May 01, 2024

Podcasts Feed the Need for Learning, Laughter and Inspiration on the Road

Truck drivers can spend as much as 11 hours a day or 3,120 hours a year driving—and listening. It’s important to steer the media feed that can essentially be your entire world while you’re behind the wheel.

Two truisms couldn’t be truer when it comes to audio feeds: you are what you consume and you are the company you keep.

Today’s audio options for truckers abound. All the media makes sure of that. There’s satellite radio, audiobooks, streaming music and even CB.

While most drivers stream music (62%) and significantly less listen to audiobooks (14%),podcasts (42%) represent a sweet spot for drivers for their bite-sized length, on-demand availability and abundant options. The variety of trucker-podcasts make it possible to feed every facet of a driver’s life from world events and industry regulations to the business of trucking and road humor that can lighten the load.

See what we mean with these feed-enhancing podcasts selected to bring a smile to every facet of the driving life. Use it to help you achieve a recommended daily allowance of ideas and entertainment, keep things interesting, and maybe even shake things up.

Start with Dessert: Chill Out With a Funny Feed

The 18 Wheel Talk Podcast Show features Janet and Patrick. The duo is sharp witted, well-informed and prone to pulling interesting stories from the far reaches of the road. The show is billed as “For Truckers, about Truckers, by Truckers” and the insights and experiences they banter on live up to it. (Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or iHeartRADIO)

Ahead of the Curve: Talk Like a Techie by Listening to Them

The Trucking Technology & Efficiency podcast is hosted by Kevin Rutherford, Joel Morrow, and John Walco. Their content gets its street cred straight from the road. Truckers call in to geek out about the exciting new tech as well as the everyday tools of the trucking trade. These guys make it easy to stay plugged in. (Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Soundcloud)

Truckers’ Guilty Pleasure: The Perfect True Crime Binge

In the Trucking True Crime Podcast, hosts Angela Baum and her husband Larry host have created a mashup of two things drivers love: trucking and true crime stories. A survey by now defunct Matheson Inc. found true crime stories to be the most popular podcast genre among truckers. True crime roadies will love this one. (Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, FeedSpot or Podbean)

Money Talks: Listen to Best Practices for Owner-Operators

For a peek into best practices of starting a trucking company, The Haulin’ Assets podcast throws the doors—and books—wide open. The podcast follows the progress of Chris Vernon and his one-man trucking company through all the highs and lows. Transparency into Chris’s financials, practical tips for finding loads and a breakdown of Chris’s cost per mile are just a few topics that make this podcast money. (Listen on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or Google Podcasts)

You Time: Drive Healthier Habits on the Road

Host Captain Jack, a former truck driver on a mission, runs the Shift into Better Health podcast series. Topics are trucker-specific and toggle among nutrition and exercise on the road to stress strategies, and mood adjustments just for drivers. Captain Jack brings the trucker’s perspective, and the medical professionals he invites on the show bring the health insights and expertise.

World News: When Your World Is Trucking

There’s so much going on in the trucking that it is a world unto itself. Every trucker’s feed should include industry news that delivers the big picture. The TalkCDL Trucking Podcast goes deep and wide into the trends, legislation, economic indicators and current issues that matter to truckers. The show’s hosts keep it moving through their clever banter and range of hot topics. (Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Stitcher)

Comfort Feed: A Podcast with Everything on Top

Host Bruce Outridge is like a friend on the other end of a CB or Formica table who you can talk to about anything and everything. His podcast, The Lead Pedal Podcast for Truck Drivers is like a menu at a Greek diner. You’ll find over 1000 satisfying episodes on everything from goal-setting and tax strategies to the different owner-operator business models and tips for truck drivers with families. (Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRADIO or Soundcloud)

Truck drivers, like everyone else, need to be conscious of their podcast feed. Expanding or changing that feed can instigate a host of positive—or negative—shifts in mood, productivity, creativity, positivity, health and understanding.

With over 2,999,008 podcasts in the world according to Wikipedia, truck drivers are lucky to have so many options. They also have hours of opportunity to listen, learn and expand their worlds that people outside of trucking can only envy.

The Most Desirable Truck Stop Amenities

Apr 12, 2024

Trucker Path Levels the Playing Field Between Large and Smaller Brokerages New Trucker Path for Brokerages offering enables small to mid-size freight brokers to dispatch, track and manage their loads while growing and retaining robust carrier networks PHOENIX – April 03, 2024 – Trucker Path, a subsidiary of leading global SaaS provider Moatable, Inc. (NYSE: MTBL) and the most comprehensive and relied upon mobile app for North American truckers, today announced Trucker Path for Brokerages. The new offering will enable small to mid-size freight brokers to dispatch, track and manage loads more efficiently and effectively to better compete against larger, more resource-rich brokerages. “Built for small to mid-size brokers, Trucker Path for Brokerages greatly simplifies the process of dispatching, tracking and managing loads awarded to carriers by freight brokers,” said Chris Oliver, CMO at Trucker Path. “By enabling significantly enhanced visibility into load location and status, it improves productivity and shipper satisfaction and streamlines processes to simplify operations. Trucker Path for Brokerages will help smaller brokers differentiate themselves and compete for carriers and customers like their larger competitors.” Trucker Path for Brokerages enables small to mid-size brokers to enjoy advanced features that streamline the interactions between the broker and carrier while making them both more efficient and productive. Providing their own customized version of the Trucker Path app to their carrier network gives brokers the ability to dispatch load details directly to drivers and track the progress of loads via an easy-to-use dashboard. Once deliveries are completed, the driver captures and uploads paperwork using the document scanner in the app for immediate processing. “The value of Trucker Path for Brokerages extends beyond replacing cumbersome, manual, time consuming and error-prone freight management and paperwork processes for freight brokers and their customers,” Oliver stated. “For small to mid-size brokers, it also increases efficiencies and carrier satisfaction. “Carriers also benefit from all the productivity tools the Trucker Path app offers the nearly 1 million North American truckers who already rely on the app regularly for truck-safe navigation, destination entry/exit guidance, real-time parking availability, fuel discounts, and more,” Oliver added. “It helps make life on the road safer, easier and more productive for drivers while also helping improve recruiting and retention for brokers.” Trucker Path for Brokerages is available to small to mid-size freight brokers at very affordable pricing. More details can be found at <a href="http://www.truckerpath.com/for-brokerages">www.truckerpath.com/for-brokerages</a>. Brokers attending the TIA 2024 Capital Ideas Conference April 10 - 13, 2024 can visit the Trucker Path booth #116 for more information. About Trucker Path Phoenix-based Trucker Path, the provider of a wide range of truck driver-centric mobility products, is a subsidiary of leading global SaaS provider, Moatable, Inc. (NYSE:MTBL). The Trucker Path app is currently used regularly by nearly 1 million professional truck drivers. Offering best-in-class navigation with truck-optimized routing, the Trucker Path app also provides access to vital up-to-date information about truck stops, real-time parking availability, fuel prices and discounts, weigh station statuses, and truck scales and wash locations. The company also offers TruckLoads, a digital freight exchange that connects drivers, carriers and brokers; and COMMAND™, the industry’s first and only Operations & Driver Relationship (ODR) platform that provides small to mid-size fleets with the necessary driver and TMS technologies to successfully run a fleet. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.truckerpath.com">www.truckerpath.com</a>. Media Contact: Susan Fall LaunchIt Public Relations 619-890-9415 susan@launchitpr.com

Apr 03, 2024

The Basics of Commercial Truck Financing and Refinancing Whether you're an owner-operator looking to upgrade your rig or a budding entrepreneur looking to get into the trucking industry, the first step is always to understand the basics of commercial truck financing and refinancing. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential steps of dealing with commercial truck financing and everything in between! 1. Finding Your Truck Before diving into the financing process, it may be helpful to narrow down the specific truck and price of the truck you want to purchase. Having more information about the truck can help round out your loan application and expedite it. Brand New vs. Used: Brand new trucks offer the latest technology and are covered by longer warranties, but they come with a higher price tag. Used trucks may be more budget-friendly but will have a shorter warranty period and require careful inspection to ensure they meet safety and performance standards. Amenities: Depending on your business requirements, you may require different amenities of the truck. Some truckers prioritize comfort features for long hauls, such as sleeper cabs, while others focus on fuel efficiency and payload capacity. Budget: Establish a realistic budget by considering not only the upfront cost of the truck but also ongoing expenses such as maintenance, insurance, and fuel. This will be crucial when determining the financing amount you need and not financing more than you can afford. 2. Types of Semi-Truck Financing There are many different types of financing options available and understanding the different options allows you to choose one that is best aligned with your business goals. Debt Financing: These are typically business loans and involve taking out a lump sum that you will repay over a set period with interest. Debt financing is suitable for purchasing a truck outright, giving you ownership from the start. Equipment Financing: Tailored specifically for the purchase of business equipment, this type of financing allows you to spread the cost over time while using the equipment for your business operations. It is also more accessible than your typical bank loans. Small Business Line of Credit: This is a more flexible financing option that is provided by the <a href="https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans">U.S. Small Business Administration</a> to help small businesses get the funding they need to get started. There are a few different SBA loans available, depending on your business needs. 3. Choosing a Lender Selecting the right lender is a critical decision that can significantly impact the terms of your financing; this can depend on your loan requirements, credit score, and repayment history. Banks and Credit Unions: Traditional financial institutions often offer competitive interest rates and a range of loan products, such as commercial vehicle lending or small business loans. However, approval criteria may be strict, so you will need a good credit score among other qualifications. Alternative Online Lenders: <a href="https://www.l.lendio.com/trucker-path"> Online lenders</a> have gained popularity for their quick and streamlined application processes, as well as their more flexible terms. While interest rates may be higher, the accessibility and speed of funding can be advantageous for those with lower credit scores. Business Loan Brokers: These professionals have a large network of lenders that they can connect borrowers with. This saves you time from applying separately to these different lenders, streamlining the application process. 4. Check Your Qualifications Before applying for a commercial truck loan, assess your qualifications to strengthen your loan application and the finance options that you qualify for. Credit Score: A good credit score is key to securing favorable loan terms, preferably of 640 or higher. Regularly check your credit report for inaccuracies and work on improving your score if needed. Business Revenue: Lenders will assess your business's financial stability, so if you are looking to expand your business ensure your revenue and financial statements are in order. For those looking to get into the industry, demonstrating a steady income stream increases your chances of approval. Payments: While some lenders offer no-money-down options, offering a substantial down payment can improve your loan terms. By saving up for a down payment, you can strengthen your position during negotiations. Insurance: Comprehensive insurance coverage is often a requirement for getting financing for your vehicle. This can include primary liability coverage, cargo coverage, and physical damage coverage, amongst others. Research insurance options in advance to include accurate estimates in your budget. 5. Completing and Submitting the Application Once all of these have been completed, it's time to complete the loan application. Personal and Business Information: Specific documentation requirements may depend on the lender, but most of them will require tax returns, financial statements, and personal identification. You should also provide accurate information about your business structure, years in operation, and the intended use of the truck. Loan Amount and Terms: Specify the loan amount you're requesting and the desired repayment terms. Other factors that you should mention include interest rates, monthly payments, and any additional fees associated with the loan. Review and Submit: Carefully review your application before submitting it and ensure all information is accurate and complete; this will ensure that the loan process can be expedited. Embarking on the journey of commercial truck ownership is exciting and understanding the key aspects of financing is very important for success. Before applying for a loan, it is important to do your research and get all your documents in order to ensure that the loan is approved as quickly as possible.

Feb 22, 2024