Thinking about starting your own trucking company? Before you take the leap, let’s get real about the costs, challenges, and strategies for making it work.

In this episode of Enjoying Life OTR, Cindy Tunstall and Kyle Hutchinson break down the real steps to going independent—from getting your own MC authority to securing freight and building relationships with shippers.

Kyle shares insider strategies on negotiating rates, finding the best lanes, avoiding bad brokers, and how he built relationships with brokers and shippers to secure higher-paying freight—without relying on load boards. He also breaks down how to determine real market rates (not just what brokers tell you!) and how to negotiate fair layover fees so you’re properly compensated for downtime.

Cindy talks about her biggest lessons learned in launching her own authority and the biggest mistakes new owner-operators make. Plus, they tackle the age-old debate: Is it really the right time to start a trucking company?

If you’ve ever wondered whether owning a trucking business is for you, this episode will give you the clarity you need.

Get Cindy’s Free Guide: A step-by-step checklist for launching your own trucking company. Just click "Send Us a Text" in the show notes and send Cindy your email address.

Connect with Kyle Hutchinson--Follow The Tall Garage Facebook group and Youtube Channel.

Enjoying Life OTR Podcast drops new episodes on the 1st and 15th! Hit subscribe and keep rolling with us.

#EnjoyingLifeOTR #HealthierTruckers #OwnerOperator #TruckingBusiness #FreightHauling

Send us a text

Enjoying Life OTR: conversations that inspire curiosity, adventure, and resilience. We're honoring drivers, sharing their adventures and becoming healthier truckers.

Stay tuned to discover creative life hacks and practical strategies for enhancing our well-being and making the most of our time on the road. So many exciting things are happening in our community, and we are grateful that you are a part of it. Welcome to Enjoying Life OTR!

Join the Movement! See the sights, enjoy the food, take the pic and share with our community! Make the most of the opportunity and share ways to save money doing it!

You are invited to share your journey with other drivers who are Enjoying Life OTR:
Join "Enjoying Life OTR" Facebook Group to join the movement and connect with other drivers who are sharing their journey.
Follow our Facebook page to keep up with the latest news and recent podcast episodes as well as entertaining content for every driver.

#HealthierTruckers
#EnjoyingLifeOTR

If you have questions or would like information about being on our podcast, contact our host, Cindy Tunstall: EnjoyingLifeOTR@gmail.com

You're already negotiating—whether you realize it or not. Every day, you're making deals, setting terms, and advocating for what you want. Whether it's negotiating pay, home time, freight rates, or just convincing your family where to go on vacation, the skills of negotiation affect every part of your life. The question is—are you using them to your advantage?

In this episode of Enjoying Life OTR, Cindy Tunstall and Brian Wilson sit down with Kenny and Elizabeth Long, trucking industry powerhouses who run a brokerage, a fleet, and know exactly what it takes to negotiate with confidence. And here’s the best part—negotiation isn’t just for certain personality types. It’s a skill anyone can master. Getting out of your comfort zone and improving these strategies will benefit your career, relationships, and everyday interactions.

You'll learn:
✅ How to negotiate higher pay, better loads, and preferred routes
✅ Why who makes the first offer has more power than you think
✅ How to read the other person’s energy and mirror it to build rapport
✅ The #1 mistake drivers make when negotiating—and how to fix it
✅ Simple strategies to make negotiation feel natural (even if it makes you nervous)

Mastering negotiation isn’t about being pushy—it’s about problem-solving, building trust, and confidently advocating for yourself. And in this episode, we’re giving you real-world strategies that work.

🔹 Connect with Kenny & Elizabeth Long:

• Facebook Group: Rates and Lanes
• YouTube: You Drive U (Kenny Long)
• Trucking & Brokerage Company: Patriot Star
• Facebook: Elizabeth Long

📢 Challenge: Try just one of these negotiation techniques this week—whether it’s for a raise, a better load, or a family decision. Then come share how it went in the Enjoying Life OTR Facebook group!

🔗 Join the conversation: Enjoying Life OTR Facebook Group

#EnjoyingLifeOTR #HealthierTruckers #TruckingBusiness #NegotiationSkills #SelfAdvocacy

Send us a text

Enjoying Life OTR: conversations that inspire curiosity, adventure, and resilience. We're honoring drivers, sharing their adventures and becoming healthier truckers.

Stay tuned to discover creative life hacks and practical strategies for enhancing our well-being and making the most of our time on the road. So many exciting things are happening in our community, and we are grateful that you are a part of it. Welcome to Enjoying Life OTR!

Join the Movement! See the sights, enjoy the food, take the pic and share with our community! Make the most of the opportunity and share ways to save money doing it!

You are invited to share your journey with other drivers who are Enjoying Life OTR:
Join "Enjoying Life OTR" Facebook Group to join the movement and connect with other drivers who are sharing their journey.
Follow our Facebook page to keep up with the latest news and recent podcast episodes as well as entertaining content for every driver.

#HealthierTruckers
#EnjoyingLifeOTR

If you have questions or would like information about being on our podcast, contact our host, Cindy Tunstall: EnjoyingLifeOTR@gmail.com

🚛💩 Let’s talk about the one thing every driver deals with but no one wants to discuss—your gut. Whether you’re dodging rest stop roulette, battling heartburn hotter than truck stop chili, or hoping gas isn’t louder than your stereo, gut health is serious business.

That’s why we brought in Alyssa Simpson, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Gastrointestinal Nutritionist, who has helped hundreds of people finally get relief after struggling with digestive issues for years. Specializing in IBS, SIBO, and gut dysfunction, Alyssa is an expert at uncovering the root causes of gut problems and offering practical, long-term solutions—without forcing you to survive on plain chicken and lettuce.

She’s been featured in Forbes, Medical News Today, and Everyday Health, and hosts The Gut Health Dialogues, where she shares the science behind digestion in a way that actually makes sense. In this episode, she’s breaking it all down just for drivers—so you can stop playing restroom roulette and start feeling better every day on the road.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ The gut-stress connection—why long hours, crazy schedules, and fast food are wrecking your digestion
✅ Easy, driver-friendly diet tweaks (that don’t involve turning into a rabbit)
✅ Hydration hacks and the right way to take fiber
✅ What your stool is actually telling you—yes, we’re going there

This episode is packed with simple, actionable strategies you can use today—because a happy gut makes for a happier, healthier driver.

🚨 Want to work with Alyssa?
👉 Book a free 15-minute consultation: NutritionResolution.com
👉 Download her FREE Healthy Gut Restoration Guide for a cheat sheet on everything we covered!
👉 Follow Alyssa on Instagram: @nutritionresolution

🎧 Hit play now—because no driver should be losing the battle against their own belly!

Send us a text

Enjoying Life OTR: conversations that inspire curiosity, adventure, and resilience. We're honoring drivers, sharing their adventures and becoming healthier truckers.

Stay tuned to discover creative life hacks and practical strategies for enhancing our well-being and making the most of our time on the road. So many exciting things are happening in our community, and we are grateful that you are a part of it. Welcome to Enjoying Life OTR!

Join the Movement! See the sights, enjoy the food, take the pic and share with our community! Make the most of the opportunity and share ways to save money doing it!

You are invited to share your journey with other drivers who are Enjoying Life OTR:
Join "Enjoying Life OTR" Facebook Group to join the movement and connect with other drivers who are sharing their journey.
Follow our Facebook page to keep up with the latest news and recent podcast episodes as well as entertaining content for every driver.

#HealthierTruckers
#EnjoyingLifeOTR

If you have questions or would like information about being on our podcast, contact our host, Cindy Tunstall: EnjoyingLifeOTR@gmail.com