four generations of their family who have won Maine State TDC State titles, making regular trips to the Nationals. As you will hear in this episode of the podcast, the...

On Friday of NTDC Week, we caught up with FedEx Step Van driver Lindy Jackson, who will forever own a piece of Minnesota TDC history with her 2024 first-place finish in the Step Van Division. Lindy’s victory last year made her the first woman to ever win a state championship at the Minnesota TDC. As you’ll hear in this episode of the podcast, when Lindy successfully defended her step van state title and qualified for NTDC 2025, her three-year-old son was leading the cheers from the podium. Durin...

On Thursday of NTDC Week, PodWheels had the opportunity to sit down and have an extended conversation with John Hausladen, who has served as the President & CEO of the Minnesota Trucking Association since 1996. As you will hear in this episode of the podcast, NTDC 2025 marked the fourth time during John’s tenure with the MTA that the Twin Cities have served as the host of the National Championships. As John shares with the podcast, the dedication to safety and overall professionalism in the fac...

In this NTDC Rewind edition of the podcast, we are going to highlight the North American Inspectors Challenge, which is the annual event conducted by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. We will hear the acceptance speech from this year’s winner of the Inspector’s Challenge, Dustin Henderson with the Texas Department of Public Safety. We will also hear an interview with Captain Robert Zak of the Commercial Vehicles Section of the Minnesota State Patrol, which served as the host agency for thi...

About 45 minutes after David Comings held the Bendix NTDC Grand Championship trophy for the first time while his entire family celebrated the realization of a career dream on the NTDC 2025 stage in Minneapolis, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson was able to catch up with David and all of “Team Comings.” As we continue our NTDC 2025 Rewinds, this episode brings you a very fun, in-the-moment interview that features David, his wife, Judy, and their six children, who range in age from teenag...

Recorded on the opening day of NTDC 2025 Week, ATA Chairman Dennis Dellinger tells our podcast that he was so impressed with his visit to the National Championships in 2024 that he made plans to be onsite in Minneapolis for the entire run of NTDC 2025. As you will hear in another episode from our NTDC 2025 Rewind Series, Dennis was part of the Champions Orientation Meeting on Wednesday, taking the podium and sharing a warm welcome and words of encouragement. During his conversation with PodWhee...

When the moment arrived for the Parade of Equipment on Championship Saturday at NTDC 2025, American Trucking Associations Chief Operating Officer Dan Horvath had the honor of driving the lead truck in this special convoy that could be seen inside the Minneapolis Convention Center. In this NTDC 2025 Rewinds edition of the podcast, you’ll hear how Dan earned his CDL years ago at his first transportation job, and you’ll also hear how he was first introduced to the NTDC as a volunteer more than 20 y...

As we begin our NTDC 2025 Rewinds and share unreleased interviews from our onsite coverage in Minneapolis, we will start by presenting our conversation with Chris Spear, the President and CEO of the American Trucking Associations. As you will hear in this interview recorded on Friday of NTDC 2025 Week, Chris always places a special mark on his calendar and makes a point to be on the ground to share some time with the state champion drivers and NTDC organizers during the annual celebration of saf...

Not long after the finalists had been announced on Championship Saturday, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson walked up to say hello to two of the past Grand Champions – Wayne Crowder (2004) and Gragg Wilson (2023). In addition to having their names etched forever on the Bendix Grand Champion trophy, both Wayne and Gragg have served as Captains on America’s Road Team. And, as we learn in this edition of the podcast, Wayne and Gragg will share another title within the next few months. Grag...

Championship Saturday at NTDC 2025 was filled with memorable moments and North Dakota’s David Comings of FedEx Freight shared the realization of a career goal with his six children and his wife Judy cheering him every step of the way. On the eve of his 23rd wedding anniversary, David was able to hand the Bendix NTDC National Championship trophy to Judy that he earned as the 2025 Grand Champion. In this episode of our podcast, you will hear David’s full acceptance speech and our interview just as...

When the second day of driving and pre-trip competition got underway on Friday of NTDC 2025 Week, the annual celebration of safety welcomed Minnesota native and NTDC Legend Ray Simon as one of the spectators. Ray is the only professional driver who has won three National Grand Championships, and Ray accomplished his trifecta during the only three times he qualified for NTDC. Now retired and living in nearby St. Cloud, Ray made the trip to the Minneapolis Convention Center, where he was greeted b...

The NTDC 2025 Podcast salutes JoyRide Logistics as a Friend of the Podcast Sponsor of our onsite coverage from Minneapolis of this year’s National Championships. JoyRide Logistics will also be joining us for our post-event coverage of all things NTDC, and we wanted to provide you an opportunity to get to know the story of JoyRide Logistics and the company’s commitment to safety. In the days prior to traveling to Minneapolis for NTDC 2025, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson chatted with ...

The NTDC 2025 Podcast is grateful for the support of Project 61 as a Friend of the Podcast Sponsor of our onsite coverage from Minneapolis of this year’s National Championships. Project 61 will also be joining us for our post-event coverage of all things NTDC, and we would like to invite you to learn more about Project 61’s beginnings and the work the organization is doing to improve the lives of professional drivers. Just prior to making the trip to Minneapolis, PodWheels Executive Producer Gr...

On Day Two of NTDC 2025, five vehicle divisions hit the course and went through the Pre-Trip phase of the National Championships, and Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero filled his notebook (and audio recorder) with many great conversations. With a record 15 state champions in the NTDC field, Eugene caught up with Ina Daly, Haley Ooms and Karen Roderick to get their perspectives on what they experienced on the course as well as the growth in the number of women who have qualified for ...

What do the National Truck Driving & National Step Van Driving Championships mean to the Safety Directors whose companies have drivers who qualify to reach the NTDC competition? Our NTDC 2025 Podcast asked that question and a few more about what has been called the “nation’s longest-running safety program” when we talked with Jason Ahten, who is the Senior Director of Fleet Safety for Walmart Transportation. Jason also serves as a member of the all-volunteer NTDC 2025 Organizing Committee. In a...

The NTDC 2025 Podcast opens our onsite coverage of the National Championships in Minneapolis with a look back at Day One. PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson and Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero share their reflections on Opening Day of NTDC 2025. You’ll hear the heartfelt speech from Jackie Reed, the 2024 NTDC Grand Champion. You’ll also hear the fun welcome to the host state by John Hausladen, the President and CEO of the Minnesota Trucking Association. As you’ll hear, Gre...

As the champions prepare to gather in Minneapolis for today’s Driver Orientation Meeting on the Opening Day of the National Truck Driving & National Step Van Driving Championships, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson and Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero take some time to look back on our podcast journey on the Road To Minneapolis. They also provide a look ahead at what will be taking place at NTDC 2025. As you will hear, both Greg and Eugene have a great sense of anticipati...

In the finale of our three-part preview series, Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero and PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson take an inside look at the competitors lining up in the Tanker, Sleeper and Twins vehicle classes. As you’ll hear, the Tanker Division alone has three previous National Grand Champions, including Jackie Reed, the 2024 Grand Champion. Sleeper is filled with accomplished veterans and newcomers seeking to grab the gold. Twins features a strong group as well, ...

Our division-by-division preview of NTDC 2025 continues with deep dives into the 4-Axle, 5-Axle and Flatbed vehicle classes. Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero and PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson discuss the return of Joe Hicks, the defending 4-Axle National Champion and the pride of Rhode Island. The 5-Axle Class features a pair of two-time National Grand Champions with the return to competition of Dale Duncan from Utah along with the 20th NTDC appearance of Roland Boldu...

As we count down the final hours to the start of NTDC 2025 in Minneapolis, Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero and PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson introduce the first episode of a three-part series that looks at all nine vehicle class divisions. In Part One, Eugene and Greg will be focusing on Step Van, Straight and 3-Axle, talking about competitors and how things look going into the Nationals. It’s a fun conversation that places a spotlight on each of the divisions. JoyRid...