Navigating the Road to a CDL: Insights from Kilgore College's Transportation Institute with D'Wayne Shaw
Release Date: 07/15/2024
Faith and Fortitude: How Dana Gardner Built His Trucking Business
Trucking for Millennials
In this episode of the Trucking for Millennials podcast, we open with an important announcement about the future of the podcast. We then had the pleasure of speaking with Dana Gardner, the CEO of Dana Gardner Trucking. Dana's journey in the trucking industry is truly inspiring, starting with a modest $9,500 investment in a 1999 International truck. Over the years, he has successfully grown his business to operate a fleet of five trucks, specializing in liquid bulk transportation out of Southern Louisiana. As we delved into Dana's story, he shared the challenges he faced along the way,...
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Navigating the Complex World of Insurance and Cargo Claims with Claudia Catlett
Trucking for Millennials
In this episode of the Trucking for Millennials podcast, we dive deep into the often-overlooked world of insurance and cargo claims with our guest, Claudia Catlett, the insurance claims and fraud manager at General Transportation, Inc. Claudia shares her unique journey into the logistics industry, which began unexpectedly when she was hired from a bar after being discovered on LinkedIn. With a background as a Marine Corps veteran and a marketing graduate, she brings a wealth of experience and passion for risk management. We discuss the complexities of cargo claims, emphasizing the importance...
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Double Broker Bounty Hunter: John Cantera's Mission to Clean Up Logistics
Trucking for Millennials
In this episode of Trucking for Millennials, we had the pleasure of speaking with John Cantera, a seasoned logistics and supply chain management professional with 25 years of experience. Known as the "double broker bounty hunter," John is on a mission to bring integrity to the broker-dispatcher world and combat fraud in the industry. We kicked off the episode with a light-hearted discussion about a recent heist involving 400 kegs of Guinness stolen from a delivery truck in the UK, which led us to reflect on the challenges of dealing with stolen freight in logistics. John shared his journey...
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Building a Successful Logistics Company: Lessons from Kristy Knichel's Experience
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In this episode we kick off 2025 with an inspiring conversation with Kristy Knichel, the President and CEO of Knichel Logistics. Kristy shares her remarkable journey in the logistics industry, starting from her early days working for her father to becoming a leading figure in the field. We delve into the dynamics of running a family business, the challenges she faced, and the tough decisions she had to make to ensure the company's growth and success.
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Recapping 2024 in the Trucking Industry
Trucking for Millennials
Welcome back to the Trucking For Millennials Podcast, this week we are going back to some our most popular episodes of the year, including our interviews with Matt Perkins, LaShawn Brown, Brandon Wiseman, and Trevor Cowley. We hope you enjoy going through this recap as much as we did! Happy New Years Trucking For Millennials listeners, here is to a great 2025!
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Navigating the Holiday Hustle: Logistics Insights with Matthew Chapa
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In this special Christmas week episode of the Trucking for Millennials podcast, we dive into the holiday hustle of the logistics world and explore how the Christmas season impacts supply chains. Our guest, Matthew Chapa, Transportation Manager at Crunchyroll, shares his insights on navigating international logistics and building strong global relationships. We kick off the episode with some fascinating Christmas statistics, highlighting the immense logistics involved in the holiday season, from the 35 million Christmas trees harvested annually to the staggering $9.36 billion Americans spend...
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Balancing Regulations and ROI: The Future of Transportation with Apoorva Mathur
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In this episode of Trucking for Millennials, we had the pleasure of speaking with Apoorva Mathur from Daimler Truck North America. Apoorva, who holds the roles of ESG Program Manager and Zero Emissions Transformation Group Support Manager, shared her extensive background in logistics and sustainability. We kicked off the conversation with some light-hearted banter about the holiday season, sports, and Apoorva's journey from Pennsylvania to Oregon. Apoorva's career path is impressive, having worked with industry giants like General Motors and Boeing before joining Daimler. Her passion for the...
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Preparing for 2025: Strategies for Success in the Logistics Industry with Trevor Cowley
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In this episode of Trucking for Millennials, we dive into the world of logistics and operations with our special guest, Trevor Cowley, Executive Vice President at BYB Solutions. Trevor brings a wealth of experience from his diverse career, which spans from the baseball field to the boardroom. We explore his journey from working in chemical distribution to becoming a key player in the logistics industry. Trevor shares insights on the importance of proactive communication and treating every client interaction as if it's with a million-dollar client. He emphasizes the significance of service in...
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Navigating the Future of Trucking: Insights from Marty Emale
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In this episode of the Trucking for Millennials podcast, we had the pleasure of welcoming Marty Emale, co-founder of BidSpot and founder of IntelliShip. We dove deep into the current state of the trucking industry, particularly focusing on the grain sector, and discussed the challenges and opportunities that owner-operators face as we approach 2025. Marty shared his journey from struggling in the box truck space to finding success in grain hauling. He emphasized the importance of resilience and the ability to pivot when things aren't working out. We explored the cyclical nature of the...
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The Dynamic Duo of Trucking Insurance: Insights from Jessica Howington and Natasha Ammons
Trucking for Millennials
In this episode of the Trucking for Millennials podcast, I had the pleasure of welcoming the dynamic insurance duo, Jessica Howington and Natasha Ammons, from United Commercial Insurance. As we dive into the often complex world of trucking insurance, we discuss the critical importance of understanding your coverage and the nuances that can significantly impact your business. We kick off the conversation by acknowledging the challenges truckers face when dealing with insurance—often feeling like they're just being handed bad news. Jessica and Natasha emphasize that it's essential for agents...
info_outlineIn this episode of the Trucking for Millennials Podcast, we dive deep into the world of truck driving education with our special guest, D'Wayne Shaw, Executive Dean of Professional and Career Education at Kilgore College. We kick off the conversation by discussing the importance of choosing the right place to get your CDL and the credentials to look for in a truck driving school. D'Wayne emphasizes the significance of FMCSA-certified curriculums and the quality of equipment used in training.
We then explore the exciting new development at Kilgore College: the Transportation Institute. D'Wayne shares the journey of establishing this institute, highlighting the community effort and collaboration with Kilgore Economic Development. The institute boasts a custom-built driving skills facility, complete with a classroom, warehouse for logistics training, and a simulated loading dock. This state-of-the-art facility aims to provide top-notch training for aspiring truck drivers.
D'Wayne also touches on the challenges and investments involved in setting up a truck driving program, from acquiring and maintaining trucks to ensuring a safe and effective learning environment. He explains the process of becoming a third-party testing site, which allows Kilgore College to test their students on-site, significantly reducing the wait time for testing.
We discuss the demographics of the students enrolling in the CDL program, noting that most are older individuals making a career change rather than recent high school graduates. D'Wayne mentions the importance of maturity and experience in handling the responsibilities of truck driving.
Towards the end of the episode, we touch on the potential for future courses focused on entrepreneurship and business management for those looking to become owner-operators. D'Wayne expresses interest in expanding the curriculum to include these aspects, recognizing the importance of business acumen in the trucking industry.
Overall, this episode provides a comprehensive look at the efforts and innovations at Kilgore College to enhance truck driving education and support the logistics industry. We invite our listeners to join us for the ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 14th and to consider Kilgore College for their CDL training needs.