What if failure was just your training ground for success in trucking?
In this episode of Miles and Mentors: A Trucking Podcast, Malcolm Smith, founder and CEO of the National Dump Truck Association, breaks down the business side of dump trucking, one of the industry's most misunderstood sectors.
A former PE teacher turned trucking mentor, Malcolm shares how a failed 18-wheeler venture led him to build a national community for dump truck professionals. From securing your first load to navigating fuel cards, business credit, and tech disruption, Malcolm offers tactical advice for operators ready to get serious about profits and scale.
“Failure isn’t a stop sign. It’s a lesson.”
Episode Highlights:
00:00:00 – Introducing Malcolm Smith of the National Dump Truck Association
00:01:03 – Why dump trucking is a “secret society” with real potential
00:03:00 – From educator to entrepreneur: Malcolm’s journey into logistics
00:04:46 – Failing forward: lessons from his first trucking business
00:06:09 – How one mentor changed everything
00:07:23 – Rethinking failure with the video game mindset
00:08:52 – The birth of the National Dump Truck Association
00:10:06 – What new operators get wrong and how to fix it
00:13:09 – Dump trucking vs. OTR: the business model shift
00:15:17 – Payment pitfalls and how to protect your cash
00:16:30 – Why knowing your numbers is non-negotiable
00:19:24 – Factoring, fuel cards, and funding smart growth
00:24:36 – When and how to scale your fleet
00:27:04 – Subcontracting as a smarter path to expansion
00:30:15 – Tech is here. Adapt or get left behind
00:34:21 – Building industry awareness and mentorship
00:36:49 – Where dump trucking is headed in 2025
🎙 About Our Guest:
Malcolm Smith is the founder and CEO of the National Dump Truck Association (https://tndta.org), the first nationwide organization dedicated to supporting dump truck professionals with education, resources, and advocacy.
Connect with Malcolm:
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malcolm-smith-7a886453/
🌐 Website: https://thendta.org/
📺 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nationaldumptruckassociation
📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/nationaldumptruckassociation
Follow Miles and Mentors: A Trucking Podcast
🌐 Website: https://milesandmentorspodcast.com
📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/milesandmentors
🔗 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/miles-and-mentors-podcast
📢 Like and subscribe for more real-world trucking mentorship!
🎤 Want to be a guest? Email us: milesandmentors@gmail.com
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