In this episode of Beyond the Bulldog, we sit down with Brian Walker, Lead Instructor at Randolph Community College’s Truck Driver Training Program, 13-time North Carolina Truck Driving Champion, and 2019 National Truck Driving Champion, to talk about the skill, focus, and patience behind professional truck driving.

Brian discusses:

-His family’s trucking legacy and how he followed in his father’s championship footsteps -What it takes to win at state and national truck driving competitions — and why it starts with a perfect pre-trip -How patience, discipline, and awareness define the difference between driving and professional driving -What students learn in Randolph Community College’s 10-week CDL program -How competition precision translates into safer, more confident drivers on the road

With decades of experience on the road and in the classroom, Brian shows how the next generation of drivers can elevate their craft — one mile, one maneuver, and one lesson at a time.

What's next?

Tune in weekly for new episodes! Visit the Mack Shop to use your discount code: https://mackshop.com/

Book a virtual truck tour! https://www.macktrucks.com/live-tour/

In this episode of Beyond the Bulldog, we sit down with Jamie Hagen, owner of Hell Bent Xpress and long-time Mack Trucks advocate, to talk about the business, discipline, and data behind running a successful trucking operation. Known for his fleet of Gen One Anthems and now a striking amber-orange Mack Pioneer and his social media presence, Jamie brings an open, practical look at the everyday challenges and rewards of life on the road.

Jamie discusses:

-His family roots in trucking and how Hell Bent Xpress was born

-How he achieves fuel efficiency numbers up to 25% better than the national average

-The evolution from driver to fleet owner — and what it really takes to grow responsibly

-How Mack Trucks’ customization and dealer support help fleets succeed

-The features of his new Pure Profit Pioneer and why it’s changing his business

With humor, humility, and hard-earned insight, Jamie proves that trucking success is built one penny, one mile, and one relationship at a time.

What's next?

Tune in weekly for new episodes!

Visit the Mack Shop to use your discount code:

https://mackshop.com/

Book a virtual truck tour!

https://www.macktrucks.com/live-tour/

Jared Sweeney, Vice President, Transportation Group at Cottingham & Butler, joins Beyond the Bulldog to demystify trucking insurance—why costs keep climbing and what fleets can actually control.

Jared breaks down:

-What drives premium increases and how underwriters assess risk (claims history, CSA profile, routes, driver pool)

-Practical ways to lower total cost: top-down safety culture, spec and maintenance discipline, dash cams, smarter deductibles

-Group captives 101: when they fit mid-size fleets, how loss funds work, and why dividends are possible

-Navigating a volatile market: telling a credible safety story to carriers and avoiding jurisdictional “hellholes”

-Why cameras protect drivers and accelerate fair claims outcomes

-Key takeaways from Cottingham & Butler’s Transportation Summit that leaders can apply immediately

Whether you run 10 trucks or 1,000, this episode gives you actionable strategies to manage risk—not just buy insurance.

What’s next?

Tune in weekly for new episodes!

Visit the Mack Shop to use your discount code:

https://mackshop.com/

Book a virtual truck tour!

https://www.macktrucks.com/live-tour/