Featured Archives | PodWheels

As we prepare for the calendar to turn to a new year on the podcast, we wanted to share this Rollin’ With Roland edition of the series that we recorded a few weeks after the close of NTDC 2025. At that time, we caught up with two-time National Grand Champion Roland Bolduc, who has graciously contributed a collection of competitor-to-competitor interviews to this podcast throughout 2025.

Following a run in Minneapolis that saw Roland return to the Final Five runoff and finish second in 5-Axle Vehicle to David Comings (also the 2025 National Grand Champion), we wanted to get Roland’s perspective on what has been an amazing year within NTDC, filled with returning champions and a large number of rookies gathering to compete in what Roland calls the annual “Family Reunion.” It’s a must-listen conversation with a 20-time State Champion and NTDC qualifier who offers a collection of valuable observations while sharing congratulations for all the National Champions. Our listeners will especially enjoy the perspective and joy Roland experienced in watching David Comings excel at the Nationals in 2025.

Friend Of The Podcast: JoyRide Logistics is serving as our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode. JoyRide Logistics is focused on being a world-class, customer-focused business. JoyRide is driven by its people and their dedication to provide valuable solutions to meet the challenges of today’s supply chain. To learn more about JoyRide Logistics, visit JoyRideLogistics.com.

The post Observations & Congratulations For 2025: A Year-End Rollin’ With Roland appeared first on PodWheels.

As we approach Christmas Day, our podcast wanted to find a way to celebrate this season of giving and the gifts that are found by serving those in your community. We decided to reach out to Emily Crane, the Vice President of Safety and Engagement for the Georgia Trucking Association, to give her an opportunity to look back at what has been a memorable year. In 2025, Emily was part of the NTDC Organizing Committee for the first time in her 20-year career in trucking. To hear the joy in Emily’s voice as she talks about the State and National Driving Championships and to hear what it means to her to serve on the all-volunteer NTDC Organizing Committee is a testament to the power of giving back.

As you will hear, our wide-ranging conversation looks back at Emily’s career in trucking and how she initially got involved with the NTDC before earning an invitation to join the Organizing Committee. Speaking of giving back, we’ll also discuss the Safety Drive For A Cure, an annual fund-raising event led by America’s Road Team Captain and 2025 Georgia State Grand Champion Herschel Evans. Safety Drive For A Cure, which is held in the Atlanta area and will be returning this coming March, has become a very popular TDC-style competition that is also fund-raiser for the Pediatric Brain Cancer Foundation. We also take a moment to reflect on the impact that Matt Awbrey made with his career and life in trucking. Matt passed away during the Georgia State TDC and Team Georgia honored him during their trip to NTDC 2025.

Friend Of The Podcast: JoyRide Logistics is serving as our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode. JoyRide Logistics is focused on being a world-class, customer-focused business. JoyRide is driven by its people and their dedication to provide valuable solutions to meet the challenges of today’s supply chain. To learn more about JoyRide Logistics, visit JoyRideLogistics.com.

The post First-Year NTDC Committee Member Emily Crane Looks Back On A Memorable 2025 appeared first on PodWheels.

Ernesto Gaytan, Jr., General Manager of Super Transport International (STI), is our featured guest on this Borderless Coverage edition of the podcast. Ernesto and STI have become respected fixtures in Laredo, Texas, and within the cross-border sector of transportation in and out of Mexico. Ernesto helped lead the effort to establish the Laredo Motor Carriers Association and he is a past President of the LMCA. Ernesto has also served a term as President of the Texas Trucking Association. 

Over the years, Ernesto has worked on a number of key issues related to cross-border, and, during this episode of the podcast, he provides valuable perspectives on a number of timely topics, including B-1 drivers, tort reform and USMCA. Ernesto also looks back at the early days of STI and notes the impact that his father, Ernesto Gaytan, Senior, made on the growth of cross-border transportation over the years. Your host for this edition of the podcast is Borderless Coverage Founder Mark Vickers, who is an Executive Vice President and the Head of International Logistics at Reliance Partners.

RELIANCE CAN HELP: Are you in the market for cross-border insurance coverage? Borderless Coverage is a Reliance Partners‘ business that enables international companies to conduct safe and profitable business in North America and across North American borders. We provide cross-border insurance. Our team consists of business minded cross-border supply chain consultants, economists, insurance experts, lawyers and global trade agreement negotiators, including the most recent lead negotiators of USMCA from Mexico. To learn more about the offerings available through Borderless Coverage from Reliance Partners, please click here.

The post Super Transport International’s Ernesto Gaytan, Jr. Highlights Key Cross-Border Issues appeared first on PodWheels.

To close out 2025 on the Highway To Hope Podcast, we brought together a panel that features SCF Board President Norita Taylor, SCF Executive Director Courtney Niemann and SCF Director of Philanthropy Diane Hutsell to look back at what has been a year of change and continued achievement for the organization. As you will hear, Norita, Courtney and Diane all started their current roles with SCF in 2025.

In a discussion that was led by Podcast Host Lindsey Bryan, who is also the Health & Wellness Manager at SCF, the group looks back on the meaningful moments, leadership transitions, community engagement, donor relationships and the challenges they must navigate in today’s industry landscape. They emphasize the importance of grace, balance, and focus in their work and pursuing SCF’s mission, while looking forward to an exciting 2026 with new initiatives and continued support for drivers in need.

Most importantly, what really shines through in this conversation is the joy and fulfillment that the SCF Team continually finds in the work they do to help professional drivers and their families. To learn more about SCF and you can support their important mission, please visit TruckersFund.org.

The post Looking Back at a Year of Change and Achievements For SCF appeared first on PodWheels.

Mark Carver from FedEx Freight made the most of his second consecutive year at the Nationals, taking what he learned in Indianapolis in 2024 and turning it into NTDC gold in Minneapolis this past August. Returning as the Straight Truck Champion from Missouri, Mark put it all together to navigate the course, the written test and the pre-trip to ultimately hear his name called on Championship Saturday night as a National Champion at NTDC 2025. Looking back on his journey to his first national title, Mark credits the continued encouragement he received from his training partner at his home terminal as well as the onsite support he experienced from his FedEx teammates.

Friend Of The Podcast: JoyRide Logistics is serving as our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode. JoyRide Logistics is focused on being a world-class, customer-focused business. JoyRide is driven by its people and their dedication to provide valuable solutions to meet the challenges of today’s supply chain. To learn more about JoyRide Logistics, visit JoyRideLogistics.com.

The post Recalling How Mark Carver Broke Through To Win His First National Championship appeared first on PodWheels.

In this Safety Matters edition of the podcast, we will be exploring the Crash Indicators BASIC, and we will be covering practical strategies to reduce the frequency and severity of crashes. We will also discuss the best practices for what drivers should do immediately after an accident and the critical steps motor carriers must take to ensure proper response, documentation and follow-up. Mark Barlar and Daniel Vega from the Reliance Partners Safety Impact Team will be serving as subject matter experts throughout this episode. Prior to joining Reliance, both Mark and Daniel had long and distinguished careers as State Troopers working in the area of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement. Thom Albrecht, the Chief Revenue Officer at Reliance Partners, is your host and moderator for this episode, which is an edited release from the live webinar event hosted by Reliance Partners on December 11th.

SIGN UP FOR JANUARY’S LIVE WEBINAR: Reliance Partners will be holding its next live webinar in the Seven BASICS Series on Thursday, January 15th at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The January webinar will feature a discussion of Case Studies where the Safety Impact Team took the lead in helping clients navigate various challenges related to CSA Scores. You can register for the Reliance Partners’ January 15th webinar by clicking here.

The post Exploring The Crash BASIC And Practical Strategies For Reducing Frequency And Severity  appeared first on PodWheels.

Carlos Sesma, a Senior Partner at the Sesma, Sesma and McNeese Law Firm, connects with Trucking Matters from Mexico City for this Borderless Coverage edition of the podcast. Carlos, who earned the reputation as the top corporate attorney in Mexico for the transportation and logistics sector, is also a partner and co-founder of the Mexico carrier vetting and rating platform, Confianza. As you will hear, Borderless Coverage founder and podcast host Mark Vickers, who is an Executive Vice President and the Head of International Logistics at Reliance Partners, covers a broad range of timely topics with Carlos during the show.

Along with discussing the continued steady growth of cross-border logistics that have followed the shift in supply chains away from China and toward Mexico, Mark and Carlos highlight the key considerations when looking at  the differences between the legal structures for transportation and logistics in Mexico versus the United States, such as the limited liability for registered Mexican carriers. They also note the importance of having proper contracts and insurance to mitigate risks.

Carlos spends some time offering insights into why the Confianza platform was created with the aim of providing vetting and visibility for Mexican carriers to help build trust between them and U.S. shippers/brokers looking to work across the border. Looking at the road ahead, Carlos remains optimistic about the potential for continued growth in cross-border logistics, particularly with the upcoming renegotiation of the USMCA trade agreement.

RELIANCE CAN HELP: Are you in the market for cross-border insurance coverage? Borderless Coverage is a Reliance Partners‘ business that enables international companies to conduct safe and profitable business in North America and across North American borders. We provide cross-border insurance. Our team consists of business minded cross-border supply chain consultants, economists, insurance experts, lawyers and global trade agreement negotiators, including the most recent lead negotiators of USMCA from Mexico. To learn more about the offerings available through Borderless Coverage from Reliance Partners, please click here.

The post Top Attorney Carlos Sesma Discusses Mitigating Cross-Border Risks and Confianza Carrier Vetting Platform  appeared first on PodWheels.

To say that Miguel Sanchez of UPS savored and valued every moment of the journey that brought him to the reality of winning the Twins Division National title at NTDC 2025 would be one of the understatements of the year. PodWheels caught up with Miguel a few weeks after he had brought the top trophy in Twins for his first National Championship back to his home terminal in the Jacksonville area. As you’ll hear, he was still wrapped in the total joy of his experience in Minneapolis. Miguel wanted the trophy to first come to the terminal to honor his teammates and to serve as a point of inspiration for the future.

Miguel’s conversation with PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson does more than simply relive the memorable moments of the Florida State Grand Champion’s run to a National crown. What Miguel shares with Greg captures the spirit of camaraderie, family support and competition that stands at the heart of the annual NTDC competition.

Friend Of The Podcast: JoyRide Logistics is serving as our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode. JoyRide Logistics is focused on being a world-class, customer-focused business. JoyRide is driven by its people and their dedication to provide valuable solutions to meet the challenges of today’s supply chain. To learn more about JoyRide Logistics, visit JoyRideLogistics.com.

The post Florida’s Miguel Sanchez Still Savoring First NTDC Division Champions’ Crown appeared first on PodWheels.

For the next installment in our 2025 National Champions’ Series, we place Mississippi’s Stephen Johnson in the spotlight. Recorded in mid-October, Stephen reflects on the experience of winning the NTDC 2025 title in the 4-Axle Class. A veteran driver with FedEx Freight, Stephen called upon his initial experience at the Nationals in 2023 to help prepare him for success in Minneapolis this past summer. Cheered on by his wife and daughter while also enjoying the support of Team FedEx, which included 2024 National Grand Champion Jackie Reed (who is his training partner from Mississippi), Stephen put it all together to realize the dream of winning a National Championship.

Friend Of The Podcast: JoyRide Logistics is serving as our Friend of the Podcast Sponsor for this episode. JoyRide Logistics is focused on being a world-class, customer-focused business. JoyRide is driven by its people and their dedication to provide valuable solutions to meet the challenges of today’s supply chain. To learn more about JoyRide Logistics, visit JoyRideLogistics.com.

The post Mississippi’s Stephen Johnson Looks Back On His First National Title appeared first on PodWheels.

In this episode of the podcast, we will be introduced to Kate Norris, an attorney with 10 years of experience who joined the Grawe Group earlier this year. As you will hear, the bulk of Kate’s previous experience came from working in the healthcare field, and she served for the past six years in the position of general counsel. Grawe Group Founder & CEO Doug Grawe and Grawe Group Executive Business Partner Gary Randall talk with Kate about the most valued lessons she learned from her days in healthcare as well as how she is applying that experience in making the transition to the trucking industry.

Doug, Kate and Gary each address the importance of being proactive, continually learning and working to understand the business operations of clients. The conversation emphasizes the value of documentation, compliance and teamwork, while also addressing the challenges and opportunities within the trucking sector. Doug, Kate and Gary close this episode by sharing some personal insights on their favorite business adages and how those memorable quotes can be helpful in the daily operations of a business. To learn more about the Grawe Group, visit the firm’s website, TheGraweGroup.com.

The post Getting To Know Kate Norris, A New Member of the Grawe Group Team appeared first on PodWheels.