Beyond the Bulldog

In his second appearance on Beyond the Bulldog, Tom Mack, great-grandson of Jack Mack, returns to continue the story of the Mack family after the company’s early years. Recorded at the Mack Experience Center in Allentown, this conversation dives deeper into family history, personal perspective, and what it truly means to carry the Mack name generations later. Tom discusses: -The Mack family’s life...

We sit down with Jonathan Randall, "JR", president of Mack Trucks North America, to talk about what it really means to lead a 125-year-old brand through one of the most dynamic periods in trucking. From defining strategy and “what winning looks like” to spending time in the field with dealers, customers, and drivers, JR shares how he sees his role as a steward of the Mack name. JR looks back on 20...

We return to the Mack Trucks Historical Museum in Allentown, Pennsylvania, with curator and self-described caretaker of Mack history, Doug Maney. Surrounded by sound-absorbing cones in the semi-anechoic chamber, Doug explains how this former test lab became one of the most unique gallery spaces in trucking, and why every truck in it still starts, runs, and moves under its own power. Doug opens the...

Our podcast team heads to the Mack Trucks Experience Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to sit down with Brand Experience Specialist Christa Tam. What started as a dream of becoming an elementary school teacher turned into a 20-year Mack career that touches almost every part of the business: aftermarket, engineering, manufacturing, forecasting, quality, and now customer experience. In this episode...

We are joined by trucker, country music singer, and songwriter Tony Justice, whose life has always run on two parallel highways: hauling freight and writing songs about the people who do it. Growing up around coal trucks in eastern Kentucky with a truck driver dad and a gospel-singing mom, Tony learned early how closely the road, family, and music are tied together. In this episode, Tony talks abo...

We’re back at the Mack Trucks Historical Museum in Allentown, PA. This time with Tom Mack, great grandson of founder John “Jack” Mack and the last Mack family member to work at Mack Trucks. From childhood road trips spotting bulldogs on the highway to years in military intelligence and global electronics, Tom’s winding path eventually led him to the Macungie production line, where he quietly prove...

On this episode of Beyond the Bulldog, we’re on location at the Mack Trucks Historical Museum in Allentown, PA, where curator Doug Maney — self-described “caretaker of Mack history” — walks us through a century-plus of innovation, storytelling, and hands-on preservation. From the famous sound room gallery and test track to a living fleet of running vintage trucks and an archive measured in tens of...

In this episode of Beyond the Bulldog, we’re joined by Forsyth Technical Community College, the winners of the 2025 TMC FutureTech National Student Technician Skills Competition. Representing the program are Program Coordinator Alan Doub, Instructors James Murdock and Philip Grimes, and 2025 Champion Tully McKinley — whose win put Forsyth Tech in the national spotlight. Together, they discuss how...

In this episode of Beyond the Bulldog, we sit down with Tandy Carpenter, Director of Safety at Edwards Wood Products-Transportation, to discuss how strong leadership, clear communication, and accountability create a thriving culture of safety on and off the road. Tandy shares how she went from working in her family’s trucking business to becoming one of North Carolina’s most respected safety leade...

In this episode of Beyond the Bulldog, we sit down with Ingrid Brown, owner-operator, safety advocate, and proud voice for America’s professional drivers. With over four decades on the road, Ingrid’s story embodies resilience, community, and a deep love for trucking. From her first days behind the wheel to her work with Women In Trucking, Ingrid shares how grit, compassion, and purpose keep her wh...

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...

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 chal...

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...

In her second of three appearances, Ingrid Brown—46-year professional driver, Operations Manager at Blackjack Express, and long-time Women In Trucking (WIT) board member—joins Beyond the Bulldog to talk about how women are shaping every corner of trucking.   Ingrid discusses: -The real challenges women face on the road—and why clear, accurate communication beats stereotypes -How WIT supports drive...

In this episode of Beyond the Bulldog, we sit down with Jason Johnson, Founder and CEO of Project K9 Hero, a nonprofit dedicated to caring for retired military, police, and fire service dogs. From his early days as a U.S. Army MP and federal K9 instructor to launching a nationwide program, Jason shares his mission to give these canine heroes the care and dignity they deserve after service. Jason d...

In this episode of Beyond the Bulldog, we sit down with Amit Alhuwalia, co-founder of Class8, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping trucking operations and helping fleets build resilience in both strong and weak markets. Amit discusses: -How Class8 applies AI to fleet data to drive smarter business decisions -Why resilience matters during today’s extended freight recession -How Load...

In this episode of Beyond the Bulldog, we sit down with Ingrid Brown, professional driver and Operations Manager at Blackjack Express, LLC. With more than four decades behind the wheel, Ingrid shares her journey from starting out as an owner-operator to now leading drivers in refrigerated transport. Ingrid discusses: -Why culture and trust matter more than shiny trucks when it comes to retaining d...

In this episode of Beyond the Bulldog, we sit down with Gary Moneypenny, CDL transport driver with Jackson Motorsports. From hauling tires in the desert to delivering Aston Martin race parts across America, Gary shares the unique life of a motorsports truck driver — where the job is only 30% driving and 70% building relationships, solving problems, and representing the brand. Gary discusses: -How...

In this episode of Beyond the Bulldog, we sit down with David Hartzell, President & CEO of Mack Defense. With a career spanning decades at Mack Trucks, David brings his engineering expertise and leadership to the front lines of defense, delivering mission-ready vehicles that keep troops safe at home and abroad. David discusses: -The history of Mack’s role in supporting the U.S. military for ov...

In this episode of Beyond the Bulldog, we sit down with Master Trooper Scott Baker of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. With more than two decades of experience in commercial vehicle enforcement, Baker shares practical insights on inspections, crash prevention, and how technology is reshaping road safety. Scott discusses: -What really happens during Level 1, 2, and 3 DOT inspections -How pr...

In his second appearance on Beyond the Bulldog, Ben Greenberg, President & CEO of the North Carolina Trucking Association, returns to share critical updates on advocacy, legislation, and the everyday challenges facing truckers. Ben discusses: -How NCTA successfully fought back against predatory towing and booting practices -Updates on CARB rules, greenhouse gas legislation, and their impact on...

In this episode of Beyond the Bulldog, we sit down with Rick Cates, Senior Consultant at Rick Cates Trucking, to talk about what it really takes to keep drivers — and the public — safe on the road. With decades of experience, Rick shares his journey from behind the wheel to leading one of the largest safety programs in the Southeast. We discuss: -The evolving role of safety directors in a changing...

In this second part of our Beyond the Bulldog conversation with Pat Godwin Jr., President of The Godwin Group, we move from the early, scrappy years to a pivotal chapter of redemption and growth. Pat shares how his father, Pat Godwin Sr., faced personal struggles, found faith, and transformed both his life and his company — taking it from near-collapse to securing multi-million-dollar expansions....

In this two-part episode of Beyond the Bulldog, we sit down with Pat Godwin Jr., President of The Godwin Group, to hear the remarkable story of how his father, Pat Godwin Sr., turned a carport welding rig into one of the largest truck body and equipment manufacturers in the country. In Part 1, Pat shares: -The origin story of Godwin Manufacturing — including a legendary April Fool’s Day and a weld...

In this episode of Beyond the Bulldog, we sit down with Van Staley, Director of Truck Driver Training at Guilford Technical Community College. With a career that spans dump trucks, freight, and full-circle training, Van shares what it takes to shape new drivers who are ready for the real world — not just the test route. We discuss: -The evolution of CDL training and why the "human factor" still ma...