By Eugene Mulero

PodWheels Chief Correspondent

MINNEAPOLIS – The greatest of all time, or GOAT (as the kids say), hung around at the National Truck Driving Championships this week. None other than Richard Gillespie, famous for winning every award NTDC has to offer (vehicle class title, special awards), again greeted drivers at the super bowl of trucking safety. 

The two-time grand champion who led Minnesota to dynastic achievements during his competitive years from the 1970s through the early 1990s, is a fixture at the summer classic. 

On Aug. 22, the PodWheels team caught up with Gillespie: “When I’m talking to a driver,  I’m just giving them good luck, I hope you do a good job.”

“It’s like you get friends in the truck driving championships. They can be from all different states and you come back here and you can renew your friendship with the other drivers, you know, you don’t have any other way to converse with them or say anything to them but they come here. And then I come here, so it’s come back, you know, Come back and see your friends,” he emphasized.

The secret, he explained: “Come here and, first of all, make sure you have a good driving record so that you can come and do a good job at the state; that you win at state and then you come here to the nationals.”

Gillespie won grand champion honors in 1988 and 1991. He also won a national title in every vehicle class during his competitive career, which concluded in 1991. A longtime NTDC volunteer, he is the recipient of the contest’s volunteer of the year award and professional excellence award. 

On Aug. 24, during an ornate awards gala – the finale for this super bowl of trucking safety – Gillespie was presented with the inaugural NTDC Lifetime Achievement Award. On stage he was greeted by NTDC Chairman Robert Foskey and members of the exclusive grand champions club (aka, Gillespie’s club). They included Bob Dolan (1990), Wayne Crowder (2004), Dale Duncan (2006, 2009), Don Logan (2012), Jeff Langenhahn (2014), Roland Bolduc (2017, 2022), Scott Woodrome (2018, 2019), Gragg Wilson (2023) and Jackie Reed (2024). 

New NTDC Champ!

In a textbook definition of burying the lede, a FedEx standout became the latest member of the exclusive Gillespie circle. On Aug. 24, David Comings of North Dakota, competing alongside Bolduc in the five-axle class, took home the Bendix Grand Champion trophy. The blue ribbon distinction made Comings the 30th man to win grand champion.

During his acceptance speech, Comings thanked his wife Judy and their children. He also pointed to the tournament’s inherent benefits, which aligned with FedEx’s: Safety above all. 

We at the official podcast of NTDC caught up with Comings earlier in the year.

During a wide-ranging interview, he offered insight about Team FedEx: “It’s truly an honor and a privilege to be a part of the team and each year connect with old friends and make new friends,” he said. “I think in my first year I made a few friends from different places and we connected and then the next year a few more came in and you just get to know more people and it’s so fun to rub shoulders with other safety-focused drivers.” 

According to background information provided by American Trucking Associations: “Comings has been a professional driver for nearly 30 years, accumulating 3.1 million safe driving miles.  He has competed three times in the North Dakota Motor Carriers Association state trucking championships and three times in the National Truck Driving Championships.  In 2022 and 2023, he took first place in North Dakota’s 4-axle category.  Last year, he took first place in North Dakota’s 5-axle category.”

Podcast: Hear David Comings’ Speech and first Grand Champion interview. Listen To Richard Gillespie share his appreciation for earning the NTDC Lifetime Achievement Award. (Click Here)

NTDC 2025 Winners

Step Van:

1.    Logan Montandon, FedEx, Texas

2.    Matthew Futral, FedEx, Georgia

3.    Connor Christensen, United Parcel Service, Inc., Illinois

Straight Truck:

1.    Mark Carver, FedEx Freight, Missouri

2.    Samuel Bryant, FedEx Freight, Tennessee

3.    Bryan Reynaud, Walmart Transportation, Mississippi

3-Axle: 

1.    Daniel Shamrell, FedEx Freight, Oregon

2.    Gary Luster, FedEx Freight, Tennessee

3.    Brent Darnell, Southeastern Freight Lines, Georgia

4-Axle:

1.    Stephen Johnson, FedEx Freight, Mississippi

2.    Jeremy Steger, XPO, Wisconsin

3.    Robert Crowder, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc., Virginia

5-Axle: 

1.    David Comings, FedEx Freight, North Dakota

2.    Roland Bolduc, FedEx, Connecticut

3.    John Willinger , FedEx Freight, Kentucky

Flatbed:

1.    Edward Hill, FedEx Freight, Delaware

2.    Adam Heim, FedEx Freight, Idaho

3.    Kenneth Rageth, FedEx Freight, Wyoming

Tank Truck:

1.    Jeff Langenhahn, XPO, Wisconsin

2.    Ernie Budlowski, XPO, Connecticut

3.    Glen Kirk, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc., Indiana

Twins:

1.    Miguel Sanchez, United Parcel Service, Inc., Florida

2.    David Mogler, FedEx Freight, Colorado

3.    David Hall, ABF Freight, Arkansas

Sleeper Berth:

1.    Merle Ashbaugh, DHL Supply Chain, Ohio

2.    Todd Flippin, FedEx Freight, Colorado

3.    Herschel Evans, Aubrey Silvey Enterprises, Inc., Georgia