The Oakley Podcast

Oakley Trucking
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The Oakley Podcast is a trucking industry podcast that educates and empowers owner-operators by providing relevant industry, market, and company news in a digestible audio format.

  1. 1d ago

    299: Behind the Terminals: Safety, ‘Miss Ruby,’ and the Regulators You Never See

    This week on the Oakley Podcast, Jeremy Kellett sits down with Bruce Oakley safety leaders Lee Huff and Phil Butler to explore the often unseen world of terminal safety and compliance. They discuss Lee and Phil’s backgrounds, their responsibilities across multiple terminals, and how they work with regulatory agencies like OSHA, the EPA, the Coast Guard, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Safe Feed/Safe Food certifiers. Key topics include upgrading safety data sheet systems, vessel plans and Coast Guard inspections, required safety drills, fall protection (OSHA’s top-cited violation), CPR and fire extinguisher training, mobile equipment training, AI-enhanced camera and security systems, and rigorous feed-grade product traceability. A major takeaway is that safety is everyone’s responsibility: employees must use proper PPE, ask questions when unsure, look out for each other, and engage in daily safety talks so that when something does go wrong, they’re prepared to respond. Key topics in today’s conversation include: Introducing ‘Miss Ruby’, Managers Meeting, and Terminal Safety Focus (1:32)   Lee Huff Background, Family, and Move into Oakley Safety Role (3:28) Phil Butler Background, Terminals He Oversees, and Family Story (5:39) Overview of Regulatory Agencies: OSHA, EPA, Coast Guard, and Corps (9:50) Surprise Coast Guard Inspections and What Inspectors Look for (12:20) Getting Employee Buy‑In on Safety and Understanding the “Why” (14:12) Current Projects: SDS Rollout, CPR Instruction, Fire and Equipment Training (19:21) New Technology: Fall Protection Systems and AI‑Enabled Camera Security (22:30) Sharing Best Practices Among Terminals, Especially Fall Protection (24:52) Safe Feed Safe Food Certification, Traceability, and Contamination Control (29:03) PPE, Asking Questions, and Looking Out for Each Other (32:11) Final Thoughts and Takeaways (36:56) Oakley Trucking is a family-owned and operated trucking company headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas. For more information, check out our show website: podcast.bruceoakley.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    39 min

  2. Jun 24

    298: Team Drivers, Big Miles: How The Hoppers Turned Trucking Into Freedom

    This week on the Oakley Podcast, Jeremy Kellett sits with Michael and Leslie Hopper, a husband-and-wife team at Oakley Trucking, to share their late-career transition into trucking and eventual success as owner-operators. They walk through Michael’s move from multi-unit management and daycare operations and Leslie’s 31-year restaurant career into trucking in their late 40s, starting with carriers like Werner, Tyson, U.S. Xpress, and FedEx Custom Critical before buying their own trucks and ultimately landing at Oakley. The Hoppers explain how teaming works day vs. night, how they became a top revenue truck pulling an end dump, why they’re now moving to pneumatics for longer miles and higher pay, and how trucking allowed them to buy a home, build retirement, and support a large blended family. Their key message: it’s never too late to reinvent yourself, owner-operator trucking can be a powerful path to financial freedom, and companies like Oakley can make the leap from company driver to business owner much more achievable. Key topics in today’s conversation include: Welcoming the Hoppers to the Show (0:42) Leslie’s Restaurant Career and First Talk of Trucking (6:09) Michael’s Corporate and Daycare Management Background (9:17) How They Met, First Date, and Long-Distance Relationship (13:18) Convincing Leslie to Change Careers and Go to Truck School (16:44) Training Together at U.S. Xpress and Becoming a Team (18:23) Why Teaming Works for Them, Day vs Night Driving, and Resets (23:44) Taking the Leap to Owner Operator and Early Panic With No Loads (26:35) Running FedEx Custom Critical and Department of Defense Freight (29:59) Leaving FedEx, Short Hazmat Stop, and Choosing Oakley (33:17) Deadheading, Emergency Loads, and Being a Top Revenue Truck (36:27) Leslie’s Social Media, Oakley Community, and Dump Video Followers (41:01) Buying Their House on Five Acres And Building Late-Life Retirement (44:02) Moving From End Dump to Pneumatic and Chasing Higher Rates (47:32) Why It’s Not Too Late to Start Trucking at 50 and Thrive (52:39) Oakley Trucking is a family-owned and operated trucking company headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas. For more information, check out our show website: podcast.bruceoakley.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    58 min

  3. Jun 17

    297: Respect, Communication, and Big Checks: Inside Oakley’s Driver and Dispatcher Culture

    This week on the Oakley Podcast, Jeremy Kellett sits down with Owner-Operator Felipe Sanchez and his dispatcher, Sam Plafcan, to explore what makes a strong driver–dispatcher relationship at Oakley Trucking. Felipe shares his journey from growing up in Panama to moving to New York and Atlanta, working 15 years in warehouses, and finally becoming an owner-operator during the pandemic. Sam discusses his journey from farming and hauling grain to dispatch, including learning equipment in the shop and managing 30–40 different driver personalities. Together, they tackle real-world challenges such as Atlanta traffic, short runs, tight customer hours, and planning loads to meet weekly mileage goals. The key takeaways are the importance of communication, mutual respect, and trust in the process: drivers must speak up without being disrespectful, dispatch has to understand what happens on the road, and both sides share responsibility in turning “bad days” into strong weeks. The episode also touches on Felipe’s family life, his pride in his Panamanian roots, and why he feels Oakley’s culture, organization, and customer service help motivated owner operators succeed. Key topics in today’s conversation include: Fuel Discounts, Transflo App, And Company Party Details (0:12)   Felipe’s Journey From Panama to New York and Atlanta (5:28)   Sam’s Background, Farming, and Path to Oakley Dispatch (8:00) Learning Trailers in the Shop Before Dispatching (9:07) Early Years of Trucking: Warehouse Work to CDL School in 2020 (10:22)   How the Driver–Dispatcher Relationship Works at Oakley (13:59) Trusting the Process and Making Up for Short Runs (15:10) Communication, Respect, and Handling Frustration (18:11) Managing 30–40 Driver Personalities as a Dispatcher (21:08) Safety, Dump Trailers, And Never Getting Too Comfortable (27:01) Planning Loads, Hours, and Customer Cutoff Times (29:22) Life and Family Culture In Panama, and Moving for Opportunity (31:54) Final Thoughts and Takeaways (36:02) Oakley Trucking is a family-owned and operated trucking company headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas. For more information, check out our show website: podcast.bruceoakley.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    39 min

  4. Jun 10

    296: “Why I’ll NEVER Quit Trucking:” 44 Years on the Road with Scott Erickson

    This week, Veteran owner-operator Scott Erickson joins the Oakley Podcast to share his 44-year journey in trucking, from falling in love with big rigs as a kid to running his own authority, losing everything when a family member stole his wife’s lucrative business, and rebuilding life on a small Kansas farm. He talks about transitioning from reefer to Oakley’s hopper division, why bulk work, though more exhausting, feels more meaningful, and how mental health challenges and isolation on the road have affected him and other drivers. Scott also tells the wild story of trading in a paid-for Peterbilt for a “deal of a lifetime” 389 that immediately blew up, only to receive a full in-frame at no cost. Through it all, he emphasizes resilience, the importance of family support, realistic expectations about owner-operator finances, and why he has no plans to ever retire from the job he loves. Key topics in today’s conversation include: Welcome to Today’s Episode with Scott Erickson (0:54) Life On a 20-Acre Kansas Farm And Stocked Fishing Lake (5:40) How Childhood Awe of Trucks Led Scott to Trucking (6:48) Buying First Truck, Own Authority, and Flatbed Hustle (9:19) The Family Business Story: Wholesale Food Company Background (13:34) Discovering The Warehouse Emptied and Business Stolen (15:04) Legal Battle With Sister-In-Law and Losing Everything in Court (19:10) Returning to Owner Operator, Reefer Carrier, and Coming To Oakley (21:33) Finally Calling Oakley Recruiting and Making the Move (24:01) Mental Health on the Road and Losing Friends to Suicide (26:54) Deciding To Replace A Paid-Off 2022 Peterbilt 579 (32:07) Full In-Frame Overhaul At No Cost And Picking Up The Truck (38:13) Why Trucking Still Provides A Good Living And Life Satisfaction (42:03) Fuel Prices, Surcharges, And Understanding Owner Operator Economics (45:46) Scott’s Love For Trucking And No Plans To Retire (46:46) Oakley Trucking is a family-owned and operated trucking company headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas. For more information, check out our show website: podcast.bruceoakley.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    49 min

  5. Jun 3

    295: Becoming an Owner/Operator: What No One Tells Company Drivers

    This week on the Oakley Podcast, Jeremy Kellett sits down with Oakley owner-operator David Platter to talk about his 36-year trucking journey, from starting with a chauffeur’s license and running local loads in Colorado to becoming a successful owner-operator at Oakley. David shares how he and his wife manage the financial side of the business, including his “a third, a third, a third” rule for money management, and why he believes in buying new trucks and planning for taxes. They discuss the realities of life on the road, including missing family, dealing with parking shortages, staying safe in traffic, and maintaining professionalism and customer service with every load. David opens up about a health scare that turned out to be low testosterone and encourages drivers to take their health seriously. He also tells a remarkable story from his youth about discovering bags of buried cash and doing the right thing by turning it in. Throughout the conversation, David highlights the importance of supportive family, camaraderie among Oakley drivers, and taking pride in being a professional truck driver. Key topics in today’s conversation include: Welcome to Today’s Episode with David Platter (0:45) David’s Move from Colorado to Branson and Overview of His Family (5:21) How David Got Into Trucking and His First Job With Lopno Foods (9:41) Explaining the “Third and Third and Third” Money Management Rule (14:40) Daily Realities, Road Safety, and Importance of Following Distance (17:18) Customer Service Mindset and Representing Yourself and Oakley (20:24) Parking Struggles, Paid Parking Frustrations, and Trip Planning (25:20) Spending Discipline, Eating on the Road, and Controlling Costs (29:09) Why Drivers Must Take Health Seriously and Not “Tough It Out” (31:13) Fighting the Trucker Stigma and How Some Drivers Hurt the Image (33:24) Digging in the Yard and Discovering Trash Bags Full of Money (35:47) Reflections on Doing the Right Thing as a 19-Year-Old (41:28) Shoutouts to Fellow Oakley Drivers and Value of Driver Camaraderie (42:27) Final Thoughts and Takeaways (47:35) Oakley Trucking is a family-owned and operated trucking company headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas. For more information, check out our show website: podcast.bruceoakley.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    48 min

  6. May 27

    294: From Recruiting Card to First Load: The Oakley Trucking Recruiting & Orientation Process

    This week on the Oakley Podcast, Jeremy Kellett talks with recruiter Dustin Eagle and new (and returning) owner-operators Brandon Childress and John Ostransky about Oakley Trucking’s recruiting and orientation process. They cover how referrals and recruiting cards bring in quality owner-operators, why it took John nearly two years to make the move, and why Brandon left Oakley, regretted it, and ultimately came back. The conversation walks through the four-day orientation, hands-on training with experienced drivers, strict but professional standards, and the importance of honesty, follow-through, and staying in touch with recruits. Key takeaways for listeners are that Oakley focuses on long-term relationships, clear expectations, and doing the hard work up front so that starting and succeeding at Oakley is smoother and more rewarding in the long run. Key topics in today’s conversation include: Welcome to Today’s Episode with Brandon and John (0:42) Need for Owner Operators and Recruiting Cards Explained (1:40) Introducing Dustin, Brandon, and John Fresh Out of Orientation (4:10) Why Brandon First Left Oakley and Why He Regrets It (5:32) How John Heard About Oakley Through a Friend (9:15) Staying in Contact During a Two Year Recruiting Process (12:00) Overcoming Pride and Returning After Leaving a Company (15:47) Comparing Oakley’s Recruiting to Other Trucking Companies (18:10) Why Oakley Requires Photos and Detailed Truck Info (20:35) Orientation Check-In, Inspection, and First Day Flow (22:29) Feeling Welcomed and Supported During Orientation (24:34) Is a Four Day Orientation Too Long? Drivers Weigh In (26:52) How Oakley’s Hands-On Trainer Program Works (28:05) Advice for Drivers on the Fence About Coming to Oakley (30:35) Why Oakley Front-Loads the Paperwork and Hard Work (32:20) Final Thoughts and Promoting Good Trucking (34:51) Oakley Trucking is a family-owned and operated trucking company headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas. For more information, check out our show website: podcast.bruceoakley.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    38 min

  7. May 20

    293: New vs Used Trucks: When to Trade & When to Hold

    This week on the Oakley Podcast, Jeremy Kellett talks sits down with Todd Venable, General Manager at MHC Kenworth in Little Rock, to break down the current truck market, from how COVID, fuel prices, interest rates, and freight rates have impacted new and used truck values to why now may be a better time to trade than a year ago. They cover the Kenworth order board and pent-up demand, owner-operators tied to strong carriers versus independents struggling with freight and fuel, and how being leased to a company like Oakley helps with financing approvals. Todd explains the upcoming 2027 EPA emissions changes, new technology in trucks (safety systems, digital dashes, video mirrors), and the importance of dealer training and communication. They also dive into warranties and extended coverage, modern maintenance intervals, common mistakes when spec’ing a truck (especially PTO capability), the appeal of models like the W900 and T880, and how MHC, as a family-owned dealer group, is investing for the future while supporting Oakley’s owner-operators. Key topics in today’s conversation include: Welcome to Today’s Episode with Todd Venable (0:43) State of the Truck Market, Order Board, and Demand (3:50) New Truck Orders, Fleets vs Owner-Operators, and Pent-Up Demand (5:28) Trading Out of High-Payment Trucks and Used Market Recovery (9:54) Independent Owner-Operators vs Leased-On with a Carrier (11:19) Financing Realities, Credit, Down Payments, and Lender Options (15:20) 2027 EPA Emissions Changes and What They Mean (18:26) Cummins Gas Medium-Duty Engines and Technology Shifts (21:19) Favorite and Most Hated New Safety Tech (Bendix Wingman, Alerts) (24:40) Warranties, Real-World Warranty Wins, and Why They Matter (29:08) Spec’ing a Truck: Common Mistakes and Factory Options (35:09) Making Spec’ing Less Intimidating with Line-By-Line Reviews (38:23) Best-Selling Kenworth Models: W900, T880, and Market Favorites (42:38) Future of MHC Kenworth, Alternative Powertrains, and Investment (46:07) How Oakley Owner-Operators Should Approach MHC and Contacts (51:43) Final Thoughts and Takeaways (52:12) Oakley Trucking is a family-owned and operated trucking company headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas. For more information, check out our show website: podcast.bruceoakley.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    57 min

  8. May 13

    292: Trick My Truck... Again!: How Chrome Shop Mafia Stays on Top of the Customization World

    This week on the Oakley Podcast, Jeremy Kellett talks with Bryan “Bossman” Martin of 4 State Trucks and Chrome Shop Mafia to talk all things custom rigs, chrome, and the state of the trucking industry. Bryan shares highlights from their massive biennial truck show, including 600+ trucks, a packed convoy, and a popular “social media row” of trucking influencers. They dive into current customization trends like LED “watermelon” lights, underglow, bumpers, visors, stacks, fenders, and custom metal fabrication work that solves real storage and usability problems for drivers. The conversation also explores the challenges of attracting younger drivers to trucking, the impact of regulations and congestion, and why both believe the industry is poised to rebound despite current headwinds. Bryan closes by outlining Four State’s growth through authorized dealers, a new podcast, and their powerful new app, while Jeremy connects it all back to Oakley’s own truck show and commitment to supporting owner operators. Key topics in today’s conversation include: Welcome to Today’s Show with Bryan “Bossman” Martin (0:42) Shout Outs to Sponsors and 100k YouTube Subscribers Milestone (1:40) Recap of 4 State Trucks 2025 Truck Show and Atmosphere (5:13) State of Trucking, “Chrome Season,” and Economic Outlook (9:39) Must-Have Chrome: Bumpers, Visors, Stacks, Fenders, and Lighting (11:20) Comfort Upgrades and Why Seats Are a Big Investment (15:49) Challenges With Newer Truck Dash Designs and Interior Chrome (17:47) Smart Storage Solutions for Sleepers, Boxes, and Deck Plates (20:17) Are Young Drivers Getting Into Trucking? Generational Trends (23:53) Shortage of Technicians and Other Trucking-Related Careers (26:43) Why Trucking Is Still a Rewarding, Freedom-Filled Career Path (29:18) 4 State’s Expansion With Authorized Dealers Across North America (30:53) Good Ideas, Bad Ideas, and Learning From Misses (35:26) 4 State Trucks Mobile App Features and Fast Parts Search (37:40) Oakley’s October Truck Show and Highly Customized Rigs (40:25) Final Thoughts and Takeaways (41:56) Oakley Trucking is a family-owned and operated trucking company headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas. For more information, check out our show website: podcast.bruceoakley.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    43 min
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About

The Oakley Podcast is a trucking industry podcast that educates and empowers owner-operators by providing relevant industry, market, and company news in a digestible audio format.

Information

  • Creator
    Oakley Trucking
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    318
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    The Oakley Podcast

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