Eleven hours is a long time to be alone with your thoughts and a windshield. Music helps for a while. Audiobooks work if you're in the right mood. But podcasts — good ones — can make a long haul feel like it passed in half the time.
The catch is there's a lot of garbage out there. Here's a curated list broken down by what you're in the mood for, so you can actually find something worth queuing up before your next run.
For Trucking Industry News and Real Talk
What the Truck?!? (FreightWaves) This podcast focuses on the stories and experiences of people at the heart of the transportation industry, featuring conversations with CEOs, truckers, founders, VCs, brokers, and influencers about the biggest stories in transportation and logistics. Tenstreet If you want to know what's actually happening in the freight market — rates, regulations, tech, who's going under and who's growing — this is the show. New episodes drop frequently and it's available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and iHeartRadio.
TalkCDL TalkCDL covers what's current in trucking with insightful analysis from industry professionals that's both informative and entertaining. Tenstreet It's a driver-first show — they cover current trucking laws, industry news, and real driver issues without the corporate polish. Available on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.
Red Eye Radio Red Eye Radio was designed for long-haul truckers and airs Monday through Friday from 1 AM to 6 AM EST. The Extra Mile podcast, hosted by Eric Harley, dives deep into the key issues and topics facing the trucking industry. Shipex Perfect for overnight runs when the world is quiet and you want something with some weight to it.
For Business-Minded Drivers and Owner-Operators
Truck N' Hustle Truck N' Hustle is designed for aspiring trucking and logistics entrepreneurs, providing insights into industry trends, brokers, and success stories from companies that started from scratch. With over 200 episodes, it offers valuable knowledge and inspiration Doublecointires for anyone thinking about going independent or building something bigger than a single truck. Available on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.
The Lead Pedal Podcast Hosted by a 37-year trucking veteran Allen Smith, this podcast shares information on the OTR industry with topics including health, career, regulations, and important issues facing the industry. Getprovidentfunding If you want career advice from someone who's actually been on the road for decades, this one delivers.
For the Human Side of the Road
Over the Road Over the Road is an eight-part narrative series that shares the unique stories of America's long-haul truckers. Hosted by "Long Haul Paul" Marhoefer — a storyteller, musician, and trucker for nearly 40 years — the podcast takes listeners on a journey deep into America's open landscape. Tenstreet It's different from the news-and-analysis shows. This one is storytelling. If you've ever wanted to hear what it feels like from someone who's spent their life doing what you do, this is worth the listen. Available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and overtheroad.fm.
Miles and Mentors Hosted by Alex Powers, Miles and Mentors debuted in 2024 as a forum for supporting new and aspiring truck drivers as they begin a career in the logistics industry. Tenstreet Good listen for drivers in their first few years, or for experienced drivers who enjoy mentoring mindset content.
For When You Don't Want to Think About Trucking
Crime Junkie Probably the most popular true crime podcast on the planet right now, and for good reason. Short, well-researched episodes averaging about 30 minutes — perfect for filling a stretch between stops. Easy to follow without needing to take notes, and genuinely gripping enough to make miles disappear.
How I Built This (NPR) Hosted by Guy Raz, this show interviews the founders of major companies about how they built them from nothing. If you're thinking about going owner-operator, or just like hearing stories of people betting on themselves — this one is endlessly listenable. Episodes run 45–60 minutes.
Freakonomics Radio Smart, well-produced deep dives into surprising topics — economics, human behavior, business, culture. Nothing trucking-specific, which is the point. It's the kind of show that makes you feel sharper after you've listened. Great for late-night miles when you want your brain engaged but not stressed.
Stuff You Should Know Two guys explain how things work. Topics range from how nuclear reactors operate to the history of cults to why humans yawn. Episodes run about an hour, they're funny without trying too hard, and you'll have something to talk about the next time you stop at a truck stop. Perfect for solo hauls.
A Few Tips for Building Your Podcast Queue
Download before you roll. Cell coverage on long OTR routes is unpredictable. Most podcast apps — Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts — let you download episodes for offline listening. Get in the habit of queuing up 4–5 hours of content before you leave.
Mix it up. Stacking back-to-back trucking news shows can get heavy. Alternating between industry content and something completely unrelated keeps your attention from drifting.
Use variable playback speed. Most podcast apps let you listen at 1.25x or 1.5x speed. Once you adjust to it, you get through content faster and it feels completely natural. You can cover 11 hours of episodes in 7–8 hours of listening time.
The road doesn't have to be silent. Stack your queue before the next run and make the miles work for you.
OTR Express Group connects CDL-A OTR drivers with top-paying carriers and dedicated lanes across the U.S. Looking for your next run? Get in touch today.
