In our latest episode of Haul Talk, Kurt and Zach sit down with Caterpillar retirees Gary Blood and Bob Keene. The two spent their decades-long careers with Cat Truck Engines —a team that operated with independence and a rugged, customer-first mentality. Listen in as Bob and Gary share their passion for trucking and reminisce about the good old days with Cat Truck Engines. 

https://www.cat.com/en_US/articles/truck-engine-resource-center/haul-talk-podcast.html

Marine veteran and owner-operator Scott Robinson has seen it all during his time driving over three million miles. From a haul through Yellowstone National Park where a bison approached his truck to a load that included props for Jurassic Quest, Scott’s experiences have made him ready for anything. On this episode of Haul Talk, hear how Scott’s emphasis on preventative maintenance, smart business sense, and work/life balance have made him the perfect example for drivers who are new to the game. 

https://www.cat.com/en_US/articles/truck-engine-resource-center/haul-talk-podcast.html

For father and son Nick and Nicholas Black, the diesel mechanic profession is a family affair. Nick went to school to become a diesel mechanic, while Nicholas learned everything from his dad and grandpa. Today, Nick focuses on restoration and custom truck builds at his shop, Whitemire Trucking, and Nicholas loves getting hands-on with repair jobs at his business, R&T Truck Service. In this episode of Haul Talk, you’ll hear about their family legacy and involvement in American Big Rig Racing—a truck racing series powered by Cat engines.

https://americanbigrigracing.com/

During a career that spans nearly four decades, Washington-based Bill Zender has driven through the worst conditions. From steep inclines to frozen windshield wipers, Bill has navigated the perils of the road with determination instilled in him by his fleet owner dad. In this episode of Haul Talk, Bill shares stories from the road and reminisces about the good old days—when there was no power steering or cell phones, and his community of logging truck drivers felt like family.

https://www.cat.com/en_US/articles/truck-engine-resource-center/haul-talk-podcast.html

Ever since she was a child, Jennifer Keffeler has loved the trucking industry. She’s turned that passion into a 29-year career at Caterpillar, where she spent nearly a decade as a sales manager for On Highway Truck Engines. In this episode of Haul Talk, Jennifer sits down with Kurt and Zach to talk about significant shifts in the industry, the importance of truck driving to our American way of life (shout out to the million milers out there!) and why trucking is a great career for young people to consider.

https://www.cat.com/en_US/articles/truck-engine-resource-center/haul-talk-podcast.html

When Adept Ape first started his YouTube Channel, one of his most popular videos was about his job as a diesel engine tech. Ten years and over 250K subscribers later, Adept Ape’s channel has become a popular maintenance and repair resource for drivers and technicians. In this episode of Haul Talk, Adept Ape answers questions about common engine issues (Hint: Don’t neglect your cooling system!) and offers simple tips for extending the life of an engine (oil sampling, anyone?). He also gives us a behind the scenes glimpse of how he produces his channel, including videos with over one million views!

https://www.cat.com/en_US/articles/truck-engine-resource-center/haul-talk-podcast.html

For Chris Pyles, business owner and repair pro, trucking is a family affair. His grandfather started Pyles Trucking Company in Goodfield, IL in the 1960s and his father opened K&G Repair in the early 80s. Chris spent time working for both businesses, cultivating expertise in driving and maintenance. In this episode, Chris shares the story of how he came to own his grandfather’s company while helping his father run the repair shop—and why Cat C13 engines are a favorite in his fleet (several of them are million milers!)

https://www.cat.com/en_US/articles/truck-engine-resource-center/haul-talk-podcast.html

https://www.facebook.com/p/Pyles-Trucking-100076405020282/?_rdr

Kurt and Zach’s guest Roger Lang owns Byron Lang Trucking, a third-generation family business with 50 trucks in its stable. As a guy who grew up around trucks, he’s a fan of Cat® engines and has been getting millions of miles out of his. How? Overhauls of his older ones and even a Cat® Reman engine with new content. If you love talking shop, you’ll love this episode.

https://www.cat.com/en_US/articles/truck-engine-resource-center/haul-talk-podcast.html

http://byronlangtrucking.com/

When Garrett Smith was 17, he decided he didn’t want to sell donuts for the rest of his life. His love for lifted trucks and diesel inspired him to pursue a career in truck service, and now he’s a Service Manager at MHC, one of Caterpillar’s largest Truck Engine Parts and Service (TEPS) dealerships. He sits down with the guys to talk Cat® engines, customer support, and developing the next generation of expert service techs.

https://www.cat.com/en_US/articles/truck-engine-resource-center/haul-talk-podcast.html

mhc.com

How many of us can say we’ve got nearly 4 million miles on our engine? Meet a trucker who can: owner-operator Alan Kitzhaber, who’s been driving with the same Cat 3406E engine in his truck for the past 30 years. After three decades of driving, Alan has no shortage of tips and tricks to share.

https://www.cat.com/en_US/articles/truck-engine-resource-center/haul-talk-podcast.html