Six-Figure Trucker

Smoke billowed into the cab as Aaron regained his wits and found himself hanging upside down from his seatbelt. The smell of diesel that fueled the rapidly spreading flames also fueled his adrenaline to find some way out of a truck that was seconds away from being his coffin. When he couldn’t find his hammer, he grabbed his oversized thermos and swung away. He smashed his way out through the windshield and crawled away to safety. Just moments before, Aaron had been thinking about how beautiful and quiet a night it was on the open roads between Tulsa and Texas. But, it all changed in an instant when a man with a death wish barrelled into the side of Aaron’s truck and almost took him to the grave as well. It was a moment that forever changed today’s guest and taught him precious lessons on the value of life, safety, and concentration. We’re honored to hear his story and glean his wisdom on this episode of the #SixFigureTrucker.

Show Notes:

• Welcoming Norton’s Driver development manager, Aaron Smith (1:10)
• Cooking the [Log] Books (3:22)
• Aaron shares a chilling story that changed his life (5:00)
• No BS! Accurate logs lead to safety, security, and more money (20:00)
• The Importance of a Good Plan (25:45)
• Aaron talks about his journey to Norton Transport (27:54)
• His vision to help drivers become more efficient and productive (32:09)
• Aaron’s sage advice to Drivers to ensure they “come home” (39:37)

Thanks so much, Aaron!

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly conversation that shares the strategies and stories that successful drivers have used to build lucrative careers in the driveaway trucking industry. For more information or to subscribe, please visit https://www.six-figuretrucker.com/. 

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly podcast about driveaway trucking brought to you by Norton Transport.

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly podcast about driveaway trucking brought to you by Norton Transport. For more information or to subscribe, please visit Six-FigureTrucker.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Whether working the decks of a cruise ship, owning and operating a race track, or burning tread in driveaway, Donald Vivier is an all-in kind of guy. He locks into the task at hand and commits himself to learning. This has led Donnie to a wide variety of experiences, where he has learned what it takes to be successful. In his most recent venture, Donnie has brought his wealth of knowledge and experience to the world of Driveaway. Unsurprisingly, Donnie has found quick success along with the freedom that he’s always craved. Donnie’s our guest today with a ton of advice! Join us for this episode of the #SixFigureTrucker.

Show Notes:

• From his home on the coast, Donnie shares his journey to Driveaway (1:22)
• Donnie connects the dots to make Driveaway work for him (6:04)
• For Donnie, Tow-behind is where it’s at! (11:13)
• Memorable experiences over the road (17:57)
• Working on a Cruise Ship (24:04)
• Founding and Operating a Race Track (30:21)
• Always be a learner (36:50)
• Donnie talks about his future and freedom in Driveaway (38:32)
• It’s Not a Job; it’s a Business…run it as such! (43:40)

Keep Truckin’, Donnie!

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly conversation that shares the strategies and stories that successful drivers have used to build lucrative careers in the driveaway trucking industry. For more information or to subscribe, please visit https://www.six-figuretrucker.com/. 

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly podcast about driveaway trucking brought to you by Norton Transport.

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly podcast about driveaway trucking brought to you by Norton Transport. For more information or to subscribe, please visit Six-FigureTrucker.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From sea to shining sea, our All-American truck drivers are privileged to take in the breathtaking beauty of this great land from behind the wheel. But for today's guest, these landscapes are nothing new. What is new is the angle. Before taking his place behind the wheel of a truck, Robert Nebel spent the better part of three decades in a cockpit. As a military pilot, he flew combat missions in Vietnam and then returned to a decorated career as both a pilot and instructor. Then, he traded his fatigues for a suit and a commercial jet with Southwest Airlines, where he flew the friendly skies for fourteen years. Jets, planes, helicopters, you name it, Robert has flown it. And now, in the twilight of his career, he’s brought his supreme navigational skills to the ground and to a truck. We’re back for part two of our fascinating conversation with Robert Nebel as he shares his journey through the air to the world of trucking. 

Show Notes:

• Robert’s honorable service as a Pilot in Vietnam (2:49)
• His decorated career as a military Pilot continued (9:53)
• From Southeast Asia to Southwest Airlines (16:53)
• How Robert’s career in the air serves him well behind the wheel (21:24)
• Robert’s favorite sights from the sky and on the ground (23:00)
• Robert inspires us as we sign off (27:09)

Keep Truckin’, Robert!

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly conversation that shares the strategies and stories that successful drivers have used to build lucrative careers in the driveaway trucking industry. For more information or to subscribe, please visit https://www.six-figuretrucker.com/. 

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly podcast about driveaway trucking brought to you by Norton Transport.

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly podcast about driveaway trucking brought to you by Norton Transport. For more information or to subscribe, please visit Six-FigureTrucker.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As he looks back, Robert Nebel can see how his upbringing was the perfect training ground for the business of Driveaway. As a kid, he would work in the mom-and-pop grocery store that his parents ran and learned the ethic of hard work and the value of a dollar. At 16, he spent a summer in Germany studying abroad and learned to adapt to a world where no one spoke his language. Then, he joined the military, where he would have a colorful career. Each of these experiences taught him to think on his feet and were masterclass preparations for the open roads of trucking. We’re pleased to welcome Robert Nebel for part one of a two-episode series. At 76 years young, Robert brings a host of experiences and stories along with a wealth of wisdom on this episode of the #SixFigureTrucker.

Show Notes:

• Robert reflects upon his childhood in the Big Apple and the Poconos (1:41)
• Learning to think on his feet as a kid shaped Robert for Driveaway (5:32)
• How a random Uber Route led Robert to Driveaway (12:15)
• Neither a scary injury nor bad directions could keep him from an on-time delivery (15:15)
• My Dispatchers are more than co-workers that I trust. They are friends. (19:43)
• Robert’s skillful approach to CNG (22:15)
• 76 and young! (24:24)

Keep Truckin’, Robert!

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly conversation that shares the strategies and stories that successful drivers have used to build lucrative careers in the driveaway trucking industry. For more information or to subscribe, please visit https://www.six-figuretrucker.com/. 

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly podcast about driveaway trucking brought to you by Norton Transport.

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly podcast about driveaway trucking brought to you by Norton Transport. For more information or to subscribe, please visit Six-FigureTrucker.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After graduating from Penn State University and landing his first big job in Dallas, Rod Twakihikira thought he had made it. Having immigrated to the U.S. from Africa in his teens, he had the grit and the drive. Having graduated from one of the nation’s top 20 Universities, he had the smarts. Having literally modeled underwear for Calvin Klein, he certainly had the looks. Behind his desk, in his swanky new suit, he had all the makings of another African American success story. And he is a success story; make no mistake about it. But not behind a desk and not in a swanky suit. No, he traded all that for a wheel and the open roads. It was a trade that more than tripled his income and secured his freedom. The unbeatable combination of money and time in driveaway has this handsome driver smiling all the way to the bank! It’s a fascinating story and a great conversation you don’t want to miss on today’s episode of the #SixFigureTrucker.

Show Notes:

• Out of Africa - Hear Rod’s fascinating backstory (1:17)
• The Penn State grad tripled his salary by leaving his white-collar job for Trucking (10:37)
• Deck Driving has been a life-saver, especially after a Bad Investment (18:33)
• A Celebrity Driver! He’s Tik Tok Famous and a Model for Calvin Klein (23:53)
• The incredible benefits of Driveaway Trucking (27:30)
• Pros and Cons of Deck Driving (32:53) 
• A crazy pile-up that made him think (38:15)
• The importance of exercise when you’re running hard (41:45)
• Rod looks down the road with his goals for the next decade (46:26)
• “Why would you Not do it?” Rod pitches driveaway (51:36)

Keep Trucking, Rod!

The Six Figure Trucker is a weekly conversation that shares the strategies and stories that successful drivers have used to build lucrative careers in the trucking industry. For more information or to subscribe, please visit https://www.six-figuretrucker.com/.

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly podcast about driveaway trucking brought to you by Norton Transport. For more information or to subscribe, please visit Six-FigureTrucker.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A notification pops up on the screen mounted safely on the dashboard in front of you. You can’t quite see who it’s from or make out what it says, so you grab it for a quick glance. I mean, the traffic is light, and it will only take a second. So, you satisfy the urge, but as you go to put it back, it jostles loose from your hand and hits the floorboard. So, you quickly reach down to snag it, all while keeping your eyes on the road, of course. Eventually, your hand locates the phone, and you secure it back in its mount. When this scene played out for today’s guest in real life, the next thing he saw was blue lights. He was pulled over and given a citation for operating a cell phone while driving. DeCorey Hawkins was immediately fired. In a matter of seconds, DeCorey lost his job and faced an uphill climb to make it back in this industry with that stain on his record. Thankfully for him, this citation was eventually dropped, and DeCorey returned to the wheel. But it’s safe to say that he has returned a different man. The violation turned out to be minor, but the lesson proved to be major. Tune in today as we discuss this and more with DeCorey Hawkins along with Norton Transport safety director Renee Dearing on this episode of the #SixFigureTrucker.

Show Notes:

• We catch up with DeCorey Hawkins fresh off his first delivery in Canada (1:00)
• We dig into DeCorey’s background and his 10 ½ year journey in Trucking (5:29)
• Safety Directory Renee Dearing joins us to talk about Safety and to discuss DeCorey’s redemption story (9:30)
• DeCorey’s pastimes away from the Road (31:51)
• From school busses to garbage trucks to Peterbuilts 579s, he’s driven it all (38:45)
• DeCorey’s family includes a one-year-old set of twins! (41:43)
• As we wrap, DeCorey talks about the highs and lows of his driving career (47:07)

Keep Truckin’ DeCorey

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly conversation that shares the strategies and stories that successful drivers have used to build lucrative careers in the driveaway trucking industry. For more information or to subscribe, please visit https://www.six-figuretrucker.com/. 

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly podcast about driveaway trucking brought to you by Norton Transport.

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly podcast about driveaway trucking brought to you by Norton Transport. For more information or to subscribe, please visit Six-FigureTrucker.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A 15-year veteran of the trucking industry, Daniel James has had numerous job experiences behind the wheel, including his current gig delivering milk to the local schools in his district. One of the perks of this job is, of course, the classic summer break of academia. Daniel James has used this summer freedom to explore the world of driveaway. In driveaway, he has found what he calls his “paid vacation.” Driveaway trucking has enabled Daniel to take advantage of his weekends and summers to go see old friends and explore new places, and make bank in the process. Tune in today to hear how you, too, might discover the path to paid vacations in Driveaway on this edition of the #SixFigureTrucker.

Show Notes:

• We catch up with Daniel on his return from a b-day trip from Florida (1:55)
• A Good run, Good friends, and a Great team (Atlanta Braves) (5:00)
• Good vibes in California and Wisconsin (11:10)
• Comparing Driveaway companies (12:50)
• Comparing Driveaway to Delivering milk (15:01)
• Daniel’s plans for his future in Trucking (16:46)
• Daniel loves the excellent Dispatch team at Norton (23:00)
• As we wrap, Daniel pitches Driveaway as a Paid Vacation! (25:32)

Keep Truckin’ Daniel

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly conversation that shares the strategies and stories that successful drivers have used to build lucrative careers in the driveaway trucking industry. For more information or to subscribe, please visit https://www.six-figuretrucker.com/. 

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly podcast about driveaway trucking brought to you by Norton Transport.

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly podcast about driveaway trucking brought to you by Norton Transport. For more information or to subscribe, please visit Six-FigureTrucker.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Each of us can remember moments when our younger, more immature selves acted in ways we regret. Sometimes the consequences of those actions shadow us for years to come. But some face up to their mistakes and learn from them. They outrun that shadow and rise like stars in the night sky. Our guest today is one of those stars. Galvanized in the school of hard knocks, Abraham Gomez has become a man of tested integrity. He’s learned to prioritize safety, honesty, and responsibility. As a result, his star has already begun to rise in just a short time over the road with Norton. We’re proud to have him on our team and introduce him and a whole lot of wisdom to you on this episode of the #SixFigureTrucker.

Show Notes:

• John and Abraham catch up over their favorite Beers (1:05)
• Abraham twilights as a concrete man (3:35)
• Operation Safe Driver Week - Alert, Inspected, and Careful (6:00)
• We play a Word Association Game for Safe Driving Week (8:44)
• Trip Planning (17:45)
• Living the Cali Life just north of LA (19:35)
• Resuming our Word Association game with Weigh Stations (22:21)
• Worst and Best Hotel Experiences (26:35)
• Interesting Characters and Places over the Road (30:20)
• *Driveaway Hacks - Airline Tickets and Load Planning (32:55)
• Learning Lessons and Lanes (35:11)
• Same day Pay and a Hassle-free life with Norton (37:45)
• Abraham pitches Driveaway as we wrap (43:05)

Keep Truckin’ Abraham

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly conversation that shares the strategies and stories that successful drivers have used to build lucrative careers in the driveaway trucking industry. For more information or to subscribe, please visit https://www.six-figuretrucker.com/. 

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly podcast about driveaway trucking brought to you by Norton Transport.

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly podcast about driveaway trucking brought to you by Norton Transport. For more information or to subscribe, please visit Six-FigureTrucker.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Growing up on the Caribbean Island of Barbados, life was simple, free, and easy for Reginald Clarke. And though thousands of miles away, he retains the happy and positive vibe typical of Island life. But don’t mistake his easygoing spirit for a lack of hustle. No way, mon! Our boy from Barbados has had a knack for business from the jump. In fact, he used to save his bus fare by walking to school so that he was flush with coin when the newest video game was released. Reggie made his way to the United States when he was fifteen and, by 2006, was perched behind the wheel of a rig. Don’t miss the fresh stories and perspectives from a driveaway driver who’s always positive on today’s episode of the #SixFigureTrucker.

Show Notes:

• No Spotty reception or Bad directions can keep Reggie down! (1:05)
• Reggie uses the “Smith System” for Safety (6:40)
• Reggie’s backstory from Caribbean life in Barbados to the States and a Truck (8:11)
• Some scrapes and a pink slip that led to a great learning experience (17:30)
• Reggie’s side hustle as a Caribbean Themed Event planner (21:00)
• Having a Great Team is crucial in Driveaway and Event planning (30:05)
• Reggie’s life as a Trucker and his life-changing move to Driveaway (31:40)
• How becoming a Dad impacts his present and future goals (36:50)
• Reggie’s best experiences over the road involve great people (39:10)

Keep Truckin’ Reggie!

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly conversation that shares the strategies and stories that successful drivers have used to build lucrative careers in the driveaway trucking industry. For more information or to subscribe, please visit https://www.six-figuretrucker.com/. 

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly podcast about driveaway trucking brought to you by Norton Transport.

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly podcast about driveaway trucking brought to you by Norton Transport. For more information or to subscribe, please visit Six-FigureTrucker.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As a crane operator, Erik would routinely work 90-hour weeks. He would come home exhausted and with nothing left for his family. Yet, even after those long, hard days, his phone would incessantly ring as he was pressured to give more and more of himself to “the Man.” But then Erik discovered Driveaway and became his own man. As an independent contractor, Erik now works at his own pace and on his own schedule. And to top it off, he makes more money now than he ever has! Erik Salinas loves his family and is passionate about being there for them. Hear how Driveaway has dramatically changed his and his family’s life on today’s episode of the #SixFigureTrucker.

Show Notes:

• Catching up with Erik after a delivery in Mankato, MN (1:09)
• Despite the cold, Erik loves the Dakotas! (3:56)
• We detail Erik’s journey to Decking (8:16)
• Driveaway is for the Family Man (11:20)
• Behind every great driver is a great Dispatcher! (14:57)
• At home in Texas for the Salinas family (19:20)
• A Beach Vacation for the Family on the Horizon! (24:00)
• Life is good! You can’t beat the Flexibility of Driveaway (28:44)
• The Midwest is Best (33:33)
• A Day in the Life of a Deck Driver (34:46)
• As we wrap, Erik shares some advice and pitches Driveaway (40:31)

Keep Truckin’, Erik!

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly conversation that shares the strategies and stories that successful drivers have used to build lucrative careers in the driveaway trucking industry. For more information or to subscribe, please visit https://www.six-figuretrucker.com/. 

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly podcast about driveaway trucking brought to you by Norton Transport.

The Six-Figure Trucker is a weekly podcast about driveaway trucking brought to you by Norton Transport. For more information or to subscribe, please visit Six-FigureTrucker.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.