Driven for Success
If you run a small trucking company — whether you’ve got one truck or forty — and want to run a smoother, smarter business, you’re in the right place.
I’m Mike Ritzema, founder of Superior Trucking Payroll Service, and each week I break down the business side of trucking: payroll, per diem, driver recruiting and retention, and all the back-office stuff that small carriers just don’t have time for.
You’ll get real-world stories, straight talk, and practical tips to help you avoid costly mistakes, stay on the road, and grow with confidence.
Driven for Success
S1E16 What 300+ Trucking Companies Taught Me: The Habits That Build Trust, Culture, and Long-Term Success
After serving more than 300 trucking companies, you start to see patterns.
Not in their freight. Not in their lanes.
But in the way they lead, operate, and treat their drivers.
In this episode, I share the biggest lessons I’ve learned watching fleets grow, stall, struggle, and succeed — the real habits that separate the companies who build momentum from the ones who stay stuck in survival mode.
We dig into:
- Why the strongest fleets know exactly who they are — and who they’re not
- The single most important factor in driver retention (it’s not pay)
- How forward-thinking companies avoid constant crisis mode
- Why a clean, simple back office creates a calmer, more profitable operation
- The numbers successful fleets always know
- And why payroll is a non-negotiable trust builder, not just a task
You’ll also hear our Question of the Week:
Instead of a question, we offer our sincere thanks to everyone giving up their Thanksgiving holiday to keep the trucks moving.
If you’ve ever wondered what really makes a trucking company succeed — beyond freight rates, fuel prices, or luck — this episode shines a light on the habits that matter most.