By Eugene Mulero

Chief PodWheels Correspondent

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Go to any high school in New Jersey and ask students who the best basketball player is. Most times, they’ll say Michael Jordan. Nowadays, a few kids might clarify the answer by pointing to LeBron’s longevity. 

The trucking industry, kid you not, has a similar distinction in the realm of competition. Akin to basketball superstars, in precision driving contests, the industry celebrates the best of the best, such as the Michael Jordans of the world. 

Of course (especially if you’re reading this), we’re talking about none other than the big winners at the National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships. The 88th running of the nine vehicle classes is finally here. From Aug. 20 to Aug. 23, the trucking world will focus its attention on the competitive forum that is NTDC. Minneapolis’ convention center is the current arena for battle. (Come on down and check out the fun.)

Your buddies on the official podcast of the NTDC (Greg and The Eugene), already caught up with competitors. To name drop, they included Mass.’s Richard Sweeney, Roland Bolduc (heard of him?), Gragg Wilson of Nevada who was 2023’s grand champion, Georgia grand champion and all-around-good-guy Herschel Evans and many more. We also connected with committee organizers, such as The Senator’s Rick Cates. The Senator is the recipient of the dedication of the second edition of the event’s history book. In other words, we dedicated the book to him. 

Do yourself a favor and buy a copy of the new NTDC history book–it’s available at the gift shop.

What we’re saying is, you can’t complain about not knowing the full history of NTDC when there’s a book detailing its history. You get it.

NTDC Day 1: Intro Briefing

The contest’s first day briefing, led by NTDC senior committee members Robert Foskey (chairman) and Rodney Myers (past chairman), brought together the totality of the event in one room. By that we mean, the volunteers in red vests, the 425 drivers, the organizers and support staff. The room tends to be tense, primarily for the dozens of rookies nervously awaiting next-step commands. 

However, in a moment of much needed levity, Minnesota’s trucking association president John Hausladen delivered a colloquial survival guide for the out-of-towners of the bunch. This consisted of: “hot dish,” “yeah-sure,” “it could be worse” and “you betcha.” 

As someone who grew up in Central New Jersey, I hope NTDC organizers from the Garden State don’t ever have to explain Jersey colloquial to the NTDC field, because, to put it simply, it is what it is–’naw I mean.

The briefing was followed by the course walk-through, and boy did we see drivers focus up as they studied the alley dock, fire hydrant stop and other problems. 

Anywho, the podcast pros are in the North Star State. The Greg and Eugene Show is rollin’ but without Roland ’cause he’s competing in his 20th NTDC–classic Roland. 

So, buckle up. We’re here for three more days of full-on precision driving. 

To quote our buddy Jacob, “It all comes down to this. … The nation’s most elite truck drivers are converging in Minnesota this week to see who will be crowned the Bendix Grand Champion.  This prestigious competition has a long history – dating back to 1937.  Drivers will go head-to-head in a written examination, pre-trip inspection test, and driving skills test.” 

In other words, it’s NTDC. You betcha.