National Truck Driving Championships

PodWheels

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. Sep 8

    Team USA Prepared For Debut At UICR Professional Driver World Championships

    In this episode of the podcast, we are paying tribute to a group of true trucking pioneers who have some deep roots in the NTDC Community as well as its history. On Wednesday, the first-ever Team USA of professional drivers will be wearing the red, white and blue while being ready to roll as the 33rd edition of the UICR Professional Driver World Championships opens in Germany at a motorsport club near Heidelberg. Through this edition of our show, you’ll learn how the members of Team USA answered the call and how the door opened for a stellar group of accomplished professionals to drive in an international competition that runs from Sept. 9-12. Looking at the 15 drivers who have made the trip to Germany, there are 12 state champions, four Captains from America’s Road Team, two TA Citizen Drivers and a two-time NTDC Grand Champion. The team also includes another National Champion, and it features a former TDC competitor serving as team captain who is fluent in German. We’ll be bringing you a conversation with Ramon Guzman, a two-time California State Champion who started the grassroots effort to build Team USA. It was just one year ago that Ramon began this quest to realize the dream of a Team USA following his trip to an international exhibition competition in Ireland. You’ll also hear from NTDC legends Roland Bolduc and Jim Kohr as well as Ron Round, one of the America’s Road Team Captains who is on the ground in Germany. 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 Team USA Prepared For Debut At UICR Professional Driver World Championships appeared first on PodWheels.

  2. Aug 31

    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.

  3. Aug 26

    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.

  4. Aug 15

    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.

  5. Aug 14

    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.

  6. Aug 14

    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.

  7. Aug 13

    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.

  8. Aug 13

    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.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
11 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.

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