Driver Appreciation at Cypress: How Family Shows Up

1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:05,919 You know, there's a lot of ways the trucking company can say it appreciates its drivers. You 2 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:11,120 can hang a banner. You can hand out t shirt, you can throw some burgers on the grill. Slap somebody 3 00:00:11,120 --> 00:00:17,160 on the back and say thanks for everything you do. But here's a question what happens when Driver 4 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:24,120 Appreciation Week is over? What does we appreciate you really look like when it's February, when 5 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:28,400 you're sitting at a customer waiting on a load, when the truck needs work, when you need to get 6 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:34,519 home for your kid's graduation. Because when I sat down with Matt and Thad Penland for this episode, 7 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:41,160 dad said something I was not necessarily expecting to hear. Cypress goes big for Driver 8 00:00:41,160 --> 00:00:47,560 Appreciation Week, and that doesn't think that's good enough. He wants more opportunities to get 9 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:51,800 face to face with drivers. He wants to know about their families. He wants to know if they're 10 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:57,360 getting home when they need to. Hell, he wants to walk right up to them and ask, are you making 11 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:03,820 enough money? And as you'll hear today, that philosophy didn't just appear out of nowhere. 12 00:01:03,980 --> 00:01:09,979 It goes all the way back to D.V. Penland, riding around the Cypress yard on a golf cart, stopping 13 00:01:09,980 --> 00:01:16,900 when he saw a driver. Not to talk freight, but to ask about his family. This was a man who made one 14 00:01:16,900 --> 00:01:23,180 thing very clear. Don't mess with the driver's pay. Get him home when he needs to be home. And when he 15 00:01:23,180 --> 00:01:29,299 does something right, make damn sure somebody tells him. That's driver appreciation at about 16 00:01:29,300 --> 00:01:36,180 30,000ft. But somebody still has to cook all these burgers and sausages. And that brings 17 00:01:36,180 --> 00:01:41,940 us to Evelyn Allen. For more than a decade, Evelyn has been the woman behind Driver Appreciation 18 00:01:41,940 --> 00:01:48,499 Week in Jacksonville. And when I say behind it, I mean she's gone to 20 different stores during a 19 00:01:48,499 --> 00:01:54,379 hurricane trying to find enough food to feed the Cypress drivers. She's had the propane quit with 20 00:01:54,419 --> 00:01:59,480 hungry drivers waiting for lunch, forcing her to start cooking hamburgers on every burner she 21 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:06,280 could find and inside the oven. And perhaps most impressively, Evelyn has literally walked 22 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:13,280 through fire for the Cypress drivers. Okay, maybe not through it, but she did open the lid on 23 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:18,800 a grease filled grill and send a fireball through the carport. Big enough that she thought, well, this 24 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:25,079 ought to get me fired from driver appreciation. Nope. It didn't. They bought her a better griddle 25 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:30,439 and sent her back out there. And I love it. And she'll be back out there again this year, because 26 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:36,399 underneath the breakfast, the burgers, the sausage dogs, the hats, the t shirts, and Evelyn's highly 27 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:42,720 classified special juice for her burgers, there's a much bigger story here. It's about why a 28 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:47,520 trucking company with hundreds of drivers still believes those drivers should never feel like 29 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:53,880 numbers. It's about a philosophy passed from one generation of the Penland family to the next, and 30 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:59,019 it's about the people who spend the other 51 weeks of the year trying to prove that driver 31 00:02:59,020 --> 00:03:06,020 appreciation means a heck of a lot more than free lunch. So today we're talking with the woman 32 00:03:06,020 --> 00:03:11,380 who's been making the week happen for more than a decade, and the owners who can tell us why it 33 00:03:11,380 --> 00:03:17,339 matters in the first place. This is our driver Appreciation special on the Cypress Truck Lines 34 00:03:17,339 --> 00:03:19,300 podcast. Let's roll. 35 00:03:24,499 --> 00:03:29,019 Countdown to the Cypress Truck Lines podcast starts now. 36 00:03:31,380 --> 00:03:38,299 Your number one professional flatbed podcast here to deliver stories, safety updates and company 37 00:03:38,300 --> 00:03:43,059 news directly to your ears. Let's get down to business. 38 00:03:49,260 --> 00:03:54,499 How's the weather out there? Cypress and Sun belt. Welcome into another episode of the Cypress Truck 39 00:03:54,539 --> 00:04:00,559 Lines podcast. Thank you so much for joining us here today. I, of course, am your host, Marcus. That 40 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:06,119 part's never changed, so we don't need to talk about it any further. Let's get into what we are 41 00:04:06,119 --> 00:04:11,320 discussing today. But quickly. First, you know, I gotta give you just a tiny bit of homework here. 42 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:17,640 And as it was last week and the week before, and some weeks before that, your homework is simply to 43 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:22,320 tell a friend, you see a guy out there, Tarpon is load. You go help him out. Ask him if he's 44 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:26,959 listening to the Cypress Truck Lines podcast. Uh, maybe you, uh, brush shoulders with another driver 45 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:31,480 in the driver lounge at one of the terminals you're running through. Ask him if he's listening. 46 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:36,479 Show him where he can find it. If you've ever gotten anything out of this podcast, even if you 47 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:42,359 don't listen, you've just joined us here on the podcast and you had a good time. Tell another 48 00:04:42,359 --> 00:04:47,640 driver about that. For me, if he's wearing a cypress or a sun belt shirt, that's even better. Uh, 49 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:52,600 but share this podcast with your friends out there. In the world of trucking, it really helps us 50 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:58,179 out a lot, and it's all I ask from you. There's nothing else other than coming on here in wagon 51 00:04:58,179 --> 00:05:04,458 with me a little bit. I'm not ever going to ask you for anything else, so make sure to drop by the 52 00:05:04,459 --> 00:05:09,979 website podcast.cypresstruck.com, because there is a link there that you can email me 53 00:05:10,019 --> 00:05:16,940 directly. And we got Thad Penland on this show today asking for suggestions. Okay. So 54 00:05:16,940 --> 00:05:21,659 make sure you're paying attention when Matt and Thad join us a little bit later because Thad will 55 00:05:21,660 --> 00:05:27,700 ask you what you think. And you can either write me, write him, write Matt, or write your your 56 00:05:27,700 --> 00:05:32,899 dispatcher, your driver manager, whoever it is you want to get Ahold of and share your thoughts. 57 00:05:33,140 --> 00:05:39,899 Because this is our driver appreciation special, as I said in the cold open. And one thing 58 00:05:39,900 --> 00:05:46,858 about driver appreciation at Cypress and Sunbelt is it looks different. Okay. I've been doing this 59 00:05:46,859 --> 00:05:51,900 whole making podcast for trucking fleets thing for a little while now, and I know that to some 60 00:05:51,959 --> 00:05:58,639 people. Driver appreciation. It means that like, hey, let's get some food in the terminal. And, uh, you 61 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:03,599 know, let's maybe give out a sticker or a koozie or a keychain or something like that. And I'm not 62 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:09,640 saying that stuff doesn't matter to what I'm saying is, a lot of drivers have told me that when 63 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:14,519 they're working at fleets that approach it that way. Driver appreciation becomes more about the 64 00:06:14,519 --> 00:06:19,000 people at the terminal than anything, because that's where the food is and the drivers are not 65 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:25,680 there. Well, Cypress does it different. Five days breakfast Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday from Hardee's. 66 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:31,799 We got Evelyn Allen out here, uh, making runs. They know her. All right. As I'll tell her later, they 67 00:06:31,799 --> 00:06:37,039 owe her a parking spot for the amount that she's going in and picking up Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 68 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:42,879 of Driver Appreciation Week, which, by the way, will fall from September 14th to September 18th. This 69 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:48,600 year, Thursday and Friday we got cookouts happening on Thursday and Friday. Evelyn's making 70 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:54,459 burgers and sausage dogs, and she's got this special juice. We'll hear about that too. And 71 00:06:54,459 --> 00:06:59,299 furthermore, moving forward, you get to hear from Matt and Thad Penland about what this really 72 00:06:59,299 --> 00:07:05,578 means and why it is that Cypress approaches Driver Appreciation Week like they do. And you 73 00:07:05,579 --> 00:07:09,739 heard me say it in the cold open. I want you to pay special attention to the things that Matt and 74 00:07:09,739 --> 00:07:14,739 Thad are saying, because while this is a Herculean effort and it's something that they put a lot of 75 00:07:14,739 --> 00:07:19,899 thought behind, and they they invest in it and they make sure that it happens every single year 76 00:07:19,900 --> 00:07:25,219 by putting somebody that's so well experienced with it in Evelyn Allen, in charge of the whole 77 00:07:25,219 --> 00:07:30,859 thing. Uh, but they know they can do better and they want to do better. And that's where you, the 78 00:07:30,859 --> 00:07:35,659 drivers come in, send your suggestions in because they want to hear it. They want to come on the 79 00:07:35,659 --> 00:07:40,699 podcast and ask for your suggestions. If that wasn't the case. And I think that's really cool, we 80 00:07:40,700 --> 00:07:46,179 get a couple of peeks behind the curtain here. And so the way that the Penguins run this company, uh, 81 00:07:46,179 --> 00:07:51,840 that I think are really, really kind of record scratch moments. Okay. Um, I mentioned one of them 82 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:57,518 in the cold open. There's more than just that. So pay special attention here. You're getting to hear 83 00:07:57,519 --> 00:08:01,439 it from the guys. We don't get them on this podcast very often. They're really busy. They're 84 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:06,759 running a giant trucking fleet. And they came in today because they knew we're talking about 85 00:08:06,759 --> 00:08:13,199 driver appreciation, and that's how important it is to Matt and Thad and down the line. Okay. 86 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:19,479 So a really cool episode that we get to do here today because we greatly appreciate drivers here 87 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:24,919 at the Cypress Truck Lines podcast as well. Every single one of you that's ever downloaded the show, 88 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:30,160 gone to the website and listen to an episode there. Come on the show. You know, it's a little 89 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:34,159 weird when a random dude from Oregon calls you on a Wednesday afternoon and says, hey, do you want to 90 00:08:34,159 --> 00:08:40,120 be on a podcast? I get it. And so many of you guys have been gracious with your time and said, I 91 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:46,200 would love to help you out. And that's why this podcast is so good. So we are in great 92 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:51,178 appreciation of all of you Cypress drivers here at the Cypress Truck Lines podcast, and I speak 93 00:08:51,179 --> 00:08:56,619 for everybody on staff when I say that this is a really important episode. It's a really fun 94 00:08:56,619 --> 00:09:02,099 episode. Getting to hear some of the stories that Evelyn has from a decade plus of putting together 95 00:09:02,099 --> 00:09:07,419 driver appreciation is worth its weight in gold, and hearing the thought process and the 96 00:09:07,420 --> 00:09:13,299 philosophy behind Driver Appreciation Week at Cypress from Matt and Thad might even be worth 97 00:09:13,299 --> 00:09:19,979 its weight. Double time over in gold. So enjoy today's episode. It's about you. It's for you now, 98 00:09:19,979 --> 00:09:24,379 we didn't talk to any drivers on this one today, because we wanted to bring you the nuts and bolts 99 00:09:24,380 --> 00:09:30,619 of how this whole thing gets put together, and why it's such an important piece of the lore here and 100 00:09:30,620 --> 00:09:37,339 the culture at Cypress and Sun Belt. So strap in. We are talking to the people that move the needle 101 00:09:37,340 --> 00:09:41,658 when it comes to Driver Appreciation Week at Cypress Truck Lines. 102 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:55,598 Welcome back to our Driver Appreciation Special here on the Cypress Truck Lines podcast. Very 103 00:09:55,599 --> 00:10:00,479 excited and honored to have our next guest joining us here. Uh, we don't get to hear from them 104 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:05,559 super often, so we always make it a point to get him on the episodes that matter. And this one 105 00:10:05,560 --> 00:10:12,039 definitely matters. Uh, let's welcome in Thad Penland and Matt Penland to the show, gentlemen. 106 00:10:12,159 --> 00:10:17,399 Always a pleasure to have you on here. Welcome back to the Cypress Truck Lines podcast. Thanks, 107 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:22,919 Mark. It's good to be back. Yes, sir. Good to be here. I always like to talk to you. You've got lots of 108 00:10:22,919 --> 00:10:29,639 energy, light, energy and maybe some of that energy can transfer over to me. You know, just 109 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:35,360 by. Just by being around you. I'm three hours earlier in my day. Thad. That's the only thing, 110 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:40,799 right? I got this this West Coast time keeps me awake a little bit later. That's all it is. But, uh, 111 00:10:40,919 --> 00:10:47,820 I wonder what it was. You always seemed like your pump. Step ahead. Yeah, well, and I should say, 112 00:10:47,820 --> 00:10:52,339 because I feel like it's something that I don't say enough, I got one of the best jobs a guy could 113 00:10:52,340 --> 00:10:57,059 ask for. I get to sit here and chin wag into a microphone all day, and I wouldn't be very good at 114 00:10:57,059 --> 00:11:03,820 it if I didn't have some excitement, you know? So. Right? Right. Part of the part of the gig. Yes, sir. 115 00:11:03,820 --> 00:11:10,259 Well, fellas, uh, we're here to talk about driver appreciation today. And driver appreciation Week 116 00:11:10,260 --> 00:11:15,899 is very unique at Cypress Truck Lines. Um, obviously going to be doing five days. We got 117 00:11:15,900 --> 00:11:21,499 breakfast Monday through Wednesday. We got cookouts on Thursday and Friday. Um, Evelyn's 118 00:11:21,500 --> 00:11:27,699 coming in here a bit later to talk about the execution of this and how she makes it all happen. 119 00:11:27,979 --> 00:11:33,499 Um, but you guys really don't treat driver appreciation like checking a box on a checklist 120 00:11:33,500 --> 00:11:39,259 somewhere. I want to know from you both. Uh, and we can start with whoever wants to jump in here. But 121 00:11:39,299 --> 00:11:45,640 why is it so important to Cypress to put in real time? real money, real effort behind driver 122 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:52,280 appreciation. Well, um, yeah, I'll jump in here on that one. Um, we think it's 123 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:57,959 super important to recognize these guys. We would love to recognize them throughout the year, all 124 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:04,359 day long, every day, you know? But with everything that we have to get done to, to get everybody paid 125 00:12:04,359 --> 00:12:09,399 on Friday and get all the freight delivered and, and do all the other stuff that we do, get the 126 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:15,199 trucks fixed. And it just seems overwhelming sometimes, you know, and, and we don't get that 127 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:21,960 opportunity at least as, as owners or, or a higher level level management. We 128 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:27,918 don't get that opportunity to talk to every driver that we've got. You know, we right now we've 129 00:12:27,919 --> 00:12:34,799 got 470 drivers. We're about 30 short from where we need to be. Our comfort zone 130 00:12:34,799 --> 00:12:41,640 is kind of a 500 driver deal, you know, and anywhere between 500 and 525. So 131 00:12:41,699 --> 00:12:47,299 we're we're down about 30 drivers. So we're really scrambling in the school and recruiting and 132 00:12:47,460 --> 00:12:54,059 trying to get Re hires back. But sometimes we we don't see the forest for the trees, you know. And 133 00:12:54,059 --> 00:13:00,619 and uh I think it would behoove us to slow slow down a little bit and, and do more stuff, you know, 134 00:13:00,659 --> 00:13:05,780 throughout the year for these drivers instead of just once a week. And, you know, we go all out 135 00:13:05,780 --> 00:13:11,659 during this week, you know, and and I know the drivers enjoy it and everything and and they feel 136 00:13:11,659 --> 00:13:18,099 appreciated. But I think we could do a better job of doing that throughout throughout the year. 137 00:13:18,300 --> 00:13:24,379 And, and maybe we can hear from some of the drivers, you know, if they would like to, to go back 138 00:13:24,380 --> 00:13:31,299 to maybe, uh, having having a couple of in, in person safety meetings or, 139 00:13:31,299 --> 00:13:36,299 or just a meet and greet, it doesn't even have to be about safety, you know, through, throughout the 140 00:13:36,299 --> 00:13:43,199 year, maybe, maybe a family day and oh, my, uh, Google Photos recently. Um, 141 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:49,640 it's August, you know, and this this happened to be a family meeting or a family day at 142 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:56,639 Cypress in August of 2005. And it popped up on my on my feed, you know, and it 143 00:13:56,640 --> 00:14:03,559 and I and I clicked on it and it, it had tons of pictures of drivers, their families. We had a 144 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:09,840 big barbecue, we had a dunking machine, we had some bounce houses, you know, we had the whole nine 145 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:15,839 yards. So we had some of the our older big pets all shined up. The ones that we had gone through 146 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:21,918 and put chrome on them and everything had those trucks there. And it was it it. And I remember that 147 00:14:21,919 --> 00:14:28,879 day and it was an exciting time for everybody, you know, and I think in this digital world now, we we 148 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:35,719 don't like to do anything in person. You know, we like to, to to do everything remote or do it 149 00:14:35,719 --> 00:14:42,140 through a message or, you know, talk on the phone. But there's something to be said for being in 150 00:14:42,140 --> 00:14:48,819 person and meeting families and and talking to these, to these guys and, you know, making them feel 151 00:14:48,820 --> 00:14:54,379 like what we really are as a big family, you know? So I like to hear from some of the guys, maybe 152 00:14:54,380 --> 00:15:01,218 that, uh, are listening to the, the podcast on, on what your ideas are. And would that be of 153 00:15:01,219 --> 00:15:08,099 interest to you to have a in person family meeting, greeting, family day, 154 00:15:08,099 --> 00:15:14,419 whatever you want to call it? Sure. Well, head on over to the website podcast Dot Cypress com. Send 155 00:15:14,420 --> 00:15:19,459 me an email. Uh, I know you probably got these guys emails too, so you can reach out to them as well, 156 00:15:19,460 --> 00:15:24,379 but let us know because, um, if we can make something like that happen, because that's what 157 00:15:24,379 --> 00:15:29,459 the drivers want, man. I'm sure you'd like to update those photos. Uh, yeah, 2005. You know, 158 00:15:29,499 --> 00:15:34,178 remember it like it's yesterday, but we got to get some new ones. When I had a full head of hair and 159 00:15:34,179 --> 00:15:40,919 I was, uh, I was a little bit thinner, and, you know, I look young. You know, 20, 20 years in 160 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:47,239 trucking will do it to you. Amen to that. Matt, do you have any thoughts there to add on? Uh, on kind 161 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:52,839 of why it's important to you to put this effort in, uh, for Driver Appreciation Week each year? Yeah, 162 00:15:52,839 --> 00:15:58,279 I think it's it comes to the point where drivers really feel unappreciated. You know, that's the 163 00:15:58,279 --> 00:16:04,119 name of a driver appreciation. And, and, and we really try to put a good foot forward each and 164 00:16:04,119 --> 00:16:08,839 every day to appreciate our drivers what they do. We know what it is. You know, we've been in 165 00:16:08,839 --> 00:16:14,039 trucking our whole lives. So we know what the sacrifice, where it comes from and and what it 166 00:16:14,039 --> 00:16:19,719 costs the driver to to show up and be faithful and deliver freight each and every day. So just 167 00:16:19,719 --> 00:16:25,279 appreciating what they do. Making sure they know that there is an appreciation for the hard work 168 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:30,399 that they put in every day out there in the heat, out there in the grind of the traffic, delivering 169 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:36,460 to customers, making it a priority that that's not an easy job. And we want our drivers to know that 170 00:16:36,460 --> 00:16:42,698 they're appreciated. Great stuff there. I you know, there's so many things that run through this 171 00:16:42,699 --> 00:16:49,299 company that were, uh, started by DV by dad, right when the company was founded. These are these are 172 00:16:49,340 --> 00:16:54,299 kind of heartbeats that run through the company. And I want to ask you guys, growing up around it, 173 00:16:54,339 --> 00:17:00,539 watching your dad build this company, uh, what was his philosophy around driver appreciation? And how 174 00:17:00,540 --> 00:17:07,380 did you guys sort of, uh, embody that and or expand it as the years went by? Well, you know, 175 00:17:07,420 --> 00:17:13,139 one thing I always appreciated about that he was out on the golf cart riding around. And no matter 176 00:17:13,140 --> 00:17:19,180 who it was, uh, you, every once in a while, you'd see him pull up to a driver and just stop and talk, or 177 00:17:19,180 --> 00:17:24,339 he would mention, hey, I talked to this driver, and he said, so-and-so, and he said this and that, and 178 00:17:24,339 --> 00:17:30,180 and so he was just making it personal, connecting with that driver, making sure the driver was 179 00:17:30,180 --> 00:17:35,599 having the kind of experience that he should be having at Cypress Truck Lines and not being just 180 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:41,919 another number, you know, to put in the stack. But but dad would take time. Ask them how their family 181 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:46,719 was. I had several drivers tell me over the years, you know, your dad would ask me about my family 182 00:17:46,719 --> 00:17:53,399 and that kind of thing, and it just makes them an impression on guys that that we do care and that 183 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:59,640 they are appreciated for what they do each and every day. And he always he would always make sure 184 00:17:59,879 --> 00:18:06,519 not so much on Driver Appreciation Week, but but throughout the year, if a driver 185 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:13,439 had a graduation or a or a wedding or some kind of family event, he would always 186 00:18:13,479 --> 00:18:20,359 make sure that we knew if the driver missed that event, that that that was going to be 187 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:27,399 hell to pay, to put it lightly, you know, so he, he, he said, I don't 188 00:18:27,399 --> 00:18:34,019 care what you got to do if you have to book a flight and get him home for his wedding or. 189 00:18:34,819 --> 00:18:41,539 Graduation. Or graduation or any other family event. You know, so he made that super clear to 190 00:18:41,579 --> 00:18:48,579 us. So we always made remember to make that a priority with with our drivers. And, you 191 00:18:48,579 --> 00:18:55,419 know, appreciation, you know, is um, is what keeps the 192 00:18:55,420 --> 00:19:02,059 driver happy I think. And and dad, uh, dad always said this as well 193 00:19:02,099 --> 00:19:08,259 is his pay. Don't mess with his pay. Make sure he's getting what he's supposed to be earning. Make 194 00:19:08,300 --> 00:19:14,979 sure he gets his pay raises when he's supposed to, and and and get them home when 195 00:19:14,979 --> 00:19:20,939 they're, when they want to be home. That's the two main things pay and home time. Another thing he 196 00:19:20,939 --> 00:19:26,419 did was he was real liberal with atta boys. He would look for reasons to give driver an atta boy. 197 00:19:26,420 --> 00:19:31,459 And he he said, hey, make sure that truck gets in. And when did you get that guy's atta boy, you know, 198 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:38,359 and an attaboy could be anywhere from $25 up to $250 and even more. You know, wow. Make 199 00:19:38,360 --> 00:19:43,039 sure that guy gets an attaboy and that that's depend. On what the what the case was or what what 200 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:50,039 happened. But yeah, he was he was very liberal with with that, that kind of stuff, you know, and and and 201 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:56,280 he was always pushing for the next rate increase, you know, for the drivers, you know, hey we got to 202 00:19:56,280 --> 00:20:01,559 get this going. Let's, let's meet and see see what kind of what kind of money we've got this year 203 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:07,640 that we can put in the driver's paycheck so that that's something that we've, we're trying to do 204 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:14,079 too. And and look at it once a year for everybody. That's so cool. And you know the drivers have 205 00:20:14,120 --> 00:20:19,759 talked about the atta boys on the show before. And uh, part of the discussion that we had back when 206 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:25,959 we were talking about that is how something that's such a small gesture can go so far, 207 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:32,499 um, especially when it comes to just appreciating the drivers. right? I'm the type of guy Matt and 208 00:20:32,500 --> 00:20:37,780 Thad, where if one of you guys reaches out to me and says, hey, good job on that podcast, I'm good 209 00:20:37,780 --> 00:20:42,019 for like a week and a half. My wife doesn't even have to tell me that she loves me. It's the guy. 210 00:20:42,060 --> 00:20:46,499 You know, you get that appreciation from somebody and it's work that you've put your heart and soul 211 00:20:46,500 --> 00:20:53,219 into. It really does, uh, move the needle is the best way that I can put it. And man, who's ever 212 00:20:53,219 --> 00:21:00,099 been upset about a 25 to $250 handshake, I mean, that's just a great way to go about it. So, um, 213 00:21:00,140 --> 00:21:04,060 is part of something else that's kind of unique about Cypress we've talked about here on the show 214 00:21:04,060 --> 00:21:09,779 before is the amount of trailers that you guys have, and part of the, uh, have it your way 215 00:21:09,819 --> 00:21:14,419 philosophy that you take with your drivers, I think is, is rooted in that you need to get this 216 00:21:14,420 --> 00:21:19,219 guy home when he needs to be home when he wants to be home. Would you consider the, you know, having 217 00:21:19,220 --> 00:21:24,578 three trailers for every driver out there, sort of a way to appreciate the drivers and that you're 218 00:21:24,579 --> 00:21:29,879 trying to have more respect for their time, trying to be more flexible from your standpoint so that 219 00:21:29,879 --> 00:21:35,279 they can get home for these types of events. Yes, absolutely. And there comes a cost with running 220 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:41,199 that many trailers for a 500 truck fleet. You know, we we have to maintain every one of them. We have 221 00:21:41,199 --> 00:21:47,759 to keep tires and brakes and and and do avis once a year, you know, it's 1600 trailers 222 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:53,799 and, uh, plus plus some, some other trailers, uh, vans and so forth, but 223 00:21:53,879 --> 00:22:00,839 1600 trailers and we have to av them every year, you know, so it's, uh, it's it's quite, a, quite a 224 00:22:00,839 --> 00:22:07,839 challenge if we're not doing 7 or 8 AV I's a day, we won't we won't get it done. You know, so. I think 225 00:22:07,839 --> 00:22:12,079 some guys don't realize that that that the way we have it set up, they go in and drop that empty 226 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:18,159 pick up a loaded trailer. Uh, some companies only have one trailer per truck, and so you have to 227 00:22:18,199 --> 00:22:23,319 live load every one of those. And just a sometimes a guy will leave us and go somewhere else and say, 228 00:22:23,319 --> 00:22:28,378 man, I had to sit and wait too long. I couldn't I couldn't make any money. I couldn't get any miles, 229 00:22:28,419 --> 00:22:34,379 you know. And so it's a big deal that that we have that out there for our drivers. And again, that 230 00:22:34,379 --> 00:22:40,379 shows the appreciation we have for what they have to go through each day. And on that, Abi, we do once 231 00:22:40,380 --> 00:22:47,179 a year on the trailers, we, we change every single brake drum whether it needs it or not. And we 232 00:22:47,180 --> 00:22:53,939 change every single set of brake shoes, whether whether it needs it or not. 233 00:22:54,019 --> 00:23:00,739 Once a year, whenever that Abi is done, it gets new brakes and a new, new drum every 234 00:23:00,739 --> 00:23:07,099 single year. And, uh, you know, we want the, the trailer to, to stop, you know, whenever the driver 235 00:23:07,099 --> 00:23:13,859 needs it to. So we don't pinch pennies on our Abi main equipment. You know, we get brand new 236 00:23:13,980 --> 00:23:20,899 drums, brand new brakes, and we check the, uh, check the bearings as well, and, uh, just do a 237 00:23:20,899 --> 00:23:25,780 lot of preventative maintenance because we don't want the guys to have problems out there. You know, 238 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:32,838 we're we're totally rewiring every trailer that we've got. Um, as we as we have time, you 239 00:23:32,839 --> 00:23:39,599 know, every every week there's a 2 or 3 total rewires in the shop, and we're buying 240 00:23:39,599 --> 00:23:45,639 this, uh, wiring harness that run that's complete from one end to the other. And it's really nice. 241 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:51,718 You know, that's. Less problem. Prefab, you know, and they can they can count on their lights working, 242 00:23:51,719 --> 00:23:57,719 their brakes working. And, uh, the trailers that we have are, are all aluminum, you know, so they're 243 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:03,920 they'll last forever as long as we keep tires and brakes and lights on the trailers. And speaking of 244 00:24:03,920 --> 00:24:07,879 equipment, what about all these new trucks that we've been able to buy over the last couple of 245 00:24:07,879 --> 00:24:14,199 years? I mean, that's a yeah appreciation thing too. Big time too. If you were to come here 15 years 246 00:24:14,199 --> 00:24:20,199 ago, you you wouldn't see that. You know, you would see a lot of trucks, a lot more trucks in the shop, 247 00:24:20,239 --> 00:24:25,698 a lot of breakdowns. We bought we bought a lot of used trucks. And, uh, there's nothing wrong with the 248 00:24:25,699 --> 00:24:32,499 used trucks, but they tend to, uh, you know, have a little more unexpected maintenance, you know, and, 249 00:24:32,500 --> 00:24:39,379 and, uh. Fuel mileage is your mileage. But we made we made the decision to, to go with 250 00:24:39,379 --> 00:24:45,020 new trucks so we can attract the driver that that, uh, wants to get out there and really make money 251 00:24:45,020 --> 00:24:51,859 and not have breakdowns and so forth. So every every year we buy 100 to 150 trucks and 252 00:24:51,859 --> 00:24:58,739 we sell 100 and 150 that are five years old. And that is driver appreciation big time. And it yeah, 253 00:24:58,740 --> 00:25:04,819 we have to move mountains to get get that get them in here. Get the Apu on them. Swap the 254 00:25:04,819 --> 00:25:11,219 headboard off. Put the new headboard on. Program the truck. It's a it's a lot that goes into that 255 00:25:11,260 --> 00:25:18,139 you know but but we uh we want our guys to have have new. Equipment, have the best. Stuff 256 00:25:18,140 --> 00:25:24,799 that's less than five years old. Less than 400 to 150,000 miles. Something the driver can be 257 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:29,800 proud of. Yeah, you can tell they are two fellas. And I feel like we should get take this 258 00:25:29,839 --> 00:25:34,519 opportunity to give a shout out to the guys in the both the truck and the trailer shops, uh, 259 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:39,879 throughout the company, because it takes. You said it, Thad. You're moving mountains, uh, to be able to 260 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:45,040 do this. And those guys, uh, in their turn and wrenches, uh, they might be the offensive linemen 261 00:25:45,079 --> 00:25:50,359 of of that whole. Right, right, right, right. I, I, I hadn't thought of that analogy. That's, uh, that's 262 00:25:50,359 --> 00:25:56,999 pretty good. Yeah. Oh, the drivers. The guy that gives no, no praise, but he grinds every day and 263 00:25:56,999 --> 00:26:03,599 he's, he's putting on an Apu every day, you know, until until all 140 are installed. 264 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:10,319 Yep, yep. Smashed fingers, all that stuff. It happens. Man. I've, I've worked in an auto shop before, and, 265 00:26:10,319 --> 00:26:14,599 uh, mechanics are some of the most interesting people I've ever met. They have a way of keeping 266 00:26:14,599 --> 00:26:21,359 their frustrations, uh, down and getting the job done like nobody I've ever met. So, uh, never want 267 00:26:21,360 --> 00:26:25,738 to pass up an opportunity to give a shout out. I know we're talking driver appreciation here, but 268 00:26:25,739 --> 00:26:31,779 the shop is such an important part of this game. Yeah. Um, fellas, I want to ask you about the 269 00:26:31,780 --> 00:26:37,858 opportunity that you get here this week because, um, during Driver Appreciation Week, because we've 270 00:26:37,859 --> 00:26:42,180 got, you know, breakfast Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, we've got a couple of cookouts at the end of the 271 00:26:42,180 --> 00:26:47,779 week, I'm assuming you might see some drivers come through that aren't necessarily coming through 272 00:26:47,780 --> 00:26:52,299 all the time. How do you take advantage of that opportunity to get out there and get some face 273 00:26:52,339 --> 00:26:57,899 time with some guys that you might not see that often? And how important is that face time? Uh, 274 00:26:57,900 --> 00:27:03,979 especially during driver appreciation Week. Man, as long as I can not overeat on those sausage dogs, 275 00:27:04,020 --> 00:27:10,779 you know, you get too many of those. It's just so easy, you know, uh, so 276 00:27:10,780 --> 00:27:15,419 plentiful. I think, asking. Questions, you. Know, going out there and having conversations, asking 277 00:27:15,420 --> 00:27:19,499 questions, how drivers are doing, how their family is doing, what's been going on. Those kind of 278 00:27:19,499 --> 00:27:24,279 things are really helpful. Are they making enough money? Are they getting the good runs that they 279 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:31,160 want? You know, and and are getting the whole time that they need? Yeah. Yeah, it's a huge 280 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:35,479 opportunity because you're right. There's a lot of guys that'll that'll make it through here that we 281 00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:41,839 won't normally see. And uh, at the other terminals as well. You know, they'll, they'll, they'll have a 282 00:27:41,839 --> 00:27:48,239 barbecue and a, you know, an all week event at the other terminals. And a lot of drivers will get 283 00:27:48,239 --> 00:27:53,879 through there. And, and the terminal manager will get, get the chance to meet them, talk to them, you 284 00:27:53,879 --> 00:28:00,159 know, find out what they're all about, you know, listen to their problems. So it's, uh, it's it's big. 285 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:05,478 It's a big time for us. It's an opportunity for drivers also to get little spiff, you know, come in 286 00:28:05,479 --> 00:28:11,359 and get a pair of gloves, a couple of hats. And, you know, we're always passing out hats. And in the 287 00:28:11,359 --> 00:28:16,159 past we've done some raffles. You know, we might want to think about doing that this year. You know, 288 00:28:16,199 --> 00:28:22,579 we gave away those big TVs a couple of years ago. That'd be good. Truck TVs or truck refrigerators? 289 00:28:22,619 --> 00:28:28,618 Yeah, that's. That's always fun to do. And and the driver wins in the end. With that, you know. 290 00:28:28,860 --> 00:28:34,860 Absolutely it. Fellas, I have to call this out. Now, I'm I'm about a week away from being four years 291 00:28:34,860 --> 00:28:40,779 in to making podcasts for trucking fleets. And Thad, something you said right there, I, I know, uh, 292 00:28:40,779 --> 00:28:45,339 more owners than I could count that wouldn't be caught dead walking out into the lot and asking 293 00:28:45,340 --> 00:28:50,579 their drivers face to face, are you making enough money? I think that's a very unique part of the 294 00:28:50,579 --> 00:28:56,938 way you guys handle your fleet and the way you treat your fleet, and I just can't let that moment 295 00:28:56,939 --> 00:29:02,819 go by without saying, wow. And I bet the drivers really do appreciate that. And that's part of this 296 00:29:02,819 --> 00:29:08,539 entire week getting that connection and talking to those guys face to face. As I said earlier, it 297 00:29:08,540 --> 00:29:14,458 means so much. Sometimes you can't even really fathom how much it's going to mean to a guy. Uh, 298 00:29:14,459 --> 00:29:19,559 but boy, I bet there after you walk out there and ask that question in particular, along with how's 299 00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:24,518 your family? How are you doing out there? You know, how's the equipment? Those guys have got to feel 300 00:29:24,519 --> 00:29:29,839 like, man, I'm going to run through a wall for these Penland boys this next year. Right, right. 301 00:29:29,840 --> 00:29:35,879 Yeah, that's that's a it's a good opportunity for us to, uh, ask those kind of questions, you know? And, 302 00:29:35,879 --> 00:29:41,039 and we know that if the guy's not making enough money and he's not getting home enough, he's not 303 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:46,920 going to be here long. So it's it's a little selfish on our part. We're trying to hang on to 304 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:52,759 these guys, you know, as best we can. And, uh, but we also want them to feel like family, you know? Like, 305 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:58,319 they can come and talk to us. We're not any better than they are. Just because we're fortunate enough 306 00:29:58,319 --> 00:30:05,239 to own a company and run a company, you know, that we, uh, we have to do the same things they do 307 00:30:05,239 --> 00:30:12,079 and grind and and make sure that that this company is going to last for the long, 308 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:18,699 for the long haul. So if we can keep these guys happy and and and get our turnover down. You know 309 00:30:18,739 --> 00:30:24,300 that's going to pay off for us in the long run. That's right. Absolutely, absolutely. Well, the guys 310 00:30:24,300 --> 00:30:29,939 that come on this podcast make it known, uh, for sure that they do feel like family. And it's it's 311 00:30:29,940 --> 00:30:34,819 something else that's unique. I think that every trucking company across the United States would 312 00:30:34,819 --> 00:30:41,099 like to have that feeling. It's just there's very few of them that actually accomplish that because, 313 00:30:41,259 --> 00:30:48,180 um, I, you know, in all my, all my episodes talking to hundreds of drivers over these years, one big 314 00:30:48,180 --> 00:30:52,019 sticking point, of course, everybody wants to make their money. Everybody wants the whole time that 315 00:30:52,020 --> 00:30:57,739 they hope they can get. But the sticking point there is, do I feel like a number? And I've talked 316 00:30:57,739 --> 00:31:03,939 to you guys enough, both on the podcast and off. You know, Matt, we meet every single week and I 317 00:31:03,980 --> 00:31:09,059 hear you mention drivers that I've never heard of before. And one thing that I think of to myself is, 318 00:31:09,060 --> 00:31:15,160 guys, how do you keep this many guys straight? But, you know, every single one of them and beyond just 319 00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:21,959 their name. You know things about them, about their lives, about their families. Um, I just really think 320 00:31:21,960 --> 00:31:27,199 it's it's an amazing feat that you guys have accomplished having that culture at such a big 321 00:31:27,200 --> 00:31:33,439 company. Um, it talk to me real quick about why that culture of being a family is so 322 00:31:33,439 --> 00:31:38,399 important, given what you guys do and and the company you're running. I mean, there's a lot of 323 00:31:38,399 --> 00:31:43,359 moving parts. There's a lot of terminals, but every one of these guys feels like family. How important 324 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:50,159 is that? Yeah, it's a utmost important to us. You know, we we, uh, we want these 325 00:31:50,159 --> 00:31:55,958 drivers to feel like they're a part of the family, part of the team. Because if if we can be, uh, close, 326 00:31:55,959 --> 00:32:02,319 like that close knit family, close team, we can, uh, we can accomplish a lot of great things. You know, 327 00:32:02,359 --> 00:32:07,400 it's not just one person that makes it happen. It's not just the dispatcher. It's not just the 328 00:32:07,439 --> 00:32:11,718 recruiting department. It's not just the safety department. It's not just the shop. We need 329 00:32:11,719 --> 00:32:17,219 everybody. We need everybody together to make it happen. You know, I think Aaron mentioned that a 330 00:32:17,219 --> 00:32:23,259 couple of podcasts ago. You know, that, uh, Truckin takes everybody. We need everybody's input, you 331 00:32:23,259 --> 00:32:28,859 know, from the loaders to the, the the regional guys, the local guys, the long haul guys. 332 00:32:28,860 --> 00:32:35,139 Everybody's got to do their part in order to make us successful. And that that's very, very important 333 00:32:35,139 --> 00:32:41,979 when it comes to trucking, because trucking is not an easy job. Amen to that. Amen to that, fellas. 334 00:32:42,059 --> 00:32:46,899 Well, listen, guys, I know your time is important. I know you got a lot going on, so I want to wrap 335 00:32:46,900 --> 00:32:52,578 this up here and let you get back to your busy day. Uh, but as always, I'd be remiss if I gave 336 00:32:52,579 --> 00:32:56,619 everybody the chance to share their final thoughts with me. And I don't give you guys the 337 00:32:56,620 --> 00:33:02,339 chance to share final thoughts before we wrap this one up. So, uh, I want to say thank you both to 338 00:33:02,380 --> 00:33:07,659 both of you, Matt and Thad, for coming on here and giving us some time today, and I, I'll open this up 339 00:33:07,659 --> 00:33:13,199 to you for your final thoughts here. You can talk to the drivers about whatever here, but share some 340 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:18,238 final thoughts with me in regards to Driver Appreciation Week before we let you go. Uh, Thad, 341 00:33:18,239 --> 00:33:22,719 I'll start with you. Thank you so much for the time today, sir. We greatly appreciate. It. Yeah, we 342 00:33:22,719 --> 00:33:29,719 appreciate you too, Marcus, but, yeah, it's, uh, it's it's a very. My final thoughts 343 00:33:29,720 --> 00:33:36,639 will be this is a very important part of Cypress truck lines, this driver appreciation. And and we 344 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:42,879 want to do a better job of doing it throughout the year and, and, and letting these guys know that 345 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:49,479 they are truly part of the team. They are the the main they are the MVP of the team. If without the 346 00:33:49,479 --> 00:33:55,400 drivers we can't do anything, you know, they're they're the ones that go out and generate the 347 00:33:55,400 --> 00:34:01,719 revenue that pays for all the mechanics, salaries, all the all of our expenses, all of the 348 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:08,279 dispatch. And you know, without them on the without them on board with us, you 349 00:34:08,279 --> 00:34:14,979 know, we We can't. We can't be a trucking company. So they're they're one of the most 350 00:34:14,979 --> 00:34:21,939 important aspects of this, this company. And we want them to know that they're not just 351 00:34:21,939 --> 00:34:28,819 a number that they're they're part of the team. They're part of the Cypress family. And we want to 352 00:34:28,819 --> 00:34:34,658 learn more about them. We want to learn more about their family, what their needs are. And we want to 353 00:34:34,699 --> 00:34:41,699 try to help meet those needs financially and, uh, and, and home time wise. So 354 00:34:42,139 --> 00:34:48,779 that's that's really what it is. You know, the company can't survive without drivers. And we need 355 00:34:48,779 --> 00:34:55,779 to find a way to better appreciate the drivers and what they do and give them the 356 00:34:55,780 --> 00:35:02,658 tools to make a great living and well said. Well said. Dad, thank you so 357 00:35:02,659 --> 00:35:07,539 much for the time today. Once again, Matt, final thoughts from you. Uh, of course your time is 358 00:35:07,540 --> 00:35:12,919 greatly appreciated as well. Uh, talk to me just a little bit here before we wrap up about Driver 359 00:35:12,919 --> 00:35:18,279 Appreciation Week and your final thoughts here today. Yeah, we appreciate the time, Marcus. And just 360 00:35:18,279 --> 00:35:25,080 that idea that drivers are of utmost importance. You have you play a key role in what 361 00:35:25,120 --> 00:35:30,679 our success is here at Cypress Truck Lines. And we appreciate each and everything you do each and 362 00:35:30,680 --> 00:35:36,519 every day. Every day is game day for the truck driver. And you guys have shown up over the years. 363 00:35:36,520 --> 00:35:42,359 We've had a lot of guys throughout our history that have done a just a fantastic job for us, and 364 00:35:42,360 --> 00:35:48,999 we appreciate each one of those guys that that are out there. The retired drivers, the guys that 365 00:35:48,999 --> 00:35:55,360 are with us today is very, very important to us that that you've you've been a part of our family 366 00:35:55,360 --> 00:36:00,958 and helping us be the success that we've become. We appreciate all you do. Matt and Thad Penland 367 00:36:00,959 --> 00:36:05,678 here on the Cypress Truck Lines podcast. Can't thank you guys enough. Anytime you want to come on 368 00:36:05,679 --> 00:36:10,419 here. You know the door is wide open. We'll get you in. All right, fellas, thanks again. All right. 369 00:36:10,459 --> 00:36:12,379 Appreciate it. Marcus. Thank you. 370 00:36:20,819 --> 00:36:27,059 Welcome back in here to the Cypress Truck Lines podcast. Ever since I sat down with our next guest 371 00:36:27,060 --> 00:36:32,459 in Jacksonville when we were there on discovery, I've been very excited to get her on the air, 372 00:36:32,459 --> 00:36:37,499 because I think the stories that she has to tell are some of the best out there, and she's been 373 00:36:37,499 --> 00:36:44,138 with us for quite some time now. So please welcome to the Cypress Truck Lines podcast. The entire log 374 00:36:44,139 --> 00:36:49,620 department, as I was just told. Please welcome Evelyn Allen to the show. Evelyn, thank you so much 375 00:36:49,620 --> 00:36:55,340 for being here today. Hey, Marcus. Thank you for having me. It's a pleasure. Well, the pleasure's all 376 00:36:55,340 --> 00:37:00,459 mine, considering I get to talk to an entire department here in one sitting. So that's a that's 377 00:37:00,460 --> 00:37:07,079 a pretty big deal. Being the only person in the in your department now, I guess it's probably equal 378 00:37:07,079 --> 00:37:11,759 parts good and bad. There's nobody that you have to point in a direction, nobody that you have to, 379 00:37:11,760 --> 00:37:17,760 uh, you know, manage. Uh, but there's also nobody looking over your shoulder. So do you like being 380 00:37:17,760 --> 00:37:23,039 the entire log department? I'll start with that. We do have people looking over our shoulders, but it 381 00:37:23,040 --> 00:37:29,559 is nice to be in my own little office. Not all the little cahoots. And some departments can get kind 382 00:37:29,560 --> 00:37:34,919 of loud because of things that are going on. So it's kind of nice to have nice quiet space. Oh, I 383 00:37:34,919 --> 00:37:39,398 understand that for sure. Something that my wife never gets living in a house with me as a guy 384 00:37:39,399 --> 00:37:46,239 that really likes to chin wag, if you know what I mean. Evelyn. So now you've been at Cypress for 385 00:37:46,240 --> 00:37:53,198 17 years, according to my notes. Here, Evelyn, take me back all the way to the beginning. Um, 18 386 00:37:53,199 --> 00:38:00,119 years in October, 18 years. 18 years in October. That's amazing. I started up in the, um, 387 00:38:00,120 --> 00:38:06,539 safety department, um, back when The people that are up in safety now. They were not up there when 388 00:38:06,539 --> 00:38:13,259 I was there. So I started out in safety. Background. Um, I come from the printing industry. They were 389 00:38:13,260 --> 00:38:18,139 looking for a job I was looking for. Uh, they were looking for someone in safety. I was looking for a 390 00:38:18,139 --> 00:38:24,739 job. Like I said, printing industry. My company used to do their printing. We did their 391 00:38:24,739 --> 00:38:29,539 embroidery, their screen printing, everything that they've done. Uh, we've done all their work for 392 00:38:29,540 --> 00:38:35,738 them. We were closing our doors. I was needing a job. They were hiring. And so I'm here. 393 00:38:36,100 --> 00:38:41,339 And I understand that there's a little bit extra to that story, too. Can you talk about DV and the 394 00:38:41,340 --> 00:38:48,339 screen printing? Uh, I guess the equipment that you had, uh, because you were a very integral part of 395 00:38:48,340 --> 00:38:52,899 Cypress before you ever became an employee at Cypress, obviously doing all their embroidery and 396 00:38:52,899 --> 00:38:58,259 printing. Uh, talk to me about that part of the story, Evelyn. So we, um, we did all their printing, 397 00:38:58,259 --> 00:39:05,089 like I said, ink on paper, their embroidery, screen printing. And when we close our shop. Mr. Pelon, 398 00:39:05,090 --> 00:39:11,809 as I always call him, was a brilliant businessman. And he bought our plotter, which is the 399 00:39:11,810 --> 00:39:18,409 machine that cuts our vinyl. And I guess he thought it'd be easier to hire someone. He can. 400 00:39:18,449 --> 00:39:25,248 They can train in safety and have someone that can run his equipment that he bought. So I still 401 00:39:25,249 --> 00:39:32,129 run all the decals, everything out, make signs, uh, for Cypress, for their trucks that come in. I know 402 00:39:32,129 --> 00:39:37,529 I got probably some trucks coming in in a few months, so I'll be back busy again during the 403 00:39:37,529 --> 00:39:44,529 decals. But I do our signs, basically anything that they want. If it's vinyl, I'm here. That's amazing. 404 00:39:44,530 --> 00:39:49,169 So, you. Know, it's kind of. It's kind of nice. Yeah. You were closing your doors on that business and 405 00:39:49,169 --> 00:39:54,129 you ended up still getting to do that for here 18 years in the future, you still get to dabble in 406 00:39:54,129 --> 00:39:59,249 something you were doing all that time, uh, ago. Does that. That's got to make the the whole job 407 00:39:59,250 --> 00:40:03,509 and the whole experience at Cypress just that much better. I would assume that you still get to 408 00:40:03,510 --> 00:40:08,549 get your hands in that. I like to dabble in it a little bit. Yeah, yeah. It's nice. Yeah, it's, you know, 409 00:40:08,590 --> 00:40:13,669 you don't miss it, so. Right. And then you like seeing your end product, what it looks like when 410 00:40:13,669 --> 00:40:19,549 it's all finished. So it always looks so great. The logos on the trucks, the, uh, the t shirts, 411 00:40:19,550 --> 00:40:24,188 everything looks phenomenal. And you can tell that somebody that's whoever's doing that, which is you 412 00:40:24,189 --> 00:40:29,869 has a ton of experience doing it because it looks so clean and, and, uh, a logo that you probably 413 00:40:29,870 --> 00:40:35,189 designed in some way, shape or form here on my hat. I know that people can't see it because. On the 414 00:40:35,189 --> 00:40:41,989 line, I'm not sure who designed it. It's not a it's not a tight font. It's actually someone someone 415 00:40:41,989 --> 00:40:48,508 drew that out the Cypress back in the day. I think it's now a type style, but back in the day it was 416 00:40:48,509 --> 00:40:55,149 a hand-drawn, but I cannot remember where it came from. It was like 40 years ago, so it was a long 417 00:40:55,149 --> 00:41:00,129 time ago. That's a logo that stands the test of time. It must look good if it's been running for 418 00:41:00,169 --> 00:41:04,968 that long, I love it. Yes, sir. That's great. Well, that's. Real quick with the train. While we're 419 00:41:04,969 --> 00:41:09,490 still on the transition here from your old career to your new career, when did you finally feel like 420 00:41:09,490 --> 00:41:14,969 Cypress was home, Evelyn? Because obviously 18 years later, it's home at this point. When did that 421 00:41:14,969 --> 00:41:21,129 actually set in for you? When you started. Out? Um, I want to say from the beginning, I, I when I first 422 00:41:21,129 --> 00:41:27,770 started, I mean, they made me feel welcome. I, I ladies that was upstairs with me in safety. 423 00:41:28,129 --> 00:41:34,729 They treated me like I was family. Um, nothing. I just kind of. I felt like I just fit right in. And 424 00:41:34,730 --> 00:41:41,249 then knowing some of the people here already in the office before I came here, dealing with 425 00:41:41,250 --> 00:41:46,769 them through the printing company, I kind of already knew everybody basically at worked here 426 00:41:46,770 --> 00:41:53,649 for the most part. So I felt very welcomed. I was up in safety. I want to say time has 427 00:41:53,649 --> 00:42:00,509 gone way past. I think I was up in safety maybe nine, ten years. And then, um, the 428 00:42:00,510 --> 00:42:06,469 lady that did the logs back then she resigned and they were like, okay, Evelyn, it's time for you to 429 00:42:06,510 --> 00:42:12,149 move. So then I moved down to the log department. Um, and that was kind of challenging because that 430 00:42:12,149 --> 00:42:18,229 was something I have never I mean, I've seen log books, but as far as knowing hours of service and 431 00:42:18,229 --> 00:42:25,029 whatnot. So, um, it's it was a learning process, and now you get to deal with the drivers 432 00:42:25,189 --> 00:42:31,829 with that. Absolutely. Now, as I was going through my notes here of our conversation that we had 433 00:42:31,870 --> 00:42:37,070 back when we were meeting everybody, and, uh, you were so gracious to sit down with us, as I said, 434 00:42:37,070 --> 00:42:41,909 while I was stuffing my face with a torta. That was delicious, by the way, I still can taste it 435 00:42:41,909 --> 00:42:48,670 today. Uh, but I had not eaten anything. I was running on fumes. You gave us such a great story 436 00:42:48,670 --> 00:42:55,030 that I want you to take me back to. Uh. I have it written down in my notes as Evelyn versus the eld, 437 00:42:55,149 --> 00:43:01,728 and, uh, you were there when we transitioned from paper logs to the electronic logging device? 438 00:43:01,969 --> 00:43:07,769 Um, and you kind of took us through a short, funny little detour, uh, when we were talking about that. 439 00:43:07,770 --> 00:43:14,649 Tell me about that process. How did that go? Um, was it a bit frustrating? Was it? It was obviously 440 00:43:14,649 --> 00:43:20,089 brand new technology. Everybody's getting it. Um, talk to me about the transition from paper to 441 00:43:20,129 --> 00:43:26,649 electronic. Yeah. When I started in the logs, it was still. It was people net. It was still 442 00:43:26,649 --> 00:43:32,649 electronic logs. But transitioning from the people that for some reason, drivers had a big issue 443 00:43:32,689 --> 00:43:39,569 going from people net to the Eld. And it was a nightmare. Um, a lot of drivers are trying to 444 00:43:39,610 --> 00:43:46,329 fight it. They they didn't like it, but then once they realized how easier it was, what 445 00:43:46,330 --> 00:43:51,610 came to be a problem is if there was a, uh, a malfunction where they had to go back to paper 446 00:43:51,610 --> 00:43:56,669 log for a couple of days. Oh, no, they would rather be shut down than to go back to that paper log. 447 00:43:56,789 --> 00:44:03,309 They the eld is is the way to go. And once they realized that it was their friend, 448 00:44:03,670 --> 00:44:09,229 um, and it was to make their job easier, it was a smoother transition. But they were 449 00:44:10,030 --> 00:44:16,349 changes. Always different. Difficult for people. Absolutely. But, yeah, I don't know if. Yeah. Paper 450 00:44:16,350 --> 00:44:21,948 log. I know when the lady that was doing logs before me when I first started at Cypress, it was 451 00:44:21,949 --> 00:44:28,789 paper log and but when I was moved down to the log department, they were using people net 452 00:44:28,789 --> 00:44:35,789 and um, that was still electronic logs, but the eld, I guess using the word Eld electronic 453 00:44:35,909 --> 00:44:42,549 device, it just threw drivers completely off. Right. But it was I enjoy my job. I 454 00:44:44,350 --> 00:44:49,309 you do have frustrations here and there because drivers try and test their limits. But for the 455 00:44:49,310 --> 00:44:55,609 most part I do I do like my job and I know I have the management and the safety department that 456 00:44:55,610 --> 00:45:02,249 backs me up. If if I if I need backing up, they will be there for me. And that's nice. 457 00:45:02,290 --> 00:45:07,448 Yeah. And I'm sure the reason that we've got you here today, Evelyn, to kind of bring this whole 458 00:45:07,449 --> 00:45:11,129 thing full circle. I wanted to get some of your background there, and that's great that you gave 459 00:45:11,129 --> 00:45:17,209 it to us. And but you have a very special connection to Driver Appreciation Week. And that's 460 00:45:17,210 --> 00:45:21,969 really one of the things that we wanted to focus on, since that's the topic of our episode today. 461 00:45:22,090 --> 00:45:28,569 You've worn so many hats with Cypress since you started. Uh, when did the driver 462 00:45:28,570 --> 00:45:34,049 appreciation responsibility kind of fall to you, or when did you take it over? Because what I got. 463 00:45:34,169 --> 00:45:39,729 Over is given. To you. It's given to you. Okay. So when did that happen and what was that transition 464 00:45:39,730 --> 00:45:45,810 like? Um, so the same lady did the logs. She had knee surgery or something. She couldn't move 465 00:45:45,810 --> 00:45:51,009 around very well. And I was asked to do it that one year. And I was like, okay, sure. You know, we 466 00:45:51,009 --> 00:45:56,668 need someone need to do it. I'll be there. I'm the type of person you ask me to do something. I'm in. 467 00:45:56,669 --> 00:46:03,590 I'm going to do my best to make that effort happen. Um, so that particular year, I ended up, I 468 00:46:03,590 --> 00:46:10,469 thought it'd be just a one time thing, like I said. So the story goes, um, since I've been 469 00:46:10,469 --> 00:46:15,109 doing it since then, it's been, I know over ten years since I've been helping out with the 470 00:46:15,110 --> 00:46:20,989 Android appreciation, and I'm really thankful for the panel. Um, because, I mean, I always send down 471 00:46:20,990 --> 00:46:26,269 the email reminder, hey, it's coming up just so we can kind of get gears rolling and to making sure 472 00:46:26,270 --> 00:46:31,749 we have shirts available for our drivers and hats. We do give out shirts and hats to our drivers, so 473 00:46:31,750 --> 00:46:37,829 we make sure we get that in in time. I don't know if they trust me or I just I make it, I make, I 474 00:46:37,830 --> 00:46:44,790 make it happen, I plan everything, I, um, make sure we have the food here. Um, for drive 475 00:46:44,790 --> 00:46:50,869 appreciation. This this year is, um, the 13th through the 19th of September. 476 00:46:51,889 --> 00:46:58,408 But we of course recognize that the 14th through the 18th, that Monday through Friday. So Monday, 477 00:46:58,450 --> 00:47:04,569 Tuesday, Wednesdays would do a breakfast for our drivers. And what I go by Hardee's, they'll expect 478 00:47:04,570 --> 00:47:11,570 me. I'm there between five, 530 in the morning to pick up breakfast sandwiches or whatever. Um, 479 00:47:11,570 --> 00:47:18,448 for the drivers, I get, um, fruit snack cakes, juices, water, and in the mornings, 480 00:47:18,449 --> 00:47:24,809 whatever drivers make it through, they come in, they just grab them a bag and fill it up, and then 481 00:47:24,810 --> 00:47:31,689 they go on their way. And that's Monday through Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we do a 482 00:47:31,730 --> 00:47:38,449 cookout. Now, back when I first started, it was kind of challenging. We had, 483 00:47:38,449 --> 00:47:45,330 um, a small grill that barely fit, maybe 15, 16 burgers on it. A 484 00:47:45,330 --> 00:47:51,909 few years back, um, they decided to get one of them flattop grills. Mhm. Um, but when I first 485 00:47:51,909 --> 00:47:57,189 started, I was doing all the grilling, everything it was. And I did have a couple ladies in the 486 00:47:57,189 --> 00:48:03,269 office would kind of help set up and I say prepared the like the lettuce, tomato and onion 487 00:48:03,389 --> 00:48:08,829 chop all that stuff up. We there was some other hands that helped me out with that, um, the 488 00:48:08,870 --> 00:48:15,869 cleaning up. But there was one year I remember it was a nightmare. Well, actually 489 00:48:16,149 --> 00:48:23,029 two times. Uh, one time, the gas line. Uh, I'm not really familiar with, uh, propane and how all 490 00:48:23,029 --> 00:48:29,949 that works, but it quit working. Oh, no. So I have all these hungry men. Nothing 491 00:48:29,949 --> 00:48:36,709 to cook on. I am in our kitchen. Um, you've seen our kitchen? I have 492 00:48:36,870 --> 00:48:42,229 a burner, a pot on every burner that I can find. Hamburgers in the oven, everything. Trying to get 493 00:48:42,229 --> 00:48:48,250 some stuff cooking until they can get that grill going again. We didn't stop. We just kept on going. 494 00:48:48,250 --> 00:48:54,330 And then finally a little bit later, they got that grow going again and we were able to still finish 495 00:48:54,330 --> 00:49:01,289 cooking. Um, another time was I want I don't I want to say Matthews when Matthews came through here, 496 00:49:01,330 --> 00:49:08,329 shut everything down going all over town. Uh, couldn't get my breakfast from Hardee's 497 00:49:08,330 --> 00:49:14,409 because they were shut down. And going from one store to another to another to another, just to 498 00:49:14,409 --> 00:49:19,929 try and find meats or buns or something that I can give our drivers. I don't I can't tell you 499 00:49:19,929 --> 00:49:25,570 where. I probably went to 20 stores to try and get enough food for the drivers that we were trying 500 00:49:25,570 --> 00:49:32,168 to feed. Um, but Thursdays we feed just strictly drivers. Only Fridays. We 501 00:49:32,169 --> 00:49:39,129 feed everybody in the office, everybody in our shop and USG, our loaders and 502 00:49:39,129 --> 00:49:45,569 our jockeys. Well, jockeys are included with the drivers, but. So we feed a lot of people on Friday 503 00:49:45,570 --> 00:49:52,469 and, um, it was it was quite challenging. But we still, we we we made it happen, but 504 00:49:52,629 --> 00:49:57,749 we made it happen. Despite all of the the challenges you've had. You mentioned Matthew. 505 00:49:57,790 --> 00:50:02,589 You're talking about hurricane. Hurricane. Matthew. Yeah. Obviously. Be clear. Yeah. I wanted to make 506 00:50:02,629 --> 00:50:07,309 sure we didn't think that Matthew Penland was just running roughshod over the area. But it could 507 00:50:07,310 --> 00:50:13,589 be to, you know, if you know Matt well enough. Yeah. But that's, you know, something that you don't 508 00:50:13,590 --> 00:50:18,549 necessarily you can't predict that you have no idea when that's scheduled to make landfall. And 509 00:50:18,550 --> 00:50:24,069 when it does, that's what happens. It's a run on the storms, right? Yeah. It was it was quite 510 00:50:24,110 --> 00:50:30,629 challenging. But we we survived it. But now they have, uh, a nice little flat topped griddle. And, 511 00:50:30,949 --> 00:50:36,470 um, Thursday's usually D3 comes out and helps me on the grill, and Friday's, um, Shannon comes out 512 00:50:36,470 --> 00:50:42,389 and helps me on the grill. So it's kind of nice to actually get some help because, yeah, it's it's 513 00:50:42,389 --> 00:50:47,689 it's a lot of work. It's a lot of work. A lot of work. There's I mean, there's 500 drivers at this, 514 00:50:47,729 --> 00:50:52,408 at this fleet. That doesn't mean that all 500 of them are coming through on that day. But you kind 515 00:50:52,409 --> 00:50:58,489 of have to plan ahead, right? You kind of plan it. Um, sometimes. Sometimes I overshot. I'd rather have 516 00:50:58,489 --> 00:51:04,849 more than what I need. That just allows us to have a little cookout on our own, you know? Um, but I try. 517 00:51:04,889 --> 00:51:09,809 I try. I know it's I think that's where they trust me. I don't try and overspend money that doesn't 518 00:51:09,810 --> 00:51:16,090 need to be spent. It's not my money, but it's. I still try and watch my budget. Sure. Um, but it's 519 00:51:16,090 --> 00:51:21,489 it's it's pretty nice, but. Yeah, I because when you were asked me to come on here, of course I'm going. 520 00:51:21,490 --> 00:51:26,090 Okay, well. Job appreciation. You know, I just know it's just driver appreciation week. But of course, 521 00:51:26,090 --> 00:51:31,249 it's national job appreciation Week. It's to recognize all truckers. Because when I'm going to 522 00:51:31,290 --> 00:51:35,370 the store, picking up all the stuff, all the snack cakes and the juices, everybody's like, looking at 523 00:51:35,370 --> 00:51:39,609 me. Good lord. What, man? What are you buying all this stuff for? And I'm just drive appreciation. We 524 00:51:39,649 --> 00:51:45,269 don't all know this. But the guys that. Brought this into your store. Need. Need a pat on the back 525 00:51:45,269 --> 00:51:50,469 for doing it right? Absolutely. Well, we hall building material, but it's still the same. I feel 526 00:51:50,470 --> 00:51:56,469 like it's still the same concept. You know, we need wallboard to build houses and to build buildings. 527 00:51:56,470 --> 00:52:02,949 You know, it's all. It's all the same. Yep. And I do appreciate our drivers. We do have a good group of 528 00:52:02,949 --> 00:52:09,629 guys. There may be a few handfuls that kind of, like I said, challenging. But for the most part, 529 00:52:09,790 --> 00:52:15,269 I really like I like our drivers. You can tell because it's a it's a Herculean effort that you 530 00:52:15,270 --> 00:52:20,590 put in to Driver Appreciation Week every single year. Evelyn. And you told us a story that I feel 531 00:52:20,590 --> 00:52:26,309 like we have to touch on because your eyebrows look great. I can see them right now, but I know. 532 00:52:26,310 --> 00:52:31,229 That they've. They've been in question before because of some flames at one point in time. Can 533 00:52:31,229 --> 00:52:37,629 you tell me that story back? Back when we had just a little a little grill, apparently there was too 534 00:52:37,629 --> 00:52:44,009 much grease on it or something, but I lit it up and I closed the lid And, um, I went back out to 535 00:52:44,050 --> 00:52:49,928 open it. Actually, I had the penguins move their trucks back, thankfully, because, um, they would not 536 00:52:49,929 --> 00:52:56,569 be the same. If their. Trucks were not pushed back. I opened that that lit up, and, I mean, a whole 537 00:52:56,570 --> 00:53:03,409 carport area was engulfed in flames. Not the this will be it. They won't. Ask. Me to do this again. No, 538 00:53:04,250 --> 00:53:10,729 I still get asked. I thought that was my. That would be my last call for me to throw in my rag 539 00:53:10,729 --> 00:53:16,249 or whatever. But no, they still have me out there. Yeah, but they just installed a very well placed 540 00:53:16,249 --> 00:53:22,129 fire extinguisher out there. Right? Yeah, that. And we we got the griddle now. Yeah. Exactly, exactly. 541 00:53:22,129 --> 00:53:28,168 Well, you you've literally fought flames for Driver Appreciation Week. And, uh, I think it really 542 00:53:28,169 --> 00:53:32,889 goes to show that, you know, you've developed some great relationships with the drivers just based 543 00:53:32,889 --> 00:53:38,969 on the fact that you run the log department there, but they you also get to handle, um, or choose to 544 00:53:39,009 --> 00:53:45,349 handle driver appreciation with such focus and such determination. Evelyn, I think is is such a 545 00:53:45,350 --> 00:53:50,269 cool thing because driver appreciation is one of those things where with other fleets that I've 546 00:53:50,270 --> 00:53:56,030 been working with, some of them really blow it out for their drivers, and some of them really don't 547 00:53:56,069 --> 00:54:00,510 kind of lift more than a finger. And they just they get some stuff there and, and actually it's 548 00:54:00,510 --> 00:54:05,269 more the, the terminal staff that gets to utilize those snacks. And really they don't see many 549 00:54:05,270 --> 00:54:11,110 drivers. But Cypress is different. And that's why you guys do this all week, right, is to try to 550 00:54:11,110 --> 00:54:16,669 touch everybody that's going to be through the terminal on that week. And that really opens up 551 00:54:16,670 --> 00:54:21,749 the amount of people that you actually get to positively affect with your efforts. Right? Right. 552 00:54:21,750 --> 00:54:28,269 So like, I mean, you can air this or not, just I watch over my, my food for my 553 00:54:28,270 --> 00:54:33,189 drivers, especially my breakfast. I make sure drivers get it, because sometimes I have these 554 00:54:33,229 --> 00:54:37,429 office people that want to come down and help themselves. And I'm like, no, it's Driver 555 00:54:37,429 --> 00:54:43,009 Appreciation Week is for our drivers. It's for them. You know, sometimes I'm not always looking, 556 00:54:43,009 --> 00:54:49,849 but, you know, I do. I do try. And like you said, not all fleets recognize our drivers. My husband 557 00:54:49,889 --> 00:54:55,689 is actually a driver for another company I will keep unnamed, but they don't do nothing for their 558 00:54:55,689 --> 00:55:00,330 drivers. He was like, oh well, we don't get nothing. I said, well, I'm sorry you don't work at Cypress. 559 00:55:01,129 --> 00:55:06,689 That sounds like a personal problem. He did it one time. He did it one time. But I'm kind of, I think 560 00:55:06,689 --> 00:55:11,448 with the log department and him being a driver might be a conflict. Of interest, I hear you. It's 561 00:55:11,449 --> 00:55:17,209 best that. He not work here. But I hear. You. Yeah, I, I do know that there's a lot of a few other 562 00:55:17,209 --> 00:55:22,929 companies that I know of that don't do anything for their drivers, and, and so I'm, I, I, I hope our 563 00:55:22,929 --> 00:55:29,009 drivers know that we do care about them. They they're our lifeline, you know. Uh, 564 00:55:29,129 --> 00:55:35,769 everybody's. I. I yeah. Um, Evelyn and and that's you can tell when you talk to the 565 00:55:35,770 --> 00:55:40,749 drivers that they do they see it and they appreciate it because it's the same thing that we 566 00:55:40,750 --> 00:55:45,909 always come back to on the show is it's that family environment. And everybody that works for 567 00:55:45,909 --> 00:55:51,070 Cypress feels like they're a part of it. And even if you have to swat them away like flies Monday 568 00:55:51,070 --> 00:55:56,309 through Wednesday, trying to come in and swipe a, you know, a sweet roll or something like that. Um, 569 00:55:56,510 --> 00:56:02,309 everybody in the office appreciates the drivers and, and you can just tell it's, it's this amazing 570 00:56:02,310 --> 00:56:08,029 culture and amazing environment that really has been years in the making. You guys constantly are 571 00:56:08,030 --> 00:56:14,628 adding to this. You're always doing something else to make the drivers feel seen, feel safe, uh, feel 572 00:56:14,629 --> 00:56:20,349 respected. And I'll tell you as from my position, which is just a fly on the wall, and that's 573 00:56:20,350 --> 00:56:24,549 exactly what I would be if I was in Jacksonville during Driver Appreciation Week, you would be 574 00:56:24,549 --> 00:56:30,149 swatting me away from those sweet buns. Uh, like nobody's business. But it's really cool to see 575 00:56:30,149 --> 00:56:35,429 because it there's lip service with this type of stuff, and then there's people that actually live 576 00:56:35,429 --> 00:56:41,529 it, and Cypress lives it. And we have you here today as one of the shining examples of living it. This 577 00:56:41,529 --> 00:56:46,209 has been something you've been doing for well over a decade at this point for these drivers. 578 00:56:46,249 --> 00:56:50,249 Yeah. I was asking Shane. I said, do you want to send it with me? He says, no, he's the driver is. 579 00:56:50,249 --> 00:56:56,969 Yours, not mine. It's like, Will you help? Uh, I love it, I love it. Well, I 580 00:56:56,970 --> 00:57:01,610 here's something I want to ask you. Is there anything that you wouldn't be caught dead leaving 581 00:57:01,610 --> 00:57:07,969 off of the menu after all these years? Because, uh, you know, drivers, they like their food just like 582 00:57:07,970 --> 00:57:12,610 any other hard working people out there. Is there anything that you've learned, Evelyn, with all 583 00:57:12,610 --> 00:57:17,729 these years behind you, now that you have to have this item on the menu or else you're going to get 584 00:57:17,729 --> 00:57:24,569 some calls? Um. I mean, we just do burgers and the sausage and the sausage really goes, 585 00:57:24,570 --> 00:57:31,529 um, just smoked sausage, but no, but when I do my burgers, um, I had one person because when we do 586 00:57:31,530 --> 00:57:38,070 my burgers, we take them off the grill and I put them in a one driver called Evelyn Special 587 00:57:38,070 --> 00:57:44,230 juice. I make a mixture. We won't say what it is. It's a secret, but it just keeps the burger's 588 00:57:44,230 --> 00:57:50,549 juicy from drying out and. Wow. Most drivers are like, yeah, that's good. I like that. Well, maybe 589 00:57:50,550 --> 00:57:54,909 after we shut the microphones off because we don't want to blow up your spot here. But, you know, 590 00:57:54,989 --> 00:58:00,348 I cook a lot of food for my for my tailgate family during football season. And, uh, dry burgers 591 00:58:00,349 --> 00:58:05,589 is the thing I've suffered through before, so I'm. This isn't going to help anybody listening to 592 00:58:05,589 --> 00:58:10,070 this podcast, but know if I can get her to tell me I'm going to be using this trick because a dry 593 00:58:10,110 --> 00:58:16,549 burger, you just don't want to hand somebody a dry burger, right? Oh that's great. And I can tell by 594 00:58:16,549 --> 00:58:20,949 the look on her face she's not giving me that recipe, everyone. So you can just relax. Don't worry 595 00:58:20,949 --> 00:58:26,270 about it. It's gonna be Evelyn's. It's gonna be, uh, cypresses. So. Okay, how about the flip side of that 596 00:58:26,270 --> 00:58:32,549 coin? Evelyn, is there anything that you've, uh, chosen to serve before? That wasn't a hit, and you 597 00:58:32,589 --> 00:58:38,489 kind of said, okay, maybe not the best thing for truck drivers during Driver Appreciation Week. I 598 00:58:38,489 --> 00:58:44,329 know because we do the same thing every year for the last ten plus years. It's all the same thing. 599 00:58:44,370 --> 00:58:49,489 There's I mean, I would like to try and add something different, but drivers seem to be happy 600 00:58:49,490 --> 00:58:55,649 and content with the burgers and sausage dogs or and hot dogs. So I break something when it's 601 00:58:55,649 --> 00:59:01,329 working, you know. Amen. They they they like what they're getting and but yeah. That's. I would like 602 00:59:01,329 --> 00:59:06,090 to do some pull pork or something. But like I said, they're happy and content with their burgers and 603 00:59:06,290 --> 00:59:11,168 no sense of adding in more. Boy, I hope you got a lot of crock pots if you're going to do that much 604 00:59:11,169 --> 00:59:17,688 pulled pork. Evelyn. Well, each terminal. I'm not sure what all the other terminals are doing, but 605 00:59:17,689 --> 00:59:23,809 each terminal, um, you know, we had the Tampa, Abilene, Smyrna, um, Bloomington, 606 00:59:24,570 --> 00:59:30,809 um, South pit. Each terminal does something that week for job appreciation. So each 607 00:59:30,850 --> 00:59:36,790 hopefully with that many terminals, all the drivers will have that opportunity to to make it 608 00:59:36,790 --> 00:59:43,149 through at one point or another to get some kind of goodies. Sure, sure. 609 00:59:43,229 --> 00:59:48,629 Now for the Jacksonville terminal. Obviously, I assume you're not keeping tabs on this for every 610 00:59:48,629 --> 00:59:53,789 single terminal, but for your terminal in particular. Um, with breakfast Monday through 611 00:59:53,789 --> 00:59:59,229 Wednesday and cookouts Thursday and Friday. Have you ever gone through Evelyn and done an audit of 612 00:59:59,230 --> 01:00:03,829 how many meals you've served in one of these weeks? How many drivers have actually taken 613 01:00:03,829 --> 01:00:09,989 advantage of? What's there to offer? Have you ever counted it before just to see. The. The 614 01:00:09,989 --> 01:00:16,589 breakfast? Um, probably anywhere from 150 to 175. 615 01:00:16,709 --> 01:00:23,428 Wow. And then I know way over 200 on the Thursday and Friday. Wow. Between the 616 01:00:23,469 --> 01:00:29,629 because, you know, I, I know way over 200 because we got on Thursdays our Fridays were feeding 617 01:00:29,629 --> 01:00:35,369 everybody right? And just the office and the shop. I think that's a little maybe about 80 or 100 618 01:00:35,369 --> 01:00:41,969 people there, plus the drivers. So yeah, every 200. How cool is it when you're standing back 619 01:00:41,969 --> 01:00:46,689 watching all of your handiwork come to fruition? I mean, you have to feel pretty proud of it. 620 01:00:46,729 --> 01:00:53,489 Exhausted. Exhausted. Yeah. Yeah. I get home that Friday and I'm like, leave me alone. 621 01:00:53,530 --> 01:01:00,529 I'm Calgon, take me away. Yeah. My body gets worn out, you know, thinking of every 622 01:01:00,530 --> 01:01:07,489 ten years and age. I'm, I'm, I'm older and, you know, age is a 623 01:01:07,489 --> 01:01:13,210 big thing. And so I get home and just let me just soak in the tub. Sure. I totally get that. Now, I 624 01:01:13,210 --> 01:01:19,529 wonder, does is there a pretty big outpouring of of gratitude for what you do? I, I know that with 625 01:01:19,530 --> 01:01:25,770 the family environment there at nobody at Cypress is, is, um, you know, biting their tongue when it 626 01:01:25,770 --> 01:01:31,030 comes to a compliment or saying thank you or expressing their gratitude. I have to imagine that 627 01:01:31,070 --> 01:01:36,590 you get quite a few hugs, pats on the backs and thank you's. During this. Week. A lot of a lot of 628 01:01:36,590 --> 01:01:42,908 thank yous and emails thanking me for my time. But yeah, it's nice that 629 01:01:43,389 --> 01:01:50,109 whatever you're doing is also appreciated. Appreciated. Sure. But 630 01:01:50,110 --> 01:01:57,070 yeah. Um, so but yeah, it's nice that they, they do recognize the work and the 631 01:01:57,070 --> 01:02:04,029 hard work that's involved in preparing all that. So have you ever. Had a driver over these years, 632 01:02:04,070 --> 01:02:08,829 Evelyn, that this effort really touched. And they were really taken aback by something like this 633 01:02:08,830 --> 01:02:13,269 because as we said earlier, uh, you could be talking about a guy that's come from 20 years 634 01:02:13,270 --> 01:02:18,750 worth of truck driving that's never had a fleet, uh, do anything even approaching this level of 635 01:02:18,750 --> 01:02:23,589 effort. Um, as you think back over the years, is there ever a story that you could tell me there 636 01:02:23,589 --> 01:02:28,929 where a driver was just really taken by this effort and felt it the way that you guys hope 637 01:02:28,929 --> 01:02:35,249 that every driver will feel it. Uh, nothing. I mean, not not saying they're 638 01:02:35,930 --> 01:02:42,490 nothing out of the ordinary. Just a nice. Thank you. Um, this is great. You know, 639 01:02:43,809 --> 01:02:48,849 they come back and they make them another plate. Sure. Help yourself, you know. Can we get a plate to 640 01:02:48,889 --> 01:02:54,649 go? Of course. Yeah. You can. This is for you. Yeah. Yeah. Seconds might be the best compliment they 641 01:02:54,649 --> 01:03:00,770 can give you at that point. Right. Right. Right. They come back. Yeah. I love it. I love it. Well, Evelyn, 642 01:03:00,809 --> 01:03:05,809 this has been great. I, I really wanted to give you the opportunity to come in here and just kind of 643 01:03:05,850 --> 01:03:11,089 talk through the effort that goes into this, and I think you've done a great job letting us know, um, 644 01:03:11,129 --> 01:03:16,850 how important it is to you and the company, uh, beside you just to, to make sure that this effort 645 01:03:16,850 --> 01:03:22,209 is put in every single year, uh, with the love and appreciation that we all have for the drivers 646 01:03:22,209 --> 01:03:27,429 here. And I want to give you a chance before I let you go to deliver a message to the drivers that 647 01:03:27,429 --> 01:03:32,269 are listening out there. Obviously we've got Driver Appreciation Week quickly approaching. You 648 01:03:32,270 --> 01:03:36,669 know, Cypress is going to do the same thing that they've done all these years, and Evelyn's going 649 01:03:36,670 --> 01:03:42,149 to be the one behind it. What would you like the drivers to hear directly from you Evelyn. Um, the 650 01:03:42,150 --> 01:03:46,989 floor is yours. You can take as long as you'd like here, but I'd love you to deliver them a message. 651 01:03:47,229 --> 01:03:52,428 Um, you know, straight from you. Straight from the person that organizes all of this this entire 652 01:03:52,429 --> 01:03:58,389 week. It's such a good effort that you put in, uh, anything you'd like to tell the drivers? I don't 653 01:03:58,389 --> 01:04:03,229 really know, but, I mean, I just hope that they know that, you know, when we're out there grilling. Stop. 654 01:04:03,230 --> 01:04:09,749 Grab your plate. I'll make it for you if it needs to, but, um, the the driver appreciation is for you 655 01:04:09,789 --> 01:04:15,189 guys for all your hard work. And to show our way of showing you how much we appreciate you. I know 656 01:04:15,190 --> 01:04:22,029 I appreciate y'all, but, you know, stop. Make your plate, enjoy it. Come back for some more. Like I, I 657 01:04:22,149 --> 01:04:28,730 really thankful for our drivers. Yeah, but I would like to do one shout out. Yes, I have watched I 658 01:04:28,730 --> 01:04:35,649 have listened to your podcast before. I would like to do a shout out to my hubby tomorrow. Be 3636 659 01:04:35,649 --> 01:04:42,169 years of wedding anniversary. Wow. Congratulations. 36 years he's put up with 660 01:04:42,169 --> 01:04:48,329 me. Um, so it's quite challenging, but yeah. That's the. 661 01:04:48,329 --> 01:04:54,009 Anniversary. Happy anniversary to you both. Do you have big plans for the, uh, for the big day? You 662 01:04:54,009 --> 01:05:00,529 know, our our life is so busy with, um, family, grandkids. We're at the ballpark every weekend 663 01:05:00,529 --> 01:05:05,729 with the grandkids. I'm not. I'm not a difficult person. Just take me out to dinner and I'll be 664 01:05:05,769 --> 01:05:12,009 happy. Perfect. Perfect. Right before you take a bunch of truck drivers out to breakfast and 665 01:05:12,010 --> 01:05:17,009 dinner over the course of an entire week, just take her out and get her a nice meal. Evelyn, 666 01:05:17,370 --> 01:05:23,510 that's as easy as it could possibly. Be for you. I'm not a difficult person. It's great. Well. Happy 667 01:05:23,510 --> 01:05:29,229 anniversary to you. Thank you for all the effort that you put in. Um, just on behalf of us here at 668 01:05:29,230 --> 01:05:34,549 the podcast, knowing that Cypress care so much about their drivers and wants to make them all 669 01:05:34,550 --> 01:05:40,070 feel like people and not just numbers, makes our job pretty easy because we get to talk to a lot 670 01:05:40,109 --> 01:05:45,949 of happy people, uh, just like yourself, Evelyn. So I can't thank you enough not only for coming on the 671 01:05:45,950 --> 01:05:51,829 show today, but for all the effort you put in. Um, it's it's creeping on you. I, I will ask you this. 672 01:05:51,830 --> 01:05:56,268 Are you starting to feel the pressure, uh, now. That we're getting close? I was getting a call. Hardy's 673 01:05:56,269 --> 01:06:01,708 in just a little bit. And go ahead and put in my order for so they'll. They'll be prepared. Because 674 01:06:01,749 --> 01:06:06,429 once, once I put that order in, I'm there about quarter after five. And they know they they know 675 01:06:06,430 --> 01:06:12,789 me. They I'm going to be there to get them picked up. Um, been a couple of times I had to wait. And it 676 01:06:12,789 --> 01:06:19,710 is what it is. Um, I think a couple times they shift managers and they change up on me, and they 677 01:06:19,710 --> 01:06:25,369 didn't know about the order. But I always try to follow through with phone calls. I don't do the 678 01:06:25,489 --> 01:06:31,209 online stuff. I want to talk to you. Human? Yes. Yes. Especially on. The order. Like this. Yeah, yeah. In 679 01:06:31,209 --> 01:06:35,409 order this big and order this important. And I'll be honest with you, Evelyn, they ought to give you 680 01:06:35,410 --> 01:06:41,169 a parking spot. Uh. That's your name on it. And so that stays empty. For the entire year. 681 01:06:42,290 --> 01:06:47,369 Exactly. At least they would know. Hey, we. Got Evelyn here. We need to be front and center and on 682 01:06:47,369 --> 01:06:52,888 the ball, but the ball is already rolling here for driver appreciation Week at Cypress. Just giving 683 01:06:52,889 --> 01:06:57,570 you a peek behind the curtain of how much, uh, the effort means to the company and how much all of 684 01:06:57,570 --> 01:07:03,250 you drivers mean as well. Your entire log department at Cypress Truck Lines, Evelyn Allen 685 01:07:03,250 --> 01:07:07,609 joining us here on the show today. Evelyn can't thank you enough. This is only the second time 686 01:07:07,609 --> 01:07:12,049 I've gotten to sit down and share time with you, but it's been an absolute pleasure both times. 687 01:07:12,489 --> 01:07:18,049 We'll get you back on here again sometime soon, okay? Anytime, Marcus. Uh, enjoy driver appreciation 688 01:07:18,050 --> 01:07:20,509 week. Okay. You have a good one. Thank you. 689 01:07:28,870 --> 01:07:34,029 I say it all the time on this podcast. I say things like, hats off to Matt and Thad and Evelyn, 690 01:07:34,029 --> 01:07:40,229 or great stuff for Matt and Thad and Evelyn. And today I almost want to come up with a different 691 01:07:40,230 --> 01:07:47,069 way to say it because today's was impactful, very impactful stuff there from Matt and 692 01:07:47,069 --> 01:07:53,109 Thad and Evelyn. Um, you got you got it. You got the whole picture now. Okay. From an ownership level, 693 01:07:53,109 --> 01:07:59,948 why do we do this? What is important about the way that we do this? And as Thad so poignantly 694 01:07:59,949 --> 01:08:05,669 put it, it's not enough. How can we do better? Send your suggestions in. Okay. They want to hear them. 695 01:08:05,669 --> 01:08:11,789 They wouldn't have come on here and asked. If not. Um. And huge hats off to Evelyn. Um, such a sweet 696 01:08:11,790 --> 01:08:18,228 lady and really puts her heart and soul into Driver Appreciation Week for, uh, for you drivers 697 01:08:18,229 --> 01:08:24,490 at Cypress and Sunbelt and, uh, you know, she hasn't burned the place down yet. In fact, she just keeps 698 01:08:24,490 --> 01:08:30,048 getting better at it every single year. And I gotta try one of these burgers with her special 699 01:08:30,049 --> 01:08:34,769 juice. Uh, that. She's she's got an eye. And I want to tell you guys, now that that interview is in 700 01:08:34,769 --> 01:08:41,769 the past, I officially did not acquire the recipe. It's still only an Evelyn Allen special. You can't 701 01:08:41,769 --> 01:08:47,249 come over to my side of the Rockies and hang out at a tailgate with me and get the special juice, 702 01:08:47,250 --> 01:08:53,849 because I don't have the recipe. Um, I might try, but I'm never going to get it right. And so, uh, 703 01:08:53,849 --> 01:09:00,769 hats off to Evelyn for all of the effort that goes into it. Um, she's already in the process. And 704 01:09:00,770 --> 01:09:06,809 we recorded this, uh, probably a week or so before. You'll hear it. So know that Evelyn's already well 705 01:09:06,810 --> 01:09:12,289 into this process. She's calling Hardy. She's saying, I gotta get my order in. You need to know 706 01:09:12,290 --> 01:09:17,950 because it's a big one. And it happens three days in a row. She's already scouting out burgers and 707 01:09:17,950 --> 01:09:24,028 sausage dogs. She's making sure that the propane tank is filled. It's about to pop off for Driver 708 01:09:24,029 --> 01:09:28,990 Appreciation Week at Cypress and Sunbelt, especially out there in Jacksonville. And of 709 01:09:28,990 --> 01:09:35,470 course, uh, to react a little bit to what Matt and Thad had to say, there was a real focused reason 710 01:09:35,470 --> 01:09:40,829 that we wanted to get those guys on today, because what you heard them say is exactly what's been 711 01:09:40,830 --> 01:09:47,789 conveyed to us in meetings when we're not recording the podcast. And we as, as a podcast 712 01:09:47,830 --> 01:09:54,630 team, thought, we've got to get this on the air. This is so good. This is exactly if I was working 713 01:09:54,630 --> 01:10:00,069 for a trucking fleet, this is exactly what I would want. My owners, the people that that manage me, the 714 01:10:00,069 --> 01:10:04,949 people that run the company that I work for, it's exactly how I would hope they would look at it. 715 01:10:04,950 --> 01:10:09,389 And I got to be honest with you guys, I've worked with a lot of trucking fleets in the last four 716 01:10:09,389 --> 01:10:15,029 years doing this job, and I don't want to take anything away from anybody that does things their 717 01:10:15,029 --> 01:10:21,129 own way. I want to give flowers to Cypress for doing things their own way, and doing it in a way 718 01:10:21,129 --> 01:10:27,569 that is very unique across the trucking industry. You heard Evelyn say it. Her husband. Um, 719 01:10:27,569 --> 01:10:32,769 and happy anniversary to them, by the way, celebrating one here coming up in in just a few 720 01:10:32,769 --> 01:10:38,129 days, I believe 36 was the number. Uh, big congratulations to Evelyn and her husband for 721 01:10:38,170 --> 01:10:43,009 that. I hope they go out and have a lot of fun celebrating that marriage. Uh, but he works for a 722 01:10:43,009 --> 01:10:49,809 different trucking fleet, and things are not the same. Okay, without naming the fleet, without 723 01:10:49,810 --> 01:10:54,849 saying what it is that he gets during Driver appreciation Week or that the fleet does for him. 724 01:10:54,930 --> 01:11:00,129 I'll tell you, it's different and that it's actually, you know, proof in the pudding. He worked 725 01:11:00,129 --> 01:11:05,249 for Cypress for a little bit. He saw it with his own eyes. So, um, that's that's really good info 726 01:11:05,290 --> 01:11:10,369 there. Sometimes the grass isn't always greener, and we might only be talking about one week here 727 01:11:10,369 --> 01:11:15,909 in the grand scheme of things, you know, the the officially titled Driver Appreciation Week. But 728 01:11:15,910 --> 01:11:21,029 what you heard from Matt and that is how do we do it year round? How do we do the little things 729 01:11:21,029 --> 01:11:27,749 right to make it so that our drivers like working here, they want to work here and they stick around 730 01:11:27,789 --> 01:11:33,909 because keeping good drivers, dedicated drivers that know how to do things a Cypress way is so 731 01:11:33,910 --> 01:11:39,749 important in today's competitive trucking market. Um, there's a lot of bait and switch out there. 732 01:11:39,750 --> 01:11:45,189 There's a lot of ads where you could see a number on that ad and think, hey, all I gotta do is just 733 01:11:45,190 --> 01:11:49,990 go drive with a different truck for a different company. That sounds easy. And then all of a sudden 734 01:11:50,029 --> 01:11:56,469 you start to see things how they really are. Once you get on that side of the fence and what I 735 01:11:56,470 --> 01:12:01,669 heard Matt and Thad tell me today is that they're constantly looking for every way that they can 736 01:12:01,669 --> 01:12:08,109 find to try to make it a super competitive job. Right. You're not going to come and work for 737 01:12:08,109 --> 01:12:14,809 Cypress. See how this side lives and then want to go back to how the other side lived, and it's 738 01:12:14,809 --> 01:12:19,808 something that they're thinking about all the time. You know, we discussed it with the trailers. 739 01:12:19,809 --> 01:12:25,169 Your dad talk about how much of a mountain it is to move to have three trailers for every driver. 740 01:12:25,169 --> 01:12:30,369 But think about that from the driver's side. You don't have to self load. You don't have to get 741 01:12:30,370 --> 01:12:35,810 that load ready. You can drop one load and pick up another trailer and be back on the road earning 742 01:12:35,810 --> 01:12:42,809 money. That right there is one way and just one way that Cypress goes about it. Um, and going 743 01:12:42,810 --> 01:12:49,009 back all the way to hearing about Dave's philosophy on Move Mountains to get the drivers 744 01:12:49,009 --> 01:12:54,970 where they need to be when they need to be there. If there's a graduation, a wedding, uh, God forbid, a 745 01:12:54,970 --> 01:13:01,369 funeral, anything like that that is, is considered in the do not miss this category. Cypress drivers 746 01:13:01,369 --> 01:13:06,609 are going to be there for it, and we've heard them tell us the stories on the air here, and to hear 747 01:13:06,609 --> 01:13:11,989 it from the other side and how Matt and Thad really focus on that and want that to be part of 748 01:13:11,990 --> 01:13:17,990 the culture at Cypress, not just part of the philosophy, part of the lived culture at the 749 01:13:17,990 --> 01:13:23,429 company. It just blows me away, man. And I can't thank Matt and Thad enough for coming on and and 750 01:13:23,430 --> 01:13:28,949 having that candid conversation with me. It's one thing to have the one on one in the parking lot, 751 01:13:28,950 --> 01:13:33,870 or on the yard or the shop, or in the driver lounge, wherever you might be. It's one thing for 752 01:13:33,870 --> 01:13:37,990 them to come up and tell you guys that personally. That's when you know they really mean it. It's 753 01:13:37,990 --> 01:13:44,589 another thing to come on this podcast and talk to a whole room full of you guys, if you will, and say 754 01:13:44,589 --> 01:13:50,949 the exact same thing. There is no pulling punches. There is no, um, you know, directing what you're 755 01:13:50,950 --> 01:13:57,069 saying based on who your audience is, it's always the same. And I think based on my experience these 756 01:13:57,069 --> 01:14:02,548 last four years making podcasts for trucking fleets, I think it's a very unique and very 757 01:14:02,549 --> 01:14:08,869 special aspect. And I've seen it from Cypress since the very first day we showed up in Jacksonville, 758 01:14:08,869 --> 01:14:15,208 started meeting all of you guys and taking notes. Uh, we feel very privileged to be a part of, uh, the 759 01:14:15,209 --> 01:14:21,089 family at Cypress. And we do feel like part of the family here at the Cypress Truck Lines podcast. 760 01:14:21,089 --> 01:14:27,048 And that's because all of you guys out there, whether it be drivers, terminal staff, shop, yard 761 01:14:27,049 --> 01:14:32,249 jockeys, it doesn't matter. You all treat us the same as you treat one another. And it's a very 762 01:14:32,249 --> 01:14:38,089 unique and very special thing to be a part of. So from all of us here at the Cypress Truck Lines 763 01:14:38,090 --> 01:14:44,889 podcast, including my producer Scott, my audio ninja Mike, my web guy Tyler, my graphics, 764 01:14:44,930 --> 01:14:51,809 uh, Lady Arie and Lurie, uh, on graphics as well. Hanna in the copy department, it goes on. There's a 765 01:14:51,809 --> 01:14:57,490 big team of people here and we all appreciate you greatly. You know, we wouldn't have jobs either if 766 01:14:57,490 --> 01:15:04,490 it's not for what you drivers do out there on the road every single day and you do it safely, you do 767 01:15:04,490 --> 01:15:10,149 it the Cypress way. You're always faithful. Um, it man, it's just special. I mean, there's very few 768 01:15:10,149 --> 01:15:15,950 moments where I've wanted to step back and really say, like, how fortunate am I not only to be doing 769 01:15:15,950 --> 01:15:21,990 the job that I get to do because, wow. But how fortunate am I to get to do this job for a 770 01:15:21,990 --> 01:15:27,269 company like Cypress? There the the lived experience from every person that's worked 771 01:15:27,269 --> 01:15:32,709 through this company over the years is that I'm part of the family and they value me, and I get 772 01:15:32,709 --> 01:15:39,028 that too. So from all of us here at the Cypress Truck Lines podcast, Happy Driver Appreciation 773 01:15:39,029 --> 01:15:45,909 Week, go fill up on Evelyn's Burgers and the Sausage Dogs. Get yourself some breakfast, see if 774 01:15:45,909 --> 01:15:52,829 you can stumble across Matt or Thad or Aaron or D2 or D3 out there on the lot and get a face to 775 01:15:52,870 --> 01:15:57,430 face with them. I know they would appreciate it. You just heard him talk about it here on the show. 776 01:15:57,669 --> 01:16:03,470 Um, and and you know what? Above all, be safe out there. That's what really matters. We appreciate 777 01:16:03,470 --> 01:16:08,409 every single one of you guys for coming in here and listening today. Tell a friend about it. Tell 778 01:16:08,410 --> 01:16:14,769 him to go over to podcast.cypresstruck.com and check out the website. There's plenty there to keep them busy if 779 01:16:14,769 --> 01:16:19,529 they've got a little bit of downtime. And we love welcoming new people on the show. So if you're 780 01:16:19,529 --> 01:16:26,369 listening to this and you want to be a part of the podcast. Head on over to podcast.cypresstruck.com and send 781 01:16:26,370 --> 01:16:33,209 me an email. Be safe out there drivers. We greatly appreciate you and everything you do every single 782 01:16:33,210 --> 01:16:39,329 day of the week. We appreciate it every single day of the week. We appreciate it real hard here on 783 01:16:39,329 --> 01:16:44,729 the Cypress Truck Lines podcast. We'll see you all next week, 5 a.m. local time for another hour of 784 01:16:44,730 --> 01:16:46,608 content. Be safe out. There.