With 55 years of contributions and dedication to NTDC, Rick Cates has become a fountain of knowledge, a go-to person and a true institution with the National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships. Rick is so well respected within the NTDC Community and across the trucking industry that he has been given the honorary title of “The Senator.”

In this episode of the podcast, NTDC Historian Eugene Mulero talks with Rick as he shares the news that, following the conclusion of NTDC 2026 in Pittsburgh, Rick will be retiring from his duties on the NTDC Organizing Committee. Eugene looks back with Rick on his five-plus decades in the trucking industry and his long relationship with NTDC that spans a little bit more than half of the Championships’ 89-year history.

Rick reflects on the countless friendships he has built through NTDC and he takes us behind the scenes recalling the role he’s played over the years as part of the group talking to the finalists before the runoff on NTDC’s Championship Morning.

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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