Featured Archives | PodWheels

Cedar Abadie, the founder of Iron Resolution Services, is our featured guest on the Grawe Pod as we discuss a host of timely topics, including nuclear verdicts, the growing role of mediation and the increased liability that brokers have with the capacity they utilize. Grawe Group Founder and CEO Doug Grawe is your host for a very interesting conversation with Cedar as two highly experienced transportation attorneys take a look at the challenges that carriers and trucking company decision makers face in these evolving times.

As you will hear, Doug and Cedar will open the podcast by discussing the recent ruling by the Texas Supreme Court that reversed the $100 million verdict against Werner Enterprises and the potential impacts related to nuclear verdicts. Doug also talks with Cedar about how she’s worked to build her practice at Iron Resolution Services to focus on mediation and how mediation is becoming a valuable mechanism for defendants and plaintiffs in the trucking industry.

From what Cedar shares with listeners, mediation can create a path for both plaintiffs and defendants to mitigate the emotional and financial costs of what, in many situations, can become long legal battles. In their conversation, Doug and Cedar discuss the mediation process, common mistakes made by parties and the importance of communication in achieving resolutions. Cedar also shares her unique approach to mediation, emphasizing the need for understanding the human element in catastrophic loss cases.

To learn more about Iron Resolution Services, visit IronResolutionSvcs.com. To learn more about the Grawe Group, visit the firm’s website, TheGraweGroup.com.

The post Discussing Latest Nuclear Verdict News & Growing Role Of Mediation In Catastrophic Cases appeared first on PodWheels.

Miguel Sanchez of UPS believes in preparation. Like countless professional drivers on the road today, Miguel stays prepared for the unexpected. In the hours before the Florida Trucking Association held its awards dinner for this year’s Sunshine State Truck Driving Championships, Miguel considered the possibility of winning the Grand Championship. He took a few minutes to be prepared for the unexpected by making some notes for a just-in-case speech.

As you will hear in this edition of the podcast, Miguel’s preparation for a crowning moment at the awards ceremony proved to be a wise use of his time when he heard his name called as Florida’s Grand Champion. During our interview with Miguel, you will also hear the story of how he first met 2025 NTDC Organizing Committee Chairman Robert Foskey a few years ago. Miguel shares how an opportunity that Bob offered to him at the UPS facility in Jacksonville changed the course of Miguel’s career.

The post Florida Grand Champion Miguel Sanchez Dedicated To Staying Prepared appeared first on PodWheels.

In early June, Ritch Fundell brought home his fifth Grand Championship for the state of Illinois. One of the many people in the crowd cheering Ritch as he won the Tanker Class Championship en route to the day’s top trophy was his son, who had driven five hours from Iowa State to support his Dad at the competition. In this episode of the podcast, we spend some time talking to Ritch about the support he has received over the years from his family and we also talk about his dedication to safety, which, as he notes, makes it possible for Ritch to compete year after year in the Illinois TDC. Ritch’s victory in the Tanker Class in 2025 stands as his eighth State TDC title.

The post Family Support Helps To Fuel Ritch Fundell’s Continued Excellence appeared first on PodWheels.

What goes into developing the driving courses for the National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships? During this episode of the podcast, we asked that question and touched on a number of related topics with Frank Ems, the member of the NTDC 2025 Organizing Committee who has headed up the course design at the national championships for the past few years. In this extensive interview, you will hear how Frank got involved with the TDCs as a competitor and, most importantly, how he developed a passion for working with his committee to design driving courses that put the skills of NTDC competitors to the test.

The post National Championship Driving Course Design: NTDC 2025 Committee Member Frank Ems Takes Us Inside appeared first on PodWheels.

In the days prior to winning what would be his 7th career Rhode Island State TDC Grand Championship, Joe Hicks of XPO was being honored on the floor of the Rhode Island State House. Joe heard a proclamation from the Rhode Island Speaker of the House being read to commemorate his National Championship victory in 4-Axle at NTDC 2024.

Alongside Joe at the State Capitol that day was his XPO Service Center Manager Al D’Angelo, who also serves as the Chairman of the Rhode Island Trucking Association. Joining Joe and Al for the ceremony was Chris Maxwell, who is the President and CEO of the Rhode Island Trucking Association. Joe then followed up his big day at the capitol by taking home a State TDC Championship in 4-Axle en route to another State Grand Champion title.

In this episode of the podcast, PodWheels caught up with Chris and Al to take some time to look back at Joe’s big moment at the State House as part of reflecting upon Rhode Island’s experience during the Tri-State Truck Driving Championships.

The post ‘Rhode Warriors’ Chris Maxwell And Al D’Angelo Celebrate Joe Hicks In TDC Look Back appeared first on PodWheels.

Would your trucking company be prepared if the Federal Motor Carrier Administration notified you that FMCSA would be conducting an audit of your operation? In this episode of the podcast, Mark Barlar and Daniel Vega from the Reliance Partners Safety Impact Team offer a collection of helpful insights on preparing for and surviving an audit by FMCSA. Reliance Partners Chief Revenue Officer Thom Albrecht serves as the host and moderator of a conversation that allows both Mark and Daniel to call upon their experience as commercial vehicle enforcement officers before they each joined the Reliance Team.

As you will hear, Mark and Daniel note the importance of how understanding the audit process is crucial for compliance. They also explore the factors that auditors consider during an audit, including the significance of acute and critical violations, and how these can impact a motor carrier’s safety rating. Mark and Daniel take time during this episode to discuss the importance of mock audits as part of maintaining compliance and being prepared in case of an audit by FMCSA.

Through this episode of the podcast, originally broadcast as a live webinar by Reliance Partners, we’ll share an update with you on the enforcement of the English language proficiency requirements for CDL and non-CDL drivers, which was in the early stages of implementation at the time of the recording. In this part of the discussion, Mark and Daniel address the current trends in ELP enforcement and the challenges faced by drivers with language barriers, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to ensure compliance and safety on our roads.

Trucking Matters is a production of Reliance Partners in collaboration with PodWheels. To learn more about Reliance Partners, please visit ReliancePartners.com.

The post Providing Essential Insights For Surviving FMCSA Audits appeared first on PodWheels.

Rigs Without Cigs holds the distinction of being the first health and wellness program created by the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund. Over the years, SCF has helped nearly 1,000 professional drivers put out smoking for good and kick the habit. In this episode of the podcast hosted by SCF Health & Wellness Manager Lindsey Bryan, we’ll go inside the Rigs With Cigs Program while sharing the inspiring story of Kevin Hightower.

As you will hear, Kevin took full advantage of his opportunity in the trucking industry to change the direction of his life and, in discovering the Health & Wellness programs from SCF, Kevin found a very effective route that allowed him to put down cigarettes as well as improve his overall health. In addition to hearing Kevin’s personal journey that took him from homelessness to becoming a successful truck driver, you will learn the key role that SCF played in Kevin’s drive toward better health. As we discuss, SCF focuses on creating a community of support, celebrating small victories while offering various resources designed to promote health and wellness among truck drivers. If you would like to connect with SCF to learn about their programs or make a donation, please visit TruckersFund.org.

The post Rigs Without Cigs: Kevin Hightower’s Inspiring Journey to Quit Smoking appeared first on PodWheels.

The Eighth Annual Modernization of Cross Border Trade Conference, which is hosted by Reliance Partners, took place in mid-June and it offered a number of valuable insights on what’s happening with cross-border trade between the U.S. and Mexico. Mark Vickers, the Executive Vice President of International Operations for Reliance Partners, started the conference eight years ago and he has championed its growth and evolution through the years.

For this episode, Trucking Matters host Thom Albrecht, the Chief Revenue Officer of Reliance Partners, spent some time with Mark looking back at the eighth edition of the conference. As you’ll hear, the great conversation between Thom and Mark explores the growth of the event, the types of companies that attend, the impact of political changes on trade, and the importance of infrastructure investment. The conversation also covers regulatory changes, challenges related to cargo theft, and the future of cross-border trade, including innovations like the Green Bridge project. Trucking Matters is a production of Reliance Partners in collaboration with PodWheels. To learn more about Reliance Partners, please visit ReliancePartners.com.

The post Conference Recap: Insights On What’s Happening With Cross-Border Trade appeared first on PodWheels.

Recorded on June 20 when the start of NTDC 2025 was just 60 days away, this episode of the podcast gave us the opportunity to catch up with Bob Foskey, who is serving as the Chairman of the Organizing Committee for NTDC 2025. We talked with Bob on a range of topics, including the planning and preparation for welcoming the competitors, their families, friends and fans of the event to what has become a true celebration of safety by the trucking industry. You will also hear Bob discuss how he is able to call upon his experience as a State Champion in Florida and his experience at NTDC 2011, incorporating that perspective into the work he is currently doing as Chairman of this year’s Organizing Committee.

The post NTDC 2025 Organizing Committee Chair Bob Foskey Ready For Final Countdown appeared first on PodWheels.

Ramon Guzman of FedEx Freight has become a fixture at the California Truck Driving Championships and he is a true testament to perseverance. Until breaking through in 2025 winning the title in the Flatbed Division, Ramon had claimed his first and only state championship 17 years ago. Yet, in always returning to the TDCs in California, which has regional competition to qualify for state finals, Ramon maintained an excellent safe driving record and a positive attitude, thinking each year could be his year. In 2025, it all came together for Ramon and he heard his name called as a State Champion and a qualifier for the NTDC 2025 field. As you’ll hear in this episode of the podcast, what will make his trip on the Road To Minneapolis even more special is the fact that Ramon will be celebrating his 70th birthday just days prior to the start of NTDC 2025.

The post Picture Perfect Early Birthday Gift: Ramon Guzman Returning To Nationals appeared first on PodWheels.