Driving Forward is a podcast dedicated to exploring the latest trucking trends and delivering innovative solutions to the challenges faced by the industry. Driving Forward aims to be the go-to destination for carriers, brokers, trucking executives, fleet owners and professional drivers, seeking valuable insights, expert interviews, and actionable strategies. The podcast promises a fresh and dynamic perspective on the ever-evolving landscape of transportation.
What Makes Drivers Stay? Marina Ivanov Rethinking Retention in Trucking
Very few careers follow a straight line. Marina Ivanov’s took her from dentistry to trucking. But the more interesting story may be what she’s learned since getting there. As CEO & Co-Founder of Apex Transit Solutions, Marina has built her career around an industry that ultimately comes down to people: the drivers moving freight, the teams supporting them, the customers depending on them, and the leaders responsible for bringing it all together. This week on Driving Forward, Marina joins Nate Johnson to explore the experiences that have shaped her approach to leadership and some of the challenges she sees facing trucking today. From driver recruiting and retention to workforce development, second-chance hiring, creating career paths within transportation, and advocating for the people behind the industry, there’s plenty of ground to cover.
12 Oct 2026
Driver Health in Trucking: Why Fleets Need to Pay Attention
What if driver health was treated as a safety issue, not just a benefits issue? Trucking invests heavily in safer equipment, better technology, and reducing risk on the road. But the health of the person behind the wheel deserves a place in that conversation, too. Nate Johnson is joined by Jeremy Reymer of Project 61 and Jason Douglass for a conversation about the realities of driver health and what the industry can do to help drivers build healthier lives on and off the road. They discuss Project 61’s whole-driver approach, including nutrition, movement, sleep, mental health, and preventative care, along with the challenges drivers face trying to prioritize each while spending long hours on the road. Listen to real examples of drivers making meaningful changes, the role fleets can play in creating healthier environments, and why better driver health can have implications for safety, retention, healthcare costs, and quality of life. The goal isn’t simply helping drivers stay behind the wheel longer. It’s helping more of them enjoy the life they’re working so hard to build. ▶️ Visit the Driving Forward channel to watch the full episode with Jeremy Reymer, Jason Douglass, and Nate Johnson.
29 Sept 2026
Driver Open Door with Mutha Trucker News (Alex Mai): Truckers Are Speaking. Are Fleets Listening?
Are truck drivers and owner-operators better off in 2026? And what can trucking companies do to recruit and retain drivers as fuel costs, operating expenses, and driver expectations change?Nate Johnson talks with Alex Mai, better known as @MuthaTrucker (https://www.youtube.com/@MuthaTrucker), about what he’s hearing directly from drivers and how those concerns look from the fleet side of the business.They discuss rising diesel costs, the proposed October 1 trucker shutdown being discussed by some drivers, and the pressures hitting owner-operators and small fleets.The conversation also turns to driver recruiting and retention. Why do drivers leave? Pay matters, but so do communication, respect, home time, dispatch, equipment issues, and confusing pay structures.Nate and Alex discuss:• Rising fuel costs and owner-operator profitability• The October 1 trucker shutdown discussion• Driver recruiting and retention challenges• Why higher pay doesn’t solve every turnover problem• How communication and company culture affect retention• Why recruiting more drivers won’t fix a revolving doorWhether you run a fleet, manage operations, recruit drivers, drive for a carrier, or operate your own truck, this episode looks at trucking from both sides of the windshield.What are you seeing right now? Are fleets doing enough to listen to drivers?Share your perspective in the comments and subscribe to Driving Forward for more conversations about trucking, technology, operations, leadership, and the people behind the industry.Learn more about Driver Open Door here: www.driveropendoor.com
Who has been a guest on Driving Forward Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Jennie Malafarina
Lexi Farris
Grace Sharkey
James "Artie" Crawford
Benjamin Wilkens
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
17,062
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 76 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
98
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
60
Contact Driving Forward Podcast
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Driving Forward Podcast
Who hosts Driving Forward Podcast?
Nate Johnson and Robert Bain host the show. Published by GLCS, INC..
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Driving Forward Podcast take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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