Inside the Dump Truck Game with Malcolm Smith | A Trucking Podcast

In this episode, Malcolm Smith shares his powerful journey from public school teacher to founder and CEO of the National Dump Trucking Association. He opens up about how his first attempt at trucking, buying an 18-wheeler without the right knowledge, ended in failure. That experience humbled him and taught him the importance of mentorship, structure, and financial literacy. After stepping away from trucking, a persistent mentor encouraged him to look into dump trucking. Although hesitant at first, Malcolm eventually dove in, bought his first dump truck with his brother, and endured two very difficult years before finding stability. Through that process, he realized how isolated and unsupported dump truck operators were, which inspired him to launch the National Dump Trucking Association.

Malcolm explains that the dump truck industry operates very differently from over-the-road trucking. There are no load boards or brokers. Finding work requires building relationships directly with contractors, often through cold-calling and in-person meetings. He emphasizes the importance of understanding your numbers, knowing your true cost per hour, and calculating what profit you need to stay in business. He warns that many new operators fail because they accept unprofitable rates or underestimate their expenses. Malcolm also discusses the value of business credit, cash flow management, and how factoring companies and fuel card partnerships can be crucial for surviving the industry’s long payment cycles.

The episode dives into scaling a dump truck business the right way. Malcolm urges new operators to fully maximize one truck, ideally with both day and night shifts, before rushing to grow a fleet. He also shares an alternative growth strategy: subcontracting other owner-operators and earning a small percentage by bringing in the work. Malcolm advocates for responsible scaling, financial discipline, and using business data to make informed decisions. Toward the end, he highlights the role of technology in modernizing the dump trucking space, from digital ticketing to AI-driven dispatch systems. He calls on younger generations to get involved and help shape the future of the industry. Through it all, Malcolm remains focused on mentorship, financial education, and making the dump truck industry more transparent and supportive for new business owners.