Trucker Dump - A Trucking Podcast

You'd think if any industry would be good at supplying driving directions, it would be the trucking industry. You'd be wronger than actually using the word "wronger" in a sentence. Today I give you the "do's and don'ts" of providing good directions. We also discuss GPS, Google Maps, and map-reading. Trucker or not, you can benefit from this podcast. Also mentioned is the "Trucking in the Northeast" podcast/blog. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

As the title suggests, this one is all about the pros and cons of driving at night. And in case I forget to mention it in the podcast, "There's less traffic at night." There is also a brief explanation of why there is a TD53.5 on the blog, but not a podcast version. That is if you give a rat's patooty. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

Alright. If you are considering truck driving as a profession, this is a must-listen-to podcast. Seriously. I'm also hoping all you non-truckers will take the time to listen to it. I have absolutely no doubt that it'll make you stop and think. And in doing so, maybe you'll show a little consideration the next time you encounter a big rig trying to switch lanes or make it around a tight corner. Trust me, this isn't a pity party. It's simply a long list of things that most non-truckers take for granted. The "Why I Do This" podcast is mentioned in passing. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

This podcast largely involves me whining and coveting @WilsonHines life. Yes, it's sad and pathetic, but there you have it. It all comes from the fact that I've been trying to get off the road for years and Wilson managed to beat me to it. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

August 19th is my birthday, so that means you've got to give me something. In this podcast, I list a whole bunch of Twitter friends and "demand" them to fork over one of their outstanding traits. Are you on the list? There are too dang many links to mention here, so if you want to find out more about these awesome peeps, just go to the blog site and click away. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

In today's podcast, I battle my fear of electronic logs by enlisting a Twitter friend, @Dean0806 who's already been using e-logs for a while. He helps us understand how his system works and explains that each trucking company can set up the system differently. He also addresses some of my fears. Mentioned in the podcast is Jason from the Truck Driver's News Web site, the guy who graciously (or stupidly) let me guest post on his site. Also briefly mentioned is my love of Planners, as explained in the podcast called, "When Planners Don't." Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

No matter where you go (especially in the trucking world), there always seems to be someone with the potential to annoy the living crap out of you. This is especially true when it comes to driver orientations when starting a new job. Oddly enough, this truism was shattered this time around… or was it? I also give you a handy tip that will undoubtedly make your next (or first) driver orientation more tolerable. And I also have a visitor in the introduction of the show. Everyone say hello to Fred. In the feedback section, I mention frequent commenter, @helmetorheels blog site, appropriately named, "Helmet or Heels: I'm Comfortable in Either!" Check it out. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

We all have the tendency to think our lives stink at times. Sometimes we need something to happen in order to put things in perspective. This is one of those times. I tell the story of meeting a brand new husband-wife team and the horrible experience they've been having. I also happen to be in the middle of a job change, so that's always fun. And there's a quick reference to a Twitter friend, @diesel_lady within the podcast. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

The trucking world isn't exactly what I'd call "sanitary." Three things happened over the course of 24 hours that should help you understand what we truckers are dealing with out here. This story is a real doozy. As you may have guessed from the name Trucker Dump, I'm really in my element when the topic is bathroom humor. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

Lucinda read the blog post called "Go to Bed Angry" and wrote in to ask for advice on riding along with her trucker-husband after the kids are out of the house. I realized two things: 1.) This was going to be long enough to constitute its own podcast and, 2.) I didn't know enough about this subject to answer the question. Therefore, I called upon two Twitter friends, Patricia Powers (@luv18wheels) and Sabrina (no longer on Twitter) to give Lucinda some advice. I also discuss some of the differences between being a company driver and the different types of owner/operators. Thanks to Ray Lawson (@Lawsonbulk) for his help with the owner/operator stuff. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

Today's podcast was hard to record. This is by far my most emotional podcast to date. Prepare yourself for "The Split." Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

Being stuck in a truck with someone for weeks at a time is hard. And that makes finding a good co-driver a challenge. Even if you've got a willing spouse, they may or may not be your best bet. So who does make a good team driver? That's what we're discussing today. And how to avoid bludgeoning them while they're sleeping after you find one. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

This is one of those times I go off-topic. Trucking does rear its butt-ugly head, but not very often. Today I get to tell you why The Evil Overlord and I rarely feel the need to say the words "I love you." And if you're cool, you might want to see a picture of my awesome Transformers TV tray. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

No American in the 1800's could have possibly imagined vehicles that were 13' 6" tall, over 70 feet long, and weighed 80,000 pounds. And that's what makes Trucking in the Northeast such a challenge. Today, I tell the story of one such night and the chaos that ensued. And I use the word A-hole a lot… A LOT. Not the potty-mouth version though. I actually say "A-hole." Hey, I have a hard enough time getting listeners without donning the Explicit tag. I also mention the "Too Stupid to Fuel?" podcast/blog in case you missed that one. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

Security guards. As a trucker, you deal with them nearly every day. Some are good at their jobs. Some feel the need to wear Superman long-johns underneath their uniform. In today's story, I wish I'd had a chunk of Kryptonite handy. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

We're back with Part 2 of 2. Although it's not absolutely necessary, you may want to listen to Part 1 before you continue with this one. Today we continue our discussion of different roles within a trucking company. After listening to today's story involving our brand-spanking-new truck, you'll understand my hatred for Planners. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

You see how I got all clever with the title? Yea. I rock. Today's topic covers the different roles that people do within a trucking company. We're talking office personnel here, not us rockin' drivers. Did I mention that I rock? This is Part 1 of 2. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

I don't think I've ever been quite so mad in my trucking career than when I was writing this blog post. Luckily, by the time I got around to recording the podcast version, I'd managed to regain my Fonzie-like coolness. So what prompted this rage? Some of the stupid rules truckers are forced to comply with, especially us team drivers. Trust me, no one is ever happy when The Evil Overlord's sleep gets disturbed. Today I tell a story of a run-in we had with the wonderful folks at the TSA. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

We start this one off with a joke that I posted on the blog. Next, we move on to one of the biggest issues in the trucking industry: Health and Trucking. We look at the challenges that truckers face when it comes to staying in shape and what it takes to pull it off. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

Merry Christmas! This podcast explains how Christmas works for many truckers. And of course, what Christmas podcast would be complete without zombies? Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

Today's podcast was prompted by a surprising berating from another trucker on Twitter. I'm kinda glad he did it though, because it gives me the opportunity to explain why I waste so much time on this podcast/blog and Twitter. In the feedback segment, Jason, Oz, and Clyde leave their thoughts on truck transmissions. Pam and neuLindsay both pipe in, and Heidi expresses her amazement that she wasn't bored reading one of my articles. Heidi's wedding blog, called Truly Engaging, gets a plug too. And lastly, I share why comments from experienced truckers are not only wanted, but NEEDED. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

Oh boy. This is one of the big debates among truckers. Which is better; an Automatic or a Manual transmission? In today's podcast, I make the argument that there really isn't much difference between the two. Learn how to shift both transmissions and check out some pictures of both types of transmissions. Feedback from Jason involves a story that may make you consider giving up dairy products and Buck, a.k.a. @TruckerTherapy, from TruckerTherapy.com stops in too. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

Uh-oh. Someone broke into my trailer while I slept. What now? Today's cryptic title covers load security and how a driver can cover their butt when things go wrong. In the feedback section, we get a couple of comments including one about truckers getting too greedy. I also put out the call for audio comments and tell you an easy way to do it. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

No one likes to be forced to do anything, right? So why do we truckers tolerate "forced dispatch?" Is it as bad as it seems? Also, we discuss what can happen when a trucker gets a taaaaaad bit too greedy for their own good. The feedback section has only one comment, but it's significant because it proves that when I say "evil," I mean evil. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

Okay. I need your help with one of the weirdest things that has ever happened to me. Maybe after you hear this story, you'll be able to explain to me what the heck was going on with the weirdo at the salad bar. And if that isn't enough to peak your curiosity, perhaps you should check your pulse. You may just be dead. As for feedback, I lament being a gay-dude magnet, I totally butcher a commenters name, and I help a guy named Stuart figure out the multiple ways you can subscribe to the blog or podcast. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

Today's story involves me meeting, well… another me. Hey, if that isn't enough to make you listen to this one, then just go away. You're boring. As for feedback, we discuss sliding your tandems and I tell everyone to go get the free PDF that will show you how sliding your 5th wheel and tandems will affect the weight distribution. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

Ever wonder why all those trucks are lined up at the building out on the interstate? They're called weigh stations. Learn what a bridge law is and how truckers distribute the weight on a trailer without touching the freight. And check out the PrePass Web site if you want to avoid weigh stations altogether. There are also some pictures of the different parts of the truck that are involved in distributing your load. I also point you to a free PDF showing your how to slide your tandems. And if I haven't shirked my duty, there will be a couple of videos to show you how it works. In the feedback section, I finally get around to answering questions from both Christy Kuppler and Joe V about finding a list of list of HazMat routes and restrictions , which I found on the horrible FMCSA Web site. There is also a link to an article sent in by a reader about how GPS can help truckers with HazMat routing. Lastly, check out a hilarious blog post about HazMat from commenter, Christy Kuppler. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

Hauling hazardous materials is something many truckers will do at some point in their career. But they don't necessarily have to. Learn what hazardous materials are, what it takes to haul them, who can haul them, and how scary hairspray can be by having a listen. There are links in today's show for Wikipedia's Dangerous Goods page and an explanation of each party's responsibility when it comes to HazMat loads. No comments for the feedback section… again. What am I gonna do with you guys? Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein.

Pretty self-explanatory really. Hear a story of what it's like when a trucker has a crappy week. Oh, and you slackers hosed me on the feedback this time around, so nothing to report there. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein.

Today we visit the secret side of trucking: high-value loads. What does it take to haul them? Do you need to take any special precautions? And if I answer any of these questions, will you be allowed to live out your days in peace or will you mysteriously die in your sleep? Enter at your own risk. I also hear that an unlikely superhero makes a brief appearance. A brief feedback section includes the topic of providing original material for the podcast/blog. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

We're always hearing drivers say that the truckers don't help each other out any more. Is this true? Have truckers lost their sense of community? Find out by hitting that pretty PLAY button. We also introduce the new feedback section to the podcast. Listeners and readers like you write in and I read your comments and respond with a comment, an answer, or a bit of snark. Pay attention to the feedback segue from here on out and you may discover a little game you can play. Have fun! Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein. Mystery Feedback Song - Only a cheater would click this before listening to the podcast! You aren't a cheater, are you?

So are some people really too stupid to fuel? Come along as I tell you a story about how I learned the truth behind a couple of asinine state laws. And all this discovery only happened because The Evil Overlord (the wife and ex-codriver) is slower than a sloth with crutches. Check out this link for more information on these gas pumping laws. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein.

This podcast describes how the crappy economy affects more than just the driver's wallet. As a bonus, you'll get to hear me whine about my crappy miles. Wow. Two crappy's in one brief show description. No… THREE! Man, I'm on a roll! Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein.

Today I try (ever so briefly) to be sexy. You can probably guess how well that turned out. So… what to say about the topic of today's podcast? Well, unsurprisingly, this particular blog post gets more hits than any of my others. I guess that just goes to show what kind of keywords people are Googling for these days. In this episode, you'll hear some stories of the perverted things (and people) that The Evil Overlord and I have seen out on the road. I'd give it a rating of PG-13. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein.

This one isn't very long. You're welcome… smart aleck. It all comes down to one weird day of weather. Even my first video is super-short. Uhhhh, hello dork. This is an audio podcast. You're going to have to go to the Web site to see the video. Duh. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein.

Welcome to the podcast with the world's worst title. Seriously folks, somebody must've smacked me with a 2X4 the day I came up with this title. Clearly my brain wasn't operational at the time. The topic is important though. We discuss how a company's safety practices can affect the driver and what to look for in a company's safety program. And I try to contemplate whether or not safety is overemphasized or not. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein.

This particular podcast doesn't really have a purpose. I'm just spouting off about what I like and don't like about rain. Other than that, you'll learn that a reefer isn't something that will give you a case of the munchies. But it does benefit those with the munchies. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein.

Dispatchers are a sore subject among truckers. Many drivers are convinced that their dispatcher is out to get them. But how much does the dispatcher actually control a driver's destiny? Find out in today's episode. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein.

Miracles happen every day… just not to me. The story in today's podcast is the exception to that rule. I'm still shocked that things turned out the way they did. You'll see why. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein.

This episode discusses a foe that causes all truckers to go on high alert. And whatever you think it is, you're probably wrong. If you're right, I owe you an ice cream cone. If you're wrong, you owe me a $50 iTunes gift card. That's fair, right? Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein.

The act of going to or leaving home is an emotional roller coaster for most truckers. And while you're here, you'll hear a story that proves that at least one horse is smarter than me. I am smarter than a 5th grader though… sometimes. Oh, and I heard a rumor that I take a stab at singing in this episode. Hey! Where are you going? Stop running! Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein.

Every trucker should have a hobby that they can do when they're away from home. It's either that or they're going be spending a lot of time getting cornered by talkative truckers. Today's topic is exactly what the title says it is. One thing the title isn't, is creative. So sue me. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein.

The title says it all. There really isn't anything to this one. It's only here to direct you to 16 pictures I took while out on the road. Of course, if you go directly to the pictures instead of listening to the podcast, you'll waste all the effort I took to be creative in the intro and the outro. ;-) And that might make me cry. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein.

I'll go ahead and admit it; this is one of my hot buttons. Truck-idling laws bug the living crap out of me. In today's podcast, find out why trucks need to idle and why the "benefits" of truck-idling laws may have unintended consequences that the average non-trucker would never think of. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein.

Company policies at trucking companies are usually put into place to make things safer or more efficient… right? Well, today's story involves a situation I was in that defied both of those things. Learn about company-supplied routing and what happens when that routing doesn't make a lick of sense. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein.

Truck driving requires a lot of flexibility. What? You didn't know that we have to be able to put our foot behind our head to pass the DOT physical? Oh wait. Wrong kind of flexibility. In today's episode, we're actually talking about the wonkiness of a truck driver's schedule. I also talk about the length of the podcast and how that's going to change over time. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein.

Today I discuss air-conditioning and big rigs; which means I'm grumpy again. And hot. Really freakin' hot. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein.

Yep. I'm for sure schizophrenic. Yet another mood swing. Sometimes, life just stinks and you've gotta tell people what really bugs you. Join me as I do just that in today's podcast. And grab my meds on the way over, would you? All this talk of boogers and socks are ticking me off. Links mentioned today are the Life Is Good Web site and the Life is Crap Web site. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein.

Okay, I think I might be schizophrenic. One day I'm ranting and the next I'm as happy as a dog with two tongues and a tub of peanut butter. Enjoy my cheery side today as I discuss things that make me happy. The link mentioned today is the Life Is Good Web site. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein.

Today we continue with the topic that started this whole blogging thing: high-idling. And yes, you guessed right. If the stinking thing would actually get fixed for a change of pace, I could move on with my life. Still, this is worth hearing because it happens to truckers all the time. Got a second to Rate and/or Review the podcast? Download the intro/outro songs for free! courtesy of Walking On Einstein.