Beyond the Bulldog

Mile Marker 35 – Doug Maney on Mack Bulldogs, Archives, and the Future of the Museum

We return to the Mack Trucks Historical Museum in Allentown, Pennsylvania, with curator and self-described caretaker of Mack history, Doug Maney. Surrounded by sound-absorbing cones in the semi-anechoic chamber, Doug explains how this former test lab became one of the most unique gallery spaces in trucking, and why every truck in it still starts, runs, and moves under its own power.Doug opens the doors to a behind-the-scenes world of 50 million pages of records, half a million photos, and shelves of film, slides, and microfiche that document more than a century of Mack innovation. From the vision of former president Zenon Hansen and the first small museum in Macungie to today’s expanded collection at the Mack Experience Center, he shows how preserving, digitizing, and protecting this material keeps Mack history available for engineers, marketers, restorers, dealers, and fans around the world.Doug discusses:-What it means to “keep Mack history safe” day to day, from scanning every new document before it hits a filing cabinet to maintaining an offline local network that protects irreplaceable films and records from hacks and ransomware.-The origins of the museum under Zenon C.R. Hansen, the return of the bulldog as a core symbol of the brand, and how a small municipal garage in Macungie grew into today’s independent 501(c)(3) Mack Trucks Historical Museum.-Keeping roughly two dozen vintage trucks, buses, and fire engines in running condition on site, rotating displays, leaning on volunteers, and why “it does not do them well to sit” if you want history to stay alive instead of collecting dust.-How trucks and archives “find” the museum through dealers, families, and collectors, the careful process of adding rare vehicles to a limited storage footprint, and Doug’s dream of a larger “Mack Main Street” style museum that would recreate dealerships from different eras.With stories of pallets from dealers, boxes from retirees, and long-sought documents discovered in drawers that have not been opened in decades, Doug shows that Mack history keeps expanding, and that every new artifact adds another piece to the story of how Bulldogs helped build the modern world.
 
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/

Mile Marker 34 – Creating Mack Memories: Christa Tam on Customer Tours, Quality, and the Experience Center

Our podcast team heads to the Mack Trucks Experience Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to sit down with Brand Experience Specialist Christa Tam. What started as a dream of becoming an elementary school teacher turned into a 20-year Mack career that touches almost every part of the business: aftermarket, engineering, manufacturing, forecasting, quality, and now customer experience.In this episode, Christa talks about learning trucks the hard way in parts specifications, moving through roles that kept her close to product change, factory operations, and forecasting, and eventually leading a product quality team at Lehigh Valley Operations. Today, she brings all that knowledge together at the Experience Center, hosting tours, ride-and-drive events, and museum visits that help customers see, feel, and drive the difference behind the bulldog.Christa discusses:-Starting in parts specifications at world headquarters, learning to support dealers with microfilm, blueprints, and decades of truck records, and realizing how much there is to know about vehicles that stay on the road for millions of miles.-Moving into engineering and factory roles, coordinating design changes, material planning, service cab builds, and acting as a single point of contact between the plant and the sales side to keep customers informed about their trucks.-Managing product quality at Lehigh Valley Operations, leading auditors and specialists who investigate campaigns, misbuilds, and warranty trends, and feeding data back to the line so customers receive the trucks they expect.-Stepping into the Brand Experience Specialist role, organizing factory and Hagerstown tours, hosting customers on the test track and off-road course, showcasing new products like the Pioneer alongside heritage trucks, and inviting Mack fans to work with their dealer to plan a visit.With a teacher’s mindset and a deep respect for the people who build and drive Mack trucks, Christa shows how a great customer visit is built on real factory experience and genuine pride in the brand.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/

Mile Marker 33 - Tony Justice on Trucking, Country Music, and Keeping the Tradition Alive

We are joined by trucker, country music singer, and songwriter Tony Justice, whose life has always run on two parallel highways: hauling freight and writing songs about the people who do it. Growing up around coal trucks in eastern Kentucky with a truck driver dad and a gospel-singing mom, Tony learned early how closely the road, family, and music are tied together.
In this episode, Tony talks about chasing two childhood dreams at once, turning an independent music side hustle into a full-time business, and how faith, grit, and the trucking community carried his family through financial disaster, his wife’s breast cancer diagnosis, and the uncertainty of Covid. From viral hits like “Last of the Cowboys” to Facebook Live merch marathons and packed truck shows, he shows how old-school trucking songs can still move people, pay the bills, and inspire the next generation to grab a CDL.Tony discusses:
-Growing up in coal country, riding in Mack coal trucks with his dad, washing and greasing equipment on weekends, and playing bass in his mom’s gospel group by age eight, with trucking and music shaping his earliest memories.-Balancing life as an over-the-road driver and working musician, booking loads around truck shows, cramming guitars and merch into the sleeper, and putting in 2,300 to 2,400 mile weeks before working the stage all weekend.-The dominoes of adversity: a distributor bankruptcy that wiped out payment on thousands of CDs, his wife’s breast cancer diagnosis, and then Covid canceling Mid-America Truck Show, and how a viral “Last of the Cowboys” video and creative Facebook Live sales kept the business and their family afloat.-Using his platform to give back, from Operation Teddy Bear for a young boy on hospice to Joy Ride school events and the Large Cars and Guitars show that has raised around $200,000 for Susan G. Komen, all while inspiring new drivers who say his songs made them want to get behind the wheel.With stories that run from hand-me-down CB radios to 60,000 pound tour buses, Tony shows how trucking songs still matter, giving voice to a brotherhood on the road and connecting generations of drivers and their families.
 
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/

Mile Marker 32 – The Last Mack at Mack Trucks: Tom Mack on Family Legacy, Quality, and a 1957 Fire Truck

We’re back at the Mack Trucks Historical Museum in Allentown, PA. This time with Tom Mack, great grandson of founder John “Jack” Mack and the last Mack family member to work at Mack Trucks. From childhood road trips spotting bulldogs on the highway to years in military intelligence and global electronics, Tom’s winding path eventually led him to the Macungie production line, where he quietly proved himself long before anyone realized his last name matched the badge on the hood.In this episode, Tom shares how centuries of wagon-making, a Titanic-era wireless set, and a deep “fix-anything” streak shaped both his life and the Mack brand. He talks about life as a flex technician and product quality auditor—test-driving brand-new trucks, chasing down rattles and brake issues, and protecting his family’s name by making sure customers get the truck they were promised. And in retirement, he’s still wrenching: resurrecting a 1957 open-cab B-model fire truck and volunteering at the museum to keep history not just polished, but running.Tom discusses:-Growing up “just a normal kid” in a very not-normal family. Playing spot-the-truck on road trips instead of punch buggy and realizing later how deep the Mack driving and mechanical instincts run.-How a Marconi wireless radio, similar to the Titanic’s set, pulled his grandfather into ham radio and Tom into electronics, leading to work on high-power vacuum tubes and radio stages for Air Force One and global semiconductor supply chains.-Coming to Mack via a job fair after a layoff. Starting on the line installing visor labels and speakers, then stepping into the “flex technician” role, filling in across the cab line and learning how an entire truck really goes together.-Moving into product quality auditing: bringing trucks back from the yard, road-testing them, chasing down odd noises and brake behavior, and using data on repeat defects to drive continuous improvement while safeguarding the Mack name.With a mix of humility, technical depth, and genuine pride, Tom shows that Mack heritage isn’t just a family story, it’s baked into how the trucks are built, audited, driven, and preserved for the next generation.
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/

Mile Marker 31 – Preserving Mack History: Doug Maney on the Museum, Allentown’s Legacy, and the Experience Center

On this episode of Beyond the Bulldog, we’re on location at the Mack Trucks Historical Museum in Allentown, PA, where curator Doug Maney — self-described “caretaker of Mack history” — walks us through a century-plus of innovation, storytelling, and hands-on preservation. From the famous sound room gallery and test track to a living fleet of running vintage trucks and an archive measured in tens of millions of pages, Doug shows how the past powers the present at the Mack Experience Center.
Doug discusses:
-Growing up around trucks and building a career that spans engineering, insurance appraisals, and museum curation-The Sound Room Gallery’s origins and the Allentown facility’s role as Mack’s engineering and test center (opened in the 1970s)-Why Allentown remains central to Mack’s story—and how customers still drive modern trucks on site during visits-Inside the archive: how documentation supports restorers, dealers, and enthusiasts (from paint codes to thread pitch)-Keeping history running: starting and driving near-100-year-old trucks, and why every museum vehicle is kept operational-Tours, Trucktoberfest, donations, and how the museum (a 501(c)(3)) sustains the work of preserving Mack heritage for future generationsWith contagious enthusiasm and real shop-floor credibility, Doug makes the case that Mack history isn’t just something you read—it’s something you hear, crank, and drive.
 
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/

Mile Marker 30 – Building Tomorrow’s Technicians: Forsyth Tech’s National Championship Journey

In this episode of Beyond the Bulldog, we’re joined by Forsyth Technical Community College, the winners of the 2025 TMC FutureTech National Student Technician Skills Competition. Representing the program are Program Coordinator Alan Doub, Instructors James Murdock and Philip Grimes, and 2025 Champion Tully McKinley — whose win put Forsyth Tech in the national spotlight.
Together, they discuss how hands-on learning, industry partnerships, and a passion for the craft are shaping the next generation of diesel and heavy equipment technicians.
The team discusses:
-How Forsyth Tech built one of the country’s most respected diesel and heavy equipment programs-The value of mentorship, problem-solving, and continuous learning in the shop-How competitions like TMC FutureTech connect education and industry at a national level-The growing need for skilled technicians — and how community colleges are meeting that challenge-Why teamwork, adaptability, and preventive maintenance are essential for success
From the classroom to the competition floor, Forsyth Tech’s story is a testament to education that works — training future leaders to keep America’s trucks on the road.
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/

Mile Marker 29 – Leading with Safety: Tandy Carpenter on Building a Culture That Drives Success

In this episode of Beyond the Bulldog, we sit down with Tandy Carpenter, Director of Safety at Edwards Wood Products-Transportation, to discuss how strong leadership, clear communication, and accountability create a thriving culture of safety on and off the road.Tandy shares how she went from working in her family’s trucking business to becoming one of North Carolina’s most respected safety leaders. With over 30 years in the industry, she brings practical insight into what it takes to lead people, not just processes.
Tandy discusses:-How she turned an unexpected DOT audit into a lifelong career in safety-Why communication and education are key to implementing lasting change-How Edwards Wood Products keeps drivers safe and motivated through culture and compensation-The growing importance of mentorship, networking, and women’s leadership in trucking
With decades of experience and a passion for people, Tandy Carpenter proves that safety isn’t a rulebook, it’s a relationship built mile after mile.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/

Mile Marker 28 – Fueled by Grit: Ingrid Brown on Life, Legacy, and Lessons from the Road

In this episode of Beyond the Bulldog, we sit down with Ingrid Brown, owner-operator, safety advocate, and proud voice for America’s professional drivers. With over four decades on the road, Ingrid’s story embodies resilience, community, and a deep love for trucking. From her first days behind the wheel to her work with Women In Trucking, Ingrid shares how grit, compassion, and purpose keep her wheels turning.
Ingrid discusses:
-Her journey from small-town North Carolina to 4 million safe miles and national recognition
-The challenges and triumphs of being a woman behind the wheel
-Why advocacy and mentorship matter in today’s trucking industry
-How she uses her voice to represent the backbone of America — the drivers who never stop rolling
With humor, honesty, and a heart as strong as her engine, Ingrid Brown reminds us why trucking is more than a job — it’s a way of life.
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/

Mile Marker 27 – Precision and Patience: Training the Next Generation of Professional Drivers

In this episode of Beyond the Bulldog, we sit down with Brian Walker, Lead Instructor at Randolph Community College’s Truck Driver Training Program, 13-time North Carolina Truck Driving Champion, and 2019 National Truck Driving Champion, to talk about the skill, focus, and patience behind professional truck driving.
Brian discusses:
-His family’s trucking legacy and how he followed in his father’s championship footsteps-What it takes to win at state and national truck driving competitions — and why it starts with a perfect pre-trip-How patience, discipline, and awareness define the difference between driving and professional driving-What students learn in Randolph Community College’s 10-week CDL program-How competition precision translates into safer, more confident drivers on the road
With decades of experience on the road and in the classroom, Brian shows how the next generation of drivers can elevate their craft — one mile, one maneuver, and one lesson at a time.
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/

Mile Marker 26 – Chasing Pure Profit: Jamie Hagen on Fuel Efficiency, Mack Trucks, and Building Hell Bent Xpress

In this episode of Beyond the Bulldog, we sit down with Jamie Hagen, owner of Hell Bent Xpress and long-time Mack Trucks advocate, to talk about the business, discipline, and data behind running a successful trucking operation. Known for his fleet of Gen One Anthems and now a striking amber-orange Mack Pioneer and his social media presence, Jamie brings an open, practical look at the everyday challenges and rewards of life on the road.
Jamie discusses:
-His family roots in trucking and how Hell Bent Xpress was born
-How he achieves fuel efficiency numbers up to 25% better than the national average
-The evolution from driver to fleet owner — and what it really takes to grow responsibly
-How Mack Trucks’ customization and dealer support help fleets succeed
-The features of his new Pure Profit Pioneer and why it’s changing his business
With humor, humility, and hard-earned insight, Jamie proves that trucking success is built one penny, one mile, and one relationship at a time.
 
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/