National Truck Driving Championships

PodWheels
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Leisure

A special series from PodWheels that seeks to go deep into the NTDCs, sharing stories and perspectives through our comprehensive coverage of the National Truck Driving Championships, which are hosted annually by the American Trucking Associations. We begin each year by covering the state TDCs and the activities around the state competitions before going onsite at the Nationals and sharing stories following the NTDC event.

  1. 3d ago

    He Now Goes To 11: Latest State Title For XPO’s Curt McMellon Is Grand

    Like so many TDC veterans with vehicle division titles to their credit, Curt McMellon from XPO had found the Grand Championship of his home state of Louisiana quite elusive over the years. Prior to 2026, Curt had won 10 Vehicle Class crowns and, as he shares with us in this episode, last year Curt thought he might finally have earned the Grand Champions’ trophy – only to once again hear a fellow competitor’s name called. This year, after winning the Tanker Division and taking his State Title career total to 11 that also provided him with 11 trips to Nationals, Curt didn’t really give the Grand Champions’ crown a first thought. In fact, as he notes during our conversation, he was chatting with some XPO teammates when he heard his name called for the trophy that had always escaped his grasp. It was at that moment of disbelief and shock that Curt did a complete double take. A State Grand Champion for the first time, Curt talks to us about his experience during TDC week and the atmosphere around the Louisiana State Championships, which were held inside at the Cajundome and Convention Center in Lafayette. As you’ll hear, Curt compared the energy and enthusiasm inside the Cajundome on a level that approached the fan intensity similar to what you would find at a college football game. 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 He Now Goes To 11: Latest State Title For XPO’s Curt McMellon Is Grand appeared first on PodWheels.

    32 min

  2. Jul 3

    Old Dominion’s Chad Williams Earns State Grand Championship In Return To Michigan TDC

    A two-time State Grand Champion with multiple vehicle division titles, Old Dominion veteran driver Chad Williams had been counting the days until the 2026 Michigan TDC. Chad missed time with a medical issue that kept him on the sidelines during the 2025 Michigan competition. As Chad shares with our podcast, he found an opportunity to serve as a volunteer at last year’s TDC, and he also took advantage of the opportunity to learn through observing the competitors on the course and in the pre-trip phase. In early June, Chad returned to the competition in Lansing and he immediately made his presence felt with a good written test performance and earning the top score on the pre-trip portion of the competition. On Day 2, Chad was the first person in the Twins Class to hit the course and his overall work in the three phases of the competition would ultimately send him back to the Nationals as a State title holder. Earning the third State Grand Championship of his career put an exclamation mark on his return to the TDCs. As you will hear, Chad is following in the footsteps of his father who was not only an accomplished professional driver, but he also competed at the State TDC during his career. These days, Chad and his father share time on the water in their home state fishing for Walleye. 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 Old Dominion’s Chad Williams Earns State Grand Championship In Return To Michigan TDC appeared first on PodWheels.

    28 min

  3. Jun 30

    Chuck Pearson Thrilled To Represent ABF Freight and Georgia At NTDC 2026

    Over a period of time that lasted for a decade, Chuck Pearson of ABF Freight never lost sight of the most important aspect of having the opportunity each year to compete in his State TDCs for a shot at securing his spot at the Nationals. Every day since he made his first and only trip from his home state of Georgia to compete in the NTDCs in 2016, Chuck has focused on staying safe out on the roads while also working to sharpen his skills during his runs for ABF. As you will hear Chuck tell us on the podcast, his approach to his daily work and being ready for the State TDC competition year after year paid off this Spring with the Georgia 3-Axle Championship and a trip this August to NTDC 2026 in Pittsburgh. Looking back to the beginning of this year, Chuck’s dedication to safety and commitment to take advantage of the opportunities to practice all came together, beginning with his performance at the Safety Drive For A Cure charity event in March. In 2016, Chuck was the Grand Champion of Safety Drive and went to Nationals. This year, Chuck earned the honor of having the best score on the driving course and he earned his second State TDC title in Georgia. Over the course of our conversation, we take a look at Chuck’s career, including how he first got involved with precision driving competitions and how he found a home at ABF Freight. You’ll also hear Chuck talk about the support he has received from his family over the years. As part of that discussion, Chuck takes a moment to share the incredible career path of his wife, Krista, who started working in education some three decades ago as a teacher at Lowndes High School. This August, as NTDC 2026 gets underway, Krista will be beginning her third school year as the principal for one of the largest high schools in the state of Georgia with over 3,200 students. 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 Chuck Pearson Thrilled To Represent ABF Freight and Georgia At NTDC 2026 appeared first on PodWheels.

    35 min

  4. Jun 28

    Paul Butkowski Brings Home Second Career Minnesota Grand Championship

    With All-Time NTDC legends Richard Gillespie and Ray Simon onsite at the 2026 Minnesota TDC, FedEx Freight’s Paul Butkowski stepped up to be at his best. Paul excelled on the test, the pretrip and the driving course to add an 11th State TDC vehicle championship to his precision driving resume. A native of St. Cloud, which was also the long-time home of three-time NTDC Grand Champion Simon, Paul had the honor of having his name called as the MInnesota TDC Grand Champion and taking home the 2026 Richard Gillespie Trophy. Paul was actually part of a committee that recommended the name change to the Minnesota Trucking Association to include the name of the only person to win a National Championship in all vehicle classes in which he competed over the years. In addition to winning two NTDC Grand Championships, Richard Gillespie served as a volunteer for over 30 years. As Paul shares with us on the podcast, he has a great appreciation for the history of the event at both a state and national level. Over the course of our conversation, you’ll hear how found his footing driving in the Tanker Class for the first time. You also hear what it means to Paul to earn his second career State Grand Champion’s title and his 11th trip to the Nationals. 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 Paul Butkowski Brings Home Second Career Minnesota Grand Championship appeared first on PodWheels.

    33 min

  5. Jun 25

    Indiana’s Tony Burns Still Stunned After Winning His First State Grand Championship

    As he shares with us in this episode of the podcast, Tony Burns from FedEx Freight was in a state of total disbelief when he heard his point total and then name called out as the State Grand Champion of Indiana. Qualifying for his third career trip to the NTDCs with his victory in Indiana’s 5-Axle Class, Tony was thrilled and quite satisfied to be making his first trip back to Nationals since 2023 as he heard his name called for a second time at the Champions Banquet. Tony talks to us about his approach to safety and how he first got involved in the TDCs. You’ll also hear about his first trip to Nationals 11 years ago and the awe-inspiring experience he had walking into the Edward Jones Dome in St Louis, which was the site of NTDC 2015. Tony is hoping his third trip to Nationals (and his first-ever visit to Pittsburgh) will open the door of opportunity to compete in the NTDC 2026 runoff. 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 Indiana’s Tony Burns Still Stunned After Winning His First State Grand Championship appeared first on PodWheels.

    29 min

  6. Jun 22

    Roland Returns For 21st Nationals As A Seven-Time State Grand Champion

    For this episode of the podcast, we catch up with two-time National Grand Champion Roland Bolduc, just a few days after he earned his 21st trip to the NTDCs. Competing in 5-Axle at the Massachusetts TDC, Roland will be going to NTDC 2026 in Pittsburgh in grand style, having won a State Grand Champions’ trophy for the seventh time in his career. While Roland is thrilled to be heading back to what he calls the “Family Reunion” at NTDC 2026, he tells the podcast that one of the most satisfying parts of the Tri-State TDC that also brought together Connecticut and Rhode Island was getting to see Andrew Tenney, his FedEx teammate, break through to qualify for his his first NTDC. Roland takes some time to reflect on his years competing at the State TDCs and the Nationals. A runner-up in 5-Axle at Nationals in 2025, Roland discusses his preparations for Pittsburgh. 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 Returns For 21st Nationals As A Seven-Time State Grand Champion appeared first on PodWheels.

    44 min

  7. Jun 19

    Jeremy Kasitz Delivers Oregon Grand Championship For Old Dominion

    Old Dominion Freight Lines veteran driver Jeremy Kasitz is the first to admit that bringing home the State Grand Championship trophy was not on his Bingo Card when the Oregon TDC took place on May 16th. As he shares with us in this episode of the podcast, Jeremy was still walking on air after winning the 4-Axle Vehicle Division title and earning his trip to NTDC 2026 in Pittsburgh. Over the course of the conversation, you’ll hear Jeremy discuss his road back to Nationals, having reached the NTDCs in 2024 prior to finishing in fourth place in 2025. He talks about the success of his Old Dominion teammates who brought home the Team Trophy and six individual awards that included three state championships. Without a doubt, the highlight of this feature is hearing Jeremy’s reaction to having his name called as Oregon’s State Grand Champion. While Jeremy knows the 4-Axle NTDC field will be filled with tough competitors, he’s excited to build off his previous experience and looking to rise to the challenges ahead on the Road To Pittsburgh. 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 Jeremy Kasitz Delivers Oregon Grand Championship For Old Dominion appeared first on PodWheels.

    40 min

  8. Jun 17

    Matthew Boenisch Returns To NTDCs As Wisconsin’s Grand Champion

    A Wisconsin State Grand Champion in 2024 who finished with a third-place trophy in 2025, Matthew Boenisch of FedEx Freight maintained a year-long drive to do his best to return to the Nationals in 2026. Matthew’s all-around performance in 5-Axle at the Wisconsin TDC in Appleton secured his third State Vehicle Division title in four years. Matthew’s mastery of all three disciplines was also strong enough to bring home the Wisconsin Grand Championship for the second time in three years. As Matthew shares with us on this edition of the podcast, the hard work and dedication throughout the year paid off, and his victories were made even more memorable this year because they were part of a big day for the FedEx Freight Team. Matthew was one of four FedEx Freight drivers who secured their spots at NTDC 2026 with Vehicle Division State Crowns. 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 Matthew Boenisch Returns To NTDCs As Wisconsin’s Grand Champion appeared first on PodWheels.

    25 min
See All (260)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

A special series from PodWheels that seeks to go deep into the NTDCs, sharing stories and perspectives through our comprehensive coverage of the National Truck Driving Championships, which are hosted annually by the American Trucking Associations. We begin each year by covering the state TDCs and the activities around the state competitions before going onsite at the Nationals and sharing stories following the NTDC event.

Information

You Might Also Like