You’re welcomed at orientation You don’t feel like a number Your dispatcher or driver manager respects your opinion Your pay matches what you were promised You get home when you need to You’re always encouraged to operate safely You have the equipment you need to succeed There’s nothing worse than thinking you found the perfect trucking company only to find out that everything you were told about the company was either a lie or the company was significantly misrepresented. Just when you think you’ve found a stable, top-paying trucking company to grow with, you find out that it’s no better than the company you just left.

Key Takeaways: Burnout is common in truckers due to long hours, isolation, and high stress, but it’s manageable and treatable. Recognizing the signs — like exhaustion, sleep issues, and withdrawal — is key to preventing long-term impacts. Taking proactive steps like resting, staying connected, and maintaining physical and mental health can reduce burnout. Healthy habits and financial planning both play important roles in improving overall well-being on the road. Burnout is inevitable in almost any career or business path you take. And no, we aren’t talking about burnouts in NASCAR. We’re talking about the type of burnout that makes it incredibly difficult to show up to work each day and do your job effectively.

In this episode of Diesel Diaries, we explore personal journeys, trucking industry challenges, and valuable safety tips for winter trucking. Meet Robert Racchi and John Kastner Racchi recently joined ATS as a safety manager, bringing decades of experience as a driver and business owner to the table. His journey from military service to trucking leadership is both inspiring and informative. With nearly five years at ATS, Kastner oversees safety technologies, including Lytx systems and driving simulators. His technical expertise, combined with a great sense of humor, makes him a favorite among drivers. Winter Safety Essentials: Be Prepared As winter sets in, the team offers safety tips for navigating cold and icy conditions: Maintain Your Bunk Heater: Additives and preventative maintenance can keep your heater running smoothly. Stock Up on Essentials: Blankets, Sterno cans, and hand warmers can be lifesavers in emergencies. Drive Smart: Slow down, increase following distance, and know when to pull off the road. Learning from Real Incidents The team reviews real-life video clips of trucks navigating dangerous conditions, analyzing what went wrong, and providing actionable insights. Understanding road conditions and avoiding risky moves are key takeaways from the discussion. Looking Forward To wrap up, Lori invites drivers to share their questions about market trends, economic challenges, and strategies for staying successful in the new year. The team plans to address these topics in upcoming episodes. For audio listeners and more episodes:

CB (Citizens Band) radios have been a staple for truck drivers for decades, providing a reliable, low-cost way to communicate on the road. While drivers certainly don’t use them like they used to — stats show that less than a third of truckers use them today — CB radios are a helpful tool that you may want to utilize.

Have you ever wondered exactly how the United States (U.S.) numbered highway system works? The numbers aren’t chosen randomly; they correlate to directions and how the roadway is routed around big areas.