As we release the 78th episode of our series this year, we are on the eve of Finals Friday, the day all the State Champions are honored and the National Championships will be decided. One of the most personal parts of Championship morning is watching all the State Champions go through a long receiving line that includes all of the members of the NTDC National Committee and other gathered dignitaries. Each State Champion shakes the hand of all the committee members and the dignitaries before receiving their 2026 NTDC belt buckle.

Rick Cates is a Lifetime Member of the NTDC Committee who has been a constant presence, staying involved with the National Championships for more than 50 years. Prior to NTDC 2026, Rick announced that he would be stepping back and, while maintaining his lifetime position as a committee member, he would be retiring from his active role in the NTDC program. On Championship Friday, Rick will once again be in the NTDC receiving line congratulating each of the 429 State Champions and all the law enforcement officials participating in the North American Inspectors Challenge on all they have accomplished. Each handshake will be a moment of thanks and praise.

In that same spirit of gratitude for his service, PodWheels talked to Rick a few weeks prior to the start of NTDC 2026, and we held this special episode honoring the man known as the “Senator of NTDC” until we reached the eve of Championship Day. During his conversation with PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson, Rick looks back at his years in trucking and the decades he devoted to NTDC. From all of us at PodWheels, Thank you Senator Cates for your service to the NTDC and for your countless contributions to the trucking industry.

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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