Liner Notes

As we prepare to enter the heart of State TDC Season, our podcast takes some time to go inside our interview vault to highlight 12 of the conversations that NTDC Historian Eugene Mulero had with drivers who made it to the championship runoffs at NTDC 2025. With practice and study sessions happening in the remaining 47 states preparing to hold State TDCs during the 2026 season, we thought it might serve as a bit of inspiration to look back at the first thoughts from members of last year’s field who earned a place in the NTDC Championship round.

During this edition of the podcast, you will hear the instant reaction from 12 of the “Top Guns” as they exited the truck and the finals course after their respective run. The “At The Top” moments shared in this episode will feature the following finalists: Andy Bryant (Straight Truck), Mark Carver (Straight Truck), Connor Christensen (Step Van), Terry Covey (Tanker), Eric Davidson (Step Van), Eric Flick (Sleeper), Chris Flippin (Twins), Matt Futral (Step Van), Nick Gaudette (Flatbed), Edward Hill (Flatbed), Gary Luster (3-Axle) and Chad Rudesill (3-Axle).

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 Some Championship Perspectives With TDC Season Preparing To Ramp Up appeared first on PodWheels.

How do you earn a State TDC Championship in multiple vehicle classes and qualify for the Nationals over seven straight NTDCs dating back to 2017? For Old Dominion Freight Line’s Glen “Captain” Kirk, the first step toward winning consecutive state championships and competing for national championships begins with the belief that he will succeed.

PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson spent some time in mid-March with Glen at the 15th edition of Safety Drive For A Cure, the NTDC-style charity event that has raised nearly $500,000 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation over its history. In addition to discussing his approach to preparing for competition and talking about his run to the 3-Axle National Title in 2017 during his first trip to the NTDCs, Glen shares the experience of being called to serve on America’s Road Team. As you’ll hear, Glen cherishes the opportunities he had to be an ambassador for the industry while truly becoming Trucking’s Captain Kirk. 

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 Ready For Your TDC? Positive Mindset Remains A Key For Trucking’s Captain Kirk appeared first on PodWheels.

In this episode, we get to spend some time with Jason Damron, who finished second in 5-Axle at the 2025 Kansas State TDC after qualifying for the 2024’s Nationals in Indianapolis. As you’ll hear, Jason was just two points away from Eric Moss’ total earned as the Kansas 5-Axle Champion. Rather than dwelling on the would’ve, could’ve and should’ve’s from his day at the State TDC, Jason began looking at the next step in what he could learn and give back to the NTDC Community.

With our conversation, Jason tells us how he reached out to the NTDC Committee Organizers and became a volunteer at NTDC 2025 in Minneapolis. We also talked with Jason about being called to serve as a Captain on America’s Road, with his selection happening in January. Recorded onsite at Safety Drive For A Cure 2026, Jason discusses his experience of what it means to him to be a part of the Organizing Committee for Safety Drive, the NTDC-style charity event that has raised a record $75,548 so far during its 2026 run. This year edition of Safety Drive featured more than 250 professional drivers from across the country participating in the Atlanta-based event. 

SAFETY DRIVE is still accepting donations as the event’s organizers, volunteers and participants continue to work to drive their all-time fundraising total over the past 15 years to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation to the $500,000 mark. If you would like to make a donation to Safety Drive, please click 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 Jason Damron Embraces Opportunities To Learn and Serve With NTDC appeared first on PodWheels.

One of the more frequent requests from our listeners in the past few weeks has centered around taking you behind the scenes of the State TDCs. As part of honoring our listener feedback, we caught up with Emily Crane, the Vice President of Safety and Engagement for the Georgia Trucking Association. Now in her second year as a member of the NTDC Organizing Committee, Emily is the go-to person for any question related to the Georgia TDC. So, as we enter the final countdown to the Peach State’s NTDC qualifying competition on April 23-24, we talked with Emily about the planning, the attention to detail and all the considerations that have to be addressed to be ready for a State TDC.

We also took the opportunity to ask Emily to look back at last month’s Safety Drive For A Cure, the annual charity event featuring an NTDC-style competition where she serves on the Organizing Committee. The months of March and April have been extremely busy for Emily. In between Safety Drive and the final preparations for the Georgia TDC, Emily was in Oklahoma City to attend the ATA’s 2026 Safety, Security & Human Resources National Conference. As you’ll hear from our conversation on this episode of the podcast, Emily has a true passion for programs that promote safety excellence, and she has the highest level of admiration for professional drivers and the mile-by-mile work they do in moving the American economy.

INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING AT GEORGIA’S TDC? As Emily shared in this episode, she has set up an online sign-up sheet for anyone interested in serving as a volunteer at Georgia’s State TDC. There’s no experience necessary. The GTA Team can provide onsite training and you’ll be ready to roll. To learn more and to sign up, please click here.

SAFETY DRIVE is still accepting donations as the event’s organizers, volunteers and participants continue to work to drive their all-time fundraising total over the past 15 years to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation to the $500,000 mark. If you would like to make a donation to Safety Drive, please click here.

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 How Do Event Organizers Prepare For A State TDC? appeared first on PodWheels.

For this Borderless Coverage edition of Trucking Matters, you’ll meet Mitch Carlson, who is the CEO of Green Corridors International. Mitch will be taking us inside how Green Corridors is working to transform cross-border freight movement. As he shares on the podcast, Green Corridors is taking an approach with innovative, autonomous shuttle systems designed to address congestion, security and efficiency issues in one of the busiest trade ports for the United States.

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. Mark uses part of a very interesting conversation to have Mitch look back on his long and distinguished career that began in the oil and gas industry. The holder of several patents, Mitch co-founded and served as CEO of Intelligent Wellhead System which disrupted the oil and gas industry on a global scale by melding advanced technology, data aggregation, automation and pressure control systems.

As they discuss the game-changing approach that Green Corridors is bringing to the cross-border market, Mark and Mitch talk about some of the pain points that Green Corridors is seeking to address, including removing delays, reducing emissions and improving driver quality of life. As you will hear, Green Corridors will be serving as a sponsor during this June’s 9th Annual Modernization of Cross-Border Trade Conference, developed by Borderless Coverage and hosted by Reliance Partners. Mark and Mitch note the panel discussion that will be led by members of the Green Corridors leadership team.

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.

COMING THIS JUNE: The 9th Annual Modernization of Cross-Border Trade Conference will take place on June 9th in Laredo, Texas. To learn more about how to register for the conference or how your company can become a sponsor at MCBT 2026, please click here.

The post Green Corridors’ Vision for the Laredo-Monterrey Corridor Seeks To Revolutionize Cross-Border Logistics appeared first on PodWheels.

Our podcast series opens up our vault to share a previously unreleased Rollin’ With Roland interview that two-time NTDC Grand Champion Roland Bolduc did in 2025 with Jim Wilcox. A regular as a competitor at NTDC with multiple State Championships to his credit, Jim earned the Professional Excellence Award in 1994 before he transitioned to serve as a long-time volunteer at NTDC following his retirement as a driver in 2010. Excelling in his service to others at NTDC over the years, Jim earned the Volunteer of the Year at the Nationals in 2018.

As you will hear over the course of this conversation between two good friends, Roland looks back on Jim’s career in trucking, which was highlighted by Jim’s selection to America’s Road Team in 1990 and earning the honor of becoming a TA Citizen Driver of the Year in 2017. The Jim Wilcox Travel Center remains a fixture to this day in Albuquerque. Now retired and spending a great deal of time with his grandchildren, Jim fondly remembers the importance the TDC and NTDC programs meant to him and how striving to be involved in the competition continues to inspire professional drivers to be at their best at all times.

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 Roland Rolls Back The Clock To Spotlight NTDC Award Winner Jim Wilcox appeared first on PodWheels.

The countdown has begun to the 9th Annual Modernization of Cross-Border Trade Conference, which will take place on June 9th in Laredo, Texas. Initially developed by Borderless Coverage and hosted by Reliance Partners, the MCBT Conference is one of the most anticipated annual forums for cross-border collaboration, serving as a powerful platform for logistics professionals, customs brokers, technology innovators and capacity providers to come together and exchange actionable insight.

For this episode of the podcast, Mark Vickers provides us with a preview of MCBT 2026 while also looking back at the evolution and growth of the event from its humble beginnings. Mark is the Founder of Borderless Coverage and he serves as an Executive Vice President and the Head of International Logistics for Reliance Partners.

In addition to noting some of the panel discussion topics and activities for the attendees, Mark provides our listeners with some valuable insights on timely cross-border topics, including the impact of USMCA renegotiation, tariffs and policies related to US-Mexico trade dynamics. Mark also offers perspectives on the role of cargo insurance, compliance and risk management in cross-border operations. The host for this episode of the podcast is Thom Albrecht, who is the Chief Revenue Officer at Reliance Partners. Thom and Mark cover a wide range of topics will be of interest to anyone involved in U.S.-Mexico trade and cross-border logistics.

To learn more about how to register for the 9th Annual Modernization of Cross-Border Trade Conference or how your company can become a sponsor at MCBT 2026, please click here.

The post This June’s Modernization of Cross-Border Trade Conference Poised To Deliver Timely Insights appeared first on PodWheels.

David Crocker, the 2025 Tanker Champ from the state of Maine, already knew the importance of striving for excellence even before he began his professional driving career or first attempted to compete at a State TDC. Prior to entering the trucking industry, David had to meet the challenge of providing the perfect finish on custom-made guitars for a list of clients who included Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members Carlos Santana, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Paul McCartney.

At the 14:42 mark of this episode, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson welcomes David back to the podcast to talk about the career David mastered before getting behind the wheel, looking back at the days when he handled the custom finishing work during a decade with Paul Reed Smith Guitars in Maryland. David, as he shares during the interview, earned the assignment of placing custom paint designs on guitars, including instruments  from some of the greatest recording artists in music history.

As you’ll hear, Greg talks to David about how he has taken the skills he developed in the precision work he did in crafting the final look of a special guitar to what David does on the road as well as the driving course. This May, David will be seeking to make an encore appearance at the NTDCs after making it to Nationals for the first time in 2025.

This super-sized edition of the podcast includes a fun discussion at the 49:00 minute mark with an initial look at the results from the TDC in Arizona. NTDC Historian Eugene Mulero joins Greg to run through the list of the first-in-the-nation qualifiers for NTDC 2026. 

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 Maine’s David Crocker Hits The Note On and Off The Driving Course appeared first on PodWheels.

The Driver Fitness BASIC will be in the spotlight during this Safety Matters edition of our series. Mark Barlar and Daniel Vega from the Reliance Partners Safety Impact Team return to the podcast to serve as our subject-matter experts as we continue our series on the Seven BASIC that are part of the FMCSA’s Compliance, Safety and Accountability Enforcement Program.

During this edition of our series, Mark and Daniel will go over how to keep Driver Qualification files (DQ files) up to date as well as where carriers get it wrong with DQs. They will also discuss the latest on medical card requirements and ways to ensure that a fleet’s drivers are physically and mentally able to operate trucks safely. In addition to looking at driver fitness topics that include medical certificates and compliance challenges, we’ll also spend some time addressing the latest related to what’s happening with English Language Proficiency and Delilah’s Law.

Thom Albrecht, the Chief Revenue Officer at Reliance Partners, is your host for this episode of the podcast and he will serve as the moderator of the discussion. This presentation was originally shared on March 19th as part of the Reliance Partners live webinar series on the Seven BASIC.

SIGN UP FOR APRIL’’S LIVE WEBINAR: Reliance Partners will be holding its next live webinar covering the Seven BASICS Series on Tuesday, April 14th at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The April webinar will feature a discussion of the Haz-Mat Compliance BASIC. You can register for the Reliance Partners’ April 14th webinar by clicking here.

The post Safety Impact Team Explores The Key Points Of The Driver Fitness BASIC appeared first on PodWheels.

With 55 years of contributions and dedication to NTDC, Rick Cates has become a fountain of knowledge, a go-to person and a true institution with the National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships. Rick is so well respected within the NTDC Community and across the trucking industry that he has been given the honorary title of “The Senator.”

In this episode of the podcast, NTDC Historian Eugene Mulero talks with Rick as he shares the news that, following the conclusion of NTDC 2026 in Pittsburgh, Rick will be retiring from his duties on the NTDC Organizing Committee. Eugene looks back with Rick on his five-plus decades in the trucking industry and his long relationship with NTDC that spans a little bit more than half of the Championships’ 89-year history.

Rick reflects on the countless friendships he has built through NTDC and he takes us behind the scenes recalling the role he’s played over the years as part of the group talking to the finalists before the runoff on NTDC’s Championship Morning.

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 Legend Rick Cates Announces Retirement Plans Following NTDC 2026 appeared first on PodWheels.