In our first-ever video edition of the NTDC 2025 Podcast from PodWheels, we talk with California Trucking Association CEO Eric Sauer about his state’s Truck Driving Championships, which included a regional competition and concluded with the finals during the last weekend in April. As part of our series of episodes where we check in with state associations around the country, PodWheels made an outreach to the CTA Team

During our initial discussions with Matt Bryant, who handles Marketing & Communications for CTA, we learned that Matt is an experienced video producer and he had a camera onsite to both of California’s regional events. Matt also had his camera in hand during the Championship round. Along with some great shots from the ground, Matt was able to put his camera on a drone and  capture some wonderful aerial footage. Matt was very gracious in sharing the video he shot onsite, and Matt’s work inspired our PodWheels Team build a video edition of our NTDC 2025 Podcast series.

Our PodWheels Team was able to incorporate some of Matt’s excellent videography into the interview that PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson did with Eric in the latter part of June. The interview provided Eric with the opportunity to look back at the event and what it means for promoting safety and highlighting the work of professional drivers.

One of the highlights of the video, and one of the main reasons PodWheels put this production together, features Eric serving as a field reporter.  As you’ll see, Eric had a chance to do some interviews with a few of the volunteers and attendees. It was a fun look back at the largest State TDC in the nation with more than 1,000 competitors entering the regionals with hopes of qualifying for a spot in the CTA State Championships.

PodWheels would like to take this opportunity to thank Eric Sauer, Matt Bryant and the entire California Trucking Association Team for sharing the video that they captured during the both the regionals and the championship rounds of the Golden State’s TDC. We hope you’ll enjoy the onsite coverage and the conversation.