Built in the Midwest

Nine years ago, the average truck driving school student was 50. Today, they're 18-20. Why are high schoolers and career changers walking away from college and choosing skilled trades careers — truck driving, lineman work, heavy equipment operation — instead?In Episode 11 of Built in the Midwest, we sit down with Kyle Barron, Director of Admissions at Midwest Truck Driving School and North Country Heavy Equipment and Electrical Line School. After nearly a decade across the desk from prospective students, Kyle has watched the demographic shift firsthand — the rise of trade school enrollment among young adults, the parents calling about gap year plans, and the 4.0 high school graduate who can't find a job. This is the skills gap conversation from someone who lives it every day. We get into:- Why a four-year college degree no longer guarantees employment- The truth about underemployment among recent college graduates- What kinesthetic learners need (and why traditional classrooms fail them)- Why the trades are a viable career path for career changers in their 30s, 40s, and 50s- The case against the couch-and-beach gap year — and what to do instead- How to evaluate trade school programs in the Midwest- The real ROI of starting a blue-collar career vs. taking on student loan debtIf you're a high school student weighing college vs. trade school, a parent helping a teenager think through career options, a career changer considering a fresh start, or an employer trying to understand where the next generation of skilled workers is coming from — this conversation is for you. 🔗 LINKSListen wherever your get your podcasts: https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/listenMidwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST 💬 CONNECT Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

Dan started hauling 140,000-pound chip trucks through the UP woods at 17. Fifty years and a few million miles later, he sits down with Josh to talk about what trucking was, what it is now, and what every new driver needs to know.🔑 KEY TOPICS— 50 years of trucking experience across van lines, intermodal, heavy haul, and OTR— The financial realities of owner-operator trucking— Why autonomous trucks face more obstacles than most people realize— ELD regulations and how they've reshaped daily operations— Practical advice: pre-trip habits, parking strategy, and navigating big cities— What intermodal drayage actually involves day-to-day👉 SUBSCRIBE for weekly conversations about careers in the trades.🔗 LINKSMidwest Truck Driving School: https://midwesttruckdrivingschool.comNorth Country Electrical Line & Heavy Equipment School: https://ncheschool.comListen on your favorite podcast app: https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/listen📧 [email protected]📱 Follow us: @midwesttruckdrivingschool

A math tutor who works with trade students says the bar for a high school diploma has never been lower — and he's watching the consequences walk into apprenticeship programs every week.Our guest this week, Kent King, has taught public school, run GED prep in a county jail, and now tutors math for our students. He sees what happens when students who "passed" high school meet the math the trades actually demand. This one's a direct conversation about personal responsibility, what schools stopped doing, and why the next generation of tradespeople is going to have to prepare themselves.🔗 LINKSListen wherever your get your podcasts: https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/listenMidwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST 💬 CONNECT Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

David spent ten years recruiting for the U.S. Army before he ever recruited a single truck driver. Now he travels the Midwest sitting down with CDL students and soldiers transitioning out — and he's blunt about what most of them get wrong before they ever sign an application.WHAT WE GET INTOThe thing every new driver assumes about hiring that's costing them offersWhy Roehl swapped side mirrors for cameras on their 2026 trucks — and what it actually changes about the jobThe "reality check" that hits every new driver around day 19, and the small group who don't make it past itWhat David tells students who've got a speeding ticket or a DUI in their pastThe question David says separates the drivers who succeed from the ones who wash outWhy the worst thing a new driver can do is walk in thinking they already knowABOUT DAVIDDavid spent five years with the 82nd Airborne — three deployments, two to Iraq, one to Afghanistan — before transitioning into Army recruiting for a decade. He retired from the military in 2017 and has been recruiting drivers ever since. Today he's the military field recruiter for Roehl Transport, covering CDL schools and military bases across the Midwest. Roehl has been family-owned since 1962 and runs roughly 1,900 trucks across all 48 states.🔗 LINKSListen wherever your get your podcasts: https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/listenMidwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST 💬 CONNECT Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

Every truck on the road, every piece of heavy equipment on a job site, every log truck bouncing through the woods at 160,000 pounds — someone has to keep all of it running. That someone is AJ. He started as a diesel tech and worked his way to managing a shop that serves everyone from over-the-road drivers passing through the UP to log truck operators 30 miles deep in the woods. He came in to talk about diesel tech. He ended up making a case that it might be the most underrated career in the trades. If you have an electrical background, you're as good as gold in the modern heavy duty industry. Master technicians are rare, and those with these specialized skills can command good paying jobs. This conversation highlights the critical role of these trade jobs as a lifeline when mechanical issues arise, emphasizing how vital skilled mechanics are.ABOUT AJ AJ started turning wrenches and worked his way up to managing operations at 10-4 Truck & Trailer Repair in the UP. His shop handles everything from routine maintenance to emergency road calls — tractor trailers, log trucks, heavy equipment, and anything else that runs diesel and needs help. He's one of those guys who keeps every other trade moving, and most people will never know his name. 🔗 LINKSListen wherever your get your podcasts: https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/listenMidwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST 💬 CONNECT Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

Donnie walked into the largest heavy equipment show in North America and watched someone operate a real excavator in Germany — from a console in Las Vegas. That moment changed how he thinks about what's coming for the industry. And what he's bringing back to his students.WHAT WE GET INTOThe ConExpo experience — 2,200 vendors, five buildings, four parking lots, and technology Donnie didn't know existedProximity software that locks machine controls when a person gets within eight feet — even in the operator's blind spotWhy the "five years of experience" hire is a unicorn now — and what employers are asking for insteadThe NCCER credentials that are putting graduates a year ahead in apprenticeship programs before they even startWhy having a CDL as an operator makes you a one-person crew — and why employers are starting to require itDonnie's take on women in heavy equipment: "Some of the best operators I've ever seen are women"The student age range that proves it's never too late — from 16 to 66ABOUT DONNIEDonnie is the lead heavy equipment instructor at Midwest Truck Driving School. He just came back from ConExpo 2026 — the largest heavy equipment show in North America — and what he saw is changing how he trains the next generation of operators.We get into the technology that's coming, the credentials that are giving graduates a head start, why women are some of the best operators he's ever trained, and why the "five years of experience" hire is officially a mythical creature.🔗 LINKSListen wherever your get your podcasts: Listen to Built in the MidwestMidwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST 💬 CONNECT Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

Andrew Krueger got his start hauling freight in box trucks around Chicago in his early twenties. A decade and a half later, he's running his own trucks, hiring his own drivers, and filing for his own motor carrier authority — and he's doing it from the Upper Peninsula.Then the company he'd been leased to for years pulled the plug. Right before Christmas. Instead of walking away, he went all in.This week, his first truck rolls out under his own name.WHAT WE GET INTOWhat it actually costs to become an owner-operator — and the $4,000 bet that started everythingThe stuff CDL schools don't teach you — blown airlines, brake adjustments, and the road etiquette nobody mentionsWhy most owner-operators will tell you not to do it — and why Andrew did it anywayThe real numbers: what a motivated reefer driver can earn, what it costs per mile to survive, and why your business checkbook and personal checkbook can never be the same accountElectric trucks, autonomous semis, and where Andrew thinks the industry is headed in five yearsABOUT ANDREW KRUEGERAndrew got into trucking in his early twenties after working sandblasting and painting jobs around Chicago. He's driven over the road, worked the repair side, and built a multi-truck operation hauling reefer freight to California. After relocating to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, he grew from a single leased truck to running his own drivers.🔗 LINKSListen wherever your get your podcasts: Listen to Built in the MidwestMidwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/Submit your Questions: https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/6WfGT9X1zlYC6WvssJqfWxOOkvVa1AjzqgnAIIHOq70WWiNo5czEWXpBMqxVTW7UST 💬 CONNECT Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskool

A driver clears $90K his first year. Another one with the same CDL is stuck at $55K and frustrated about it.Bill Oglesby has watched hundreds of students come through Midwest Truck Driving School. He can spot the difference between those two drivers before they ever leave the building. This week, he breaks down what that difference actually is — and most of it has nothing to do with driving.WHAT WE GET INTOWhy Bill chose pneumatic tanker — and how he really made his moneyThe exact habits Bill sees in students who go on to earn $80–100K+ vs. those who plateauWhat "reducing liability" means from the employer's side — and why it's the fastest way to get noticedHow your reputation spreads faster than any billboard — for better or worseWhy pre-trips aren't boring busywork — they're how you prove you're worth the better truckThe one mindset shift that separates people who burn out from people who build careersABOUT BILL OGLESBYBill is the lead instructor at Midwest Truck Driving School in Escanaba, Michigan. Before teaching, he hauled dry bulk pneumatic tanker. He got recruited to teach while hauling a load of lime, and he's been watching students go from nervous to hired ever since.TIMESTAMPS00:00 — "We all have the same 24 hours." Bill on what most people get wrong.01:10 — The earning gap nobody talks about: why two drivers with the same CDL can end up $30K apart05:13 — How Bill increased his income hauling pneumatic tanker08:33 — Endorsements and the freight that pays more — what doors they actually open 10:54 — The phone call that pulled Bill off the road and into the classroom13:07 — The loneliest part of trucking — and how drivers build real connections on the road17:06 — "It's just trucking. It's going to be easy." Why that mindset kills careers.18:20 — 200+ divisions in trucking — if you hate what you're doing, you haven't found your niche yet22:48 — The guy who shows up 20 minutes early vs. the guy who's 10 minutes late.24:47 — Pre-trips, dirty boots, and why the determine your career26:02 — You want the fancy truck? Here's how you earn it.27:32 — You're not just an employee. You're a liability. How to flip that.29:50 — The McDonald's French fry fryer broke. It'll be okay. (Seriously — this is about more than fries.)33:40 — Bill's advice to his younger self: one word that changes everythingLINKSEpisode 3 with Jillian Garcia (Schneider National): https://built-in-the-midwest.captivate.fm/episode/what-a-schneider-recruiter-learned-from-talking-to-thousands-of-drivers/Midwest Truck Driving School: midwesttruckdrivingschool.comCONNECTGot a story? Know someone who should be on the show? Reach out at [email protected] what we're building at midwesttruckdrivingschool.com

Jillian Garcia never planned on a career in trucking. She was a self-described introvert who'd spent years in childcare and the restaurant industry before a temp agency placed her at Schneider.Ten years later, she's a Senior Territory Recruiter covering Wisconsin and Upper Michigan — and she's talked to more drivers than most people will meet in a lifetime. In this conversation, she opens up about overcoming social anxiety, what she actually looks for when she's evaluating candidates, why the first year breaks some drivers and builds others, and the career paths in trucking that most people don't know exist.WHAT WE GET INTO— How a girl who was "terribly shy" with social anxiety ended up doing presentations and connecting with people for a living - and why pushing past that fear changed everything— The traits that separate drivers who build long careers from the ones who don't make it past year one (hint: it's not driving skill)— Why "being teachable" is the single most important piece of advice she gives every new driver— What the day-to-day actually looks like at a company like Schneider — home time, truck setup, dedicated vs. OTR, and the options most people don't realize exist— Schneider's mirrorless truck technology and why they're always first to test what everyone else eventually adopts— The real talk on safety: cameras that protect drivers, tech that prevents accidents, and why "you're the captain of your ship" isn't just a sloganABOUT JILLIAN GARCIAJillian is a Senior Territory Recruiter at Schneider National, covering Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, and Northern Illinois. She's been with Schneider for ten years, starting as a temp in customer service before moving into recruiting. Her grandfather drove for Schneider in the late '70s.She travels to CDL schools, hiring events, and job fairs across her territory, connecting with students and career changers who are figuring out their next move.📩 GOT A QUESTION ABOUT THE TRADES?Leave a comment or send us a message — we'll get into it on a future episode.LINKSConnect with Jillian: https://www.facebook.com/JillianGarciaSNIMidwest Truck Driving School Lineman Program: midwesttruckdrivingschool.comNorth Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School: https://ncheschool.com/🔗 CONNECT Website: midwesttruckdrivingschool.comEmail: [email protected]: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwestInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskoolNew episodes every Friday!

Join us as we dive into an engaging chat with Mason, who reveals his unexpected journey from military life to pursuing a career in the trades. He candidly shares how his decision to join the Marines at a young age sparked a series of life events, leading him to discover his true passion for hands-on work. Mason's story is all about finding your niche and not being afraid to pivot when things don't feel right—like when he realized that working behind a desk just wasn’t his jam. We also tackle the challenges veterans face when transitioning to civilian life, and Mason's insights could be a game-changer for anyone feeling a bit lost after leaving the military. So, whether you’re contemplating a career shift or just curious about the trades, this episode is packed with relatable stories and valuable advice.

How much did you actually know before you made your career decision?Not what you thought you knew. What did you really understand about the work, the pay, the day-to-day — before you committed years of your life and thousands of dollars to it?Most people don't have a good answer. And the ones who do usually wish they'd asked better questions first.This is the first episode of Built in the Midwest. Hosts Josh and RJ both made career decisions they'd handle differently — and that's a big reason this show exists. They get into what goes wrong when people choose a path based on emotion instead of information, the careers that were never even presented as options, and why a classroom full of people ranging from 18 to 65 might tell you more about the trades than any brochure ever could.WHAT WE GET INTOWhy it's crazy to make a life-altering decision based on almost no real informationA 26-year-old veteran was terrified of being the oldest person in a classroom — and what he found out when he got thereThe career paths that were never even presented as options — and what that costs peopleHow emotion drives most career decisions, and what happens when you try to reverse-engineer the facts afterwardWhat this show is here to do about all of itABOUT THE HOSTSTwo guys who believe people should have the opportunity to work meaningful, well-paying careers that allow you to live well and provide for your family.Josh Barron serves as the School Director for Midwest Truck Driving School as well as North Country Heavy Equipment & Electrical Line School.RJ Parrish manages the schools' marketing and media, helping to drive awareness and understanding of trades career opportunities.TIMESTAMPS00:00 — Cold open00:42 — What this show is and who it's for01:13 — The 18-to-80 classroom02:36 — "If I don't do this, I'm going to regret it"03:27 — The veteran who thought 26 was too old08:35 — The question most high schoolers can't answer11:40 — "I had a very different image in my head"13:48 — The decision that started with a Starbucks16:01 — Emotional decisions vs. informed ones18:30 — The guests you'll hear from in this show21:45 — "That decision will affect you your entire life"CONNECTWebsite: midwesttruckdrivingschool.com/podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDLMidwestInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwesttruckdrivingschool/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@midwesttruckdrivingskoolGot a story? Know someone who should be on the show? Reach out at midwesttruckdrivingschool.com/podcastLearn more about the training we offer at midwesttruckdrivingschool.comNew episodes drop every Friday.