The Autumn Transport Podcast

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Brenton is joined by the Lindsey Trent, President of Next Generation in Trucking Association (NGT). NGT is a non-profit trade association who is engaging and training the next generation of trucking industry professionals by partnering with high schools, community/technical colleges and private schools to connect to and launch training programs around North America.

Lindsey shares some valuable insights into what NGT is doing to help students and young adults find a career in trucking. We discuss barriers to entry, the involvement of female students, some amazing success stories, and how people get get involved starting these kinds of programs in their own schools.

You can connect with NGT through all main social media channels (@nextgentruckers) or through their website: https://www.nextgentrucking.org/

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Brenton is joined by Autumn Safety Director Chris Senty to discuss the upcoming 2024 CVSA Brake Safety Week, August 25th-31st. Chris shares some fantastic tips for the drivers about what they need to do to make sure their truck and trailer are ready for the Blitz. We also talk about the interaction Safety has with new  independent contractors during orientation when they join the Autumn family.

For more info on Brake Safety Week check out the link below to the CVSA page.

CVSA Brake Safety Week

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In this episode Brenton interviews Dr. Mark Manera. Dr. Mark was a physical therapist who began to notice a big problem in the trucking health space. He started Offshift to support and encourage truck drivers with their health goals.

Offshift

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What a great conversation with Katrina Hillard, an owner operator in Autumn's Pneumatic division. Katrina was the Autumn Transport Driver of the Year in 2019, and was named January Driver of the Month in 2022 by the Minnesota Trucking Association. Katrina is one of the kindest, most humble drivers out there. It was so fun to hear hear stories about getting into trucking, being a female driver, and the many ways that Autumn is like a family to her. You're gonna enjoy this one!

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In this episode Brenton is joined by Hopper driver Dennis Brewington. Dennis has been with us for almost a year and his enthusiasm and joy are contagious. Dennis is a Native American and we discuss the lack of Native American representation in the truck driving industry. Dennis also shares how important family is to him, how he creates memories for his four grandkids, and he talks about his 15 minutes of YouTube fame.

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In this episode Brenton is joined by Pneumatic driver Ben Wilson. Ben started partnering with Autumn in 2001. He worked briefly in the Hopper division before switching to Pneumatics in 2004. Ben is from NC and runs a dedicated pneumatic lane. He shares some great stories about CEO Julie saving him from a NYC load, working in the fracking fields of North Dakota, and almost losing his daughter at the Canadian border. Ben is a great guy and was very vulnerable in our conversation, opening up about mental health and the isolation of life on the road.

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Brenton and Joe talk about his background in trucking and the military, growing up in MN, and how Joe came to Autumn for the Ownership Lease Purchase Program (OLPP). Joe has a contagious energy. He shares about the friendship he has with another driver in Liquid Tank, and he talks about how everyone at Autumn feel like family.

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Brenton and Chris chat about Pneumatics, breakdowns, what makes owner operators successful, and the pros and cons of technology in trucks.

@indietrucker
@brentonbalvin

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We are sharing this audio with permission, from a recording done by the Minnesota Trucking Association at their 2023 Safety Conference. Autumn Transport  CEO Julie Andrich gave a keynote speech about how to keep things safe, even when she, or safety personal, have left the building. Enjoy!

You can listen to other interesting MTA podcasts on their website: mntrucking.org/podcast.

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In this episode Brenton is joined by Freedom Drivers Project Specialist Micah Larsen, from the nonprofit organization Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT). Since 2009 TAT has worked to partner with truck drivers, bus drivers and other transportation industry workers to educate and inspire drivers to help combat the problem of human trafficking. In our discussion Micah shares some startling statistics about the problem, and share several things drivers can do in their unique roles to help combat trafficking and ultimately, to potentially save lives. There are over 50M trafficking victims worldwide but Micah encourages us to think about this as a problem in our own backyard. Please listen to this important conversation.

If you think you see the signs of human trafficking please call the anonymous National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888

Trucks Against Trafficking
Book recommendation "Not For Sale"
Freedom Drivers Project