More Than Just Trucks
Presented by Truck Country and Stoops Freightliner-Quality Trailer, More Than Just Trucks is a podcast for gear heads, truckers, or anyone who wants to learn more about the trucking industry. Come along with me as we dive deeper into what makes this $700 billion industry an essential part of all of our lives.
Episodes
23 episodes
2025 Voice of the Technician Report
Please join host Ray Clark as he visits Jay Goninen, of WrenchWay, as they discuss their takeaways from the 2025 technician survey report published by WrenchWay.
•
Season 5
•
Episode 1
•
1:21:50
College vs. Tech School
In this episode, Ray welcomes back technician training program students Diesel and Chris as they compare and contrast the advantages of attending a traditional college compared with a tech school.
•
Season 4
•
Episode 2
•
14:31
Training Knows No Age!
Two Truck Country technician training program students come from opposite ends of the age spectrum. Diesel, 19, entered the training program fresh after graduating high school. Meanwhile, Chris, 53, took a detour on his way to the program, init...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 1
•
26:54
Apprentice, Apprentice!
Ray, along with his colleague Jolene, celebrated National Apprenticeship Week by welcoming a members of Truck Country's apprenticeship program. Trey H., from our Dubuque dealership, and Cesar H., from our Hampshire location, talk about their ex...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 5
•
23:58
From Far & Wide
Truck Country's Technical Training Program's newest class members have come from far and wide to join the company. Class members range in age from 18 to 52 and come from all walks of life with diverse backgrounds. The students have done everyth...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 4
•
49:58
Get Off Your A$$
Ray's not pulling any punches! As diesel repair shops struggle to fill technician positions, it is not a good time to take a passive approach when recruiting future staff members, podcast host Ray Clark says. Ray, joined by guest J...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 3
•
37:12
It's Signing Day!
The recruiting season is always open in the trucking and transportation industry! Recently, Truck Country and Stoops training programs welcomed newcomers to their diesel tech training classes with cool events at their facilities. The programs w...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 2
•
13:07
2022: A Year in Trucking and Beyond
"More Than Just Trucks" kicks off 2023 by looking back at 2022. This month, Ray is joined by Jim Connely, Truck Country/Stoops' marketing director, as they recap the trucking and transportation industries, as well as other world news and pop cu...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 1
•
1:16:21
Diesel Chicks Speak Out!
Following up on last month's discussion about making diesel careers appealing for ladies, Ray visits with a panel of women who have found careers in the shop. Our panel discusses what attracted them to become technicians, their personal e...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 7
•
42:43
No longer a man’s world: Making diesel careers appealing to women
As competition continues to recruit more diesel technicians to the trucking industry, many companies are looking to appeal to an untapped pool of talent in women. Surveys indicate that women make up just 1-3% of technicians currently in the ind...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 6
•
38:46
Trucking's Future: Truck Country, Stoops to Showcase Electric-Powered Trucks
In this episode of More Than Just Trucks, Josh Jorgenson and Drew Hepler discuss a pair of exciting customer events that are planned to showcase Freightliner's new electric-powered trucks, the eCascadia and eM2, at Stoops' Lima, Ohio, and Truck...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 5
•
14:46
Looking Back and Looking Forward
In the latest episode of "More Than Just Trucks," Ray flips roles with McCoy Group Marketing Director Jim Connely, as they mark the podcast's 1,000th download. Jim asks Ray about how the podcast got started, and the guys preview some exciting u...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 4
•
30:21
Electric Vehicles and What They Mean for the Future!
This month, host Ray Clark is joined by Drew Hepler, Truck Country's on-highway sustainability solutions manager, to provide all you need to know about the emergence of Freightliner's new electric-powered trucks. Learn about the current state o...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 3
•
48:30
Old School vs. New School
Host Ray Clark and Daimler Truck North America's Terry Kerbe get together to discuss changes they have experienced over the years in service departments in this episode titled, "Old School vs. New School." The pair take a trip down mem...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 2
•
48:57
Trucking industry: Impact of the pandemic and inventory shortages
During this month's episode of "More Than Just Trucks," host Ray Clark visits with veteran truck sales representative Mike Woolf about the figurative roller-coaster ride the health pandemic and corresponding inventory shortages have playe...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 1
•
57:18
Dual Learning
In the newest episode of "More Than Just Trucks," Ray Clark visits with high school students who are enrolled in a dual-credit high school/college class being taught by the Truck Country Technical Institute team. The course is part of a new ini...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 8
•
24:35
Train and Retain
In response to the growing need for diesel technicians, Daimler Trucks North America has taken a leading role in creating recruiting, training, and retention practices. This month, Mike Mallett, Daimler's training programs manager, shares...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 7
•
37:02
Training Styles — In Person or Virtual
This month, “More Than Just Trucks” explores differing training styles that have emerged since the onset of the health pandemic in 2020.Our host, Ray Clark, is joined by Truck Country and Stoops Freightliner-Quality Trailer trainers, Andy H...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 6
•
37:43
The Right Wrench
In the June episode of "More Than Just Trucks," Jay Goninen, the founder and president of Find A Wrench and co-founder and president of WrenchWay, joins Ray to discuss ways his organizations help businesses connect with and hire diesel technici...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 5
•
53:38
The Journey to Truck Country/Stoops
As the trucking and transportation industry faces a significant shortage of diesel technicians, a pair of technicians with Truck Country and Stoops Freightliner-Quality Trailer, Aaron Wickline and Jake Pulley, visit with Ray Clark about their u...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 4
•
52:41
The Unconventional Route
"More Than Just Trucks" welcomes Chryssa Hunlock as the guest for April's episode. Host Ray Clark visits with Chryssa, Cheema Freightlines' director of driver engagement and technology, about her unconventional journey to become a t...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 3
•
34:51
Planning for the Future!
This month, More Than Just Trucks explores the role local technical training centers play in providing a boost for vocational careers. Our host, Ray Clark, welcomes Dr. Kris Hall, the director of the Elizabeth, Ill.-based Jo Daviess Ca...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 2
•
43:51
Introduction - Get to Know Us!
In our first episode of "More Than Just Trucks," Katie Porter visits with podcast host Ray Clark, the director of training and development for Truck Country and Stoops Freightliner-Quality Trailer. The pair discuss the origins of "More Than Jus...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 1
•
21:47