Long before packed arenas and national tours, Berto Treviño was a familiar figure in the downtown Corpus Christi skateboarding scene. Spending his teenage years skating the T-Heads, he went on to open Overtime Skate Shop on Peoples Street. Treviño was a Monster Jam fan, and as he soared through the air on a board, he’d imagine he was actually flying via a 12,000-pound truck. “The crossover from action sports to motorsports was always there, I just wasn’t sure how to make it happen,” the now professional driver shared.
A podcast episode featuring a Monster Jam driver he’d listened to during a late-night shift at the skate shop changed the trajectory of his life. It was then that he decided to close the shop and pursue this dream. With two Monster Jam seasons now behind him, Treviño shares his experience behind the wheel, his continued connection to the local skate scene and what 2026 has in store.
Kylie Cooper: You started your Monster Jam career as a USHRA Tech Official before working your way up to driving full-time. How did that behind-the-scenes experience shape the way you approach competition?
Berto Treviño: As a USHRA Tech Official, my number one concern is safety, and in that I have a trained eye for parts failure and parts breaking in the moment. I would take that a step further; having access to the experienced drivers and crew behind the scenes, I would regularly pick their brains and ask not just how the parts function but why the part broke in the first place. With my standing position in the arena, I literally have the closest view to the action as I would study the best drivers in the world firsthand. I was like a sponge soaking in information all season long.
KC: What were the biggest adjustments you had to make when you moved from working on the trucks to being in the driver’s seat?
BT: When I’m strapped and ratcheted all the way into my seat, the Monster Jam truck becomes an extension of my body. The same way running with a sprained ankle can be difficult is kind of similar to how I feel driving with a broken rear axle. Having hands-on experience with the parts further helps a driver feel one with the machine. Luckily for me, before driving, I had invested in a simulator driving system, which I practiced on regularly. By the time I had my first driving opportunity, I had already built muscle memory in my limbs, so they knew what to do. That definitely helped my transition become seamless.
KC: Your truck, Monster Mutt Rottweiler, has a strong personality and fan following. How do you connect with the identity of the truck you’re piloting, and what does it allow you to express as a driver?
BT: Going into the 2024 Monster Jam season, the Monster Mutt Rottweiler identity had been shelved and dormant since 2020. I was extremely excited to bring the Rottweiler back into a state of prominence with Team Throttle Monster. With the Monster Mutt Rottweiler’s imagery of aggressive nature, I always felt ready to break free and attack the track! After a high-energy freestyle run, I’ll hop out and give Rottie a big ol’ scratch behind the ears. I’m always seen barking and howling with all of the Monster Jam fans in attendance.
KC: Track walks and studying obstacles are part of your pre-event routine. What are you looking for when you’re analyzing a course, and how much of your run is planned versus instinctual?
BT: Each city we go to has completely different dirt textures. Some are tacky and clay-like, while others are sandy and slick to the surface, which will impact my driving style in racing. Before every event, I feel out the dirt and take a good look at the obstacles, especially the steepness in the ramp faces.
The Monster Jam Pod is built with four unique obstacles in each corner. The Log Stack is my personal favorite ramp, and can be used for both popping into nose wheelies and getting huge air. I only plan my first two hits to get a flow going. If I try to plan more than that, chances are I’ll get a bad bounce and have to come up with something new anyway. That’s why it’s called Monster Jam Freestyle—it’s unexpected and unforgettable.
KC: You’ve spoken about how meaningful fan interactions are to you. Why is that connection such an important part of the Monster Jam experience?
BT: The Monster Jam fanbase has no limits! Whether it’s the pre-event Pit Parties or the post-event Meet & Greets, I love having the time to meet all of the creative and passionate Monster Jam fans from all walks of life. It’s awesome to see such a diverse community gather for a common interest: our beloved 10-foot-tall, 12,000-pound machines. Some fans have been coming to our events for decades, and some are coming for the very first time. When a family tells me, “You were our favorite!” it makes all the grueling hours and countless miles it took to get there worth it.
KC: Being on the road nearly every weekend is a major lifestyle commitment. How do you stay grounded and balanced while touring so extensively?
BT: The part people don’t see at the events or on TV is what it takes to make it from city to city. Independent competitors transport their own trucks and equipment across the country, and we also handle our own maintenance. Being away from family and loved ones over 40 weeks a year is tough; however, the teams and crews on a touring series become road family and a home away from home. We’re all in it together for the love of the sport.
KC: Your background in skateboarding clearly still influences you. In what ways do you see crossover between skate culture and Monster Jam?
BT: For me the Monster Jam tracks are like gigantic dirt skateparks. The ramp structures are very similar, even down to the way I bend my knees in skating to pump through ramp transitions is the same way I treat the shock travel with throttle control in my Monster Jam truck.
The Monster Jam Freestyle competition directly translates to my skateboarding roots. Creativity, filling the clock, momentum and usage of the entire course is already a mindset I have from the skate competitions I used to compete in. In skate culture, we cheer each other on because we want to see everyone pull off their best moves, and the same camaraderie extends to my Monster Jam competitors. Even when trucks break down, competing teams will share parts and hustle to make sure we all get back on track.
KC: 2026 would have marked your third year as a full-time driver. What has been the most challenging moment of your Monster Jam career so far?
BT: Near the end of my 2025 Points Series season, I learned that my mother’s health was rapidly declining. My family kept me in the loop every step of the way over the phone and through video calls as I finished out the remaining weeks of the season.
I then announced that, for the time being, I will be stepping away from the driver’s seat to spend more time at home with my family and assist with my mom’s care. Thankfully, Monster Jam has given me a behind-the-scenes role with a schedule that allows me to do just that. I’m also happy to report that my mother is currently making great improvements!
KC: When you think about the next phase of your career, what goals are you working toward?
BT: I’m heavily looking forward to returning to Monster Jam competition when the time is right. In the meantime, I’ll also be returning to my roots here in the Coastal Bend and reviving my skateboard brand with the first new line of Overtime skate decks to be released since 2019.
Here’s an exclusive first look at the deck artwork created by fellow Corpus Christi native Garrett Huls. I invite everyone to please join us for the April ArtWalk at House of Rock as we team up with The Big Bertha Foundation to help raise funds for local legend “Mr. Pointy Boots” Ronnie Mathis’ battle with cancer; 100% of all proceeds from these boards will help Ronnie get back on track!
Contact: @berto_trevino | @overtimeskateboards
