Mile Marker 59 – Adam Knight on Diecast Trucks, Collectibles, and Building a Brand in Miniature

Mile Marker 59 – Adam Knight on Diecast Trucks, Collectibles, and Building a Brand in Miniature

We sit down with Adam Knight, vice president of sales and marketing at First Gear Inc., to explore how detailed diecast trucks go from full-size CAD data to collectible models that capture the identity, history, and personality of a brand. Adam shares how he grew up around the family business, pursued a career in art and animation, then returned to First Gear and gradually took on responsibilities across design, production, sales, licensing, and product development. He also reflects on First Gear’s relationship with Mack Trucks, which stretches back more than 30 years and includes everything from vintage models to replicas of Mack’s newest vehicles. Adam discusses: -How First Gear transforms real truck data into scaled models, including design adjustments, 3D printing, metal casting, painting, assembly, and packaging -Why authenticity matters, from matching fleet specifications and paint schemes to recreating graphics, chrome details, engines, sleepers, and equipment configurations -How companies use custom diecast models for employee gifts, safety awards, trade shows, product demonstrations, anniversaries, and customer promotions -What makes a model collectible, including limited production runs, serialized editions, special packaging, certificates, pins, family stories, and hard-to-find private releases This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the craftsmanship, engineering, and storytelling packed into every model, and why these miniature trucks can carry just as much pride and emotion as the real machines they represent.   What’s next? Tune in weekly for new episodes! Visit the Mack Shop to use your discount code: https://mackshop.com/ [https://mackshop.com/] Book a virtual truck tour! https://www.macktrucks.com/live-tour/ [https://www.macktrucks.com/live-tour/]

Mile Marker 58 – Mr. Trashman on Building a Dumpster Business and the Power of Relationships

In this episode, we sit down with Averell Laird, better known as Mr. TrashMan, owner of Mr. TrashMan Dumpster Rental in the Houston area, along with "MackDaddy Mike" Sandifer from Vanguard Truck Centers. This conversation is all about business, hustle, and what happens when the right relationship turns a big dream into real equipment on the street. Mr. TrashMan shares how he started in 2021 with a trailer and two dumpsters, worked one dumpster while renting the others, then reinvested everything to scale up. He explains the grind behind running a 24-hour operation, how marketing and word of mouth keep the phone ringing, and how his trucks became rolling billboards that helped push his brand to the next level. We also hear the other side of the story from MackDaddy Mike, who breaks down what it means to sell more than a truck. He sells the relationship and the follow-through after the sale, helping customers stay on the road because downtime costs real money. Together, they show how trust, consistency, and taking the leap are at the center of the American dream.   Mr. TrashMan and MackDaddy Mike discuss:     •    Starting from scratch with a trailer and two dumpsters, then building momentum by reinvesting, improvising equipment, and staying relentless through the early grind     •    How brand and visibility drive growth, including building “Black Knight” and “Pinky” as attention-grabbing trucks that generate calls, referrals, and credibility     •    What a great dealer relationship looks like, from spec’ing the right truck for heavier work to service support after the sale and solving problems fast when issues happen     •    The mindset behind the American dream, including building the right team, refusing to quit, and being willing to take smart risks to level up What’s next? Tune in weekly for new episodes! Visit the Mack Shop to use your discount code: https://mackshop.com/ [https://mackshop.com/] Book a virtual truck tour! https://www.macktrucks.com/live-tour/ [https://www.macktrucks.com/live-tour/]

Mile Marker 57 – Mike Morgan on Mackvader, Big Rig Racing, and Life on the Track

We sit down with Mike Morgan, also known as “88 Mike,” a Mack Trucks elite technician and the driver of Mackvader, a Class 8 race truck competing in the American Big Rig Racing series. Mike has spent nearly three decades turning wrenches at McMahon Truck Group, and he has spent the last 12 years proving what Mack power can do when you put it on a dirt oval and let it eat.   Mike shares how motorsports was basically baked into his upbringing, how he learned to build and fix what he broke, and why racing still gives him that perfect “apex moment” feeling when everything hooks up. Then we get into the wild story of how truck racing went from a “cheap” idea at a truck show to building a near-1,000 horsepower Mack Vader, winning early, and eventually helping grow a racing series that packs stands and brings new fans and future technicians into the industry.   Mike discusses:   -His path to becoming a diesel technician, his long career at McMahon Truck Group, and how he shifted from back-breaking work to using experience and problem-solving to stay effective after decades in the shop   -How Mack Vader came to life, why it was built from two halves, and what it takes to turn a Class 8 into a race truck that can survive hard racing at nearly 1,000 horsepower   -The safety and setup side of big rig racing, including roll cage requirements, weight rules, solid cab mounting, brake cooling strategies, suspension choices, and how tuning caster can create usable camber on a straight axle   -What American Big Rig Racing is trying to build, how the co-op ownership mindset keeps the series fair and accessible, and why the fan interaction, autograph sessions, and family atmosphere are a core part of the experience   If you have ever wondered what it takes to race a semi, or why the people who build and maintain trucks love this industry so much, this episode is a front-row seat to the passion, ingenuity, and community behind big rig racing.   What’s next? Tune in weekly for new episodes!   Visit the Mack Shop to use your discount code: https://mackshop.com/ [https://mackshop.com/]   Book a virtual truck tour! https://www.macktrucks.com/live-tour/ [https://www.macktrucks.com/live-tour/]

Mile Marker 56 – Nadine and Walter the Bulldog on Skateboarding, Stardom, and Mack Pride

This episode brings a different kind of guest to Beyond the Bulldog. We sit down with Nadine and Walter the Bulldog, the official Mack Trucks mascot, to talk about how a skateboarding bulldog went from weekend workouts to a movie role, then into the Mack family as a fan-favorite part of the show experience. Nadine shares her lifelong love for bulldogs and the unique personality that makes them feel like “little people.” She explains how Walter and his sidekick Milo learned to skateboard, how they even took it to the snow on a snowskate, and how social media eventually led to a film opportunity. Not long after that, Mack reached out and Walter became part of major events and trade shows, where he has become a magnet for photos, smiles, and a sense of connection to the Bulldog brand. Nadine (and Walter) discuss: -How Walter and Milo learned to skateboard, why the right board matters, and how their personalities show up in how they ride -Walter’s path from snowskating videos to a movie role, and how that unexpected momentum opened doors -How Mack found Walter, why his calm temperament matters in crowded shows, and how he helps create memorable booth experiences -The Mack family feeling at events, including stories from travel and the way Walter sparks pride and nostalgia for people who grew up around Mack trucks This episode is a reminder that brand is not only about products and specs. It is also about emotion, community, and the moments that people carry with them long after the show ends. What’s next? Tune in weekly for new episodes! Visit the Mack Shop to use your discount code: https://mackshop.com/ [https://mackshop.com/] Book a virtual truck tour! https://www.macktrucks.com/live-tour/ [https://www.macktrucks.com/live-tour/]

Mile Marker 55 – Grant Aschenbeck on Finding Business, Dealership Prep, and Buying Smart

We sit down with Grant Aschenbeck, salesman with Bruckner’s Truck and Equipment in Odessa, Texas, to talk about two sides of the same coin: how owner operators can grow their business through relationships and consistency, and how to show up prepared when it is time to buy a truck. Grant shares how he went from coaching football with no trucking background to becoming a top-performing salesman, earning recognition through Mack’s Bulldog Club trip and winning the Walk the Bulldog sales competition. Along the way, he breaks down what actually creates success in sales, why referrals are underused, and how the best dealership experiences start long before the customer ever walks in the door. Grant discusses: -Building new business as an owner operator, including trust, doing what you promise, and having the courage to ask for referrals -How to get started when you have no network, including building a list, cold calling, knocking on doors, and staying consistent with the basics -How to prepare for a dealership experience, including financing first, understanding your application, and being proactive about lead times and upfitting -What modern dealers provide beyond the sale, including parts, service, uptime support, maintenance contracts, remote updates, and new safety tech like Mack Protect on Mack Medium Duty Trucks If you are trying to land your next customer or buy your next truck, this episode is a practical guide to doing both with a plan and a purpose. What’s next? Tune in weekly for new episodes! Visit the Mack Shop to use your discount code: https://mackshop.com/ [https://mackshop.com/] Book a virtual truck tour! https://www.macktrucks.com/live-tour/ [https://www.macktrucks.com/live-tour/]