Embracing Contrarian Business Strateigies in Trucking w/ Kevin Rutherford

Trucking for Millennials

In this insightful episode, we had the pleasure of hosting Kevin Rutherford, a respected voice in the trucking industry and host of Trucking Business & Beyond with a wealth of experience in business training, finance, and health within the trucking sector. Kevin shared his unconventional wisdom on succeeding in the trucking business, emphasizing the importance of adopting a contrarian mindset to avoid common pitfalls that many new entrants face.

Key Takeaways:

• Contrarian Mindset: Kevin advises looking at what 80-90% of people are doing in the trucking business and doing the opposite. He points out that most new businesses fail because they focus too much on the operational aspects like driving and delivering, rather than the business side of things.

• Timing in Business: According to Kevin, the best time to start a business is when you are ready, regardless of the market conditions. He suggests that starting during a market downturn can actually be beneficial, as it forces you to create a robust business plan from the outset.

• Building Business Skills: Kevin stresses the importance of acquiring business skills before entering the trucking industry. He believes that not everyone should be a business owner and that proper preparation is crucial.

• The Let's Truck Tribe: Kevin also talked about his community, the Let's Truck Tribe, which is built on strong connections and shared values among its members. He highlighted the importance of building a tribe where each member feels valued and connected.

Personal Insights and Stories:

• Kevin shared personal anecdotes about his journey, including his challenges with public speaking and how he overcame them to host his own radio show. He also recounted the circumstances that led to his departure from Sirius XM, emphasizing his commitment to maintaining integrity and authenticity in his broadcasts.

• Music and personal interests also came up during our conversation, revealing Kevin's preference for classic rock over country music, despite our initial banter about country artists.

This episode is not just for those in the trucking industry but for anyone interested in the intricacies of starting and running a successful business. Kevin's approach to education and community building through his platform and his emphasis on learning and personal development are universally applicable.