At The Top

A PodWheels Column

Hi Folks. We’re approaching late February. For many of us, it’s pretty darn cold outside. We’ve binged Netflix. New movies have been hit-or-miss. And we catch ourselves walking around our living rooms waiting for spring to arrive. So, what do we do; we wait. And wait. And – GET READY FOR NTDC.

If you’re reading my “At The Top” column (named after Zig Ziglar’s catchphrase: “I’ll see you at the top”), there’s a 99% chance you’re planning on going to the National Truck Driving Championships this summer. And, if you have to qualify to get there, now — as in literally right now — is the perfect time to prepare. 

Bust open the Facts for Drivers, study competition film archived on the YouTubes. Hit that training course at your hub, or corral, or warehouse, or wherever you practice. What you do now, will affect your performance at the state qualifier. Don’t delay—if you haven’t already, begin your NTDC readying journey today. 

NTDC Chief of Staff

Here, at the “At The Top” column HQs (that’s short for “headquarters”), we recently connected with NTDC’s principal organizer and good friend of the NTDC podcast Jacob Pierce. The NTDC organizing committee, led this year by chairman Heath Arnold, and complemented by in-house historian Rick “The Senator” Cates, met this month at the upcoming 2026 NTDC venue in Pittsburgh. 

From Pierce’s recap of what is termed as the winter meeting, “The group is excited to return to Pittsburgh, a city that has hosted many outstanding championships over the years. The focus of the visit was holding another excellent competition for the competing drivers and their families this August.”

“The committee,” Pierce continued, “reviewed the layout of the building, discussed driver feedback from the 2025 survey, and made several small adjustments aimed at improving the overall driver experience.”

Key updates this year include: extending driver course walkthrough time from 8 minutes to 10 minutes; increasing the 5-axle class pre-trip time from 8 minutes to 9 minutes.

“These updates,” Pierce explained, “show the committee’s ongoing focus to improve the [NTDC] experience and deliver another top-notch event.” Friendly reminder, Pierce is co-author of NTDC’s history books, with this author—in the biz, that’s referred to as a shameless plug.

That’s all for this week. Hit me up with updates and/or to say ‘hi” at [email protected]. And remember, “I’ll see you at the top.”