What happens when life pivots you from construction into logistics? For Rodney Spillman, it meant building a career from the ground up - one conversation at a time.
In this episode of Miles and Mentors: A Trucking Podcast, host Alex chats with Rodney Spillman, Driver Recruitment Manager at TransAm Trucking. Rodney shares his journey into the industry, the realities of driver recruitment today, and what it takes to go from company driver to owner-operator- and beyond. With firsthand insights into the challenges of running a trucking business, Rodney offers transparent advice on startup costs, fleet growth, fraud protection, and why networking is everything.
Whether you're just stepping into the industry or scaling your career, this conversation delivers practical wisdom and motivation for the road ahead.
Episode Highlights:
📍 00:00:00 – Meet Rodney Spillman of TransAm Trucking
📍 00:01:06 – From construction to trucking: how it all started
📍 00:03:30 – A day in the life of a recruitment manager
📍 00:04:27 – What’s working in driver recruitment today
📍 00:06:08 – Common obstacles for new owner-operators
📍 00:09:29 – Cash flow, factoring, and surviving startup costs
📍 00:13:18 – Breaking down fraud in the spot market
📍 00:16:05 – How to prep for the leap from driver to fleet owner
📍 00:20:05 – Recruiting the right drivers: quality over quantity
📍 00:22:11 – Mentors and standout voices in the industry
📍 00:24:02 – The real power of networking in logistics
📍 00:27:30 – Rodney’s principles: attitude and effort
📍 00:29:05 – What’s next for TransAm and their Prime partnership
🎙 About Our Guest:
Rodney Spillman is the Driver Recruitment Manager at TransAm Trucking, where he leads with transparency and a people-first mindset. With years of experience from the sales floor to recruiting desks, Rodney is passionate about helping drivers understand the business side of trucking - whether they’re applying for their first job or building a fleet.
📍 Website: https://transamtruck.com
📍 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodney-spillman-2bb3b4147/
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