Drive

What are your professional goals? How about your personal ones? Are you taking steps to achieving them or are you making excuses as to why their not attainable? In this episode, Craig P. Anderson, President and founder of Clear Path Coaching and Consulting, joins us to offer some expert advice on not just setting goals, but reaching them as well. It will take some effort on your part but if you’re willing to dig deep and understand what’s holding you back, then you’ll be able to overcome those roadblocks and begin making positive changes. As you listen, you’ll pick up tips and tricks for your personal and professional development.

After working with truckers in a physical therapy clinic and seeing the toll a lifetime behind the wheel can take on a body, Dr. Mark Manera was inspired to found The Trucking Fitness Company.  In this episode of Drive, Mark and Zac discuss the small changes drivers can make to their diets and routines that will have a huge impact on their health. Mark says consistency is the name of the game which is why he’s not looking to get you to go from 0 to 60. Instead, Mark is advocating for drivers to make sustainable choices, like switching to zero calorie drinks and stocking your truck with nutritious snacks.  Are you ready to prioritize your health? Listen in to hear where to start.

We know your life isn’t your work, but a lot of your life is spent on the road at work. So we’re going to be getting really specific on season 2 of the Drive podcast, talking about cooking on the road, finding great hobbies while you’re out driving, emerging technologies that are going to affect our work, and tons more.

Thanks to all of the incredible guests who joined us for season 1 of Drive. Zac Elsts is joined by HandledNow co-founder, Aaron Robertson, and seasoned driver and previous Drive guest, Heath Melton, to chat about their favorite episodes of the season and what they're looking forward to in the next season of Drive.

Ellen Voie,  President and CEO of the Women in Trucking Association, shares that 83% of women who join the trucking industry do so after hearing about it from a family member or friend. The organization’s mission is to increase the ranks of women employed in transportation careers.  In this episode of Drive, Ellen dives into steps that trucking companies can take to make sure more folks across genders are aware of the opportunities in the trucking industry and why gender diversity makes companies better.

Truck drivers embody independence. But even the most independent folks want to come home to the same thing— a strong and healthy relationship. Whether you’re in a  long-term marriage or just dating, the long hours spent driving can affect the relationships established back home.  On this episode of Drive, Dr. Karin Anderson Abrell, an acclaimed psychologist, author, and podcaster specializing in relationships, joins Zac Elsts to discuss relationships on the road. Listen to learn more about how important personal relationships can still be successful ones and why independence is a major component of any healthy relationship.

Truck drivers and police officers? You might be surprised by how much both of these professions have in common. Safety to hours away from friends and family, to the importance of training and transparency — the similarities outweigh the differences. To help us again is Steve Kellams. Steve spent 30 years as a police officer, and he now travels the country training officers and departments. In part one of our conversation, Zac and Steve talked about the similarities between officers and drivers. Now you’ll hear the biggest misconceptions about police officers that Steve often encounters. Resources: Learn more from Steve and his team at bluecanaryconsulting.com Make sure to listen to stories from Steve’s career on the Blue Canary podcast.

Truck drivers and police officers? You might be surprised by how much both of these professions have in common. Safety to hours away from friends and family, to the importance of training and transparency — the similarities outweigh the differences. After 30 years of service working with citizens directly as a police officer, Steve Kellams has a new focus, ensuring all law enforcement and public safety organizations receive the best training and support possible. With safety top of mind and long shifts as the norm for officers and drivers, Steve and Zac chat through the misconceptions drivers often have about officers, and how both groups can partner for safer roads and advocate for more training and resources for these two vital professions. Resources: Learn more from Steve and his team at bluecanaryconsulting.com Make sure to listen to stories from Steve’s career on the Blue Canary podcast.

Sticking to your budget and staying true to your financial goals is a lot like dieting. When you’re good about your diet all week and reward yourself with a piece of cheesecake, you blow all the progress you’ve made. It’s the same thing with money. So where do you start to build good financial habits?   Damian Dunn is the Vice President of Advice at Your Money Line Powered by Pete the Planner®. In this episode he shares steps you can take to get a hold of your finances and create stability for your future. In the end, it’s not about immediately putting away 40% of your paycheck. It’s about getting organized with your bills, setting realistic goals, and sticking to the small steps you’ve identified. It’s never too late to start saving, but habits take time to build, so you might as well start now. Listen in to find out how.

So far in season one we heard from great guests with valuable insights related to truck driving. Whether it be health, mindset, safety, or choosing truck driving as a career, these episodes provided invaluable, tangible advice on being successful and healthy in the industry.  For this episode, host Zac Elsts is joined by Aaron Robertson, Co-founder of HandledNow. While Zac and Aaron wanted to take a step back and reflect on some of their favorite moments from the first half of the season, they break down key takeaways, highlighting what you can learn from the guests’ stories. Tune in to hear their favorite quotes, then follow Drive on your favorite podcast platform to listen to the full conversations.

On this week’s episode of Drive, Zac Elsts sits down with Argie Bellio, President and CEO of 6 Logistics to talk about his history as a driver and how that’s informed his view on driving for a living.   Thanks to more than a decade of experience, Argie breaks down how his experience from starting to drive as a necessity in 2008 translated to running his own trucking business. With simple acts like celebrating safety on Facebook or limiting hours, Argie has seen major positive ripple effects for his drivers and the business. Listen now to learn from Argie’s story.

For many, truck driving can be a second career, but with more emphasis on better opportunities for drivers, training, and expansion of opportunity, drivers can start their careers sooner. With innovation in technology, truck driving continues to be a great career option for young people. Jeremy Reymer is the Founder and CEO of DriverReach, where he helps companies hire better drivers faster. Listen now to learn more from Jeremy.

“You are not in control of 95% of your thoughts until you learn to reprogram your mindset.” As a truck driver, you’re alone with your thoughts for the majority of the day. On this episode of Drive, Zac Elsts dives deep with Kevin Bailey, founder of Dreamfuel, a company helping teams and individuals realize their full potential through proven mindset and mindfulness techniques. Having studied neuroscience, Kevin blends science with coaching to help you feel more in control. Listen to learn more about how you can master the mental programming of your brain to create the life you want and accomplish more than you thought was possible.

Sometimes a job is just a job to start. But what happens when the job you’ve chosen leads to some bad conscious habits? The small choices we make can change the course of our lives for better or for worse.  On this week’s episode of Drive, Zach Elsts sits down with Heath Melton, a driver and father of four, to discuss his habits and life on the road. Heath has created a thriving career from behind the wheel. His journey to get there was hardly a straight shot, and it came with sacrifice - his health.  Here’s Heath’s story.

Driving all day brings about a unique challenge for the body: your mind must stay alert and focused, working overtime for long stretches of the day while the body is mostly inactive, leaving it craving movement and stretching everybody needs to thrive.  On this episode of Drive, Zach Elsts sits down with Erica Ballard, healthy living expert and coach, to talk about this unique challenge and her best tips for drivers to live healthy while behind the wheel. Erica breaks down some misconceptions about healthy living while on the road and offers tangible tips and tricks for drivers to start implementing on their next drive.

Drive is for truck drivers, unpacking the why behind the drive. Each episode aims to empower listeners to make the most out of every route for any road ahead.  Addressing topics like healthy living, wellness, career progression, self-improvement and everything in between, Drive is designed to help aspiring truck drivers and current truck drivers to the next level of success. Buckle up and enjoy Drive!

There are no bigger hearts than those of truckers. This year marks the 35th year of the Mother’s Day Make-A-Wish Convoy through Susquehanna Valley, and Convoy Committee Co-Chair Terry Finch speaks with Zac and Chelsea to mark this milestone year. Terry helps steer the largest truck convoy east of the Mississippi where they team up with truckers to fulfill wishes for kids battling life-threatening illnesses. Inserting incredible community spirit, this convoy has a million-dollar mission. Terry discusses the touching stories behind the impetus of the convoy,  the event's festive activities, and how every mile you drive contributes more than just cargo—it delivers hope.   In this episode, you’ll learn: Stories that showcase the incredible charitable spirit of the trucking community, proving that the road is about more than just logistics and deliveries.  How to participate to help The Make-A-Wish convoy reach its goal of one million dollars.   The ripple effect of the convoy experience and how a legacy has been created to impact the children and families involved.    Resources: Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Susquehanna Valley Link to Register Link to Donate

It’s no secret why Indiana is called “The Crossroads of the World,” and today’s episode celebrates not only the state’s role in the transportation industry but also the latest initiatives that could affect your routes, your loads, and put you on the fast lane to growth opportunities. Vincent Ash is the Chief of Staff at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). In this episode, he talks with Zac and Chelsea about how their team navigates the roadways of innovation and infrastructure to bring better movement in the transportation industry. He sheds light on three hot topics: The Future of Mobility Campaign revving Indiana's tech and transport scene, the strategic partnerships fueling advancements in AI and hydrogen engines, and the infrastructure upgrades paving the way for smoother rides. Vincent spotlights how these initiatives can open new horizons for truckers and blue-collar heroes like you. Get ready to be part of Indiana's bold journey under the banner "Indiana for the bold," and find out how to secure your spot in the driver's seat of progress.    In this episode, you’ll learn:  About Indiana's booming business opportunities, including their $28.7B in investments in 2023 to drive the economy forward, enabling the state to be number one for manufacturing jobs, number one for manufacturing output, and the number one state to start a business.  How the Future of Mobility program is pouring resources into a focus on innovative infrastructure, AI testing, and autonomous vehicles, and how these cutting-edge projects ensure your skills stay relevant. About Indiana's efficient highway system and its competitive advantage in logistics owing to its location.   Resources: Connect with Vincent Ash on LinkedIn Check out the IEDC More info on the Future of Mobility Program

It’s time to dispel myths and spread the word about the often unseen contributions of women in trucking. And Jennifer Hedrick, President and CEO of Women in Trucking Association, is doing just that. In this episode, Zac and Chelsea talk with Jennifer about the incredible strides Women in Trucking has made in the industry since 2007, now boasting over 8,000 members. They’ll dive into their remarkable events, like the CDL holders' celebration, and the prestigious Driver of the Year award sponsored by Walmart, and also discuss the WIT Index, the educational initiatives such as the Whitney trailer program aimed at attracting talent and the ways Women in Trucking is pushing for greater policy support.    In this episode, you’ll learn:  About the association's award programs, such as 'Driver of the Year,' and how individuals can nominate women in trucking for various awards through their website. The initiatives and programs Women in Trucking is developing, like the Wit Index, which measures women's roles and their percentage within the profession, and DEI initiatives. How to attract and retain talent in the trucking industry. Resources: Connect with Jennifer through LinkedIn Check out Women in Trucking

No one generally talks about the paperwork and details you need to manage as a trucker, and sometimes that can be burdensome and not efficient. Jeff Davison, CEO & Founder of Freight Mate has taken this pain point and created a solution - with you in mind. In this episode, Zac and Chelsea talk with Jeff about his innovative app, a freight management solution that harnesses the power of AI to streamline and enhance daily operations for owner operators and fleet managers.. A seasoned veteran with over a decade of experience in the trucking industry, Jeff unpacks crucial topics like how Freight Mate's new invoicing feature is accelerating cash flow for drivers, the importance of transparency and efficiency in payroll, and the exciting future of AI in aiding decisions about loads, fuel costs, and those dreaded layovers.   In this episode, you’ll learn:  How Freight Mate slashes invoice processing from a week down to minutes, immediately boosting cash flow for diligent drivers. How Freight Mate route planning and live navigation guidance prioritize driver safety and ensure a smooth sail across the miles. About Freight Mate's relentless pursuit of sorting out the payroll puzzle, securing spot-on settlements for the hardworking folks behind the wheel. Resources: Connect with Jeff through LinkedIn Check out Freight Mate - https://www.freightmateapp.com/