The OuterBelt's Podcast
We discuss all things and ramble on about news, to current events with a focus on the trucking industry and #hyfieldfamily.
Episodes
A joke and a weather gripe set the tone, but the story that grabs you is an oil pressure warning at altitude and the quiet, methodical choices that followed. We walk through the cockpit logic—climb for glide, identify alternates, measure thresholds—and show how aeronautical decision making mirrors the best habits on the road. It’s not about heroics; it’s about buying time, staying calm, and keeping safe options in rea...
The headlines say cannabis is getting reclassified, but what does that actually mean when you hold a CDL and your job depends on clean screens? We dig into the federal move toward Schedule III, cut through the myths, and explain why FMCSA testing panels can still flag marijuana even if the law shifts. You’ll hear what carriers are likely to keep doing, where the gray areas live, and how trace THC from “THC-free” CBD c...
A storage unit can only take you so far. We finally planted roots with a real two-bay shop—and the difference is immediate: safer turnarounds, faster service, organized parts, and a driver lounge built for actual rest. We break down the search in a booming Columbus market, why so many “perfect” buildings failed the test, and how we ended up with the right mix of space, power, and potential to scale our Tech Ops the wa...
Bad intel travels fast. Facts travel farther. We kicked things off with post‑Thanksgiving stories—quiet weekends, Southern “polite bites,” and a heated dessert debate—before unboxing a generous pecan sampler from a listener team. The table lit up: praline versus cinnamon sugar, chocolate that overwhelmed the nut, and a mysterious white‑coated half that divided the room. Food memories opened a portal to regional nostal...
A blue-sky Friday turned into a surprise blanket of wet snow, and that weather whiplash set the stage for a wide-ranging, grounded conversation about safety, judgment, and the systems we rely on. We open with the simple joys—fireplace, sweats, and a Jurassic Park rewatch—then weave through Stallone’s underrated writing, Taylor Sheridan’s expanding universe, and what “renaissance” careers teach about grit. The pivot is...
A windy hop to Fort Wayne set the stage, but the real turbulence hit when USPS clamped down on non-domiciled CDL drivers and watched service clog almost overnight. We walk through the ban, the backlash, and the DOT’s emergency interim rule, then connect the dots to capacity, safety, and why a slow correction might finally nudge rates higher after a grinding freight slump.
We break the jargon into real-world c...
A thunderstorm, a table full of jerky, and a big promise from Washington State: find safe truck parking up to four hours ahead. We kick off with a care package from David and Ramona and a spirited taste test—lemon pepper’s bright pop, jalapeno honey’s gentle burn, Texas heat’s serious kick, and bohemian garlic’s bold, road-worthy flavor—before steering straight into the news that could change nightly parking hunts on ...
A dead fiber line, a panicked smart oven, and a workday ground to a halt—sometimes the little failures reveal how much our lives lean on invisible networks. We open with the chaos of connection loss and follow the thread into a much bigger story: drones washing concrete walls, spraying fields from mobile trailers, choreographing citywide light shows, and even navigating war zones with tethered fiber. The sky is gettin...
The long-awaited return of Ice Road Truckers after an eight-year absence has the crew buzzing with excitement. We dive deep into the fascinating world of trucks navigating frozen lakes in northern Canada and Alaska, where drivers must maintain painfully slow speeds to prevent creating pressure waves that could crack the ice beneath them. These brave souls transport everything from school buses to 100,000-pound pipes t...
The flip-flop myth stops here! In this eye-opening episode, we expose the truth behind viral social media claims that DOT officers are putting drivers out of service for wearing flip-flops. Spoiler alert: there's no such regulation in FMCSA code. We share our personal driving footwear preferences and debate what actually constitutes safe options behind the wheel.
We dig into Ohio's ambitious $150 mi...
After a summer-long hiatus, the Outer Belt crew reunites with stories that span continents, festivals, and enough butter to make your cardiologist nervous. Patrick, Chili, Eric, Zucchini Bread, and Jerry haven't missed a beat as they dive into tales from their months apart.
The European adventures take center stage as we hear about the whirlwind 36-hour Dublin experience before the group found themselves...
Weathering change is what trucking is all about, and The Outer Belt's season finale brings this theme front and center. The hosts gather to share critical information about the newly implemented DOT medical card process, which has gone completely digital – with unexpected consequences. As one host recounts his firsthand experience with the system, he reveals the troubling reality: even when medical examiners subm...
Ever wondered why trucking companies choose certain transmissions over others, or what happens when a specialized truck manufacturer goes out of business? In this captivating episode, we dive deep into the world of commercial truck operations with a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at custom truck maintenance challenges.
Patrick shares a compelling story about a unique problem facing their fleet: custom fai...
Take a ride with us as we reunite at The Outer Belt after some globe-trotting adventures that left hosts navigating a 13-hour time difference. This episode weaves together personal journeys with industry insights in our signature conversational style that feels like catching up with friends at a truck stop.
We kick things off with Melissa sharing her coffee shop explorations and Maryland visit, while Zucchini...
Two major regulatory changes are about to transform commercial trucking compliance this June, and drivers need to prepare now. In this information-packed episode, we break down the upcoming electronic medical certificate submission requirement taking effect June 23rd and the English proficiency out-of-service criteria implementation on June 25th.
The first change means certified medical examiners must electro...
After a brief hiatus, the Outer Belt podcast crew reunites with their trademark humor and industry insights. Beginning with helium-fueled antics and catching up on recent travels, the hosts dive into the significant changes reshaping the trucking landscape in 2024.
Jerry shares his fascinating two-week grand jury duty experience, offering a rare glimpse into the justice system from a trucker's perspectiv...
Walking the floor of the Mid-American Trucking Show feels like stepping into a world where massive machinery meets precise engineering and creative expression. This year's event didn't disappoint, with standout exhibits demonstrating why this gathering remains essential for anyone connected to the trucking industry.
The European Scania cab-over truck stole the spotlight with its remarkable fit and f...
Would you invest $12,000 in equipment that most competitors skip? We dive deep into why Hyfield Trucking equips nearly all our straight trucks with lift gates—a decision that goes against industry norms but creates strategic advantages at Panther and FedEx.
This equipment choice opens doors to specialized, higher-paying freight opportunities while earning additional pennies per mile that pay for the lift gate...
The trucking industry just experienced what the Trump administration calls "the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in US history" with the rollback of EPA 2027 emissions standards. Patrick and the Outer Belt crew unpack this dramatic shift that has sent ripples through the entire transportation sector.
For years, trucking companies have been preparing for a massive buying frenzy in ...
When dust from New Mexico creates mud rain in Ohio, the Outer Belt crew finds themselves discussing one of nature's strangest phenomena. The hosts share their experiences with mud-coated vehicles and the resulting car wash chaos across the region, providing a fascinating look at how weather patterns thousands of miles away can impact daily life.
The conversation takes a serious turn as they examine a con...
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