Dirt to Docks is a raw, real, and sometimes ridiculous look into what it’s like building blue collar businesses from the ground up. Hosted by Matt Cone and Trey Lomel—one slingin’ dirt in the mining game, the other building custom docks on the Florida coast—we break down the daily grind of running and growing trade companies.
Whether you’re turning a wrench, managing a crew, or dreaming about buying your first skid steer, this podcast brings you along for the ride. No suits, no fluff—just honest talk about wins, mistakes, money, family, and what it really takes to build something that lasts.
This week, Matt and Trey dive into one of the most underrated growth hacks in business: reaching out to your competitors and learning from the people who are one or two steps ahead of you.
Most founders stay in their bubble — afraid, embarrassed, or too proud to reach out. But the fastest way to level up isn’t guessing… it’s talking to someone who’s already solved the problem you’re facing today.
We break down:
Why shadowing other businesses accelerates growth
How early-stage owners can skip mistakes by learning from someone slightly ahead
Why staying curious keeps you from getting stagnant
How to reach out the right way (and not be weird about it)
The real opportunities that come from building relationships with your “competition”
Stories from our own shadowing experiences — what we learned, what surprised us, and how it changed our operations
Whether you're just starting, acquiring your first company, or scaling a team — this episode will give you a blueprint for learning faster and building a network that pays off for years.
2 Dec 2025
Getting Promoted In The Trades | S1E23
In this episode, Trey and Matt dive into one of the most overlooked skills in the trades: professionalism.
Everyone talks about work ethic. Everyone talks about skill.
But nobody talks about the one thing that actually gets you promoted from the field to the office:
➡️ How you present yourself.
We break down why the way you show up — your communication, your attitude, your appearance, your consistency — says more about your future than how many boards you can cut or pilings you can set.
We cover:
• Why some guys get promoted even if they aren’t the most skilled
• How to represent yourself like a leader (even before you are one)
• The daily habits that make your boss trust you with more
• The mistakes that silently kill promotions
• Why professionalism matters more in the next generation of blue-collar work
• How small improvements create massive opportunities
If you’re in the trades, on a crew, or working your way up and wondering,
“How do I take the next step?”
…this episode lays out the roadmap.
Because in 2025 and beyond, you don’t just need to be good with tools —
you need to carry yourself like someone who can represent a company.
25 Nov 2025
The Hardest Call I've Made as a New Business Owner | S1E22
In today’s episode Trey breaks down the hardest situation he’s faced since acquiring Old Florida Docks.
When you buy a business, you inherit the people. That can be a blessing or a challenge. In this case, it was both.
This episode cover:
• What happens when a long-tenured employee resents new ownership• Why talent alone isn’t enough to build a healthy team• The red flags Trey ignored for too long• The moment he knew he had to make a change• How the company actually got stronger after the decision• Lessons for anyone leading in the trades, especially through acquisitions
This story isn’t about calling anyone out.
It’s about growth, leadership, boundaries.
and the decisions every business owner eventually has to face.
If you’ve ever struggled to let someone go because they were “too valuable,” this one will hit home.
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