America's Trucking Network
Encyclopedia
"Steve Sommers" redirects here. Not to be confused with Steve Somers
, a New York radio host.
America's Trucking Network is a nightly terrestrial and satellite radio
broadcast based in Cincinnati, Ohio
that was formerly syndicated across the United States. Targeted toward truckers
, the variety program, hosted by Steve Sommers and Eric "Bubba Bo" Boulanger, covers numerous topics, mostly news and issues pertaining to truckers.
Topics discussed include weather, diesel fuel prices, traffic, auto racing
, political and legal news affecting the trucking industry, and general trucker chat.
, under the name The Truckin' Bozo. The program had begun as a mix of country music
and truck talk before switching to an all-talk format several years later. Due to health problems, Dale Sommers was forced to retire in 2003. His son, Steve Sommers, had been hosting the weekend edition of the program and was the natural successor to the weekday show. Dale Sommers would shortly thereafter take a daytime position at XM Satellite Radio
, which had carried the program since 2001, taking the "Truckin' Bozo" title with him after several months of discussion with WLW. Since the switch of the show's host from father to son, some callers to the program have referred to Steve Sommers as "Baby Bo." However, this has happened with less frequency as time passes.
To fill in Steve Sommers's former weekend position, flagship station WLW-AM hired Eric Boulanger, more commonly known by his alias of "Bubba Bo."
The show is currently heard on WLW
in Cincinnati, a 50,000-watt clear channel station that covers much of the eastern half of the United States. It is also heard on XM Satellite Radio
and WLW's Internet feed. All three sources carry the show in its entirety. The show's satellite channel numbering has changed several times. With the Sirius-XM merger, WLW was dropped from the lineup, but America's Trucking Network was retained, first moving to Extreme Talk-XM 152, then in April of 2011 to America's Talk
, XM 166. It has always been carried in a live time slot. Prior to the Truckin' Bozo's move to satellite, the show was also carried on approximately a dozen terrestrial stations across the United States, mostly 50,000-watt "clear channel" stations. Though most of the stations dropped ATN after the Bozo's move, two 50,000-watt stations, WWVA
in Wheeling, West Virginia
and KWKH
in Shreveport, Louisiana
, continued to carry the program through 2009. WWVA dropped the show that year in favor of Coast to Coast AM
and KWKH, after the death of Barney Cannon
, dropped the show in favor of country music the same year.
Steve Sommers (with 2 M's) is not to be confused with another late-night host, sports talk host Steve Somers
(with 1 M) of WFAN
in New York
.
Steve Somers
Steve Somers is an American talk radio host best known for his work on the New York City sports radio station WFAN . He has been with the station since its inception in 1987.-Personal life:...
, a New York radio host.
America's Trucking Network is a nightly terrestrial and satellite radio
Satellite radio
Satellite radio is an analogue or digital radio signal that is relayed through one or more satellites and thus can be received in a much wider geographical area than terrestrial FM radio stations...
broadcast based in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
that was formerly syndicated across the United States. Targeted toward truckers
Truck driver
A truck driver , is a person who earns a living as the driver of a truck, usually a semi truck, box truck, or dump truck.Truck drivers provide an essential service to...
, the variety program, hosted by Steve Sommers and Eric "Bubba Bo" Boulanger, covers numerous topics, mostly news and issues pertaining to truckers.
Topics discussed include weather, diesel fuel prices, traffic, auto racing
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
, political and legal news affecting the trucking industry, and general trucker chat.
History
The show was launched in 1984 by Dale SommersDale Sommers
Bruce Dale Sommers , known by his nickname "The Truckin' Bozo", is an American radio personality, best known for his long-running country music show geared toward truck drivers...
, under the name The Truckin' Bozo. The program had begun as a mix of country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
and truck talk before switching to an all-talk format several years later. Due to health problems, Dale Sommers was forced to retire in 2003. His son, Steve Sommers, had been hosting the weekend edition of the program and was the natural successor to the weekday show. Dale Sommers would shortly thereafter take a daytime position at XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
, which had carried the program since 2001, taking the "Truckin' Bozo" title with him after several months of discussion with WLW. Since the switch of the show's host from father to son, some callers to the program have referred to Steve Sommers as "Baby Bo." However, this has happened with less frequency as time passes.
To fill in Steve Sommers's former weekend position, flagship station WLW-AM hired Eric Boulanger, more commonly known by his alias of "Bubba Bo."
Show information
America's Trucking Network airs five hours per night, live from 12 midnight to 5 AM Eastern Time. Steve Sommers hosts the show from early Monday through early Friday, while Bubba Bo hosts early Saturday and Sunday.The show is currently heard on WLW
WLW
WLW is a clear channel talk radio station located in Cincinnati, Ohio, run by Clear Channel Communications. The station broadcasts locally on 700 kHz AM...
in Cincinnati, a 50,000-watt clear channel station that covers much of the eastern half of the United States. It is also heard on XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
and WLW's Internet feed. All three sources carry the show in its entirety. The show's satellite channel numbering has changed several times. With the Sirius-XM merger, WLW was dropped from the lineup, but America's Trucking Network was retained, first moving to Extreme Talk-XM 152, then in April of 2011 to America's Talk
America's Talk
America's Talk is a news and talk radio channel on XM Satellite Radio, launched on 2007-11-19 on channel 158 and moved to 166 on 2011-05-04. Much like its sister talk channel XM Talk 168, it is a general news/talk focused channel. It was programmed by Sean Compton until 2008-04-01, in Cincinnati,...
, XM 166. It has always been carried in a live time slot. Prior to the Truckin' Bozo's move to satellite, the show was also carried on approximately a dozen terrestrial stations across the United States, mostly 50,000-watt "clear channel" stations. Though most of the stations dropped ATN after the Bozo's move, two 50,000-watt stations, WWVA
WWVA (AM)
WWVA is an AM radio station that broadcasts on a frequency of 1170 kHz with studios in Wheeling, West Virginia, USA, and towers formerly located in St. Clairsville, Ohio, before they were destroyed in an August 2010 storm...
in Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and KWKH
KWKH
KWKH is a classic country music radio station serving Shreveport, Louisiana. The 50-kilowatt station broadcasts at 1130 kHz. Formerly owned by Clear Channel Communications and Gap Central Broadcasting, it is now owned by Townsquare Media....
in Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
, continued to carry the program through 2009. WWVA dropped the show that year in favor of Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM is a North American late-night syndicated radio talk show that deals with a variety of topics, but most frequently ones that relate to either the paranormal or conspiracy theories. It was created by Art Bell and is distributed by Premiere Radio Networks. The program currently...
and KWKH, after the death of Barney Cannon
Barney Cannon
Floyd Keith Cannon, known as Barney Cannon , was an American radio personality. He was a DJ on radio station KWKH-AM in Shreveport, Louisiana, who was considered an authority on country music. When asked to name his favorite country singer, Cannon told his listeners that he liked all of the...
, dropped the show in favor of country music the same year.
Steve Sommers (with 2 M's) is not to be confused with another late-night host, sports talk host Steve Somers
Steve Somers
Steve Somers is an American talk radio host best known for his work on the New York City sports radio station WFAN . He has been with the station since its inception in 1987.-Personal life:...
(with 1 M) of WFAN
WFAN
WFAN , also known as "Sports Radio 66" or "The FAN", is a radio station in New York City. The station broadcasts on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.