Beyond the Bulldog

Beyond the Bulldog is a weekly trucking industry podcast presented by Mack Trucks. Each episode features conversations with drivers, fleet leaders, safety experts, and industry insiders about trucking, technology, regulations, and the real stories from America’s highways. Tune in for insights on fleet management, driver life, safety, and the future of transportation.

Beyond the Bulldog is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 66 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Beyond the Bulldog, a business show with 66 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #67

  Mile Marker 67 – Harish Kapur on Truck Insurance, Premiums, and Protecting Your Business

  Aug 13, 202634 minS1

  We sit down with Harish Kapur, president and co-owner of Across America Insurance, to talk about one of the biggest pressure points facing truckers and fleets today: rising insurance costs. From owner operators to larger carriers, insurance premiums continue to climb, but Harish explains why the conversation should not start and end with price. It should start with coverage, claims support, and the right broker relationship. Harish shares his path into the insurance industry, how Across America Insurance was built, and why his team focuses on working with agencies that care about customers, not just production. He breaks down the role of an MGA, why claims handling matters, and how truckers can better protect themselves before something goes wrong. Harish discusses: -Why trucking insurance premiums keep rising, including claims costs, legal pressure, nuclear verdicts, and the challenges insurance companies face when defending trucking claims -Why truckers should build a professional relationship with an insurance broker who explains coverage, exclusions, driver requirements, cargo limitations, and physical damage terms clearly -How dash cams, scene photos, license plate photos, police reports, and early communication with the insurance company can help protect a trucker after a crash -The risks around cargo theft, including unattended trailers, unsecured yards, high-value loads, GPS tracking, and knowing whether cargo and physical damage policies actually cover the situation This episode is a practical guide to understanding trucking insurance beyond the monthly premium. Harish makes it clear that the cheapest policy is not always the safest choice, and that asking the right questions before a claim can make all the difference when your truck, cargo, business, and livelihood are on the line. What’s next? Tune in weekly for new episodes! Visit the Mack Shop to use your discount code: https://mackshop.com/ Book a virtual truck tour! https://www.macktrucks.com/live-tour/

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #66

  Mile Marker 66 – Dan Boeke on Driver Retention, Fleet Culture, and Cookie Carriers

  Aug 6, 202635 minS1

  We sit down with Dan Boeke, secretary and treasurer with Cookie Carriers in Butler, Indiana, to talk about driver recruitment, retention, family business culture, and why professional drivers are the foundation of a reliable trucking company. Dan shares the story of Cookie Carriers, from its unusual name to the company’s work hauling prefab steel buildings, job site deliveries, dry van freight, and even trucks tied to Spangler Candy Company. He also explains how the business has grown alongside Boeke and Sons, their service operation, and how the family’s background in maintenance shaped the way they run and support their fleet. Dan discusses: -How Cookie Carriers operates, including flatbed work, job site deliveries, drop-and-hook freight, return loads, and dedicated customer relationships -Why driver retention matters, and how a family-run culture, direct communication, good dispatching, strong pay, monthly bonuses, health benefits, and respect help drivers stay -The challenges of recruiting qualified drivers, including insurance requirements, the aging flatbed workforce, and the value of pairing new drivers with senior drivers during onboarding -Why Cookie Carriers runs an all-Mack fleet, how Pinnacle fits their mix of highway and off-road work, and why good-looking, durable trucks help drivers take pride in the job This episode is a practical look at what it takes to build a trucking company where drivers want to stay. Dan makes it clear that great customers, good equipment, and strong management all matter, but without professional drivers who represent the company well, none of it works. What’s next? Tune in weekly for new episodes! Visit the Mack Shop to use your discount code: https://mackshop.com/ Book a virtual truck tour! https://www.macktrucks.com/live-tour/

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #65

  Mile Marker 65 – Stephanie Davis on Experiential Trucking, Event Logistics, and Life on the Road

  Jul 30, 202634 minS1

  We sit down with Stephanie Davis, also known as Red, a truck driver with SME, to talk about the world of experiential marketing and the trucking that makes major events possible. From NFL activations and racetracks to golf courses, military bases, pop-up structures, and large-scale event builds, Stephanie explains what it takes to deliver more than freight. She delivers experiences. Stephanie shares how she found her way into trucking, from growing up around trailers and farm life to hauling freight, campers, race-related equipment, and eventually finding her home with SME. She also breaks down why this kind of driving is different from traditional freight, with tight schedules, challenging venues, custom equipment, cranes, forklifts, generators, setup crews, and the pressure of making sure everything arrives safely and ready to perform. Stephanie discusses: -How SME supports events across the country with custom trailers, kiosks, hospitality builds, pop-up retail, stages, and interactive experiences -What makes experiential trucking different, including complicated load-ins, unusual parking locations, tight clearances, setup responsibilities, and on-site customer support -The planning and discipline required on the road, from weather and wind decisions to parking, fuel, routing, supplies, and keeping her truck ready like a house on wheels -The pride behind representing her company, caring for the public at events, helping the team, solving problems on the fly, and treating trucking as more than just a delivery job This episode is a look at the people behind the scenes who make big events feel effortless. Stephanie’s story is about pride, preparation, adaptability, and the kind of care it takes to get the product there safely, set it up right, and help make the experience happen. What’s next? Tune in weekly for new episodes! Visit the Mack Shop to use your discount code: https://mackshop.com/ Book a virtual truck tour! https://www.macktrucks.com/live-tour/

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #64

  Mile Marker 64 – Matt Balazs on Fleet Growth, National Accounts, and Why Mack

  Jul 23, 202640 minS1

  We sit down with Matt Balazs, Director of On-Highway National Accounts at Mack Trucks, to talk about growing Mack’s presence in the highway market, supporting large fleet customers, and answering one of the biggest questions in trucking: Why Mack? Matt explains how national accounts work with large fleets, why the long haul market matters, and how the Mack Pioneer gives Mack a purpose-built product for customers who need comfort, safety, uptime, and total cost of ownership to line up. He also breaks down how fleet buying decisions are made, why relationships matter, and why selling trucks is really about selling the full value of Mack, from product to parts, service, connected vehicle support, resale value, and long-term partnership. Matt discusses: What national accounts are, how large fleet sales work, and why highway and long haul customers evaluate trucks differently than smaller buyers Why the Mack Pioneer is a major step forward for the long haul market, with a focus on driver comfort, safety, reliability, uptime, and purpose-built design How fleets evaluate total cost of ownership, including purchase price, fuel, maintenance, unplanned downtime, trade value, resale value, and dollars per mile Advice for smaller fleets looking to grow, including improving safety scores, understanding real costs, moving from spot freight to contract freight, and building the right customer relationships This episode is a practical look at how Mack is approaching new markets, how large fleets think about equipment, and why the future for Mack looks bright as new products, stronger support, and customer-focused engagement come together. What’s next? Tune in weekly for new episodes! Visit the Mack Shop to use your discount code: https://mackshop.com/ Book a virtual truck tour! https://www.macktrucks.com/live-tour/

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #63

  Mile Marker 63 – Phillip Atwood on Branding, the Trucking Industry, and Growing Your Business

  Jul 16, 202633 min

  We sit down with Phillip Atwood, principal of Vessel, a branding and marketing agency, to break down what a brand actually is, why owner-operators need one even if they never set out to build one, and how a consistent brand becomes the engine that drives new business through the door. Phillip shares how his agency pulls a tagline out of an owner's head with what he calls a "friendly interrogation," why a brand is really just what people think about you every time you show up, and how that applies whether you are running one truck or one hundred. Phillip discusses: - What a brand actually is and the four pillars of one (logo, tagline, brand voice, and the everyday execution that makes them real) - Why the business concept has to come first, and how Vessel translates an owner's vision, goals, and beliefs into a brand that wraps around the work - The five things a trucking company should brand first: ideal customer, logo and emblem, website and customer journey, Google Business Profile, and reviews and testimonials - How to use your brand to grow, from the truck itself as a billboard to CRM software and the split between brand-awareness marketing and digital marketing you can prove ROI on This episode is a look at why every trucker already has a brand whether they have formalized it or not, and why being intentional about it is the difference between competing on price and competing on value. The little details, from the logo on the side of the truck to the invoice you send, are touch points that build trust and repeat business. What's next? Tune in weekly for new episodes! Visit the Mack Shop to use your discount code: https://mackshop.com/ Book a virtual truck tour! https://www.macktrucks.com/live-tour/

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on Beyond the Bulldog. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.