<![CDATA[Built in the Midwest]]>96b816f1-e82f-5931-814f-686c4c722919Fri, 22 May 2026 12:05:54 +0000Captivate.fmMidwest Truck Driving Schoolhttps://artwork.captivate.fm/22c3d946-ea47-49d6-bb1e-211b003b7597/BITM-LOGO-Design-2-1.jpegBuilt in the MidwestMidwest Truck Driving SchoolMidwest Truck Driving SchoolThere are careers that pay six figures, have massive demand, and take months to get into — not years. The reason most people never consider them has nothing to do with the work. It has to do with what they were never told. Built in the Midwest is where we have real conversations about careers in the skilled trades. From truck driving and electrical line work to heavy equipment and beyond. We bring in the people doing the work, the employers hiring for it, and the instructors training the next generation — because most people make career decisions with almost no real information. They pick a path based on what everyone else is doing, what sounds good on paper, or what their parents did. And then they spend the rest of their life wondering if they got it wrong. This show exists so you don't have to guess. You'll hear what the work actually looks like, what it pays, what employers want, and what nobody tells you before you get started. Hosted from Escanaba, Michigan by Midwest Truck Driving School, where we train CDL drivers, linemen, and heavy equipment operators. But the conversations here go well beyond our own programs — because the trades are bigger than any one school, and the decision you're making deserves the full picture. Whether you're an employer who wants to share your perspective, a tradesperson with a story, or someone trying to figure out their next move — pull up a chair and tune in. Got a question about a specific trade or career? Send us a message. We'll get into it on a future episode. New episodes every Friday.https://www.midwesttruckdrivingschool.com/podcasttrueepisodicnopodcastEscanaba, MIOpportunity Doesn't Wait for the Perfect TimeOpportunity Doesn't Wait for the Perfect TimeThis episode is for the kid being told he has one option. It's for the apprentice trying to figure out if going local is worth the pay cut. It's for the lineman wondering if the side hustle is real. Mike's career didn't follow a plan. It followed a series of decisions — and the ones that paid off weren't the ones anyone told him to make.

WHAT WE GET INTO

  • The guidance counselor conversation that introduced him to the trades
  • Why he didn't finish line school — and why his teacher told him not to
  • What he made as an apprentice on the road vs. as a municipal lineman at home
  • The tree job at his parents' house that accidentally started a business
  • Why he walked away from the "gravy job" most lineman never leave
  • The advice rule he uses: "Be careful who you take advice from"

ABOUT MIKE DOMBROWSKI

Mike Dombrowski grew up around Jim's Music — his dad's store. He knew young he didn't want an office. He went from high school to CDL to line school to apprentice contracting work in Minnesota, came home as a municipal lineman, started a tree service on the side, and went full-time around 2021. He's also one of the founding members of the MTDS Lineman School. You may have seen some of his videos go viral on TikTok and Facebook.

  • https://www.tiktok.com/@dombrowskitreeservice
  • https://www.facebook.com/dombrowskitreeservice/

🔗 LINKS

Listen wherever your get your podcasts: https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/listen

Midwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/

Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST

💬 CONNECT

Email: marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

]]>This episode is for the kid being told he has one option. It's for the apprentice trying to figure out if going local is worth the pay cut. It's for the lineman wondering if the side hustle is real. Mike's career didn't follow a plan. It followed a series of decisions — and the ones that paid off weren't the ones anyone told him to make.

WHAT WE GET INTO

  • The guidance counselor conversation that introduced him to the trades
  • Why he didn't finish line school — and why his teacher told him not to
  • What he made as an apprentice on the road vs. as a municipal lineman at home
  • The tree job at his parents' house that accidentally started a business
  • Why he walked away from the "gravy job" most lineman never leave
  • The advice rule he uses: "Be careful who you take advice from"

ABOUT MIKE DOMBROWSKI

Mike Dombrowski grew up around Jim's Music — his dad's store. He knew young he didn't want an office. He went from high school to CDL to line school to apprentice contracting work in Minnesota, came home as a municipal lineman, started a tree service on the side, and went full-time around 2021. He's also one of the founding members of the MTDS Lineman School. You may have seen some of his videos go viral on TikTok and Facebook.

  • https://www.tiktok.com/@dombrowskitreeservice
  • https://www.facebook.com/dombrowskitreeservice/

🔗 LINKS

Listen wherever your get your podcasts: https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/listen

Midwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/

Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST

💬 CONNECT

Email: marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

]]>d932e040-679c-4bcc-8478-908bb48b39f8Fri, 22 May 2026 08:00:00 -040038:59truefull1414The Invisible Barrier Every Trade Student Faces | BTS episodeThe Invisible Barrier Every Trade Student Faces | BTS episodeQuick heads up before you press play: we recorded this one inside a moving training truck during an active class day, so the audio gets scratchy in spots. We cleaned up what we could — some of it just is what it is when you record on the road. Bear with us. The conversation makes it worth it.

THE PREVIEW

This one's a behind-the-scenes episode. No table, no studio, no script — just a mic in the cab and two students riding along on a real training day.
Both of them are in the middle of the course, and they came at it from completely different places in life. But somewhere around the middle of training, almost every student we've ever had hits the same wall — and almost nobody talks about it before they enroll.
Different ages. Different reasons. Different jobs on the other side of it. Same program. Same wall in the middle. Same way through.

WHAT WE GET INTO

  • The wall almost every student hits around the middle of the course — and why Josh says it's a good sign, not a bad one
  • The night Nate had to "get the stress out" — and the gear that put him there
  • The job Jason interviewed well for and still didn't get — for one reason he couldn't argue with
  • Whether eight hours a day in a truck feels like a grind or a normal day once you're a few weeks in
  • A live look at something most schools never show you: reading a truck stop before you commit to pulling in

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 — Why this one sounds different 01:20 — The wall every student hits — and why Josh says it's a good sign 02:20 — Meet Nate 03:46 — The moment trucking got its hooks in him 06:06 — Why right now might be the best window Josh has seen to get in 06:48 — The night Nate had to "get the stress out" — and the gear that put him there 08:37 — A live look at the kind of detail nobody shows you on a brochure 10:35 — Driver switch — meet Jason 13:12 — Where 16 years in this industry can take you 15:10 — Does eight hours a day feel like a lot? Jason answers honestly 18:31 — The job Jason didn't get — and the advice that came out of it 22:16 — Where this drive was actually headed 23:21 — Signing off from the side of the highway

🔗 LINKS

Listen wherever your get your podcasts: https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/listen

Midwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/

Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST

💬 CONNECT

Email: marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

]]>Quick heads up before you press play: we recorded this one inside a moving training truck during an active class day, so the audio gets scratchy in spots. We cleaned up what we could — some of it just is what it is when you record on the road. Bear with us. The conversation makes it worth it.

THE PREVIEW

This one's a behind-the-scenes episode. No table, no studio, no script — just a mic in the cab and two students riding along on a real training day.
Both of them are in the middle of the course, and they came at it from completely different places in life. But somewhere around the middle of training, almost every student we've ever had hits the same wall — and almost nobody talks about it before they enroll.
Different ages. Different reasons. Different jobs on the other side of it. Same program. Same wall in the middle. Same way through.

WHAT WE GET INTO

  • The wall almost every student hits around the middle of the course — and why Josh says it's a good sign, not a bad one
  • The night Nate had to "get the stress out" — and the gear that put him there
  • The job Jason interviewed well for and still didn't get — for one reason he couldn't argue with
  • Whether eight hours a day in a truck feels like a grind or a normal day once you're a few weeks in
  • A live look at something most schools never show you: reading a truck stop before you commit to pulling in

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 — Why this one sounds different 01:20 — The wall every student hits — and why Josh says it's a good sign 02:20 — Meet Nate 03:46 — The moment trucking got its hooks in him 06:06 — Why right now might be the best window Josh has seen to get in 06:48 — The night Nate had to "get the stress out" — and the gear that put him there 08:37 — A live look at the kind of detail nobody shows you on a brochure 10:35 — Driver switch — meet Jason 13:12 — Where 16 years in this industry can take you 15:10 — Does eight hours a day feel like a lot? Jason answers honestly 18:31 — The job Jason didn't get — and the advice that came out of it 22:16 — Where this drive was actually headed 23:21 — Signing off from the side of the highway

🔗 LINKS

Listen wherever your get your podcasts: https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/listen

Midwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/

Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST

💬 CONNECT

Email: marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

]]>73516a0d-0629-43f3-b6d7-3e96ae35804aFri, 15 May 2026 08:00:00 -040023:52truefull1313Trade School Is The Door, Not The DestinationTrade School Is The Door, Not The DestinationA high school CTE director drives a busload of students two hours each way to spend a day at a CDL school. Why?

Because somewhere along the way, he figured out something most people building career pathways for young people miss — and it changes how you should think about every trade school you've ever seen.

Josh had a chat with Linus Parr, who runs the Career and Technical Education programs at Newberry High School. They recorded outside — first time we've ever done that — while Newberry's students were on the MTDS yards trying out heavy equipment, climbing poles, and getting hands-on with trades some of them had never even heard of.

They also discuss:

→ Why ninth graders should get to try things — even if they hate it

→ The "reverse field trip" model Newberry is pioneering

→ Why the classroom doesn't need to be in the school building

→ A 10-year millage that just changed CTE in the eastern UP

If you're a parent, an educator, a school counselor — or a young person trying to figure out what comes next — this one's worth your time.

🔗 LINKS

Listen wherever your get your podcasts: https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/listen

Midwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/

Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST

💬 CONNECT

Email: marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

]]>A high school CTE director drives a busload of students two hours each way to spend a day at a CDL school. Why?

Because somewhere along the way, he figured out something most people building career pathways for young people miss — and it changes how you should think about every trade school you've ever seen.

Josh had a chat with Linus Parr, who runs the Career and Technical Education programs at Newberry High School. They recorded outside — first time we've ever done that — while Newberry's students were on the MTDS yards trying out heavy equipment, climbing poles, and getting hands-on with trades some of them had never even heard of.

They also discuss:

→ Why ninth graders should get to try things — even if they hate it

→ The "reverse field trip" model Newberry is pioneering

→ Why the classroom doesn't need to be in the school building

→ A 10-year millage that just changed CTE in the eastern UP

If you're a parent, an educator, a school counselor — or a young person trying to figure out what comes next — this one's worth your time.

🔗 LINKS

Listen wherever your get your podcasts: https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/listen

Midwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/

Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST

💬 CONNECT

Email: marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

]]>aa917fb7-18b6-4fb1-8da7-a0f92922890bFri, 08 May 2026 08:00:00 -040016:47truefull1212College Enrollment Is Collapsing for a ReasonCollege Enrollment Is Collapsing for a ReasonNine years ago, the average truck driving school student was 50. Today, they're 18-20. Why are high schoolers and career changers walking away from college and choosing skilled trades careers — truck driving, lineman work, heavy equipment operation — instead?

In Episode 11 of Built in the Midwest, we sit down with Kyle Barron, Director of Admissions at Midwest Truck Driving School and North Country Heavy Equipment and Electrical Line School.

After nearly a decade across the desk from prospective students, Kyle has watched the demographic shift firsthand — the rise of trade school enrollment among young adults, the parents calling about gap year plans, and the 4.0 high school graduate who can't find a job. This is the skills gap conversation from someone who lives it every day.

We get into:

- Why a four-year college degree no longer guarantees employment

- The truth about underemployment among recent college graduates

- What kinesthetic learners need (and why traditional classrooms fail them)

- Why the trades are a viable career path for career changers in their 30s, 40s, and 50s

- The case against the couch-and-beach gap year — and what to do instead

- How to evaluate trade school programs in the Midwest

- The real ROI of starting a blue-collar career vs. taking on student loan debt

If you're a high school student weighing college vs. trade school, a parent helping a teenager think through career options, a career changer considering a fresh start, or an employer trying to understand where the next generation of skilled workers is coming from — this conversation is for you.

🔗 LINKS

Listen wherever your get your podcasts: https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/listen

Midwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/

Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST

💬 CONNECT

Email: marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

]]>Nine years ago, the average truck driving school student was 50. Today, they're 18-20. Why are high schoolers and career changers walking away from college and choosing skilled trades careers — truck driving, lineman work, heavy equipment operation — instead?

In Episode 11 of Built in the Midwest, we sit down with Kyle Barron, Director of Admissions at Midwest Truck Driving School and North Country Heavy Equipment and Electrical Line School.

After nearly a decade across the desk from prospective students, Kyle has watched the demographic shift firsthand — the rise of trade school enrollment among young adults, the parents calling about gap year plans, and the 4.0 high school graduate who can't find a job. This is the skills gap conversation from someone who lives it every day.

We get into:

- Why a four-year college degree no longer guarantees employment

- The truth about underemployment among recent college graduates

- What kinesthetic learners need (and why traditional classrooms fail them)

- Why the trades are a viable career path for career changers in their 30s, 40s, and 50s

- The case against the couch-and-beach gap year — and what to do instead

- How to evaluate trade school programs in the Midwest

- The real ROI of starting a blue-collar career vs. taking on student loan debt

If you're a high school student weighing college vs. trade school, a parent helping a teenager think through career options, a career changer considering a fresh start, or an employer trying to understand where the next generation of skilled workers is coming from — this conversation is for you.

🔗 LINKS

Listen wherever your get your podcasts: https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/listen

Midwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/

Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST

💬 CONNECT

Email: marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

]]>3d3137e3-b4db-4f1f-bfc6-bf450ffd6924Fri, 01 May 2026 08:00:00 -040039:22truefull111150 Years and a Few Million Miles Driving Heavy Haul50 Years and a Few Million Miles Driving Heavy HaulDan started hauling 140,000-pound chip trucks through the UP woods at 17. Fifty years and a few million miles later, he sits down with Josh to talk about what trucking was, what it is now, and what every new driver needs to know.

🔑 KEY TOPICS

— 50 years of trucking experience across van lines, intermodal, heavy haul, and OTR

— The financial realities of owner-operator trucking— Why autonomous trucks face more obstacles than most people realize

— ELD regulations and how they've reshaped daily operations

— Practical advice: pre-trip habits, parking strategy, and navigating big cities— What intermodal drayage actually involves day-to-day

👉 SUBSCRIBE for weekly conversations about careers in the trades.

🔗 LINKS

Midwest Truck Driving School: https://midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

North Country Electrical Line & Heavy Equipment School: https://ncheschool.com

Listen on your favorite podcast app: https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/listen

📧 marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

📱 Follow us: @midwesttruckdrivingschool

]]>Dan started hauling 140,000-pound chip trucks through the UP woods at 17. Fifty years and a few million miles later, he sits down with Josh to talk about what trucking was, what it is now, and what every new driver needs to know.

🔑 KEY TOPICS

— 50 years of trucking experience across van lines, intermodal, heavy haul, and OTR

— The financial realities of owner-operator trucking— Why autonomous trucks face more obstacles than most people realize

— ELD regulations and how they've reshaped daily operations

— Practical advice: pre-trip habits, parking strategy, and navigating big cities— What intermodal drayage actually involves day-to-day

👉 SUBSCRIBE for weekly conversations about careers in the trades.

🔗 LINKS

Midwest Truck Driving School: https://midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

North Country Electrical Line & Heavy Equipment School: https://ncheschool.com

Listen on your favorite podcast app: https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/listen

📧 marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

📱 Follow us: @midwesttruckdrivingschool

]]>4c69e766-4977-4fd4-ab24-a9782e6d5d4aFri, 24 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -040042:08truefull1010The Real Cost of Being Unprepared After High SchoolThe Real Cost of Being Unprepared After High SchoolA math tutor who works with trade students says the bar for a high school diploma has never been lower — and he's watching the consequences walk into apprenticeship programs every week.

Our guest this week, Kent King, has taught public school, run GED prep in a county jail, and now tutors math for our students. He sees what happens when students who "passed" high school meet the math the trades actually demand. This one's a direct conversation about personal responsibility, what schools stopped doing, and why the next generation of tradespeople is going to have to prepare themselves.

🔗 LINKS

Listen wherever your get your podcasts: https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/listen

Midwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/

Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST

💬 CONNECT

Email: marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

]]>A math tutor who works with trade students says the bar for a high school diploma has never been lower — and he's watching the consequences walk into apprenticeship programs every week.

Our guest this week, Kent King, has taught public school, run GED prep in a county jail, and now tutors math for our students. He sees what happens when students who "passed" high school meet the math the trades actually demand. This one's a direct conversation about personal responsibility, what schools stopped doing, and why the next generation of tradespeople is going to have to prepare themselves.

🔗 LINKS

Listen wherever your get your podcasts: https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/listen

Midwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/

Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST

💬 CONNECT

Email: marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

]]>eca14b64-d39f-4db0-bba0-886926790779Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -040059:42truefull99Why Most CDL Applicants Never Get Hired | Roehl Transport RecruiterWhy Most CDL Applicants Never Get Hired | Roehl Transport RecruiterDavid spent ten years recruiting for the U.S. Army before he ever recruited a single truck driver. Now he travels the Midwest sitting down with CDL students and soldiers transitioning out — and he's blunt about what most of them get wrong before they ever sign an application.

WHAT WE GET INTO

  • The thing every new driver assumes about hiring that's costing them offers
  • Why Roehl swapped side mirrors for cameras on their 2026 trucks — and what it actually changes about the job
  • The "reality check" that hits every new driver around day 19, and the small group who don't make it past it
  • What David tells students who've got a speeding ticket or a DUI in their past
  • The question David says separates the drivers who succeed from the ones who wash out
  • Why the worst thing a new driver can do is walk in thinking they already know

ABOUT DAVID

David spent five years with the 82nd Airborne — three deployments, two to Iraq, one to Afghanistan — before transitioning into Army recruiting for a decade. He retired from the military in 2017 and has been recruiting drivers ever since. Today he's the military field recruiter for Roehl Transport, covering CDL schools and military bases across the Midwest. Roehl has been family-owned since 1962 and runs roughly 1,900 trucks across all 48 states.

🔗 LINKS

Listen wherever your get your podcasts: https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/listen

Midwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/

Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST

💬 CONNECT

Email: marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

]]>David spent ten years recruiting for the U.S. Army before he ever recruited a single truck driver. Now he travels the Midwest sitting down with CDL students and soldiers transitioning out — and he's blunt about what most of them get wrong before they ever sign an application.

WHAT WE GET INTO

  • The thing every new driver assumes about hiring that's costing them offers
  • Why Roehl swapped side mirrors for cameras on their 2026 trucks — and what it actually changes about the job
  • The "reality check" that hits every new driver around day 19, and the small group who don't make it past it
  • What David tells students who've got a speeding ticket or a DUI in their past
  • The question David says separates the drivers who succeed from the ones who wash out
  • Why the worst thing a new driver can do is walk in thinking they already know

ABOUT DAVID

David spent five years with the 82nd Airborne — three deployments, two to Iraq, one to Afghanistan — before transitioning into Army recruiting for a decade. He retired from the military in 2017 and has been recruiting drivers ever since. Today he's the military field recruiter for Roehl Transport, covering CDL schools and military bases across the Midwest. Roehl has been family-owned since 1962 and runs roughly 1,900 trucks across all 48 states.

🔗 LINKS

Listen wherever your get your podcasts: https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/listen

Midwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/

Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST

💬 CONNECT

Email: marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

]]>f9801252-ac25-4217-9ee2-e60c0f36a650Fri, 10 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -040041:29truefull88The Trade That Keeps Every Other Trade RunningThe Trade That Keeps Every Other Trade RunningEvery truck on the road, every piece of heavy equipment on a job site, every log truck bouncing through the woods at 160,000 pounds — someone has to keep all of it running. That someone is AJ. He started as a diesel tech and worked his way to managing a shop that serves everyone from over-the-road drivers passing through the UP to log truck operators 30 miles deep in the woods. He came in to talk about diesel tech. He ended up making a case that it might be the most underrated career in the trades.

If you have an electrical background, you're as good as gold in the modern heavy duty industry. Master technicians are rare, and those with these specialized skills can command good paying jobs. This conversation highlights the critical role of these trade jobs as a lifeline when mechanical issues arise, emphasizing how vital skilled mechanics are.

ABOUT AJ

AJ started turning wrenches and worked his way up to managing operations at 10-4 Truck & Trailer Repair in the UP. His shop handles everything from routine maintenance to emergency road calls — tractor trailers, log trucks, heavy equipment, and anything else that runs diesel and needs help. He's one of those guys who keeps every other trade moving, and most people will never know his name.

🔗 LINKS

Listen wherever your get your podcasts: https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/listen

Midwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/

Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST

💬 CONNECT

Email: marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

]]>Every truck on the road, every piece of heavy equipment on a job site, every log truck bouncing through the woods at 160,000 pounds — someone has to keep all of it running. That someone is AJ. He started as a diesel tech and worked his way to managing a shop that serves everyone from over-the-road drivers passing through the UP to log truck operators 30 miles deep in the woods. He came in to talk about diesel tech. He ended up making a case that it might be the most underrated career in the trades.

If you have an electrical background, you're as good as gold in the modern heavy duty industry. Master technicians are rare, and those with these specialized skills can command good paying jobs. This conversation highlights the critical role of these trade jobs as a lifeline when mechanical issues arise, emphasizing how vital skilled mechanics are.

ABOUT AJ

AJ started turning wrenches and worked his way up to managing operations at 10-4 Truck & Trailer Repair in the UP. His shop handles everything from routine maintenance to emergency road calls — tractor trailers, log trucks, heavy equipment, and anything else that runs diesel and needs help. He's one of those guys who keeps every other trade moving, and most people will never know his name.

🔗 LINKS

Listen wherever your get your podcasts: https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/listen

Midwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/

Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST

💬 CONNECT

Email: marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

]]>6d8e099c-f6e6-45c9-aca3-1a4cce586b17Fri, 03 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -040041:05truefull77The Future of Heavy Equipment Operation Is InsaneThe Future of Heavy Equipment Operation Is InsaneDonnie walked into the largest heavy equipment show in North America and watched someone operate a real excavator in Germany — from a console in Las Vegas. That moment changed how he thinks about what's coming for the industry. And what he's bringing back to his students.

WHAT WE GET INTO

  • The ConExpo experience — 2,200 vendors, five buildings, four parking lots, and technology Donnie didn't know existed
  • Proximity software that locks machine controls when a person gets within eight feet — even in the operator's blind spot
  • Why the "five years of experience" hire is a unicorn now — and what employers are asking for instead
  • The NCCER credentials that are putting graduates a year ahead in apprenticeship programs before they even start
  • Why having a CDL as an operator makes you a one-person crew — and why employers are starting to require it
  • Donnie's take on women in heavy equipment: "Some of the best operators I've ever seen are women"
  • The student age range that proves it's never too late — from 16 to 66

ABOUT DONNIE

Donnie is the lead heavy equipment instructor at Midwest Truck Driving School. He just came back from ConExpo 2026 — the largest heavy equipment show in North America — and what he saw is changing how he trains the next generation of operators.

We get into the technology that's coming, the credentials that are giving graduates a head start, why women are some of the best operators he's ever trained, and why the "five years of experience" hire is officially a mythical creature.

🔗 LINKS

Listen wherever your get your podcasts: Listen to Built in the Midwest

Midwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/

Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST

💬 CONNECT

Email: marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

]]>Donnie walked into the largest heavy equipment show in North America and watched someone operate a real excavator in Germany — from a console in Las Vegas. That moment changed how he thinks about what's coming for the industry. And what he's bringing back to his students.

WHAT WE GET INTO

  • The ConExpo experience — 2,200 vendors, five buildings, four parking lots, and technology Donnie didn't know existed
  • Proximity software that locks machine controls when a person gets within eight feet — even in the operator's blind spot
  • Why the "five years of experience" hire is a unicorn now — and what employers are asking for instead
  • The NCCER credentials that are putting graduates a year ahead in apprenticeship programs before they even start
  • Why having a CDL as an operator makes you a one-person crew — and why employers are starting to require it
  • Donnie's take on women in heavy equipment: "Some of the best operators I've ever seen are women"
  • The student age range that proves it's never too late — from 16 to 66

ABOUT DONNIE

Donnie is the lead heavy equipment instructor at Midwest Truck Driving School. He just came back from ConExpo 2026 — the largest heavy equipment show in North America — and what he saw is changing how he trains the next generation of operators.

We get into the technology that's coming, the credentials that are giving graduates a head start, why women are some of the best operators he's ever trained, and why the "five years of experience" hire is officially a mythical creature.

🔗 LINKS

Listen wherever your get your podcasts: Listen to Built in the Midwest

Midwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/

Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST

💬 CONNECT

Email: marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

]]>06968d00-d580-4ec1-be26-2c758729c4feFri, 27 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -040057:10truefull66The True Cost of Being an Owner Operator in TruckingThe True Cost of Being an Owner Operator in TruckingAndrew Krueger got his start hauling freight in box trucks around Chicago in his early twenties. A decade and a half later, he's running his own trucks, hiring his own drivers, and filing for his own motor carrier authority — and he's doing it from the Upper Peninsula.

Then the company he'd been leased to for years pulled the plug. Right before Christmas. Instead of walking away, he went all in.

This week, his first truck rolls out under his own name.

WHAT WE GET INTO

  1. What it actually costs to become an owner-operator — and the $4,000 bet that started everything
  2. The stuff CDL schools don't teach you — blown airlines, brake adjustments, and the road etiquette nobody mentions
  3. Why most owner-operators will tell you not to do it — and why Andrew did it anyway
  4. The real numbers: what a motivated reefer driver can earn, what it costs per mile to survive, and why your business checkbook and personal checkbook can never be the same account
  5. Electric trucks, autonomous semis, and where Andrew thinks the industry is headed in five years

ABOUT ANDREW KRUEGER

Andrew got into trucking in his early twenties after working sandblasting and painting jobs around Chicago. He's driven over the road, worked the repair side, and built a multi-truck operation hauling reefer freight to California. After relocating to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, he grew from a single leased truck to running his own drivers.

🔗 LINKS

Listen wherever your get your podcasts: Listen to Built in the Midwest

Midwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/

Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST

💬 CONNECT

Email: marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

]]>Andrew Krueger got his start hauling freight in box trucks around Chicago in his early twenties. A decade and a half later, he's running his own trucks, hiring his own drivers, and filing for his own motor carrier authority — and he's doing it from the Upper Peninsula.

Then the company he'd been leased to for years pulled the plug. Right before Christmas. Instead of walking away, he went all in.

This week, his first truck rolls out under his own name.

WHAT WE GET INTO

  1. What it actually costs to become an owner-operator — and the $4,000 bet that started everything
  2. The stuff CDL schools don't teach you — blown airlines, brake adjustments, and the road etiquette nobody mentions
  3. Why most owner-operators will tell you not to do it — and why Andrew did it anyway
  4. The real numbers: what a motivated reefer driver can earn, what it costs per mile to survive, and why your business checkbook and personal checkbook can never be the same account
  5. Electric trucks, autonomous semis, and where Andrew thinks the industry is headed in five years

ABOUT ANDREW KRUEGER

Andrew got into trucking in his early twenties after working sandblasting and painting jobs around Chicago. He's driven over the road, worked the repair side, and built a multi-truck operation hauling reefer freight to California. After relocating to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, he grew from a single leased truck to running his own drivers.

🔗 LINKS

Listen wherever your get your podcasts: Listen to Built in the Midwest

Midwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/

Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST

💬 CONNECT

Email: marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

]]>18f75d63-21e1-4b26-9eb2-4c89d1519738Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -040038:20truefull55The Real Reason Truck Drivers Fail (It's Not What You Think)The Real Reason Truck Drivers Fail (It's Not What You Think)A driver clears $90K his first year. Another one with the same CDL is stuck at $55K and frustrated about it.

Bill Oglesby has watched hundreds of students come through Midwest Truck Driving School. He can spot the difference between those two drivers before they ever leave the building. This week, he breaks down what that difference actually is — and most of it has nothing to do with driving.

WHAT WE GET INTO

  1. Why Bill chose pneumatic tanker — and how he really made his money
  2. The exact habits Bill sees in students who go on to earn $80–100K+ vs. those who plateau
  3. What "reducing liability" means from the employer's side — and why it's the fastest way to get noticed
  4. How your reputation spreads faster than any billboard — for better or worse
  5. Why pre-trips aren't boring busywork — they're how you prove you're worth the better truck
  6. The one mindset shift that separates people who burn out from people who build careers

ABOUT BILL OGLESBY

Bill is the lead instructor at Midwest Truck Driving School in Escanaba, Michigan. Before teaching, he hauled dry bulk pneumatic tanker. He got recruited to teach while hauling a load of lime, and he's been watching students go from nervous to hired ever since.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 — "We all have the same 24 hours." Bill on what most people get wrong.

01:10 — The earning gap nobody talks about: why two drivers with the same CDL can end up $30K apart

05:13 — How Bill increased his income hauling pneumatic tanker

08:33 — Endorsements and the freight that pays more — what doors they actually open 10:54 — The phone call that pulled Bill off the road and into the classroom

13:07 — The loneliest part of trucking — and how drivers build real connections on the road

17:06 — "It's just trucking. It's going to be easy." Why that mindset kills careers.

18:20 — 200+ divisions in trucking — if you hate what you're doing, you haven't found your niche yet

22:48 — The guy who shows up 20 minutes early vs. the guy who's 10 minutes late.

24:47 — Pre-trips, dirty boots, and why the determine your career

26:02 — You want the fancy truck? Here's how you earn it.

27:32 — You're not just an employee. You're a liability. How to flip that.

29:50 — The McDonald's French fry fryer broke. It'll be okay. (Seriously — this is about more than fries.)

33:40 — Bill's advice to his younger self: one word that changes everything

LINKS

Episode 3 with Jillian Garcia (Schneider National): https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/episode/what-a-schneider-recruiter-learned-from-talking-to-thousands-of-drivers/

Midwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

CONNECT

Got a story? Know someone who should be on the show? Reach out at marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

See what we're building at midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

]]>A driver clears $90K his first year. Another one with the same CDL is stuck at $55K and frustrated about it.

Bill Oglesby has watched hundreds of students come through Midwest Truck Driving School. He can spot the difference between those two drivers before they ever leave the building. This week, he breaks down what that difference actually is — and most of it has nothing to do with driving.

WHAT WE GET INTO

  1. Why Bill chose pneumatic tanker — and how he really made his money
  2. The exact habits Bill sees in students who go on to earn $80–100K+ vs. those who plateau
  3. What "reducing liability" means from the employer's side — and why it's the fastest way to get noticed
  4. How your reputation spreads faster than any billboard — for better or worse
  5. Why pre-trips aren't boring busywork — they're how you prove you're worth the better truck
  6. The one mindset shift that separates people who burn out from people who build careers

ABOUT BILL OGLESBY

Bill is the lead instructor at Midwest Truck Driving School in Escanaba, Michigan. Before teaching, he hauled dry bulk pneumatic tanker. He got recruited to teach while hauling a load of lime, and he's been watching students go from nervous to hired ever since.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 — "We all have the same 24 hours." Bill on what most people get wrong.

01:10 — The earning gap nobody talks about: why two drivers with the same CDL can end up $30K apart

05:13 — How Bill increased his income hauling pneumatic tanker

08:33 — Endorsements and the freight that pays more — what doors they actually open 10:54 — The phone call that pulled Bill off the road and into the classroom

13:07 — The loneliest part of trucking — and how drivers build real connections on the road

17:06 — "It's just trucking. It's going to be easy." Why that mindset kills careers.

18:20 — 200+ divisions in trucking — if you hate what you're doing, you haven't found your niche yet

22:48 — The guy who shows up 20 minutes early vs. the guy who's 10 minutes late.

24:47 — Pre-trips, dirty boots, and why the determine your career

26:02 — You want the fancy truck? Here's how you earn it.

27:32 — You're not just an employee. You're a liability. How to flip that.

29:50 — The McDonald's French fry fryer broke. It'll be okay. (Seriously — this is about more than fries.)

33:40 — Bill's advice to his younger self: one word that changes everything

LINKS

Episode 3 with Jillian Garcia (Schneider National): https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/episode/what-a-schneider-recruiter-learned-from-talking-to-thousands-of-drivers/

Midwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

CONNECT

Got a story? Know someone who should be on the show? Reach out at marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

See what we're building at midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

]]>d9d2e2d2-a354-4d5f-a8df-34c0c04e4405Fri, 13 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -040034:59falsefull44What a Schneider Recruiter Learned from Talking to Thousands of DriversWhat a Schneider Recruiter Learned from Talking to Thousands of DriversJillian Garcia never planned on a career in trucking. She was a self-described introvert who'd spent years in childcare and the restaurant industry before a temp agency placed her at Schneider.

Ten years later, she's a Senior Territory Recruiter covering Wisconsin and Upper Michigan — and she's talked to more drivers than most people will meet in a lifetime. In this conversation, she opens up about overcoming social anxiety, what she actually looks for when she's evaluating candidates, why the first year breaks some drivers and builds others, and the career paths in trucking that most people don't know exist.

WHAT WE GET INTO

— How a girl who was "terribly shy" with social anxiety ended up doing presentations and connecting with people for a living - and why pushing past that fear changed everything

— The traits that separate drivers who build long careers from the ones who don't make it past year one (hint: it's not driving skill)

— Why "being teachable" is the single most important piece of advice she gives every new driver

— What the day-to-day actually looks like at a company like Schneider — home time, truck setup, dedicated vs. OTR, and the options most people don't realize exist

— Schneider's mirrorless truck technology and why they're always first to test what everyone else eventually adopts

— The real talk on safety: cameras that protect drivers, tech that prevents accidents, and why "you're the captain of your ship" isn't just a slogan

ABOUT JILLIAN GARCIA

Jillian is a Senior Territory Recruiter at Schneider National, covering Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, and Northern Illinois. She's been with Schneider for ten years, starting as a temp in customer service before moving into recruiting. Her grandfather drove for Schneider in the late '70s.

She travels to CDL schools, hiring events, and job fairs across her territory, connecting with students and career changers who are figuring out their next move.

📩 GOT A QUESTION ABOUT THE TRADES?

Leave a comment or send us a message — we'll get into it on a future episode.


LINKS

Connect with Jillian: https://www.facebook.com/JillianGarciaSNI

Midwest Truck Driving School Lineman Program: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/


🔗 CONNECT

Website: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Email: marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool


New episodes every Friday!

]]>Jillian Garcia never planned on a career in trucking. She was a self-described introvert who'd spent years in childcare and the restaurant industry before a temp agency placed her at Schneider.

Ten years later, she's a Senior Territory Recruiter covering Wisconsin and Upper Michigan — and she's talked to more drivers than most people will meet in a lifetime. In this conversation, she opens up about overcoming social anxiety, what she actually looks for when she's evaluating candidates, why the first year breaks some drivers and builds others, and the career paths in trucking that most people don't know exist.

WHAT WE GET INTO

— How a girl who was "terribly shy" with social anxiety ended up doing presentations and connecting with people for a living - and why pushing past that fear changed everything

— The traits that separate drivers who build long careers from the ones who don't make it past year one (hint: it's not driving skill)

— Why "being teachable" is the single most important piece of advice she gives every new driver

— What the day-to-day actually looks like at a company like Schneider — home time, truck setup, dedicated vs. OTR, and the options most people don't realize exist

— Schneider's mirrorless truck technology and why they're always first to test what everyone else eventually adopts

— The real talk on safety: cameras that protect drivers, tech that prevents accidents, and why "you're the captain of your ship" isn't just a slogan

ABOUT JILLIAN GARCIA

Jillian is a Senior Territory Recruiter at Schneider National, covering Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, and Northern Illinois. She's been with Schneider for ten years, starting as a temp in customer service before moving into recruiting. Her grandfather drove for Schneider in the late '70s.

She travels to CDL schools, hiring events, and job fairs across her territory, connecting with students and career changers who are figuring out their next move.

📩 GOT A QUESTION ABOUT THE TRADES?

Leave a comment or send us a message — we'll get into it on a future episode.


LINKS

Connect with Jillian: https://www.facebook.com/JillianGarciaSNI

Midwest Truck Driving School Lineman Program: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/


🔗 CONNECT

Website: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Email: marketing@midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool


New episodes every Friday!

]]>bcc53514-344b-4e74-9cf6-1fa30457f205Fri, 06 Mar 2026 08:15:00 -040041:50falsefull33From the Marines to MO Valley: Mason's Veteran StoryFrom the Marines to MO Valley: Mason's Veteran StoryJoin us as we dive into an engaging chat with Mason, who reveals his unexpected journey from military life to pursuing a career in the trades. He candidly shares how his decision to join the Marines at a young age sparked a series of life events, leading him to discover his true passion for hands-on work. Mason's story is all about finding your niche and not being afraid to pivot when things don't feel right—like when he realized that working behind a desk just wasn’t his jam. We also tackle the challenges veterans face when transitioning to civilian life, and Mason's insights could be a game-changer for anyone feeling a bit lost after leaving the military. So, whether you’re contemplating a career shift or just curious about the trades, this episode is packed with relatable stories and valuable advice.

]]>Join us as we dive into an engaging chat with Mason, who reveals his unexpected journey from military life to pursuing a career in the trades. He candidly shares how his decision to join the Marines at a young age sparked a series of life events, leading him to discover his true passion for hands-on work. Mason's story is all about finding your niche and not being afraid to pivot when things don't feel right—like when he realized that working behind a desk just wasn’t his jam. We also tackle the challenges veterans face when transitioning to civilian life, and Mason's insights could be a game-changer for anyone feeling a bit lost after leaving the military. So, whether you’re contemplating a career shift or just curious about the trades, this episode is packed with relatable stories and valuable advice.

]]>fe72cb48-d05e-488d-8c9a-6d37112725dfFri, 06 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -040034:24truefull22Your Career Decision Defines Your Entire LifeYour Career Decision Defines Your Entire LifeHow much did you actually know before you made your career decision?

Not what you thought you knew. What did you really understand about the work, the pay, the day-to-day — before you committed years of your life and thousands of dollars to it?

Most people don't have a good answer. And the ones who do usually wish they'd asked better questions first.

This is the first episode of Built in the Midwest. Hosts Josh and RJ both made career decisions they'd handle differently — and that's a big reason this show exists. They get into what goes wrong when people choose a path based on emotion instead of information, the careers that were never even presented as options, and why a classroom full of people ranging from 18 to 65 might tell you more about the trades than any brochure ever could.

WHAT WE GET INTO

  1. Why it's crazy to make a life-altering decision based on almost no real information
  2. A 26-year-old veteran was terrified of being the oldest person in a classroom — and what he found out when he got there
  3. The career paths that were never even presented as options — and what that costs people
  4. How emotion drives most career decisions, and what happens when you try to reverse-engineer the facts afterward
  5. What this show is here to do about all of it

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Two guys who believe people should have the opportunity to work meaningful, well-paying careers that allow you to live well and provide for your family.

  1. Josh Barron serves as the School Director for Midwest Truck Driving School as well as North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School.
  2. RJ Parrish manages the schools' marketing and media, helping to drive awareness and understanding of trades career opportunities.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 — Cold open

00:42 — What this show is and who it's for

01:13 — The 18-to-80 classroom

02:36 — "If I don't do this, I'm going to regret it"

03:27 — The veteran who thought 26 was too old

08:35 — The question most high schoolers can't answer

11:40 — "I had a very different image in my head"

13:48 — The decision that started with a Starbucks

16:01 — Emotional decisions vs. informed ones

18:30 — The guests you'll hear from in this show

21:45 — "That decision will affect you your entire life"

CONNECT

  1. Website: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com/podcast
  2. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest
  3. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/
  4. TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

Got a story? Know someone who should be on the show? Reach out at midwesttruckdrivingschool.com/podcast

Learn more about the training we offer at midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

New episodes drop every Friday.

]]>How much did you actually know before you made your career decision?

Not what you thought you knew. What did you really understand about the work, the pay, the day-to-day — before you committed years of your life and thousands of dollars to it?

Most people don't have a good answer. And the ones who do usually wish they'd asked better questions first.

This is the first episode of Built in the Midwest. Hosts Josh and RJ both made career decisions they'd handle differently — and that's a big reason this show exists. They get into what goes wrong when people choose a path based on emotion instead of information, the careers that were never even presented as options, and why a classroom full of people ranging from 18 to 65 might tell you more about the trades than any brochure ever could.

WHAT WE GET INTO

  1. Why it's crazy to make a life-altering decision based on almost no real information
  2. A 26-year-old veteran was terrified of being the oldest person in a classroom — and what he found out when he got there
  3. The career paths that were never even presented as options — and what that costs people
  4. How emotion drives most career decisions, and what happens when you try to reverse-engineer the facts afterward
  5. What this show is here to do about all of it

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Two guys who believe people should have the opportunity to work meaningful, well-paying careers that allow you to live well and provide for your family.

  1. Josh Barron serves as the School Director for Midwest Truck Driving School as well as North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School.
  2. RJ Parrish manages the schools' marketing and media, helping to drive awareness and understanding of trades career opportunities.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 — Cold open

00:42 — What this show is and who it's for

01:13 — The 18-to-80 classroom

02:36 — "If I don't do this, I'm going to regret it"

03:27 — The veteran who thought 26 was too old

08:35 — The question most high schoolers can't answer

11:40 — "I had a very different image in my head"

13:48 — The decision that started with a Starbucks

16:01 — Emotional decisions vs. informed ones

18:30 — The guests you'll hear from in this show

21:45 — "That decision will affect you your entire life"

CONNECT

  1. Website: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com/podcast
  2. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest
  3. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/
  4. TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

Got a story? Know someone who should be on the show? Reach out at midwesttruckdrivingschool.com/podcast

Learn more about the training we offer at midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

New episodes drop every Friday.

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