We Want Videos For Our YouTube Channel!

I've neglected TruckingTruth's YouTube Channel for quite some time now and it's a huge opportunity we're missing out on. There are so many cool things we can do!

This is a chance for you guys to shine! Everyone has a fantastic video camera in their pocket these days so anyone can shoot great footage. Add a simple microphone, preferable a noise-cancelling USB or lapel mic, and you have awesome quality stuff.

Here are some thoughts I have on the types of videos we can do and I'd love to hear what you guys think.

Company Reviews

Interestingly enough, 95% of the searches that are done on our search engine are the names of the different companies. So for starters, I would love to start getting some video reviews coming in of the companies you guys work for. What I would like in the way of company reviews is of course something worthy of the professionalism of TruckingTruth. In other words, really in-depth reviews that talk about both the good and the bad aspects of your company.

I really don't want to approach this from the angle of "good company vs bad company" because we all know these large carriers are the elite players in this industry. They're all really good companies, but there are no perfect companies and they all have their advantages and disadvantages.

When someone is about to choose a company to work for they want to know all they can about the company. So I'd love to start doing some company review videos.

Life On The Road Videos

You guys remember what it was like when you were researching this career. You had no clue what life on the road was really like! What does a truck look like on the inside? Where do I shower? What is it like sleeping in the truck? Do truck stops have good food? Where will I go shopping? Can you cook in the truck?

The list is a mile long.

I'd love to get some "life on the road" videos that talk about (or show us) what your daily routine is like.

Driver Interviews

Sometimes you'll meet the coolest people on the road. They have tons of interesting things to say and a really great perspective on things. Well heck, go ahead and interview them! Put together a cool interview and share these interesting people with us!

Cooking In The Truck

Ok, I know we have some serious food aficionados amongst us and you guys and gals have mastered the art of cooking in the truck. I'd love to do a series of videos showing different recipes and cooking techniques in the truck.

Nutrition And Fitness

I always lump these two together because a healthy lifestyle requires both. Any advice and insights you can give about how you manage your nutrition and fitness would be awesome!

Amazing Scenery

Not much needs to be said here. Truckers get to see so many amazing sites. I'd love to capture these. Whether you use the view out the windshield from a dashcam or get out to get a better look, we'll take all the beautiful scenery we can get!

Entertainment

Know some great jokes? Want to sing along with the stereo? Do you like to pull pranks on people? I don't care what it is. If you can entertain us, throw it out there!

Now here is a couple of thoughts.

For starters, I have outstanding audio and video editing capabilities. As long as I can get decent raw footage and sound I can do anything with it. So you guys don't have to worry about doing all sorts of editing and uploading to Youtube and all that. I can handle that part. If you want to record your company reviews or videocasts or cooking in the truck you can just send the raw footage to me and I'll turn it into the finished product.

Also, if I can find some people who consistently do exceptionally good work I'll even offer some of you a paying gig.

I'm also considering doing monthy contests for different categories.

So let me know what you guys think. Do you have more ideas for different topics we can cover? Also, let me know who you guys like on YouTube now. I'd like to have a look at what they're doing.

Thanks!

Would educational videos be needed? For instance, tips and tricks for flatbed securement and tarps in nasty weather etc?

Would educational videos be needed? For instance, tips and tricks for flatbed securement and tarps in nasty weather etc?

Oh heck yeah! Absolutely. We could do things on:

• flatbed securement and tarps
• pre-trip inspections
• quick fixes: air line repair, headlight replacement, etc
• sliding tandems or 5th wheel
• loading cargo

....and a ton more.

We can also do things like:

• How do you organize your sleeper?
• What items do you bring on the road
• What's in your toolbox?

Yeah, the list of things we can do is going to be nearly endless.

Sounds awesome! I quite obviously can't really do these (hehe), but I'll be sure to watch them! Get recording guys!

Feel free to use any of mine!

I can email you the files to some of them if you'd rather do that.

I wish I still had the file for the Trainee Tips video. That would be perfect.

But I still have the file for the Trucking Tools video which would be a good one.

Let me know.

Also, I'd be more than willing to be a regular contributor. Give me a topic or an idea and I can run with it.

Plus I can do all my own editing and save you some time and headache!

Awesome, One stop shop for all the things that I have extensively searched for on the web. After a few months of personal delays to the start of CDL school, I am happy to say that I start CDL school Monday afternoon! Who knows, after I start my solo career, maybe i'll be a regular contributor ! This is by far one of the best forums on the web for the new guy. Thanks guys!

I forgot to answer this question.

I only follow a few YouTube folks on a regular basis:

Palerider TV (a fellow CalArk/Central driver)

White Lightin Trucker

Ellie O'Daire

I really try to stay out of the drama and politics that surround a lot of the channels. I'm there to share the adventure and do a little teaching along the way.

Where should we send videos? Would you want a release signed?

Awesome, One stop shop for all the things that I have extensively searched for on the web.

That is exactly what we're going for with this!

I am happy to say that I start CDL school Monday afternoon! Who knows, after I start my solo career, maybe i'll be a regular contributor!

Hey, best of luck in school and we'd love to have you as a contributor!

Where should we send videos? Would you want a release signed?

I'm looking into the file exchange now. I might have people upload their videos to my Dropbox account or I might have them upload them to YouTube. I'm not sure yet but I'll be looking into this more today.

No, I would not need a release signed or anything like that.

Feel free to use any of mine!

I think I'd like to get all original videos for our channel.

Also, I'd be more than willing to be a regular contributor. Give me a topic or an idea and I can run with it.

Fantastic! That would be awesome.

I'm going to put together a page here on the website today with some guidelines to help people understand what we're looking for more clearly. I'll put a list of topics we'd like videos for and some of the basic guidelines for quality, length, etc. I'll post a message here when that page is up.

I only follow a few YouTube folks on a regular basis:

Thanks for those - I'm going to check them out today.

I really try to stay out of the drama and politics that surround a lot of the channels. I'm there to share the adventure and do a little teaching along the way.

Amen to that! You know we operate the same way. We're here to teach and to share our experiences as a community. There are plenty of websites and television shows that focus on drama, politics, and debates. We're a classroom and a community of friends. That's the way we do it. In fact, all of our videos will allow comments but they will be moderated and will have to be approved manually.