Liner Notes

This edition of the podcast takes a flight out to the state of Washington to visit with XPO veteran driver Robert Dean. After earning the State Grand Champion’s crown in 2023, Robert brought home two second-place finishes in the vehicle division competition in both 2024 and 2025. Meanwhile, Robert’s cousin and fellow XPO teammate Chris Poynor has claimed back-to-back State Grand Champion titles in the Evergreen State in 2025 and this year.

As you’ll hear during our feature interview that begins at the 24:00 mark of the show, Robert talks about the importance of the training that he and Chris have done over the years as one of the keys to being always in the hunt at the State TDC. Robert also shares that he and Chris have incorporated the use of a drone to get an aerial view of their practice runs, which has helped in their efforts to sharpen their skills on the driving courses they set up.

PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson and NTDC Historian Eugene Mulero open this edition of the podcast by looking at the State TDC calendar that is happening in the early part of May. And, along with a discussion of adding drones into TDC training sessions, Greg asks Eugene to give us a brief history on the flight of the NTDC duck and how the duck has become a very popular tradition at the Nationals. 

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 XPO’s Robert Dean On His Soaring Return To NTDC With State Flatbed Title appeared first on PodWheels.

Our guest for this edition of Inside The Cab from Caltrux is Sean Duryee, the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol. CTA CEO Eric Sauer caught up with Commissioner Duryee during the first quarter of 2026, and Eric was able to ask questions on some high-profile topics for trucking operations in California.

As you will hear, Commissioner Duryee talks to Eric about cargo theft as well as what’s happening with English Language Proficiency enforcement. Commissioner Duryee also discusses the educational opportunities the CHP has developed for California trucking companies to engage, learn and create an ongoing dialogue with law enforcement. For the latest on what’s happening with the California Trucking Association, visit Caltrux.org.

The post An Insightful Conversation With CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee appeared first on PodWheels.

Over the past 17 years, Ramon Guzman of FedEx Freight and Mike Middleton of Old Dominion Freight Lines have become the very definition of why the National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships stand as the longest running safety program in the history of trucking. While they have each dreamed of competing at the nationals (Ramon earned a spot at NTDC 2025 as California’s Flatbed Champion after 17 years between titles), the most important numbers they have put on the board during their careers are safe miles and the ability to participate in their State TDCs year after year.

In this episode of the podcast, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson shares his interviews with Mike and Ramon that were recorded in March onsite during Safety Drive For A Cure 2026 in Atlanta. You’ll have the opportunity to hear the dedication to safety that is held firmly by Mike and Ramon, and they each talk about what brings them back ready to go into TDC Season year after year. A Captain with America’s Road Team, Mike considers it a privilege just to compete each year in Tennessee’s TDC. Ramon, meanwhile, had an opportunity to experience an international truck driving competition when he traveled to an event in Ireland last year. As he looks ahead to the fall, Ramon is exploring another international driving championship in Europe.

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 Middleton and Guzman: Definitions of TDC Spirit and Dedication To Safety appeared first on PodWheels.

March and April have been a busy time for the SCF Team. We will get caught up on the SCF news, and we’ll also get you ready for SCF’s Heart & Sole Virtual 5K Fundraiser that the organization will be hosting in early May. SCF Executive Director Courtney Niemann joins the show to recap the SCF Team’s success at the Mid-America Trucking Show with over $10,000 in donations coming to SCF during MATS 2026. Courtney also introduces us to Mindy Williams, who recently joined SCF as the organization’s Health & Wellness Manager.

When we welcome Mindy into the conversation at the 8:38 mark of the episode, you will hear about her career highlights, which includes earning her CDL and time behind the wheel driving in a team setting with her husband, who is a veteran of the trucking industry. As you will hear, Mindy is looking forward to furthering the strong tradition of health and wellness programs that have been established by SCF.

Our April episode closes with some notes on the upcoming Heart & Sole Virtual 5K Fundraiser. The event will be running May 3-9. You can join in by signing up by clicking here.

The post SCF Welcomes Mindy Williams To Team; Set For May’s Virtual 5K Fundraiser appeared first on PodWheels.

When veteran Frito Lay driver Tony Johnson heard his name announced as the Grand Champion at the Georgia State TDC Banquet on April 24th, he admittedly did a double take. Tony was still basking in the glow of winning back-to-back state titles in 5-Axle. He knew that he had punched his ticket to the NTDCs for the third time in the last four years. Being Georgia’s Grand Champion was not something that was on his radar. As you’ll hear, Tony felt a bit like a lottery winner when his name was called as the recipient of the Guy Young Award, which is presented to the Grand Champion of Georgia.

In this episode of the podcast recorded less than 48 hours following his State TDC victories, Tony shares his initial thoughts and emotions about his performance on the course, in pre-trip and the written test. He also talks about how examining his experience in previous years at Nationals in the State helped him prepare, allowing him to approach the course in what became a more effective manner this year. Tony hopes to ride the momentum from the State TDC, along with more hard work and a Top 15 showing in last year’s Nationals, as part of his effort to reach the 5-Axle runoff and beyond at 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 Just Peachy: Frito Lay’s Tony Johnson Wins 1st State Grand Champion Title appeared first on PodWheels.

Veteran UPS driver Nate Voss carried a sense of purpose and determination into the Arizona TDC in Tempe on March 28th. Having qualified for the Nationals as a State Champion in 2024 and then finishing second in the Arizona TDC in 2025, Nate knew what it was like to be part of the NTDCs and what it felt like to have to wait until next year.

When Nate heard his name called as the 2026 5-Axle Arizona TDC Champ, there was no doubt a feeling of both joy and relief. Now, as you’ll hear during our feature interview in this episode, Nate’s expectations on a day where everything came together for him did not include hearing his name announced as the 2026 Arizona State Grand Champion. Nate looks back on his big day and earning his first career State GC title during a fun conversation with Darius Uible, a fellow TDC participant and UPS teammate who competes out of Kentucky.

PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson and NTDC Historian Eugene Mulero take some time in the opening of the show to recognize Dale Brenaman, the 2018 National Champion in Straight Truck, who has served as an inspiration and a mentor for an endless number of his UPS teammates. Dale hung up his keys for the final time this week, calling it a career and beginning his retirement.

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 Spotlighting Arizona State Grand Champion Nate Voss and Team UPS appeared first on PodWheels.

Through this Safety Matters edition of the podcast, we highlight Haz-Mat Compliance as we continue our series exploring the Seven BASICS that are a part of FMCSA’s Compliance, Safety and Accountability Enforcement Program. Mark Barlar and Daniel Vega from the Reliance Partners Safety Impact Team return to the podcast to serve as our subject-matter experts. As you will hear, Mark and Daniel will provide insights on what qualifies as a hazardous load and how to properly identify a haz-mat load. They will also tell us about the top violations found during hazardous materials inspections and how to prevent them. In addition, Mark and Daniel have a collection of helpful pointers that they will share on a number of considerations related to haz-mat cargo.

Thom Albrecht, the Chief Revenue Officer at Reliance Partners, will serve as the host for this episode of the podcast and he will serve as the moderator of the discussion. This presentation was originally shared on April 14th as part of the Reliance Partners live webinar series on the Seven BASICS. 

SIGN UP FOR MAY’S LIVE WEBINAR: Reliance Partners will be closing out our series on the Seven BASICS with a webinar on May 13th at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The next Safety Matters Webinar will feature a series of Case Studies related to the Seven BASICS, and the discussion will highlight specific situations where the Reliance Safety Impact Team has helped clients navigate various challenges related to CSA Scores. You can register for the Reliance Partners’ May 13th webinar by clicking here.

The post Understanding The Haz-Mat BASIC: Key Insights for Carriers and Brokers appeared first on PodWheels.

With our first State Grand Champion interview of 2026, the podcast heads west to the Evergreen State to talk with XPO’s Chris Poynor, who won the top title in the Washington Trucking Associations’ TDC. Chris has now gone back-to-back in earning the state’s Grand Championship and this year’s crown represents his fifth career State GC. 

Chris, a two-time National Champion in Twins, qualified for his 11th NTDC by winning Washington’s 3-Axle title. NTDC Historian Eugene Mulero interviewed Chris a few days following his big day at the Washington TDC. In fact, the interview took place on the morning of Chris’ actual birthday. As you’ll hear, the opportunity to compete for a spot in the Nationals never gets old for Chris, who values safety with every mile he drives.

Following the interview with Chris, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson takes some time to thank our listeners for the tremendous growth the podcast has seen during the first quarter of 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 Celebrating Chris Poynor’s Repeat As State Grand Champ appeared first on PodWheels.

Wendy Greenland, the CEO of Openforce, joins the podcast for a thought-provoking  discussion that explores AI’s growing impact on transportation technology and some of the key challenges trucking and logistics companies face when navigating the complex landscape of independent contractor management. Grawe Group Founder & CEO Doug Grawe leads the conversation that also takes us through Wendy’s career path, which brought her from being a telecommunications entrepreneur to working in transportation, eventually being called to senior leadership positions with Openforce, an industry-leading provider Independent Contractor compliance, insurance and payments.

In their discussion of evaluating and implementing technologies within the Age of AI, Wendy notes the value of utilizing Horizon One, Two and Three with strategic decision-making and technology adoption. Wendy talks about the importance of understanding how to leverage what’s happening today while also being able to springboard to the future horizon.

While walking listeners through the work that Openforce does with Independent Contractors and companies working with ICs, Wendy and Doug discussed being focused on helping people who want to be independent, keep their independence. Wendy also provides some valuable tips related to building trust and discipline within a leadership team while also establishing clear objectives for your team. In addition, she offers a few best practices for evaluating and selecting long-term technology partners. To learn more about the Grawe Group, visit the firm’s website, TheGraweGroup.com.

The post Openforce CEO Wendy Greenland Looks At Technology And Future Of Independent Contractor Management appeared first on PodWheels.

For the past five years, Abigail Potter has overseen the planning and onsite event coordination for the Washington State Truck Driving Championships. As the Director of Safety and Compliance for the Washington Trucking Associations, Abigail views the Evergreen State’s TDC as one of the most important dates on her calendar. Having started her career in trucking with the American Trucking Associations after working in the nation’s capitol as a staff member for two U.S. Senators, Abigail values the opportunity to spend time with professional drivers, learning about their lives on the road and the challenges they face.

As you will hear in this episode of the podcast, Abigail has the highest level of respect for the men and women behind the wheel who are working to move the nation’s economy. As part of that respect, she is always looking for ways to make each year’s Washington State TDC better than the previous one. PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson caught up with Abigail just four days after the WTA had crowned its state champions, putting the 2026 TDC in the books.

During this in-depth conversation, Abigail takes listeners “behind the cones” for a look at the effort that goes into successfully hosting the WTA’s TDC, including what she has learned through the years. Greg also talks to Abigail about the experiences she gained while at ATA and how she has approached working in her role with the Washington Trucking Associations. As she shares with our listeners, the perspective and feedback that professional drivers provide, especially during the State TDC, have become invaluable to Abigail in role at the WTA.

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 Going ‘Behind The Cones’ At Washington’s State TDC appeared first on PodWheels.