00:08 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. You know, if you join us each and every week, you know, this is where we elevate and celebrate the drivers of Norton Transport. They make us what we are. We’re very proud of them. We’re very grateful for them. And joining us on the road is Arthur Trader. Arthur spoke with us last week about his driving and his great stats that he has. Arthur, how are you? I’m doing all right, but still. I’m doing great, man. I’m having a good time talking with you. I enjoyed our conversation last week and wanted to ask you this week. You were sharing with me before we got on the air last week, there’s something that you’ve got on your calendar here that you’re trying to accomplish.

01:10 And tell us a little bit about what you got on the calendar coming up. Okay, well, what’s on my calendar in the near future is I’m getting my certification to be a referee. For basketball, baseball, and football. So, that’s what I’m getting into now. You want to get your certification to be a referee? Yes, sir. Now, I’m assuming you played all those sports? I played a little football. I played basketball and I ran track. Got you. Which in track, what which track event did you run? I ran 100 meter hurdles. I ran the 400 meter hurdles. I did a little 800 meters, too. But it was track was really for to keep me in shape for basketball. Sure. Is basketball your true love? Yes. Yes. Got you.

02:02 Now, when did you decide you wanted to become a referee? I was talking to— Well, I wanted to do it like 3 years ago, but just never pursued it. And I was actually talking to a guy. He picked me up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. A Lyft driver. And he was telling me about it. What he’s doing. And it kind of just relit the fire. You know, and I was like, “Man, I’m going to go ahead and Got you. How close to achieving that goal are you? By this summer. By this summer.”

02:41 Yes, sir. So, you’ll be ready for football in the fall, baseball in the spring, and of course basketball in the winter. Is that a good way to supplement your income by refereeing these games? Yes, sir, it is. That’s a very good way to supplement my income. That driver would makes it easier for me to do the refereeing. So, yes. That’s a good supplement. Got you. Now, you’re a father and you were sharing with me earlier you’ve got a few kids. Yes, sir, I got nine kids, nine grandkids. Wow. Wow. And what’s the age range on your children? 30 years old. I got a 30-year-old, I got a 28-year-old, I got a 26-year-old. I got two 22-year-olds, I got two 18-year-olds, and I got a 19-year-old. And I hope I didn’t miss nobody.

03:47 And one of them lives with you, is that right? Yes, my 19-year-old, he’s with me. He stays with you down in San Antonio? Yes, sir. He moved down to San Antonio with me. He the only one left with me. Got you. Now, living in San Antonio, which we were talking about, very cool town, very cool city, but you’re not a Spurs fan. No, sir. I’m not a die-hard Laker fan. Have been for a long time? Yes, since the ’80s. Okay. All the way back with Magic and Kareem and all those guys.

04:21 Yes. Kurt Rambis, you know, all those guys, yes. James Worthy, yeah. Yeah. Michael Cooper. Yes. I was trying to remember some of the other guys on that team. They had some players back then. I haven’t been keeping— Oh, yeah. Oh, He was a good player. Yes. Now, I haven’t been keeping tabs on the NBA yet. I will when the playoffs roll around. What do you think about the Lakers this year? How are they doing this year? I don’t like it. They’re not doing well to me. So, I don’t like it. I got you. Have they got a chance to make the playoffs? I don’t even know where they stand. Yes, they’ll probably make the playoffs. They’ll probably be a five or six seed, but I don’t think they have a chance of winning a championship this year. They don’t. The defense is too, you know, weak. Too soft? Yes. Yes.

05:10 Now, we were— You’re a big football fan, too. Now, you do have some home allegiances there. Tell us about the team you like on the football side. Oh, NFL, it’s the Dallas Cowboys. Now, the Cowboys came up a little short this year, but what do you think? Do you think they’re going in the right direction? You ask me personally, Cowboys, until they fix their defense, then they it ain’t nothing we can do. They’re going to have to fix that defense. Right. What do you think about the trade last year? You like that one or no? I loved it. I loved it. What about it did you like? Micah don’t play at the cold well to me and he don’t stop the run.

05:58 So, the amount of money we’d have to pay him with the amount of money we’re already paying our top players, we can never add anything else on our defense. Right. Give up a superstar, but you can add some other players. Right. Got you. Now, you were telling me being in Texas that it’s going to work out well for you being a certified referee because you were saying baseball’s huge in Texas. Right. Yeah, sports is big. High school sports is big in Texas. And as a matter of fact, right where I live, we have a big 6A school right across the street from where I live. So, that’s going to be, you know, pretty interesting. Yeah, that’ll be convenient for you, man. You can just do games right there. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Well, Arthur, I wanted to ask you one final question here. Of all those sports you like, I think we established basketball is your true love. Who do you think’s going to win the NBA this year? Who do you like? I mean, I know you like the Lakers, but in your head, who do you think’s going to win it all?

07:01 I think it’s going to come down between three teams. Detroit Pistons in the East. But I think it’s going to be a dog fight between Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs on the West. Yeah, San Antonio does look good. Yes, they do.

07:18 Ever catch any games there? I’ve never caught a game there, but I’m going to have to catch one eventually. Hey, when the Lakers come into town? If you can get a ticket. That’s tough ticket right there, man, when the Lakers come in.

07:36 Yes, it is.

07:37 Out everywhere they go. Yes, they do. Arthur, thank you so much for joining us, Arthur Trader, here on the Six-Figure Trucker brought to you by Norton Transport. Arthur, anything you want to say before we sign off? And man, I just I appreciate you for having me on. I really do. Well, we appreciate you being on the show with us. We really do. Be safe out there, be careful, and Jacksonville’s your next stop, then on to Atlanta. Yes, sir. You going to make it home anytime soon or are you going to stay on the road? I was trying to decide whether I’m going to go home this weekend, but I’ll I don’t know now. I’ll see though. Well, hopefully you can find something out of Atlanta that will get you back to Texas. Yes, sir. Probably will. And I appreciate it.

08:26 All right. Arthur Trader here on the Six-Figure Trucker brought to you by Norton Transport. Arthur, again, thank you. Thank you. Six-Figure Trucker is brought to you by Norton Transport. Norton Transport is a driver-friendly 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.