Description
We sit down with Miguel Corral, a professional truck driver with UPS and the 2026 National Truck Driving Championship Grand Champion, to talk about his 27-year trucking career, the discipline behind championship-level driving, and the habits that keep safety at the center of the job.
Miguel shares how he moved from dump trucks and less-than-truckload freight to FedEx and UPS, and how each stage of his career helped him build confidence, patience, and consistency. He explains how the National Truck Driving Championship tests drivers through a written exam, pre-trip inspection, and driving course, and how treating competition preparation and everyday driving the same way helped him perform under pressure.
Miguel also describes driving a Mack Pioneer in the national competition, including the truck's visibility, steering, automated manual transmission, and handling through the obstacle course. His story connects professional pride, mentorship, family support, and the steady work required to become a safer and more capable driver.
Miguel discusses:
- How a first job driving dump trucks and later experience in LTL, FedEx, and UPS shaped his skills, patience, and approach to pressure
- Why safety, defensive driving, space management, and refusing to let other drivers create pressure are essential to a long trucking career
- How the National Truck Driving Championship combines a written test, pre-trip inspection, and driving course, and why consistent routines improve performance
- What it was like to drive a Mack Pioneer in the national competition, including its visibility, steering, automated manual transmission, and handling
This episode is a practical look at how preparation, safety, patience, and belief in your skills can raise the level of professional driving. Miguel's story shows how competition can strengthen everyday habits while connecting drivers through shared standards and a commitment to doing the job well.
00:49: Welcome Miguel Corral, 2026 National Truck Driving Grand Champion
2:34: Miguel's Journey Into Trucking
6:17: Finding the Way to UPS
8:37: Planning and Preparation in Driving
12:47: Spotlight: Mack Shop
13:17: Getting Into the National Truck Driving Championship
18:49: Winning in Illinois
21:28: First National Truck Driving Championship Win
23:04: Did You Know? Route 66 Turns 100
24:13: Practicing For Competition
28:13: The Parts of the Competition
30:25: Winning the Whole Competition
38:17: Driving a Mack Truck to Victory
44:19: Advice For Others Who Want to Compete
What's next?
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