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

    Recalling The Great John Lex and Memories of NTDC 2019 in Pittsburgh

    To highlight the return of the NTDC to Pittsburgh this year, we continue our look back at NTDC 2019, the first time that PodWheels had the opportunity to cover the National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships. This edition of the podcast revisits the 2019 retrospective that we produced from our time at NTDC 2019. The rewind portion of the show opens with PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson recalling the contributions that John Lex made to the coverage by the podcast in Pittsburgh. This section of the show is highlighted by the interview that Greg did with John, a little more than three years before John passed away following his battle with cancer. A Captain with America’s Road Team, John, who had more than three million accident-free miles during his 32-year career, was the recipient of the Mike Russell Trucking Image Award in 2016 and he earned the Trucking Cares Foundation Premier Achievement Award in 2021. For this return to 2019, Greg is joined once again by Barry Courter, the co-founder and co-host of The What Podcast, which covers Bonnaroo and other music festivals. Along with sharing highlights from Championship Saturday, Greg and Barry share their thoughts about being onsite for the Parade of Champions and the Awards Ceremony. The retrospective also features interviews with back-to-back NTDC Grand Champion Scott Woodrome as well as the family of Nebraska State Patrol Sergeant Benjamin Schropfer, the CVSA’s North America Inspectors Challenge Grand Champion. SAFETY DRIVE 2025 VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP: As we mentioned in this episode, the 15th Annual Safety Drive For A Cure 2025 is coming up on March 14th in Atlanta. While all 250 spots for competitors are filled for this event that benefits the Pediatric Brain Cancer Foundation, Safety Drive organizers are still looking for volunteers to help onsite March 13-14. You can sign up to become a volunteer by clicking here. There are a wide range of volunteer opportunities to support what will be the largest competitive field in the history of Safety Drive. You can also support the drivers who have entered the competition or the cause in general by making a donation. You can learn more by visiting Safety Drive event page by clicking here. To stay updated on what’s happening with Safety Drive you can visit the Safety Drive’s Facebook Page, by clicking here. 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 Recalling The Great John Lex and Memories of NTDC 2019 in Pittsburgh appeared first on PodWheels.

    51 min

  2. 6D AGO

    Taking A Trip Back In Time To Pittsburgh and NTDC 2019

    As we countdown the days to the first State TDC that serve as the first miles on this year’s Road To Pittsburgh, our series would like to take our listeners back to NTDC 2019, the last time the NTDC was held in the Steel City. NTDC 2019 also marked the first time that PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson attended and covered the National Championships. In this episode of our series, Greg brings us the retrospective the PodWheels Team put together from seven years ago. You’ll also hear the story of how Greg was first introduced to the NTDC Program through a memorable experience at the Tennessee State TDC. As you’ll hear, Greg is joined on this retrospective edition by Barry Courter, the co-founder and co-host of The What Podcast, which covers Bonnaroo and other music festivals. Highlights of the retrospective episode originally produced in August of 2019 include interviews with 2007 NTDC Grand Champion Alphonso Lewis and his wife Regina. Alphonso made the runoff in 2019 and Regina was leading his cheering section. 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 Taking A Trip Back In Time To Pittsburgh and NTDC 2019 appeared first on PodWheels.

    44 min

  3. FEB 8

    Championship Runoff Rewind: NTDC’s Version Of The Playoffs

    To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Super Bowl and to get into the championship spirit, our podcast is doing a bit of a rewind with this episode. Greg Thompson and Eugene Mulero will be taking listeners back to the day of the Championship Runoff at NTDC 2025. We will be sharing a collection of the interviews that Eugene did just as the “Top Guns” of 2025 were exiting their trucks on the floor of the Minneapolis Convention Center. Among the featured drivers in this rewind are Ernie Budlowski, Robert Crowder, Todd Flippin, Glen Kirk, David Hall, Adam Heim, Dave Mogler, Kenneth Regeth and Dan Shamrell. This edition of the podcast closes with a bit of an exit ramp departure from NTDC as Eugene and Greg spend a moment recalling the comedic genius of actress Catherine O’Hara, who passed away on the day this episode was recorded. WELCOMING A NEW FRIEND OF THE PODCAST: We are thrilled to welcome the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund as our newest 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 Championship Runoff Rewind: NTDC’s Version Of The Playoffs appeared first on PodWheels.

    52 min

  4. FEB 3

    Herschel Evans Preparing For Record Field At Safety Drive For A Cure

    We are honored to welcome back America’s Road Team Captain and TA Citizen Driver Herschel Evans to the podcast. The driving force behind the annual Safety Drive For A Cure, Herschel takes us inside what it takes to bring together a premiere “preseason” TDC-level event that has now raised over $400,000 to support the work of the Pediatric Brain Cancer Foundation. As the calendar turned to February, Safety Drive had reached its capacity for entries with 250 registrations and Safety Drive now has a waiting list for competitors. As you’ll hear in this episode of the podcast, Herschel and his Safety Driver Organizing Team are still seeking volunteers to work on the event, which will be held in Atlanta on March 14. You can sign up to become a volunteer by clicking here. There are a wide range of volunteer opportunities to support what will be the largest competitive field in the history of Safety Drive. In addition to filling a role at Safety Drive as a volunteer, Herschel shares that you can support the drivers who have entered the competition or the cause in general by making a donation. You can learn more by visiting Safety Drive event page by clicking here. To stay updated on what’s happening with Safety Drive you can visit the Safety Drive’s Facebook Page, by clicking here. During this episode of the podcast, Herschel takes us back to the early days of Safety Drive For Cure and he also reflects on what has been an amazing career in the trucking industry highlighted by his commitment to safety and making a difference in the communities he serves. Coming off a third-place finish at NTDC 2025 in the Sleeper Class, Herschel’s career includes two National Vehicle Class Championships in NTDC competition. Looking ahead to the future, Herschel also shares some thoughts on how Safety Drive is looking to grow in the coming years. Our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode of the NTDC 2025 Series is PROJECT 61. Driving health. Fueling life. Supporting the heroes behind the wheel — that’s what PROJECT 61 is all about. Project-61.org is the web address where the change begins. If you’re a driver — or if you care about someone who is — head over to Project-61.org. You’ll find resources to get started, including access to a free mobile app built specifically for life on the road — plus a chance to take the Trucker Health Pledge and show your support for the men and women behind the wheel. You can even make a donation to help PROJECT 61keep doing this important work across the industry. The post Herschel Evans Preparing For Record Field At Safety Drive For A Cure appeared first on PodWheels.

    41 min

  5. JAN 30

    Time Capsule: Taking Trip With Mike Alpine Back To 2004 Championship

    In his work on the second edition of the From Roadeo To TDC history book on NTDC last year, Transport Topics Senior Reporter Eugene Mulero had the opportunity to conduct an extended interview with Mike Alpine, the 2004 National Champion in the Auto Hauler Vehicle Class. Now, as you’ll hear beginning at the 19-minute mark of this episode, Mike holds the distinction of being the final Auto Hauler National Champ as that vehicle class was not offered as part of the competition beginning in 2005. What makes Mike’s accomplishment in 2004 even more impressive and memorable is the fact that he was competing as a rookie in the last run of the Auto Hauler Class. During this 2025 interview that Eugene conducted, you will also hear how Mike returned to the TDC and NTDC 18 years later in 2022 representing ABF Freight and the state of Arizona. Mike, who holds the incredible accomplishment of over four million accident-free miles, returned to the nationals as an Arizona State Champion in 2023 and 2024. Mike’s observations on what the NTDC means to him and the indelible impression that being part of the competition made on his dedication to safety can be heard throughout this interview. This episode of the podcast opens with Greg Thompson and Eugene Mulero noting the selection of two recent NTDC National Champions as Captains on America’s Road Team for 2026-27. Greg and Eugene salute Mississippi’s Jackie Reed and Florida’s Miguel Sanchez on being a part of the new class of America’s Road Team Captains, which was announced on January 20th. In 2024, Jackie won the Tanker Division National Title en route to earning the honor of becoming NTDC’s Grand Champion for that year. Miguel claimed the 2025 Twins National Championship after winning the Grand Championship at the Florida TDC. We hope you enjoy this super-sized episode of our series. To buy a copy of the From Roadeo To TDC history book online, please click here. Our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode of the NTDC 2025 Series is PROJECT 61. Driving health. Fueling life. Supporting the heroes behind the wheel — that’s what PROJECT 61 is all about. Project-61.org is the web address where the change begins. If you’re a driver — or if you care about someone who is — head over to Project-61.org. You’ll find resources to get started, including access to a free mobile app built specifically for life on the road — plus a chance to take the Trucker Health Pledge and show your support for the men and women behind the wheel. You can even make a donation to help PROJECT 61 keep doing this important work across the industry. The post Time Capsule: Taking Trip With Mike Alpine Back To 2004 Championship appeared first on PodWheels.

    1h 21m

  6. JAN 27

    Steady Climber Ed Hill Recalls Reaching Flatbed Summit At NTDC 2025

    As part of our 2025 National Champions Series, Ed Hill from FedEx Freight joins the podcast to look back at winning his first career National Championship last August in Minneapolis. The pride of Delaware, Ed first entered his state TDC in 2022 and he came away with the Rookie of the Year, a state title and a trip to the Nationals. As you will hear, Ed returned to be a part of the elite NTDC field in 2023 and 2024 before making his fourth consecutive Nationals last year. It was at NTDC 2025 in the Flatbed Division that Ed heard his name called for the runoff and then as a National Champion. In this episode, we take a look back at Ed’s career in trucking, his experiences at NTDC and how he was able to breakthrough in 2025 with his first Vehicle Class National Crown. Our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode of the NTDC 2025 Series is PROJECT 61. Driving health. Fueling life. Supporting the heroes behind the wheel — that’s what PROJECT 61 is all about. Project-61.org is the web address where the change begins. If you’re a driver — or if you care about someone who is — head over to Project-61.org. You’ll find resources to get started, including access to a free mobile app built specifically for life on the road — plus a chance to take the Trucker Health Pledge and show your support for the men and women behind the wheel. You can even make a donation to help PROJECT 61 keep doing this important work across the industry. The post Steady Climber Ed Hill Recalls Reaching Flatbed Summit At NTDC 2025 appeared first on PodWheels.

    24 min

  7. JAN 19

    Sending Out A Call For Safety Drive 2026 Volunteers

    Greg Thompson and Eugene Mulero are back on the show together for the first time in a few weeks, and their first topic of 2026 is the upcoming Safety Drive For A Cure. For those who may not know, Safety Drive is the annual charity event led by America’s Road Team Captain Herschel Evans. This event brings together NTDC hopefuls from across the country in an annual campaign that raises money for Pediatric Brain Cancer Research while also providing professional drivers the opportunity to get some high-level “Spring Training” competition prior to the State TDC Season. In their discussion of the upcoming 15th edition of the Safety Drive, which will take place in Atlanta on March 14, Greg and Eugene talk about the opportunity to volunteer at the event. You’ll also hear Greg and Eugene talk about reaching the 100-episode milestone for podcast releases of the NTDC Series in 2025 as well as some of their plans for coverage of the TDC Season and NTDC 2026. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for Safety Drive 2026, please click here. If you would like to register to compete at Safety Drive 2026, please click here. To learn more about Safety Drive and how your donations help the work of the Pediatric Brain Cancer Foundation, you can visit the Safety Drive’s Facebook Page, by clicking here. Our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode of the NTDC 2025 Series is PROJECT 61. Driving health. Fueling life. Supporting the heroes behind the wheel — that’s what PROJECT 61 is all about. Project-61.org is the web address where the change begins. If you’re a driver — or if you care about someone who is — head over to Project-61.org. You’ll find resources to get started, including access to a free mobile app built specifically for life on the road — plus a chance to take the Trucker Health Pledge and show your support for the men and women behind the wheel. You can even make a donation to help PROJECT 61 keep doing this important work across the industry. The post Sending Out A Call For Safety Drive 2026 Volunteers appeared first on PodWheels.

    22 min

  8. JAN 15

    Revisiting Jeff Langenhahn’s Tanker Title Run, Third National Crown In Stellar Career

    For this National Champions’ edition of the podcast, we look back at NTDC 2025 and Jeff Langenhahn’s run to the title in the Tanker Class. All things considered, it was clear Jeff was poised to have a great week last August. After all, Minneapolis was relatively close to his home in Wisconsin and that meant it was easy for members of Jeff’s family to make the trip. While Jeff, the 2014 NTDC Grand Champion, had the NTDC Grand Champs from 2023 and 2024 with him in Tanker, he also had his daughter, son-in-law and young grandson in the crowd cheering him to what became his third National Championship in his 12th NTDC trip that now includes seven appearances in the final runoff. As you’ll hear in this episode, we take a trip back to August with Jeff and his experience at NTDC 2025. We also discuss his career both at NTDC and his many years on the road with XPO, which includes more than two million accident-free miles driven. As we look ahead to NTDC 2026, Jeff will be ready to make another run to qualify for the Nationals. Our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode of the NTDC 2025 Series is PROJECT 61. Driving health. Fueling life. Supporting the heroes behind the wheel — that’s what PROJECT 61 is all about. Project-61.org is the web address where the change begins. If you’re a driver — or if you care about someone who is — head over to Project-61.org. You’ll find resources to get started, including access to a free mobile app built specifically for life on the road — plus a chance to take the Trucker Health Pledge and show your support for the men and women behind the wheel. You can even make a donation to help PROJECT 61 keep doing this important work across the industry. The post Revisiting Jeff Langenhahn’s Tanker Title Run, Third National Crown In Stellar Career appeared first on PodWheels.

    24 min
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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.

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