141: Who Wants to Drive In Snow?! PART 2
Welcome back for PART 2 of episode 140: Who Wants to Drive In Snow?! Brian and Shipper are joined by Daryl for the second part of what can only be considered a marathon. In this part, Daryl dives into what drove him into trucking, his time in the US Army, and much much more!! Once again there is a lot of laughs, wild rabbit holes, and tons of great conversation. So sit back, relax, and enjoy th...
1hr 54m Dec 15, 2022
1hr 54m
BACK IT UP | 126: Operation Generator Drop
In episode 126: Operation Generator Drop; Shipper and Brian have a conversation with Ben! Starting with his Class C 25+ years ago, Ben has had his fair share of incredible incidences while on the job. This was an awesome episode, and we hope you all enjoy it!! FRIENDLY NOTE: Truck driving is a brotherhood/sisterhood of which we all know the trials and burden of this career. Long hours, time awa...
1hr 49m Dec 09, 2022
1hr 49m
140: Who Wants to Drive In Snow?!
In episode 140: Who Wants to Drive In Snow?!; Brian and Shipper are joined, in studio, by returning guest, Daryl from episode 110 (https://audioboom.com/posts/8070142-110-metaverse-drone-trucks) ! This show was BY FAR the longest episode we have ever recorded. So long, in fact, that we ended up splitting this show into two parts, that of which will air next week. This was a wild one with topics...
2hr 45m Dec 08, 2022
2hr 45m
BACK IT UP | 91: Time Slip Off I80
In Episode 91: Time Slip Off I80, Brian and Tony have a conversation with Bob, a long haul trucker. In Bob's travels, he has seen many different things, kept several log books, driven with his wife, and spent hours at the wheel. However, the main story that Bob joins us to share is anything but ordinary! On what seemed to be just another long day, Bob was searching for a place to grab a bite to...
1hr 12m Dec 02, 2022
1hr 12m
139: On The Road with Little Dave
In episode 139: On The Road with Little Dave; Brian and Shipper are joined by Little Dave, a fellow Pennsylvanian! Dave has had a great career as a trucker, starting out as a heating oil delivery man. From there he made his way into construction and much more. He shares the many interesting and hilarious stories that have happened to him throughout the years. This episode was full of awesome st...
1hr 50m Dec 02, 2022
1hr 50m
BACK IT UP | 86: Straight From The Pitt | Phil Warwick
In Episode 86: Straight From The Pitt, we are joined by Phil Warwick. Phil is a driver from the Pitt Ohio Norristown, PA terminal, and he is also the person who trained Tony how to drive trailer years ago! Brian and Tony have a fun conversation with Phil about the state of the trucking industry today, and where it’s heading in the future with the implementation of automation. So buckle up and e...
2hr 25m Nov 26, 2022
2hr 25m
138: Finding Trucking in a Vending Machine
In episode 138: Finding Trucking in a Vending Machine; Brian and Shipper are joined by Mike in studio, to share his experiences in the trucking industry. Mike joined the trucking industry by chance, while working for a vending machine repair company. While with the vending machine company, Mike felt like he was going nowhere, but was thrown a lifeline when he saw the neighboring trucking compan...
1hr 48m Nov 24, 2022
1hr 48m
BACK IT UP | 26: Trucking Across America With a Toddler
In Episode 26: Trucking Across America With a Toddler, Chelsey joins the show to share some of her many experiences from the road. She expresses what it's like to be a full-time parent and a truck driver, all at the same time. It can be a very challenging task, but it is something she loves to do. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show! KEEP US FUELED: http://buymeacoffee.com/hammerlane EMERGENC...
1hr 13m Nov 18, 2022
1hr 13m
137: Final Voicemail Show of 2022!
In episode 137: Final Voicemail Show of 2022!; Brian and Shipper are joined by Jack, to listen to all the voicemails remaining in 2022! We always have a blast together and this one was especially hilarious. Thank you to all of those who called in and left a voicemail. Keep them coming!! Sit back, relax, and leave a message at the beep. KEEP US FUELED: http://buymeacoffee.com/hammerlane EMERGE...
1hr 5m Nov 16, 2022
1hr 5m
BACK IT UP | 43: Mountain Road Trucking
In Episode 43: Mountain Road Trucking, Tony and Brian are joined by Shane. Shane is a logging trucker in British Columbia, Canada, and has been at it for several years. Currently he's driving an eight axle with two trailers, all while combatting heavy snow and steep mountains. From smashing into moose to slipping on the chains and weathering the insane terrain, Shane has been through a lot! In ...
59m Nov 11, 2022
59m
136: Life In Dispatch
In episode 136: Life In Dispatch; Brian and Shipper are joined by Mike, Shipper's friend at his old stomping ground. Mike was a dispatch at the time that Shipper was working with him, and through his time there he amassed a remarkable amount of stories, as well as experience. This was a great episode, and we really hope you enjoy it! So sit back, buckle up and enjoy the ride! KEEP US FUELED: h...
1hr 47m Nov 10, 2022
1hr 47m
BACK IT UP | 9: Trucker Sees Bigfoot
On Episode 9: Trucker Sees Bigfoot, we are joined by Jim, who started out his trucking career in the military in Iraq. He shares what it was like being over there, and how the atmosphere seemed to be “all business, all the time.” After being in the service, Jim came home stateside, where he found himself in the rig again driving over the road. He has had a few unusual situations happen OTR, inc...
1hr 6m Nov 04, 2022
1hr 6m
135: Return of The Merk
In episode 135: Return of The Merk; Brian is joined by Jack and Tony Merkel, his sons, in a throwback-style episode. With Brian Shipper unable to join, and Tony being in Pennsylvania for his sister's wedding, it seemed like a great time to catch up with the family! This was a lot of fun! We hope you enjoy it as much as we did. KEEP US FUELED: http://buymeacoffee.com/hammerlane EMERGENCY PREPA...
1hr 47m Nov 03, 2022
1hr 47m
BACK IT UP | 72: Pay to Play
In Episode 72: Pay to Play, Tony and Brian are joined by Bob, a driver with some hilarious stories about working for a company that made him pay to haul their product in his own car! Some of Bob's stories are pretty wild and it was a blast getting to hear them, so we hope you enjoy them as much as we did! Sit back, buckle up, and pay us to listen to this in your car... or just enjoy it for free...
1hr 16m Oct 28, 2022
1hr 16m
134: Explosions In Afghanistan | Part 2
In episode 134: Explosions In Afghanistan | Part 2; Brian and Shipper are joined by Ben for his follow up interview! Ben's stories are so full of INCREDIBLY improbable events, while being unbelievably interesting. This time Ben wraps up some of the stories from Part 1, while jumping right in to some of the most intense and surprising stories from his time in service. This includes Mamba-17, whi...
1hr 46m Oct 27, 2022
1hr 46m
BACK IT UP | 49: Crazy EMT Stories
In Episode 49: Crazy EMT Stories, Tony and Brian talk with Josh, a former EMT out of West Virginia. Being an EMT comes with different battles: from high pressure situations of life-and-death to mundane everyday tasks, there's no question that this job requires a lot of attention and focus. In his time as an EMT, Josh has seen several interesting and - at times - messy situations... namely, an u...
1hr 7m Oct 21, 2022
1hr 7m
134: Explosions In Afghanistan | Part 1
In episode 134: Explosions In Afghanistan | Part 1; Brian and Shipper are joined by Ben, who spent time in service over in Afghanistan. This episode is so jam packed with amazing stories from Ben's time spent in deployment that we had to have him back on to get to even more unbelievable stories. He shared with us how he ended up being apart of the music scene, joining bands on tour, and even tu...
1hr 50m Oct 21, 2022
1hr 50m
BACK IT UP | 88: The Body Snatcher
In Episode 88, Tony and Brian are joined for a full interview by one of their most consistent returning voicemail callers, 'The Body Snatcher'! The guys have an entertaining conversation talking about anything and everything, buckle up and look alive as The Body Snatcher comes around on Hammer Lane Legends! KEEP US FUELED: http://buymeacoffee.com/hammerlane EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOOD: www.pr...
1hr 50m Oct 14, 2022
1hr 50m
BACK IT UP | 40: Forklift Follies
In Episode 40: Forklift Follies. Tony and Brian are joined by Joe, a forklift operator. Joe is a man of many hats, and shares of his experiences from his different occupations throughout the years. From dabbling in dispatch to forklift operator Joe has seen it all! Best of all, Joe talks with us about getting his CDL and what he aspires to do with it. If you're interested in wild stories, this ...
1hr 18m Oct 07, 2022
1hr 18m
133: BREAKROOM SHOW | TALKING SHOP!
In episode 133: BREAKROOM SHOW | TALKING SHOP!; Jack joins the guys in studio to shoot the bull! This episode goes off the rails a few times with some of the guys getting distracted, and going down absolutely hilarious rabbit trails. We had a BLAST recording this one, so we hope you enjoy the show! KEEP US FUELED: http://buymeacoffee.com/hammerlane EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOOD: www.preparewith...
1hr 10m Oct 06, 2022
1hr 10m
BACK IT UP | 57: Adventures Of Dunbar
In Episode 57: Adventures Of Dunbar, Tony and Brian talk with Zach - a returning guest from Episode 51: From Rock Bottom to Trucking - to discuss his time spent with Dunbar. Dunbar is a money transportation company, similar to Brink's Company. In that line of security work, as in trucking, you have to be prepared for anything to happen... especially when hauling millions of dollars. That prepar...
2hr 7m Oct 01, 2022
2hr 7m
132: Around the Water Cooler | Josh
in episode 132: Around the Water Cooler | Josh; Brian and Shipper are joined in studio by Josh, a fellow co-worker at Pitt Ohio. Josh has been on the road for 8 years, and in that time has gone from city driving to line haul, and back to city. He shared the many experiences, from what it's like driving in the city, to what he's enjoyed about his time in the industry. Josh and his brother Zach, ...
1hr 38m Sep 30, 2022
1hr 38m
BACK IT UP | 22: Body On the Road
On Episode 22: Body On the Road, we have a two-part interview! First Hal joins us to share his harrowing stories as a driver for Coca-Cola. Following his interview, we are joined by Bunni, who was recently featured in an article from ‘The Lily (https://www.thelily.com/3481-miles-on-the-road-with-a-female-truck-driver-during-coronavirus/) ’ describing her life as a long-haul driver. Having drive...
1hr 13m Sep 23, 2022
1hr 13m
131: VOICEMAIL SHOW!
In episode 131: VOICEMAIL SHOW!; the gang is in studio to go over all the voicemails that YOU, the listeners, have sent in! As always these shows are some of the most fun and entertaining that we do. We know that you'll enjoy this one, there were great stories shared, and a lot of laughter as well! So sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!! KEEP US FUELED: http://buymeacoffee.com/hammerlane EME...
1hr 10m Sep 21, 2022
1hr 10m
BACK IT UP | 77: Piggie Trucker Jones
In Episode 77: Piggie Trucker Jones, we talk to Piggie about how he got into the trucking industry, getting gypped out of $6,000 by his former employer, driving for SWIFT, and where he finally landed in his trucking career. Buckle up and enjoy the stories of Piggie Trucker Jones! KEEP US FUELED: http://buymeacoffee.com/hammerlane EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOOD: www.preparewithhll.com (http://ww...
1hr 10m Sep 16, 2022
1hr 10m
130: It's up WHERE?!
In episode 130: It's up WHERE?!; the guys chat with Mike a long time EMT in a major city. Needless to say, this means Mike has a LOT of stories to share. He shares his back story on how he got into the job, and also how he ended up in the area he's in. Mike had so many stories he shared, and still had more! We hope you enjoy this episode! KEEP US FUELED: http://buymeacoffee.com/hammerlane EME...
1hr 47m Sep 15, 2022
1hr 47m
BACK IT UP | 81: Negligent Retention
In Episode 81: Negligent Retention, Brian and Tony are joined by retired police officer Pete. In his time serving as an officer, Pete had some remarkable and unreal experiences, making this episode full of some of the funniest stories, tons of laughs, and conspiratorial rabbit holes. So buckle up and enjoy the show! KEEP US FUELED: http://buymeacoffee.com/hammerlane EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOO...
1hr 38m Sep 09, 2022
1hr 38m
129: A Lineage of Trucking
In episode 129: A Lineage of Trucking; Brian and Shipper are joined in studio for a great chat with Nevin Jr. Last week, we had Nevin Jr's dad on the show, and this week we get to sit down with the man who learned from the master. As Nevin shares, driving is just in his family's veins, and that's a good thing. From the time he was a young buck he would watch his dad at work, and see the life of...
1hr 47m Sep 07, 2022
1hr 47m
BACK IT UP | 66: The In's and Out's of Trucking
In Episode 66: The In's and Out's of Trucking, Brian and Tony chat with Kim, who began her trucking journey in 1995 when she gained her CDL from her local vocational school. She shares her early experiences on the road, learning to drive from team driving, and driving a Super Ten tractor. Kim also encourages women to take to the road. So buckle up and enjoy the show as Kim ends this one with a....
1hr 25m Sep 02, 2022
1hr 25m
128: Born to Run
In episode 128: Born to Run; the guys sit down in studio with Nevin Sr., a retired truck driver and man of many hats! Nevin had been in and around trucks since he was 5 years old, and his dad would take him along to the butcher's. There Nevin would enjoy the old, beaten-up, truck behind the butcher's shop, pretending to shift gears and drive all over the world. From that point on he had a hanke...
1hr 28m Aug 31, 2022
1hr 28m
BACK IT UP | 90: Owning A Trucking Company
In Episode 90: Owning A Trucking Company, the guys are joined in-studio by Brian from Episode 75: Straight From the Pitt: Brian Shipper (https://audioboom.com/posts/7924579-75-straight-from-the-pitt-brian-shipper) and a new guest to the podcast, Jeff Hammel. While you may already know Shipper, Jeff was once Shipper's terminal manager. The incredible conversation everyone had on this episode all...
2hr 3m Aug 26, 2022
2hr 3m
127: FLIPPED!
In episode 127: FLIPPED!; Shipper and Brian have a great conversation with Jeremy, a line haul driver. Jeremy started out running his own company as a "Hotshot Hauler", hooking up anything he could haul to his pickup truck and hitting the road. He ran in this line of work for over a year until it came to an abrupt end. From there he bounced between a few other gigs, before landing on his feet a...
1hr 6m Aug 24, 2022
1hr 6m
BACK IT UP | 14: Tow Truck Tales
In Episode 14: Tow Truck Tales, we hear from Susan, the owner, and operator of B&S Towing and Auto Repair. Susan shares some of her many wild stories from her years of towing across the United States. From a man attacked by a dog to attempted robbery, Susan has seen it all! KEEP US FUELED: http://buymeacoffee.com/hammerlane EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOOD: www.preparewithhll.com (http://www.prep...
1hr 4m Aug 20, 2022
1hr 4m
126: Operation Generator Drop
In episode 126: Operation Generator Drop; Shipper and Brian have a conversation with Ben! Starting with his Class C 25+ years ago, Ben has had his fair share of incredible incidences while on the job. This was an awesome episode, and we hope you all enjoy it!! KEEP US FUELED: http://buymeacoffee.com/hammerlane EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOOD: www.preparewithhll.com (http://www.preparewithhll.com...
1hr 46m Aug 18, 2022
1hr 46m
BACK IT UP | 80: Heroine and Ice Cubes
In Episode 80: Heroine and Ice Cubes, Brian and Tony are joined by a returning guest, Andrew from Episode 64: Mysterious Pallet (https://audioboom.com/posts/7878473-64-mysterious-pallet) . Once again, Andrew has no shortage of absurd and insane stories to share. From green orbs, to fighting a pimp, to unbelievable weather, the black dog urban legend and so much more, he doesn't hold back. If yo...
1hr 53m Aug 12, 2022
1hr 53m
125: Tattle-Tail Sally
In episode 125: Tattle-Tail Sally; Brian and Shipper chat with their friend Bill. In Bill's time driving he's had quite a plethora of experiences. From running a fleet while also driving for a company, to being involved in a dangerous accident, there is no doubt Bill has seen it all. There's no shortage of banter in this one. We hope you enjoy the show, and thanks for listening! KEEP US FUELED...
2hr 7m Aug 11, 2022
2hr 7m
BACK IT UP | 15: Hit and Run
In Episode 15: Hit and Run, our guest Zach shares the somber story about how shortly after he started driving solo, he hit a person on the side of the road. Zach talks with us about the emotional and mental toll he had to work through after that distressing accident, and recounts an eerily similar mishap experienced by his brother. KEEP US FUELED: http://buymeacoffee.com/hammerlane EMERGENCY ...
1hr 13m Aug 06, 2022
1hr 13m
124: Sunshine State Trucking
In episode 124: Sunshine State Trucking; Brian and Shipper get to chat with Garrett, a young driver from the sunny state of Florida. Garrett was introduced to trucking from the time he was a youngster, with his dad being a driver, he was always around the lifestyle. When he was old enough, Garrett became a dock worker at his dad's company and stayed on the dock for several years, until he felt ...
1hr 18m Aug 04, 2022
1hr 18m
BACK IT UP | 85: Attacked By A Pitbull
In Episode 85: Attacked By A Pitbull, Brian and Tony chat with Colby, a fellow LTL driver from Texas. Colby shares his multiple entertaining experiences from the road, from interactions with a homeless person to an insane encounter with a pitbull. Buckle up and enjoy the ride! KEEP US FUELED: http://buymeacoffee.com/hammerlane EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOOD: www.preparewithhll.com (http://www.p...
1hr 25m Jul 30, 2022
1hr 25m
123: #MOO!
In episode 123: #MOO!; Brian and Shipper are joined by Dakota from Texas. Through the years, Dakota has been involved in many different facets of the industry, but that's not where he started. As a young man, Dakota was a security guard for over 6 years, in hopes of becoming a police officer, but as time went on he decided to take up driving. He tells of the time he spent in training with a "tr...
1hr 28m Jul 28, 2022
1hr 28m
BACK IT UP | 69: Landscaping Legends
In Episode 69: Landscaping Legends, Tony and Brian chat with Justin from New Orleans. Justin is the owner operator of Gonzo's Lawn Services LLC. He joins us to share his many stories from the road and on the job site. He also shares his experience being in and around New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina devastated the city. So buckle up and enjoy the show as Justin shares his landscaping legends....
1hr 53m Jul 22, 2022
1hr 53m
BACK IT UP | 46: Yucca Man Encounter
In Episode 46: Yucca Man Encounter, Tony and Brian are joined by Allan, a retired Utilities Journeyman in the Marines. Allan served in Somalia and South Korea in many facets. During his time overseas, he was shot at and experienced some hostility at times. He also shares several other over-the-road experiences, including his encounter with the Yucca Man, a legendary Sasquatch-like beast! So sit...
1hr 17m Jul 22, 2022
1hr 17m
122: Logistics of The Trade
In episode 122: Logistics of The Trade; Shipper and Brian are joined by Denny, an old friend of Shipper. From a young age Denny has been working in and around the trucking industry. He started off in industrial maintenance, but once he heard of the opportunity driving offered, he made the switch. He's been on the logistics side and the driving side for Air Products, and has really enjoyed his t...
1hr 12m Jul 21, 2022
1hr 12m
121: Cruising Through a Sandstorm
In Episode 121: Cruising Through a Sandstorm, Brian and Shipper have a great time talking with Johnson and Jamie, husband-and-wife team drivers. In their time driving together they have had some unbelievable events happen to them. From tornadoes to sandstorms, to bombs exploding, they've been through so much together. Buckle up and get ready to cruise through a new episode! KEEP US FUELED: htt...
1hr 34m Jul 14, 2022
1hr 34m
120: The Third Dud
In Episode 120: The Third Dud, Shipper and Brian chat with Bob, whose career in driving spans decades and wars. Bob is a Vietnam War veteran, and in fact, that's how he learned to drive. When he entered the military, he was given the station of truck driver, and did he ever have some crazy experiences! The unbelievable things he's seen on the road are incredible to hear, so buckle up and get re...
1hr 5m Jul 06, 2022
1hr 5m
BACK IT UP | 16: Driving Through Tornados
In Episode 16: Driving Through Tornados, Tony and Brian talk with David, an old family friend. David shares a range of stories, including the time he encountered some extreme weather on his route, as well as reminiscing over "the good old days.” KEEP US FUELED: http://buymeacoffee.com/hammerlane EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOOD: www.preparewithhll.com (http://www.preparewithhll.com/) LEAVE A VOI...
1hr 10m Jul 01, 2022
1hr 10m
119: Hauling Goose!
In Episode 119: Hauling Goose, Brian and Shipper have a great conversation with Will. From the time Will was just a youngster, driving has been in his blood. His dad got him into the game early in life, and Will even joined him on some of his deliveries, including a time he hauled a goose! Will has had plenty of his own experiences while driving as well, which led to some great stories, so buck...
1hr 39m Jun 29, 2022
1hr 39m
BACK IT UP | 95: The Breakroom | New Year's Show
In Episode 95: The Breakroom | New Year's Show, the guys are joined in-studio by Brian Shipper and Jack (the Producer). We discuss how 2021 unfolded for all of us, what we see coming on the horizon, and where the trucking industry is possibly headed. We also play a long line of voicemails, which have been piling up for a quite while! So buckle up and ride into the New Year with the HLL guys!  ...
1hr 36m Jun 25, 2022
1hr 36m
118: Tales From the South
In Episode 118: Tales From the South, Brian and Shipper chat with Melissa, a longtime driver. She's been in several different fields, from banking to emergency dispatch, to driving in a big rig - she's done it all! These opportunities have led to quite a lot of experience and wisdom on the road. In her time behind the wheel, Melissa has seen many interesting sights, from alligators to dogman! S...
1hr 32m Jun 23, 2022
1hr 32m
BACK IT UP | 21: Nudist Colony Blues
In Episode 21: Nudist Colony Blues, we hear from our guest, David, who has been in the industry for over 30 years. During his time driving, David has experienced some wild stories such as delivering to a nudist colony, being T-boned in a tanker truck, and even finding a body in Dothan, Alabama! So, sit back, buckle up, and have a listen as David bares all... of his stories, that is. KEEP US FU...
1hr 8m Jun 17, 2022
1hr 8m