"Owner-Operator" is not the most common path in the Dirt World. It requires more admin work typically, and you have to actually buy the machine, of course. But for those who can make it happen, it opens up a world of possibilities in the Dirt World. This week, Aaron spoke with John Schiedeck of Schiedeck Construction about the owner-operator life. John's an absolute weapon with a blade, making him one of the best graders out there. He recently moved from California to Texas, but was gracious enough to take a break from unpacking to give us a sneak-peek into what the owner-operator process looks like.

John and Aaron dig deep into some technical aspects of the heavy iron that John has, but they also discuss why to always "do what you can with the machine, so you don't have to do it with the shovel", the pros and cons of owning your own equipment, and John reveals a few operator tricks that he's learned in his career.

If you want to get in touch with John, visit the website for Schiedeck Construction or follow him on IG at @schiedeck_construction.

If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to us at [email protected].

And as always...

Stay Dirty.