Reflecting on Our Training: From Rookie to Top 10

1 00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:06,080 What separates the driver, who simply gets through training from the driver who takes that training 2 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:11,479 and turns it into a career. Maybe it starts with being willing to admit that you don't know 3 00:00:11,479 --> 00:00:17,240 everything. Being willing to pick up the phone. Being willing to ask the same question 5 or 6 4 00:00:17,240 --> 00:00:23,480 times until the answer finally sticks. And then when somebody gives you that knowledge, actually 5 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:29,960 doing something with it. Because our guest today, Ariyel Vanterpool, had a pretty incredible way of 6 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:35,319 describing what happened when he came through. CTC climbed into a truck with his trainer, Michael 7 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:41,720 Shealey, and eventually found an otter mentor in veteran Cypress driver Chris Standifer. 8 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:49,120 He took the information that he gave them and, quote, he put it on steroids. Nearly three 9 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:55,040 years later, Ariyel says he's driven 140,000 miles in a given year. He's climbed into the upper 10 00:00:55,040 --> 00:01:01,140 reaches of Cypress driver rankings. He's been handed the keys to a brand new Freightliner and 11 00:01:01,140 --> 00:01:05,580 he'll tell you himself he didn't get there because he walked through the door already 12 00:01:05,580 --> 00:01:11,820 knowing everything. Quite the opposite, in fact. He got there because he was hungry enough to ask 13 00:01:11,900 --> 00:01:18,860 again and again and again, and Chris and Michael noticed it. This was a guy who might 14 00:01:18,860 --> 00:01:24,180 go to sleep thinking about the questions he wanted to ask tomorrow. Ariyel was nervous when he 15 00:01:24,180 --> 00:01:29,140 first climbed into the truck with Michael. He made mistakes. He had things to learn. At one point, he 16 00:01:29,140 --> 00:01:35,220 even showed back up to Michael with the front bumper of his truck sitting on the catwalk. Yeah, 17 00:01:35,260 --> 00:01:39,620 we're gonna get the story behind that one, I promise. But somewhere between the rookie that got 18 00:01:39,620 --> 00:01:44,820 himself stuck in a ditch and the driver he is today, something clicked. And maybe the coolest 19 00:01:44,820 --> 00:01:50,059 part is how Ariyel describes the two guys who helped him get there. He compares himself to Kobe 20 00:01:50,059 --> 00:01:56,579 Bryant and Michael and Chris. Those guys are his Michael Jordan. Now that's some pretty high 21 00:01:56,580 --> 00:02:03,120 praise Today we're going to find out what a great driver trainer teaches you. What an OTR 22 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:08,080 mentor adds once you're out there on your own and why. Ariyel believes one of the biggest things 23 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:14,560 holding a new driver back might simply be their own pride. And before we're finished, everybody 24 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:19,999 gets a report card. The students grade the teachers. The teachers grade the student. And 25 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:25,479 believe it or not, the guy who once showed up carrying his own bumper scores pretty damn well. 26 00:02:25,640 --> 00:02:28,400 This is the Cypress Truck Lines podcast. 27 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:38,320 Countdown to the Cypress Truck Lines podcast starts now. 28 00:02:40,679 --> 00:02:47,160 Your number one professional flatlining podcast here to deliver stories, safety updates and 29 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:52,280 company news directly to your ears. Let's get down to business. 30 00:02:58,539 --> 00:03:04,139 How's the weather out there? Cypress and Sunbelt. Welcome into another episode of the Cypress Truck 31 00:03:04,139 --> 00:03:10,100 Lines podcast. Thank you very much for being here with us today. As always, I am your host, Marcus, and 32 00:03:10,100 --> 00:03:15,580 I'm very excited about this episode, but you guys are pretty used to hearing that for me. So, uh, 33 00:03:15,580 --> 00:03:20,419 before we get into what we're talking about today, let's handle the homework section. Uh, your 34 00:03:20,419 --> 00:03:25,699 homework remains. Tell a friend. That's all we need you to do right now. Tell a friend about this show 35 00:03:25,699 --> 00:03:29,660 if you've ever gotten anything out of it. If you've ever tuned in and listened and maybe 36 00:03:29,660 --> 00:03:35,740 giggled a little bit, or learned something about Cypress, or about driving flatbed in general, just 37 00:03:35,740 --> 00:03:40,259 tell a friend about it. Be like, hey, I was listening to that Cypress Truck Lines podcast and 38 00:03:40,259 --> 00:03:44,739 that guy that leads it there, that Marcus guy, he flaps his jaw a lot. But there's a lot of good 39 00:03:44,739 --> 00:03:49,899 stuff on this show. You tell him that. That's all I'll ask from you this week. Just a tiny bit of 40 00:03:49,900 --> 00:03:55,660 homework. And of course, I will remind you that if you want anything to do with the Cypress Truck 41 00:03:55,720 --> 00:04:01,439 Lines podcast, whether it be listen to an episode, find out what we've been talking about in old 42 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:08,440 episodes. Uh, check that top dog list. There's a way to do it. Podcast.Cypresstruck.com 43 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:12,879 head on over there. You can also click the link and send me an email if you want to hear 44 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:18,279 something on this podcast, you want to come on the podcast to discuss something, just get in touch 45 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:24,799 with me. We'll get you on here. And that's a lot like what happened today. Actually, today's, 46 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:30,560 uh, episode was sort of it was meant to be something a little bit different. But when we 47 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:35,199 started talking to everybody that was going to be involved, we realized that this is the episode 48 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:41,679 that we needed to make today, and it turned out fantastic. I'm telling you right now, this is going 49 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:47,559 to be one of my favorites, I think, because what you get in this interview that I'm about to do is 50 00:04:47,559 --> 00:04:53,639 three guys that just can't give each other enough credit, and a lot of times that might seem like 51 00:04:53,640 --> 00:05:00,579 lip service, but we have proof in the pudding here. We actually have a guy that has 52 00:05:00,579 --> 00:05:07,459 taken the training, developed to the career, and done great things with Cypress Truck lines, and 53 00:05:07,459 --> 00:05:12,539 besides the guy that is developing a great career with Cypress, through the training he received 54 00:05:12,540 --> 00:05:17,979 from both his trainer and his mentor, we've got the trainer and the mentor on the show too, which 55 00:05:17,980 --> 00:05:24,099 is really cool because they're going to talk to you about Ariyel the student. Ariyel the the guy 56 00:05:24,099 --> 00:05:30,259 that was just starting out, not the guy that shows up in like the top 5 or 10 of the top dog list 57 00:05:30,260 --> 00:05:36,539 every year. Uh, the guy that came in nervous, the guy that came in maybe not being the safest 58 00:05:36,540 --> 00:05:43,540 driver around, but the guy that worked his tail off to become the driver that he is today and is 59 00:05:43,540 --> 00:05:50,260 still working his tail off every single day. Um, it's just a really cool interview. This is one of 60 00:05:50,260 --> 00:05:55,759 the ones that's, uh, some interviews make me just walk away feeling happy. Some make me walk away 61 00:05:55,760 --> 00:06:02,240 feeling like I can be better at my job. This one made me walk away feeling full, like my heart was 62 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:08,480 full after this one. Because we showed not only the driver trainer relationship here on this show 63 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:15,039 today, but we will also show you how finding a mentor and just making a friend can really change 64 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:20,880 things for you with this company, especially because there are a lot of drivers out there that 65 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:25,759 have Cypress on the door that have been doing it for a long time. That means that they've seen 66 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:31,479 everything there is to see. And trust me when I tell you they want to share that information with 67 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:36,159 you. So I don't want to make this go any longer. I don't want to make you guys wait for this. I've 68 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:43,120 been just absolutely gassing this interview up for four minutes. Now it's time to actually get to 69 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:48,879 it. So let's get Ariyel, Michael and Chris in here and start talking about what it was like to bring 70 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:55,859 Ariyel from a student all the way up to one of the drivers with the most miles here at Cypress Truck 71 00:06:55,859 --> 00:06:56,419 Lines. 72 00:07:04,540 --> 00:07:09,579 All right. Welcome back into the Cypress Truck Lines podcast. Very excited for my interview. 73 00:07:09,579 --> 00:07:14,099 That's about to happen right now. I got the drivers on hold. We'll introduce them very shortly. 74 00:07:14,100 --> 00:07:19,259 But I just wanted to set this up a little bit today for everybody listening. What I'm trying to 75 00:07:19,260 --> 00:07:23,059 get out of this interview and I think it's going to it's going to go really well just because I've 76 00:07:23,060 --> 00:07:28,419 already talked to all of these guys and they're all, uh, bought into this, but I want to find out 77 00:07:28,419 --> 00:07:34,779 today what happens to all the advice after you've been driving for a little while. Uh, what did your 78 00:07:34,780 --> 00:07:39,580 trainer or your mentor teach you that you still hear in your head every day? What did you think 79 00:07:39,580 --> 00:07:45,780 was ridiculous at the time that turned out to be dead on? Um, and before we're done, obviously we're 80 00:07:45,780 --> 00:07:49,499 going to give these guys the opportunity to grade each other. So we're going to have a little bit of 81 00:07:49,500 --> 00:07:53,679 fun towards the end. But now that we know what we're looking for today, let's go ahead and 82 00:07:53,679 --> 00:07:59,320 welcome these guys in. Joining us first is the driver that this sort of all centers around today. 83 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:05,079 His name is Ariyel Vanterpool. Ariyel, thank you so much for being here today my friend. Oh thank you 84 00:08:05,079 --> 00:08:11,199 thank you thank you thank you, Mr. Marcus. Thank you. Of course man. Of course. Now, uh, tell me real 85 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:15,959 quick just a little bit of background. How long have you been driving for Cypress? At this point. I 86 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:21,799 want to say something. I want to give all honor to, uh, Jesus Christ, my savior. My lord. Um, this wasn't 87 00:08:21,799 --> 00:08:28,679 even been possible without him for sure. Yes. Right now, I've been going, um, I'm going on my third 88 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:34,519 year with Cypress. Third year in the truck, man. And and I assume that you like it because you're 89 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:41,359 still here. Oh, for sure, miss hype has been very good to me. Awesome. Well, thank you for joining us 90 00:08:41,359 --> 00:08:46,879 today. Area. Your, uh, your input here is going to be vital to this interview. So I'm really glad to 91 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:52,539 have you. Thank you for agreeing to come on the show today. Um, welcome. Let's welcome in your 92 00:08:52,539 --> 00:08:58,619 driver trainer, a guy that, uh, you guys, uh, you got together before I even was really in touch with 93 00:08:58,620 --> 00:09:04,179 either one of you. Um, and you're your driver trainer. We're welcoming here is Michael Shealey. 94 00:09:04,219 --> 00:09:09,620 Michael, thank you for being here today, my friend. Uh, really appreciate the time. It's really good to 95 00:09:09,620 --> 00:09:14,579 be here. Appreciate you man. Now, Michael, you've been with Cypress for a while, too. Obviously, 96 00:09:14,580 --> 00:09:19,218 you're a driver trainer. Uh, how long have you been driving for Cypress? And then how long have you 97 00:09:19,219 --> 00:09:26,219 been a trainer? January, Mike. For years. And I've been a trainer for three. Wow. Okay. And, uh, you like 98 00:09:26,219 --> 00:09:30,979 the training part of it? It seems like you're one of those guys that really takes a lot of pride in 99 00:09:30,979 --> 00:09:37,059 the, uh, the the students that you have sitting in there with you. Oh, I do, yeah. Pride. Well, you can 100 00:09:37,059 --> 00:09:42,299 really tell, man. And we'll we'll dig into that a little bit further here. Uh, but now I want to 101 00:09:42,300 --> 00:09:48,520 welcome our third guest. Now, I've been told that, uh, our third guest here is sort of the otter 102 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:54,320 mentor for Ariyel. His name is Chris Standifer. Chris, welcome to the program. Thank you so much for the 103 00:09:54,320 --> 00:10:00,439 time today. Oh, yes. It's wonderful. It's a pleasure to be here. It's an honor. Oh, wow. You're gonna make 104 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:05,640 me blush, man. You guys, uh, you guys give me too much credit sometimes, I think. But, uh, Chris, let's 105 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:11,280 talk about how long you've been driving for Cypress. Oh, I've been with Cypress since. That's 106 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:18,039 almost about eight years now with Cypress. I started off with Cypress, got my, uh, my class, a CDL 107 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:23,999 from Cypress, um, school. And, um, it's been a wonderful journey here with Cypress. And I would 108 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:30,039 like to also acknowledge Jesus Christ for allowing me to be a part of this great team with 109 00:10:30,039 --> 00:10:36,760 Cypress. And I thank God for it, for everybody that works for Cypress. Yes, sir. Um, wonderful blessing to 110 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:42,439 me. Well, amen to that. And we'll always make room for that on this program. You guys know that. Uh, 111 00:10:42,439 --> 00:10:47,899 thank you for being here today, Chris. Uh, I'm going to start this conversation off with Ariyel. Now, 112 00:10:48,219 --> 00:10:54,580 Ariyel, take me back to when you were brand new. I mean, you've got the CDL, but you don't necessarily 113 00:10:54,580 --> 00:11:00,779 have the gig yet. Uh, what did you think was going to be the hardest part of this job and what 114 00:11:00,820 --> 00:11:05,499 actually turned out to be the hardest part, uh, going all the way back to the very beginning, 115 00:11:05,500 --> 00:11:12,499 almost three years ago. Ariyel. Oh, man. Shout out to CTC. Like I'm, I'm, I'm that proud up 116 00:11:12,539 --> 00:11:19,459 like I'm from the beginning. So I did the whole program. So like honestly I really like 117 00:11:19,460 --> 00:11:25,340 humbled myself because I actually had a CDL before and they didn't accept the school like 118 00:11:25,379 --> 00:11:31,139 Cypress didn't accept the school that I went to. So actually it was like, alright, you can come up 119 00:11:31,139 --> 00:11:35,499 here, you're just going to have to go through the the whole program to understand, you know what I'm 120 00:11:35,499 --> 00:11:41,379 saying? The other stuff that, you know, the school didn't teach me. So I went through the whole thing. 121 00:11:41,379 --> 00:11:48,279 I started over. So that mean and I knew a lot about CDL already before I even went through it, 122 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:55,200 of course. So from Mr. Kenny, Mr. Lawrence Woods, like all of them, they paved the way for 123 00:11:55,200 --> 00:12:01,879 me to understand literally what sprayer actually is. Because when you look at the tandems, when 124 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:06,759 y'all got test out on tandems, but when you got test out and start to understand like, wow, it's 125 00:12:06,759 --> 00:12:12,959 the difference between tandems and spread axle and going through CTC. And I understand that 126 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:19,280 school part of a flatbed. If you want to know flatbed, I feel like you should want to go to a 127 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:26,199 company that offers flatbed experience at school. And that's what, uh, Cypress was able 128 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:32,919 to give me. And, uh, they started from right there. Well, look. Shout out to 129 00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:38,520 CTC guys. You know, we'll also always make room for them on this show because they do such a great 130 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:44,299 job. Um, take me back to when you first got in the truck with Michael Aerial. What's something that 131 00:12:44,299 --> 00:12:49,619 Michael taught you? Uh, that you probably didn't appreciate at the time? That now, all these years 132 00:12:49,620 --> 00:12:54,299 under your belt, you kind of understand that. Hey, that was super important. Is there anything like 133 00:12:54,300 --> 00:13:00,419 that that sticks out to you as you think back? No. My my Michael is, uh, 134 00:13:01,500 --> 00:13:08,419 one of a kind. Like, I appreciate that advice because, like, when you go into, like, when you 135 00:13:08,419 --> 00:13:14,580 go into a whole nother career, like, I come from roofing, I was a foreman, so I literally left a 136 00:13:14,580 --> 00:13:20,059 career to start a career. But I always understood, like, in order to know something, you got to 137 00:13:20,060 --> 00:13:25,219 actually humble yourself. So when it came down to Michael, I already feel like, all right, bro, you 138 00:13:25,219 --> 00:13:32,019 you're doing something that I want to do. So he taught me a lot. He taught the like 139 00:13:32,060 --> 00:13:38,939 CTC was the foundation, but it's like Michael gave me the like the, the recipe of ingredients to 140 00:13:38,979 --> 00:13:45,519 adding it on together to understand like how to run your clock. You know, like it was it 141 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:51,599 was it was a great experience. Honestly. It sounds like it, man. Is there anything that he drilled 142 00:13:51,599 --> 00:13:56,880 into you that you can remember? I mean, what I'm looking for here, Ariyel, is is there anything that 143 00:13:56,880 --> 00:14:02,079 you say to yourself? But it comes out in Michael's voice because of the training, anything like that 144 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:08,839 that stuck with you for all these years? Pre-planned. Yeah. Pre-planned. Pre-planned. I 145 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:15,519 say like, just paying attention. Yeah. Be careful. Safety. Big things. Right. Important stuff 146 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:21,080 there. Yes, sir. Michael, we're gonna come over to you now. Uh, when when you first got Ariyel in the 147 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:25,919 truck, talk to me about what was going through your mind. What did you see? What did. What did he 148 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:30,439 naturally have? And what were some things that kind of needed work that you were focusing on? 149 00:14:30,599 --> 00:14:36,479 Well, naturally, he he was actually already pretty decent. He's just, uh, super nervous when he first 150 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:41,699 got in the truck. But, I mean, that goes with a lot of students, too. But with him, you could actually 151 00:14:42,379 --> 00:14:48,499 really tell it. But after after the first couple of days, he started getting more, more comfortable 152 00:14:48,500 --> 00:14:55,099 with it than just moving forward. I mean, it was always about trip planning and safety being 153 00:14:55,100 --> 00:15:01,780 number one. Yeah, that he actually was that a really great student. And you've told me 154 00:15:01,780 --> 00:15:07,299 that in our chats that he's he might even be one of your best students that you've ever had. Uh, 155 00:15:07,339 --> 00:15:14,219 talk. Talk to me about that. He's in top three. He's in top three. And what puts him there, Michael? 156 00:15:14,259 --> 00:15:20,899 Can you. It's mostly his attitude and how he, uh, actually 157 00:15:20,940 --> 00:15:27,140 handled everything. Attitude mean. And, you know, it was very funny. I 158 00:15:27,780 --> 00:15:33,819 mean, he was in front of me. We had a really great time. We always joked around one another. I pull a 159 00:15:33,820 --> 00:15:36,979 joke or a prank on him, and he'll come back at me ten times harder. 160 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:46,119 Yeah, man. Well, I mean, it was just a it's a one of a kind appearance with him because 161 00:15:47,079 --> 00:15:53,558 everything is different. Mhm. But with him it, it really stuck out. Were there any bad habits that 162 00:15:53,559 --> 00:15:58,798 you saw that you wanted to break immediately. Uh, with Ariyel. Or did he kind of come in, uh, with his 163 00:15:58,799 --> 00:16:05,439 nose? Pretty clean? Yeah. He has to come in with his nose pretty clean. I mean, he he kind of knew 164 00:16:05,479 --> 00:16:11,319 that the the no cell phone policy that Cypress has, which is I was I found to be a really good thing. 165 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:15,599 It's just like the one touch, you know, you know, if you're coming in brand new, you're not even 166 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:22,319 allowed to even touch your phone. Even throughout the training. So it really helps makes them pay 167 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:27,319 attention to everything that's actually going on. Sure. And actually turning to be a really safe 168 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:34,039 driver. Sure. So for him, he he come in really clean. Ariyel, how does that make you feel to hear your 169 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:38,679 trainer say that? Man, you're getting some pretty good marks here starting out on this one. It's 170 00:16:38,739 --> 00:16:44,259 Honestly, I honor to be honest. Because man. Michael. Man, he I'm telling you, he's different. He's not 171 00:16:44,260 --> 00:16:51,259 one of those like, I ain't going to lie. Like certain trainers like, just do it for the money. 172 00:16:51,260 --> 00:16:57,539 Like he care. Like he just not the type of person like, oh, I mean, I know you probably ain't got no 173 00:16:57,539 --> 00:17:03,979 cash right now or things might be hard or whatever. Like now he he cares about his trainees 174 00:17:04,139 --> 00:17:10,539 and he wanted to see he he and this be off the clock though like, you know what I'm saying? Like 175 00:17:10,540 --> 00:17:16,059 he just don't be like, oh, um, the day is over with, so go ahead and get some sleep. And I ain't that 176 00:17:16,099 --> 00:17:21,939 shit. Nah, man. Like we'll stop. We'll really, like not doing nothing. And it's like, all right, boom. We 177 00:17:21,939 --> 00:17:27,419 start quizzing and he off the clock. But he just putting this and drilling into me because you 178 00:17:27,420 --> 00:17:34,019 know you always going to feed whoever hungry and show attentive like to certain things and 179 00:17:34,460 --> 00:17:40,069 I can't I really I can't complain about the experience like I have a great experience. It 180 00:17:40,069 --> 00:17:45,789 sounds like it, man. It sounds like it. Well, I want to get to the the mentor side of this now just a 181 00:17:45,790 --> 00:17:50,429 little bit. And and Michael, I'll come back to you. We're going to kind of open this up for a little 182 00:17:50,469 --> 00:17:55,989 bit more conversation here. But Chris, I want to bring you in here. Uh, how did you meet Ariyel and 183 00:17:55,990 --> 00:18:01,109 how did you start to kind of mentor him a little bit? What was behind that whole relationship 184 00:18:01,110 --> 00:18:08,109 forming? All right, well, one day I was at the yard, and I was over there at the little 185 00:18:08,150 --> 00:18:15,149 driver. I think at that time, Ariyel was in, um, TTC training. I told him that, um, hey, you 186 00:18:15,149 --> 00:18:20,110 know, remember, if you have any questions, even though you may have your own trainer, but, you know, 187 00:18:20,150 --> 00:18:27,069 I've been training, uh, for some years with Cypress and doing OTR, and I told him 188 00:18:27,069 --> 00:18:32,069 to give me a number if you need any help, if you got any questions, you know, I'm still, you know, 189 00:18:32,109 --> 00:18:37,250 here to help you. You know, I don't just. I don't have to just be your trainer to help you, you know, 190 00:18:37,290 --> 00:18:42,769 because I would like to see every young man to succeed in their new career in trucking. That's 191 00:18:42,770 --> 00:18:48,249 the one good thing about being a trainer. We just don't only help the guys. We train. We help 192 00:18:48,249 --> 00:18:54,569 everyone. Everyone? Sure. You know, even even there could be guys that's working for a different 193 00:18:54,569 --> 00:19:00,608 company, you know, at a truck stop. You know, it's all about helping other people so they can be 194 00:19:00,609 --> 00:19:07,568 safe. You know, as being a, uh, commercial driver. Mhm. And and that's how 195 00:19:07,569 --> 00:19:13,689 I met him. And then he eventually called me. And then we started talking and started talking over 196 00:19:13,689 --> 00:19:19,569 the phone and, and I was telling him that, um, you know, that, um, you know, that I'm Otter and I stay 197 00:19:19,569 --> 00:19:26,529 out for like 2 to 3 weeks out at a time. And I was kind of teaching him how. Not just only trucking, 198 00:19:26,530 --> 00:19:33,009 but also to financing, uh, saving your money. Uh, you can make good money doing over the road, 199 00:19:33,050 --> 00:19:40,029 but you have to know how to run your clock. Being an OTR driver, you know. So I was kind of 200 00:19:40,069 --> 00:19:46,829 teaching him a lot of things and different things with, um, certain types of, uh, low security. Um, 201 00:19:46,989 --> 00:19:53,189 when it comes down to OTR drivers, because OTR drivers, we, um, we tend to deal with a little bit 202 00:19:53,189 --> 00:20:00,069 more, um, like steel coils and paper rolls and lumber and stuff 203 00:20:00,069 --> 00:20:06,069 like that. You know, that's what we get a lot. Mhm. And know and know how to drive on certain 204 00:20:06,069 --> 00:20:10,589 interstate roads, you know. So you know, I just kind of like, you know being a mentor to him and 205 00:20:10,590 --> 00:20:16,948 helping him, you know, uh, because I, I can remember I think I was in Saint Louis one day and I said, 206 00:20:16,949 --> 00:20:23,349 man, y'all, I'm in Saint Louis, man. You know, I'm I'm getting ready to pass the the Saint Louis arts. 207 00:20:23,349 --> 00:20:29,189 And he was like, really? And right there from that day, he was just like, you know, I want to be an OTR 208 00:20:29,229 --> 00:20:34,810 drive. I want to make the best money I can make. I want to, you know, and I was kind of showing him of 209 00:20:34,810 --> 00:20:40,129 the checks that I made and, you know, different things that I, you know, and he was it just he he 210 00:20:40,130 --> 00:20:46,169 just kept asking me a lot of questions and I was just, you know, free to talk to him and help him, 211 00:20:46,209 --> 00:20:52,688 you know, on, on on his new career. And I'm very proud of Ariyel because he, he had so much 212 00:20:52,729 --> 00:20:59,529 ambition that he wanted this to work for him. He wanted to understand being an 213 00:20:59,530 --> 00:21:06,129 OTR driver. He wanted to understand how to be a, uh, a professional driver, uh, with Cypress and 214 00:21:06,170 --> 00:21:13,129 a safe driver, you know. Mhm. And, and he just kept coming to me with questions and questions and 215 00:21:13,129 --> 00:21:19,889 questions and, and uh, even though sometimes I had to repeat it, you know, but he got it and he's 216 00:21:19,890 --> 00:21:26,409 doing so well man. To the point where he, I think uh, I think he was number if I can you know, I 217 00:21:26,410 --> 00:21:33,029 think it was like number 6 or 7 in the company. Wow. That's saying something, man. There's a lot of 218 00:21:33,029 --> 00:21:39,789 drivers out here. Yes, he's a top. He's a top dog now with snipers. And it's just amazing 219 00:21:39,949 --> 00:21:46,709 that he's doing so well, man. And and and that's what I. And that's what I love to see because a 220 00:21:46,709 --> 00:21:53,030 lot of guys that I trained with Cypress that a lot of them became fighters. Right. And and like I 221 00:21:53,030 --> 00:21:57,630 tell guys that I train I'm not training you to be a regular driver. I'm training you to be a trainer 222 00:21:57,630 --> 00:22:04,469 one day. I love it, man. I love that now. That's what I'm training you. I want to, uh, real 223 00:22:04,469 --> 00:22:09,069 quick. Michael, I want to, uh, hit you with the question based on something that Chris said there. 224 00:22:09,110 --> 00:22:13,910 Did you also find it? You you kind of alluded to it a bit, but when you were training Ariyel, did you 225 00:22:13,910 --> 00:22:19,549 find that he was very hungry, very ambitious, and really just wanted to soak up all the information? 226 00:22:19,670 --> 00:22:24,749 Absolutely. You could you could really just tell it and it and everything he did, he was constantly 227 00:22:24,749 --> 00:22:31,089 asking questions all the time. And yes, just like Chris said, there was times I had to answer that 228 00:22:31,089 --> 00:22:37,889 question multiple times, but I have no problem doing that. No problem doing it now. Oh, 229 00:22:37,890 --> 00:22:44,129 yeah. Ariyel. Uh, I wonder because, you know, Chris talked about the first time you called him. Um, and 230 00:22:44,129 --> 00:22:49,129 one of the things I want to do here is, is make sure that drivers that are maybe in your seat 231 00:22:49,129 --> 00:22:54,889 that you were in a few years ago, just starting out here with Cypress. Ariyel. Um, I want you to talk 232 00:22:54,889 --> 00:23:00,530 to those drivers right now about. Did you have any trepidation? Were you nervous at all about calling 233 00:23:00,530 --> 00:23:06,170 Chris or calling Michael to ask these questions? And if you were nervous, how did you deal with 234 00:23:06,170 --> 00:23:11,250 that? How did you get past that part of kind of breaking the ice and becoming the guy that wants 235 00:23:11,250 --> 00:23:17,969 to soak up all the information and, and talk to as many experts here as you can. Prior to this. I 236 00:23:18,410 --> 00:23:23,888 that's, that's that's how I was able to do it. Like once you if if you really want to know something, 237 00:23:23,969 --> 00:23:29,610 if you really got that ambition like a strong desire to succeed, you are really you're going to 238 00:23:29,670 --> 00:23:36,589 find out the information. And for me, I don't mind acting like I'm repetitive too. So I'm 239 00:23:36,589 --> 00:23:41,989 that type of learner. You might have to say it twice, maybe three times. But I guarantee you, if I 240 00:23:41,989 --> 00:23:48,789 ask you what? Repeat yourself. I'm going to have that in my head. I'm going to remember. And once I 241 00:23:48,790 --> 00:23:54,709 remember that, it lets me know, like, okay, let me apply what I just learned and everything they 242 00:23:54,709 --> 00:24:01,629 said to me, everything they actually paint in my head. And I got a grasp to it. I took it and I 243 00:24:01,630 --> 00:24:07,988 put it on steroids. So what I mean is, what I mean is 244 00:24:08,189 --> 00:24:15,188 last year, my second year, I was like number nine. I drove 140,000 miles. Wow. That's like out of 245 00:24:15,189 --> 00:24:21,509 the whole fleet. Now, this year by that good year right there. Shout out to Cypress. For real. I gotta 246 00:24:21,510 --> 00:24:27,989 talk. I gotta highly respect them because they did me well. I'm in a 2026 truck 247 00:24:28,050 --> 00:24:34,849 Freightliner. I come from a 2000 truck. When I was a rookie, but my second year since I was number 248 00:24:34,849 --> 00:24:41,169 nine, I drove that much. The following year I got a new Freightliner. You know, I got a race, 249 00:24:41,170 --> 00:24:47,370 but I got this Freightliner with, like, maybe like 24 miles. 250 00:24:47,410 --> 00:24:54,249 And, um, I got like a 112,000 miles on this truck right now. Last time I 251 00:24:54,249 --> 00:25:01,169 checked, I was like, uh, number five or number six this year. Wow. So I gotta out of Michael 252 00:25:01,170 --> 00:25:08,169 and Chris training me in the information that they given me. I just took it and put it 253 00:25:08,170 --> 00:25:15,089 on steroids. And when I say running, I mean running the clock. It's like I said. 254 00:25:15,089 --> 00:25:21,769 You know what? Let me, let me let me see what I can do to actually test this thing out. 255 00:25:21,769 --> 00:25:26,848 Because I come from CTC and many people are like, oh man, they ain't no money. Had diapers, man. They 256 00:25:26,849 --> 00:25:33,549 ain't no money in Cypress. And I'm like, before you say there's no money at Cypress. 257 00:25:33,630 --> 00:25:40,509 What type of driver are you? Because its engine is inside the truck. But it 258 00:25:40,510 --> 00:25:47,269 takes the individual to drive the truck. So the diesel that motivates this truck, it 259 00:25:47,310 --> 00:25:53,468 takes that. But what's the diesel for you? What drives you? What's your why? And that's why I don't 260 00:25:53,469 --> 00:26:00,309 mind asking questions. Because my why is what? Get me out of bed. My why is what makes me pay 261 00:26:00,310 --> 00:26:05,149 attention to Michael. What makes me pay attention to Chris, or what makes me pay attention to 262 00:26:05,189 --> 00:26:11,949 evolving? So that's what made my career this far. Very a 263 00:26:11,949 --> 00:26:17,389 very good situation. Yeah. And and you can tell, man, I mean, you can just hear it in, in all of your 264 00:26:17,430 --> 00:26:21,629 guys's voices. This has been fun so far because I've just gotten to sit back and listen to you 265 00:26:21,630 --> 00:26:28,289 guys talk about this, and I really love it, man. You can tell that this was a this was a a success 266 00:26:28,290 --> 00:26:34,369 story waiting to happen. Ariyel. And, uh, you know, the nice thing about Cypress is you could get in with 267 00:26:34,369 --> 00:26:40,009 any of the trainers that we've got here and, uh, have a similar experience, and, and I'm just really 268 00:26:40,010 --> 00:26:45,009 happy that we were able to get everybody in the room today that was kind of involved. Um, Michael 269 00:26:45,010 --> 00:26:49,208 and Chris, I gotta go to you guys for this next one. Uh, and maybe something that we can have a 270 00:26:49,209 --> 00:26:55,410 little bit of fun with here. Uh, do you remember what is the strangest question that Ariyel's ever 271 00:26:55,410 --> 00:27:00,609 called with? Michael? I'll start with you. Uh, anything come to mind where he called you and ask 272 00:27:00,609 --> 00:27:05,449 you something? And you were just like, what the heck is going on here? Uh, but you guys obviously 273 00:27:05,449 --> 00:27:11,329 figured it out. Oh, yeah. There's one in particular that I remember. Although it wasn't a phone call, 274 00:27:11,329 --> 00:27:18,049 it was more of in person. Mhm. And I had to ask him why that was the one going around where 275 00:27:18,329 --> 00:27:24,569 we were. I want to say we were in uh Louisiana. He componentry with his front bumper 276 00:27:25,189 --> 00:27:30,229 on his catwalk. I'm just looking at him like, what did you do? 277 00:27:31,990 --> 00:27:38,709 Yeah. Huh. That was. That was the most dangerous for 278 00:27:38,709 --> 00:27:44,109 me. Let me just walk up to and ask him. What did you do? Yeah. That's not supposed to be there. What 279 00:27:44,109 --> 00:27:50,669 happened? Bro? What? Oh, man, I faced dude. 280 00:27:51,269 --> 00:27:58,229 Well, Ariyel, I'm gonna give you a chance to explain yourself here. Uh, what? What happened? Well, this is 281 00:27:58,230 --> 00:28:05,068 like my rookie year, bro, and it's like. It's like nighttime, and it's like, very, very, 282 00:28:05,069 --> 00:28:11,589 like, snowy out here. It was like in Arkansas. That's where we was at. Oh, no. I'm over here. 283 00:28:11,910 --> 00:28:18,709 I'm over here trying to make a little turn and find out. I get into this ditch. It's so 284 00:28:18,709 --> 00:28:25,208 dark I get stuck in the ditch. So they had to come and pull me out, and it snatched my bump off. So 285 00:28:25,209 --> 00:28:31,290 when I seen Michael, we had the lumbar spot. And he's like, bro, what what what the what's the 286 00:28:31,649 --> 00:28:38,609 what's going on? And a quick lesson in how to properly secure 287 00:28:38,689 --> 00:28:44,088 a quick lesson in how to properly secure a bumper if you have to haul it. Right. Oh yeah. 288 00:28:45,850 --> 00:28:51,809 I love. It. I love it. Uh, Chris man, same question to you. I know that you spent a lot of time talking 289 00:28:51,810 --> 00:28:56,888 to Ariyel out there. Do you remember anything, uh, anything out of the ordinary or out of left field 290 00:28:56,889 --> 00:29:03,529 that he called you and asked you? Um, I don't know if it was the. Yes. I don't know if it's the 291 00:29:03,529 --> 00:29:10,089 same situation, but I know that he was at a, um, a lumber 292 00:29:10,089 --> 00:29:16,929 yard, and he got stuck in the in the gravel, and I said, hey, man, you 293 00:29:16,930 --> 00:29:23,228 got to pay attention to where you parked your truck and everything. You didn't see that, you know, 294 00:29:23,229 --> 00:29:30,069 and I and I just I had a fun day with him. I had a fun day for him. I joked on him. I 295 00:29:30,109 --> 00:29:36,629 laughed at him. I said, you see one thing about being a truck driver? You have to pay attention to 296 00:29:36,670 --> 00:29:43,430 every detail, every surroundings. Uh, you may think that it might be, um, 297 00:29:43,630 --> 00:29:49,789 a stable ground that you parking on, you know, uh, there's just a lot of things and, and and it's 298 00:29:49,790 --> 00:29:55,509 it's something because I look at it, people look at it and say, well, you're just a truck driver. 299 00:29:55,510 --> 00:30:00,429 You're just sitting there holding the steering wheel. It's more to being a truck driver. It's more 300 00:30:00,429 --> 00:30:04,430 than that because you have to be safe. You got to drive for other people. You got to make all these 301 00:30:04,430 --> 00:30:09,829 decisions. You, you. It's just a lot of things we're doing at one time looking in the mirrors, looking 302 00:30:09,829 --> 00:30:16,029 at us, looking, looking at our, our our clock, uh, looking all around our trailers. You know, it's 303 00:30:16,030 --> 00:30:22,850 just so much we have to do. Yep. And that that's that's becomes a steal. So now we have a 304 00:30:22,850 --> 00:30:29,688 good skill that we that we, um, have now. To be the best driver and safe driver out 305 00:30:29,689 --> 00:30:36,410 there. Right. And I always tell him, I said, you know, I always tell a lot of guys like, hey, you know, you 306 00:30:36,410 --> 00:30:43,210 know, every morning I always wake up in prayer and always ask the Lord to open my 307 00:30:43,210 --> 00:30:48,569 eyes, open my ears, make my judgment call. Right. I don't want to hurt anybody out here. I don't want 308 00:30:48,569 --> 00:30:55,209 to, you know, I want to be safe, you know? And I always pray for every driver on our fleet. 309 00:30:55,409 --> 00:31:02,088 Every morning I make that my morning prayer. Lord, protect us all, you know, 310 00:31:02,650 --> 00:31:09,650 because we don't want to be on our cell phones or being a distracted driver and not we don't 311 00:31:10,129 --> 00:31:16,249 kill somebody or hurt somebody. Or your. Somebody's family member. Yeah. Or yourself. Yeah. You know, so 312 00:31:16,289 --> 00:31:23,030 it's very serious. And I love the way how Cypress. And, um, my 313 00:31:23,030 --> 00:31:29,909 favorite guy, Matt Penland. His videos is very thorough. It's 314 00:31:29,949 --> 00:31:36,189 I love watching them because it's a lot of good information. Yeah. That, you know, we watch these 315 00:31:36,189 --> 00:31:43,109 videos every Friday about safety and they are really good. And I you know, we just want 316 00:31:43,109 --> 00:31:48,949 to be safe, man. We want to be able to come home every day. Yes, sir. You know. And can I add to this 317 00:31:48,950 --> 00:31:55,749 too. Like what is it? Matt's got this voice. I could sit and listen to that guy talk for hours on 318 00:31:55,749 --> 00:32:01,309 end, man. I mean, I gotta get him on this podcast more, but I'm afraid he might take my job from me 319 00:32:01,310 --> 00:32:07,749 because he's so fun to listen to. And. And you see this man. So thorough with this stuff. And I think 320 00:32:07,750 --> 00:32:13,389 that one of the things that, you know, while you're talking about it, Chris, what I see is I, I get to 321 00:32:13,429 --> 00:32:19,209 meet with Matt once a week to talk about, you know, the podcast and everything and his dedication and 322 00:32:19,210 --> 00:32:24,248 all of his brother's dedication. You know, this goes throughout the Penland family. Their 323 00:32:24,249 --> 00:32:30,569 dedication to this fleet is is just enormous. And they feel the same way that you guys do about it. 324 00:32:30,569 --> 00:32:35,448 They are praying every day that you guys all make it back safe and that nobody gets hurt and that 325 00:32:35,449 --> 00:32:41,050 nothing goes wrong. And you see that sort of build throughout the staff, don't you, Chris? You guys are 326 00:32:41,050 --> 00:32:47,569 all like that. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yep yep. Oh yes sir. And it's just the way it is, man. I love this 327 00:32:47,569 --> 00:32:53,769 company. This is why I start my career at. And Cypress has been a blessing to me, I'm telling you. 328 00:32:53,770 --> 00:32:59,009 And I'm not just saying it to you. I'm speaking nothing but truth and fact that I can. I can speak 329 00:32:59,010 --> 00:33:05,328 to any of the panelists. Anytime they stop, they talk to you, you know, they they if something's 330 00:33:05,329 --> 00:33:10,689 going on with you personally, you can talk to them. You know, they they have that open door policy 331 00:33:10,689 --> 00:33:16,009 that you can talk to them. It's not like a company where you're just a member. Anytime I go in the 332 00:33:16,010 --> 00:33:21,028 yard, They. You know the penalties. They know my name. Stand up. They ain't standing for you know. 333 00:33:21,110 --> 00:33:26,470 How you doing, man? You know, and it. And it feels a lot of love. Love there and I respect that and I 334 00:33:26,470 --> 00:33:33,068 and and that's why I'm very loyal. Yeah. 100% man. And and that's that. Changed my life. Passes down 335 00:33:33,069 --> 00:33:36,989 through you guys. You know they don't want to. They don't want to promote somebody to a trainer that 336 00:33:36,990 --> 00:33:41,749 doesn't embody that, that, uh, that feeling that they've got and that dedication that they've got. 337 00:33:41,749 --> 00:33:47,309 And you can really tell just listening to you guys talk about it and and Michael, I'm sure. Uh, 338 00:33:47,310 --> 00:33:52,709 you've probably got some of the same feelings that Chris does, uh, just towards how the the 339 00:33:52,710 --> 00:33:57,949 mindset of you as a trainers is sort of the same mindset that they've got right up at the top of 340 00:33:57,949 --> 00:34:04,589 the management of this fleet. Yes, sir. It is. Well, I'm going to say this, though, being a trainer is 341 00:34:04,589 --> 00:34:10,269 so much more than what? Than what money really is. If you want to be a trainer, you're not doing it 342 00:34:10,270 --> 00:34:15,388 for the money. You're you're doing it because you get because you want to do it. And you get to sit 343 00:34:15,409 --> 00:34:21,969 there and watch every single thing that comes through your truck. Just grow and grow and grow. 344 00:34:21,970 --> 00:34:28,369 And that is it. To me, that is the largest reward of being a trainer. I don't know. I'm pretty sure 345 00:34:28,370 --> 00:34:33,330 Chris probably feels the same way, but for me, that's what keeps driving me. It's just better to 346 00:34:33,370 --> 00:34:40,090 watch everybody just grow and just succeed and everything they're trying to do. Yeah, 347 00:34:40,490 --> 00:34:45,249 well, you know, Ariyel said it too. He said that, uh, he's had trainers before that are in it for the 348 00:34:45,250 --> 00:34:50,648 money, and that ain't the way to go. And, uh, once he got here to Cypress, got in with you, Michael. All 349 00:34:50,649 --> 00:34:54,809 of a sudden, you see a guy that you're not doing this for the money. You take a lot of pride in it, 350 00:34:54,810 --> 00:35:01,169 and it it drives you to be better at being a trainer just to see a guy like Ariyel succeed. 351 00:35:02,649 --> 00:35:08,929 Yes, sir. It does. It's really, truly. It does. That's so cool, man. I love hearing it. Well, listen, uh, 352 00:35:08,969 --> 00:35:15,149 we've given your your trainer, Ariyel Michael and your mentor, Chris. We've given them a lot of 353 00:35:15,149 --> 00:35:21,909 flowers already here today, but I wonder. You know, Ariyel, you're you're three years in now. 354 00:35:21,950 --> 00:35:25,869 Has there ever been a time where something's happened to you out there and you go, hey, why 355 00:35:25,870 --> 00:35:31,269 didn't Michael or Chris say something about that? Uh, anything like that that you can that you can 356 00:35:31,309 --> 00:35:34,829 think of, that you called these guys and maybe said, like, hey, what the heck? Why didn't you 357 00:35:34,830 --> 00:35:41,229 mention it? I'm embarrassed on the spot, man. Uh, I snow man. 358 00:35:41,270 --> 00:35:48,269 Snow. I mean, I didn't get trained for snow, so I, I gotta have to get the experience kind 359 00:35:48,270 --> 00:35:55,269 of a little bit on my own. And I remember being in West Virginia. This is before they even decided to 360 00:35:55,269 --> 00:36:02,149 say it was a snowstorm, and it just started snowing. I mean, very, very, very, very bad. That 361 00:36:02,149 --> 00:36:08,870 man. It was like the roads was like kind of like, man. Yeah, I think you need a change, but they ain't 362 00:36:08,870 --> 00:36:15,249 going to give change. I guess not. But I got stuck so they have put me in a hotel for about a couple 363 00:36:15,250 --> 00:36:22,249 of days, and finally they want to announce and I'm in a straight blizzard. Wow. So like, that's 364 00:36:22,250 --> 00:36:29,009 just the hands on experience of saying like, okay, you know, I want to drive trucks and 365 00:36:29,370 --> 00:36:34,610 I want to learn. And I'm be honest with you, a lot of time being in this truck, I've learned 366 00:36:34,610 --> 00:36:41,050 firsthand because like last year, I worked every day and that's 367 00:36:41,050 --> 00:36:46,970 recaps. So when it comes down to learning your clock, I had to learn firsthand like and ask 368 00:36:46,970 --> 00:36:53,888 questions about recaps. Mhm. So that right there was like pushing it to 369 00:36:53,889 --> 00:37:00,889 the limit for sure. So that's why it's like I took Michael information. I took Chris information. And 370 00:37:00,889 --> 00:37:06,649 I just put it on steroids because then other than being the main I've been through New York. I mean 371 00:37:06,649 --> 00:37:12,989 I'm not running from the snow veterans. I'm just being honest. A lot of a lot of veterans. They want 372 00:37:12,989 --> 00:37:19,190 to run from the snow. They want to actually say, hey, man, it's nice and sunny out here around, you 373 00:37:19,190 --> 00:37:25,549 know, March. Oh, I'm definitely leaving the snow here around December. So let me get in the 374 00:37:25,550 --> 00:37:32,389 regional situation so that I can speak by spirits. When a person say, oh, you know, 375 00:37:32,429 --> 00:37:39,229 um, it's it's, uh, slow for us. I'm gonna be honest. Cypress ain't never had me slow. 376 00:37:40,270 --> 00:37:47,268 And if it's money, it's money here at Cypress. It's just. What? What drives you? Because 377 00:37:47,310 --> 00:37:54,109 honestly, I'm not myself. I don't do the bare minimum. Like the over the road, bare minimum is 378 00:37:54,110 --> 00:38:00,669 staying out two weeks like I would stay out. I don't know, I haven't been home since this year 379 00:38:00,670 --> 00:38:07,509 yet. Wow. So it's like so it's like, how can you expect to do 380 00:38:07,509 --> 00:38:14,169 something if you're not willing to say, I'm not willing to stay out for a year. 381 00:38:14,569 --> 00:38:21,449 Well, you can't expect the same results. Because honestly, it's your name, your reputation. And, you 382 00:38:21,450 --> 00:38:26,408 know, shout out to all the dispatchers for sure. You know what I mean? Shout out Mr. Blades, what's 383 00:38:26,409 --> 00:38:32,169 going on? That's my dispatch right now. But they know for a fact. Like when you when you got a good. 384 00:38:32,210 --> 00:38:38,370 When you got a good reputation. They know who to get a loan to. Yep. Yeah. We've had. They also know 385 00:38:38,529 --> 00:38:44,850 not to. Yeah. Yeah. We've had blaze on the show and blaze has told us exactly that. Look, when I, when I 386 00:38:44,850 --> 00:38:49,929 need a guy, there's a section of drivers that I'm going to. There's guys that I know I can trust if 387 00:38:49,929 --> 00:38:55,850 I need to, um, you know, uh, give somebody an extra load or something like that. There's, there's a 388 00:38:55,850 --> 00:39:01,329 list of drivers that he goes to first. And I'm sure your name is near the top of that one. Ariyel. 389 00:39:01,610 --> 00:39:07,809 Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, I. Actually think I thank God, man, because like I say, 390 00:39:09,270 --> 00:39:16,069 Truck driving that showed me that. Well, Michael and Chris, I salute y'all. Still 391 00:39:16,069 --> 00:39:21,749 salute y'all. Because at the same time, without the information, without the information and y'all 392 00:39:21,749 --> 00:39:28,428 dedication of honestly being giving me some good advice, not telling me the security load, and don't 393 00:39:28,429 --> 00:39:35,428 put no scraps on the load and just take off that information, you know what I mean? But let me know 394 00:39:35,429 --> 00:39:42,229 how many straps I actually need on this load, man. And tell me about shippers and and telling me 395 00:39:42,229 --> 00:39:49,069 just the man. Like I say, man, you got to know the basics in order to actually say, hey, man, um, I 396 00:39:49,070 --> 00:39:54,070 want to do this. And one thing about when it comes down to the training part as a trainee, because I 397 00:39:54,070 --> 00:40:00,469 once was a trainee, don't be don't be pocket watching, bro. Don't worry about oh, I'm 398 00:40:00,470 --> 00:40:06,788 driving my trainers. Miles, bro, your trainer already got the CDL in the job already. 399 00:40:07,450 --> 00:40:14,449 What you want. Yeah, that's what I say. Just be humble. Learn the skill and the money 400 00:40:14,490 --> 00:40:20,529 gonna come, right? Regardless. Yep. Yep. The miles are there, man. They'll they'll they'll get you driving 401 00:40:20,529 --> 00:40:25,129 out here at Cypress if you want to drive. But you gotta show that dedication and that, uh, that 402 00:40:25,129 --> 00:40:29,530 commitment. Yeah. I think you're exactly right, Ariyel. And what we're giving here on this show 403 00:40:29,530 --> 00:40:35,529 today, I think, is a real cool snapshot for drivers that are just finishing CTC right now. Or maybe 404 00:40:35,529 --> 00:40:41,649 they just got into orientation, or maybe they just got in with their trainer. What you get to see is 405 00:40:41,649 --> 00:40:47,888 the end result of that dedication, and not even the end result, but the kind of the fully fired up 406 00:40:47,889 --> 00:40:54,729 and moving forward result. That aerial scene right now, uh, on the top dog list, running hundreds of 407 00:40:54,729 --> 00:41:00,569 thousands of miles and making good money to boot. And, uh, you're going to get a good trainer like 408 00:41:00,570 --> 00:41:05,529 Michael. You're going to find a good mentor like Chris. If you're willing to put in the time and 409 00:41:05,530 --> 00:41:11,149 the dedication. Be humble and learn the skills, man. You've said. You've said it all here today. Ariyel, 410 00:41:11,189 --> 00:41:17,789 you've really mapped out how a success story starts at Cypress, and we get to see it about three 411 00:41:17,790 --> 00:41:23,269 years in and hear you speak so positively about it, man, even though you've said like you've taken 412 00:41:23,270 --> 00:41:29,068 your lumps out there, you've gotten in some spots and and not only that, but you've got to hear from 413 00:41:29,149 --> 00:41:33,870 Chris and Michael about it too, which is, I think, a peek behind the curtain of how good the 414 00:41:33,870 --> 00:41:39,349 relationships can actually be here at Cypress, when you get in with the trainer and you develop a 415 00:41:39,350 --> 00:41:45,069 great relationship, when you find a mentor like Chris and you utilize that one thing that we get 416 00:41:45,069 --> 00:41:51,069 told on this show and, and on a lot of the other shows that I do, the the veteran drivers, the guys 417 00:41:51,070 --> 00:41:57,029 that have been around for 20 or 30 years will tell you more often than not, that this younger 418 00:41:57,030 --> 00:42:02,429 generation of drivers doesn't like to ask questions. They don't like to, uh, to to have a 419 00:42:02,429 --> 00:42:07,489 mentor. They don't like to, uh, beat up their their trainer all the time with a ton of questions 420 00:42:07,490 --> 00:42:12,809 because there's so much information available to us. Sometimes people get a little bit lost and 421 00:42:12,810 --> 00:42:17,929 think, well, I can learn about this on the internet and I don't need to put somebody out by asking 422 00:42:17,929 --> 00:42:23,529 them. Um, but Ariyel, I think you're you're a shining example of why you have to ask those questions to 423 00:42:23,570 --> 00:42:28,050 guys with experience. Because if you're not talking to a guy like Michael or Chris that's 424 00:42:28,050 --> 00:42:33,849 seen it all, uh, you might not get an answer. That's what, uh, what you need to have here at Cypress. 425 00:42:35,049 --> 00:42:41,929 Seriously, Mr. Marcus, seriously, you can YouTube. You can YouTube some things, but that's some of 426 00:42:41,929 --> 00:42:48,369 that stuff on YouTube is just not going to work, man. If you come to CTC, man, Cypress wasn't the man 427 00:42:48,649 --> 00:42:55,649 they wouldn't have man give you a 70KA year. That's just the minimum. And you can 428 00:42:55,649 --> 00:43:02,489 make more than 70 K at Cypress brand. All depend on what's under your hood. What's driving you. Yeah, 429 00:43:02,530 --> 00:43:08,789 but at the same time. Cypress is willing to give you a career in it. And 430 00:43:08,789 --> 00:43:15,109 honestly, I can't lie. I'm in a 26 Freightliner first person in it 431 00:43:15,189 --> 00:43:21,549 and I'm screened all the way up, man. Oh, and and guess what? They used to say Freightliner is used 432 00:43:21,550 --> 00:43:28,469 to shake. 26 is don't shake. They changed the suspension. I'm very good, man, I 433 00:43:28,470 --> 00:43:34,349 loved you. You said that. You said that truck only had, like, 24. Miles on it when you got it. That's 434 00:43:34,350 --> 00:43:38,790 just driving it around the yard. Nobody had even taken that thing out on the road yet. Man. That's 435 00:43:38,790 --> 00:43:45,708 amazing. Oh, yeah. Yes, sir. Okay, well. Fellas, this 436 00:43:45,709 --> 00:43:50,428 has been great here. And, uh, before we run out, I've had you here for about 40 minutes now, so I want 437 00:43:50,470 --> 00:43:55,749 to go ahead and get to the fun part of it now. I honestly, I've had a great time. This has all been 438 00:43:55,749 --> 00:44:01,708 fun hearing you guys talk about the relationship and everything, but now, now we really get to have 439 00:44:01,709 --> 00:44:07,969 some fun. Now we get to grade one another. Okay, so, uh, Ariyel, I'm going to start with you. Now. I want 440 00:44:07,969 --> 00:44:14,889 you to grade, uh, Michael as a trainer. And his, uh, criteria is going to be patience, 441 00:44:14,889 --> 00:44:21,489 communication, explaining the why, preparing you for the reality of trucking load, secure 442 00:44:21,729 --> 00:44:28,648 backing, all that stuff. Okay, grade your trainer, Michael Shealey. Uh, from A to 443 00:44:28,690 --> 00:44:34,289 F on that criteria I just gave you. And based on your experience in the truck with him. 444 00:44:35,730 --> 00:44:41,649 Oh, you might have to give me one of those at a time. Okay, so if I could just say if I can just. 445 00:44:41,689 --> 00:44:46,729 You know what I mean? Absolutely. You can just say, okay. Hi. That'll that'll work for me. Okay. Your 446 00:44:46,730 --> 00:44:51,609 very first one's got to be the big one. Patience. How is Michael's patience with you? I know that 447 00:44:51,610 --> 00:44:58,369 that can be a very hard thing as a trainer. Uh, so did you find him to be patient? Oh, 448 00:44:58,370 --> 00:45:04,669 man. A-plus. A-plus. On the patience, I love it, okay. How about for communication? Seems like a pretty 449 00:45:04,669 --> 00:45:11,549 good communicator to me on here on this podcast. What do you think? A plus. Kind of. 450 00:45:11,590 --> 00:45:18,029 I kind of see where we're going here. Uh, how about explaining the why behind things? Obviously, 451 00:45:18,030 --> 00:45:24,590 Michael can tell you, hey, this needs to happen like this, or else, you know it'll go wrong. But how 452 00:45:24,590 --> 00:45:31,309 good he was explaining and explaining the why to you. Ariyel. Hey. Pleasure. Hey. 453 00:45:31,389 --> 00:45:38,070 Plus. All right, let's quick fire the rest of these. Load secure. A plus. 454 00:45:38,149 --> 00:45:43,949 Backing. A plus. Keeping his cool when you screwed up. 455 00:45:46,350 --> 00:45:53,189 Eight plus, eight plus. All right, there we go. Well, Michael. All right. I think you got a solid A-plus 456 00:45:53,189 --> 00:46:00,168 all the way across the board there, man. Great job. Sir. All right, time 457 00:46:00,169 --> 00:46:07,089 to grade. Chris is your mentor. Uh, give Chris a grade for his availability. Oh eight 458 00:46:07,129 --> 00:46:13,849 plus a plus. We're starting out strong. Okay. Uh, the usefulness, the usefulness of the advice that 459 00:46:13,850 --> 00:46:20,769 Chris has given you. Hey. Pleasure. All right, all right, I like it. Uh, maybe in 460 00:46:20,770 --> 00:46:25,489 his ability to talk you off the ledge when you're in a real tough spot, and, uh, things aren't going 461 00:46:25,489 --> 00:46:32,450 well. Hey. Plus. I love it. This is exactly why I put this in 462 00:46:32,489 --> 00:46:39,369 for this reason. Guys, I just want you to know. That Mr. Marcus. Yes. I got 463 00:46:39,370 --> 00:46:45,969 a question for you, sir. When you look at Kobe Bryant, what do you see? Greatness 464 00:46:46,290 --> 00:46:51,729 and hard work, man. Kobe was in shooting free throws when everybody else was sleeping or making 465 00:46:51,729 --> 00:46:57,729 breakfast in the morning. Do you know who was his trainer and his mentor? I mean, if it was anybody 466 00:46:57,729 --> 00:47:03,509 other than Michael Jordan. He outdid himself. There you go. There were Michael Jordan. Yeah. And Michael. 467 00:47:03,549 --> 00:47:10,309 And Michael Jordan is. Is Michael and Chris, and I'm Kobe 468 00:47:10,309 --> 00:47:17,270 Bryant. I'm a product of Bay product. Hi, man. That is some high praise, fellas. 469 00:47:17,270 --> 00:47:23,829 You just got compared to the goat himself Michael Jordan. Goat him. Yeah. Wow. 470 00:47:24,830 --> 00:47:29,429 Now I will. Say for me to be where I'm at, I couldn't I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it 471 00:47:29,429 --> 00:47:35,269 without the information. It was available to me, you know, because I remember Jordan is like Kobe 472 00:47:35,269 --> 00:47:41,269 Bryant, who called me at all hours and telling me how to guard somebody and just not, you know. So 473 00:47:41,270 --> 00:47:47,070 that's me. I'm going to be calling and try to ask questions, and I'm asking those questions that in 474 00:47:47,070 --> 00:47:52,349 order for me to, like, get ahead of pre-planning everything. Because if you tell me you have 475 00:47:52,389 --> 00:47:58,050 already been to the shipper before, I never been. I'm a little nervous. I'm gonna be honest, because 476 00:47:58,050 --> 00:48:04,729 I'm lacking information. But once I'm able to get the information. I'm not nervous. No more. For 477 00:48:04,730 --> 00:48:10,689 sure. For sure. Well, listen, I will tell you right now, Ariyel, uh, it takes a lot to be able to compare 478 00:48:10,689 --> 00:48:14,889 yourself to somebody like Kobe Bryant and get away with it on this show. But you've done that 479 00:48:14,889 --> 00:48:20,529 today, man. And then for good reason. Uh, it sounds like Michael and Chris really shaped you up for 480 00:48:20,529 --> 00:48:26,209 success. And, uh, you can tell that it's something that you are you you live it every single day, and 481 00:48:26,209 --> 00:48:31,610 and you're committed to it. You're dedicated to it. And I just love seeing what can happen when 482 00:48:31,610 --> 00:48:37,929 everything falls into place here. Um, now, Michael, Chris, I'm not going to give Ariyel the ability to 483 00:48:37,969 --> 00:48:43,849 grade you guys without giving you guys the ability to grade Ariyel to. Now, uh, he was very kind 484 00:48:43,850 --> 00:48:50,409 in his grading. You guys received, uh, resounding report cards, a pluses across the board. Uh, that's 485 00:48:50,409 --> 00:48:55,610 a that's a valedictorian level performance. Gentlemen. Congratulations, Michael. I'll start with 486 00:48:55,610 --> 00:49:02,468 you. Let's let's grade Ariyel as a student. Um, let's grade him first off and foremost on 487 00:49:02,469 --> 00:49:09,469 his just his his dedication to the job. Michael. Dedication to the job is definitely for 488 00:49:09,470 --> 00:49:15,389 us because he he was very, very questionable. I mean, he has to or I mean, he asked a lot of 489 00:49:15,389 --> 00:49:22,350 questions. Yeah. So dedication was definitely their grade. Him as a safe driver from the 490 00:49:22,350 --> 00:49:29,269 very moment that he got into the rig. Now I'm about to go down just a little 491 00:49:29,310 --> 00:49:34,029 bit. But I mean he was still a really great driver, especially towards the end. But towards the 492 00:49:34,030 --> 00:49:39,870 beginning, you know, he made a fair share of mistakes. I mean, but that's that's all part of 493 00:49:39,870 --> 00:49:46,629 learning. But I want to say I see okay. And, and from the time that he first got in the 494 00:49:46,629 --> 00:49:51,549 truck, his graded was a C when he got out of the truck with you and went off on his own, how much 495 00:49:51,589 --> 00:49:58,289 had he progressed? Oh, definitely went up there. Amen. Perfect. Love it. 496 00:49:58,330 --> 00:50:04,249 That's definitely a plus. All right. Now you just get to grade him on, uh, on, on on the quality of 497 00:50:04,249 --> 00:50:09,249 the hang. Because obviously, driver and trader, you spend a lot of time together out there getting 498 00:50:09,250 --> 00:50:13,329 miles behind the road. You guys, you already mentioned about how you just kind of chatted up 499 00:50:13,330 --> 00:50:19,489 with him. Uh, as far as just being a person to sit with in the truck. What's Ariyel's great? 500 00:50:20,570 --> 00:50:26,569 Oh, definitely. Plus 100%. Hey, plus, love it, man, I love it. We're just dealing out the 4.0 students 501 00:50:26,570 --> 00:50:33,370 here today. I, I can't tell you guys how happy that makes me. Uh, I appreciate that. I'm like. Yeah, you 502 00:50:33,370 --> 00:50:38,049 guys, you guys are all gonna oh each other a tall, cool one after this one, because there's a lot of 503 00:50:38,050 --> 00:50:44,249 nice things being said. Uh, but. Hey. Oh, yeah. Uh, that's that's part of why we wanted to do this, uh, 504 00:50:44,250 --> 00:50:50,329 this entire segment in the first place. Because I could tell talking to you guys individually that 505 00:50:50,330 --> 00:50:54,629 this was this was how you all felt about one another. And that's the whole reason that I put 506 00:50:54,629 --> 00:51:00,069 this grade part at the end here. We're sort of talking a student teacher student mentor 507 00:51:00,069 --> 00:51:06,749 relationship, so let's throw some grades on it. Chris. It's your turn. Um, as as as 508 00:51:06,830 --> 00:51:12,870 the guy that mentored, uh, Ariyel after he got out there on the road. Let's, uh, let's grade him on a 509 00:51:12,870 --> 00:51:19,870 few practical things. How is he at his trip planning? A+. And how many questions did he have to 510 00:51:19,909 --> 00:51:26,309 ask you to get there? Oh, man. Uh, probably we have to ask that question about 5 or 6 511 00:51:26,309 --> 00:51:33,229 times. Well, that's not too bad. Six times. But but but he had, you know, um, as me, 512 00:51:33,270 --> 00:51:39,989 you know, being humble and reserved and, you know, because I know he, he he wanted to understand it. 513 00:51:39,990 --> 00:51:46,709 Sometimes you have to break. Break it down to him in a different format. But he got it. He 514 00:51:46,709 --> 00:51:53,689 understood it. And, um, I look at it, you know, everybody does not, um, get 515 00:51:53,689 --> 00:51:58,210 it the way you think that they should get it. But sometimes you have to break down the question a 516 00:51:58,210 --> 00:52:04,688 little different for them to get it. But he got it. Um, he was, you know, he had a lot of ambition that 517 00:52:04,689 --> 00:52:11,688 he wanted. He wanted to be wanted if he wanted to, uh, you know, to do his job the right way. 518 00:52:12,770 --> 00:52:19,370 I love it, man. Okay. And go ahead. And when I saw that, I was like, wow, this 519 00:52:19,370 --> 00:52:26,089 guy wants to know everything about Cypress truck line. He wanted to know everything about 520 00:52:26,090 --> 00:52:32,729 flatbed. He want to know. So the information that was given to me from my trainer, and I'm gonna get 521 00:52:32,729 --> 00:52:39,369 a shout out to my trainer, Steve Gibson. Uh, give. Me, um. And yeah, that's him. 522 00:52:39,850 --> 00:52:45,689 And I give a shout out to him because he gave me something. He gave me a tool that I could be able 523 00:52:45,689 --> 00:52:51,739 to help another person out. That's awesome. That's great. We gotta get Gibby back on the show. Man, he 524 00:52:51,740 --> 00:52:55,938 was so much fun the first time we had him. I'll tell you, I could sit in a room and listen to that 525 00:52:55,939 --> 00:53:02,819 guy's stories for hours on end, no question. Huh? Huh? Oh, yeah. So give me 526 00:53:02,860 --> 00:53:07,819 one more grade for Ariyel. You've talked. You've used this word quite a few times, and I'm giving 527 00:53:07,820 --> 00:53:13,059 you this one because I know the grade you're going to give him. Grade his ambition for me, Chris. 528 00:53:13,939 --> 00:53:20,499 Oh, man. I'm gonna give him a triple A, triple A+. Triple H. 529 00:53:20,499 --> 00:53:27,018 Because it was like the ambition was like he just wanted he just woke up, or 530 00:53:27,379 --> 00:53:34,178 he'll be sleeping and thinking about questions. He's dreaming about questions. Well, 531 00:53:34,179 --> 00:53:40,939 well, he's going to ask for tomorrow. So I love it I love it and it makes me feel 532 00:53:40,939 --> 00:53:47,419 good and I, I, I'm I'm happy that he has a successful career in trucking with Cypress. Thank 533 00:53:47,419 --> 00:53:54,399 you bro. Thank you, thank you. And, um. And, um. And it all pays off. You know, it's something 534 00:53:54,399 --> 00:54:00,678 I always told him. It's a little saying. I say a closed mouth don't get fed. 535 00:54:01,320 --> 00:54:07,479 That's true. So when you hear when I told him, I. I said Ariyel once, and he can he can tell you. I told 536 00:54:07,480 --> 00:54:13,800 him. I said, Ariyel, do not listen to no drivers that tell you that they're not making any miles. 537 00:54:15,240 --> 00:54:21,439 Don't listen to that. Don't even open your eardrums to hear that 538 00:54:21,440 --> 00:54:28,399 negativity. It's something that they're not doing and not telling you, right? Because if I, 539 00:54:28,399 --> 00:54:34,919 I was very successful and still successful with Cypress. Yeah. Those miles are. There. 540 00:54:35,039 --> 00:54:41,839 Miles. There they are there. Yep. They are there. They are there. I always told 541 00:54:41,840 --> 00:54:48,698 them, don't listen to what other people are telling you. They are telling you, uh, negativity. 542 00:54:48,699 --> 00:54:55,620 And don't listen to it. Sure, sure, fellas. Am I right? I 543 00:54:55,620 --> 00:55:02,620 mean, you're right to me, but I'll let Ariyel answer that one. Yeah, right. Ariyel. Um, 544 00:55:03,499 --> 00:55:09,859 I mean, of course, Ben, I'll tell you, I got a shout out to all the dispatchers, man. You know, 545 00:55:10,260 --> 00:55:15,739 I'm telling you, like, I don't know what's right now. Blade. My dispatch right now. I don't know what 546 00:55:15,740 --> 00:55:21,419 he on, but he trying to. He's like, I ain't going to be number nine. Like like I was nine last year. He 547 00:55:21,419 --> 00:55:26,139 got me at like number five, number six this year. Well, he heard about your mindset of putting 548 00:55:26,139 --> 00:55:31,299 things on steroids and decided to jump in that boat with you. Man, I think that's right. It's not 549 00:55:31,300 --> 00:55:38,299 saying he's not. He's not playing at all. No he's not, man. He's not. Well, fellas, listen, this has been 550 00:55:38,300 --> 00:55:44,059 awesome. Uh, shout out to all the dispatchers for sure. We will always make room for that on this 551 00:55:44,060 --> 00:55:49,239 show. Uh, in fact, the dispatchers is a group of people. I want to get more of them involved in the 552 00:55:49,240 --> 00:55:56,239 podcast, because they are such a crucial part of what goes down here in Cypress. Yes. I want 553 00:55:56,280 --> 00:56:02,119 to give a shout out to all the mechanics, bro. Every last one of them. I want to give a shout out 554 00:56:02,159 --> 00:56:08,439 also to safety. I also want to give an extra shout out to payroll. I'm talking about my checks are 555 00:56:08,440 --> 00:56:14,159 always there. Faithfully. Pay me up. Thank you. You know what I mean? It's a big one for that. Yes, sir. 556 00:56:14,200 --> 00:56:20,679 Yes, sir. Also, shout out to everybody in the whole Cypress game, man. I'm talking about rookies from 557 00:56:20,679 --> 00:56:26,840 veterans to everybody, man. Shout out to every last one of y'all. Great stuff Ariyel. Now you just kind 558 00:56:26,840 --> 00:56:32,639 of you. You did exactly what I was about to offer you guys the ability to do, which is our Final 559 00:56:32,639 --> 00:56:37,079 thoughts segment here on the show, where I go to each person that's joined us for this segment and 560 00:56:37,080 --> 00:56:42,119 let them say anything they want to. Whether it's shout outs like you just did there, Ariyel, if 561 00:56:42,120 --> 00:56:45,939 there's something that you wanted to bring up that we didn't get to talk about, we can do that 562 00:56:45,939 --> 00:56:51,659 here too. But everybody gets a shot. And Ariyel, you just did a great job, man. You shouted out the 563 00:56:51,659 --> 00:56:58,419 entire company mechanics, dispatchers, drivers, safety, all of it matters. Uh, but real quick, 564 00:56:58,420 --> 00:57:02,739 Ariyel, is there anything else you want to say? Final thoughts here from you before we wrap this 565 00:57:02,740 --> 00:57:09,059 thing up today? Uh. Stay hungry. Yeah. 800 566 00:57:09,100 --> 00:57:15,819 ambitious. Don't get comfortable because, like, man, I'm telling you, don't just don't get comfortable. 567 00:57:15,860 --> 00:57:21,339 Stay in business. Ask those questions. Put that prior to the side. Stay humble and learn a new 568 00:57:21,340 --> 00:57:27,619 career. Even if you're already in this career, still don't get comfortable and figure out what's 569 00:57:27,619 --> 00:57:34,380 your why. Remember your why and don't let the truck get you. You get the truck because you'll be 570 00:57:34,380 --> 00:57:39,819 surprised how many people then drove a long, long time and they miserable because they forgot their 571 00:57:39,860 --> 00:57:46,479 why. They forgot their purpose. But just like I say, if you stay hungry, stay ambitious, don't get 572 00:57:46,480 --> 00:57:53,000 comfortable. And. And I'm telling you, sky is always going to be the limit. And keep God first. For 573 00:57:53,000 --> 00:57:59,679 sure you're going to be okay, because I'm a living proof of it. Yes, sir. Spoken like I think Kobe 574 00:57:59,679 --> 00:58:06,359 Bryant would have said it. May God rest his soul. Uh, that that was a hey, that was a guy that was 575 00:58:06,359 --> 00:58:11,839 never satisfied. Uh, and he was, you know, you talked about taking your lumps a little bit. Kobe Bryant 576 00:58:11,840 --> 00:58:16,639 didn't hit every one of those free throws that he was in the gym at 2 a.m. practicing. And that's 577 00:58:16,639 --> 00:58:21,759 why he was in there practicing. Right? Is he can always get better. And, uh, you've really got that 578 00:58:21,760 --> 00:58:25,959 mindset. Ariyel, it's been an absolute pleasure to have you on the show today, my friend. Thank you so 579 00:58:25,960 --> 00:58:31,599 much. Hate that, Mr. Marcus. Dude, you're welcome back anytime. Uh, you got my phone number, so I 580 00:58:31,640 --> 00:58:36,479 expect to hear from you. Ask me a question at two in the morning. Bet I'll answer that phone. All 581 00:58:36,520 --> 00:58:42,799 right. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. All right, that's Ariyel. Uh, Michael Shealey, we're gonna go to you for your 582 00:58:42,820 --> 00:58:47,378 final thoughts here, my friend. Same to you. Thank you so much for joining us today. Thank you for 583 00:58:47,379 --> 00:58:52,259 the time and the effort that you guys put in here today. Final thoughts from you, Michael. Before we 584 00:58:52,260 --> 00:58:58,779 let you go. I'll just have to give a shout out to my daughter Mary, because I love her death. Her 585 00:58:58,780 --> 00:59:03,339 name is Miss Katie. Miss Katie. I don't want to say her last name because I can never pronounce it. 586 00:59:03,420 --> 00:59:08,619 Monclova. It's Monclova. I learned it for this podcast. All right. 587 00:59:11,139 --> 00:59:18,099 Miss Katie gets as many shout outs as she wants. Yeah. I love her. She's always pushing me very, 588 00:59:18,100 --> 00:59:24,978 very hard. Not always. Give me some good long miles. So I got I gotta give it to her. Shout 589 00:59:24,979 --> 00:59:30,019 out Miss Katie. Uh, Michael, thank you so much for the time today, man. You did great. And just like 590 00:59:30,060 --> 00:59:35,019 Ariyel, you're welcome back on here. Anytime you got my number, you, uh, reach out if you need me, okay? 591 00:59:35,819 --> 00:59:42,160 Yes, sir. Thank you. Michael. And finally, Chris stands for, uh, playing the mentor role today in 592 00:59:42,160 --> 00:59:47,280 Ariyel's career. Thank you so much for the time, Chris. You did a fantastic job here as well. Let me 593 00:59:47,280 --> 00:59:52,519 get your final thoughts before we let you go, my friend. Well, my. Final thoughts is, um, I would like 594 00:59:52,520 --> 00:59:59,359 to give honor to God, and. And I want to also. Give honor to Cypress truck lines. The penalties. Thank 595 00:59:59,360 --> 01:00:06,159 you for. Allowing me and. Giving. Me an opportunity to work for this company here. Um, and also 596 01:00:06,159 --> 01:00:12,919 to give a good shout out to safety. I'm telling you, Miss Sherry, Miss Pam, and shout out and 597 01:00:12,919 --> 01:00:19,759 everybody else. Oh, yeah, they are great. Uh, we have a great team on the safety team. I thank God for 598 01:00:19,760 --> 01:00:26,239 them a lot, a lot, man. And, um, everybody, all the workers, you know, dispatch 599 01:00:26,240 --> 01:00:32,479 and, you know, everybody has a, a position and, and and I respect everyone and, and 600 01:00:33,040 --> 01:00:39,359 very grateful to have, uh, to be a part of a great team, a great team and a great company man. 601 01:00:39,800 --> 01:00:45,539 Yes, sir. Amen to that, Chris. You did great here today. All three of you did. Thank you guys all for 602 01:00:45,539 --> 01:00:50,860 the time. And, uh, and just the, uh, you guys took this all very seriously. You brought me some 603 01:00:50,860 --> 01:00:55,620 really good stuff today. I can't thank you enough. And I would love to get you guys back on here for 604 01:00:55,620 --> 01:01:02,059 something else. Uh, anytime you want. So stay in touch with me, fellas. Chris. Michael. Ariyel, thank 605 01:01:02,059 --> 01:01:07,260 you all so much today. We'll talk to you again soon, okay, Mr. Marcus? All right, all right, Michael. 606 01:01:07,299 --> 01:01:11,579 Thank you. God be easy, guys. Have a good one now. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Bye bye. 607 01:01:19,820 --> 01:01:24,859 I know I've said it already, like four times. And I said it when they were here, but I also want to 608 01:01:24,859 --> 01:01:30,659 say it again. I can't thank these guys enough, Chris, Michael and Ariyel for coming in here and 609 01:01:30,659 --> 01:01:36,979 being so genuine today. Uh, you know, it's sometimes these interviews are all butterflies and rainbows. 610 01:01:36,979 --> 01:01:41,439 Sometimes they're a little bit bumpy, And sometimes you walk away with this feeling that, 611 01:01:41,440 --> 01:01:48,320 wow, I just had the most honest conversation with three different people that, uh, that that 612 01:01:48,320 --> 01:01:53,800 were willing to just come on here and share. And, uh, that's why I said in the open walk away with a 613 01:01:53,800 --> 01:01:59,959 full heart after that one, because you get to hear how much pride Michael the Trainer takes in 614 01:01:59,999 --> 01:02:06,839 seeing these guys that he has in his truck become successful drivers outside of his truck. And 615 01:02:06,999 --> 01:02:13,279 I'll tell you, if you are looking for the right motivation to be a trainer with Cypress, listen to 616 01:02:13,320 --> 01:02:19,839 what Michael has to say. The money is not even on the list of the reasons that he does it, and at 617 01:02:19,840 --> 01:02:25,839 the top of that list is taking pride in watching guys become safe, successful drivers with Cypress. 618 01:02:25,839 --> 01:02:32,199 That's the kind of trainer you want. How about a guy like Chris who just randomly happens across 619 01:02:32,199 --> 01:02:37,079 aerial on the yard one day and gives him his phone number and says, hey, call me if you got 620 01:02:37,180 --> 01:02:42,739 questions? Fast forward to three years down the road. These guys have a fantastic relationship and 621 01:02:42,740 --> 01:02:49,218 Ariyel knows that. Hey, if I get into a tough spot, I can call my trainer for sure. I can also call 622 01:02:49,219 --> 01:02:55,379 Chris, who's also been out here and seen everything. I mean, I said it during the interview, 623 01:02:55,379 --> 01:03:00,698 guys. I talked to a lot of truck drivers in my day job, a lot of them here for the Cypress Truck 624 01:03:00,699 --> 01:03:06,540 Lines podcast and also outside of the fleet. I do some other work with some other fleets, and I 625 01:03:06,579 --> 01:03:11,099 constantly hear this message from drivers that have been around for a while. Let's call them your 626 01:03:11,099 --> 01:03:17,459 veteran drivers. They want desperately to share the information that they've gained over the 627 01:03:17,459 --> 01:03:23,740 years out there on the road. They really do. But they're not going to just present it to you on a 628 01:03:23,740 --> 01:03:28,779 silver platter. They want you to ask them questions, because these guys that have been out 629 01:03:28,779 --> 01:03:33,379 here for so long and have seen everything, they don't want to pontificate, they don't want to, they 630 01:03:33,379 --> 01:03:38,639 don't want a soapbox to stand on and you to just sit there and be lectured about it. They want you 631 01:03:38,639 --> 01:03:45,199 to come to them with specific questions, so they can give you specific answers and help you build 632 01:03:45,199 --> 01:03:50,758 those answers that you receive into skills that you can then apply every day on your own. And you 633 01:03:50,759 --> 01:03:56,439 heard Ariyel talk about it. That's what he said. I might have to ask you 5 or 6 times, but when I 634 01:03:56,479 --> 01:04:02,000 finally get it and it finally clicks for me, I'm taking that skill that I've just learned from you. 635 01:04:02,000 --> 01:04:08,719 I'm putting it on steroids, and then I'm becoming the best driver that I can while applying 636 01:04:08,719 --> 01:04:14,759 said skill. I mean, it really is. It makes sense, right? There's not a lot of algebra going into 637 01:04:14,759 --> 01:04:21,519 this equation. It is. Work hard. Learn. Listen, uh, be a sponge. 638 01:04:21,560 --> 01:04:28,399 Absorb everything that you can. And don't be afraid to go out and find yourself a friend. Make 639 01:04:28,400 --> 01:04:33,159 a friend on the yard, okay? I've made plenty of friends on the yard when I was down there in 640 01:04:33,159 --> 01:04:38,659 Jacksonville, meeting all you guys And what I can tell you is it's a very welcoming community. Um, 641 01:04:38,699 --> 01:04:43,340 they're definitely going to welcome a driver in. If they welcomed some weird kid from Oregon who 642 01:04:43,340 --> 01:04:48,138 just showed up one day and started asking everybody questions, that was me, and I was 643 01:04:48,139 --> 01:04:54,020 welcomed with open arms. So if you're a driver out there with Cypress on the door, I guarantee you 644 01:04:54,020 --> 01:04:59,579 these guys that have been around for a while want to help you. Um, they've got the same mindset that 645 01:04:59,580 --> 01:05:06,059 Ken over at CTC has. They've got the same mindset that Randy and orientation has or Cecil over in 646 01:05:06,059 --> 01:05:11,739 load sacrament guys that want you to be successful, they want you to be safe. They want you 647 01:05:11,739 --> 01:05:17,979 to have the things that you want, whether it's pay off a house, buy that new F-250. Uh, well, in my case, 648 01:05:17,980 --> 01:05:22,060 it would be a Silverado. But I got to give you Ford owners some love out there as well. I'm not a 649 01:05:22,060 --> 01:05:29,019 I'm not anti Ford. Um, I digress. They the everybody that is involved in your upbringing 650 01:05:29,020 --> 01:05:34,999 it Cypress from the top all the way down wants you to have success. They want you to be safe and 651 01:05:35,000 --> 01:05:40,600 they want you to enjoy your time working at Cypress. Finding your why is something else that 652 01:05:40,600 --> 01:05:47,039 Ariyel talked about very poignantly. Um, and another thing he said that I haven't mentioned yet, that 653 01:05:47,039 --> 01:05:52,959 is is just perfect, man. You heard him say it probably 2 or 3 times in that episode. Pride to 654 01:05:53,000 --> 01:05:59,959 the side. Now, I, I don't know a better mindset for a student to have for somebody that's trying to 655 01:05:59,959 --> 01:06:05,199 learn something. Pride to the side, man. And what does that mean? Well, it means that if I 656 01:06:05,199 --> 01:06:11,079 accidentally get stuck in some snow and rip my bumper off, uh, I'm going to attach that thing to 657 01:06:11,080 --> 01:06:16,039 the catwalk, and I'm gonna own it, and I'm going to drive up to Michael and let him ask me a few 658 01:06:16,040 --> 01:06:22,439 questions about why that piece of equipment is in that location. Uh, we'll share a few laughs, we'll 659 01:06:22,440 --> 01:06:28,159 talk about it. We'll figure out what happened. We'll get to a solution, which is probably just 660 01:06:28,160 --> 01:06:33,499 get the bumper reattached after that whole thing happened. But the fact of the matter is, Ariyel 661 01:06:33,500 --> 01:06:39,099 didn't take so much pride in his ability that he wasn't able to laugh about getting the bumper 662 01:06:39,100 --> 01:06:45,579 ripped off while getting stuck in the snow. Um, you have to be able to own your mistakes, laugh them 663 01:06:45,579 --> 01:06:51,619 off if that's appropriate, and move forward with the lesson that you learned. And we got a great 664 01:06:51,619 --> 01:06:57,860 snapshot of that today. I mean, just a phenomenal episode. Again, big thanks to Ariyel, Michael and 665 01:06:57,860 --> 01:07:03,379 Chris. Uh, those guys, man, we'll be fortunate to get them back on the show anytime they want to come 666 01:07:03,379 --> 01:07:08,938 in here. I would love to welcome them back. And we can talk about anything they want to, because, um, 667 01:07:08,939 --> 01:07:13,179 that's what I'm looking for right here. Every single person that joins this show does a 668 01:07:13,180 --> 01:07:19,978 phenomenal job. And Michael, Chris and Ariyel are no exception. Uh, hats off to them today for what they 669 01:07:19,979 --> 01:07:24,819 brought us here on the Cypress Truck Lines podcast. That's going to do it for us. We are 670 01:07:24,860 --> 01:07:30,379 definitely over an hour today, and I love it when that happens. Because if I can't cut the interview 671 01:07:30,379 --> 01:07:35,519 off because we're getting too good of stuff. Then I'm just going to keep the mix hot. And we got a 672 01:07:35,520 --> 01:07:41,199 lot of good stuff today. So thank you for being here. Thank you for going to podcast.Cypresstruck.com 673 01:07:41,199 --> 01:07:47,320 and checking out the episodes. Uh, thank you for going to your favorite podcast 674 01:07:47,320 --> 01:07:52,359 platform, whether it's Spotify, Apple, Google, wherever and clicking that download button, it 675 01:07:52,359 --> 01:07:57,800 really helps us. Uh, you can tell a friend about this podcast and really help us too. And hey, if 676 01:07:57,800 --> 01:08:03,399 you're out there on the podcast apps, another thing that you could do that would really help us 677 01:08:03,440 --> 01:08:09,199 is just give us a rating. Uh, we would love a five star from you, but we'll take anything that we, uh, 678 01:08:09,199 --> 01:08:13,399 that we can get from you. Because we just want to know that you're out there listening if you want 679 01:08:13,399 --> 01:08:19,439 to participate in the show. I already told you earlier, podcast.cypresstruck.com is where you can find my 680 01:08:19,439 --> 01:08:24,959 email address or talk to your dispatcher. Talk to your driver manager. If you're fortunate enough to 681 01:08:24,960 --> 01:08:29,359 have Miss Katie as your driver manager like Michael is, talk to Miss Katie. She'll get you in 682 01:08:29,359 --> 01:08:33,740 touch with me. There's no reason that you shouldn't come join us and have some fun here on 683 01:08:33,740 --> 01:08:39,619 the Cypress Truck Lines podcast, if that's what you want to do. So use those avenues to your advantage 684 01:08:39,619 --> 01:08:44,459 and come hang out with me for a little bit. I promise you, it's not intimidating. Uh, your boy 685 01:08:44,459 --> 01:08:49,298 really likes to talk, and he likes to talk to anybody that gets in front of him. So once again, 686 01:08:49,299 --> 01:08:55,299 thanks to Michael, Chris and Ariyel today, uh, we are going to put the brakes on this episode of the 687 01:08:55,299 --> 01:09:01,619 Cypress Truck Lines podcast. We will see you next Wednesday for an hour of content, 5 a.m. local 688 01:09:01,660 --> 01:09:07,859 time. Uh, at the spot that you get it every week. Be safe out there. Cypress Truck Lines and Sun Belt 689 01:09:07,859 --> 01:09:09,499 as well. We'll see you next week.