00:05 If you sweep the floor, one day you can own the broom. Wow.

00:10 I’m loving getting deep here with Leopold Ruddock. You sweep the floor, one day you’ll own the broom.

00:19 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. And each and every week you guys that join us, you know that this is a space where we elevate and celebrate the drivers that make Norton Transport what it is and of course what they do for the industry. Now, last week we heard from Leopold Ruddock, who is a Jamaican native, and Leopold shared his stories back in his home country and what made him what he is today, the man that he is today. That included talking about his time as a youth the record setting track athlete in college and he also worked for the airport authority as a firetruck driver and later an instructor and in administration with the airport authority for a number of years.

01:29 Leopold joins us now. Leopold, how are you?

01:31 I’m good. I’m good. How are you?

01:33 I’m doing well. Doing well. Now, we touched last week on many things about your time in Jamaica, and we wanted to kind of shift gears, if you will. What led you to America?

01:43 Well, it was a woman.

01:50 There you go.

01:51 Plain and straight, it was a woman. That’s what it was, you know. But, you know, it was a woman that I wanted, and I didn’t want another woman. And I wanted that woman, you know, and that’s what brought me here. I had everything going for me there, but I just didn’t have that woman.

02:08 I got you. I got you. Now, women can make you do some adventurous things.

02:14 Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. There, you know, there’s a lot that we started with, you know, because it started in my, you know, when I met her, I think I was about 22 20 going 22. She was 18 years old, you know. You know, we’re pretty young, you know—

02:35 And you find someone that you wanted to be with for the rest of your life. Today, we are still together.

02:42 That’s amazing. Congratulations for that, Leopold. So, you guys met, this is your wife. You met in Jamaica.

02:49 Yes. Yes. And it was strange that it was a her brother I used to coach a soccer team. Her brother was an executive part of the body of the club and he said to me one day I wanted to meet my sister—

03:10 You know and it’s strange because you don’t find friends want to introduce their sister to their friend—

03:18 Right—

03:20 That’s kind of strange you know but he said to me he want he wants me to meet his sister— Okay.

03:26 So said okay. So they said the father was going away to England back to England the next day. So I said can you come by the house tomorrow at noon so you can meet my sister. And that’s how I met the sister. We have been friends from that time. That’s when I met the sister.

03:53 That’s cool.

03:54 Yeah. Stuff like that, you know. So that’s how I started out that and you know she had always been a very progressive person moving ahead moving along you know she was very high in education you know you mean she sterning education and she really used that and build our kids you know.

04:14 Okay. So that that helps a whole lot, you know, pinning our kids cuz, you know, we got four kids in all and basically they all finished college. They all are flying right now. They’re just moving ahead.

04:28 That’s awesome. That’s awesome. Now, you met your wife in 77 and she had the opportunity to come to the United States.

04:36 Yes, she did. So, you arrive in the States and you’ve got to find some employment and of course you had the background if you listened to the Six-Figure Trucker brought to you by Norton Transport last week. You spent a lot of time in the firefighting career that you had working with the airport authority and the maritime institution where you taught firefighting. But that didn’t necessarily translate for a profession in America. Tell us about that. Well, that’s true because when I got my license and I applied for jobs up in Boston to drive tractor trailer, especially with the union companies, they would they basically said that they don’t think I will be driving tractor trailer because of my qualification. They said they don’t see me driving truck. They don’t see me becoming a truck driver. That was 36 years ago. Yeah, that wasn’t the case. They were wrong.

05:38 They were wrong.

05:40 Yeah, because you see I my uncle used to drive my uncle have a lot of trucks in Jamaica. Tractor trailer in Jamaica. So, you know, that was another, you know, incentive also because of my uncle that had tractor trailer in Jamaica, you know. When I come here, I just decide I’m not going to go back into that field because not of the fact that it is challenging. I mean, it’s pretty good. I can do it, you know. I can master it, but I got to master something else too, you know? You see what I mean? I can fly, you know, but I don’t want to fly, you know. So, I say, you know, let me drive tractor trailer. Let me venture into this avenue. So, a friend of mine when I got my license, a friend of mine say, “Oh, Leo this is a I know a good company that you can work for.”

06:34 So, I went and applied to the company and they called me. That company was called Clark and Reed Executive Moving Company. That was the number one moving company in the United States. They just basically move top executives.

06:49 I got you.

06:50 You know, and that’s what they did. They don’t move anybody else. Just top executive. They give all the other jobs to other moving companies. And I did excel in black and weed because I excelled to the top as the number one mover in that company. You know—

07:09 Speaking of excelling, this is something that’s not uncommon for you. You’re listening to Leopold Ruddock here on the Six-Figure Trucker brought you by Norton Transport. He is a man who has excelled in many things including back in Jamaica, his home country, as a fire instructor, firet truck driver, also a track star at St. Mary’s College in Jamaica. And you were telling us in your first driving job with a good company, you excelled there, but I wanted to back up just a little bit to your training that you had in school. The New England Tractor Trailer School. Tell us about that. There’s quite a story there.

07:50 Oh, you mean when I got my license?

07:53 Yes, sir.

07:54 Okay. Okay. Cuz what happened was that I when I applied for when I went to the school when I came to America I just decided I’m going to drive just a trailer and I decide I’m going to go to school and I went to school and it’s supposed to be 8 weeks eight weeks training which I did the complete 8 weeks training in the winter time coming from Jamaica in the winter was not a nice thing either. No, no, no, no.

08:27 Was wasn’t a nice thing. As a matter of fact, I got so mad one at the time. I told my wife, I’m going back to Jamaica.

08:34 Cuz I didn’t have a car and I had to take a I had to take a bus, you know. And what happened was that I said, “No taking on the bus. I’m going back home.” Cuz I got fro I got frostbitten because there was a winter storm there. And then I told I’m going back home. And when I went home, oh behold, there was a car there waiting for me.

08:56 My wife—

08:58 My wife went and got a car. She paid $35 for the car.

09:03 Oh my. Wow. That’s a bargain.

09:05 From the police auction.

09:07 Ah, she knew how to be resourceful and find what you needed.

09:10 Yeah. For the police auction. Because at the police auction, you know, all they wanted were the insurance money. All they want were the taxes. Anyway, I got that and went to school and there was one time when I would not get you know when you doing the practical you know each there four person to a truck and I couldn’t get a truck to drive. So I made a complaint to the office about the fact that I’m not getting enough driving time with the truck for the training. So he designated one truck for four of us and we got that truck and we kept that truck for the whole time.

09:49 That’s good.

09:50 And that that helped me a whole lot, you know, because they did look out for me. It’s true. When I come to America, a lot of people look out for me. A lot of people look out for me.

10:00 That’s cool. That’s cool. We hope that we’re doing the same for you here at Norton Transport. And you were sharing with me earlier about your time at the New England Tractor Trailer School in Boston. There were 28 people in that class. Is that correct?

10:15 Oh yes, we had 28. We had 28 total for the day class and the night and the evening class. 18 was for the day class and 10 for the day class for the night evening class. And then we went and did our practical. The examiner gave us tell us point blank. I’m telling you what we’re going to be doing twice and that’s it. And he’s not going to go over it again. I said I was the last person to be tested on the patical. So when it was my time, it was in the evening about 4:00 and I went on the road. It was icy. I got stuck in the ice. I got it out and I went back to the yard. On the way back to the yard before I got in, he said to me, “He’s not giving no one any license who cannot drive.”

11:17 So I didn’t pay him no money at all, you know. You s he remind me of this show I watch with this man with this small eyeglass on his face look like a nerd.

11:37 I gotta—

11:40 That that was—

11:42 We went back to the yard we went back to the yard and then he said come with me. So he came with me and then he said stay right here and then he went through some process and he gave me my license and then that was when I realized that it’s only two of us that passed out of the entire 28 students you know and I didn’t know all this was happening.

12:06 That’s a tough class man.

12:08 Everybody was looking at me. Everybody was looking at me. It’s like why they looking at me you know cuz I didn’t even know that all those guys fail.

12:16 Wow. I didn’t know they failed. I didn’t know at all. I didn’t know at all. I was the only one from my class. From the 18 of us that got it, you know, and from the other 10, there was only one other guy that passed. There’s only two of us that pass in the entire but I came first in the class in the way. So, you know, in my in the pacle in the theory, you know, so that that was good again, you know.

12:42 Oh, absolutely. You’re listening to Leopold Ruddock here on the Six-Figure Trucker brought to you by Norton Transport. Leopold sharing many of his stories behind the wheel and last week he shared many of his stories growing up in Jamaica and his successes that he had there. He’s continuing to have those successes here in the States. Now, from that time 1988, when you were one of only two out of 28 candidates to get your license out of the New England Tractor Trailer School. What’s it been like in your 36 years driving since that time?

13:20 Oh. When I started out when I started with the Clark and Reed executive movement services you know I start with the bottom—

13:31 You know in two years after I started I became a lead driver. So a lead driver now can you start from what you call a number four to a number three driver to a number two driver. Then in those what four three and two you have different stages A B and C and then when I became in the number one driver you start with as a one C and then you go to a B and a. Well, I’ve been through all the stages in the company, all the stages all the way up to a 1A and that’s when I was nominated the number one driver in the company. And when you are nominated as number when you are number one driver at the company then you are basically number one in the entire United States.

14:33 That’s awesome. And then when I resigned because I needed to I needed some more adventure. I needed some more I need to know I needed to know more. So I did tell him that I’m going to be a at the time they didn’t have own operator just company drivers. So I said I’m I believe cuz I want to be a own operator. I want to experience more in the mo industry in terms of that just me a company driver. So I left and then I went to Allied and I started the top 20 driver because I’m coming from Kak and Reed. So you know they started me in the top 20 top 20% in the United States. So I wor my way up into the master mover ship.

15:24 So most of the jobs I was doing all the jobs I were doing were just for master movers. So when I come into town, no matter who is there, they have 50 trucks there. I slide all the way up to number one. So I got my load ready for me when I moving up and down, you know. So that’s how I used to move back then. Then I was nominated three times for Allied as the number one mover in United States.

15:50 Wow.

15:51 I was nominated three times. But something happened. Somebody tried to get me out and you know people play a game. They try to get me out. So I fall to that trap and I resign. Clark and Reed called me back. Clark and Reed asked me to come back cuz they saw that I was nominated number one in the United States and they asked me to come back as their first contractor. Clark Reed has been around for 100 years. Clark and Reed Moving Services had been around for 100 years and they asked me to come back to be their first contractor.

16:29 That’s impressive. You’ve had an impressive record on and off the road. You’ve been driving for 36 years. You’re listening to Leopold Ruddock who is a Class A driver here for us at Norton Transport. He has all of his endorsements. And I wanted to ask you Leopold, can I call you Leo?

16:47 Yes. Now, Leo, I just wanted to ask you in that 36 years, you’re laying out some great stories and you obviously been at the top of your profession with more than one company and we are very pleased to have you here at Norton Transport. What would you say what would your advice be to other drivers to be at that top level? I mean, what do you have to have to be that type of driver? Ah well one of the most important thing that you have to do as a human being we must understand that we are all a commodity. We are all a commodity just like the apple just like the fruit just like the vegetables. So if the vegetable is not good you won’t eat it. If the fruit is not good you’re not going to eat it just like anything else. Mhm.

17:38 So, as a commodity, if you place yourself in that category, then all you have to be is consistent in what you’re doing.

17:48 That is some incredible advice from Leopold right up there. Being consistent in what you’re doing and Leo, I didn’t want to cut you off there. You were about to say something else.

17:58 Yeah. When you are like that, then you always have the tendency of basically you’re not going to fail because it’s automatic. If you close your eyes, your eyes are still open. It may seem strange, but yes, if you close your eyes, your eyes are still open because of your consistency.

18:18 That is some incredible advice.

18:21 Yeah, that is how the body works, you know—

18:24 And along with your consistency, you got to remember, you got to respect. You got to show respect. You got to respect each and everything that you do. Each and everyone that you meet, you have to show your respect, you know. And the next thing about it is that if you sweep the floor, one day you can own the broom.

18:50 Wow. I’m loving getting deep here with Leopold Ruddock. If you sweep the floor, one day you’ll own the broom.

18:56 Yeah. And you got to think about these thing. You can own the broom in many respect, you know, cuz there are many part of the broom that you can own. You don’t have to hold— You don’t have to own the whole thing. You can just own the stick, whatever you do, right? Just be consistent in what you do. So, it’s the only way you can gain the knowledge of what is in front of you.

19:23 Leopold Ruddock here on the Six-Figure Trucker brought to you by Norton Transport. Leopold, we just want to reach out and say thank you very much for being one of our top drivers and for being such an inspiration to other drivers. And for all the advice you’ve given us on this program. Anything you want to say to close us out, Leopold?

19:41 No. Nothing in particular. There’s so many things that can be said. I really don’t know what else to say right now in terms of that. But I will also say that I find this company Norton Transport to be a very interesting company and I didn’t know that there was a company like this that exist you know so I’m still in the learning process in terms of company like this like what non transportation but I find it very interesting I love it is intriguing— It’s challenging and which is good and I like the challenge because it keep you a breast and no one is not going to babysit you which is good because it teach you to be a better man and or a woman.

20:36 All right, Leopold Ruddock right there with some great advice again. Leopold, thank you so much for joining us. Be safe as you set out on your next runs. I know you’re looking at the load board getting ready to hit the road again.

20:49 Yes. Yeah, that’s what I’m doing right now.

20:51 All right.

20:51 All right—

20:52 Leopold. Thank you so much.

20:54 All right, John. Thank you.

20:58 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.