Entertainment on the Road: Podcasts for Truckers’ Daily Drives

As a truck driver, you spend long hours on the road. Dead air time can take the wind out of your sails—or the gas out of your tank. If you’re tired of listening to AM/FM radio or hearing repeat tracks on your daily Spotify mix, it’s time you explored the world of podcasts. 

The number of people who listen to podcasts has exploded in recent years. According to a survey from Edison One and Triton Digital, around 80 million Americans are now weekly podcast listeners. 

Podcasts come in all genres: news, true crime, comedy, culture, fitness, finance and sports. Some tell nonfiction narratives. Others rely on interviews and discussions. 

What podcasts should truck drivers listen to for entertainment? Are there podcasts geared toward truckers? Try a podcast from this list on your next haul. 

Trucking Podcasts

If you’re looking for takes on being a trucker, several podcasts out there are made by and for truckers. Give one of these podcasts a listen for stories, entertainment and news from truck drivers like you. 

TalkCDL Trucking Podcast

TalkCDL is run by people who live and breathe trucking. The podcast covers trucking news and topics like trucking laws, big rig accidents, finding places to eat and doing your taxes. New episodes come out every Friday morning. 

Big Rig Banter

Big Rig Banter’s journalists interview both big names in trucking and everyday Joes. Hosts Troy and Lenay are marketers by trade, but they work for AllTruckJobs.com, sharing information about the trucking industry through a career lens. Give this podcast a go if you want to learn more about trucking from a job perspective. 

Trucking After Hours

If you are interested in anything with a motor, Trucking After Hours may be the podcast for you. Father and son duo Buck and Don Ballard chat about trucking, cars and all things engines. For over 20 years, Buck has been in and around trucks, from Peterbilts to pickups. 

Trucker Dump

Trucker Dump has one goal. If you ponder the world of trucking while listening, then they’ve achieved their mission. Trucker Dump is a podcast geared toward green truck drivers and people considering trucking as a career. Todd McCann interviews drivers, shares feedback from listeners and relays the honest truth about trucking. 

Ask the Trucker 

This trucker podcast has been around since 2008. With numerous episodes to choose from, Ask the Trucker’s host, Allen Smith, provides a wealth of insights from over 30 years of experience in the trucking industry. He has been a driver, owner-operator and operations manager. Ask the Trucker topics run the gamut and are always presented with transparency. 

Alice Isn’t Dead

How about a different take on trucking? Alice Isn’t Dead doesn’t tell the stories of real truckers. Instead, it tells the story of a fictional truck driver searching for her wife—one she thought was dead. As she drives across the country, she encounters unusual places and gets caught up in a conspiracy that’s bigger than she knows. 

Journalistic Podcasts

Who doesn’t love the pursuit of a good story? Follow the details wherever they lead and learn something new as you roll down the highway. 

This American Life

This American Life is both a weekly radio program and podcast with a Pulitzer Prize to back it. More than 2.8 million people download the program’s weekly podcasts, which are collections of compelling journalistic stories that showcase the lives of real people. 

Host Ira Glass shares stories of people switched at birth, car sales associates, breakups, politics and more. With hundreds of episodes available, This American Life offers plenty of true tales to keep you entertained. 

Serial

Serial’s host takes you through one true story per season. You’ll follow the story alongside Sarah Koenig, discovering new information as she does. This podcast comes from the producers of This American Life.

The first season of Serial follows the murder of a high school senior whose boyfriend claims he is innocent, while the second season zeros in on a U.S. Army private who wanders into the Afghanistan desert. A Cleveland courthouse is the focus of season three. Sarah follows the cases that come through the courthouse doors. 

Storytime with Seth Rogen

Comedian Seth Rogen is not a journalist. He hones his natural curiosity for people to help them tell their best stories. Storytime with Seth Rogen isn’t all humor. The stories often end where you least expect them to go.  

Sports Podcasts

Sports fan? You’ll find a variety of sports talk podcasts that either break down last night’s plays or delve into larger issues affecting college and professional sports. 

Sports Wars

Get the stories behind the biggest sports rivalries in history. Why are some fans against each other from the start? What fuels bad blood that continues for decades? Discover what really happened behind the grudges, tantrums and pranks with Sports Wars. Then choose a side.  

The Bill Simmons Podcast

Listen to Bill and a variety of fun celebrity guest hosts talk about sports, culture and more. Bill and his guests cover the latest matchups, trades and headlines. 

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Follow Le Batard’s podcast to get his unique perspective on sports, pop culture and politics. Le Batard and Stugotz often rotate guest hosts, showcasing a variety of ESPN and sports personalities. 

Pardon My Take

With new episodes out three days a week, Pardon My Take from Barstool Sports claims to deliver the hottest (or shall we say loudest) sports takes of today. This podcast prides itself on being a bit controversial. It’s really a comedy show in disguise. 

Culture Podcasts

Just because you’re on the road doesn’t mean you have to miss out. Keep up with the news and events that matter to you. 

The Daily

Produced by the New York Times, The Daily is a dose of international news highlights summarized in only 20 minutes. Episodes of The Daily come out five days a week by 6 a.m. Listen while you sip your morning coffee. 

Binge Mode

TV and movie lovers unite! Whether you’ve binged the latest Netflix series or seen the newest Marvel movie, Binge Mode pulls you into discussions about the most popular shows, films and books of the moment. Dive into characters and plots. Share in unsatisfying finales. Go ahead. Put this podcast on binge mode. 

Bachelor Happy Hour

Fans of The Bachelor can get their fill of drama, love and heartbreak with behind-the-scenes takes from current cast members and alumni. You’ll learn inside information and the secret scoops about all things Bachelor Nation. The Bachelor Happy Hour is hosted by Becca Kufrin, former winner of The Bachelor and later lead of The Bachelorette. 

Stuff You Should Know

Stuff You Should Know explores historical events, people, food, religion, conspiracy theories and anything else you could ever want to learn about. Hosts Josh and Chuck met while writing and editing for HowStuffWorks.com. Since 2008, they’ve turned their wildly popular podcast into a book, one-season scripted TV series and version of the game Trivial Pursuit. 

Fiction Drama Podcasts

Some of the best podcasts to listen to while driving are drenched in drama. Let these voice actors weave together stories that take you to other worlds. 

Welcome to Night Vale

Welcome to Night Vale is a fiction podcast told in the style of community updates. While you listen to news reports, weather segments and more, you’ll be transported to a rural desert town called Night Vale, where hooded figures have unusual powers and strange lights grace the night sky. What happens in Night Vale? Listen to find out. 

Critical Role

Do you love fantasy? You may have heard of popular role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons. Critical Role started as a few friends playing RPGs in their living rooms. Now, it’s a podcast with half a million viewers each week. Follow beloved voiceover actors as they bring characters to life and lead you into worlds of fantasy and adventure. 

Blackout

Academy Award winner Rami Malek in a podcast? We’ll listen! Blackout is an apocalyptic thriller that will have you hanging on every word. As a small-town DJ works to protect his family, his relationships are tested, and he begins to wonder just who caused the nationwide blackout. 

True Crime Podcasts

Do you crave a good murder mystery? There are plenty of podcasts to satisfy your appetite for true crime stories.

Crime Junkie

If you can’t get enough of true crime, Crime Junkie is the podcast for you. Each weekly episode takes you through the case of one murdered, captured or missing person. Hosts Brit Prawat and Ashley Flowers do their research to dig up information on the crimes they’ve been obsessing over. 

Over My Dead Body

Over My Dead Body is an anthology series. Each season focuses on one individual pushed beyond their limits to tell the story behind their actions. This podcast has covered breakups gone horribly wrong, the feud between Joe Exotic and Carol Baskin, and the secret life of a small-town cop hailed as a hero. 

Where Can I Find Podcasts to Listen to?

If you’re ready to press play, be sure you have a device that can access the internet. There are many apps and websites where you can discover new podcasts. Some of the most popular podcast apps are Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts—already found on most iOS and Android devices.

Popular Podcast Apps

• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts
• Spotify
• Audible 
• Stitcher 
• TuneIn Radio

Start the engine. Pick your podcast. Hit the road. 

Are you ready to become a truck driver? Prime’s Driver Training Program helps you prepare to take your CDL exam and gives you the opportunity to haul real loads with the support of an experienced trainer. 

Apply today to drive for Prime. We have jobs for new and experienced drivers. If you have questions about Prime or the online application process, please reach out to our Recruiting Department at 866-290-1568.