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00:00:01
S3-112: Todd Dickerson, President of Top Dog Services
732 Plays26 days ago
The guys sit down with another giant in the snow game, Todd Dickerson, to hear all about how Top Dog started in the mid 1990's and how they became the giant in snow that they are today!
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Transcript
Introduction and Weather Discussion
00:00:39
The SnowJobs Podcast
Here we go, Snow Jobs Nation, back again, bringing you episode 112 of the Snow Jobs Podcast, main show powered by Top Gun Backblaze. As always, I'm Steve.
00:00:51
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's right. You know who's always with me. Couldn't do it without him. My main man, co-host, Snow Pimp, Chuck Norris of Snow, Rick James of Snow. He's got a lot of names. All right. You know who he is.
00:01:09
The SnowJobs Podcast
Jeremy Lindstrom's in the house with me. What's up, Jay?
00:01:12
RICK JAMES
Hey, Steve-O. Not a lot. pretty Pretty uneventful here. How about you?
00:01:16
The SnowJobs Podcast
ah Just ah embracing spring, unfortunately. It's ah like 55 degrees.
00:01:21
RICK JAMES
You got spring? That's time.
00:01:23
The SnowJobs Podcast
little windy, but it sucks.
00:01:25
RICK JAMES
It's time. now we're they're talking well we We got skunked last weekend. were supposed to get snow.
00:01:30
The SnowJobs Podcast
I'm shocked.
00:01:30
RICK JAMES
It was guaranteed snow. then we
00:01:32
The SnowJobs Podcast
It was a lock.
00:01:33
RICK JAMES
they got It was a lock.
00:01:35
RICK JAMES
They had people in place. so and Everything was locked and loaded. but yeah we got But hey, they're talking Sunday this week. we're supposed to well It'll be the day went after before this thing airs.
00:01:35
The SnowJobs Podcast
It was a lock.
00:01:46
RICK JAMES
They're talking one to two here again. doctor.
00:01:49
The SnowJobs Podcast
Who's talking?
00:01:52
RICK JAMES
The doctor.
00:01:53
The SnowJobs Podcast
the The weathermen?
00:01:53
RICK JAMES
doctor Yeah, yeah.
00:01:56
The SnowJobs Podcast
You know, that they don't like being called that.
00:01:56
RICK JAMES
Yeah, so.
00:02:04
The SnowJobs Podcast
Never gets old. Never gets old.
00:02:05
RICK JAMES
so Nah, nah.
00:02:07
The SnowJobs Podcast
Oh, shit.
00:02:08
RICK JAMES
So yeah, there's third docking something this weekend.
00:02:09
The SnowJobs Podcast
So it petered out?
00:02:10
RICK JAMES
Well, it's still saying one, almost two inches, but i don't know. Whatever. It is what it is. If it comes, it comes.
00:02:17
The SnowJobs Podcast
Dude, I'm calling time of death.
00:02:18
RICK JAMES
If it doesn't, yeah.
00:02:19
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah, I'm calling time of death. did ah Did Minnesota get that blast they were supposed to?
00:02:21
RICK JAMES
i don't know. We'll push it.
00:02:25
RICK JAMES
No, not not where not where they said it wasn't going to hit. was Didn't even hit the cities, didn't hit Mitchell, didn't hit Mankato.
00:02:29
The SnowJobs Podcast
Shocking.
00:02:32
RICK JAMES
Yeah, we didn't.
00:02:33
The SnowJobs Podcast
Where did it hit? Did it hit anywhere?
00:02:34
RICK JAMES
I was gloves was south of there. Yeah, south of there. I was gonna go i was going down there, too, on Wednesday. I had it all planned out. were leaving, me and the Bullitt were going to bring the Razorback down there and plow, but.
00:02:45
RICK JAMES
That didn't hit, got skunked twice in five days where guaranteed snow. So I don't know. It is what it is.
00:02:51
The SnowJobs Podcast
I'm shocked.
00:02:52
RICK JAMES
i did get the push last weekend though. I did get the push. I pushed topsoil dirt.
00:02:57
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah, you said that. That's that's interesting.
00:02:58
RICK JAMES
Yeah. they
00:02:59
The SnowJobs Podcast
Artics will push topsoil.
00:03:00
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:03:01
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's awesome.
00:03:01
RICK JAMES
yeah Yeah, a parking lot blue next to a field blew completely.
00:03:02
The SnowJobs Podcast
Good to know.
00:03:05
RICK JAMES
It was like 60 mile an hour winds here. And it blew in topsoil.
00:03:08
The SnowJobs Podcast
No.
00:03:10
RICK JAMES
Yeah, it was a little windy here for a change. never really is. But yeah, but ah yeah first time we had the wind. But yeah, yeah. So I got to push some topsoil. So I should bagged it up and sold it.
00:03:20
The SnowJobs Podcast
Let me ask you a question. Would the LaRue blow it?
00:03:24
RICK JAMES
No, I don't know.
00:03:25
The SnowJobs Podcast
No, wouldn't blow it.
00:03:25
RICK JAMES
Maybe wasn't that thick.
00:03:26
The SnowJobs Podcast
It'll blow mulch.
00:03:28
RICK JAMES
I'm not going to.
00:03:29
The SnowJobs Podcast
I've ran mulch through a blower before.
00:03:30
RICK JAMES
I don't know.
00:03:31
The SnowJobs Podcast
It'll blow mulch.
00:03:33
RICK JAMES
yeah
00:03:33
The SnowJobs Podcast
I wouldn't recommend it, but it'll do it.
00:03:35
RICK JAMES
um
00:03:37
The SnowJobs Podcast
I wonder.
00:03:37
RICK JAMES
Yeah. I'm sure it would if was, i don't know.
00:03:38
The SnowJobs Podcast
I mean, why not? You test it out. Take a half million dollar blower and see if it'll blow something.
00:03:42
RICK JAMES
I wanted to broom it, but they didn't want to broom it.
00:03:43
The SnowJobs Podcast
It's not supposed to. I know you said that. That's crazy, man.
00:03:47
RICK JAMES
I was going to broom it off, but they they
00:03:48
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's a
00:03:52
RICK JAMES
they said no to broom and they just wanted to push, so whatever. I'll do what they say. Okay.
00:03:55
The SnowJobs Podcast
So what's your gut? Is Fargo done for snow?
00:04:00
RICK JAMES
I don't know.
00:04:00
The SnowJobs Podcast
Is it over?
00:04:00
RICK JAMES
I think we'll get a little... I don't know. They're saying something, like I said, Sunday, and then they're talking for something next weekend, too, already. So, who freaking knows?
00:04:09
The SnowJobs Podcast
and
00:04:09
RICK JAMES
You know, when you think it's done, it's never done here. and You always get that last one when you don't want it. so
00:04:13
The SnowJobs Podcast
That is true. That is true. when you It's hard to get butts in seats because all the farmers are farming, right?
00:04:16
RICK JAMES
But we're always ready.
00:04:20
RICK JAMES
Yeah, we're always ready. yeah yeah Ben just snapped today. is Some guy 30 miles from here is out working a field. don't know what he's doing that for, but...
00:04:29
The SnowJobs Podcast
Oh, well, got to do something, I guess.
00:04:30
RICK JAMES
really Apparently he wants it to blow. so i don't know and why you open a field up this early. but
00:04:37
The SnowJobs Podcast
We got a big one today, huh?
00:04:39
RICK JAMES
Yeah, we do.
Interview with Todd Dickerson: Company History
00:04:40
RICK JAMES
Definitely.
00:04:40
The SnowJobs Podcast
Another big fish coming on.
00:04:40
RICK JAMES
I'm waiting for this one.
00:04:42
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah.
00:04:43
RICK JAMES
Top dog.
00:04:44
The SnowJobs Podcast
This is it.
00:04:45
RICK JAMES
Todd Dickerson.
00:04:45
The SnowJobs Podcast
We do. We have Mr. Todd Dickerson of Top Dog Services. They're out of Olney, Maryland. they are If you don't know who Top Dog is, it's like saying you don't know who Arctic or East Coast facilities is. They are just as big. they are just They've been around forever since the mid-90s.
00:05:00
The SnowJobs Podcast
They started up. um If you've flown in in in or out of an airport anywhere there's somewhat a chance of snow, you've probably seen their stuff on airports. They're everywhere. I know I've seen them a bunch of times. So,
00:05:13
The SnowJobs Podcast
It's a different kind of episode because Todd does airports and secure government facilities. So that's pretty cool.
00:05:18
RICK JAMES
Yeah, it's really cool.
00:05:19
The SnowJobs Podcast
Talk to them about that.
00:05:20
RICK JAMES
We haven't had that before.
00:05:21
The SnowJobs Podcast
No, no.
00:05:22
RICK JAMES
So.
00:05:22
The SnowJobs Podcast
First time. So 112 episodes. This is a first timer for us. This is awesome. We're looking forward to talking to Todd here and what top dog is all about, how they got started and how they've withstood the test of time with this business.
00:05:34
The SnowJobs Podcast
Cause this is a, you know, you have up and down winners all the time and, You know, like ah like Jordan says with the enduring building and enduring snow business, you know, he must have some ah he must have some tips for us. So we're looking forward to talking to Todd.
00:05:47
The SnowJobs Podcast
But before we get to Todd, all right, let's hear from ah Team Top Gun as always and do a quick week of review. We'll be right back.
00:06:26
The SnowJobs Podcast
All right, guys, we're back. So very quick week in review. wonder if ah i hope people took advantage of that Top Gun sale that was going on last week. got a yeah Got to get $1,000 off a blade.
00:06:37
The SnowJobs Podcast
Get $500 in plow right or those. I, again, forgot the name of those light-up ah plow markers.
00:06:45
RICK JAMES
I know. i eat health
00:06:45
The SnowJobs Podcast
Something Industries. forget. I forget.
00:06:47
RICK JAMES
ah there's there's a there's a There's a few companies that sell them now. but Yeah, there they're they're cool.
00:06:52
The SnowJobs Podcast
yeah
00:06:53
Todd Dickerson
Thank you.
00:06:54
RICK JAMES
I had them on our blowers until they got ripped off. so there there
00:06:57
The SnowJobs Podcast
No.
00:06:59
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:06:59
The SnowJobs Podcast
the Damage? I don't know what happened.
00:07:01
RICK JAMES
no it's just nonsense
00:07:02
The SnowJobs Podcast
don't know what happened.
00:07:02
RICK JAMES
No, no i do know what happened.
00:07:03
The SnowJobs Podcast
It just fell off.
00:07:05
RICK JAMES
no it is You're going in hard piles, it just rips them off. you know They're on the edges.
00:07:09
The SnowJobs Podcast
I'm sure.
00:07:09
RICK JAMES
so yeah It was snow falling on them.
00:07:10
The SnowJobs Podcast
I'm sure. Well, hopefully people took advantage of the backblades sale there. $1,000 off. Nice. ah Because I think it expired when?
00:07:18
RICK JAMES
yep yep
00:07:21
The SnowJobs Podcast
tomorrow Today, actually, it's over. So hopefully you took advantage of it. The guys that used backblades, that was a good deal. What do we got? We can review. Same stuff is on the map for April, guys. So we have the 24th in Pennsylvania is the Influential Encounters Women in Snow group meeting.
00:07:40
The SnowJobs Podcast
All right, that's in conjunction with Stork Snow Alliance. ah You can find all the information about that meeting if you're a woman in snow and you're and interested in that meeting. Influentialencounters.com is the place to go for the info.
00:07:52
The SnowJobs Podcast
ah The 25th is the welcome party for Stork Snow Alliance. That's hosted by Case Construction Equipment. It's the evening of the 25th. And then 26th is the big one.
00:08:04
The SnowJobs Podcast
That is Stork Snow Alliance Day in Pennsylvania. ah Leesport, that's going to be a great day again. We will be there. ah We will be doing a live show from there, just like we did last year, and ah having a good time. Haven't heard any of the other details yet. Don't know who's on the panel or anything, but should be a great day, right?
00:08:23
RICK JAMES
Yeah, definitely be a fun time. Oh, they're doing a panel again. Okay.
00:08:27
The SnowJobs Podcast
I think so. think kind of.
00:08:30
The SnowJobs Podcast
They'll probably have you on there again. You were the best one.
00:08:32
RICK JAMES
Yeah, I am. I'm honest.
00:08:35
The SnowJobs Podcast
I thought so.
00:08:36
RICK JAMES
I'm not saying nobody else is honest, but I just did.
00:08:36
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's it. You just lay it out there.
00:08:39
RICK JAMES
I didn't care. I don't have anything. I don't have anything to hide. Let's let it rip.
00:08:42
The SnowJobs Podcast
There you go. That's the best way to be, dude. That's the best way to be.
00:08:44
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:08:45
The SnowJobs Podcast
But yeah, snowjobsnationstore.com. The store is open and stocked. Actually, it's not. we What are we out of right now? We're out of Carhartt's.
00:08:55
RICK JAMES
Just a couple of cards. I ordered them a day, so they'll be back in.
00:08:57
The SnowJobs Podcast
Reorder.
00:08:57
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:08:57
The SnowJobs Podcast
Reorder is in. ah Backpack order is in for the Snow Jobs Nation. Backpacks, the Oakley backpacks that people were asking for, that order is in. Should be restocked within a week or so.
00:09:08
The SnowJobs Podcast
Like and subscribe. Continue doing that, guys. Whatever platform you're listening to us on, listener score keeps going up, up, up, and we love we love seeing that. Makes it worth doing this, all right? So keep doing that for us. We'll keep bringing it for you.
00:09:22
The SnowJobs Podcast
um Got anything else, Jay?
00:09:24
RICK JAMES
I don't think so. I'm ready to get this one going.
00:09:25
The SnowJobs Podcast
right, cool. Yeah. Let's not waste any more time. Let's just get into it. So we're going to get our 30-second commercial break here. All right. We're going to hear from our great partners, and we will be right back, and we'll get into with Todd.
00:10:41
The SnowJobs Podcast
All right, guys, we are but back. So we're going to do this. let Let's welcome one of the legends, one of the faces on the snow Mount Rushmore.
00:10:53
The SnowJobs Podcast
Mr. Todd Dickerson of Top Dog Services. Todd, welcome to the snow jobs.
00:10:58
Todd Dickerson
What's up gentlemen, how y'all doing?
00:10:58
RICK JAMES
It done.
00:10:59
Todd Dickerson
Thank you for having me.
00:11:01
The SnowJobs Podcast
How are you?
00:11:02
RICK JAMES
Doing really good.
00:11:03
Todd Dickerson
Doing well. Hopefully spring is upon us and we can start cleaning some stuff up and getting ready for a a fun summer.
00:11:12
The SnowJobs Podcast
Absolutely. I think it's here.
00:11:13
RICK JAMES
Nice.
00:11:14
The SnowJobs Podcast
I definitely think it's here for most of us anyway.
00:11:17
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:11:17
Todd Dickerson
Yeah, um I keep hearing all these little rumblings like our friend here says, but I don't believe it.
00:11:18
RICK JAMES
Hopefully.
00:11:24
Todd Dickerson
So we'll see.
00:11:26
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah, I mean, they're never wrong, though, right?
00:11:26
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:11:28
The SnowJobs Podcast
The weathermen are never wrong.
00:11:30
RICK JAMES
He's got his own weather, man.
00:11:30
The SnowJobs Podcast
Ha ha ha ha
00:11:31
Todd Dickerson
i can't I can't say that. I might get in trouble. So i'll
00:11:36
The SnowJobs Podcast
ah
00:11:37
Todd Dickerson
oh I'll just say 30% rule is what I
Insights into the Snow Removal Business
00:11:40
Todd Dickerson
try to live by. If they're right 30% of the time, but know yeah.
00:11:43
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's a win.
00:11:45
Todd Dickerson
So, yeah.
00:11:46
The SnowJobs Podcast
I like it.
00:11:47
RICK JAMES
God, standards are... I like those standards. 30%.
00:11:51
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's pretty good.
00:11:52
Todd Dickerson
I mean, not us are with 30% right, but you know they seem to do just fine being 30% right.
00:11:52
RICK JAMES
like I can do well on that.
00:11:52
The SnowJobs Podcast
I got to go to Meteorod.
00:11:54
The SnowJobs Podcast
I got to go to Meteorod.
00:11:55
RICK JAMES
I can do well on that.
00:12:01
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's it. I got to go to Weatherman School.
00:12:02
RICK JAMES
Right? Yeah.
00:12:04
The SnowJobs Podcast
Weatherman School for me.
00:12:04
RICK JAMES
Yeah. 30%.
00:12:05
The SnowJobs Podcast
No more snow.
00:12:05
Todd Dickerson
No question.
00:12:06
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:12:07
The SnowJobs Podcast
ah Jay, you want to take us away?
00:12:07
RICK JAMES
yeah
00:12:09
RICK JAMES
Let's do it. Hey, Todd, let's ah tell everybody about your company and when you got started and what you're all about. If you want just kind of go into that, be great.
00:12:16
Todd Dickerson
Yeah, so again, thank you guys for having me. it's ah I've been watching this for a while and laughing, and you know we've talked on the side some of this stuff, so it's pretty funny. So I know you guys are going to hear some repeat stories, but we'll live them again so everybody else can laugh at me and laugh at us and all that good stuff. So ah we started the company in 1996, literally with one pickup truck.
00:12:42
Todd Dickerson
ah I took a $5,000 credit card that I had just got in the mail. All we kept hearing is we're going to get, you know, monster blizzard, monster blizzard. And I had a 3,500 GMC and I drove to Pennsylvania, picked up a Meyer blade for exactly $5,000 that I negotiated, took it back to my parents' garage.
00:13:03
The SnowJobs Podcast
Thank
00:13:04
Todd Dickerson
And thanks to the lovely craftsman tool set that we all had back in the day.
00:13:10
RICK JAMES
Yep. Yep.
00:13:11
Todd Dickerson
Um, you know, me and the old man who was my mentor and hero, we, we, you know, figured it out, drank some beers and, and somehow or another got it slapped on the truck and then took it up to a buddy of mine who, uh, Jonathan Ripien, who owns a Ripien equipment here, who's pretty big dealer for, for us and a big Fisher dealer here now and salt dog and all the, all the big guys.
00:13:11
RICK JAMES
yeah
00:13:35
Todd Dickerson
Um, yeah, He hit it all with the air tools and was like, thank God you didn't even put this thing on the ground or to run over it. And I was like, yeah, well, you know, we had fun doing it. So that that's kind of how it all started. I mean, back in the day when when my brother and I, who's you know still my partner, I mean, when we were kids, I'm seriously going back to probably...
00:13:58
Todd Dickerson
I don't know, nine, 10 years old, right? We'd run the neighborhood and shovel sidewalks and all that kind of stuff. And, you know, you guys are probably too young for this, but we used to take the money and all we wanted to do was go buy new Intellivision arcade games for our Intellivision, right?
00:14:14
Todd Dickerson
Which was even before Atari and all that. so you know, I mean, yeah.
00:14:18
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yep. I was Atari, so I came in on Atari.
00:14:21
Todd Dickerson
Yeah. So, you know, I mean, if if we made $40 in the whole day, on you know, shoveling snow, we were like, mom, dad, let's go to Toys R Us. You know, we got to get the new, you know, football game or baseball or whatever it was at that time. I mean, that's that's what we, and then we really stepped up and got a ah Craftsman snowblower. And, you know, we built some trailer to put on the back of one of our bikes.
00:14:46
Todd Dickerson
and And literally, still did it. We towed that thing around, and and, I mean, we thought we were the the biggest and the best, right? I was like, look out, Chris Rupert. I'm coming after you, you know?
00:14:56
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's awesome.
00:14:57
Todd Dickerson
And, you know, so, I mean, that's kind of how it all started, um you know?
00:14:57
RICK JAMES
Yep.
00:14:57
The SnowJobs Podcast
100%.
00:15:02
Todd Dickerson
And we just always had fun in it. So I guess you're either born with this or you're not, in my opinion. It's not something...
00:15:10
RICK JAMES
Yep.
00:15:10
The SnowJobs Podcast
hundred percent
00:15:11
Todd Dickerson
You know, you can't just jump into this business. I get phone calls all the time of, man, I want to do what you do and do this. And I'm like, first of all, why? um Second of all, ah back in the day when I used to get that phone call, I was like, look, you want to get rich quick, build a massive sidewall company.
00:15:22
RICK JAMES
Are you crazy?
00:15:31
Todd Dickerson
that you just handle the sidewalks, let us handle the blacktop. You're going to make millions because I don't want to babysit that stuff. And everybody looked at me like I was an idiot.
00:15:39
RICK JAMES
Yep. yep
00:15:41
Todd Dickerson
And I'm like, I'm telling you, I can get you with Brickman. Back in the day, it was Brickman. I can get you with Brickman. I can get you with Rupert. I know all those guys. They're right here in Maryland. Like, I mean, Chris Rupert went to the same high school that I went to. So, you know, I know the Rupert family very well.
00:15:59
Todd Dickerson
I know, you know, the Brickman family well, and like one phone call, I could have had them set up, but nobody took that advice. And I was like, you know, it, that's everybody's pain point in this business is the sidewalk side and the handwork.
00:16:13
Todd Dickerson
So, you know, that's,
00:16:15
RICK JAMES
Oh,
00:16:15
The SnowJobs Podcast
You're my new best friend, Todd. You're my new best friend because I actually, Jeremy, do you remember we did that? We did an episode on starting out in snow building, starting and building a snow company.
00:16:23
RICK JAMES
ah yeah.
00:16:25
The SnowJobs Podcast
And I actually said exactly those two things is don't get into it unless you love it because you're not going to be good at it if you don't love it.
00:16:27
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:16:31
The SnowJobs Podcast
And I said, little expenditure is possible.
00:16:33
RICK JAMES
Spiderman.
00:16:33
The SnowJobs Podcast
Start with sidewalks. You will be, people will be lining up to get you to work for them.
00:16:35
RICK JAMES
Yep.
00:16:38
Todd Dickerson
No question.
00:16:38
The SnowJobs Podcast
That is awesome.
00:16:39
RICK JAMES
Yep.
00:16:39
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's great.
00:16:40
Todd Dickerson
And honestly, seriously, i mean, who wouldn't pay whatever they wanted, right?
00:16:40
The SnowJobs Podcast
but that's great
00:16:45
Todd Dickerson
Because if it's done right and you you deliver, money's not the issue, right?
00:16:49
RICK JAMES
Mm-hmm.
00:16:51
Todd Dickerson
The issue is who wants to sit out there and babysit those guys?
00:16:51
The SnowJobs Podcast
Absolutely.
00:16:55
Todd Dickerson
Like, not me.
00:16:56
Todd Dickerson
You know, I want to get on to the next project.
00:16:56
RICK JAMES
Right.
00:16:57
RICK JAMES
Mm-mm.
00:16:58
Todd Dickerson
I mean, even still today... Once the snowstorm starts at one of our airports or facilities right away, my guys are like, all right, so what are you working on now trying to get us a travel gig?
00:17:10
Todd Dickerson
Because that's kind of the the phase that we're in now, you know, and it's funny because, you know, I see other companies doing that now. And like, I've been doing that for, years.
00:17:21
Todd Dickerson
15 years, right? I mean, from, you know, chasing Nemo up in Hartford, Connecticut, you know way back.
00:17:23
RICK JAMES
Mm-hmm.
00:17:28
RICK JAMES
okay
00:17:28
Todd Dickerson
I mean, that was, that was the first storm that I ever took one of our runway blowers to.
00:17:29
The SnowJobs Podcast
Mm-hmm.
00:17:34
Todd Dickerson
And you would have thought I was Moses parting to see what those people did. I mean, It's funny. we we So we show up in Hartford. It was just below Hartford. I can't remember the name of the town. I apologize. but So we show up, and and I'm telling you, they had 58 inches of snow on the ground, and they had like –
00:17:53
RICK JAMES
Wow.
00:17:56
Todd Dickerson
Tonka toy, I mean, little tiny like matchbox plow trucks. And I'm like, what the hell are these people going to do with, and they had nothing.
00:18:02
RICK JAMES
Mm-hmm.
00:18:04
Todd Dickerson
So I was shocked you in Connecticut where these guys don't have, you know, the kind of stuff that we, so we took, I had one and, excuse me, a ah ah good friend and coworker of mine who we kind of team up on some of this travel stuff.
00:18:04
The SnowJobs Podcast
Mm-hmm.
00:18:04
RICK JAMES
Okay.
00:18:21
Todd Dickerson
Jeremy Duffy from Consolidated Services. He had a blower, which I... helped him acquire. And we kind of went up there as a team and like, it was like nothing I've ever seen. I mean, it was, we, we got the only hotel that was open right in front was an Outback Steakhouse. So they kept it open.
00:18:41
Todd Dickerson
And we walked in there after, after the first night and literally the restaurant erupted, but all of our guys dinner, nobody paid for anything. And I mean, all our guys are looking at us and we're just some rednecks out of Maryland, right. That are like,
00:18:56
Todd Dickerson
doing this because we love it. And like, I'm telling you, we we could have run for president that day and and they would have voted for us.
00:18:58
RICK JAMES
yeah
00:19:04
The SnowJobs Podcast
ah Never hurts to rescue an Outback.
00:19:05
RICK JAMES
That's awesome.
00:19:07
Todd Dickerson
yeah Absolutely.
00:19:07
RICK JAMES
That's all
00:19:09
Todd Dickerson
A hot, blooming onion in the middle of a blizzard?
00:19:11
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's it.
00:19:11
Todd Dickerson
Come on now. I mean, we're not, we're not, john let's all admit it.
00:19:13
RICK JAMES
good. Yeah.
00:19:15
Todd Dickerson
i mean, we're, you know, we're not, we're not, the we're not wearing skinny jeans to work. I can tell you that.
00:19:20
The SnowJobs Podcast
No, definitely not.
00:19:21
Todd Dickerson
da
00:19:24
RICK JAMES
ah
00:19:25
The SnowJobs Podcast
Oh my gosh. So you guys started, when did you, when did you really take off like to what you're doing now?
00:19:26
RICK JAMES
and
00:19:32
The SnowJobs Podcast
Was it a, was it a gradual progression over a number of years or did you just like say, Hey, we're going to go after what we do now and, and take a leap?
00:19:33
RICK JAMES
Thank
00:19:39
Todd Dickerson
No. So we start, I mean, ah look, I still do my first contract that I ever signed. We still do today. um It's a bowl America.
00:19:50
Todd Dickerson
It's a single store. And the lady gave me a shot and we still do her today. um You know, i haven't changed
Growth and Customer Care during COVID
00:20:00
Todd Dickerson
pricing on her since 1996.
00:20:02
Todd Dickerson
I think she's still paying, you know, $150 for a ton of salt.
00:20:03
RICK JAMES
wow
00:20:07
Todd Dickerson
I mean, it's like ridiculous, right? But she stood by me the whole time and gave me the opportunity. So, you know, my brother and I feel that and it's the right thing to do. For an example, you know, during COVID, I mean, they had no business.
00:20:20
Todd Dickerson
Nobody was doing anything in the D.C. area during COVID.
00:20:23
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah. I
00:20:24
Todd Dickerson
we didn't charge her a dime the entire time. We were like, we got you. Hopefully you'll get some business because people don't want to be stuck in, you know, in a snowstorm in the house. And, you know, i mean, we didn't send her a bill during the entire time of COVID.
00:20:38
Todd Dickerson
And, you know, again, it kind of gets back to,
00:20:39
The SnowJobs Podcast
i love that
00:20:39
RICK JAMES
Wow. All
00:20:42
Todd Dickerson
you know, yeah, we're in this to make money, don't get me wrong, but we're also in this to do the right thing and treat people the right way. um
00:20:49
RICK JAMES
right.
00:20:49
Todd Dickerson
You know, there's plenty of times where I tell my guys, hey, if you see, you know, a car stuck, everybody's got toe straps in their trucks or whatever, pull over and help, you know, especially if it's a family, you know, mom with kids coming from the grocery store or whatever, help them out, like, you know, do the right thing.
00:20:49
RICK JAMES
All right.
00:21:07
RICK JAMES
Yep.
00:21:07
The SnowJobs Podcast
Absolutely.
00:21:07
Todd Dickerson
So,
00:21:09
The SnowJobs Podcast
Never hurts to do the right thing.
00:21:10
RICK JAMES
So how many how many states are you covering, Todd?
00:21:11
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's awesome.
00:21:12
Todd Dickerson
Yeah. um
00:21:21
RICK JAMES
Okay.
00:21:21
Todd Dickerson
You're tripping me up here. One, two. um I don't know. ah Honestly, I'm going to say so seven or eight, maybe nine.
00:21:30
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah. Less than 50.
00:21:30
RICK JAMES
Gotcha.
00:21:31
Todd Dickerson
yeah
00:21:31
RICK JAMES
yeah but
00:21:34
Todd Dickerson
how How are we counting game three? Because nobody ever knows how to count.
00:21:36
RICK JAMES
Less than 51.
00:21:38
Todd Dickerson
Yeah, yeah.
00:21:40
The SnowJobs Podcast
Oh, man.
00:21:40
Todd Dickerson
we're not We actually are not covering the Gulf of America yet.
00:21:41
RICK JAMES
ah ah There you go.
00:21:44
Todd Dickerson
um
00:21:44
The SnowJobs Podcast
Okay.
00:21:45
Todd Dickerson
We're working on that. We're working on that.
00:21:49
RICK JAMES
You'll get her. if You'll get her.
00:21:51
Todd Dickerson
Eventually.
00:21:52
The SnowJobs Podcast
So what is Top Dog now? Like, what are you guys, your bread and butter? Tell us about Top Dog, you know, now in 2024, 25. Sure. No problem.
00:22:00
Todd Dickerson
Yeah, so our our big thing is, well, let me kind of backtrack a little bit because I kind of made a little question.
00:22:06
The SnowJobs Podcast
sure
00:22:07
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:22:07
The SnowJobs Podcast
no problem
00:22:08
Todd Dickerson
I think it's important. So, i again, I started with that one truck and immediately, you know, had a great storm right out of the gate, went and got, you know, another truck, right?
00:22:20
Todd Dickerson
You know, my brother was in the in the Marines at the time and had just gotten out of the Marines and was trying and to become a police officer. So got him a truck. So now all of a sudden we're up to three trucks. And man, we think we're taking on the world, right?
00:22:34
Todd Dickerson
So he gets into the police academy. i get a call in, believe it was 1999. It was um At 3.30 in the morning, no joke, I will never forget that. My phone rings and I'm like, who is this?
00:22:51
Todd Dickerson
And it was a lady from Dulles Airport. She had the contract and she's like, I hear you have a bunch of trucks. And I'm like, um you call three trucks, a bunch of trucks? Sure, I guess I have a bunch of trucks.
00:23:05
Todd Dickerson
though She goes, I really need your help at Dulles airport. And i'm like, what are you talking like? It totally caught me off guard. So I'm like, I'll tell you what, I'll, I'll come down with one of my truck and I'll bring another truck.
00:23:15
Todd Dickerson
Let me see what this is all about. So I pull in and I'm going to paint a picture for you guys that I guarantee you, both of you are going to be able to immediately visualize in your head. I pull into where I'm meeting this, this s lady and She gets out of a F-350 stake body with a Meyer plow. And guess what? It's got to come along on the front, holding the plow up.
00:23:37
Todd Dickerson
No plow.
00:23:37
The SnowJobs Podcast
No, cheers.
00:23:38
Todd Dickerson
He's got a pile of sand in the back with a snow shovel. And I'm like, what is going on here? And she's like, well, I have the contract here. And dotda long story short, she had the contract, had nothing, just got the contract and,
00:23:48
RICK JAMES
Oh, boy.
00:23:55
Todd Dickerson
She's like, I need all the help you can get me. So I had other relationships just from, you know, relationships that I've had for years. So I make couple phone calls. We immediately beef it up to nine trucks, you know, like three skids and ah and one rubber tire loader. Right.
00:24:10
Todd Dickerson
So. It goes good for two years. And then on year three, we have another big storm. And we were there for probably like five, six, seven days. And, you know, we start sending bills.
00:24:24
Todd Dickerson
We're not getting paid. and all of a sudden it's like, wait a minute, we got we got serious dollars here that are, she she vanishes. So I go to the airport and I'm like, hey, you know, there's no payment bond on this thing.
00:24:34
RICK JAMES
Oh boy.
00:24:38
Todd Dickerson
You know, long story short, we ended up negotiating. And I bid the contract and cause they had obviously canceled the on her because she was MIA.
00:24:50
Todd Dickerson
And, uh, so we've been in that, we've been in Dulles airport since then. So, know, we're talking, i think this is our 24th year there, 20, 25th year. so, twenty fifth year
00:25:00
RICK JAMES
Wow.
00:25:01
Todd Dickerson
ah
00:25:01
The SnowJobs Podcast
Wow.
00:25:01
RICK JAMES
Good for you guys.
00:25:02
Todd Dickerson
no You know, and now, I mean, we've grown it to the point of where just land side, I think we have up to 175 pieces on a full call out.
00:25:14
Todd Dickerson
um You know, and that's from the toll road to the expressway, all the all the brining. um i think this year we've shot...
00:25:26
Todd Dickerson
Almost a half million gallons of of brine that we make ourselves. um You know, just at Dulles Airport. um
00:25:34
RICK JAMES
Wow.
00:25:35
Todd Dickerson
We've taken in a bunch of the three letter buildings and I'm not allowed to talk about but numerous locations here. um We have the Pentagon. um We got that, I think, two or three years ago.
00:25:46
Todd Dickerson
um
00:25:47
Todd Dickerson
And that's that's started small. And now all of a sudden that's almost doubled. So, you know, it we like to feel and I think our track record shows once we get in.
00:25:47
RICK JAMES
Awesome.
00:25:55
RICK JAMES
It's impressive.
00:25:59
Todd Dickerson
you know I'm not a big contract guy. My brother and I want to exceed expectations at all times. like I always say when I go in for you know pre-bids or whatever, my job is to make it where the snow supervisors can sit and watch the storm from their desks with their feet up in a cigar and watch it on the computer monitor.
00:26:19
Todd Dickerson
And that's how they should be able to to monitor our progress. So... You know, we we've been very fortunate with relationships and delivering what we say we're going to deliver. And that's kind of how we built our business.
00:26:34
The SnowJobs Podcast
Good for you.
00:26:34
RICK JAMES
That's good.
00:26:35
The SnowJobs Podcast
That sounds awesome.
00:26:35
Todd Dickerson
know
00:26:36
The SnowJobs Podcast
Now, the airports have, like you said, I think a land side and an air side.
00:26:40
Todd Dickerson
Correct. So, me try this.
00:26:41
The SnowJobs Podcast
that Is that two different contracts or is that usually one?
00:26:43
Todd Dickerson
Yeah. Yep. No, they're, they're, they're always multiple contracts and there's even multiple, like even at Dulles, there's, we don't do the common use gates.
00:26:45
The SnowJobs Podcast
It's two.
00:26:53
Todd Dickerson
um They like to keep multiple contractors because if one fails, they can immediately go to the other one and be like, you know, Hey, Hey, Johnny didn't show up.
00:26:58
The SnowJobs Podcast
Sure.
00:26:58
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:27:02
Todd Dickerson
And I'm, I'm just saying Johnny to use that term. Cause I don't want to name anybody. I'm sure you guys can think of some of the names, but I don't want to do that. Yeah.
00:27:11
The SnowJobs Podcast
Uh, yeah, we can.
00:27:12
Todd Dickerson
Johnny didn't fill up, so can you you know can we emergency contract? And that's why they have multiple vendors at most airports.
00:27:19
RICK JAMES
great.
00:27:20
Todd Dickerson
you know So I will say that you know I probably have, and when I say I, mean top dog, so please understand that. um
00:27:29
The SnowJobs Podcast
Mm-hmm.
00:27:29
Todd Dickerson
We probably have 85%, almost 90% Dallas.
00:27:29
RICK JAMES
Yep.
00:27:33
Todd Dickerson
um So, you know, Reagan the same way and, you know, most of our other airports were over 50% of of ah the property.
00:27:43
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's cool.
00:27:43
RICK JAMES
That's great.
00:27:44
Todd Dickerson
Yeah.
00:27:44
RICK JAMES
That's cool. I've never really talked to anybody does airports, so it's pretty sweet.
00:27:46
The SnowJobs Podcast
Would you? I know. Would you say you guys are more on the land side at the airports or the on the air side or split?
00:27:49
RICK JAMES
I got...
00:27:54
Todd Dickerson
ah No, I say we're more air side, you know, really.
00:27:56
The SnowJobs Podcast
Okay. That's cool.
00:27:59
Todd Dickerson
Yeah, it it's fun when you, so obviously we got to do a ah lot of screening for our operators.
00:28:06
The SnowJobs Podcast
Sure.
00:28:06
Todd Dickerson
We do a lot of training. I mean, we start training, you know, honestly, we'll get we'll get fired up in training here probably in June, you know, for guys that are already saying, hey, I want to do that next year.
00:28:18
Todd Dickerson
Everybody wants to work now because they, yeah.
00:28:20
RICK JAMES
I do. I do. Sign me up.
00:28:22
Todd Dickerson
Everybody wants to work.
00:28:24
RICK JAMES
Sign me up, Todd.
00:28:24
Todd Dickerson
Everybody wants to work. Yeah, everybody wants to work now because they they see the hours, right? But three years ago, nobody was around going, hey, I want to do that, right? But, know, I mean, that's just the nature of the beast.
00:28:33
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yep.
00:28:35
Todd Dickerson
Like I said, you know, you got to look at a 10-year average and see what happens. So, ah but...
00:28:41
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yes, sir.
00:28:42
Todd Dickerson
you know we wouldn't sort i mean we're going Next year is going to be our 29th year and coming on to 30 years of doing this. So I think we're doing okay. Obviously, we've had to make some pivots during the period, right?
00:28:52
RICK JAMES
Yeah. Yeah.
00:28:53
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah.
00:28:55
Todd Dickerson
But I think any any good business pivots. um you know I mean, COVID was a scary time for us. ah the The planes were empty and nobody was flying. So we got into that.
00:29:04
The SnowJobs Podcast
huh
00:29:05
RICK JAMES
Yep.
00:29:05
Todd Dickerson
And electrostatic spraying stuff that everybody was jumping onto. And, you know, I took over all the airport. but Basically, I took all our snow contracts and converted them into the COVID spraying.
00:29:16
Todd Dickerson
So, you know, you got you got to be able to pivot business and all the time.
00:29:19
The SnowJobs Podcast
Pivot. Yeah.
00:29:20
RICK JAMES
Okay.
00:29:21
Todd Dickerson
Right. Whether it's like we talked about, whether it's the 30 percent weatherman rule and pivot and figure out, you know, we were only supposed to get an inch and you get 31 because that happens here a lot on the East Coast.
00:29:33
Todd Dickerson
um Or, you know, hey, we're supposed to get 31 and we get none, you know. So, you know, I mean, if you can't pivot in this business, you're you're not to make it.
00:29:38
RICK JAMES
yep
00:29:43
The SnowJobs Podcast
You're out of business.
00:29:44
RICK JAMES
yeah yeah there is nothing goes nothing goes to but the book there is no book on it you know everything's
00:29:44
The SnowJobs Podcast
Absolutely.
00:29:44
Todd Dickerson
Yeah.
00:29:48
Todd Dickerson
yeah And look, you know, I'm a gambler by trade. And i think any snow guy is a gambler every day. um You know, I mean, whether we buy a new piece of equipment today on a gamble or whether we go to a casino and play blackjack, you're gambling every day in this business.
00:30:09
Todd Dickerson
You know, you know, I think if you qualify your customer, right, I know certain people want to stay in certain niches.
00:30:09
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yes, sir.
00:30:10
RICK JAMES
Oh, yeah.
00:30:17
Todd Dickerson
I'm the same way. I want to stay right in my niche. I mean, we have, I think right now we have seven air new airport bids going on, um or at least coming up that we know about.
00:30:28
Todd Dickerson
So do I want all seven? Absolutely not. But if I get, you know, one or two more, hey, that that's that's the jackpot, right? So yeah.
00:30:37
RICK JAMES
Mm-hmm.
00:30:37
The SnowJobs Podcast
Absolutely.
00:30:37
RICK JAMES
Great.
00:30:39
Todd Dickerson
Well,
00:30:40
RICK JAMES
us ah
00:30:41
The SnowJobs Podcast
Wow.
00:30:41
RICK JAMES
I love the name. I love the logo. Top dog. is That's just awesome.
00:30:45
Todd Dickerson
I mean, who wants who wants to be such a dog, right?
00:30:46
RICK JAMES
where Where'd that all come from?
00:30:46
The SnowJobs Podcast
Who wants to be bottom dog?
00:30:48
Todd Dickerson
Exactly.
00:30:48
RICK JAMES
Yeah, no, I know, but it's just, it's just, it's just, it's just, it's a strong name and it's, it's, you got a cool mascot and it's just love it.
00:30:53
The SnowJobs Podcast
I love it. Absolutely. Can't go wrong with a bulldog.
00:30:56
RICK JAMES
So no.
00:30:57
The SnowJobs Podcast
Absolutely.
00:30:57
Todd Dickerson
There you go. Well, that's from my brother being a Marine, obviously, you know, devil dog and all that stuff.
00:30:59
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's awesome.
00:31:03
RICK JAMES
Yep.
00:31:04
The SnowJobs Podcast
I love that.
00:31:05
Todd Dickerson
Yeah, absolutely.
00:31:05
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's great.
00:31:06
RICK JAMES
Yep.
00:31:06
Todd Dickerson
And, you know, we're big. We're obviously a service disabled vet company. So, you know, we'd love to help those guys out any way we can, whether it's, you know, charity stuff at like Patriot Point or stuff like that down at their facility.
00:31:20
Todd Dickerson
Or, you know, even we got a bunch of those guys that work for us, right? Like, well, oh they love it.
00:31:24
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's phenomenal.
00:31:25
RICK JAMES
Oh, yeah.
00:31:26
The SnowJobs Podcast
Good for you.
00:31:27
Todd Dickerson
Yeah.
00:31:27
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's great.
00:31:28
Todd Dickerson
Yeah.
00:31:29
The SnowJobs Podcast
And your brother's still involved with the business, you said? He's still with you?
00:31:32
Todd Dickerson
Yep, absolutely. Retired from the police department, you know, before all the ah the junk started happening a few years ago.
00:31:33
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's awesome.
00:31:38
The SnowJobs Podcast
Oh, yeah.
00:31:39
Todd Dickerson
Got him out of there and said, hey, man, look look let's roll.
00:31:39
RICK JAMES
yeah
00:31:41
Todd Dickerson
And he's like, let's do it. So he's got my back.
00:31:44
RICK JAMES
That's great.
00:31:45
Todd Dickerson
I got his back. And, you know, it's a family business. Our mother, i mean, our mom's 74 years old. She still runs our office. She's got, you know, a couple girls.
00:31:54
RICK JAMES
ah Awesome.
00:31:55
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's awesome.
00:31:56
Todd Dickerson
Yeah. So, like, it's 100%.
00:31:58
Todd Dickerson
ah hundred
00:31:58
The SnowJobs Podcast
You still answer the mom.
00:32:00
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's great. I love it.
00:32:01
RICK JAMES
Oh,
00:32:03
Todd Dickerson
Thankfully, I guess we can kind of cuss a little bit on this. You know, my mom tells me once a month, she's like, hey, you might be the top dog, but I'm the top bitch.
00:32:07
The SnowJobs Podcast
Absolutely.
00:32:07
RICK JAMES
yeah.
00:32:11
Todd Dickerson
Don't ever forget that.
00:32:13
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:32:14
The SnowJobs Podcast
I love we should get his mom on the show.
00:32:15
RICK JAMES
ah done yeah Oh, yeah.
00:32:16
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's awesome.
00:32:16
Todd Dickerson
Oh, you probably should.
00:32:19
Todd Dickerson
You'll probably tell better stories than I will, I'm sure.
00:32:19
RICK JAMES
She'll tell us the stories.
00:32:19
The SnowJobs Podcast
that's awesome
00:32:23
RICK JAMES
ah
00:32:24
The SnowJobs Podcast
uh i mean we love hearing in that to we love the family businesses it's it's great so we're all about that it's it's phenomenal and thank your brother for his service for us for both the marines and the ah pd that's awesome man so what do you want to hear more about jay we got all sorts of stuff to talk to todd about what do what's on your mind bro
00:32:25
RICK JAMES
Oh.
00:32:36
Todd Dickerson
Absolutely.
00:32:36
RICK JAMES
Yep.
00:32:37
Todd Dickerson
Absolutely.
00:32:44
RICK JAMES
God, yeah. Well, I'd like to hear some more about his equipment, too. We want to go to that right now?
00:32:49
Todd Dickerson
I knew you were going to go down that um do And I'm not.
00:32:50
The SnowJobs Podcast
ah The Dinesse leasing equipment portion of the show, the Jeremy's favorite part.
00:32:51
RICK JAMES
Yeah. Yeah. i Hell yeah. I saw him.
00:32:58
Todd Dickerson
So here's.
00:32:58
RICK JAMES
I flew out of Dulles a couple months back and i saw I saw his little yard, not a little yard, but I saw his yard and we were going up in there. I'm like, oh, damn, he's got some nice shit there. So, right, Todd, let's hear it.
00:33:08
Todd Dickerson
yes All right.
00:33:09
RICK JAMES
what
00:33:09
Todd Dickerson
So I'm not. So my superintendent, ah he could get on here and talk hours for this.
00:33:15
The SnowJobs Podcast
i hear you.
00:33:16
Todd Dickerson
I mean, literally, you guys would probably get in into, you know, couplers and all that stuff.
00:33:16
RICK JAMES
Yep.
00:33:16
The SnowJobs Podcast
Give us an overview.
00:33:18
RICK JAMES
I love it.
00:33:21
Todd Dickerson
I'm not into that.
00:33:22
Todd Dickerson
Right here. Here's I mean, I can give you the the big picture. ah we're We're primarily, you know, we're we're Ford guys or Fisher guys. um You know, we're big John Deere people. John Deere phenomenal by us. They stand by us all across the country.
00:33:22
RICK JAMES
Hell yeah.
00:33:39
Todd Dickerson
Any issues?
00:33:39
RICK JAMES
Mm-hmm.
00:33:40
Todd Dickerson
I mean, I had a loader couple of years ago, literally had 90 minutes on the loader, had an issue. We didn't even get into fixing that one. They just sent a new one right off the line straight down the Cedar Rapids. And, you know, they took the other one back and like they stand by us.
00:33:56
Todd Dickerson
Ridiculous. So, huge huge props to to John Deere for always being there for us. um I know you guys are or and I know Jeremy you're probably into the multi-functionals that we use.
00:34:12
Todd Dickerson
um We use overhause and multi-functionals those are pretty cool units there. are They got a 20 foot or I'm sorry a 28 foot plow on the front. They got a 20 foot belly broom and then they
00:34:23
The SnowJobs Podcast
Oh, yeah.
00:34:24
RICK JAMES
Those are cool. Those are awesome.
00:34:25
Todd Dickerson
and of airborn
00:34:25
The SnowJobs Podcast
i love those things.
00:34:26
Todd Dickerson
yeah and Those things are so nimble. They cover 88 acres an hour per unit. You talk about killing big areas. they cover eighty eight acres an hour per per unit so i mean
00:34:37
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's awesome.
00:34:38
RICK JAMES
Wow.
00:34:38
Todd Dickerson
talk about killing killing big areas like phenomenal coverage. um And we got 14 of those. um I got 13 tree can different various size snow melters.
00:34:53
Todd Dickerson
um So, you know, we, we, we get into everything.
00:34:56
The SnowJobs Podcast
Sure.
00:34:57
Todd Dickerson
I mean, we, we've kind of gotten away from the skids
Technology and Equipment in Snow Removal
00:35:00
Todd Dickerson
really. i mean, we have a handful of those, um but I've found the new, you know, 90 horsepower loaders to be just as normal as,
00:35:09
RICK JAMES
Oh, visibility.
00:35:11
Todd Dickerson
It's a lot easier to to have guys working those both safety wise and comfortability and just the whole the whole deal is a lot easier for those. So we've kinda in our market gotten away from the skids.
00:35:25
Todd Dickerson
ah
00:35:25
The SnowJobs Podcast
sure
00:35:26
RICK JAMES
Yep.
00:35:26
Todd Dickerson
I will say those those Top Gun back blades that were just being you know promoted, I gotta look at those for some of our cargo facilities, I think. like I need to get a little more caught up on that, but that That could certainly be a good fit, especially on like hangar doors where we're pulling off the airport hangars and stuff like that.
00:35:47
Todd Dickerson
So I might need a recommendation for you guys to hook me up with them and talk to them a little bit. But we're always looking at new stuff.
00:35:54
RICK JAMES
Oh, yeah.
00:35:55
Todd Dickerson
um you know I'm not shy when it comes to, like I said, I'm a gambler. So let's let's try it. If it doesn't work, i put it over there in the corner and we'll figure out something with it you later.
00:36:02
The SnowJobs Podcast
Thank you.
00:36:06
Todd Dickerson
But, you know, um we have our own brine extreme brine maker that's portable on a trailer. I was, you know, not not blowing a whistle or touting ourselves, but I went to brine extreme years ago when they were a standalone company and I said, look, I want you to build me a portable unit.
00:36:24
Todd Dickerson
that's on a trailer because the state of Maryland had come to me and said, our brine makers are all failing. We want you to go depot to depot to depot and make brine in the summer.
00:36:35
Todd Dickerson
And I was like, great. That's, that's, you know we have nothing to do in the summer.
00:36:39
RICK JAMES
Something to do.
00:36:39
Todd Dickerson
Why not?
00:36:40
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:36:40
Todd Dickerson
Right. So we had them configure this. It's got a great office on the front of the trailer and then the back end is the brine maker and you know it can hold all the hoses and it's it's a cool unit.
00:36:53
Todd Dickerson
um
00:36:53
RICK JAMES
oh
00:36:53
Todd Dickerson
Obviously we we're getting at the life term on that thing. So we're getting ready to make some new evaluations. um And thankfully the state's caught up now with their own new brine maker. So hopefully we can get out of that and kind of build it the way we want it instead of the way we need it.
00:37:10
Todd Dickerson
um So, you know, ah we have a bunch of unique stuff and, you know, you guys have seen some of it in in action, some of it you haven't, but you're always welcome to jump in the seat next to me and kick the media guy out and put him in the back seat and you guys get in the seat next to me and we can go find the machine that you want to run that day.
00:37:17
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah
00:37:29
RICK JAMES
Sweet.
00:37:32
The SnowJobs Podcast
Can you tell us more about The ah the the broom the broom and the plow ah That thing, what is it called?
00:37:34
RICK JAMES
I'll hold you to that.
00:37:37
The SnowJobs Podcast
The multifunctional
00:37:39
Todd Dickerson
Yeah, it's called a multifunctional. We use the ones, they're from Norway, they're called Overhausen.
00:37:41
The SnowJobs Podcast
Who makes that?
00:37:46
The SnowJobs Podcast
I knew they weren't American.
00:37:46
Todd Dickerson
a
00:37:48
The SnowJobs Podcast
i know it
00:37:48
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:37:50
Todd Dickerson
So MB Products also makes one. I mean, everybody, ah bunch of them, there's Vamas, there's Overhausen,
00:37:52
The SnowJobs Podcast
Okay.
00:37:54
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:37:57
The SnowJobs Podcast
They're incredible. They're incredible looking.
00:37:59
RICK JAMES
You're
00:38:00
The SnowJobs Podcast
They're so cool.
00:38:00
Todd Dickerson
I'm telling you, those are a game changer. I mean, literally a game changer. I'm actually working with a couple of the NFL teams right now to take over their stadium snow removal.
00:38:06
RICK JAMES
slick.
00:38:11
Todd Dickerson
um
00:38:12
The SnowJobs Podcast
Nice.
00:38:12
Todd Dickerson
And first thing they're like, well, what are you going to use? And when I show them these things, they're like, you can do our whole parking lot in like three hours. And I'm like, yeah, like, you know, but like let's write a whole, let's write a whole deal for the whole stadium and let's go.
00:38:21
RICK JAMES
Yeah. Great equipment.
00:38:26
Todd Dickerson
We'll melt it. We'll do everything.
00:38:27
RICK JAMES
Yep.
00:38:28
Todd Dickerson
Let's go. So, you know, that that's kind of our next, just based off relationships that I have or my mother has, you know, we have some good inside people there.
00:38:35
The SnowJobs Podcast
Mm-hmm. Sure.
00:38:36
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:38:39
Todd Dickerson
So, you know, why not, why not lean on them? Right.
00:38:43
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah, absolutely.
00:38:43
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:38:43
Todd Dickerson
Yeah.
00:38:44
The SnowJobs Podcast
how How long are those units?
00:38:44
Todd Dickerson
Yeah.
00:38:46
The SnowJobs Podcast
Do you know offhand, Todd, how what the overall length is on those?
00:38:49
Todd Dickerson
I believe when the plow's on from tip to tip, they're 57 feet.
00:38:55
The SnowJobs Podcast
Okay.
00:38:56
Todd Dickerson
Yep.
00:38:56
RICK JAMES
ah some that
00:38:57
The SnowJobs Podcast
And they're articulating? Are they articulate? Yeah, they are. theyre
00:39:00
RICK JAMES
yeah
00:39:00
The SnowJobs Podcast
Those things are incredible.
00:39:00
RICK JAMES
yeah
00:39:01
The SnowJobs Podcast
I saw a couple videos of those at airports. i'm like, those are amazing machines.
00:39:06
RICK JAMES
Very cool.
00:39:06
Todd Dickerson
I'm telling you, like my guys my guys, once they drive them, they're like, I don't want to drive anything else.
00:39:07
The SnowJobs Podcast
Super cool.
00:39:07
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:39:12
Todd Dickerson
This Mercedes cab is the best thing I've ever sat in in my life. Like literally they fight over, you know, and I mean, our John Deere's are great.
00:39:16
The SnowJobs Podcast
It's phenomenal.
00:39:16
RICK JAMES
Oh, yeah.
00:39:20
Todd Dickerson
I mean, they got heated seats, heated mirrors, Bluetooth, you know, all the whole, it's ridiculous what we have in these loaders now, right?
00:39:25
RICK JAMES
Yep.
00:39:28
Todd Dickerson
But they literally fight over who gets to drive the Maltese. Like that's the, that's what everybody wants to drive. So, you and you are clearing snow like you've never cleared before it at a high speed.
00:39:35
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's so cool.
00:39:36
RICK JAMES
Sweet. I want to
00:39:42
The SnowJobs Podcast
And you run those in packs that you run those like, yeah,
00:39:43
RICK JAMES
i want to do that.
00:39:44
Todd Dickerson
Yeah. Yep. So minimum most of the time, they're minimum of two.
00:39:47
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's cool.
00:39:50
Todd Dickerson
I mean, we've gotten up to four in some locations. ah Houston had three inches of snow this year, so we were running three up and down their runways. um you know And, dude, you talk about clearing snow at 55 miles an hour.
00:40:06
Todd Dickerson
Like, it it's awesome. It's awesome.
00:40:08
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's freaking awesome.
00:40:10
RICK JAMES
Oh, that sounds right on my alley.
00:40:11
Todd Dickerson
So, yeah. Yeah.
00:40:13
RICK JAMES
Right on my alley.
00:40:14
Todd Dickerson
Yeah. and I mean, I see
00:40:14
The SnowJobs Podcast
I can already tell this is this is not going to be a one-off episode.
00:40:17
The SnowJobs Podcast
We're going to have to do like multiple parts here because there's so many different pieces. like We could spend hours just hearing about all these different things from him.
00:40:25
Todd Dickerson
all these videos.
00:40:26
The SnowJobs Podcast
So we're definitely going to have to we're definitely going to have to give you another one.
00:40:26
RICK JAMES
ah I think we're just about to go on site. I'm going to to go get a security clearance.
00:40:30
Todd Dickerson
Yeah, look let's get you guys on site for a good storm at one of the airports.
00:40:31
RICK JAMES
and
00:40:35
Todd Dickerson
and you know I'll have my media team or you you know however you all want to do it. and we'll just well i mean, we'll blow it up
00:40:42
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's awesome.
00:40:43
RICK JAMES
Yeah, definitely.
00:40:44
The SnowJobs Podcast
That is cool. So you're in Houston.
00:40:44
RICK JAMES
I'm in. I'm in.
00:40:46
The SnowJobs Podcast
you you You just said Houston.
00:40:48
Todd Dickerson
Yeah, we have but we have both airports in Houston.
00:40:48
The SnowJobs Podcast
Now, is there regulations? to I mean, Houston's not known for their snow belt standing, but they are there regulations for for federal airports to have snow equipment, even if it's in non-snow areas?
00:40:56
RICK JAMES
Right.
00:41:03
Todd Dickerson
So the Southern airports are not required to have a winter operations plan. However, what people don't realize is, you know, they're not making money.
00:41:15
Todd Dickerson
They're making money, but minimal money on the passengers, right? Where they're making their money is what's, you know, in the cargo areas.
00:41:22
The SnowJobs Podcast
Sure.
00:41:23
Todd Dickerson
You know, I mean, that's what carried the the airlines during during COVID as we discussed, but, you know, yeah, they They have to get those flights, that cargo moving. I mean, Houston's one of the largest cargo airports in the country.
00:41:38
Todd Dickerson
So, yeah.
00:41:39
The SnowJobs Podcast
I did not know that.
00:41:39
RICK JAMES
oh
00:41:40
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's interesting.
00:41:41
Todd Dickerson
So, you know, they they want that cargo coming and going, coming and going. So, you know. But yeah, so we have we have equipment in Houston.
00:41:52
Todd Dickerson
And then after their three inches, i was just down there this week. And sounds like we're going to be adding a lot more to that contract, if not almost tripling that contract, just because now they're in a panic that they've seen three inches of s snow and how all that started.
00:42:01
RICK JAMES
Wow.
00:42:05
RICK JAMES
Snow.
00:42:06
The SnowJobs Podcast
We don't know what this stuff is.
00:42:08
Todd Dickerson
Oh, it's crazy.
00:42:08
The SnowJobs Podcast
but
00:42:09
Todd Dickerson
It's crazy. um And, you know, three, ah two years ago, I'm sorry, we got called down there and I took, a I don't know if you saw it, but we had it on the, on our social media. We had a caravan, 18 tractor trailers going down there.
00:42:23
Todd Dickerson
And, you know, so anyway, we get stopped at the Louisiana border and they're like, Hey, Texas is closed. You know, the Louisiana police. Well, I, they call it the truckers called me cause I had flown into Houston couple days before the storm.
00:42:39
Todd Dickerson
And I will give my weatherman credit. Henry did a great job on that one. He gave me about 10 days notice. and So I got ahead the storm and it flown down there, again, gambling.
00:42:50
Todd Dickerson
And and all it all clicked, right?
00:42:51
RICK JAMES
Get
00:42:52
Todd Dickerson
It all came to fruition. So I was sitting there and, you know, they had to come kiss the Pope's ring that day. And I was like, all right, here's what we're going to do. Here's how we're going to do this. And here's what we're going to do. And they're like, we don't care.
00:43:05
Todd Dickerson
Whatever you got to, you know, figure out, we'll figure out.
00:43:06
RICK JAMES
it done. get it done
00:43:09
Todd Dickerson
So, you know, long story short, the Texas Rangers go to the border and escort my trucks from Louisiana all the way into the city of Houston.
00:43:19
Todd Dickerson
And, you know, we're dropping equipment and up and running.
00:43:21
RICK JAMES
That's awesome.
00:43:23
Todd Dickerson
And it was it was crazy. So, you know, but that those are the ones that I love.
00:43:26
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's great.
00:43:28
Todd Dickerson
The the travel trips are the ones that I, you know.
00:43:31
RICK JAMES
They're fun. Yeah.
00:43:32
Todd Dickerson
Our normal contract stuff, once I sign, I don't know about you guys, but I'm a sales guy at heart. And once I sell the deal, like it gets boring to me. I pass it on to my, I got great people around me.
00:43:45
Todd Dickerson
Like I said, my superintendent's awesome.
00:43:46
The SnowJobs Podcast
Mm-hmm.
00:43:47
Todd Dickerson
um My director of operations is awesome. You know, all my support people are phenomenal and they know like, I don't want to waste time in that, in the details, right?
00:43:58
Todd Dickerson
We set it up, I sell it.
00:43:59
RICK JAMES
I
00:44:01
Todd Dickerson
And then My job is to hunt and find the one.
00:44:03
RICK JAMES
love it.
00:44:05
Todd Dickerson
So, you know, that's that's what I like doing.
00:44:06
RICK JAMES
That
00:44:08
Todd Dickerson
So I'm always on the lookout for the next travel job, even even while it's snowing. I mean, i'm I'm working the phones like you've never seen before.
00:44:18
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's cool.
00:44:19
RICK JAMES
ah love it that's that's sounds so fun.
00:44:19
Todd Dickerson
wow
00:44:20
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's a nice niche.
00:44:20
RICK JAMES
That's do. I just want to chase the snow and
00:44:21
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah, it's a nice niche to be in.
00:44:23
RICK JAMES
that's what i want to do that's you know i just want to chase the snow and
00:44:25
The SnowJobs Podcast
Celebrity snow travel. Yeah, celebrity snow travel.
00:44:27
RICK JAMES
That's all I want to do. That's all I want to freaking do.
00:44:29
The SnowJobs Podcast
The A-team. Travel and do snow.
00:44:30
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:44:33
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's Jeremy's dream.
00:44:34
Todd Dickerson
It's fun.
00:44:34
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:44:35
Todd Dickerson
It's fun.
00:44:35
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's cool. So how many how many guys does Top Dog run during a storm?
00:44:42
Todd Dickerson
um So we have 42 full-time employees.
00:44:43
The SnowJobs Podcast
mean
00:44:46
The SnowJobs Podcast
Okay.
00:44:46
Todd Dickerson
And then we have approximately, I mean, I'm going to go just on the DC market. We have
00:44:54
The SnowJobs Podcast
Sure.
00:44:55
Todd Dickerson
um
00:44:58
Todd Dickerson
close to 450 operators. seasonal ah operator
00:45:03
The SnowJobs Podcast
Wow.
00:45:04
Todd Dickerson
um And like I said, we we push those guys pretty hard, even in the off season.
00:45:04
RICK JAMES
Nice.
00:45:08
Todd Dickerson
um We still pay them, you know, to come out and do training and stay sharp and stuff like that. um
00:45:14
RICK JAMES
Nice.
00:45:15
Todd Dickerson
But we're pretty easy in the summer, meaning, you know, that my full time people are or not put it not working five or six days a week.
00:45:26
Todd Dickerson
Let's put it that way, you know.
00:45:26
The SnowJobs Podcast
Sure.
00:45:27
RICK JAMES
Right.
00:45:28
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's cool.
00:45:28
Todd Dickerson
I try to, we have a no travel clause in our, in our contracts for employees that they cannot travel from November 1st to April 1st. So in the summer, I mean, unless it's an absolute emergency and it has to be approved by me and only me, um, nobody else can approve winter travel except myself.
00:45:50
Todd Dickerson
Um, but Other than that, I tried to, my brother and I are, you know we're a family business, right? So our golden rule is family first.
00:45:58
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yep.
00:45:59
Todd Dickerson
So we try to give our guys as much leniency in the summers as possible, you know?
00:46:00
The SnowJobs Podcast
Sure.
00:46:05
Todd Dickerson
So, you know, because some of these guys are literally gone from their families the entire winter.
00:46:06
RICK JAMES
nice
00:46:12
Todd Dickerson
Right. I mean, you know, some of my guys are, you know, platinum elite Marriott Bonvoy
00:46:12
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah.
The Role of a Meteorologist in Operations
00:46:20
Todd Dickerson
members, and they've never even stayed in a hotel until they started working for us.
00:46:24
Todd Dickerson
And now they've got so many points. They're like, I'm taking my family to Disney world. And I'm like, great, you know, enjoy it.
00:46:30
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's cool.
00:46:31
Todd Dickerson
Oh, yeah.
00:46:32
The SnowJobs Podcast
That is cool.
00:46:32
RICK JAMES
that's awesome dad
00:46:34
The SnowJobs Podcast
Oh, man.
00:46:35
Todd Dickerson
So.
00:46:36
The SnowJobs Podcast
that's all Airport stuff is crazy to hear.
00:46:36
RICK JAMES
Yeah. So yeah's that's great.
00:46:39
The SnowJobs Podcast
I love it.
00:46:41
RICK JAMES
So you're traveling guys that you just have a team for traveling or you just whoever available travel or what's your.
00:46:47
Todd Dickerson
ah meet at at each airport we At each airport, we have local people that we've recruited. um And then my key personnel um will either divide and conquer.
00:46:59
Todd Dickerson
Like this year, we had storms at Texas, Iowa. um
00:47:07
Todd Dickerson
Where else do we have? obviously the DC market all going at the same time. So, you know, I can't send everybody out of all the markets to go hit.
00:47:17
Todd Dickerson
So, you know, we, we divided and conquered, but like again, two years ago, Dulles had nothing and was getting hit.
00:47:17
The SnowJobs Podcast
Sure.
00:47:19
RICK JAMES
right
00:47:27
Todd Dickerson
So we sent some guys to Iowa and we sent some guys to Texas, you know, you just gotta, ah that's where our meteorologist really helps us is I always have him looking, you know, I don't i don't care about 72 hours from now. I can figure that out.
00:47:45
Todd Dickerson
I need to know 10 day to two week, you know, even if it's on a whim, I need to just know there's a chance.
00:47:46
RICK JAMES
yeah
00:47:53
RICK JAMES
and Logistics.
00:47:54
The SnowJobs Podcast
put it on the radar.
00:47:54
RICK JAMES
no
00:47:55
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah.
00:47:55
Todd Dickerson
Exactly.
00:47:55
RICK JAMES
Logistics.
00:47:56
Todd Dickerson
Just keep me updated, keep me updated, you know, and then about five days out, you know, my key personnel are, are sitting in the war room as we call it going, all right, we got a chance here.
00:47:56
RICK JAMES
Mm
00:48:06
Todd Dickerson
We got a chance there. Where are we going to move people? You know, what do we want to do? That's, that's, that's where our meteorologists really, you know, I mean, our, our clients love it, right.
00:48:11
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yep.
00:48:11
RICK JAMES
hmm.
00:48:17
Todd Dickerson
Because they're getting a, a detailed forecast for their own facility, especially one of the three-letter buildings in the Pentagon, absolutely love it.
00:48:23
RICK JAMES
So
00:48:27
Todd Dickerson
like They're like, this is great. We can plan flights. We can do this, you know because Pentagon has helicopters coming in all the time and all that.
00:48:35
The SnowJobs Podcast
Sure.
00:48:36
Todd Dickerson
But where we really benefit from the our meteorologist is internally for staffing.
00:48:47
The SnowJobs Podcast
And you guys, i'm I'm guessing the way you're talking about it, you guys actually employ your own meteorologist.
00:48:47
RICK JAMES
so
00:48:51
The SnowJobs Podcast
You don't use the service.
00:48:53
Todd Dickerson
We do. Yeah.
00:48:54
The SnowJobs Podcast
Smart.
00:48:55
RICK JAMES
How long have you had your own meteorologist?
00:48:59
RICK JAMES
Or when did you decide to, when did you decide ah get your own meteor meteorologist on so on staff?
00:48:59
The SnowJobs Podcast
What was that, Jake? Yeah.
00:49:05
The SnowJobs Podcast
It's a tough word.
00:49:06
Todd Dickerson
I think we did that about, I'll say three, three or four years ago.
00:49:10
RICK JAMES
Okay.
00:49:11
Todd Dickerson
um Mainly because ah i love this travel stuff so much. I want, I want to, I wanted to kind of build that ah mobile platform, which we've now kind of mastered.
00:49:24
Todd Dickerson
um You know, we we did an okay job at it before, um but, you know, we kept running into, oh my God, we got to get back because Dulles is getting this, or we got to get back because, you know, I say Dulles, basically that's the DC market to us because, you know, pending on all that stuff's right here.
00:49:39
The SnowJobs Podcast
Sure.
00:49:40
RICK JAMES
Yep. yep
00:49:42
Todd Dickerson
So we were always, you know, I mean, I remember we we actually went up to help Josh a couple of years ago. They got slammed up ah up near like Scranton area with some of his distribution centers.
00:49:55
Todd Dickerson
And we weren't there five minutes going up to help Josh and Kentucky called. and you know, so myself and my director of operations left that crew with our head superintendent running that.
00:50:10
Todd Dickerson
We ran back to Dulles, grabbed another crew, hooked up melters and loaders and stuff and went to ah Kentucky. And then we're all sitting here going, oh, shit, Dulles is getting it now.
00:50:23
Todd Dickerson
So my director of operations and i turn around and run back and my brother, we get the whole D.C.
00:50:27
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah.
00:50:29
Todd Dickerson
market going again. So like it's really helped us kind of. again, with staffing of, you know, we got to we got to get smarter of how, yes, I want to travel.
00:50:40
The SnowJobs Podcast
yeah
00:50:41
Todd Dickerson
I'm not going to let my my home base or other contract areas suffer.
00:50:46
RICK JAMES
suffer yeah
00:50:49
Todd Dickerson
So,
00:50:49
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah, and it gets you better at pivoting too.
00:50:52
The SnowJobs Podcast
you're You're so used to having to pivot at a moment's notice.
00:50:52
Todd Dickerson
yeah
00:50:54
The SnowJobs Podcast
So yeah, you get it dialed in.
00:50:55
Todd Dickerson
like
00:50:56
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's great.
00:50:56
Todd Dickerson
it's it's all about the pivot.
00:50:57
RICK JAMES
but it's yeah i obviously he's it's like an adrenaline rush right and you love to you just love the challenge honestly right it's just the challenge of because you you're trying to beat mother nature and you and all these markets and sound like you're kicking ass at it so
00:51:05
Todd Dickerson
Yeah.
00:51:13
Todd Dickerson
So, you know, as I said, when we started this, right, I'm totally transparent. Like I've never done an illegal drug in my life. There's couple drugs that I love. It's the snow game and offshore fishing.
00:51:25
RICK JAMES
Yep.
00:51:25
Todd Dickerson
Like you give me those all day long. Like I'll be good. I'll be happy. I can die tomorrow and I'm i'm the happiest man alive. So like, you know, the, yeah.
00:51:33
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yep. It definitely, of the snow, snow is definitely a drug. It really is if If you're doing it right, you love it.
00:51:37
Todd Dickerson
I mean, you either,
00:51:40
The SnowJobs Podcast
Like we do.
00:51:41
Todd Dickerson
Yeah, I mean, you're like Snowmageddon back in, think that was 9, 10, think, or 10, 10, 11, 9, 10, it was 2009, 2010.
00:51:49
Todd Dickerson
two thousand nine two thousand ten
00:51:50
RICK JAMES
you
00:51:51
Todd Dickerson
And I'm not joking here. Literally, I was awake for 10 days and they found me in the middle of a snow pile. Just fuck. I mean, just out.
00:52:02
Todd Dickerson
um I mean, I was passed out in my truck. Two of my guys get in my truck, take me over. to We take a whole hotel at Dulles on the backside of Dulles and we would get all the rooms there and I put guys in there.
00:52:15
Todd Dickerson
So we were rotating consistently, but yeah, I mean, it's my, it's my drug, right? Like I'm not going to bed. I'm, umm I'm, I'm in, I'm in till the
00:52:22
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yep. 1000%.
00:52:24
Todd Dickerson
Now you might find me passed out somewhere, but you know, I'm in it till the end.
00:52:27
RICK JAMES
Yep. You're out there.
00:52:29
Todd Dickerson
Yeah.
00:52:29
RICK JAMES
You're out there.
00:52:29
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yep.
00:52:30
Todd Dickerson
no you know, it's hard for me, brother, we take this attitude of how can I ask you guys to do something if I'm sitting in an office or sitting in a,
00:52:32
RICK JAMES
Sounds like me. 100%.
00:52:38
The SnowJobs Podcast
one thousand percent
00:52:40
Todd Dickerson
Yeah.
00:52:40
The SnowJobs Podcast
yep
00:52:41
RICK JAMES
hundred percent Yeah.
00:52:41
Todd Dickerson
So, you know, and ah and and our customers love that, right? Like, they they know that we're out there battling with it and like hands on. And, you know, that's why I do all the travel trip.
00:52:52
RICK JAMES
And your crew loves it.
00:52:53
Todd Dickerson
Yeah, absolutely.
00:52:54
RICK JAMES
Your crew loves to see you guys out there.
00:52:54
Todd Dickerson
100%.
00:52:55
RICK JAMES
Because like hes you said, you don't expect them to do something you won't do.
00:52:56
Todd Dickerson
hundred
00:52:59
RICK JAMES
Yep.
00:52:59
Todd Dickerson
Sure.
00:52:59
RICK JAMES
man
00:53:00
Todd Dickerson
So, um so I forget where we were going with that. But yeah, I mean, those, those are my drugs is the, the, the snow game, the offshore fishing stuff, and then just the hunt of the next deal is, I mean, those are the three things that could get me through life.
Family-Run Business Dynamics
00:53:20
Todd Dickerson
So.
00:53:20
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's cool.
00:53:20
RICK JAMES
yeah
00:53:22
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's cool. You know what you want.
00:53:22
RICK JAMES
So you were so you were you were saying earlier about we're talking about sidewalks stuff.
00:53:23
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's great.
00:53:27
RICK JAMES
Do you have a lot of that? you have to I'm assuming you hire that out, sub it out, or whatever you want to call it. ah Do you you have a lot of that there?
00:53:32
Todd Dickerson
So the only sidewalks we do, the only sidewalks we do in our entire portfolio is the Pentagon. And we subbed that entire deal.
00:53:40
RICK JAMES
Okay.
00:53:43
Todd Dickerson
I, the landscaper there, um obviously he knows the property better than, than we do. Right.
00:53:50
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yep.
00:53:50
Todd Dickerson
He's every single day. um He's got like 60 guys. When we got that deal, he came to us and he's like, Hey, I'd love to do the sidewalks. And we were like, amen, brother. Like, let's,
00:54:01
RICK JAMES
What do you want?
00:54:02
The SnowJobs Podcast
Let's see.
00:54:02
Todd Dickerson
like
00:54:02
The SnowJobs Podcast
You got to be shrewd.
00:54:03
RICK JAMES
What do you want?
00:54:03
The SnowJobs Podcast
Well, we were kind of going to thinking of doing them ourselves.
00:54:04
RICK JAMES
What do you want?
00:54:06
The SnowJobs Podcast
What can you offer?
00:54:07
Todd Dickerson
ah
00:54:08
RICK JAMES
yeah
00:54:08
Todd Dickerson
It's funny you mention that because he was like, well, shovels and we got tons it. I'm like, whoa, whoa, whoa. We're not doing shovels. like
00:54:17
The SnowJobs Podcast
no
00:54:17
Todd Dickerson
yeah
00:54:17
RICK JAMES
No.
00:54:17
Todd Dickerson
We're going to get you snow raiders. We're going to do this. We're going to... you know we I'll give a little secret here. Our biggest weapon in our snow removal arsenal is probably our brooms.
00:54:30
Todd Dickerson
And we use a lot of asphalt brooms like milling brooms. ah so great Superior brooms is who we do a lot.
00:54:36
The SnowJobs Podcast
ye
00:54:36
RICK JAMES
yep
00:54:39
Todd Dickerson
we We use those a lot. I mean, i can't even tell you how many of those we have. And if anybody's not using those, get them because
00:54:49
The SnowJobs Podcast
Superior brooms?
00:54:51
Todd Dickerson
Yeah.
00:54:51
The SnowJobs Podcast
Haven't heard of them.
00:54:51
Todd Dickerson
I mean, that Lee boy sell there.
00:54:52
RICK JAMES
yeah
00:54:52
The SnowJobs Podcast
Interesting.
00:54:54
Todd Dickerson
They all, they all, you know, it's Chevy Ford. They all make the same thing, but we use a superior broom just because it's, it's what we know.
00:54:59
RICK JAMES
yeah
00:55:00
The SnowJobs Podcast
Gotcha.
00:55:03
Todd Dickerson
um But I'm telling you the, the end, I mean, it's basically a multifunctional, you know, in a matchbox series, right.
00:55:10
RICK JAMES
ye
00:55:12
Todd Dickerson
It's got a little blade up front to handle little, piddly stuff. It's got a phenomenal broom on it. It's got a wet system on it. I mean, we're running brine through it. We're running acetate through it.
00:55:24
Todd Dickerson
Yeah.
00:55:24
The SnowJobs Podcast
Oh, I've seen those. Okay.
00:55:26
RICK JAMES
You've seen those, Steve.
00:55:26
The SnowJobs Podcast
I know what you're talking about now.
00:55:27
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:55:27
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah, I know what you're talking about now.
00:55:27
RICK JAMES
Yeah. They're like all the asphalt guys have them and stuff.
00:55:29
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yep.
00:55:29
RICK JAMES
Yeah. Those things are a little, they're quick and nimble too.
00:55:30
Todd Dickerson
Yeah.
00:55:32
RICK JAMES
they They'll get around.
00:55:32
Todd Dickerson
Oh my God, I'm telling you.
00:55:32
RICK JAMES
so
00:55:33
Todd Dickerson
And we have a rule in our company, like you're not allowed to put these in high gear because literally those things will haul ass and they're totally unsafe if you're in high gear and in the snow.
00:55:46
Todd Dickerson
And, but I'm telling you, man, those things production wise are probably one of the most important.
00:55:47
RICK JAMES
and
00:55:53
Todd Dickerson
they're They're probably more important than the multifunctionals that we use in all honesty.
00:55:59
The SnowJobs Podcast
Wow.
00:56:00
RICK JAMES
Wow.
00:56:00
Todd Dickerson
And we use them on sidewalk.
00:56:01
The SnowJobs Podcast
How much sidewalk does the Pentagon have?
00:56:04
Todd Dickerson
ah it's it's I can't even begin.
00:56:05
The SnowJobs Podcast
lot? if Like, is it a lot or?
00:56:06
RICK JAMES
A lot, yeah.
00:56:07
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah.
00:56:11
Todd Dickerson
I'll find out that number.
00:56:11
The SnowJobs Podcast
Well, like, anytime you look at the you look at it, you only look at the building. You never really notice the grounds around it, so I can't actually say I've ever seen the sidewalks at the Pentagon.
00:56:16
RICK JAMES
yeah yeah right
00:56:19
Todd Dickerson
Memorial area. I guarantee it's probably 50, 50 miles the sidewalk. Just the memorial.
00:56:26
The SnowJobs Podcast
Oh, wow. Okay, so you got a little sidewalk there.
00:56:28
Todd Dickerson
I mean, so yeah.
00:56:30
Todd Dickerson
oh
00:56:31
The SnowJobs Podcast
Oh.
00:56:31
RICK JAMES
i would assume all that snow has got to be melted on site or something right they don't want piles around or anything
00:56:31
Todd Dickerson
yeah
00:56:38
Todd Dickerson
um So the Pentagon's weird. They go through phases. um You know, they're starting to get more into the, into the melters. um But then at times they're like, and let's just, ah let's just stack it.
00:56:48
RICK JAMES
Okay.
00:56:52
Todd Dickerson
I mean, they have so much parking there. Like it's, but they're also now that they're all coming back to work, you know, instead of remote, I have a feeling that's all changed a little bit and the melters start, you know,
00:56:55
RICK JAMES
Oh.
00:57:03
RICK JAMES
Yep.
00:57:05
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah.
00:57:07
Todd Dickerson
you know, getting, getting more, more and more play over there years,
00:57:11
The SnowJobs Podcast
would you Would you say these phases happen every four to eight years approximately? shit. You know what? Yeah. No, there am
00:57:17
Todd Dickerson
yeah
00:57:20
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:57:21
The SnowJobs Podcast
oh shit
00:57:22
RICK JAMES
oh
00:57:23
Todd Dickerson
We i always, I can always tell who's in office.
00:57:23
The SnowJobs Podcast
ah
00:57:23
The SnowJobs Podcast
you know
00:57:26
Todd Dickerson
Let's put it that way. And I'm not, I want to be very clear.
00:57:28
The SnowJobs Podcast
yeah
00:57:30
Todd Dickerson
I'm not a political guy at all living here.
00:57:31
The SnowJobs Podcast
no they are like
00:57:32
Todd Dickerson
i hate politics.
00:57:34
Todd Dickerson
oh You know, when you have to deal with it as much as we do every single day, like, you know, you get in trouble if you turn right at a light instead of left. Like, why'd you go right?
00:57:34
The SnowJobs Podcast
yeah
00:57:45
Todd Dickerson
andra Look, dude, I'm just going to where I need to go.
00:57:47
RICK JAMES
yeah
00:57:48
Todd Dickerson
I don't care. you Like I'll pay my tax. Like I'm not into all that stuff. Right.
00:57:53
Todd Dickerson
Yeah. I just want to treat people the right way.
00:57:53
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yep.
00:57:54
The SnowJobs Podcast
I hear you.
00:57:55
Todd Dickerson
Everybody do the right thing. Somebody needs a hug. I'll give you a damn hug. I don't care. Let's go. So yeah, chill out.
00:58:01
RICK JAMES
Right.
00:58:01
The SnowJobs Podcast
i love it. I love it.
00:58:03
Todd Dickerson
So.
00:58:04
The SnowJobs Podcast
ah Let's take a quick break. Let Todd get a drink here. We're going to do our 15 second commercials and we will be right back. We'll keep going.
00:58:52
Todd Dickerson
Thank you.
00:59:02
The SnowJobs Podcast
All right, we're back. so We'll keep going with Todd here. I got a question for you, Todd, that I think ah it'll help a lot of guys out there if you're willing to share. like What lessons did you learn early on when you know you were three trucks and stuff and and you're running mire plows? which How did those hold up, by the way, before I get into the the Myers?
00:59:22
The SnowJobs Podcast
They hold up for you?
00:59:25
The SnowJobs Podcast
Never mind. Moving on.
00:59:26
RICK JAMES
That says it all right there.
00:59:27
The SnowJobs Podcast
but like What what lessons did you learn growing your business ah that you think would help guys that maybe just starting out or maybe young in business and and would like to ah someday, you know, get to the size that you're at doing the cool things you are?
00:59:42
Todd Dickerson
So honestly, I think the biggest, a couple things I learned, first of all, my dad was my my mentor hero with the whole, he was a sales guy, um did very well and you know in his career.
00:59:57
Todd Dickerson
And the one thing he always taught me is we're Tylenol and Advil, right? Take away the customer's headache. They'll pay you whatever you want if you take away their headache.
01:00:08
Todd Dickerson
um
01:00:08
The SnowJobs Podcast
Mm-hmm.
01:00:09
Todd Dickerson
So I always kind of live with that. um The other thing that he taught me is, you know, just because the customer is a customer doesn't mean that it's the customer for you.
01:00:12
RICK JAMES
yep.
01:00:19
Todd Dickerson
So in other words, qualify your customer, right? I mean...
01:00:23
RICK JAMES
ye
01:00:26
Todd Dickerson
I don't want to name any any particular customer, but there's certain customers out there that I immediately, and they're huge customers, huge. I will not do business with them. I don't care if they call and offer me five times my normal rate.
01:00:41
Todd Dickerson
I'm not interested. um And it's for various reasons. Number one, slow pay, I'm not interested in, right? i I charge a good rate. You want my work done when it's supposed to be done. I want paid when I'm supposed to be paid.
01:00:55
Todd Dickerson
um you know, and if they're going to put me at six months, you know, 90 days, I'm losing money on that deal. So go find somebody that, okay, maybe I'm getting my regular rate, but guess what?
01:01:07
RICK JAMES
Mm-hmm.
01:01:10
Todd Dickerson
I'm getting paid in 20 days. So, you know, so qualify your customer is another important thing. And then, you know, we kind of touched on it earlier, right, is is pivot. you You constantly have to be able to adjust the in our business.
01:01:25
Todd Dickerson
I mean, that, that, that is probably golden rule. Number one, if you are, if you are not a good pivot person, like, you know, you're in the wrong business period.
01:01:35
The SnowJobs Podcast
I agree. I love that. That's awesome.
01:01:38
RICK JAMES
Yeah, that's that's great. I got a question I'm going circle back a little bit to when you started at Dulles.
01:01:44
Todd Dickerson
Bring me your equipment. Bring me your equipment.
01:01:47
RICK JAMES
the
01:01:47
Todd Dickerson
I know you're dying to get into
01:01:48
RICK JAMES
ah No, i'm not it's not about equipment time. no no i
01:01:54
Todd Dickerson
All right.
01:01:54
RICK JAMES
When you started at Dulles and you started at the airport, what was the what got you... into the airports after Dulles. Did you just love the challenge of it? Did you, did you just, I mean, was just, I mean, money wise, or I mean, what was it? What was, what got you wanting to do more and more airports and stuff like that, I guess.
01:02:13
Todd Dickerson
Honestly, the cool thing that kind of happened to us is once we got in there, they started coming to us. You know, they started seeing that, you know, these guys aren't driving around a 1965, you know, Chevy, you know, piece of junk, right?
01:02:29
Todd Dickerson
They're like all of our stuff, even if it's five years old, looks literally showroom condition.
01:02:30
RICK JAMES
Yep.
01:02:37
Todd Dickerson
I mean, my guys know them before we even go to bed after the storm, they're they're washing everything down and getting it you know ready for the next storm. you know um
01:02:47
RICK JAMES
I love it.
01:02:47
Todd Dickerson
I'm not saying we're shining the tires and everything, but like everything's clean before anybody takes a shower. um you know
01:02:55
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's awesome.
01:02:56
Todd Dickerson
My 20-year-old son, who's started getting into this a little bit, You know, he's like, Dad, why do we do this? I'm like, you'll see why when, you know, and in a year or two, once you start figuring life out, right?
01:03:07
Todd Dickerson
Like,
Teamwork and Business Ethics
01:03:08
RICK JAMES
Yep. Yep. Yep.
01:03:08
Todd Dickerson
believe me, 20 years old.
01:03:09
Todd Dickerson
Yeah. After two days, I want to go to bed too. But, you know, at 54 now, I see the value in putting in a couple more hours as a team and, you know, getting it right.
01:03:13
RICK JAMES
yeah
01:03:20
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah.
01:03:21
Todd Dickerson
yeah.
01:03:21
The SnowJobs Podcast
Protecting your investment.
01:03:22
Todd Dickerson
Yeah, exactly. So, you know, it's little things like that, that you learn, you know, kind of growing up in business that, you know, ah go a long ways, you know.
01:03:35
RICK JAMES
Yep.
01:03:36
The SnowJobs Podcast
It's phenomenal. Love it.
Competition in Airport Snow Removal
01:03:39
The SnowJobs Podcast
Do you have, ah go ahead, Jay.
01:03:39
RICK JAMES
You have a lot Go ahead, Steve.
01:03:42
The SnowJobs Podcast
I was just going to say, do you have a lot of, lot of competition for snow at airports?
01:03:42
RICK JAMES
Okay.
01:03:46
The SnowJobs Podcast
Is there a lot of companies that do it? I know ah there's there's a couple, but like, do you have like competition that you worry about?
01:03:53
Todd Dickerson
Yeah, they' there's there's some local guys at at each airport that try, you know, like big asphalt companies that try to get in it. on
01:04:03
The SnowJobs Podcast
Okay.
01:04:04
Todd Dickerson
You know, there's some, excuse me, excavation companies that try to, you know, use their stuff that they don't use in the in the snow, you know, obviously.
01:04:11
The SnowJobs Podcast
Sure. Yeah.
01:04:13
Todd Dickerson
um There's a couple of other national guys that, you know, are in the same game I'm in. You know, we all kind of... I would say the national guys, and and I hate using that word national because that, you know, has a ah misinterpretation.
01:04:29
RICK JAMES
stigma
01:04:30
Todd Dickerson
Obviously, you know, we we have the clown people out there.
01:04:30
The SnowJobs Podcast
yeah
01:04:33
Todd Dickerson
I'm sure we all know about.
01:04:34
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah, like you're a national company, but you're not a broker company, right?
01:04:37
Todd Dickerson
Right.
01:04:38
The SnowJobs Podcast
You're not clown show broker.
01:04:39
Todd Dickerson
Right.
01:04:39
Todd Dickerson
Right.
01:04:39
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah.
01:04:40
RICK JAMES
yeah
01:04:40
The SnowJobs Podcast
So national service companies that are actually self-performing.
01:04:43
Todd Dickerson
Exactly. um
01:04:44
The SnowJobs Podcast
Cool. Love it.
01:04:45
Todd Dickerson
You know, so you know, i guess there's there's a handful of us that would consider competitors.
01:04:52
The SnowJobs Podcast
Okay.
01:04:54
Todd Dickerson
Yeah. Yeah.
Exceeding Customer Expectations
01:04:55
Todd Dickerson
And all,
01:04:55
The SnowJobs Podcast
What sets you apart?
01:04:57
Todd Dickerson
Um, honestly, I think it's my team staff, uh, my staff and my team's ability to kind of adjust to exactly what the customer wants and then exceeding that, not just meeting it, but exceeding it.
01:05:15
Todd Dickerson
I've been told numerous times how like, oh my God, or, or the incumbent, right.
01:05:16
The SnowJobs Podcast
Love it.
01:05:21
Todd Dickerson
Whoever that is, they never did this or they never did that. And I'm like, that's just standard for us. Like, you know, that that's what you're paying for.
01:05:29
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yep.
01:05:31
Todd Dickerson
You know, I don't understand why, you know, you're not, you think this is like not acceptable.
01:05:31
The SnowJobs Podcast
Absolutely. I love
01:05:37
Todd Dickerson
This is just, you know, so it's little things, details, you know, um you know, again, accepting, accepting who wants to be the second dog.
01:05:44
RICK JAMES
you know Right.
01:05:50
Todd Dickerson
I want to be the top dog at everything. So, so,
01:05:54
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
01:05:56
The SnowJobs Podcast
Oh, man.
01:05:56
RICK JAMES
but we never Nobody remembers number two.
01:05:59
Todd Dickerson
Exactly.
01:05:59
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's it.
Striving to be the Best in Business
01:06:00
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's it.
01:06:01
Todd Dickerson
Exactly. I mean, who lost the Super Bowl this year?
01:06:02
The SnowJobs Podcast
What else?
01:06:02
Todd Dickerson
I don't know who that is.
01:06:04
The SnowJobs Podcast
that I do.
01:06:05
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
01:06:05
The SnowJobs Podcast
The Chiefs. Good. ah man.
01:06:09
Todd Dickerson
i thought it was it was Taylor Swift that lost, but maybe I'm not.
01:06:12
The SnowJobs Podcast
Well, the fighting swifts, they they went down in flames.
01:06:13
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
01:06:15
The SnowJobs Podcast
I love it.
01:06:16
Todd Dickerson
Amen.
01:06:16
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
01:06:16
The SnowJobs Podcast
ah
01:06:17
The SnowJobs Podcast
Jeremy, what else you got for Todd? Because we're definitely going to have to do a part two if Todd's down for it. we could We could talk all day just about airports.
01:06:26
Todd Dickerson
Dudes, I'm available anytime.
01:06:26
RICK JAMES
Yeah, we'll go.
01:06:27
Todd Dickerson
I'm getting into my fun season. So, you know, I mean, I say we do this around the round table somewhere with a few pops and let's make it really.
01:06:33
The SnowJobs Podcast
Very cool.
01:06:37
The SnowJobs Podcast
Oh, we definitely should.
01:06:37
RICK JAMES
Yeah, I'd definitely do that.
01:06:38
The SnowJobs Podcast
but definitely should that.
01:06:40
RICK JAMES
So, great.
01:06:41
The SnowJobs Podcast
But as far as all the listeners out there, i know i know the first thing that we're going to get on Monday when this drops is, ah can we get a part two?
01:06:41
Todd Dickerson
I think ah
01:06:48
The SnowJobs Podcast
So we're definitely going to have to have you come back and do a part two for sure.
01:06:53
Todd Dickerson
No worries. I think we need to get some of the big boys all around a big ah big round table and let's do it that
01:06:58
RICK JAMES
Oh, yeah, yeah.
01:07:00
The SnowJobs Podcast
Interesting. We're kind of we're kind of in the midst of planning an event right now that we can probably work that into because I think everybody wants to hear that.
01:07:01
RICK JAMES
ah
01:07:08
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
01:07:08
Todd Dickerson
The problem is... oh
01:07:08
The SnowJobs Podcast
But why would you, you know the powers that be though, don't seem to want to have all the big dogs that call it how it is in the same spot, telling people how it really is.
01:07:17
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's ah one of the issues. So we love doing that. ah We love doing that.
01:07:22
Todd Dickerson
had I got no problem doing that.
01:07:24
RICK JAMES
yeah
01:07:25
The SnowJobs Podcast
I love it. I love it.
01:07:26
RICK JAMES
I did too.
01:07:27
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's what we're all about.
01:07:27
RICK JAMES
There you go. There you go.
01:07:28
The SnowJobs Podcast
So yeah, we got no problem with that.
01:07:28
RICK JAMES
There you go.
01:07:30
The SnowJobs Podcast
We love, that's what we're all about.
01:07:32
Todd Dickerson
And you know what?
01:07:32
RICK JAMES
and
01:07:32
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's great.
01:07:33
Todd Dickerson
If we all can't sit there and bust each other's balls, why why are we at the big round table?
01:07:38
The SnowJobs Podcast
Absolutely.
01:07:39
RICK JAMES
Exactly.
01:07:40
The SnowJobs Podcast
I agree.
01:07:40
RICK JAMES
Yep.
01:07:40
The SnowJobs Podcast
I agree. No, that would be great.
01:07:41
RICK JAMES
You got to be able to take it if you can dish it.
01:07:42
The SnowJobs Podcast
We'll we'll definitely set that up.
01:07:44
Todd Dickerson
Just don't be doing it at that ah that conference that starts with an S.
01:07:45
The SnowJobs Podcast
No,
01:07:49
The SnowJobs Podcast
no, no, no.
01:07:49
RICK JAMES
Fuck.
01:07:50
The SnowJobs Podcast
no well
01:07:50
RICK JAMES
No.
01:07:51
The SnowJobs Podcast
Well, we're doing our own thing.
01:07:51
RICK JAMES
No.
01:07:53
The SnowJobs Podcast
we're We're not worried about what anybody else is doing. were We got a formula here. Everybody seems to be on board with it, and they're liking it, and and we're helping some people.
01:08:00
Todd Dickerson
I love it.
01:08:01
The SnowJobs Podcast
So we're ah we're not worried about what anybody else is doing. We're just going to keep doing what we're doing.
01:08:06
Todd Dickerson
I love it. and that's why i'm here.
01:08:07
RICK JAMES
yeah
01:08:07
Todd Dickerson
Thank you for having me again.
01:08:08
The SnowJobs Podcast
Amen. Love it. Jeremy, what else you got for him, bud?
01:08:12
RICK JAMES
I don't know. Do we want to keep going or wait till we want to do a part two?
01:08:15
The SnowJobs Podcast
i think I think we could go like, i think we, one more, i think we should do one more.
01:08:16
RICK JAMES
I got lost. I can keep it. Yeah. Yeah.
01:08:21
The SnowJobs Podcast
Like, I'd love to get Todd's take ah what he thinks the biggest issues facing us in the snow management industry today are.
Challenges in the Snow Management Industry
01:08:30
RICK JAMES
yeah
01:08:34
Todd Dickerson
Is that the question?
01:08:36
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah. If you want to answer it.
01:08:36
RICK JAMES
yeah
01:08:37
Todd Dickerson
crap
01:08:37
RICK JAMES
yeah
01:08:39
The SnowJobs Podcast
Ha ha ha!
01:08:40
Todd Dickerson
ah Well, I mean, there's a couple big issues, I think. um I don't know why we're all trying to cut each other's throat at this thing. um
01:08:40
RICK JAMES
no
01:08:50
RICK JAMES
oh
01:08:51
Todd Dickerson
You know, I mean, look, every day is competition, right? If you don't like competition, like go get a government job.
01:09:02
Todd Dickerson
um You know, I mean,
01:09:07
Todd Dickerson
I want, if if if we're competing again, I mean, I'll talk to about a couple a couple of my competitors. We all sit at the same table and go through these oral presentations to either major airlines, airports, whatever the case may be.
01:09:22
Todd Dickerson
I walk out and the other two are sitting in the room. First thing I do is I shake their hand and I'm like, hey, boys, good luck. You know, let's see who gets it. You know, it is what it is.
01:09:31
The SnowJobs Podcast
Amen.
01:09:31
Todd Dickerson
You know, I mean, it's competition.
01:09:32
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah.
01:09:34
Todd Dickerson
I mean, you know,
01:09:36
The SnowJobs Podcast
Doesn't have to be contentious.
01:09:37
Todd Dickerson
Exactly. and And the problem is nowadays, you know, I don't want a participation award. I want the contract signed.
01:09:45
The SnowJobs Podcast
Amen. Amen.
01:09:45
Todd Dickerson
Like, I don't need...
01:09:45
RICK JAMES
yeah
01:09:49
Todd Dickerson
my 20 year old son would probably go crazy, but I'm going to tell this story. I remember he was like eight years old, you know, and my, my ex-wife was big into the swimming swim team or whatever it's called.
01:10:01
Todd Dickerson
I didn't do it when I was younger, but um probably didn't want to see me back in a speedo back in the day. But um you know, my son came home after the first swim meet and he's like, dad, dad, I got a pink ribbon. I'm like, what is that?
01:10:15
Todd Dickerson
And I looked at it and it was like,
01:10:16
RICK JAMES
Throw it away
01:10:17
Todd Dickerson
fifth place or something. i'm like, throw that thing in the trash. If it's not blue,
01:10:21
The SnowJobs Podcast
Amen.
01:10:21
RICK JAMES
away.
01:10:22
Todd Dickerson
I don't want you to, you should want no other ribbon besides the blue one.
01:10:23
RICK JAMES
Yep. Same thing.
01:10:26
Todd Dickerson
Like whatever the first place is, I don't know, red, blue, whatever.
01:10:26
The SnowJobs Podcast
ah love it.
01:10:27
RICK JAMES
Yep.
01:10:30
Todd Dickerson
But my point is like, you know, going to these sporting events now and look, I coached high school football forever for 20, 22 years. The only reason I stopped is because this we're getting too busy and I can't commit. And if I can't do something a hundred percent, I'm not doing it.
01:10:47
Todd Dickerson
So
01:10:47
RICK JAMES
Yep. Yep.
01:10:47
The SnowJobs Podcast
Amen.
01:10:48
Todd Dickerson
And I still go the games from the team that I coach, but I can't ah can't give the time that I want
Healthy Competition and Professionalism
01:10:53
Todd Dickerson
so I don't coach. But my point is, like, if you can't, if you, there's nothing wrong with competition.
01:11:03
Todd Dickerson
And if you lose, you lose, right?
01:11:04
The SnowJobs Podcast
Nope.
01:11:05
Todd Dickerson
Go on to the next one.
01:11:06
The SnowJobs Podcast
Amen.
01:11:06
RICK JAMES
you know
01:11:07
Todd Dickerson
Guess what? I'm going to, we're friends, but when we're between the lines, I'm trying to punch you in the nose. right
01:11:13
The SnowJobs Podcast
Amen.
01:11:13
RICK JAMES
yep
01:11:13
Todd Dickerson
Now, I'm not trying to cut your you're not trying to cut you up or kill you, but I'm going to beat you, and there's nothing wrong with that. And guess what?
01:11:22
The SnowJobs Podcast
I love it.
01:11:23
RICK JAMES
Nope.
01:11:23
Todd Dickerson
I see you at the bar tonight, I'm going to buy you a beer. Whether I win or lose, that that doesn't matter to me.
01:11:27
The SnowJobs Podcast
Mm-hmm.
01:11:27
RICK JAMES
Mm-hmm. Yep.
01:11:30
Todd Dickerson
But when i'm in that when I'm in between the lines, I want to win. And that's what a bid is, is I'm not trying to get it for, you know, if it should be a million dollars, I'm not go i'm not the guy.
01:11:35
The SnowJobs Podcast
yeah
01:11:44
Todd Dickerson
I can tell you right now, I'm going to be the guy at 1.4 million. You're, you know, if you want, if it's valued at a million, I'm going to be at 1.4 because that's what I'm worth from what I see in that project.
01:11:53
RICK JAMES
Yep. Yep.
01:11:57
Todd Dickerson
But if you want to do it for 500, you're an idiot. Go ahead. Like waste your time.
01:12:01
RICK JAMES
yeah
01:12:01
Todd Dickerson
I got plenty of other opportunities.
01:12:02
The SnowJobs Podcast
yep
01:12:03
Todd Dickerson
I mean, you guys are smart. How many airports are there and in the US? I mean, i got canadian I got Canadian airports calling me.
01:12:08
The SnowJobs Podcast
Oh, tons. Tons.
01:12:12
Todd Dickerson
How many people do you know that have melted snow in Houston? Probably only me, right?
01:12:16
RICK JAMES
Yep.
01:12:17
The SnowJobs Podcast
no
01:12:17
Todd Dickerson
My point is, like, I am not going to be the cheapest guy, but I'm going to be the best, period.
01:12:18
RICK JAMES
yep
01:12:24
RICK JAMES
Yep.
01:12:24
The SnowJobs Podcast
I love it.
01:12:24
Todd Dickerson
And I don't say that arrogantly.
01:12:25
RICK JAMES
That's great.
01:12:25
The SnowJobs Podcast
I love it.
01:12:26
Todd Dickerson
I don't say that arrogantly at all. I want you to understand.
01:12:28
The SnowJobs Podcast
No, no, I don't think that's arrogant.
01:12:29
RICK JAMES
No, there's...
01:12:31
The SnowJobs Podcast
I don't think
Knowing Your Worth and Pricing Strategy
01:12:32
The SnowJobs Podcast
that's arrogant. Know your worth and know the job you can do.
01:12:32
Todd Dickerson
No, but a lot people, 100%. A lot of people take that as, you know, guys like us, we understand what that means, right?
01:12:36
The SnowJobs Podcast
i got no problem with that.
01:12:37
RICK JAMES
There's zero... There's
01:12:42
Todd Dickerson
But, you know, when somebody's like, oh my God, you're charging this for that? Yeah. You got one? No. Okay, well, I do. you know. So, I mean,
01:12:51
RICK JAMES
zero...
01:12:52
Todd Dickerson
well so
01:12:52
The SnowJobs Podcast
ah I love that.
01:12:54
RICK JAMES
That's the biggest problem have with guys guys that are...
01:12:54
The SnowJobs Podcast
ah There's nothing wrong with competition, though.
01:12:58
Todd Dickerson
no i mean
01:12:58
RICK JAMES
The biggest problem I have with all these people is when they when they come at you, is like, oh, you're being brash, blah, blah. No, i'm I'm showing you what I can do. I know what I can do. This is my price. I'm going to do it at this. You're either going to want it or not.
01:13:10
RICK JAMES
And I'm not being brash about it. We get the shit done, period. There's nothing... You got to be proud of what you built and what you do. I mean, there's nothing wrong with... doing what you do and ah charging the price you want.
01:13:21
RICK JAMES
That's, but that's the problem where everybody thinks that's that you're being mean.
01:13:22
Todd Dickerson
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
01:13:25
RICK JAMES
No, you're not being mean. You're just, you're just being real. There's winners and losers in this world.
01:13:28
Todd Dickerson
yeah
01:13:29
RICK JAMES
And you're going to be a winner. You can be a loser.
01:13:32
Todd Dickerson
yeah
01:13:32
The SnowJobs Podcast
Dude, I go out to lunch with with younger guys around here because they had the unfortunate ah the unfortunate the you know birth date that they grew up in a generation where, like you said, there's participation awards and there's no...
01:13:46
Todd Dickerson
so
01:13:47
The SnowJobs Podcast
No, no, nobody wins. Nobody loses. We're not keeping score. You need to. It's almost like you need to help them find their killer instinct where they, like you said, it's okay to compete. It's okay to know what it feels like to lose. As long as you played the game, you gave it your all.
01:14:05
The SnowJobs Podcast
You came in with your best, best shot.
01:14:06
RICK JAMES
Okay.
01:14:07
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's okay. And I'm, I help these guys. i have lunch with them. I talk to them all the time and I'm like, there is nothing wrong with you putting in a bid on a property that I'm bidding on that. I'm okay with that. Like, like you were just saying, I'll help you. Even I want the area prices to come up because I'm not leaving my area. I know what they should be. I know what I get.
01:14:28
The SnowJobs Podcast
So I'll tell them, listen, What are you looking at this year? No, you can. Don't do that. You can get this. I know you can get this and they've gotten it. And now they're like, holy shit. Yeah, that's great. Let's keep doing this. So I think that what what somebody said, like, show me somebody that's OK with losing and I'll show you a loser.
01:14:47
The SnowJobs Podcast
Like, you don't have to like losing, but you still got to, you know, there's nothing wrong with competition. I think that's the that's the real problem that some guys have is they don't make the delineation between the two.
01:14:59
Todd Dickerson
Sure.
01:14:59
The SnowJobs Podcast
Like, I'm okay to have competitors. Like, there's you don't have to hate them. You know, like you said, I'll buy them a beer afterwards or a Diet Pepsi, whatever, you know, whatever they drink.
01:15:03
Todd Dickerson
No.
01:15:05
Todd Dickerson
No questions. You know, when and i lose when I lose an airport bid and believe me, I lose more than I get. But you know what's funny?
01:15:14
RICK JAMES
yeah
01:15:16
Todd Dickerson
After a year or two, you'd be surprised how many times my phone rings and goes, you know what?
01:15:19
RICK JAMES
They come back.
01:15:21
Todd Dickerson
We made the wrong decision. How can we work this out? And next thing you know, I'm getting work that I, I was, you know, I come out of the war room, we lose and,
01:15:34
Todd Dickerson
I'll be honest. I go i go red. i I lose my mind for 12 hours because I'm like, I start doing backwards math and figure out where these other guys are because I'm not stupid.
01:15:45
Todd Dickerson
i i know i know where where they are once I get the number. And I'm like...
01:15:45
RICK JAMES
but
01:15:50
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yep.
01:15:51
Todd Dickerson
they're not making any money. Like, why are you in this to not make money?
Financial Wisdom in Bidding
01:15:55
Todd Dickerson
I know we all know the headaches that we have to deal with.
01:15:55
RICK JAMES
Right.
01:15:55
RICK JAMES
I hate that.
01:15:58
Todd Dickerson
We know we get to deal with wives calling, going, hey, you know, we can't get to the store. We got no food, blah, blah, blah. And I got to deal with that. I got employees. I got insurance. You know, I got all this other headaches.
01:16:13
Todd Dickerson
Why am I doing this for no money? That's stupid. So if you want to do it for no money, go ahead.
01:16:17
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
01:16:20
Todd Dickerson
take all your resources and go there. I'm going to go bid this one over here that you don't have the resources to bid. And I'm going to make even more money over here.
01:16:26
The SnowJobs Podcast
you know
01:16:28
Todd Dickerson
And guess what? In a year from now or 18 months, these people that you, you won't are going to be calling me going, this guy can't handle it.
01:16:32
RICK JAMES
I'll get that one.
01:16:36
Todd Dickerson
We need your help. I can't tell you how many times I've had that phone call and I can't tell you how many times I said, you know what?
01:16:41
The SnowJobs Podcast
I'm sure.
01:16:41
RICK JAMES
That's great.
01:16:43
Todd Dickerson
You made the decision. You made your bed. Like, When I'm ready to come back and bid you again, I'll certainly do that. Or maybe sometimes I'm already there and I'm just taking over more area.
01:16:55
Todd Dickerson
And I'm like, yeah, we can, we'll make it work. Let's do it. But my number is my number.
01:16:59
RICK JAMES
it.
01:17:00
Todd Dickerson
So, you know
01:17:01
The SnowJobs Podcast
I agree completely. We always say that.
01:17:03
RICK JAMES
love it
01:17:03
The SnowJobs Podcast
I always joke with my guys about that when we lose a bid and we're at, say, $100,000 and some, what did the bid go for?
01:17:11
Todd Dickerson
know.
01:17:12
The SnowJobs Podcast
Well, we were at $100,000 and there were two other guys that know what they're doing that were within $10,000 of each other on $100,000 and somebody went and did $50,000. I tell my guys, don't worry about it. That contract's going to be up next year.
01:17:25
The SnowJobs Podcast
and they're like, well, no, they signed a five-year deal. Trust me, that contract's going to be up again next year.
01:17:28
RICK JAMES
yeah the the but contract the contractor
01:17:30
The SnowJobs Podcast
Don't worry about it. sir
01:17:32
Todd Dickerson
I mean.
01:17:33
The SnowJobs Podcast
Do you think they know, Todd, like when you when you go in there and your price is your price and they go in at less than half of that, you think they know they're not making any money or they just they have no clue that they're not going to make any money off it?
01:17:43
Todd Dickerson
Are you talking to the end user or the or the the the.
01:17:45
The SnowJobs Podcast
yeah the The company that's bidding. Yeah, the company that's bidding very low.
01:17:51
Todd Dickerson
So in my, this is where I'm different than a lot of commercial guys, right?
01:17:51
The SnowJobs Podcast
The contractor.
01:17:56
Todd Dickerson
So in my business, the end user knows like you're not going to be able to cut corners. Okay. I'll give you, I'll use an example that doesn't affect me, but I know the inside story.
01:18:06
RICK JAMES
Right.
01:18:12
Todd Dickerson
So how do we, how are we referring to the clown machine? Is that how we're referring to them?
01:18:19
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
01:18:19
The SnowJobs Podcast
ah Yeah, clowns.
01:18:20
RICK JAMES
yeah
01:18:21
The SnowJobs Podcast
We just call them clowns.
01:18:21
RICK JAMES
Clowns really are.
01:18:22
Todd Dickerson
and So the clowns took over a landscaping contract at one of our airports. and I know the the person that is the contracting officer for the landscaping.
01:18:33
Todd Dickerson
Well, about three months into the contract, you know, they're not mowing every week. They're mowing like every 14 days.
01:18:42
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah.
01:18:43
Todd Dickerson
They measured the mulch and the mulch was half of what it should have been The flowers are half the size that they were supposed to be planted. So they put them on notice, right?
01:18:54
Todd Dickerson
And the CO contracting officer is like, man, I can't believe they're doing I said, dude, I said, I told you this was going to happen.
01:19:01
RICK JAMES
Yeah, you can.
01:19:02
Todd Dickerson
Like, is
01:19:02
The SnowJobs Podcast
They have to do that.
01:19:04
Todd Dickerson
This is what they do. How do you think you got that number where you're saving 30%?
01:19:05
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah.
01:19:10
Todd Dickerson
And they're like, oh, is that how they're doing it?
01:19:10
RICK JAMES
Yep.
01:19:12
Todd Dickerson
I'm like, come on, man. You can't be that naive.
01:19:13
RICK JAMES
Yeah. Come on.
01:19:15
Todd Dickerson
right Like, seriously. Like, you think, again, let's use your $100,000 and $55,000.
01:19:18
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's ah
01:19:21
Todd Dickerson
You think I'm going to make that much money on one contract in this type of thing?
01:19:27
The SnowJobs Podcast
God. No.
01:19:27
Todd Dickerson
I mean, come on, man. Like, use your head.
Impact of Social Media on Marketing
01:19:30
Todd Dickerson
So, you know, and then the only other point you asked me for something to kind of tell the young guys, right, is young up and comings is, you know, back in our day when I first started, the big thing was the blue book, right?
01:19:31
The SnowJobs Podcast
I know.
01:19:38
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah.
01:19:45
Todd Dickerson
You know, if you needed a contract or whatever I was for plumbing, snow removal, landscape, what you went to the blue book, you found people that, you know, Well, the blue book now is basically social media, which is why we have our own social media team.
01:19:58
The SnowJobs Podcast
Mm-hmm.
01:20:00
Todd Dickerson
They freaking flood things every day. I mean, you guys see it. You,
01:20:04
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yep. Yeah.
01:20:04
RICK JAMES
Yep.
01:20:04
Todd Dickerson
Facebook, LinkedIn. I mean, I don't do any of that stuff except my own Instagram. Right. But, and they still have control over that to just keep popping company stuff up on it.
01:20:15
Todd Dickerson
Right. But like, I'm not on Facebook.
01:20:16
RICK JAMES
ye
01:20:17
Todd Dickerson
I'm not on LinkedIn. I'm on none of that stuff, but they handle it all. But every day they're pumping something out because all these new young government people, right.
01:20:28
Todd Dickerson
Like the old guard where I started are all gone. They've all retired.
01:20:31
The SnowJobs Podcast
yeah
01:20:32
Todd Dickerson
they They're all the blue book guys. Right. But nowadays it's all, you know, if Billy, the new contracting officer needs a snow guy, ah I don't know, National Weather Service, he's Googling and and doing all that and whatever pops up on, you know, his his Google search.
01:20:51
Todd Dickerson
Based off social media, that's where he's, hey, I need you to, I mean, I guarantee you, and I'm not blowing smoke here, i guarantee you i turn away commercial work, probably 200 people
01:20:56
RICK JAMES
Yep. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
01:21:05
Todd Dickerson
RFPs every June from June to all the way up to December 1st when these morons are still bidding snow removal. No, you know, it's, it's, it's like, yeah, no, I don't, you know, I don't do any commercial zero except the two that I told you about, which were my original two.
01:21:16
The SnowJobs Podcast
I love it.
01:21:24
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yep.
01:21:26
Todd Dickerson
So.
01:21:27
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's cool.
01:21:27
Todd Dickerson
Oh,
01:21:27
RICK JAMES
That's, yeah.
01:21:27
The SnowJobs Podcast
that That's really cool, though, that you still do them.
01:21:29
The SnowJobs Podcast
I love that.
01:21:30
RICK JAMES
yeah
01:21:30
Todd Dickerson
oh
01:21:31
RICK JAMES
that Like he says, that's that's what i always get a lot of people say, oh, you guys must be getting a lot of snow. I'm like, no, we ain't getting shit for snow the last two years. and But I'm still pumping out content just to stay relevant and stay out there. I'm just like rehashing videos or whatever. And people oh, you must be getting it. I'm like, no, we're not. That's from three years ago when we actually had snow.
01:21:49
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah.
01:21:49
RICK JAMES
I just want to stay relevant and stay in the public eye. you know that's why That's why I just keep pumping out, redoing the videos, whatever.
01:21:54
Todd Dickerson
No question.
01:21:56
RICK JAMES
I mean, you just want to stay out there so people don't forget about you, I guess, is what i'm trying to do.
01:21:59
Todd Dickerson
yeah I mean, how many times have you guys seen my melter videos pop up? I mean, we got millions of hours of melting videos, but you know what?
01:22:04
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah.
01:22:04
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
01:22:06
Todd Dickerson
I got to keep them going, you know, to keep them going.
01:22:08
RICK JAMES
Yeah. Same thing. I mean, yeah.
01:22:10
Todd Dickerson
You know what I mean? So, you know, it look, it's fun.
01:22:12
RICK JAMES
just Plus, they're just cool to look at. They're fun to watch.
01:22:16
Todd Dickerson
Yeah. I mean, it's fun.
01:22:17
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah.
01:22:17
Todd Dickerson
I love it. I get up every day loving it. Um,
01:22:21
The SnowJobs Podcast
Oh, that's great.
01:22:21
Todd Dickerson
you know, like, you know, I'm fortunate enough to to sit here and do this with you guys. I'll do it anytime you want, however often you want. Like, i I could talk this stuff for days, like, you know, laugh, tell stories, make fun of each other.
01:22:30
The SnowJobs Podcast
Sweet.
01:22:32
RICK JAMES
love it. Awesome.
01:22:36
Todd Dickerson
that That's what it's all about to me. So,
01:22:38
The SnowJobs Podcast
I love it it.
01:22:39
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
01:22:39
The SnowJobs Podcast
is. It is what it's all about. And guys at.
01:22:41
Todd Dickerson
And seriously, anybody can contact me anytime. you know i get guys all the time that call me and they're like, what loader do you think I need for this? And I'm like, dude, I'm not the loader guy, but let me tell you what I think you need.
01:22:53
Todd Dickerson
yeah know um You guys know that stuff better than me, but like I give my input.
01:22:54
RICK JAMES
yeah
01:22:57
Todd Dickerson
i got I got nothing to hide. I'll help anybody.
01:23:01
The SnowJobs Podcast
ah That's awesome.
01:23:02
RICK JAMES
That's great.
01:23:02
The SnowJobs Podcast
thats um That's great, Todd.
01:23:02
RICK JAMES
That's awesome.
01:23:03
The SnowJobs Podcast
Good for you, man. i I definitely think i think we got to have you. we're gonna if you're If you're willing, like you said, we'll definitely have you back on.
01:23:09
RICK JAMES
Oh yeah, we're going have them again. Yeah.
01:23:11
The SnowJobs Podcast
And like when we do when we do do like roundtable stuff, yeah, absolutely.
01:23:13
RICK JAMES
Maybe one of our regulars. yeah
01:23:16
The SnowJobs Podcast
We do a lot of ah you know you know roundtable stuff, bring four or five guys in, get five different opinions in one night of ah of a different topic we kick around. So we'll definitely get you in on that if you're if you're willing to do that with us.
01:23:28
The SnowJobs Podcast
and Yeah, we had a lot of fun. I think there's much more to explore. Like, I would like to do a whole airport episode. Like, I think guys will want to hear more about the airport side of snow, like air side versus land side, stuff like that.
01:23:36
RICK JAMES
Mm-hmm. From the start to the end, yeah. Yeah.
01:23:40
Todd Dickerson
Yeah, I mean, what might be cool is I bring my airport guys in with me and we all, you know, let them go there.
01:23:41
RICK JAMES
Yeah, definitely.
01:23:46
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah, 100%.
01:23:46
Todd Dickerson
You know what Yeah, i mean...
01:23:47
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
01:23:47
RICK JAMES
Yeah, definitely.
01:23:48
The SnowJobs Podcast
That would be great. Absolutely. We could definitely do that. But, yeah, I mean, ah think ah I
01:23:51
RICK JAMES
Yeah, that'd be cool.
01:23:53
Todd Dickerson
if we
01:23:54
RICK JAMES
So.
01:23:54
Todd Dickerson
If people want equipment stuff like we know some people do, ah um i'll bring my I'll bring my superintendent in.
01:24:00
The SnowJobs Podcast
Uh-uh.
01:24:03
Todd Dickerson
Now, he's not a great – he's more of a hands-on guy, but I can i can poke him and get him to to talk a little bit about that kind of stuff. If people want operations, I mean, i I'll do whatever – I'm here.
01:24:17
Todd Dickerson
So back when I first started, um, snow lift, which was, uh, Mike, oh my God, his name just left my head. i'm sorry
01:24:31
The SnowJobs Podcast
Oh, that happens. That happens to me daily.
01:24:31
Todd Dickerson
and I'm sorry. It'll pop to me in the here in a minute. But anyway, i was bidding on ah United Airlines at Dulles back in, mean, we're going way back now.
01:24:43
Todd Dickerson
And we're all sitting there and he came up to me. What is his name? Anyway, he comes up to me and he's like, kid, what are you doing here? And I'm like, and I was probably...
01:24:55
Todd Dickerson
I was probably 32, 34 years old, so 20 years ago. And i was like, well, you know, I really want to i really want to try to get in the air side. And he's like, well, just keep grinding. You'll figure it out, you know.
01:25:07
Todd Dickerson
And I lost it, right? I lost it twice before I finally got it. um And, you know, the coolest part about that to me was when I finally got it and it got announced, the first phone call I got was from him going, hey, kid, congratulations. You've worked your ass off. if You deserved it.
01:25:26
Todd Dickerson
So, you know, like, we since passed, but, you know, and the company's been sold, but like, I feel like that's our duty is to try to, you know, give back and help some of these younger guys, which is why I suggested way back in the beginning of this episode is, you know, if you want to get rich quick, start a sidewalk company.
01:25:26
The SnowJobs Podcast
That's awesome.
01:25:28
RICK JAMES
That's great. Yep. Mm-hmm.
01:25:46
Todd Dickerson
Like, I've told...
01:25:48
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah.
01:25:48
RICK JAMES
yeah
01:25:49
Todd Dickerson
people that for years because like nobody wants to do those. And you know, if it's a quick, easy way and if you're good at babysitting and logistics and all that, I'm not a logistics guy. I'm a sales guy.
01:26:03
Todd Dickerson
So like, I would love for people to handle that stuff and then I can, I can go on to the next thing.
01:26:09
The SnowJobs Podcast
sure
01:26:10
RICK JAMES
Right.
01:26:10
Todd Dickerson
So anyway, my my story to that is, you know, we should all be trying to give back and make our industry better.
01:26:12
The SnowJobs Podcast
Love it.
01:26:17
Todd Dickerson
And I don't know why we try to cut each other's throat.
01:26:18
RICK JAMES
Yep.
01:26:19
Todd Dickerson
It's, it's, it's not, you know, We should all be pretty close in in estimates, and i don't understand these guys that low ballll lowball everything.
01:26:24
The SnowJobs Podcast
Amen.
01:26:24
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
01:26:30
Todd Dickerson
Like, come on, man. We're we're in this together.
01:26:31
RICK JAMES
there's There's enough payment out there for everybody, you know.
01:26:32
Todd Dickerson
why yet Why are we hurting each other?
01:26:34
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yep.
01:26:36
Todd Dickerson
So,
Encouraging Fair Competition
01:26:37
The SnowJobs Podcast
Well, trying to fix it, trying to fix it, one listener at a time, trying to get them all on board, you know, know your worth, know your numbers, and don't go cheap. There's no reason to. and Because nothing we use is cheap.
01:26:37
Todd Dickerson
anyway.
01:26:49
Todd Dickerson
Yeah.
01:26:49
The SnowJobs Podcast
that everything Everything we need to do what we do is super expensive.
01:26:49
RICK JAMES
No.
01:26:49
Todd Dickerson
yeah
01:26:53
Todd Dickerson
Bro, but some of so my
01:26:53
The SnowJobs Podcast
So it's just...
01:26:53
RICK JAMES
We always Go ahead. Go ahead, Todd.
01:26:56
Todd Dickerson
listen to this. So my aviation insurance, right?
01:26:57
The SnowJobs Podcast
ah
01:27:00
The SnowJobs Podcast
I can't even imagine.
01:27:00
RICK JAMES
Oh boy.
01:27:01
Todd Dickerson
This aviation insurance, $50 million dollars a year, general liability in aviation market, that alone is almost a million dollars by itself.
01:27:02
RICK JAMES
Oh boy.
01:27:12
Todd Dickerson
not counting any other avi Not counting any other auto, health insurance, anything, just aviation insurance alone.
01:27:13
The SnowJobs Podcast
Jesus.
01:27:21
Todd Dickerson
it's It's like, so why are why are we trying to kill each other on this thing?
01:27:22
The SnowJobs Podcast
Insane.
01:27:25
The SnowJobs Podcast
I know.
01:27:26
Todd Dickerson
So, yeah.
01:27:26
The SnowJobs Podcast
um Makes no sense.
01:27:27
RICK JAMES
Wow.
01:27:29
The SnowJobs Podcast
Wow.
01:27:30
Todd Dickerson
That's another thing we can discuss down the road is, you know, once you get to that certain threshold, everybody needs to be looking into a captive insurance model because it's a damn good way to go, let me tell you.
01:27:30
The SnowJobs Podcast
the
01:27:39
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yep.
01:27:43
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yes, sir. Yeah, there's a lot.
01:27:44
Todd Dickerson
so
01:27:45
The SnowJobs Podcast
There's definitely a lot to discuss. I mean, it's we're just scratching the surface. It's taken us two years, and and we're still just scratching the surface. So there's lots more to do.
01:27:53
RICK JAMES
ye
01:27:54
Todd Dickerson
Yeah.
01:27:55
The SnowJobs Podcast
But, yeah, i think...
01:27:55
Todd Dickerson
no Look, man, you guys are you guys are killing it. You guys make me laugh every time I watch. you know I see you guys jump up every now and then on Instagram Live, and I'm like, let me see what these goofballs are doing.
01:28:07
Todd Dickerson
This is the time you guys are working.
01:28:08
RICK JAMES
We never know what we're doing either.
01:28:10
Todd Dickerson
Most of the time you guys are working and I'm sitting you know somewhere where it's like 70 degrees and I'm like, this sucks. These guys are making money and I'm simply doing nothing. So...
01:28:19
The SnowJobs Podcast
Oh, we we appreciate that. We definitely do.
01:28:22
RICK JAMES
yeah
01:28:22
The SnowJobs Podcast
it's ah It's an honor, that's for sure. i mean, we, yeah, it's been been fun. We just keep keep doing what we're doing. People seem to like it, and we seem to be helping some guys out there and and putting people in touch with other people, which is that's, like you said, that's all, pass it on.
01:28:39
The SnowJobs Podcast
Build everybody up.
01:28:39
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
01:28:40
The SnowJobs Podcast
We all do better. Yeah.
01:28:41
Todd Dickerson
No ah question.
01:28:42
The SnowJobs Podcast
Like I think, who is that Rob T boat had said that for the first time on the show, Jay, the rising tide lift all boats.
01:28:47
RICK JAMES
Yep.
01:28:48
The SnowJobs Podcast
Yeah, that's a, that's very true.
01:28:48
Todd Dickerson
Yeah.
01:28:48
RICK JAMES
Yep.
01:28:49
RICK JAMES
Yeah,
01:28:50
The SnowJobs Podcast
It's very true.
01:28:50
Todd Dickerson
Great.
01:28:52
The SnowJobs Podcast
So Todd, thank you so much for giving us the time today.
01:28:52
Todd Dickerson
you
01:28:55
The SnowJobs Podcast
We're definitely, like we said, this is just the start. We're going to definitely have you back on, get you involved in some more stuff with us. If you're, if you're willing and i definitely do an airport episode with your, air you and your airport guys, that'd be awesome.
01:29:07
Todd Dickerson
I mean, you guys say the word, we'll we'll make it work.
01:29:07
RICK JAMES
that'd be great.
01:29:09
Todd Dickerson
And, you know, happy to be on and and happy to share what little knowledge I have in this big head. So, you know. what
01:29:18
The SnowJobs Podcast
Oh, shit.
01:29:19
RICK JAMES
ah
01:29:20
The SnowJobs Podcast
All right. Well, thanks, Todd.
01:29:21
RICK JAMES
yeah.
01:29:21
The SnowJobs Podcast
We really appreciate it. ah Yeah, we'll wrap it there, guys. That's going to do it. Episode 112 of the Snow Jaws podcast main show in the books. Again, as always, thank Todd and Top Dog for the time ah for coming on with us. It was a great listen. Definitely. You guys are going to love this one. I already can see the ah DMs coming in off of this one.
01:29:40
The SnowJobs Podcast
And ah we're going to have them back.
01:29:40
RICK JAMES
so yeah
01:29:41
The SnowJobs Podcast
So. You know, don't ask. We we were already said we're going to get them back, so there's no need to badger us about it. But that is it, guys. Everybody be safe out there. If you still have any winter left, be safe doing what you're doing. Other than that, have a great week.
01:29:56
The SnowJobs Podcast
Keep pushing.