This week on the Oakley Podcast, Jeremy Kellett sits down with Oakley owner-operator David Platter to talk about his 36-year trucking journey, from starting with a chauffeur’s license and running local loads in Colorado to becoming a successful owner-operator at Oakley. David shares how he and his wife manage the financial side of the business, including his “a third, a third, a third” rule for money management, and why he believes in buying new trucks and planning for taxes. They discuss the realities of life on the road, including missing family, dealing with parking shortages, staying safe in traffic, and maintaining professionalism and customer service with every load. David opens up about a health scare that turned out to be low testosterone and encourages drivers to take their health seriously. He also tells a remarkable story from his youth about discovering bags of buried cash and doing the right thing by turning it in. Throughout the conversation, David highlights the importance of supportive family, camaraderie among Oakley drivers, and taking pride in being a professional truck driver.
Key topics in today’s conversation include:
- Welcome to Today’s Episode with David Platter (0:45)
- David’s Move from Colorado to Branson and Overview of His Family (5:21)
- How David Got Into Trucking and His First Job With Lopno Foods (9:41)
- Explaining the “Third and Third and Third” Money Management Rule (14:40)
- Daily Realities, Road Safety, and Importance of Following Distance (17:18)
- Customer Service Mindset and Representing Yourself and Oakley (20:24)
- Parking Struggles, Paid Parking Frustrations, and Trip Planning (25:20)
- Spending Discipline, Eating on the Road, and Controlling Costs (29:09)
- Why Drivers Must Take Health Seriously and Not “Tough It Out” (31:13)
- Fighting the Trucker Stigma and How Some Drivers Hurt the Image (33:24)
- Digging in the Yard and Discovering Trash Bags Full of Money (35:47)
- Reflections on Doing the Right Thing as a 19-Year-Old (41:28)
- Shoutouts to Fellow Oakley Drivers and Value of Driver Camaraderie (42:27)
- Final Thoughts and Takeaways (47:35)
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.