Country singer Lindsay Lawler is helping pump up the industry’s image by highlighting positive truck driver stories twice a week on Renegade Radio Nashville, an internet-based radio show she hosts.
Lawler is the official spokesperson for the Truckload Carrier Assn.’s Highway Angel Program that heightens public awareness of professional truck drivers’ helpful, and often heroic, good deeds on the highways.
Now, the organization is able to spread its positive trucking message throughout North America and beyond, thanks to a new Internet-based Lawler’s radio show”On the Road to Music City” which is aired twice a week on Renegade Radio Nashville, a unique Internet radio station that plays big name country stars as well as new, unsigned artists.
The show attracts all types of listeners, but is especially tailored to truck drivers, who can call in to dedicate songs to their loved ones back home. In between the music— which includes both live, guest performances and pre-recorded tracks — Lawler promotes TCA; trucking events, people, and causes; and the trucking industry in general.
During one segment, she describes the true life deeds of Highway Angels, who may have fixed a mechanical problem for an elderly person, helped locate a missing child, or even rescued an accident victim from a life-threatening situation.
“This show is going to do wonders for the image of drivers and trucking,” said Chris Burruss, TCA’s president. “It’s greatly expanding the reach of the Highway Angel program, since listeners can be located anywhere in the world. And, in almost every segment, Lindsay demonstrates a respect and appreciation for our drivers that is sure to have an impact on her listeners — both here and abroad.”
Lawler is quickly becoming the face and voice of the trucking industry, “providing a soundtrack for the lives of countless truckers across America.” She brought her signature brand of rockin’ country vocals and dominant stage presence to the 2010 Great American Trucking Show in Dallas, TX. It was there that she formed a partnership with the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) and has since been named the official spokesperson of TCA's Highway Angel program. (For more information on the program go to www.truckload.org/highway-angel),
As a result, for the past two years she has performed at many more trucking events across the US including, Mid-America Trucking Show (Louisville), Great West Truck Show (Vegas), TCA’s annual conference, the Humanitarian Bowl and Idaho Famous Potato Bowl (Boise) which are sponsored by UDrove/Internet Truckstop, Pilot/Flying J’s annual event (Nashville), and the Texas Motor Transportation Association's annual event (Austin). Trucking companies such as Fikes Truck Lines, Sammons' Trucking, and Epes Transport, have also had Lawler headline their annual events.
With its message of hope and mercy, Lawler’s Highway Angel song, has become a recognizable anthem for truck drivers and has given her tremendous exposure in the industry. Highway Angel is featured on Lindsay’s current EP, The Long Haul which can be found on ITunes along with her debut album Train Wreck. The Highway Angel music video is also featured in many training and promotional materials within the trucking industry.
In addition, Lawler wrote and recorded the song “The Long Haul” for Women In Trucking, recorded “American Trucker” for Roehl Transport, and wrote and recorded “He Loves The Road” for former TCA chairman Gary Salisbury, who has been one of her greatest supporters.
“It’s obvious when you hear this show that it combines Lindsay’s two biggest passions — music and trucking. People identify with music and they’re going to be fascinated by the Angel stories, so this is an outstanding way for our program to gain a bigger foothold in the public consciousness,” said Leigh Foxall, director of freight matching for Internet Truckstop, the company that sponsors TCA’s Highway Angel program.
One of the founders of Renegade Radio Nashville, “Captain Jack” Aponte, is a former truck driver who has great respect for the profession. He has known Lawler for years and considers her to be a talented artist who brings a fresh, new dynamic to the station.
“I share Lindsay’s goal in wanting to reach out to drivers. With her, they have someone they can relate to… a friend to help pass all those lonely hours on the road,” he said.
You can tune in to “On the Road to Music City” live every Tuesday and Thursday from 5-8 p.m. (CT) at www.RenegadeRadioNashville.com. Free apps for mobile devices can be downloaded from the site, or listeners can search for “Renegade Radio Nashville” wherever they normally shop for apps.
Once an app is installed, drivers can listen by plugging their mobile device in to speakers, an iPod, etc. Song requests or comments can be phoned in during the show to (615) 696-6095.
For more details about Lindsay Lawler and her music, visit www.LindsayLawler.com.