Keep Trucking Personal

Hosted by Keep Trucking Personal

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138

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Welcome to Keep Trucking Personal, where we invite you to explore the heart and soul of our family-driven organization: Kivi Bros. Trucking.Through engaging storytelling, insightful market updates, and vibrant energy, our podcast reflects our culture, values, and achievements..Whether you’re a team member or industry enthusiast, join us to build connections, foster growth, and inspire excellence. Discover why we’re more than just a company - we’re a community, a catalyst for positive change, and a home for those aspiring to be part of something extraordinary.The pre-trip is complete and engines ready, we're set to hit the road on the Keep Trucking Personal podcast. Let's go!

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60 recent

October 27, 202619 min

Episode 137: Are You Part of the Solution - Five Habits of Great Truck Drivers

In trucking, even the best-laid plans can change in an instant. A delayed load, an unexpected breakdown, or a last-minute schedule change can turn a good day into a challenging one. In this episode of the Keep Trucking Personal podcast, Tyler Kivi asks an important question: When things go wrong, are you going to be part of the solution? Drawing from real experiences in the industry, Tyler discusses how professional drivers can navigate challenges, work with their teams, and build a reputation that opens doors to greater opportunities. He shares why your response to a difficult situation matters, how a willingness to help can change the outcome, and why problem-solving is a responsibility shared by everyone at Kivi Bros. Trucking, from drivers and dispatchers to maintenance and leadership. Tyler also breaks down five habits that can help drivers succeed throughout their careers: being prepared, communicating early, taking ownership, protecting your reputation, and never stopping learning. Whether you're just getting started or have decades of experience behind the wheel, this episode offers practical advice for becoming a stronger professional, building trust, and making a positive impact on the people you work with.

October 20, 202616 min

Episode 136: Are We Trying to Be Right or Get It Right?

Are we trying to be right, or are we trying to get it right? It's a question worth asking, especially in trucking, where communication between drivers, dispatchers, maintenance, and leadership can make all the difference. In this episode of the Keep Trucking Personal podcast, Tyler Kivi talks about the assumptions we make, the frustrations that build when communication breaks down, and how a simple phone call can change everything. Drawing from real experiences at Kivi Bros. Trucking, Tyler shares why communication is everyone's responsibility. From unexpected delays and equipment issues to questions about miles and getting home, keeping the lines of communication open helps drivers and their teams work through challenges together. He also discusses the importance of honesty, following through on commitments, and getting to know the people you work with before problems arise. Building a strong trucking company takes trust, accountability, and people who genuinely want each other to succeed. Tyler challenges everyone, from the driver's seat to the back office, to speak up, listen, ask questions, and take responsibility for finding solutions. Because at the end of the day, we're all working toward the same goal, and the phone works both ways.

October 13, 202617 min

Episode 135: Settle In: Building a Successful Career in Flatbed Trucking

Thinking about making the move into flatbed trucking? In this episode of the Keep Trucking Personal podcast, Tyler Kivi talks about the opportunities that come with a career in flatbed and open deck trucking, and why giving yourself time to learn, grow, and settle in can make all the difference. From securing challenging loads to working through tough weather and learning new equipment, flatbed trucking takes hard work, patience, and a willingness to learn. Tyler shares what drivers can expect when making the transition, why experience is built one load at a time, and how focusing on progress can lead to bigger opportunities down the road. At Kivi Bros. Trucking, helping drivers succeed is a team effort. Tyler discusses the importance of communication, asking questions, trusting your team, and giving yourself the chance to build a rewarding career. Whether you're brand new to trucking, considering a move into flatbed, or looking to take the next step in your career, this episode is a reminder to stay focused, keep learning, and settle in for the journey ahead.

October 6, 202620 min

Episode 134: Raise Your Hand: The Path to Heavy Haul

Heavy haul is a goal for a lot of drivers, whether they are just getting started in flatbed, already building experience with oversized freight, or ready for the next challenge in their career. In this episode of the Keep Trucking Personal podcast, Tyler Kivi breaks down what the path to heavy haul really looks like at Kivi Bros. Trucking and why getting there is a progression built through experience, consistency, safety, and trust. Tyler talks about the skills and habits that prepare drivers for bigger and more complex loads, from understanding permits and routing to communication, securement, equipment, timing, and attention to detail. Heavy haul brings greater responsibility, and the drivers who succeed are the ones willing to keep learning, ask questions, slow down when something does not feel right, and lean on the team around them. Every load and every new experience becomes another opportunity to build the knowledge and reputation needed for the next step. For drivers who have heavy haul in their sights, Tyler's message is simple: master what you are doing today, keep building your skills, and make your goals known. Talk to your Driver Specialist, connect with experienced drivers, learn from the heavy haul and permitting teams, and look for opportunities to grow. If you are ready to put in the work and take the next step in your driving career, raise your hand.

September 29, 202614 min

Episode 133: Stop Hooking Up to Tomorrow’s Load

Truck drivers understand weight better than most people. You know when a truck is loaded heavy, when something needs adjusted, and when you’re approaching the limits of what your equipment can safely carry. But there’s another kind of weight drivers carry every day that nobody else can see. Worries about miles, fuel prices, freight, family, finances, mistakes, relationships, and what might happen tomorrow can pile up quickly, especially with long hours behind the wheel and plenty of time to think. In this episode of the Keep Trucking Personal podcast, Tyler Kivi talks about the difference between preparing for what’s ahead and carrying the weight of things that haven’t happened yet. He shares why focusing on what you can control today, your effort, attitude, communication, relationships, and the job in front of you, can make a difference both on the road and at home. The challenge this week is simple: go one and today. Learn from yesterday, prepare for tomorrow, and give your best to what’s in front of you right now. You wouldn’t hook your truck to tomorrow’s load before it’s time to haul it. Give yourself the same grace mentally. Do today’s work, love your family, help somebody, and have enough faith to put down the weight that doesn’t belong to today.

September 22, 202615 min

Episode 132: When the Pressure Hits, We Double Down

Diesel prices are climbing, the freight market is getting tougher, and every inefficiency in trucking gets a lot harder to ignore when costs rise. In this episode of the Keep Trucking Personal Podcast, Tyler Kivi talks about what a challenging market exposes, from fuel mileage and freight mix to customer relationships, maintenance, communication, and service. Tyler also breaks down just how much influence drivers have on the strength of a trucking company. Drivers are often the people standing face to face with the customer, and those interactions can help strengthen a relationship and keep freight coming. At the same time, leadership, operations, maintenance, and safety have to hold themselves to that same standard. Customers don’t owe a carrier freight, and drivers don’t owe a company their careers. Both have to be earned. When the market gets hard, Kivi Bros Trucking isn’t interested in pulling back. The focus is on controlling what can be controlled: effort, service, communication, efficiency, relationships, and attitude. Pressure has a way of showing what a company is made of, and this is the time to double down on the things that built the company in the first place.

September 15, 202612 min

Episode 131: Driver Appreciation Week: You’ve Earned This

Driver Appreciation Week is a chance to recognize the professional drivers who keep freight moving every single day. In this episode of the Keep Trucking Personal Podcast, Tyler Kivi shares a sincere thank you for the early mornings, late nights, time away from home, tough weather, difficult loads, and countless sacrifices drivers make that often go unseen. But appreciation also comes with a challenge. Tyler talks about the idea that the things worth having in life and in your career come with a cost. Better opportunities, more trust, specialized freight, greater earning potential, respect, and growth are built through sacrifice, consistency, learning, and showing up when it matters. And that standard applies to Kivi Bros Trucking, too. If a company wants great drivers, it has to earn their trust, give them reasons to stay, and show through its actions where it is headed. This week, take some time to appreciate how far you’ve already come. Think about the miles, experience, lessons, tough loads, people you’ve helped, and challenges you’ve overcome along the way. Then ask yourself one question: What do you want to earn next? Celebrate Driver Appreciation Week, be proud of what you’ve accomplished, and when Monday comes, get back after it.

September 8, 20269 min

Episode 130: Don’t Forget to Take Care of the Driver

Truck drivers spend a lot of time taking care of the truck, the load, the customer, and the people waiting for them back home. But somewhere in that list, it’s easy to forget about taking care of the driver. In this episode of the Keep Trucking Personal Podcast, Tyler Kivi talks about the physical demands of trucking, especially for open deck and heavy haul drivers. From tarping, chaining, and strapping to climbing on and off trailers in every kind of weather, this job takes a toll. Tyler shares some simple reminders for protecting your back and shoulders, staying hydrated, getting more movement into your day, eating a little better, and asking for help when you need it. And taking care of yourself goes beyond the physical side. Tyler also talks about the mental demands of life on the road and why having an outlet and staying connected matter. As Driver Appreciation Week approaches, the challenge is simple: do one thing this week to take better care of yourself. Small decisions add up over a career, and we want every driver healthy, successful, and heading home safely to the people who matter most.

September 1, 202618 min

Episode 129: Draw the Line!

Tyler is back from a packed weekend at the Minnesota State Fair , where Kivi Bros Trucking had one of its 13-axle setups on display hauling a massive 160,000-pound dipper bucket. Between talking with drivers, answering questions from fairgoers, and showing off the incredible work of the Kivi Bros team and fab shop, the weekend was a great reminder of just how much skill, teamwork, and hard work go into what we do every day. With National Truck Driver Appreciation Week coming up September 13-19, Tyler shares some of what Kivi Bros Trucking has planned and, most importantly, takes a moment to thank the professional drivers who keep this company and this country moving. But he also has a challenge for drivers heading into the week: draw a line in the sand. If you've been coasting, putting off the phone call, waiting for the right opportunity, or telling yourself you'll do it tomorrow, this is your chance for a fresh start. Hard work isn't about driving tired, breaking hours of service, or sacrificing everything else in your life. It's about being intentional, prepared, willing to practice, communicating well, and taking action when an opportunity is in front of you. You can't control the freight market, the weather, or every customer you encounter, but you can control the work you're willing to put in. Draw the line, kick the dirt off your boots, and get to work.

August 25, 202616 min

Episode 128: Discipline Is the Standard: Brake Safety Week and Beyond

As Brake Safety Week gets underway Aug. 23-29, Tyler Kivi talks about why a clean inspection starts long before a driver ever sees the scale house. This year, inspectors are putting added focus on the condition of brake drums and rotors, but Tyler challenges drivers to think beyond the blitz itself. At Kivi Bros. Trucking, clean inspection payouts are doubled during enforcement events, rewarding drivers who know their equipment, take pre-trips seriously, and put in the work to operate at a high level. In this episode of the Keep Trucking Personal podcast, Tyler digs into discipline, complacency, accountability, and the hundreds of small decisions that separate great drivers from everyone else. From checking securement one more time to leaving equipment better than you found it, owning mistakes, and looking out for other drivers on the road, discipline becomes the standard you set for yourself. Brake Safety Week may end, but the habits of a professional driver shouldn't. As Tyler puts it, “Discipline isn't doing the right thing because somebody is watching. Discipline is doing the right thing because that's your standard.” Learn more about CVSA's 2026 Brake Safety Week focus area here. View the flyer here.