What does it take to scale a business from 2 locations to 37 while keeping culture, trust, and freedom intact?

In this episode of The TrustBuilt Podcast, host Alan Bennett sits down with Jonathan Brooks, CEO of Warehouse on Wheels, to talk about how he’s built a self-sustaining business that runs without him at the center.

John shares his journey from accounting and private equity to leading a 37,000-trailer rental company, including:

Why owner-dependent businesses kill deals (and how to avoid it).

✅ How to use trust, emotional intelligence, and systems to build culture at scale.

✅ Why Extreme Ownership and Gallup’s Q12 framework anchor his leadership style.

✅ The connection between employee engagement and business value.

✅ What it really looks like to step away while your business thrives.

If you’re an exhausted owner looking for a business that can scale — and sell — without you, this episode is packed with real-world lessons.

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations on how to build a business that runs without you 👉 www.youtube.com/@trustbuiltpodcast

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Why trust matters in private equity and leadership

01:00 – John Brooks’ career path

03:45 – Building Warehouse on Wheels: 2 locations to 37,000 trailers

04:15 – Using Gallup Q12 to measure and improve culture

06:00 – Shifting from data-driven CFO to emotionally intelligent leader

08:00 – Creating a learning & development department for employees

10:00 – Extreme Ownership as a foundation for decision-making

12:00 – Interview questions that reveal motivation and fit

13:00 – Hiring for attitude vs. aptitude

15:00 – What Warehouse on Wheels actually does

16:00 – Ritz-Carlton service at the Hampton Inn price

18:00 – Scaling through acquisitions & greenfield markets

19:15 – Onboarding new hires with culture and ownership

23:15 – Field training exercises & experiential learning

26:00 – Equity & reward structures that drive buy-in

27:30 – Building competency and succession into the business

30:00 – Scaling easier once trust systems are in place

33:40 – Agility and empowering local market CEOs

35:20 – Trust + culture = engaged employees & loyal customers

37:00 – Could the business run without John Brooks? (succession planning)

39:00 – Vision: 100,000 trailers, 100 locations

42:00 – Owner dependence kills deals (and how to avoid it)

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Connect With Jonathan & Warehouse on Wheels

🌐 https://wowtrailers.com/

💻 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jnbrooksiv/

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Are you a business owner who is ready to break free from the day-to-day grind & build a self-sustaining company?

👉 Set up a time to talk to Alan

🔗 https://www.trustbuiltsolutions.com/contact