The Lifestyle Lane

On the first day of the competition, PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson had the opportunity to spend some time at NTDC 2022 with four captains from America’s Road Team. While Captain Rhonda Hartman provided Greg with a view of the road course problems the...

Dan Van Alstine, the current Vice Chairman of the American Trucking Associations, talked with Greg Thompson on the day of his eight-year-anniversary as President of Ruan. Dan, who will become the Chairman of ATA in October, shares his thoughts on just why this year’s...

In this episode, you’ll meet Antoine Sadler who never really expected to be at NTDC 2022 when he responded to a request from his team at Wal-Mart to enter the North Carolina State Championship. Antoine took a no-pressure approach when he went to state, and he claimed...

Shortly after finishing up two days of onsite broadcasting the Dave Nemo Show from NTDC 2022 in Indianapolis, Jimmy Mac, the host of Dave Nemo Weekends, sat down with Greg Thompson of PodWheels to get Jimmy’s immediate impressions of his first-ever trip to the...

Dion Saiz from FedEx Express joins Jimmy Mac to discuss what it’s like to represent FedEx as a Road Team Captain for the ATA. Dion got his start 26 years ago following in his father’s footsteps. His now-retired dad was a Road Captain, as well. The two were the first...

What does a truck driver do upon retiring? If you are Greg Nauertz, an America’s Road Team Captain, you hop in an RV with wife Caroljane and you zip around the country visiting family, attending class reunions and simply enjoy life on the road. Jimmy Mac gets the 411...

Gary Langston, President and CEO of the Indiana Motor Truck Association, tells Jimmy Mac about how important trucking and the interstate system is to the state of Indiana. Indiana specializes in moving stuff on wheels, but, as Gary shares with Jimmy, the trucking...

ATA President and CEO Chris Spear joins Jimmy Mac to take a look at why Indianapolis, with the numerous highways that criss-cross through it, but also the plethora of activities going each day, was an ideal choice to host the NTDC event. Chris takes this opportunity...

In this podcast, we hear from one of the most experienced professional drivers who earned the honor of making the trip to the National Truck Driving & National Step Van Championships. With 42 years behind the wheel and now 22 visits to the NTDC in his career...

Beyond the opportunity to compete for national title honors, there are a number of reasons that make the NTDC an event that calls to drivers across the country every year. And while numerous drivers will note the camaraderie, family, community and focus on safety,...

Jimmy Mac gets an opportunity to catch up with Alphonso Lewis, a veteran driver for Yellow with 30 years of experience. As Jimmy notes, Alphonso has been involved with Wreaths Across America for a number of years. An NTDC Grand Champion in 2007, Alphonso has been to...

America’s Road Team Captain Tina Peterson is enjoying the honor of serving as a course announcer at NTDC 2022. In this chat with Jimmy Mac, Tina shares how she discovered the trucking industry at the age of seven while growing up in Wyoming. As a Road Team Captain...

Jimmy Mac is joined by John Brownawell from Yellow Freight Systems, his fiance Cindy Spinella and their son, Raylan. John tells Jimmy that the NTDC weekend is filled with camaraderie and family fun, but it is also one of stress and nervousness because all 50...

In this episode, Jimmy Mac visits with industry veteran Steve Smalley, who is volunteering at NTDC 2020. This year, Steve, who has been to many NTDCs over the years as a competitor, is working as an equipment handler at the event. Steve is part of the team making sure...

In her visit with Jimmy Mac, America’s Road Team Captain April Coolidge talks about the career path that brought her to trucking. April is a North Carolina-based professional driver for Walmart who is volunteering at NTDC. Prior to trucking, April was a real estate...

In this podcast, Jimmy Mac spends some time chatting with Rhonda Hartman. She is a 40-year veteran of the trucking industry, and she is also a Captain on America’s Road Team. Rhonda is an Iowa-based professional driver for Old Dominion Freight Line and she is part of...

Scotty Davis is a well-respected veteran of the trucking industry and he is no stranger to the National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships. Scotty is in charge of the equipment and maintenance at NTDC 2022. In this edition of the podcast, Scotty...

Jason Wing is the Vice President of Safety and Transportation Operations at Red Classic and he is Chairman of the National Truck Driving & National Step Van Driving Championships for 2022. Jason shares with Jimmy Mac what he is looking for in a company before he...

Patti Gillette is a veteran of the NTDC and she talks to Jimmy Mac about the road all the competitors take to be a part of the national championships. Patti is a past NTDC Chairman, and is currently NTDC Vice Chairman and Vice President and COO of the Colorado Motor...

Tony Spero, the 2006 NTDC Grand Champion and a driver with ABF Freight out of Connecticut, talks about what it takes to continue to compete at the NTDC. This year, Tony is competing in the Tanker Division in the National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving...

Darren Hawkins, CEO of Yellow and Vice Chairman of ATA, talks about having 13 Yellow drivers in Indianapolis at the National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships. He tells Jimmy Mac, host of Dave Nemo Weekends, why the competition’s emphasis on...

Byron and Bob Bramwell are a father and son who have made trucking a family tradition. At NTDC 2022, they are giving back to the industry by serving as volunteers at the event. During their visit with Jimmy Mac, we are reminded that the NTDCs place a focus on the top...

Ina Daly is another veteran at this year's National Truck Driving and National Step Van Driving Championships in Indianapolis. During his conversation with Ina, Jimmy Mac takes Ina back to her experience during her first year at the competition. Looking back, Ina...

Wayne Crowder, a FedEx Freight driver from Kenucky, talks to Jimmy Mac about what it takes to win at the nationals. Wayne is an America’s Road Team Captain who has claimed three national championships during his days as an NTDC competitor. Wayne is also the only...

Gina Jones, an America’s Road Team Captain tells Jimmy Mac, host of Dave Nemo Weekends, what it’s like becoming a track driver a little later in life and what it is like driving with her husband. Spoiler alert, giving each other space is one of the keys. Gina also...