Liner Notes

A veteran of State TDC competitions since 2007 who has brought home NTDC trophies in recent years, Adam Heim from FedEx Freight has established a standard of success that now includes multiple Grand Champion crowns from the state of Idaho. Adam followed up his second-place finish at NTDC 2025 in the Flatbed Division by winning his second Idaho Grand Championship in three years after earning the 2026 5-Axle Division title for the Gem State.

Joining us for his first-ever media interview, Adam recalls the encouragement he received from a co-worker during one of his first days at FedEx Freight. As he shares with us, the recommendation was for Adam to look into giving the TDCs a try. From that first TDC in 2007 when he placed ninth to the present day, Adam has never finished lower than ninth at both the state and national levels.

As you’ll hear, Adam credits his dedication to preparation, which includes his wife, Stephanie, quizzing him on Facts For Drivers and working with him on his Pre-Trip practices. Adam also notes that he’s taken much of the knowledge gained from getting ready for competition into his daily routine driving for FedEx Freight. For those starting out in competition or for veterans looking for tips on how to prepare, Adam shares a collection of valuable insights.

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 A True Gem: Adam Heim Talks About His Second Idaho Grand Championship appeared first on PodWheels.

In this Safety Matters edition of the podcast, we close out our series exploring the Seven BASICS that are part of the FMCSA’s Compliance, Safety and Accountability Enforcement Program. Reliance Partners Safety Impact Team members Mark Barlar and Daniel Vega lead us through a series of Case Studies in which they have worked with motor carriers to successfully challenge BASIC violations through the DataQ system. They will also discuss how motor carriers have implemented internal processes to improve their respective safety profiles.

In addition to providing an overview for their approach with DataQs and citing specific examples through the Case Studies they are sharing, Mark and Daniel discuss the importance of audit preparation for companies that are in Alert Status with the FMCSA. You will also hear Mark and Daniel recommend running MVRs at least twice a year to ensure CDL validity, due to the reality that automated systems do not monitor all 50 states simultaneously. This episode was originally shared on May 13th as part of the Reliance Partners live webinar series on the Seven Basics.

To learn more about Reliance Partners, please visit the company’s website by clicking here.

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Jamie Sowder from FedEx Freight was not expecting to hear his name called as the Grand Champion of the Tennessee State TDC. As Jamie shares with us in this edition of the podcast, he was thrilled to be returning to the NTDCs as Tennessee’s Flatbed Division title winner. For Jamie, the victory in Flatbed represented his third career trip to the Nationals. Jamie was last part of the NTDCs in 2023 when he claimed third place in the Flatbed Division

As Jamie tells us, the Grand Championship for the Volunteer State had never really been on his radar. After the Grand Champion announcement, the joy and the opportunity to celebrate another milestone could be traced back to 2014 when Jamie accepted the invitation of fellow FedEx driver Dave McGee, a long-time TDC competitor, to enter the Tennessee TDC. As he notes in our conversation, Jamie has continued to incorporate the training and lessons he’s learned through the TDC program into his daily work of being prepared and staying safe on the road with each mile. The attention to detail that success in the TDC often requires is the perfect mindset to take on the road.

Approaching his 20-year anniversary with FedEx Freight, Jamie is grateful for all the support he’s received over the years and the doors that have opened through participating in the TDC, including the opportunity to be a member of the Tennessee Trucking Association’s Road Team.

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.

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For this episode of the series, the SCF Highway To Hope introduces our listeners to Road Dog Care through a conversation with Bob Book, the company’s Vice President of Marketing. As you’ll hear from Bob, Road Dog Care has developed a collection of innovative products that are focused on the well-being of today’s professional drivers. From in-cab personal hygiene offerings, including body wipes and rinse-free shampoos, to items that promote wellness and pet care, Road Dog Care is working to help today’s drivers address many of their daily challenges found on the road.

SCF Health and Wellness Manager Mindy Williams, who has spent time as an OTR driver, joins PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson in talking to Bob about the origins of Road Dog Care and how the company’s lead executives, CEO Rich Fredricksen and CFO Jim Adams, collaborated to identify a number of pain points professional drivers encounter and used driver feedback in the creation of the products that they have brought to market.

Along with noting the growth of Road Dog Care and its efforts to work with truck fleets as well as direct sales from RoadDogCare.com, Bob spent some time discussing the value the company places on supporting the outreach work done by the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and other nonprofit organizations working to make a difference in the trucking industry. To learn more about SCF and you can support their important mission, please visit TruckersFund.org.

The post Driving Wellness: How Road Dog Care Helps Drivers In Meeting Key Challenges appeared first on PodWheels.

In this episode of the podcast recorded on May 15th, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson and NTDC Historian Eugene Mulero open up their reporter’s notebooks to review the State TDC Results from the first completed event in Arizona through the State Championships in North Dakota and Kentucky in early May.

Greg and Eugene spend some time reviewing the results and what they have learned as the first 11 states have completed their TDCs. You’ll hear them discuss some familiar names who have become regulars at the NTDCs over the years and you’ll also hear them highlight some newcomers as well. You’ll learn who has completed the “TDC Cycle” of vehicle division championships over their careers and you’ll also find out about the most memorable storylines Greg and Eugene have seen thus far in 2026. And, as our podcast series is approaching the milestone of 250 episodes releases, Greg and Eugene take some time to reflect on this podcasting journey and they express their gratitude and thanks to all our listeners.

You can also access all the results from the TDCs that PodWheels has compiled to date from the State Associations that have held their championships. Just click on the names of the states in the following list: Arizona (March 28), Washington (April 11), Georgia (April 23-24), South Carolina (24-25), California (April 26), Mississippi (May 1-2), Tennessee (May 1-2), Idaho (May 2), Nevada (May 2) and North Dakota (May 9).

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 Reporter’s Notebook: Looking Back At First Weeks of TDC Season appeared first on PodWheels.

One of the realities of trucking is that the industry is filled with small- and medium-sized businesses. In this episode of the Grawe Pod, we will be exploring a number of the HR challenges that trucking operations with 100 employees or less must navigate within today’s business landscape. For an instructive discussion that covers a host of timely topics, Grawe Group Founder & CEO Doug Grawe is joined on this edition of the podcast by Human Resource experts Alisha Hanson and Ashley Brandbury, the Co-Founders of Build Your Roots HR.

Alisha and Ashley take listeners inside the critical support HR consulting offers businesses under 100 employees from recruitment to compliance. They also talk to us about building internal redundancies and seamless transitions in HR functions to avoid operational disruptions as well as the challenges of multi-state employment, including legal, payroll and onboarding differences.

The discussion includes noting the importance of staying on top of changes in laws and regulations, including on the state level, citing the implementation of a Minnesota state law covering paid family leave. In the final portion of the episode, Alisha and Ashley share their perspectives on how the growing use of AI is shaping HR, noting that companies need to begin strategies and policies that can be adaptable for the business as AI continues to evolve.

In the closing moments of the episode, Alisha shares a note about the next Capacity To Lead seminar that Build Your Roots HR will be hosting on June 17th in Bayport, Minnesota. If you would like to learn more about the Capacity To Lead seminar, including how you can register to attend, please click here. To learn more about the Grawe Group, visit the firm’s website, TheGraweGroup.com.

The post Insights On Navigating The Top HR Challenges In Today’s Business Landscape appeared first on PodWheels.

Over the last few years, Darius Uible of UPS has become a familiar presence at the National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships. As the man behind the camera with the UPS Media Team at NTDC, Darius has gained a unique perspective and position of respect while covering his UPS teammates. As a competitor at the Kentucky State TDC for the past several years, Darius has dreamed of joining his teammates at the NTDCs as a State Champion.

In this episode of the podcast, Darius talks to us about how he broke through in 2026 to become a State Champion in the Flatbed division in the Kentucky TDC, while posting the best score on the driving course — even after coming up with a zero on the first two problems. As he shares with PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson, achieving the realization of what had been a seemingly unreachable dream was no easy feat. John Willinger, Kentucky’s State TDC Grand Champion during the previous three years, was once again a part of the division where Darius was competing.

As you’ll hear, Darius channeled the lessons of the past and utilized the additional training by caring teammates over the past couple of years, breaking through to join the NTDC field on the road to Pittsburgh. It’s a fun and inspiring conversation that captures the spirit of the NTDC program and what can happen when dreams and hard work come together.

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 Picture Perfect: Darius Uible Of UPS Breaks Through To NTDC With First State Title appeared first on PodWheels.

In this special episode of our series shared on Mother’s Day, we present the inspiring story of Sarah Mosley, who looks back at her fight to survive a brain cancer ordeal. These days, Sarah is standing up again to do battle with another cancer diagnosis while managing the complexities of daily life and motherhood. With our Destination for this episode being hope, PROJECT 61 Health & Wellness Manager Lindsey Bryan welcomes her friend Sarah to the podcast for an expansive and uplifting conversation. 

As you will hear, Sarah continues to find new ways to draw upon her faith and inner strength when faced with the challenges she has encountered in recent years. Sarah’s resilience and positive mindset serve as a beacon of hope for anyone facing a health crisis or even when we are called to navigate one of life’s unexpected turns.

About 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 From Chaos to Calm: Sarah Mosley’s Journey of Resilience and Hope appeared first on PodWheels.

At this year’s South Carolina State TDC, veteran Walmart driver J.B. Quarles cemented his place as a true legend within the NTDC Community. By winning the state title in the Step Van Division, J.B. completed his quest to win South Carolina State Championships in all nine vehicle classifications that make up the NTDC field. J.B.’s run of excellence now includes six straight state titles in a different division each year.

As J.B. shares with us in this extended conversation, Step Van was the remaining jewel in an unprecedented TDC crown that shines with the glow of a top professional driver who is always willing to share his knowledge to help others in the NTDC Community. As you’ll hear, J.B. didn’t even know it was possible to win the South Carolina Grand Champion while competing in the Step Van Class. And while J.B.’s performance over TDC Weekend was top flight and represented the realization of a dream years in the making, hearing his name called as the 2026 Grand Champion for South Carolina became the perfect exclamation mark for reaching an incredible milestone.

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 Goal Achieved: J.B. Quarles Step Van Title Makes Him A State Champion In All Nine Divisions appeared first on PodWheels.

In one of the five best episodes within the catalog of nearly 250 shows that we have presented in the past three years of this series, 2025 NTDC Grand Champion David Comings took some time in mid-March to have an extended conversation with Roland Bolduc, a two-time NTDC Grand Champion. Last year in Minneapolis, David and Roland finished first and second respectively in the 5-Axle Class, setting the stage for David to earn the first National Grand Championship of his career.

During this extended feature interview that begins around the 12:00 mark of the show, Roland takes David back to the journey of becoming North Dakota’s first-ever NTDC Grand Champion before placing the focus on the preparations and approach by David in his effort to return to the Nationals this summer in Pittsburgh. As you’ll hear, David, who will be competing this weekend at the North Dakota State TDC, is taking nothing for granted and he knows that getting back to the Nationals will demand that he is at his best. 

David and Roland talk about how David returned for a second consecutive year to compete at Safety Drive For A Cure, providing him with a valuable pre-season benchmark. David also notes the key contributions of his wife, Judy, who has become a bit of a coach and important sounding board during David’s practice sessions. This episode is a rare opportunity to hear two NTDC Grand Champions discuss what it takes to prepare for competition and how they approach meeting the moment. You’ll hear how David got his start in the trucking industry and how he was first introduced to the NTDC program through the TDC in North Dakota.

This conversation has a number of memorable moments and valuable observations, including the discussion that Roland and David have regarding the indelible impact that the NTDC program has made over its nearly 90-year history to promote the highest levels of safety on our nation’s roads.

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 David Comings Talks To Roland About The Road Back To Nationals appeared first on PodWheels.