Trucking with OOIDA

When it comes to fishing, there’s not really a right way or wrong way to go about it if you subscribe to the notion that there’s no such thing as a bad day fishing. But if you’re a bit more serious about the craft, science can help. Lifelong friends Corbin Healy and Sam Huckabee are in that latter group. Over time, they realized they wanted answers to questions that would yield more largemouth bass. Why are they biting this and not that? Does bait color matter? How about the phase of the moon? These are among the questions Corbin and Sam dive into on their podcast, Science of the Strike – and today, they answer ours about how they got started. Then, Marty Ellis pops in to discuss what keeps him occupied when he’s touring the country in the OOIDA tour truck.Science of the Strike: https://www.youtube.com/@ScienceoftheStrikeOOIDA Tour Truck Schedule: https://www.ooida.com/ooida-tour-truck/Join the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association: https://www.ooida.com/membership/Tired of watching your rights eroded: https://fightingfortruckers.com/Subscribe for FREE to Land Line Magazine (online or print): https://landline.media/subscribe/

Trucking is a stressful profession, and Shaun Lezer knows that as well as anyone. The Utah-based truck driver found himself at a crossroads a few years back, and the path he took has made a world of difference for his mental and physical health. Now, Shaun uses that experience to mentor other truckers going through similar issues. He joins the show to share some tips for getting past the bad and embracing the good. Then, therapist Buck Black specializes in treating truck drivers, and he’s got some professional advice on ways to reach out and connect with someone who can help. Join the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association: https://www.ooida.com/membership/Tired of watching your rights eroded: https://fightingfortruckers.com/Subscribe for FREE to Land Line Magazine (online or print): https://landline.media/subscribe/St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund health and wellness programs: https://truckersfund.org/healthwellness/988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org/

The heyday of Route 66 may be long behind us, but its memory is still going strong for a number of reasons. More than just a road, Route 66 is a symbol of American adventure, history, and culture – a reflection of our growth, struggles, and dreams. In this, the 100th year since it was established, we welcome historian David Dunaway to the show to talk about Route 66’s origin story, its impact on American culture and more, then dive into his newest book dedicated to eyeglasses.Join the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association: https://www.ooida.com/membership/Tired of watching your rights eroded: https://fightingfortruckers.com/Subscribe for FREE to Land Line Magazine (online or print): https://landline.media/subscribe/A Route 66 Companion: https://www.amazon.com/Route-Companion-David-King-Dunaway/dp/0292726600A Four-Eyed World: https://afoureyedworld.com/Across the Tracks: A Route 66 Story:https://route66.unm.edu/OOIDA Foundation Freight Rate Survey: https://ooida.questionpro.com/a/TakeSurvey?tt=xvcsDqGZvVsECHrPeIW9eQ%3D%3DJason’s Law survey: https://tti.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8HVTBNft24a2Rfg

To say 2025 was a busy year is an understatement. It’s also worth noting that it was a productive year as well, with movement on hours-of-service flexibility, non-domiciled CDLs and more. To recap 2025, we call in Todd Spencer, Lewie Pugh and Andrew King of OOIDA before looking ahead to what the Association plans to accomplish in 2026.Join the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association: https://www.ooida.com/membership/Tired of watching your rights eroded: https://fightingfortruckers.com/Subscribe for FREE to Land Line Magazine (online or print): https://landline.media/subscribe/

Every now and then, an idea comes along that makes you wonder why it isn’t already being done. The Congressional Trucking Caucus is a prime example. The idea, just now taking shape, will bring together lawmakers on a regular basis to talk over trucking issues – and take action. Rep. David Taylor of Ohio, who’s spearheading the caucus, joins Trucking with OOIDA to discuss how the idea came about, how it’ll work and how you can help shape the steps the caucus takes.Join the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association: https://www.ooida.com/membership/Tired of watching your rights eroded: https://fightingfortruckers.com/Subscribe for FREE to Land Line Magazine (online or print): https://landline.media/subscribe/

Natasha Cruz-Sanchez has had a busy and prosperous year. Aside from her everyday job of hauling freight, the OOIDA member has also filed a petition with FMCSA on English-language proficiency, appeared on national television and launched a coffee company, not to mentioning acting as a first responder at the scene of an accident in the middle of the night. We catch up with Natasha to see how everything’s going – and find out what she has planned for 2026.Join the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association: https://www.ooida.com/membership/Tired of watching your rights eroded: https://fightingfortruckers.com/Subscribe for FREE to Land Line Magazine (online or print): https://landline.media/subscribe/NACRUSÁN - "Where Coffee and Trucking Meet": https://www.nacrusan.com/

If you’re not quite in the Christmas spirit yet, Angela Griffin has the cure. The professional truck driver, who’s gained a following with her Simple Livin’ YouTube channel, has a lot of ideas for making the holidays a bit merrier, even if you’re spending it on the road. Join the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association:https://www.ooida.com/membership/Tired of watching your rights eroded:https://fightingfortruckers.com/Subscribe for FREE to Land Line Magazine (online or print): https://landline.media/subscribe/

Who doesn’t love a good convoy, especially one that revolves around a Christmas theme? Truck driver Noah Melton tells us about the Red Arrow Convoy in Michigan, which just wrapped up its third event – and it was bigger than ever. Noah walks us through the origins of the convoy, and the message he hopes everyone takes away from it. Join the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association:https://www.ooida.com/membership/Tired of watching your rights eroded:https://fightingfortruckers.com/Subscribe for FREE to Land Line Magazine (online or print): https://landline.media/subscribe/

OOIDA has been consistent about its stance on non-domiciled CDLs from the jump. The Association believes the program should be completely eliminated – and the Trump Administration and Congress are taking important steps to reign in the program. But meaningful, long-term progress on non-domiciled CDLs is going to take a collective effort, one the Association continues to lead. Lewie Pugh, OOIDA’s executive vice president, and Collin Long, OOIDA director of government affairs join Trucking with OOIDA to set the record straight and issue a call to action.Download a copy of OOIDA's comments to FMCSA about the non-domiciled CDL program: https://www.regulations.gov/comment/FMCSA-2025-0622-8006Join the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association: https://www.ooida.com/membership/Tired of watching your rights eroded: https://fightingfortruckers.com/Subscribe for FREE to Land Line Magazine (online or print): https://landline.media/subscribe/

There really isn’t anything quite like the American Truck Historical Society in the country, much less the world. Is it a truck club? A museum? Or maybe a research library? Brad Patterson, membership director of ATHS, says it’s all those things. But more importantly, it’s a place that honors the men and women who have dedicated their lives to the trucking industry, preserving their place in history as the backbone of the supply chain and country. Join the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association: https://www.ooida.com/membership/Tired of watching your rights eroded: https://fightingfortruckers.com/Subscribe for FREE to Land Line Magazine (online or print): https://landline.media/subscribe/For more on what the American Truck Historical Society has to offer, check out their website: https://www.aths.org/

If you’re going to factor, there are a few things you need to know in advance. Linking up with a factoring company comes with risks, and OOIDA has the receipts and horror stories to prove it. For that reason, the Association tells its members to avoid factoring if they can help it. But OOIDA is also realistic and knows that many people rely on factoring to keep their business running – so if you’re going to factor, Tom Crowley, Jim Jefferson and Trevor Williams have some advice that could save you some sizeable headaches – or even worse.Join the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association: https://www.ooida.com/membership/Tired of watching your rights eroded: https://fightingfortruckers.com/Subscribe for FREE to Land Line Magazine (online or print): https://landline.media/subscribe/

The temperatures may be low, but the passion for trucking burns bright for Alaskan driver Tiff Hargraves — known to many as “Dalton Darlin” on YouTube. She joins Trucking with OOIDA to share what life is like on the road and how her career journey took her from commercial fishing to commercial trucking.Join the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association:https://www.ooida.com/membership/Tired of watching your rights eroded:https://fightingfortruckers.com/Subscribe for FREE to Land Line Magazine (online or print): https://landline.media/subscribe/

Today we’re talking chips, not micro but of the salty variety. For nearly two centuries people have been enjoying these thin slices of potato. Trucking with OOIDA hosts, Scott and Ashley recently got to talking about this household staple and wondered how this salty snack came to be. They turned to Alan Richer, better known as the Toga Chip Guy. He joins the show to talk about the history of the Saratoga Chip, how it grew in popularity and what it is about this universal snack that as one company coined the phrase, “betcha can’t eat just one”.Join the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association:https://www.ooida.com/membership/Tired of watching your rights eroded:https://fightingfortruckers.com/Subscribe for FREE to Land Line Magazine (online or print): https://landline.media/subscribe/

Solving the truck parking crisis is going to take a team effort, so when a state like Indiana takes action, we like to celebrate it. The state DOT is in the early stages of a plan that will add more than 1,200 truck parking spaces throughout the state. Natalie Garrett, INDOT’s strategic communications director, breaks down where they are – and where they’re heading. Join the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association: https://www.ooida.com/membership/Tired of watching your rights eroded: https://fightingfortruckers.com/Subscribe for FREE to Land Line Magazine (online or print): https://landline.media/subscribe/

Living in Hawaii comes with some definite perks – and we’re not going to lie, trucking in Hawaii sounds pretty great, too. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges. Narrow roads. Truck parking problems. And a few more. As the now-former leader of the Hawaii Transportation Association, Kelvin Kohatsu is quite familiar with all the issues drivers face in Hawaii. He shares those with us, along with a driver training program for new truckers that could be a good model for the rest of the country and more.Join the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association: https://www.ooida.com/membership/Tired of watching your rights eroded: https://fightingfortruckers.com/Subscribe for FREE to Land Line Magazine (online or print): https://landline.media/subscribe/

It’s a running joke, but like a lot of things in life, it’s funny because there’s some truth to it. And it’s especially true for professional truck drivers in Alaska, who keep hitting the road despite an endless wave of challenges in their way. Jamie Benson, president and CEO of the Alaska Trucking Association, breaks it all down for us – from living part of the year in constant darkness and moose guards to breakdowns on one of the most dangerous and isolated roadways in North America and more. Join the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association: https://www.ooida.com/membership/Tired of watching your rights eroded: https://fightingfortruckers.com/Subscribe for FREE to Land Line Magazine (online or print): https://landline.media/subscribe/

This is the time of year when things normally pick up – but as you have probably noticed, the bump we normally have isn’t the bump we’re currently having. Carter Vieth, research analyst for ACT Research, explains what’s happening out there, before expressing some cautious optimism about a recovery in 2026.Join the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association: https://www.ooida.com/membership/Tired of watching your rights eroded: https://fightingfortruckers.com/Subscribe for FREE to Land Line Magazine (online or print): https://landline.media/subscribe/

If you’re in the market for a new truck, Andrej Divis has some advice. The executive director of global heavy truck research at S&P Global says a number of factors are impacting the North American truck market right now, which by extension impact your buying decisions. Plus, the U.S. is trailing other countries when it comes to the development and deployment of electric semis. Is there a future here for them?Join the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association: https://www.ooida.com/membership/Tired of watching your rights eroded: https://fightingfortruckers.com/Subscribe for FREE to Land Line Magazine (online or print): https://landline.media/subscribe/

OOIDA has celebrated a lot of wins on the regulatory side of things this year. Proposed speed limiter mandate? Bye-bye. An honest-to-goodness exploration of hours-of-service flexibility? Check. Forcing action on non-domiciled CDLs and English language enforcement? Roger that. But make no mistake, there’s a lot more work to do. One person who understands that is Collin Long. OOIDA’s director of government affairs is not one to rest on his laurels, and he’s got his sights set on bigger wins in 2026. Join the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association: https://www.ooida.com/membership/Tired of watching your rights eroded: https://fightingfortruckers.com/Subscribe for FREE to Land Line Magazine (online or print): https://landline.media/subscribe/

Linda Allen and Johanne Couture love trucking, which is one reason both joined the OOIDA board of directors. In a wide-ranging conversation, Linda and Johanne share stories from the road and express their wishes for making the industry a more welcome place for everyone. Join the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association: https://www.ooida.com/membership/Tired of watching your rights eroded: https://fightingfortruckers.com/Subscribe for FREE to Land Line Magazine (online or print): https://landline.media/subscribe/