00:05 Life is only one. So, the most important thing about this job is getting the job done safely because being safe is the key.

00:15 Welcome to Six-Figure Trucker, the podcast where we share advice on how to be successful in trucking and have fun while doing so. We’ll share stories, news, and advice on how to earn six figures in trucking. And we’ll speak to guys and gals that are already doing so. Let’s get to the show. Hello everyone and welcome to the Six-Figure Trucker brought to you by Norton Transport. This is a venue, a space if you will, where we lift up, we elevate and celebrate the drivers that make our company what it is. We have so many drivers and this is a chance for us to let you get to know each and every one of them, their stories on and off the road, what propels them, what keeps them going, what keeps them rolling. Now, we have a very special guest with us this evening, Mr. Osman Alvarez. Osman, how are you?

01:06 I’m doing real good.

01:08 Where are you right now, Osman?

01:10 I am passing to Monroe, Louisiana.

01:13 Okay, so you’re on the road now. You left from the Dallas Arlington area. Is that right?

01:20 That is right.

01:21 You’re on your headsets. We just want everybody to know you’re on your headsets and behind the wheel.

01:25 That is correct.

01:26 Gotcha. What are you driving right now?

01:27 I’m driving a Freightliner M2 chassis.

01:31 Cab and chassis.

01:32 Yes, sir.

01:32 Is it bouncing on you?

01:34 No, it feel comfortable.

01:36 We hear that from a lot of drivers. Cab and chassis sometimes can be a little bumpy.

01:40 Oh, yeah. No, this one feel comfortable.

01:42 Okay. Is it a brand new truck or an older truck?

01:45 This is a 2025.

01:47 Oh, brand new. That’s nice. How much of a—

01:51 How much of a break or how much difference is there between riding a brand new one, a 25 versus a say a 21 or something along those lines?

02:00 Well, for me is steering. The steering every time the steering is everything changes on the steering cuz they all feel different. Like old school feels more a little bit harder and the steering supplies, suspension supplies on the these trucks is a little bit more updated so they feel more comfortable.

02:18 I got you. Yeah, it’s nice to be in a nice ride. What’s the cab like on that Freightliner? Give us kind of a description of the cab and some of the features that you have there. Creature comforts.

02:29 It’s really like a three-seater cab. You know, only the driver side got the comfortable seat and then the passenger is a vehicle for three passengers.

02:40 Okay. And what about some of the dashboards? They’ve changed a lot over the years. It’s very very sophisticated now.

02:48 That is correct. Everything right now is all digits on this truck and even the brake system, the air supply is basically not even a push button no more. It just everything electrical.

03:00 Gotcha. Is that comfortable where you just have to sit back and let it ride, let the power go?

03:05 Yep, it is comfortable. Can’t complain.

03:08 Now, Osman Alvarez here that you’re listening to on the Six-Figure Trucker brought to you by Norton Transport is no stranger to getting in a truck. Osman, we know I looked at your profile as a driver. You’ve been driving a long time. How long have you been driving?

03:23 I have been driving for the 20 years experience now.

03:27 20 years. What caused you to get into it? Did you just want to drive big trucks? Is it a was it an avenue that was natural for you? What prompted you to get into it?

03:38 At that time I was when I came out from doing overseas and stuff, I came and I was like I need something different to be closer to family. So I started doing freight work for Swift transportation in 2008. Then from 2008 to 200 uh10 then I went to work for Beacons Van Line that’s a movie company and I worked for Beacon Van Line to 2014 and from 2014 I started working for open up my own company and then started doing me.

04:21 Now you had we had talked previously that you opened up your own company. Tell us about that company and what were some of the pros and the cons of having your own company.

04:33 That is correct. On 2014, I went and opened up my moving company. I started doing a household goods for relocating people’s you know picking up from their house, loading them up and delivering them to the destination. So I started with that company on my own and I had nine to 10 employees at that time before I shut it before I closed the company down in 2022.

05:06 Now 9 to 10 employees. How many trucks did you have?

05:09 I had a total of almost 8 to 12 trucks before I started selling them one by one.

05:16 That’s a good bit to manage it sounds like. Yeah, it was a good management, but it was really stressful. And for this kind of business, you got to be prepared cuz you got to have good personnel, good people, and good trusted people for this business cuz you deal with people stuff too much.

05:36 I understand. I understand. You’re listening to Osman Alvarez here on the Six-Figure Trucker brought to you by Norton Transport. Osman, when you had that business, it wasn’t just moving trucks. You also had some reefer trucks. Yes, I did have two reaper trucks. So I when he get slow on moving time, I jumped on doing reapers. So we was doing reapers, you know, seafood, chickens, produce, whatever the money was at and to keep the business moving, we would do it.

06:07 Now you this was in the Houston area. That was we used to pick up in I was based on Houston area but we was re picking up freight from the valley Laredo Texas Mallen and delivering it to Boston Massachusetts and picking up from Boston from Cranston Rhode Island seafood back to Houston.

06:33 Okay. So you were picking up lobster and items such as that.

06:38 Lobsters or shrimps, whatever got to do with seafood, we will pick up. We’ll do it.

06:44 Was there ever any issue when you were making those transporting that reapfer truck? I guess you had to always be sure that the temperature was right, particularly when you had fresh seafood in there.

06:54 That is correct. Every time you hold seafood, you got to beg -10 on your reefer. And you got to make sure that keep your eye on the reefer. Always stay with the low cuz if you out of your truck and you keep that reefer and that reapfer goes off, you got real problems cuz people in the chief was really expensive.

07:16 Did you ever have any experience with it with the reefer having any problems?

07:20 I did. I was inside the truck when it shut down and it was just maybe alternator problem or battery problem or stuff I can manage to do cuz I’m a mechanic myself. So I would just move myself quickly and get the parts and change it myself.

07:38 You know, we had talked earlier about you being a mechanic. How long have you been a mechanic? Is it something that came naturally to you or how did you fall into it?

07:46 Mechanic wise, I learned it from my stepfather when I was almost 11 years old. I he you know, he started building cars and doing a whole bunch of custom cars and stuff like that. So I started helping him and seeing what he was doing and learn what he did. So after that I started learning everything that he knew. I knew. So that’s how I learned how to fix my own vehicles and everything. Thanks to my stepfather.

08:14 That saved you a lot of money over the years. I’m sure—

08:17 It did. It did. Cuz every time my truck breaks down, my car breaks down, I will jump on it. I won’t take it to shop unless it got to be a overhead motor overhel transmission or rebuild or something overhaul then I will leave that for somebody that knows how to deal with that cuz I never got inside dealing with overhauling motor or transmission.

08:39 I got you. Now how much does that help you on the road as a driveaway driver? Cuz we both know that you know breakdowns happen. Sometimes it’s a simple fix, sometimes it’s not. But how much does it help you having that bank of knowledge? It does help me a lot cuz I’ve been in situations I myself can manage to do and I got to myself from A to B without no issues or no problems.

09:02 That’s awesome. That’s awesome. Now, you mentioned earlier that when you got back from overseas, were you in the military or what took you overseas?

09:10 Yes, I was in the military for five years. That was on 2001 to 2006 before I start before I started doing working on ships. I was on I was I used to work on mechanics.

09:27 Okay. Were you in the Navy?

09:29 I was in the Navy. Yes, sir.

09:30 Okay. Did you see any where were you stationed and where were you overseas?

09:35 I was living in New York at that time. So, I was stationed in Virginia.

09:39 Okay. Okay. But do you— What about some of your deployments? Where did you go on your deployments?

09:45 Oh, when I got deployed, I went to Japan.

09:47 Okay. Okay. What was that like?

09:49 Life over there was different, but I at the same time started getting to know your people. I mean, your friends, your they become your brothers over there. So, you start getting to know a lot of stuff that and how learn how to manage your money, control your money, and be successful in life.

10:09 I got you.

10:10 I learned a lot of stuff being in the military. Well, Osman, do you still have friends that you stay in touch with from your career in the Navy?

10:18 Yes, I did. Yes, I do. I do have I do got a couple friends that I still talk to them and everything. And then some of them are retired. Some of them are still active on reserve, but we still got communication. I got you. Any memories from the from your days in the Navy that really stick with you? Fond memories—

10:40 Over there, especially on 2001. Yes, I do got when 2001 when the war started over there, you know, Iraq and everything, the bombing and everything, Iraq and everything. So, I was only there for like for 6 months, but I was really under sea. I was really on the sea and we wasn’t doing too much like on land people.

11:04 I got you.

11:05 But it was fun because I had to be on duty 20 almost 12 hours shift and then 12 hour 12 hours safe protecting the ship.

11:13 You had to be ready at all times.

11:15 Yeah, cuz over there in the Red Sea there’s a lot of people that you know they try to hijack the boats and stuff and we got to always be protecting the ship.

11:26 What kind of ship were you on? I was a US Bob Hope. Okay. That’s a military ship.

11:31 Oh, yeah. Know it well. Now, let’s kind of circle back to what you’re talking about being a mechanic. You still use those skills today. You have some of your own cars you work on.

11:43 Yes, I do. I have a 2006 Force edition. And I have a Honda Civic hatch 1992 Honda Civic hatchback with twin turbos. But, that’s just my toy car. So, I’m just, you know, taking my time and getting them ready.

12:00 I got you. Is it tricked out somewhat? The Civic?

12:02 The Civic is a trick one down in the is a low rider. So, it requires a lot of and I put the suspension down and everything. So, I’m still working at that one. It been like three years already for time. I don’t have time cuz I’ve been working. So, but I guess I might jump with it. Osman speaks the truth here about working because I looked at his profile and 11,000 miles a month. Do you stay on the road?

12:30 That is correct. I do dedicate my time and do my time on the road.

12:35 Any vacations upcoming?

12:37 Soon. Yeah, I will. Maybe on Christmas cuz you know I want to spend time with family on Christmas. So I work my I work all the way. I don’t have no problem working without holiday. But when it comes to like Thanksgiving and Christmas stuff, I like spend a little time with family cuz it’s family time.

12:55 Where is the family? Where’s your family located now?

12:58 Family wise right now they in New Orleans. New Orleans, Louisiana.

13:02 That’s not too far from Houston. That’s— You can get over there.

13:05 Oh, yeah. Yeah. No, I go I drive over there.

13:08 11,000 miles a month. How do you spend your time behind the wheel? How do you keep yourself sane, alert, and aware when you’re logging that many miles?

13:18 Always when you behind the wheel, you always got to make sure you do your time, sleep your 10 hours, and follow regulation and follow the log book. And if you need to do your 34 hours, do your 34 hours. But if you feel drown, drowsy, or sleepy, you know, best recommendation is shut it down. Don’t continue driving cuz life is only one. So, the most important thing about this job is getting the job done safely and that’s what I like about this job.

13:51 The being able to do it safely.

13:54 Yep. To be able to do it safely and on time cuz we always got to get the job on time. The best thing I like about this company is like if you got if you come to any issues and you can’t and something happens, you always got communication with Norton Transport cuz they will help you.

14:13 Now, Nata is your dispatcher. Is that right?

14:16 That is correct. Na Sanchez.

14:18 Well, give us a little insight on Na. What’s she like?

14:21 She is she’s the best. She’s the best of the best cuz whatever you need help, she’s always there and she helps. She helps you and whatever she could do in her power, she going to do it cuz she always want to make sure that we are safe on the road and we are good on the road and she’s a good dispatcher. So about her, she’s the best of the best over there. Yeah, I got that and I will say cuz she has been good for me.

14:49 That’s cool. We love to hear that. You’re listening to Osman Alvarez here on the Six-Figure Trucker brought to you by Norton Transport. Osman is a very experienced driver’s been driving over 20 years and I’m going to rattle off a little bit of his qualifications. He is certainly got the experience Class A driver so can drive just about anything. Has his TWIC card, can definitely drive a manual shift, kind of an old school guy, can drive the manual shift and also right-hand drive certified. Is it important to you to have all those qualifications? And if so, why?

15:22 That is correct. Cuz whenever you need it, whenever you need your qualification, you already is already there. So you don’t have to waste your time getting sun cuz you’re always good prepared for whatever comes. So I’m always ready for whatever comes—

15:37 And you leaves you open to a lot of options about what you can drive.

15:40 That is correct. I drive anything that’s got a management and I’m good at it.

15:47 I got you. I got you. Do you have a personal preference of what you drive? I mean, do you look for it or do you look more by selection of the load, not necessarily the truck, but where the load takes you?

16:00 I like driving more you know, chassis, tractors, van, school bus. I did a lot of miles in the school buses, you know, taking it to Canada cuz I do go to Canada, too. I take budget to Canada. I take anything I got to go to Canada. I don’t have no preference going. I’ll do it.

16:22 Do you like—

16:22 I love going to Canada.

16:24 That’s the my next questions. How much do you like Canada?

16:26 Oh yeah. Canada is one of the it’s Canada is good and I love Canada.

16:31 What about no problem go to Canada?

16:33 What about it do you love? I like this the stay and I like the money wise cuz the money is a little bit cheap over there.

16:40 Mhm.

16:41 And due to the money cheap over there, you know, it helps us a lot cuz a dollar American dollar equals to 70 over there.

16:51 I gotta I gotcha. Yeah, that that pays off. I mean, when you do the exchange—

16:56 That is correct.

16:56 Now, Osman, you’re heading to North Carolina. Is that right?

17:00 That is correct. I’m heading to North Carolina right now. So, you’ll probably get a hotel tonight and then make your way to North Carolina.

17:08 That is correct.

17:09 Now, speaking of hotels, do how do you work the hotel game? Because obviously that’s some expenses that the driver has to face, but or square away with those expenses. How do you choose your hotel? I mean, do you have some tricks of the trade that you can share with some other driveaway drivers?

17:26 Yeah. The hotels really when you got to do the hotels whatever you’re going to stop or something, you know, you plan ahead. You plan ahead and start making calls to see where you’re going to stop at so you can get the hotels. And there’s good and there’s places that you can get cheaper hotels, but it’s all about calling them on time.

17:51 I got you. I got you. Well, Osman, as you’re listening here to Osman Alvarez here on the Six-Figure Trucker, brought to you by Norton Transport. Osman, I was going to ask you this question. You’ve been doing this for 20 years. How much longer do you see yourself doing it?

18:06 I still see myself doing it for a little bit more time cuz I like what I do.

18:12 That’s awesome. We love to hear that that you like what you do. And how does it compare doing driveaway versus what you did in those first 20 years as far as having your own company and also for the other companies you work for? How do you compare driveaway to that those experiences?

18:28 I like it. I like it a lot cuz you know you manage your own schedule. You manage your own schedule and on top of that nobody doesn’t tell you what you got to do. You do you pick whatever you got to pick and you go wherever you got to go. And the thing about it that you always got to plan ahead and see what you got to do cuz always plan your route and always plan your flight and cuz in this business you got to we say flying or transporting ourselves.

19:00 Gotcha. Has it been good for your wallet?

19:02 It’s been good. It’s been good. Osman Alvarez, thank you so much for joining us on the Six-Figure Trucker. Anything you want to leave is maybe some words of wisdom for somebody who may be on the fence or maybe considering moving into driveaway. What would your counsel be to them?

19:20 Yeah, it’s good to join Norton Transport and you know it’s a good company to work for and y got good personnel, good people inside there that will help you. And the most important thing is always, you know, plan your route, be safe on the road because being safe is the key and communication with Norton Transport is another key cuz keeping communication with them will keep you forward and get you to whatever you need to get to.

19:49 Those are some great words of advice. Osman Alvarez, thank you so much for being on the program with us and stay safe out there. Get to work.

20:02 Six-Figure Trucker is brought to you by Norton Transport. Norton Transport is a driveaway trucking company that customers can rely on. It offers excellent independent contract driving opportunities to professional, courteous, and qualified drivers that can provide the kind of service we deliver. If you’re interested in learning more about Norton or just want to subscribe to the show, check out Six-FigureTrucker.com. That’s Six-FigureTrucker.com.