This week on the Oakley Podcast, Jeremy Kellett takes the Oakley Podcast on the road to the Port 33 terminal in Catoosa, Oklahoma to introduce listeners to dispatchers Bennett Potter and Ray Steuber. They share their backgrounds from Bennett’s path through the Army and graphic design into trucking, to Ray’s move from Wisconsin and prior experience dispatching frack sand, as well as their personal lives, hobbies like pickleball, fishing, and trading cards, and what their weekends look like. The conversation dives into the realities of dispatching at Oakley: managing 40–50 drivers each, constant phone calls, planning loads around hours of service, emphasizing safety at dump sites, and balancing regulations with the human limits of fatigue. They discuss building trust and communication with drivers, why some owner operators leave (often pay expectations and home time), and how Oakley’s higher standards and dependable drivers make the job rewarding. The key takeaway for listeners is a clearer picture of the people and pressures behind the scenes in dispatch, and how much effort goes into keeping drivers safe, productive, and supported.
Key topics in today’s conversation include:
- Welcome to Today’s Episode with Bennett and Ray (0:42)
- Why Listeners Want to Meet Oakley Employees (4:15)
- Bennett and Ray’s Hobbies and Life Outside of Oakley (8:07)
- Daily Responsibilities of Oakley Dispatchers and Planning Loads (11:23)
- Oakley Standards, Quality of Trucks, and Dependable Drivers (13:33)
- Balancing Legal Hours With Human Fatigue and Real World Limits (16:22)
- Different Work Preferences for Staying Out vs Going Home Weekends (18:44)
- High Call Volume, Prioritizing Emergencies, and Juggling Problems (0:21:28)
- Future at Oakley, Growth Plans, and Keeping Drivers Busy (23:00)
- Human Side of Dispatchers and Appreciation for Their Work (23:52)
- Final Thoughts and Takeaways (25:13)
Oakley Trucking is a family-owned and operated trucking company headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas. For more information, check out our show website: podcast.bruceoakley.com.