Bet on Yourself: Three Cypress Truck Lines Success Stories

1 00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:08,280 Most people think change happens all at once. Like when you wake up one day, you flip a switch and 2 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:14,520 everything's different. That's not how life works. Sometimes change looks like sitting in your car, 3 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:19,240 scrolling through the website, trying to figure out how you're going to make it to tomorrow. 4 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:25,920 Sometimes change looks like your wife handing you $100 and telling you that's all you have to your 5 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:32,200 name. Sometimes it looks like leaving behind everything you've ever known to chase something. 6 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:38,919 You're not even sure it's going to work. And if you're lucky, if you stick with it, if you 7 00:00:38,919 --> 00:00:45,720 don't quit when it gets hard. And if you wake up every day and tell yourself that failure is not 8 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:52,680 an option. Those moments turn into something else. Those moments turn into a paycheck. 9 00:00:52,759 --> 00:00:58,920 Those moments turn into a home. Those moments turn into a chance to show up for your kids, 10 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:06,120 a chance to prove to yourself that you're not done yet. And today you're going to hear 11 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:12,920 three of these stories. No scripts, no polish, no 12 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:19,839 shortcuts. Just three guys who bet on themselves when they didn't have a whole lot left 13 00:01:19,839 --> 00:01:26,839 to bet. Countdown to 14 00:01:26,839 --> 00:01:33,680 the Cypress Truck Lines podcast starts now. Your number 15 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:40,199 one professional flatbed podcast here to deliver stories, safety updates and company news 16 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:44,519 directly to your ears. Let's get down to business. 17 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:55,600 How's the weather out there? Cypress and Sun Belt. Welcome in to the Cypress Truck Lines podcast. This 18 00:01:55,600 --> 00:02:02,360 is episode 15. Thank you so much for being here today. I am your host, Marcus. As always, we've got 19 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:08,959 an awesome episode for you today, a very powerful episode for you today, and one that I am very 20 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:15,360 excited to present because I'll tell you my heart, um, I don't want to give too much of it away right 21 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:20,400 now. Uh, let's get to the homework real quick first. And actually, before we even get to the homework, I 22 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:26,880 want to tell you guys, uh, why I've decided to open the show by saying, how's the weather out there? 23 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:33,520 Cypress and sun belt. It is because you're located in Florida and I am located in gray, 24 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:39,959 dreary, rainy Eugene, Oregon. And since we started this podcast at the beginning of the year, um, us 25 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:46,000 Pacific Northwest have only seen the sun 2 or 3 times. So I am living vicariously through you 26 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:51,039 Florida folk. Okay, that's what I'm doing. Asking how the weather is out there because I know it's 27 00:02:51,039 --> 00:02:55,600 70 degrees and sunny. Uh, sometimes it's hotter than that, sometimes it's a little more humid, but 28 00:02:55,689 --> 00:03:01,249 it's largely beautiful. As long as like a tornado isn't ripping through your beautiful state. So 29 00:03:01,570 --> 00:03:06,529 that's why you get asked every single week on this podcast, how's the weather out there? Because 30 00:03:06,529 --> 00:03:13,449 I'm envious. Uh, okay. Time to get to the homework here. Cypress, uh, has a great podcast landing web 31 00:03:13,490 --> 00:03:19,449 page on their web page. It's pretty simple. You just go to podcast.cypresstruck.com and you're 32 00:03:19,490 --> 00:03:25,449 there. Uh, it's the full one stop shop for the podcast. Everything you need there. I tell you this 33 00:03:25,449 --> 00:03:31,329 every single week. So it's all old hat to you know, but do yourself a favor and bookmark it. Uh, a lot of you 34 00:03:31,329 --> 00:03:36,209 guys are listening to the webs or to the podcast from that website. You're not going to Spotify or 35 00:03:36,209 --> 00:03:42,369 Apple or any of the other, uh, places that you can go. It's it's a it's a pretty solid majority. So, uh, 36 00:03:42,410 --> 00:03:46,369 go ahead, do yourself a favor, bookmark that, because that's also where you can go to send me 37 00:03:46,369 --> 00:03:52,529 an email. And that's a very important part of today's episode. Um, this this episode was 38 00:03:52,529 --> 00:03:58,089 suggested by Matt Penland, and I believe Clay Hamblen was in that meeting as well. Um, super 39 00:03:58,089 --> 00:04:03,369 powerful episode here. But I actually have been communicating back and forth with a couple of 40 00:04:03,369 --> 00:04:08,890 other Cypress drivers this morning before I recorded this episode today. Um, and they're 41 00:04:08,890 --> 00:04:14,489 delivering me ideas for other episodes right to my pocket. And you guys are all welcome to do that. 42 00:04:14,490 --> 00:04:20,729 I know there's a bunch of you out there, some 500 drivers. Um, I am not even close to having spoken 43 00:04:20,730 --> 00:04:26,689 to all of you yet, but I'm slowly working my way through the roster here. And one easy way to, uh, 44 00:04:26,689 --> 00:04:31,849 bridge that gap is for you to just send me an email. If you've got an idea here for the show. 45 00:04:31,850 --> 00:04:36,450 It's real simple. You shoot the email off and we'll make an episode out of it. And if you don't 46 00:04:36,450 --> 00:04:40,609 believe me, you can talk to some of the other guys like, uh, Mark Burleson who was texting me this 47 00:04:40,609 --> 00:04:45,849 morning and uh, and Kevin Barrett, um, those guys they requested are they uh, suggest episodes to me 48 00:04:45,850 --> 00:04:50,410 all the time. And I've already used some of their suggestions to make episodes. And I've got another 49 00:04:50,410 --> 00:04:56,129 one, uh, on the board that I'm going to make into an episode here very soon. So it's really simple. I 50 00:04:56,129 --> 00:05:01,049 love to hear from you guys. Um, if nothing else, it just helps us build our relationship so we can 51 00:05:01,049 --> 00:05:06,450 share more laughs and have more fun and, uh, talk about even deeper things here on the podcast. So, 52 00:05:06,609 --> 00:05:13,569 uh, once again, podcast.cypresstruck.com, that's your website. Go bookmark it. What's 53 00:05:13,609 --> 00:05:17,889 today's episode about? Because I haven't touched that yet. Here we are, 3.5 minutes into the dang 54 00:05:17,890 --> 00:05:22,889 podcast, and you guys don't even know what I'm here to talk about today. Well, I would say this 55 00:05:22,890 --> 00:05:29,409 one's going to be a little bit different from a, I guess, a format standpoint. It's not going to be a 56 00:05:29,409 --> 00:05:33,569 lot different. One thing we've had some real success with on this show is long form 57 00:05:33,569 --> 00:05:39,529 conversations. One big segment right in the middle of the episode where we talk for 45, 50 minutes, 58 00:05:39,530 --> 00:05:46,010 maybe even an hour, and really dig in. And we're going to do that today. But it's not necessarily 59 00:05:46,010 --> 00:05:51,849 trucking stories. It's not, uh, you know, your experience as an owner operator. It's not, um, what 60 00:05:51,890 --> 00:05:58,169 lane you're running in and what's going to work for you. This episode is going to feature stories. 61 00:05:58,170 --> 00:06:05,170 No games, no segments, just stories. Okay. And to be honest with you, I'm going in blind at this point 62 00:06:05,170 --> 00:06:10,529 in time. I really do not know what the stories entail because I was given very little 63 00:06:10,529 --> 00:06:16,730 information. And normally, as a broadcaster that's paid to talk at length about things that I have 64 00:06:16,730 --> 00:06:23,049 researched or discovered, um, I don't like to go in without a lot of information, but today I'm happy 65 00:06:23,049 --> 00:06:29,449 to because you are going to get to hear me respond and react to these stories as they 66 00:06:29,450 --> 00:06:35,009 unfold. And I think that's a really important part of today's episode, because it it's going to be a 67 00:06:35,010 --> 00:06:41,729 little bit of an emotional one. Okay. Um, it's emotional is is maybe not the right term. It's a 68 00:06:41,730 --> 00:06:48,329 heavy episode. It's an awesome episode. It's inspiring. I think, uh, once it's, you know, once this, 69 00:06:48,329 --> 00:06:52,659 this whole thing is, is finished. You're going to look back and you're going to go, man. Take a deep, 70 00:06:52,659 --> 00:06:56,699 long look in the mirror. I think I could be a better person than even what I am today, and 71 00:06:56,700 --> 00:07:01,539 that's a good thing. We could all use a moment like that. Uh, but but the three gentlemen that are 72 00:07:01,540 --> 00:07:07,339 going to join us today are here to tell stories of triumph. Uh, stories about betting on themselves 73 00:07:07,340 --> 00:07:14,259 and winning. We are here today to discuss how Cypress impacted these drivers lives. And, 74 00:07:14,300 --> 00:07:19,739 uh, let me tell you, I think you're going to want to stick around for this one. Uh, we got a guy, one 75 00:07:19,740 --> 00:07:26,179 guy coming in from the islands, uh, Saint Thomas. Beautiful place, but a lot different than Florida. 76 00:07:26,219 --> 00:07:32,099 Okay, it's not that far away, but you'll learn it's a different, uh, we got a guy that was living in 77 00:07:32,099 --> 00:07:37,780 his car. He's going to talk to you today. We got a guy, uh, the, like you heard in the cold open. Had 78 00:07:37,780 --> 00:07:44,099 $100 to his name. Now, all three of those guys joined this podcast today, uh, from their Cypress 79 00:07:44,099 --> 00:07:49,180 truck or from, uh, the yard. Because I think in James's case, his truck is in the shop getting an 80 00:07:49,180 --> 00:07:55,659 oil change. But they all found Cypress. They all went through the process. They trusted the 81 00:07:55,659 --> 00:08:01,500 process, as Ken and Laurence would have you say, and look at where they're at. Now, that's the whole 82 00:08:01,500 --> 00:08:05,779 purpose of today's episode. You know, there's going to be Cypress drivers listening to this that are 83 00:08:05,780 --> 00:08:10,339 going to resonate with it and say, hey, I've got the same kind of story and by all means send me 84 00:08:10,339 --> 00:08:17,019 an email. I want you to come on this podcast and tell your story if you want to. Um, but I also 85 00:08:17,020 --> 00:08:20,700 think that there's going to be some truck drivers out there listening to this that don't work for 86 00:08:20,700 --> 00:08:27,619 Cypress. And that is also a big reason for today's episode, because there's a few things 87 00:08:27,619 --> 00:08:32,019 that are different about Cypress. You know, we haven't done an episode about it yet, but one 88 00:08:32,020 --> 00:08:36,860 thing that was a common theme when I was out in Jacksonville both times is the kind of have it 89 00:08:36,860 --> 00:08:43,740 your way attitude that blaze and everybody up in dispatch and operations has, um, they they'll let 90 00:08:43,740 --> 00:08:47,259 you guys stay out as long as you want to. They'll get you home. When you want to get home, they'll 91 00:08:47,260 --> 00:08:52,579 get you home for doctor's appointments. There's always a way for them to get you where you need 92 00:08:52,579 --> 00:08:57,819 to be, and really kind of build the job around you. That ain't the way it is at every trucking 93 00:08:57,820 --> 00:09:02,179 company, and I'm sure a lot of you drivers know that those of you that have only driven for 94 00:09:02,179 --> 00:09:09,019 Cypress, man, congratulations, you found the holy grail of trucking companies that will let 95 00:09:09,020 --> 00:09:13,659 you build your own schedule and build your own life to the best of their ability and, uh, and 96 00:09:13,659 --> 00:09:17,499 really try to move mountains to make it happen. Now, we've heard some stories on this show about 97 00:09:17,500 --> 00:09:22,859 Cypress doing exactly that, moving some mountains to get people home for, you know, doctor's visits. 98 00:09:22,859 --> 00:09:27,379 Or maybe they have an ill loved one that they need to be there to support. All of that has 99 00:09:27,380 --> 00:09:32,579 happened here. And, uh, these three stories aren't quite like that. These three stories are about 100 00:09:32,579 --> 00:09:37,339 guys that said, I'm done doing it the way I've been doing it, and I want to do it different. And 101 00:09:37,340 --> 00:09:42,379 they just so happen to come across Cypress. And that's what you're going to hear today. There's 102 00:09:42,379 --> 00:09:47,579 not really I can sell it to you more, but there's not really any reason for it. I really don't want 103 00:09:47,580 --> 00:09:53,099 to give anything away because of the impact that these stories have. And I'll be honest with you, I 104 00:09:53,099 --> 00:09:59,178 did not do my typical Marcus thing. I there's I didn't bring the super high energy today. I let 105 00:09:59,219 --> 00:10:06,099 these guys talk. I just wanted to hear the stories from them as they lived them. And that 106 00:10:06,099 --> 00:10:11,179 is what makes today's episode so powerful. So, uh, that's enough of the homework. That's enough 107 00:10:11,179 --> 00:10:16,140 pontificating for me. I want to get these guys in here so that you can hear their stories. And I 108 00:10:16,140 --> 00:10:19,939 hope you got some windshield time ahead of you for this one, because you're going to want to lock 109 00:10:19,939 --> 00:10:24,299 in a lot of good stuff. Coming up, let's get Trevis, James and Mateo in here. 110 00:10:29,180 --> 00:10:35,979 Oh. All right. Welcome back into the Cypress 111 00:10:35,979 --> 00:10:42,020 Truck Lines podcast. Now it's time to bring in our guests. Today, we've got three drivers here to tell 112 00:10:42,020 --> 00:10:47,579 their stories about how Cypress impacted their lives. And I'll be honest with all the listeners 113 00:10:47,580 --> 00:10:52,979 right now, I don't know these stories. A lot of times I'll get to to kind of get some information 114 00:10:52,979 --> 00:10:57,699 beforehand. I'm going into this one blind, and I'm pretty excited about it, because I think we've got 115 00:10:57,699 --> 00:11:03,498 three really cool stories to tell here. So let's welcome our drivers in. First and foremost, I want 116 00:11:03,499 --> 00:11:10,459 to welcome Mateo Van Holten to the show. Mateo, thank you so much for being here. And thank you so 117 00:11:10,460 --> 00:11:15,939 much for having me. Of course, of course. Uh, how long have you been working for Cypress, Mateo? 118 00:11:17,059 --> 00:11:23,659 Uh, I have to be honest with you. Probably about, like, 8 or 9 months. Okay, so we're we're working on 119 00:11:23,659 --> 00:11:30,539 that first year then. Yeah, I see my day almost includes it coming up. Very cool man. 120 00:11:30,539 --> 00:11:35,139 Well, thank you for joining us today. Looking forward to hearing your story. Uh, please also 121 00:11:35,139 --> 00:11:41,310 welcome to the show. Uh, Trevis Gray. Trevis, thank you for being here today, my friend. Hey Man. 122 00:11:41,349 --> 00:11:46,309 Appreciate it. Appreciate it. Appreciate. Thanks for having me. Of course, man. Of course. How long have 123 00:11:46,309 --> 00:11:52,669 you been driving for Cypress? It's November 6th, starting my fourth year. 124 00:11:53,270 --> 00:11:57,669 November 6th starts your fourth year. Congratulations, man. Obviously, you found a home 125 00:11:57,669 --> 00:12:04,509 there. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Most definitely. Well, thanks for joining us today, Trevis. Glad to 126 00:12:04,510 --> 00:12:10,548 have you. Uh, our third driver on the line today is James Yoder. James, thank you so much for being 127 00:12:10,549 --> 00:12:16,829 here, my friend. Yes. Hello. Thanks for having me, man. Of course, of course, man. And how long have you 128 00:12:16,830 --> 00:12:23,668 been with Cypress? So I've been with Cypress only, uh, one year and three months. One year and 129 00:12:23,669 --> 00:12:28,589 three months, man. Going out for a month? Yeah. Okay. All right, I like it. So we've got some experience 130 00:12:28,590 --> 00:12:33,710 out there. You guys have been doing it for long enough to know what the gig entails. Um, basically, 131 00:12:33,710 --> 00:12:39,949 when we started to ideate this episode and decide what we were going to talk about, um, Matt Penland 132 00:12:39,950 --> 00:12:45,389 came in and said, hey, I want to do an episode about the impact that Cypress has had on some 133 00:12:45,390 --> 00:12:50,149 driver's lives. And I think that these guys are the guys to tell the story. So I just want to jump 134 00:12:50,150 --> 00:12:55,870 in. Mateo, I'm going to start with you. Uh, talk to me about where you were at before Cypress. I 135 00:12:55,870 --> 00:13:02,629 understand that, um, you grew up in the islands, correct? Yeah. If I'm saying the islands. 136 00:13:03,349 --> 00:13:10,110 Man, I looked up some pictures. You grew up in Paradise? Yeah. You 137 00:13:10,110 --> 00:13:15,149 think so? Oh, man. It's beautiful. I was just sitting there thinking. I'm looking out the window in 138 00:13:15,150 --> 00:13:19,709 Eugene, Oregon, at gross rain in, like, 50 degrees. And I'm looking at all these beautiful pictures 139 00:13:19,710 --> 00:13:25,908 of the beach. Man, that was a great. Was that a good place to grow up? Did you like it out there? Um, 140 00:13:25,909 --> 00:13:31,949 having Nate growing up, growing up from the island, it's really good. Like, you know, we have a lot of a 141 00:13:31,950 --> 00:13:38,189 lot of different cultures, a lot of different ethnicities and stuff down there. Like. It's fun. It 142 00:13:38,189 --> 00:13:45,030 gave me that. If it feels good to say, like, you know, I'm from the Caribbean, so. Yeah. 143 00:13:45,950 --> 00:13:50,789 That's awesome. Man, I can't wait. I gotta go down there. I've never been, uh. But now that I'm working 144 00:13:50,789 --> 00:13:56,069 with so many of you guys from Florida, uh, that seems to be a pretty popular vacation destination. 145 00:13:56,069 --> 00:14:00,709 Just the Caribbean islands in general. So, uh, I gotta make it down there for sure, man. What? What 146 00:14:00,749 --> 00:14:07,749 brought you to Cypress? What were you doing before you took this job? Uh, so before, uh. 147 00:14:08,069 --> 00:14:14,750 Well, for one, I moved up, like, I go to Outback. And the reason why, like, my family and I, we moved, okay, 148 00:14:14,750 --> 00:14:19,709 is because, you know, the the island is Paradise. You know, it's it's it's more like a good place to 149 00:14:19,710 --> 00:14:26,710 vacation than really a place to completely say you want to, you know, call your home because they 150 00:14:26,710 --> 00:14:31,509 don't really have much stuff that you could do down there. And, you know, down there. It's more like 151 00:14:32,030 --> 00:14:37,629 when it comes down to jobs, down, you know, how far you want to make it tonight. depends on the people. 152 00:14:37,630 --> 00:14:43,389 You know the best to try out different, you know, a different something in life. And before I started 153 00:14:43,429 --> 00:14:50,269 this, I was working at that warehouse. I used to work at warehouses. One of the places 154 00:14:50,270 --> 00:14:56,908 that I worked at, um, I was there for a good while, and they had, uh, they had shut down 155 00:14:57,509 --> 00:15:02,829 some there. I went around with the company and they shut down, and I think I was like 20 at the 156 00:15:02,829 --> 00:15:09,749 time. And I always tell myself, like, I was, uh, interested in driving trucks. Uh, you know, 157 00:15:09,790 --> 00:15:14,669 I drove trucks when I, when I was younger, back down in the islands as well. So trucks always been 158 00:15:14,669 --> 00:15:21,150 something that been in my family. It just felt like something in my blood. So, um, when I hit 159 00:15:21,189 --> 00:15:27,950 21, you know, I started studying, and my my girlfriend Flora is 160 00:15:27,950 --> 00:15:34,279 who told me about Cypress because he came through Cypress, and he told me, like, you know, how much of 161 00:15:34,279 --> 00:15:40,759 a good company it is. The school and everything. And I decided to just give it a shot. 162 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:48,919 Worked out, didn't it? Yeah. It did. That's awesome man. Well, tell me, 163 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:53,799 uh, what was your thought of, like. Like going through, uh, the the trucking school and everything 164 00:15:53,799 --> 00:16:00,159 like that? How did that go for you? So the trucking school. I'll be honest with you, it 165 00:16:00,159 --> 00:16:06,479 wasn't really hard. Like, I feel like once you like, once you really listen and focused and kind of, 166 00:16:06,479 --> 00:16:11,919 like, take your time, you know, you kind of get through it. But I feel like the instructor is like 167 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:16,919 with them being some of them, I feel like they have like a good little balance because, you know, 168 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:22,479 it's going instructors there. You have two of them that kind of, you know, not so strict. And then you 169 00:16:22,479 --> 00:16:28,359 have the other two. That's real strict. So it's like I feel like it's a good balance on, you know, 170 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:32,999 somebody to be done. I need to tell you like, yo, you need focus and you do what you gotta do, and 171 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:37,599 then you have the next instructor at a mall. Kind of calm. That'd be like, listen, I know you got 172 00:16:37,599 --> 00:16:43,959 focus, but, you know, still take your time. Make sure you look, do what you gotta do. Go do your looks. So 173 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:50,359 for me, I wasn't using. You know, Ken and Lawrence run a really tight ship out there, man. And, uh. Yeah, 174 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:55,438 that's exactly what I talk about. That's exactly. That's exactly who I'm talking about. Yeah, but 175 00:16:55,600 --> 00:17:00,799 they're they're cool though. They they're cool. Like, you know, I, I feel at the end of the day, I 176 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:06,160 feel like some people kind of, you know, take it the wrong way, which is completely understandable. 177 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:11,160 But I know at the end of the day, they're doing it. So, you know, we could, you know, become the best of 178 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:16,399 the best. Absolutely. We could try our best to be safe out there when we drive in and, you know, do 179 00:17:16,439 --> 00:17:22,199 do what it is we gotta do. Absolutely, man. That's really well said. And and listen, we did an episode 180 00:17:22,199 --> 00:17:27,599 with Ken and Lawrence, uh, earlier in the podcast. Go back and listen to it. Uh, if you if you're 181 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:32,958 listening right now and you're wondering how much Ken and Laurence truly care about what Mateo was 182 00:17:32,959 --> 00:17:37,479 talking about right there, and that is the safety and teaching everybody that goes through the 183 00:17:37,479 --> 00:17:43,079 school to do it the right way. And man, those guys are good at their jobs, man. And you're right, 184 00:17:43,079 --> 00:17:49,999 they're strict. But there's a reason behind it, right? Yeah, definitely. Well, thanks for 185 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:54,639 that, Mateo. That's awesome. I'm gonna dig a little bit deeper into your story here in a minute, but I 186 00:17:54,639 --> 00:18:00,800 want to go ahead and get a little intro to Trevis and James's stories as well. Trevis, I'll go to you 187 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:06,999 first, man. Uh, what were you up to before you found Cypress? I was working at MLT job 188 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:13,920 before I came to Cypress. And. Was living in my car at the same time. Really? 189 00:18:14,999 --> 00:18:21,959 Yeah. And I was living in the car. Uh, what, uh, what what were you doing at that other job? You 190 00:18:21,959 --> 00:18:28,280 said an mo job is that you said. Yeah, the guy that'd be. I hit a hole in a pose and making our 191 00:18:28,319 --> 00:18:35,119 day worse out here blowing up stuff out here on the road. Okay, I see, I see. Uh, and. One of them. 192 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:41,719 Was it a good job? Was it paying you enough? No, no, that just was the first thing that was 193 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:48,719 calling. Because I lost my house during the pandemic. Oh, yeah? Yeah. Uh, I 194 00:18:48,719 --> 00:18:55,520 was working at S.w.a.t.. You know, that's what I was pushing for. Really? Uh, a recycling 195 00:18:55,520 --> 00:19:02,439 plant. I was loading trucks before I even, you know, and working on the yard dog. I lost 196 00:19:02,439 --> 00:19:09,159 my house, and I moved to Titusville, Florida. That's what my address is for Cypress now, um. 197 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:19,199 Came back. I went back to Palm Beach. I tried to get my job back, lost it. So my my, my my 198 00:19:19,199 --> 00:19:26,079 daughter was just born at the same time. Oh, wow. Yeah. So I was really just trying to 199 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:32,729 make a way. So when me and my ex-wife had a falling out 200 00:19:33,770 --> 00:19:40,569 and I saw her back to her parents, I stayed down there living in the car. Y'all just 201 00:19:40,569 --> 00:19:47,169 working, doing Uber and working the m.o.t jobs with a friend of mine that actually came to Cypress. Now, 202 00:19:47,810 --> 00:19:54,170 I brought him with me after my year, but yeah, that's what I was doing. 203 00:19:54,970 --> 00:20:01,249 And and and man, one day, man, I just started studying for my CDL. 204 00:20:02,130 --> 00:20:08,969 I was looking up if I even got my CDL. I was like, man, that's what I'm going to, man. What was it? What 205 00:20:08,969 --> 00:20:15,969 was it about him that that was so attractive to you? Trevis on Cypress website, it was a story of 206 00:20:15,969 --> 00:20:22,929 a dude. He was telling a story, how he came to Cypress and how Cypress changed his life. So 207 00:20:23,770 --> 00:20:30,449 I sat there actually on the job site this I'm I I I'm I'm a man fighting for my 208 00:20:30,449 --> 00:20:36,649 family at this point. Right. So I went to that place just so I could feed them. 209 00:20:37,609 --> 00:20:44,209 I mean, I I'm living in a car at this point, but the land that like that was it, bro. I just 210 00:20:44,649 --> 00:20:50,688 I stopped. There wasn't enough cypress before I even went and got my CDL license, and I only took 211 00:20:50,689 --> 00:20:56,328 me two weeks to get them. Went in, got em. Two weeks out of my license, bro. 212 00:20:57,569 --> 00:21:04,529 I was already in Cypress. That's awesome. So right off the bat, you found you found a home. Right 213 00:21:04,569 --> 00:21:11,489 off the bat. Right off the bat about man, I thought I did call night D, 214 00:21:11,489 --> 00:21:17,489 uh, db transportation because, you know, they Florida. I'm in South Florida at this point, so I 215 00:21:17,530 --> 00:21:22,089 called them. They turned me down. I said to myself, bro, I ain't even called the people that I sent 216 00:21:22,089 --> 00:21:28,170 from the call man, I called Cypress, Michelle picked up that phone. She was patient with me. 217 00:21:29,050 --> 00:21:35,568 She made sure my application was done. Man. Yeah. And 218 00:21:36,530 --> 00:21:42,929 once I came. Yeah, that's all she wrote. That's where I been that night. Amen. 219 00:21:43,370 --> 00:21:48,728 Amen. Well, listen, I I'm gonna get again. I'm gonna dig a little bit deeper into your story here once 220 00:21:48,729 --> 00:21:54,129 we hear from James real quick. But that's that's amazing, man. You were on hard times. Nobody's 221 00:21:54,130 --> 00:21:58,489 living in their car because they want to right. Uh, that was something you were doing because you had 222 00:21:58,490 --> 00:22:05,169 to. Yes. Well, that's that's powerful, man. I can't wait to hear the backside of this 223 00:22:05,170 --> 00:22:10,889 story. Uh, but, James, I want to talk to you, man. Just a little bit. Tell talk to me about where you were 224 00:22:10,890 --> 00:22:17,769 before you found Cypress. Like we just heard from Mateo and Trevis there. Okay. So, um, 225 00:22:17,769 --> 00:22:24,529 I was a year before I came to Cypress. I was 226 00:22:24,530 --> 00:22:31,370 just donating my time and effort to ministries and food pantries. Trying to figure 227 00:22:31,410 --> 00:22:37,810 out what I want to do next. I just couldn't. It just seemed like nothing. Uh, I just I was burnt 228 00:22:37,810 --> 00:22:44,329 out from everything else, and I was always wanted to go into prisons to preach, minister. 229 00:22:44,329 --> 00:22:50,849 And that didn't work out. So people we were living with. He found me, Cypress. He asked if I didn't do 230 00:22:50,890 --> 00:22:57,769 trucking. So I was like, well, yeah, I'll give it a try. I didn't really know anything about it. So 231 00:22:58,810 --> 00:23:05,410 he helped me. He went in the website, helped me set up, and stuff. So no, 232 00:23:05,610 --> 00:23:12,448 Marc Johnson was my recruiter. Very helpful. It was very helpful. And yeah, I remember just a little 233 00:23:12,489 --> 00:23:19,449 bit before, a few days before I was going to get on the train to come up here 234 00:23:19,449 --> 00:23:25,929 to Jacksonville. I asked my wife to go see how much cash I got laying around, 235 00:23:25,930 --> 00:23:32,489 and she just came back with $100. So the guy that 236 00:23:32,890 --> 00:23:38,969 was helping at the time, he paid for my train and Uber up here 237 00:23:39,730 --> 00:23:46,569 and, you know, it was pretty cool. So I end up, I end up I think it was like less 238 00:23:46,569 --> 00:23:52,089 than two months ended up paying him all that. But Cypress also helped the way I went through the CTC 239 00:23:52,130 --> 00:23:59,089 school. And that was awesome because yeah, I only started with like 100 with $100. I remember 240 00:23:59,089 --> 00:24:05,969 that so well. So man, that's that's a powerful memory to have. Only having $100 to 241 00:24:06,010 --> 00:24:12,530 your name is a scary place to be, isn't it? Yeah, I got a wife and five kids, so. So you got 242 00:24:12,930 --> 00:24:18,290 to feed. Those children. It sounds like similar stuff that Trevis was dealing with. Is you got. 243 00:24:18,329 --> 00:24:22,098 You're worried about those kids. You're worried about your wife. You're trying to put food on 244 00:24:22,099 --> 00:24:28,379 their plate and clothes on their back and shelter over their head. Yeah, yeah. My my wife supported me 245 00:24:28,379 --> 00:24:35,019 very well. So on, uh, going, doing truck driving so we could find a home 246 00:24:35,019 --> 00:24:41,779 for us or rent, you know, something like that, but, uh, no, it was, uh. Yeah, it was. It 247 00:24:41,780 --> 00:24:48,459 was quite a fast made. It was pretty fascinating. And then coming up to the CTC school. Yeah, that 248 00:24:48,459 --> 00:24:55,099 was really cool. Um, I didn't I had otherwise a guy that I knew that got 249 00:24:55,100 --> 00:25:00,499 me in touch with Cypress. He didn't know anybody here. He just basically got it off the website. Huh. 250 00:25:00,540 --> 00:25:07,379 And it seemed like the best one for, uh, somebody to start up. So he was like, hey, we want you 251 00:25:07,380 --> 00:25:14,339 to, you know, go work for Cypress. So. Yeah. Wow. So just almost a stroke of luck there. 252 00:25:14,339 --> 00:25:21,059 He didn't have any personal connection. It just. No. It happened. Yeah. That's cool. That's 253 00:25:21,060 --> 00:25:26,420 cool. So when you talk to me about the mindset here, that's the next thing I want to get into 254 00:25:26,460 --> 00:25:32,259 with all three of you guys. Um, when when your wife came back to you with 100 bucks and you're 255 00:25:32,260 --> 00:25:36,019 sitting there thinking, this is all that I've got to my name right now, and I'm about to go on this 256 00:25:36,020 --> 00:25:42,938 journey. What was going through your head? Were you scared? Were you nervous? Um, no. Um, I 257 00:25:42,939 --> 00:25:49,859 guess I was, uh, I was praying, I guess it tested out my faith a lot. So, so. 258 00:25:50,780 --> 00:25:56,859 And then to get legacy, the guy that we were, uh, staying there, helping with his, uh, food pantry 259 00:25:56,860 --> 00:26:03,739 ministry type deal. Um. He was. Yeah, he was more than willing to help me out on getting me 260 00:26:03,739 --> 00:26:10,259 up here, so. Yeah, I really appreciate it. So that's great, man. That's cool story. How about you, 261 00:26:10,300 --> 00:26:16,299 Trevis? Uh, when you when you finally got the job? Uh, or I guess when you're sitting there in your 262 00:26:16,300 --> 00:26:20,699 car looking at it. What was going through your mind? Were you scared about the transition? Were 263 00:26:20,699 --> 00:26:27,539 you just excited for the new opportunity? What was your mindset at the time? Well, well, 264 00:26:27,540 --> 00:26:34,539 where am I going? Because I know trucking is a lifestyle, so it's about where I was going 265 00:26:34,540 --> 00:26:40,938 and. Looking at my past and saying that I'm not going to live like this ever again. 266 00:26:42,620 --> 00:26:49,099 And you kind of made that promise to yourself. It sounds like. Yeah. So 267 00:26:49,619 --> 00:26:56,540 once I started this, I was going to go all the way. No stopping, no slowing down. Now that you've lived 268 00:26:56,540 --> 00:27:01,939 the life of a trucker for as long as you have. Uh, were there any misconceptions, anything that 269 00:27:01,939 --> 00:27:07,938 surprised you about it or anything that maybe wasn't as crazy as it seemed when you weren't in 270 00:27:07,939 --> 00:27:14,740 it? No. Um. My granddaddy was a 271 00:27:14,780 --> 00:27:20,338 truck driver, so I kind of pretty much expected what would happen. Okay. Like we seen him off and 272 00:27:20,339 --> 00:27:27,179 on for years when he was kids, you know, and he'll come pick us up in his rig. So 273 00:27:27,459 --> 00:27:31,779 I heard the stories about where he's been and all this other stuff and the things that happened on 274 00:27:31,779 --> 00:27:38,420 the road. Just always y'all. Mhm. So I expected that. My, my whole biggest thing was 275 00:27:38,420 --> 00:27:45,259 to you know my, my wife be proud. You know that she had a guy 276 00:27:45,260 --> 00:27:51,779 like me feel me. But no that didn't work out. So now it's just me out here truck anymore 277 00:27:53,219 --> 00:27:59,819 fighting a court case to take care of my kids. And Cypress is providing you the the resources to do 278 00:27:59,819 --> 00:28:05,699 so because they're paying you well. Right. You got miles. Where. From 279 00:28:05,939 --> 00:28:12,589 November. And all this is court documented from November of 2024 To 280 00:28:12,630 --> 00:28:18,429 October of 2005, I started my ex-wife $28,000. 281 00:28:19,589 --> 00:28:24,828 You better hope you're making good money if you're paying her that much. Man, one thing I can 282 00:28:24,829 --> 00:28:31,188 see Cypress. Shout. Out to my my my trainer, Christopher Klein. 283 00:28:32,390 --> 00:28:39,029 He taught me this road. He taught me the game Cypress. He told me how to talk to the 284 00:28:39,029 --> 00:28:45,669 dispatchers, how to move, how to plan. And with that method, I'm still running with nothing 285 00:28:45,669 --> 00:28:52,349 changed. And I didn't see amounts of money that, you know, 286 00:28:53,550 --> 00:28:58,150 dealing with Cypress, Cypress, help me pay that and still live on the road since I've been with 287 00:28:58,150 --> 00:29:05,110 Cypress all of their own. Twice. Wow. In three years. So tell you the truth. I can't have a 288 00:29:05,110 --> 00:29:11,828 estate right now. Yeah. That's awesome man. Appreciate Cypress. 289 00:29:11,870 --> 00:29:16,229 Yeah. And you like the. You like the lifestyle. It sounds like you're okay being out there on the 290 00:29:16,230 --> 00:29:21,909 road for that long. That's a one heck of a stretch, man. You know? Yeah. And some people don't. Some 291 00:29:21,909 --> 00:29:28,869 people don't. Uh, some people don't understand why I do it, but it's always. It's always loud 292 00:29:28,870 --> 00:29:35,029 for somebody. Madness. It's something behind it. So, you know, I ain't completely crazy on the road 293 00:29:35,070 --> 00:29:41,670 like this. So the moment I give it, I'm able to chill it. It would be all worth it. 294 00:29:42,629 --> 00:29:48,589 So once I do got this, this truck, I'm planning on working on getting me some land in the house. 295 00:29:49,510 --> 00:29:54,948 Not an apartment. And you're building your apartment for the time being. Yeah, and you're well 296 00:29:54,990 --> 00:29:59,669 on your way, man. I mean, you're you've already got your your feet in the concrete here. You're set. 297 00:29:59,709 --> 00:30:05,230 You're in a good spot. You obviously got the miles that you want. Um, Cypress is happy with you. 298 00:30:05,230 --> 00:30:09,949 Otherwise, I can't imagine Matt would have suggested you for this episode. So it sounds like 299 00:30:09,949 --> 00:30:14,949 this is just a match made in heaven for you. Trevis. Yeah man, I've been on the top dog list, man. 300 00:30:14,990 --> 00:30:21,549 Since I've. Since I've been here. There you go. A little competition every year. Yeah, I make a list 301 00:30:21,549 --> 00:30:28,469 every year since I've been here. Every year. That's awesome man. You're in town. Yeah, I appreciate 302 00:30:28,469 --> 00:30:34,830 it. That's great. That's a great accomplishment, man. Uh, Mateo, uh, moving over to you, man. You mentioned, 303 00:30:34,869 --> 00:30:39,749 uh, the the different culture and everything like that, uh, down where you grew up in Saint Thomas. 304 00:30:39,749 --> 00:30:45,429 Was it a culture shock for you coming up to Florida? And what was your mindset when you were 305 00:30:45,470 --> 00:30:51,229 sort of entering, uh, the, the process with Cypress? Were you scared or nervous or anything like that? 306 00:30:51,749 --> 00:30:58,389 Hey, I ain't be honest with you when it comes on that call trying to stop it, it was it it was kind 307 00:30:58,390 --> 00:31:04,429 of different because, like, you know, we, you know, we we Americans stupid. Like, we don't, you know, we 308 00:31:04,429 --> 00:31:09,149 don't really say like, you know, we Americans, we say, you know, we're from the Caribbean. You know, we 309 00:31:09,150 --> 00:31:14,629 island people or something like that. So it's like seeing how, like, a lot of people appear to move 310 00:31:14,630 --> 00:31:21,550 and you know, how some of that mindset was like, it definitely was different for me when I when 311 00:31:21,550 --> 00:31:28,149 I got into, uh, when I got into CTC and, you know, I got accepted and stuff, 312 00:31:29,550 --> 00:31:35,789 the whole transition was hard for me because for one, I had, uh, just had a daughter, 313 00:31:36,309 --> 00:31:43,189 so I, I just had my first daughter, and it was kind of like tugging at my heartstrings 314 00:31:43,190 --> 00:31:47,868 a little bit because it's like, you know, I wasn't even really been able to be there, especially for, 315 00:31:47,910 --> 00:31:54,509 you know, that first stage in her life. So those are those first moments for 316 00:31:55,230 --> 00:32:02,230 all of us, you know, trying to talk, trying to walk. So like a bunch that I really, you 317 00:32:02,230 --> 00:32:09,069 know, say a lot with me. I wanted to do it again. And then at the time I 318 00:32:09,069 --> 00:32:15,950 did, I'd lose. I ended up losing two friends of mine that had died. Yeah. So I'm 319 00:32:15,950 --> 00:32:22,869 sorry. A whole lot. I have played with me now since, like, you know, for me not wanting to finish 320 00:32:22,870 --> 00:32:29,789 with the school or even go through it. And I used to talk like in my head, I used 321 00:32:29,790 --> 00:32:36,469 to sit down and think, like, every time I go back home, you know, it's different. I just think to 322 00:32:36,469 --> 00:32:41,869 myself, like, yeah, man, my daughter ain't gonna remember me. She's not gonna know me. She doesn't 323 00:32:41,910 --> 00:32:48,869 like it. It's very good to be at home and what she's like. But, um, a couple 324 00:32:48,869 --> 00:32:55,869 of times when I talk to every weekend, I go back home, I drive back to. I live, uh, Orlando. 325 00:32:56,069 --> 00:33:01,869 So I drive back home every weekend to go see my daughter. And you know, my girl, I spent some time 326 00:33:01,870 --> 00:33:08,759 with them and, you know, spend as much time with them as I can, and kind of hit different 327 00:33:08,759 --> 00:33:15,519 because she turned out to be, you know, a daddy girl. Of course she did, man. Of 328 00:33:15,520 --> 00:33:22,279 course she did. She and her whole face would light up like her whole face was just. 329 00:33:22,359 --> 00:33:29,160 She just not smiling. I didn't say like it changed, but like it 330 00:33:29,160 --> 00:33:35,398 still it it still had that heart. Like in my mind. That man. Like, I don't think I should, you know, 331 00:33:35,439 --> 00:33:40,559 continue to pursue, continue pursuing. Be not be not truck driver. Like I should just try something 332 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:47,399 different. But, uh, you know, my my girl and all parents are my 333 00:33:47,399 --> 00:33:53,718 parents and, you know, my friends and my family, like, they just continue pushing me to to do it. 334 00:33:54,640 --> 00:33:59,399 And they'll tell me that I always remind me that, you know, it's gonna be okay and stuff like that. 335 00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:06,239 But before then, I wasn't really making no money. So that's another thing that I kind of 336 00:34:06,280 --> 00:34:12,719 like, pushed me to want to hurry up and start, because I really felt like I couldn't provide for 337 00:34:12,720 --> 00:34:18,479 my daughter or for myself. So I really wanted to like everything when I was be like, you know, I my 338 00:34:18,480 --> 00:34:23,679 girlfriend, like she'd always be there telling me, you know, oh, babe, don't worry about this. Like, you 339 00:34:23,679 --> 00:34:30,319 know, I paid for it, I cover it, but then, like, to me, that made me feel that type of way. Because, 340 00:34:31,520 --> 00:34:35,799 you know, the whole stereotype, you know, men are supposed to be providers and blah, blah, blah is 341 00:34:35,799 --> 00:34:41,638 like, right? I kind of hate for me because it's like, damn, like I don't even have no money for me, 342 00:34:41,799 --> 00:34:47,559 right? And, and at the time, even up to now, like I still had a car note and everything to pay. I was 343 00:34:47,559 --> 00:34:54,559 helping my my mother pay rent and stuff by our place and like, the, the 344 00:34:54,560 --> 00:35:01,398 whole thing had just, just been hard. And my car was like 700 and change a month. That's deep. 345 00:35:01,439 --> 00:35:07,719 Yeah. No, no, no. Killing me. And but at the time, like, while I was in 346 00:35:07,719 --> 00:35:13,799 CTC, like, nobody didn't know. Like, I didn't I didn't express that to nobody other than, you know, 347 00:35:13,840 --> 00:35:20,759 my girl. She had no, uh, my cousin Brian and a friend of mine named, uh, Kosi. I didn't 348 00:35:20,759 --> 00:35:24,919 I didn't even tell him nothing. But every time we spoke, like, they like, they just. I guess they just 349 00:35:24,920 --> 00:35:30,000 hold it like they hold it in the way that I speak. Because if you if you know me in Boston, like, you 350 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:35,119 know, I, I really like going like I, I'll just be the type of friend or person. I'll just put a 351 00:35:35,120 --> 00:35:42,079 smile on your face, just say something stupid. And, you know, I, I, I my life was just gone. I 352 00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:47,679 didn't have no life. I didn't have no, no nothing. And they used to like they they'd randomly send 353 00:35:47,679 --> 00:35:52,520 me money and they'd be like Mateo, just, you know, make sure you buy food, make sure you take care of 354 00:35:52,520 --> 00:35:58,759 yourself XYZ. And I'll just be like, it made me feel that type of way. But I was grateful because 355 00:35:58,759 --> 00:36:03,719 it like damn. Like these people taking money out their pocket. That, you know, they hustle for, they 356 00:36:03,759 --> 00:36:08,398 work hard for and giving it to me. And it's like. Why? Like, you know, they have their own stuff they 357 00:36:08,399 --> 00:36:15,399 need to deal with. So going and going through it and being through it. And then, you know, 358 00:36:15,439 --> 00:36:21,759 with losing my two friends, I wasn't enough mindset to to finish school. Like to 359 00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:28,679 finish CTC. Like I at one point I really thought I was going to just 360 00:36:28,840 --> 00:36:35,759 quit. Like I thought I was going to just just give up. But seeing how much that, you know, I 361 00:36:35,759 --> 00:36:41,999 really wanted to provide for myself or my daughter, like I just tried my best to push 362 00:36:41,999 --> 00:36:48,199 through. And I glad that I did, because, you know, a couple months ago, uh, my girl and I, we got our own 363 00:36:48,199 --> 00:36:54,919 place. Now. That's amazing. Man. I got an applause button for that. Congratulations. That's so 364 00:36:54,919 --> 00:37:01,769 cool. Man. And man, you talk about your daughter's face. Lighten up every time that you 365 00:37:01,810 --> 00:37:08,409 come home on the weekends. Now, obviously, I have to touch on one aspect of that this that might not 366 00:37:08,409 --> 00:37:13,370 happen with a different trucking company, right? We know Cypress is really good about you having it 367 00:37:13,370 --> 00:37:19,329 your way. You can stay out for years at a time like Trevis, or you can be home every weekend so 368 00:37:19,330 --> 00:37:24,850 that you can see your daughter and Mateo. I don't know any better motivation, uh, for for going out, 369 00:37:24,889 --> 00:37:29,089 doing a heck of a job during the week and getting home and seeing that little girl's face light up 370 00:37:29,090 --> 00:37:35,249 when you walk through the door, man. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. You ain't gonna one lay my boy 371 00:37:35,689 --> 00:37:42,649 earlier I b boy from, from time, from time to week coming time. And I'd be shooting home 372 00:37:42,649 --> 00:37:49,449 to reach home to see my daughter. I'm like yeah I, I'd be excited. I'd like to meet my daughter. She 373 00:37:49,489 --> 00:37:55,409 like she if I hold her high, you can't take her off my hands like she cried. Like she fights just 374 00:37:55,529 --> 00:38:01,969 a nice just to you. Not to take her like. I mean, it surprised me, like I really I didn't talk that she 375 00:38:01,969 --> 00:38:08,289 would have been so attached to me knowing that, you know, I'd be gone for days at a time or, you 376 00:38:08,289 --> 00:38:12,850 know, sometimes a couple of weeks at a time. Like I really would have never thought. But, like, even 377 00:38:12,850 --> 00:38:18,849 while I was there, like, my girl would always make sure, you know, she faced time with me and I always 378 00:38:18,850 --> 00:38:23,969 get a chance to see my daughter. She see me on the phone and she just smiled, you know, my whole 379 00:38:23,969 --> 00:38:29,330 birthday coming up. So I can't wait to, you know, spend her first birthday. We taking her on a 380 00:38:29,330 --> 00:38:34,049 cruise for her for her first birthday. And, you know, if it wasn't for this job, I probably would 381 00:38:34,050 --> 00:38:40,929 have never been able to, so I, I agree. That's amazing, man. Uh, Trevis. You mentioned your daughter 382 00:38:40,929 --> 00:38:47,089 and, uh, having a daughter come along kind of right in the midst of things not going very well for 383 00:38:47,090 --> 00:38:53,329 you. When you hear Mateo talk about his daughter, what type of feelings does it drum up in in your 384 00:38:53,489 --> 00:39:00,449 mind there, Trevis. A whole lot. My wife Ashley, right now, keeping my kids 385 00:39:00,449 --> 00:39:07,408 away from it. Sarah Palin. That's backed up by payroll. She she helped 386 00:39:07,409 --> 00:39:14,369 me prove by just printing my my work checks. She helped me prove that I wasn't incarcerated, 387 00:39:14,370 --> 00:39:19,969 cause my ex-wife loud and say that I, I was incarcerated and I never was in jail. 388 00:39:21,169 --> 00:39:26,849 So that that second time when I got off the road, the first time when I drove off the road, I went, I 389 00:39:26,889 --> 00:39:33,770 went there, I went and seen them. She followed me around. She was there. My 390 00:39:33,770 --> 00:39:40,729 son, he you know, Tobias. He's seven. He'll be eight this year. We know 391 00:39:40,729 --> 00:39:47,369 who I am. Cold heartedly. Can't tell him nothing about me my little girl. I 392 00:39:47,370 --> 00:39:53,769 wasn't much there. And they're going through this right here on the ex-wife. so mad at me. 393 00:39:54,169 --> 00:40:01,089 But she is. So I'm fighting for my rights as a father for the second time. When 394 00:40:01,090 --> 00:40:07,289 I did get off the road, I tried to go get him. She told me no. So 395 00:40:08,210 --> 00:40:14,969 my whole, the whole, the whole week that I was off was was about 396 00:40:15,009 --> 00:40:21,889 by myself. I was ready to go hang out with him to, to let him know, like I'm still here. 397 00:40:22,290 --> 00:40:28,089 I just gotta go through this court process to get my rights back, you know? So 398 00:40:29,370 --> 00:40:35,929 and dang, you know, but that's that just, you know. But I'm 399 00:40:35,929 --> 00:40:42,769 glad I can understand that feeling. Sure. You know. Yeah. How are you feeling 400 00:40:42,770 --> 00:40:48,409 about, uh. Now, you don't have to answer this if you don't want to, but, uh, if you want to, please feel 401 00:40:48,410 --> 00:40:53,009 free. How are you feeling about the the process in the court case right now. Are you feeling good 402 00:40:53,010 --> 00:40:59,489 about it? You feel like you've got a chance to to win here and get your rights back. I'm in a win. 403 00:41:01,249 --> 00:41:07,090 I'm winning. You're winning? Yeah. Your lawyers, you can hear your lawyer say, um, Mr. Gray, you're not a 404 00:41:07,090 --> 00:41:14,049 deadbeat. Mark Cohen from Cordell and Cordell law office. For him to say, uh, Mr. Gray, you're 405 00:41:14,050 --> 00:41:19,849 not a deadbeat. I buy him, send the money. Him calculating the money that I sent because even he 406 00:41:19,850 --> 00:41:25,370 was surprised, like. Sir, how is you paying for your daughter daycare? And you was incarcerated, sir, I 407 00:41:25,370 --> 00:41:31,809 was never incarcerated. Told him for me. For me to be doing that, I must be a drug dealer. To being 408 00:41:31,809 --> 00:41:38,249 locked. To be locked up, right? To be able to pay for stuff like this. Yeah. No joke. 28 grand a year. 409 00:41:39,409 --> 00:41:46,369 28, 28. Hey, whatever my kids needs, I 410 00:41:46,370 --> 00:41:52,620 always tell myself I'm not going to be a bum. Well, not going to be a bum. That that's not in me. 411 00:41:52,659 --> 00:41:59,219 No it's not. My father went to prison when I was a was just five years old. I seen him again 412 00:41:59,779 --> 00:42:06,779 at 21 years old. Wow. So I refuse to 413 00:42:06,780 --> 00:42:13,219 be like that. 100% man. That's amazing. Thank you for sharing that, because I, you know, really the 414 00:42:13,219 --> 00:42:18,819 point of this podcast was to show that, uh, even when you're on the hardest of times, even when 415 00:42:18,860 --> 00:42:24,780 things were really bad, uh, you find a place like Cypress and you can really turn things around, and 416 00:42:24,780 --> 00:42:29,898 I know you're not a deadbeat because, again, Matt would have never suggested you for the podcast if 417 00:42:29,899 --> 00:42:35,659 that was so. He has a lot of respect for you in the job you do. And that's why he, uh, that's why he 418 00:42:35,659 --> 00:42:41,020 suggested you. Trevis. So, um, I, you know, you don't know me from Adam, but I can tell you right now, 419 00:42:41,060 --> 00:42:46,178 ain't no way you're a deadbeat man. I've listened to you tell your story right now. Um, anybody that 420 00:42:46,179 --> 00:42:49,860 thinks different, you give them my phone number, you have them call me, I'll chat them up for a 421 00:42:49,860 --> 00:42:56,699 little bit. All right. Yes, sir, I appreciate that. Yeah. Well, you 422 00:42:56,700 --> 00:43:02,418 know, uh, James, I want to go to you now. Um, and the fellas, I want to thank all three of you for your 423 00:43:02,419 --> 00:43:06,019 patience. I'm really letting you guys talk at length here because I think that's what's 424 00:43:06,020 --> 00:43:10,898 important. I want you to have plenty of space to tell your stories. So thank each one of you 425 00:43:10,899 --> 00:43:16,179 individually for being as patient as you have been on this podcast so far. Uh, it's been great, 426 00:43:16,179 --> 00:43:22,459 man. The stories are awesome and it's really driving the point home. Uh, James, you told us 427 00:43:22,459 --> 00:43:28,299 you've got five kids and a wife, man. You hear Trevis and Mateo talking about their kids. What's 428 00:43:28,300 --> 00:43:35,178 going through your mind? What? What feelings does that bring up? Um, so, uh, 429 00:43:35,860 --> 00:43:42,699 when I started at Cypress, worked for cypress, uh, me and my wife had been married for eight 430 00:43:42,699 --> 00:43:49,579 years, and we had only been, uh, we had, um, 431 00:43:50,300 --> 00:43:57,019 like, slept with each, like, in the every night for eight years. 432 00:43:57,139 --> 00:44:03,739 We've only been a part one time. Wow. And so, yeah, it was it was a little bit of a change, you know, 433 00:44:03,779 --> 00:44:10,419 with the children. Um, but no, it was. I definitely need I knew I 434 00:44:10,420 --> 00:44:15,299 needed to do something to find a place, uh, for my wife and children. Because otherwise, like you say, 435 00:44:15,340 --> 00:44:22,179 I was just living wherever people were, you know, just sort of work for them. Ministry or food 436 00:44:22,179 --> 00:44:29,099 pantries and whatever. If they gave me place and stuff, place to stay, food to eat and 437 00:44:29,100 --> 00:44:35,860 just donate my time. So when it started, my official hire date was January 6th of 438 00:44:35,899 --> 00:44:42,779 last year and by the last of April, first week 439 00:44:42,780 --> 00:44:49,699 of May on that year was I had $5,000. I mean, I had a little bit 440 00:44:49,700 --> 00:44:56,659 more money than that, but I put $5,000 down for a car vehicle. Wow. That's awesome man. 441 00:44:56,820 --> 00:45:01,779 You get a round of applause for that one too. That's great. It's got to feel really good, huh? 442 00:45:03,139 --> 00:45:09,819 Yeah it is. It is a nice GMC 25th GMC Acadia 2015. 443 00:45:10,300 --> 00:45:17,139 Uh, wasn't. Yeah. Nice vehicle. That is good. Safe vehicle. Get all those kids in there. Right. Yep. 444 00:45:17,139 --> 00:45:21,658 Everybody can fit in there. They're all excited to see me when they come home for the weekend 445 00:45:21,659 --> 00:45:28,299 because, uh, yeah, we sometimes got, like, the ice cream cone or buy the kids some ice cream or, you 446 00:45:28,300 --> 00:45:34,779 know, it just enjoyable. So. Yeah. That's awesome, man. I gotta ask. You these moments. Uh, dude, 447 00:45:34,820 --> 00:45:41,739 100% so precious. Now, talk to me about the difference in your stress level. Um, from the time 448 00:45:41,739 --> 00:45:46,989 that you had $100 to your name. And we're thinking about getting this job, too. When you put that 449 00:45:46,989 --> 00:45:53,310 $5,000 down payment on that Acadia. Uh, is is James a different person between those two 450 00:45:53,310 --> 00:46:00,148 times? Uh, I would I would say so. And it's funny because my wife would say 451 00:46:00,149 --> 00:46:06,349 so also, you know, like you said, I don't go home every evening and, 452 00:46:07,629 --> 00:46:13,110 uh, she can see even though she even though when I used to come home every evening, you know, and not 453 00:46:13,110 --> 00:46:19,349 bring home every money, she says now she can see a big difference in me because I don't feel much 454 00:46:19,350 --> 00:46:26,149 stressed out, because I know I got, um, a little bit of a cushion of, uh, 455 00:46:26,149 --> 00:46:33,029 cash, you know? Yes, sir. So they'll be here and there, and so, yeah, she, uh, she does 456 00:46:33,069 --> 00:46:39,309 two things. I am not as stressed out as I used to be, which it used to be very stressful. I was like, 457 00:46:39,870 --> 00:46:46,509 what do I do next? You know, it's kind of up in the air about everything before. Um, the guy from 458 00:46:46,509 --> 00:46:53,309 Florida found me the job at Cypress. You know, it's there's one common thread, uh, aside from the 459 00:46:53,310 --> 00:46:57,789 fact that you guys are doing this for your families, you're out here making this living, 460 00:46:57,789 --> 00:47:02,469 earning this, uh, earning this money, running these miles because you have people that you love and 461 00:47:02,470 --> 00:47:07,589 care about that you want to support. And you also maybe want a little walking around money for 462 00:47:07,590 --> 00:47:14,429 yourself. What kind of a sin is that? Right? Um, but the the funny part that I hear, I don't say funny, 463 00:47:14,429 --> 00:47:20,109 but I guess the poignant part that I hear that's common between all three of you guys is you guys 464 00:47:20,110 --> 00:47:27,109 all were were at at the very bottom and you all took a chance, but you gambled on 465 00:47:27,110 --> 00:47:33,949 yourself. And that's something that I think is it can't go unappreciated on today's podcast because 466 00:47:33,949 --> 00:47:39,389 yes, Cypress provided the opportunity. They got you in a truck. They're able to pay you because 467 00:47:39,389 --> 00:47:46,188 they're a good, well, well-run company. Um, but you guys had to gamble on Trevis, on James, and on 468 00:47:46,189 --> 00:47:52,949 Mateo first. And that's sort of why I ask you kind of what the what your mindset was, uh, when 469 00:47:52,989 --> 00:47:56,669 you're you're sitting at the job site, Trevis, and you're scrolling on the internet and you're 470 00:47:56,669 --> 00:48:03,549 reading the story, or when your wife hands you the crisp $100 bill and that's it. Or when, uh, like 471 00:48:03,550 --> 00:48:08,189 Mateo said, he's he's sitting there and and people are giving him money because they want to make 472 00:48:08,229 --> 00:48:13,350 sure that he's got food on the table. You guys all had to gamble on yourselves. And I want you to 473 00:48:13,389 --> 00:48:19,070 talk me through it from the other side of that gamble now. You know, I, I like to play blackjack. I 474 00:48:19,070 --> 00:48:24,629 like to play poker. We always talk about the bad beats. We always talk about, man, I should have had 475 00:48:24,629 --> 00:48:30,109 that hand. And the cards just didn't fall in my favor. Well, talk to me about the win, fellas, 476 00:48:30,110 --> 00:48:35,830 because you guys gambled on yourselves, and all three of you have told me absolutely miraculous 477 00:48:35,830 --> 00:48:42,389 stories about winning that gamble. Mateo, I go to you first, man. How does it feel to be a big 478 00:48:42,389 --> 00:48:49,149 winner as the guy that gambled on Mateo? If he I 479 00:48:49,189 --> 00:48:55,509 if he if he different man, I don't know. Like I feel like I ain't, I ain't fully wrap my mind around 480 00:48:55,549 --> 00:49:01,269 it yet. Because. Like. I feel like a big. Part that plays into it is, you know, I still kind of young. I 481 00:49:01,270 --> 00:49:08,110 only make it 23 this year. So, you know, I tried to make sure I started my career at a young age 482 00:49:08,469 --> 00:49:14,869 to kind of put me in a good position when I get older, but like, it feel good, you know, it feel good, 483 00:49:14,870 --> 00:49:21,229 it feel different. You know, I, I able to get paid every week, you know, able to get paid and be like, 484 00:49:21,230 --> 00:49:26,149 okay, all right. Next week I get I get paid again. So whatever I need do this week I could get it 485 00:49:26,189 --> 00:49:32,550 done for and you know, not really worry about it. Feel good knowing that I don't have to always I 486 00:49:32,550 --> 00:49:38,149 don't have to depend on my girls to, you know, to buy anything or to pay anything. I could, I could 487 00:49:38,149 --> 00:49:44,669 do it like I could tell her. Leave her wallet at home and let's go. Let you know that. Let, let let 488 00:49:44,670 --> 00:49:51,069 me take you off fresh air. Let me, you know, do something nice for you. I could I could just make 489 00:49:51,110 --> 00:49:56,389 yours, you know. Just go. Do you and I could just spend time with my daughter, and we just go do us. 490 00:49:56,389 --> 00:50:03,349 So we just find something to do, and, you know, why are we out there? Um, I think his name was Trevis. 491 00:50:03,389 --> 00:50:09,949 I don't like I. I'm so sorry to hear. What. What's going on with you, dog? I ain't I don't like you. 492 00:50:10,510 --> 00:50:16,708 You know, some moms ain't the best moms, neither. And I really do hope that you know your situation. 493 00:50:16,709 --> 00:50:21,989 You go to the through. Don't stop you from continuing wanting to fight for your child and be 494 00:50:21,989 --> 00:50:28,829 there for your child, man. You know, my man, I really feel that. That's bullshit. I keep reading, I 495 00:50:28,830 --> 00:50:35,638 ain't. Got it, bro. Yeah. Yeah, man. It's, you know, Trevis. One thing about your story that's 496 00:50:35,639 --> 00:50:41,239 really got me in the in the heartstrings is that you're you're fighting somebody that's out there 497 00:50:41,240 --> 00:50:44,800 trying to tarnish your name, and and they're telling lies about you. It's one thing if you're 498 00:50:44,800 --> 00:50:50,079 going to say that, uh, you know, Marcus is a is a big piece of work, and this guy's done this to me 499 00:50:50,080 --> 00:50:56,839 and this to me and this to me. And if that's all true, I absolutely, 100% respect your right to say 500 00:50:56,840 --> 00:51:03,319 those things. But if you're telling lies, and especially if you're telling lies to the to the 501 00:51:03,320 --> 00:51:10,199 extent of that you were incarcerated, which was not the case, man. You you've got all this podcast 502 00:51:10,200 --> 00:51:16,600 support, man. We are pulling for you because that is a load of BS and not only. Appreciate. It. Do you 503 00:51:16,639 --> 00:51:22,040 deserve to win, man? But I know that you're going to I can tell I can hear it in your voice. I mean, 504 00:51:22,040 --> 00:51:27,639 if I needed an inspirational chat for a football team right now, I'm calling you man because you've 505 00:51:27,639 --> 00:51:33,999 inspired me just listening to you tell your stories. All three of you have today. Wow. 506 00:51:35,479 --> 00:51:42,079 They've been tough. I don't like to lie. That's been hard. But, you know, we 507 00:51:42,080 --> 00:51:48,959 we I tried. You do, man. You do? And that's that's how all three of you got to the position you're 508 00:51:48,960 --> 00:51:54,639 in right now. As you tried. You gambled on yourself, James. I didn't ask you about how you felt, uh, 509 00:51:54,679 --> 00:51:59,678 gambling on on yourself, man. How do you feel? How do you feel to be the big winner? Gambling on 510 00:51:59,679 --> 00:52:06,600 James Yoder. Well, good. So it's kind of funny. Yeah. Talking about the gamble 511 00:52:06,639 --> 00:52:13,600 coming here. Um, going through the CTC school. You know, I 512 00:52:13,600 --> 00:52:20,159 don't know how gambling machines work, but I know it's got buttons and stuff, but it only seems like 513 00:52:20,480 --> 00:52:27,360 you win 100% once you get connected. Once you got connected with, uh. Um, and it takes 514 00:52:27,360 --> 00:52:33,840 mindset to, you know, once you get connected with Lawrence, Ken, Mr. Woods out there at 515 00:52:33,879 --> 00:52:40,839 CTC and they're just. Yeah, they just, uh, they helped. I was just 516 00:52:40,960 --> 00:52:47,359 yeah, it was amazing. So. And how much they, you know, they helped very, very serious like they did very 517 00:52:47,360 --> 00:52:53,799 serious and everything, which is very understandable. You know, driving a big rig 80,000 518 00:52:53,800 --> 00:53:00,399 pounds. And that was really a big thing for me. How serious they took the stuff. Yeah, man. And that's I 519 00:53:00,399 --> 00:53:05,240 that is a common thread. I've talked to a lot of Cypress drivers in the young life of this podcast, 520 00:53:05,240 --> 00:53:09,959 and there's one thing that everyone that's been through CTC will tell you, those guys are serious, 521 00:53:09,959 --> 00:53:15,678 but those guys are they care. They care probably more than any two other instructors that you'll 522 00:53:15,679 --> 00:53:19,839 ever meet. And that's what that's the impression I got from them when they were on the show, for sure. 523 00:53:19,879 --> 00:53:26,600 Oh, yeah. And then one thing, uh, yet also a shout-out to my trainer. Also, uh, his name is Jason 524 00:53:26,600 --> 00:53:33,239 Canfield. He was. He was a really good instructor. So he. He was really good. 525 00:53:33,280 --> 00:53:40,280 So I mean, I don't know how I could have done 526 00:53:40,280 --> 00:53:47,038 any of the different man, but he explained everything. Yeah, that's really 527 00:53:47,039 --> 00:53:52,679 cool. That's that's another common thread, man. The trainers here are awesome. We've had a couple of 528 00:53:52,679 --> 00:53:59,119 them on the show and nobody ever gives them bad marks, man. Uh, great stuff there, James, and thank 529 00:53:59,160 --> 00:54:04,159 you. Trevis, you're the last one. I'm going to ask about how it feels to have gambled on yourself 530 00:54:04,160 --> 00:54:09,320 and won. I don't know, man. I, I get the the impression just talking to you, Trevis, that you 531 00:54:09,360 --> 00:54:13,879 knew you were going to win. It was just a matter of time before you did. But talk to me about it, 532 00:54:13,879 --> 00:54:19,080 man. How do you feel now, looking back, knowing what you've been through, what you're still up against 533 00:54:19,080 --> 00:54:25,799 and where you how far you've come to this point? I only got this far because of God, man. 534 00:54:26,680 --> 00:54:33,529 Hey, Amen. That's that's that's that's that's the whole thing of it. I 535 00:54:33,570 --> 00:54:40,529 hear it's lonely knowing that you got little ones that you care for, that that 536 00:54:40,889 --> 00:54:47,850 depend on your survival, and you can't even see that hurts. But knowing the point that 537 00:54:47,850 --> 00:54:54,849 you're able to pay for lawyers. Thank God for putting me in this position, because stripe 538 00:54:54,850 --> 00:55:01,769 has helped me a lot. They you know, I learned the game with Cypress. 539 00:55:02,530 --> 00:55:09,089 They gave me the miles I ran them. Don't complain. Don't really deny loads. I 540 00:55:09,089 --> 00:55:15,449 just say failure is not an option. Yeah, that's my whole motto. When I came to CTC, 541 00:55:16,730 --> 00:55:21,529 that's the whole thing. I was screaming up every day when I got up at that hotel, say failure is not an 542 00:55:21,529 --> 00:55:27,009 option, I dropped everything. I walked away from a job, from killing the boss. That you can write me 543 00:55:27,009 --> 00:55:33,289 up, I don't care. I'm going to get my CDL. I told him I would write that. I would sign it right now, 544 00:55:33,770 --> 00:55:40,569 and did it for him to keep me away from working and only work me two days 545 00:55:40,610 --> 00:55:45,649 each week. Since I went and got my permit. So I worked four days before I even called. The sniper 546 00:55:45,690 --> 00:55:52,370 didn't even have a check. Wow. So? So the gamble 547 00:55:53,929 --> 00:56:00,209 is working, man, to sit here and win. It's worth it. Because one day I'll be able to go see my 548 00:56:00,209 --> 00:56:05,849 daughter. I'll be able to have. I didn't have my son. I'll be able to have a hopefully create a 549 00:56:05,850 --> 00:56:12,809 forever home man. So. And when that happens, when that happens, Trevis, I want you to 550 00:56:12,850 --> 00:56:17,128 promise me that you're going to give me a call and we can celebrate together, man. Because I can't 551 00:56:17,129 --> 00:56:22,529 wait to hear the culmination of this story. Uh, you you strike me as a really good person with a 552 00:56:22,530 --> 00:56:28,809 really good heart. I know we've just met, um, all three of you guys. Just the reasons that you have 553 00:56:28,850 --> 00:56:34,049 for doing what you've done and taking this opportunity and really grabbing it by the horns 554 00:56:34,050 --> 00:56:39,689 and wrestling it into submission. It's amazing to me, you know, I don't have kids. I've got a wife. And 555 00:56:39,690 --> 00:56:44,969 I would jump in front of a of a Cypress truck for her. You bet. Um, but I know that kids do it a 556 00:56:44,969 --> 00:56:49,729 little bit different for you, and, and I just I have a tremendous amount of respect for all three 557 00:56:49,729 --> 00:56:55,128 of you guys. And and in particular, Trevis, your story is just. It's got me by the heart, man. And I 558 00:56:55,129 --> 00:57:01,889 can't wait to hear the happy ending. Oh, man. Trust me, I'ma celebrate 559 00:57:02,009 --> 00:57:08,529 by going straight to, uh, my son want to go to, uh, some place called, uh, 560 00:57:08,529 --> 00:57:15,209 Legoland? Oh, okay. Yep. I'm familiar. Yeah. So? So, yeah, we've been up 561 00:57:15,250 --> 00:57:20,969 when the. When this happens. Yeah, man. I'm gonna go and celebrate with my kids as soon as I get them. 562 00:57:21,210 --> 00:57:28,170 Right now. The right now. You know, she tried to put me at the Cutler Court, you know, but I had 563 00:57:28,209 --> 00:57:34,929 paid so much money to her as a as a child. Support to where they gave me child support 564 00:57:34,930 --> 00:57:40,969 credit. I didn't even know they did that. Wow. I didn't know they did that. Yeah. They said they 565 00:57:40,970 --> 00:57:47,809 only won 11,000. We won by 28,000. Wow. So good for next year too. 566 00:57:48,929 --> 00:57:55,569 So I'm good, I'm good. And it's still a work in progress. They want to dig 567 00:57:55,569 --> 00:58:01,249 into my background and see how much money that I've been making. So right now they're even 568 00:58:01,250 --> 00:58:07,769 talking 1100. Because the amount of money that I make since I've been out here running. 569 00:58:07,809 --> 00:58:14,809 Mhm. So, you know, the lawyer told me I make too much money so it can push it. 570 00:58:14,810 --> 00:58:21,499 But if, if because she lied for one and said that she only made 26,000. no, 571 00:58:21,540 --> 00:58:28,540 $2,600 in a month. Which is a lie. Because when I looked at her, you know, we get to see 572 00:58:28,579 --> 00:58:35,099 each other. Uh, uh, bank records. So they sent me a copy of it, and I seen something 573 00:58:33,929 --> 00:58:40,770 seen something that wasn't right. And I told the lawyer after a friend of mine told me that it's 574 00:58:40,770 --> 00:58:47,529 not the streets you need to tell. I'm not a person that like to tell on people. Sure, I remind my 575 00:58:47,530 --> 00:58:54,170 business. So I told that day, you know the Lord like it's not her bank record. So 576 00:58:54,770 --> 00:59:01,609 I pointed out the 165. I only stuck 165 to her mother for 577 00:59:01,610 --> 00:59:08,409 my daughter to go to school, I sent thousands. That's a different things. And 578 00:59:08,409 --> 00:59:15,269 then the one thing that I didn't look at when I went to look at it like a $3,800. 579 00:59:15,269 --> 00:59:21,949 I saw her in one week for three months of behind the rent. She was behind, about to get 580 00:59:21,950 --> 00:59:27,869 kicked out, and I saw her $3,800 in that week. Wow. 581 00:59:28,629 --> 00:59:34,708 That's crazy. They showed my kids and her and my step kids that we had before. Before? Me and her 582 00:59:34,750 --> 00:59:41,669 got together and had somewhere to keep their head right. So right now, 583 00:59:41,669 --> 00:59:48,349 bro, I have done no evil. So, you know, the Most High got me 584 00:59:48,750 --> 00:59:54,149 that. I'm gonna put everything on him and hopefully keep me running. Because that's what 585 00:59:54,190 --> 01:00:01,110 Lude is. Chuck. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Man. Well, listen, uh, guys, I, I genuinely want to thank you all from 586 01:00:01,110 --> 01:00:05,310 the bottom of my heart. These aren't always stories that people want to come on and share on 587 01:00:05,310 --> 01:00:11,569 a podcast. Um, and I just think that it was great because what we got out of this today. First, we 588 01:00:11,570 --> 01:00:18,529 got to hear three individuals tell really cool stories about triumph and finding a way out of 589 01:00:18,530 --> 01:00:25,049 the hole of the pit, whatever you want to call it. Um, and one, one story that's still. Well, all three 590 01:00:25,050 --> 01:00:30,489 of these stories are still moving in the direction that is positive. And and I wanted to 591 01:00:30,490 --> 01:00:36,409 showcase the fact that Cypress has a positive impact on people's lives. Yes. But I think that as 592 01:00:36,409 --> 01:00:42,009 we talk through this, one thing that you guys showed me is that, uh, Cypress is really good at 593 01:00:42,010 --> 01:00:47,529 hiring really good people. I've talked to enough of you employees that work for Cypress and Sun 594 01:00:47,530 --> 01:00:52,090 Belt. At this point in time, I've not met one person that I don't think would give me the shirt 595 01:00:52,129 --> 01:00:57,889 off their back if I asked for it, and I'm just a podcast host. I don't really do anything for you 596 01:00:57,889 --> 01:01:03,649 guys when you think about it. So knowing that all of you guys are as good of people as what you are, 597 01:01:03,850 --> 01:01:08,859 knowing that you've got the motivations that you do to do the job that you're doing, which is not 598 01:01:08,860 --> 01:01:15,819 an easy one. Um, I tell you, man, it just my heart is full right now. Uh, James, Trevis and Mateo, 599 01:01:15,899 --> 01:01:20,419 thank you guys so much for coming on here and telling your story. This episode will truly 600 01:01:20,419 --> 01:01:25,899 inspire other people to get out of the situation that they're in, and make a better life for 601 01:01:25,899 --> 01:01:30,539 themselves. I know it will. And you guys, you guys are the responsible party for that. I didn't do 602 01:01:30,540 --> 01:01:37,499 that today. That's all. You great you God man. Thank you 603 01:01:37,539 --> 01:01:43,698 for having us, man. Absolutely. Yeah, for having us. Absolutely. Fellas. All three of you are welcome 604 01:01:43,699 --> 01:01:48,179 back anytime you want. You've all got my cell phone number. Now, feel free to hit me right in the 605 01:01:48,180 --> 01:01:53,219 pocket any time. I'd love to have you guys back to talk. We don't only have to talk about the heavy 606 01:01:53,219 --> 01:01:57,939 stuff, man. We could talk about fun stuff, too. We can talk about the job. We can talk about anything. 607 01:01:57,980 --> 01:02:02,579 Uh, you guys did awesome on your first appearance today. And I just really want to thank you again, 608 01:02:02,579 --> 01:02:06,860 fellas. Uh, please be safe out there and keep in touch with me, all right? 609 01:02:17,600 --> 01:02:23,279 I'm going to be honest with you. I really did weigh whether or not I was even going to do an 610 01:02:23,279 --> 01:02:29,279 outro for this episode, because after hearing those three stories play out in real time from 611 01:02:29,280 --> 01:02:34,119 the people that lived them, I feel like at the end of that call, I could have just said, that's it. 612 01:02:34,159 --> 01:02:40,399 We're done. See you next week. And that would have been the perfect end to a great episode. Uh, but 613 01:02:41,040 --> 01:02:46,879 I, you know, I just can't do that. I'm a talker. You guys, I once had a truck driver bestow the CB 614 01:02:46,919 --> 01:02:52,320 handle on me. Never shuts up, so I'm gonna talk. It's what they pay me to do. And I got a 615 01:02:52,320 --> 01:02:59,039 microphone, so I might as well, uh. Wow. Wow. Okay, that's what I'm talking about. Wow. It wasn't just 616 01:02:59,040 --> 01:03:05,859 an episode. That was three lives being laid out in real time. And, uh, all these guys had something 617 01:03:05,860 --> 01:03:10,819 very similar. They were all at what we could probably consider the bottom, or at least as low 618 01:03:10,820 --> 01:03:16,899 as they'd gotten to that point. Um, and listen, they all took a shot on themselves. They all made the 619 01:03:16,899 --> 01:03:22,939 same bet. Uh, and that bet wasn't even on the company. Now, yes, there was a certain bit of the 620 01:03:22,979 --> 01:03:27,979 bet that you have to bet on Cypress as well. You got to trust them as a company. Okay? That's. We all 621 01:03:27,979 --> 01:03:33,899 understand that everybody that's worked for a company does that. But these guys made the bet on 622 01:03:33,899 --> 01:03:39,819 themselves first. Okay. It doesn't work if they don't show up. Yeah. Cypress give you the 623 01:03:39,820 --> 01:03:45,419 opportunity to give anybody the opportunity that's qualified. But if you don't show up, then it 624 01:03:45,460 --> 01:03:51,459 it doesn't matter. That opportunity is is in the ether. Um, and it really these stories don't get 625 01:03:51,459 --> 01:03:56,139 told if these guys don't make the decision first it's that come to Jesus moment you have with 626 01:03:56,139 --> 01:04:02,779 yourself. Maybe it's looking in the mirror. Uh, maybe it's staring down a really long highway and 627 01:04:02,779 --> 01:04:07,719 knowing that you've got hours ahead just to think about how things are going. Um, it can happen 628 01:04:07,720 --> 01:04:13,519 anytime, anyplace. But you have that moment with yourself and you decide it's going to change 629 01:04:13,640 --> 01:04:20,198 tomorrow. Today it's going to change, and I'm going to be the one to do it. And you know, 6300 01:04:20,480 --> 01:04:26,959 another thing to hear. What really changed? It's the easiest thing we could all point out and say 631 01:04:26,959 --> 01:04:32,600 the money. He's got paychecks, man. He's putting down five grand on a car. Yes, you're right, but 632 01:04:32,600 --> 01:04:38,719 it's not just the paychecks. It's what those paychecks allow you to turn yourself into. They 633 01:04:38,719 --> 01:04:45,080 allow you to become. They allow you to become the guy that can stomach paying 28 K when you only oh, 634 01:04:45,120 --> 01:04:51,599 11 and having lies told about you while fighting to get your kids back. Uh, you you could go from 635 01:04:51,600 --> 01:04:58,079 having $100 to your name. Think about the last thing you spent $100 on. Now 636 01:04:58,320 --> 01:05:05,010 imagine if that item Bankrupted you. That's it. No more. Can't pay the bills. Can't buy food. Can't do 637 01:05:05,010 --> 01:05:11,449 anything because you got nothing. Imagine that. That's what having $100 to your name feels like. 638 01:05:11,449 --> 01:05:18,249 And, uh, you you can get to a place where you can show up as a father, and you can turn that little 639 01:05:18,249 --> 01:05:24,049 girl who you never thought was going to be a daddy's girl into daddy's girl. And let me tell 640 01:05:24,049 --> 01:05:28,689 you, Mateo telling that story about coming home to his daughter and seeing her face light up, 641 01:05:28,689 --> 01:05:34,930 talking to her on FaceTime, seeing her face light up. That's a dad right there. That's a guy. Bottle 642 01:05:34,930 --> 01:05:40,449 that and sell it, man. Because there's a lot of dads out there that aren't the dads that we just 643 01:05:40,449 --> 01:05:45,849 talk to, okay? And we're a ways off from Father's Day, so this isn't, uh, this isn't like a Father's 644 01:05:45,850 --> 01:05:50,329 Day special at the end of this or anything, but I'll tell you right now that you heard from three 645 01:05:50,330 --> 01:05:55,850 guys that said, the reason they didn't just come out and say the reason I am doing this is, well, 646 01:05:55,850 --> 01:06:00,989 they actually might have, but the reason they're doing this is to support their families and even 647 01:06:00,990 --> 01:06:07,469 Trevis in his situation, he's not even able to see his children at this point in time, yet. He's still 648 01:06:07,469 --> 01:06:13,829 out there grinding. Only come off the road just a few times in his tenure here, which is, I think he 6 01:06:13,830 --> 01:06:20,709 said about four years now. Um, that's dedication that, that that is proof in the pudding that 652 01:06:20,709 --> 01:06:26,509 you have a goal in mind and you are going to get there. Um, you know, there are people listening to 653 01:06:26,509 --> 01:06:33,470 this right now sitting in their version of Trevis's car, holding their version of the 654 01:06:33,470 --> 01:06:40,269 last $100, or wondering if it's worth taking the shot. Or maybe we just 655 01:06:40,269 --> 01:06:46,869 quit and do something else. These guys just gave you the answer. You're looking for all three of 656 01:06:46,870 --> 01:06:53,869 them, hands down. No questions asked. You don't need me to sell you anything after that. Which is 657 01:06:53,870 --> 01:06:59,649 why I thought about not doing an outro today. Honestly, I thought to myself, uh, you know, dial it 658 01:06:59,649 --> 01:07:06,529 back, rein it in, reel it in, put the reins on it. All of the breaking euphemisms for my mouth. Okay. 659 01:07:06,850 --> 01:07:12,649 Um, but I did want to put a bow on it just because I think as time goes on, this will be one of our 660 01:07:12,650 --> 01:07:17,249 most impactful episodes. I think you're going to hear other drivers listen to these stories, and 661 01:07:17,249 --> 01:07:20,689 they're going to put their hand up and say, I would like to come in and tell my story because 662 01:07:20,690 --> 01:07:27,609 it's similar in some way, shape or form. And let me tell you, I am Creed in here with arms wide open. 663 01:07:27,610 --> 01:07:33,489 You come to me with your stories. I will put them on this podcast. I would love to talk to you, so 664 01:07:33,490 --> 01:07:39,209 make sure to jump over to the website again. podcast.cypresstruck.com. If you want to talk to me, 665 01:07:39,370 --> 01:07:45,850 let's get in touch. Thank you all so much for being here today. What an awesome episode. I feel 666 01:07:45,850 --> 01:07:51,929 like I need to go have a come to Jesus moment with myself. Uh, look myself in the mirror and say, 667 01:07:51,929 --> 01:07:58,819 if Trevis and Mateo and James can turn it around like they did. My chunky 668 01:07:58,820 --> 01:08:04,459 butt can hit the treadmill tomorrow. Okay, if they can do that, I can do one day on the treadmill. It 669 01:08:04,459 --> 01:08:08,139 all starts with one day. We're going to kick this snowball down the hill. Before you know it, I'm 670 01:08:08,139 --> 01:08:11,779 going to be slimmed down. I'm going to be wedge shaped. I'm going to have the big show. I'm not 671 01:08:11,779 --> 01:08:16,339 going to have the big shoulders. You guys have met me. You've seen me. You know it's not happening. But, 672 01:08:16,339 --> 01:08:21,699 uh, I am going to be inspired by this episode to make some better changes in my life, and I hope 673 01:08:21,699 --> 01:08:27,019 that you guys will do the same. Thank you so much for being here for this impactful episode of the 674 01:08:27,019 --> 01:08:32,659 Cypress Truck Lines podcast. I've been Marcus, you've been awesome. Be safe out there on the road, 675 01:08:32,660 --> 01:08:35,899 Cypress trucks and we will see you next week.