Ronnie Norris: 30+ Years at Cypress Truck Lines

1 00:00:01,559 --> 00:00:08,520 5 million miles. Think about that number for a second. 5 2 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:15,400 million safe miles behind the wheel of a truck with cypress written on the side. But 3 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:21,120 Ronnie Norris didn't start his journey with GPS, electronic logs, collision mitigation and a 4 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:28,040 comfortable air ride truck. He started back in 1988. His first Cypress was a 5 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:35,080 two tone brown cab over Peterbilt. No power steering, no air ride, a steering wheel so big you 6 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:41,999 had to be moving forward just so you could turn the thing. And somehow that wasn't even his 7 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:48,680 beginning, because Ronnie learned to drive a semi truck from his dad when he was 11 years 8 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:55,160 old. Since then, he's watched Cypress grow from roughly 50 trucks into the company it is today. 9 00:00:55,320 --> 00:01:01,060 He's run just about everywhere you can run in this country. He's watched paper logs disappear, 10 00:01:01,100 --> 00:01:07,420 cell phones takeover truck stops, change technology, transform the cab, and an entire 11 00:01:07,420 --> 00:01:14,140 generation of trucking come and go through his windshield. And Ronnie's got the stories to prove 12 00:01:14,140 --> 00:01:20,700 it. Stories about the old days. Stories about the places he loved. Stories about the places he 13 00:01:20,700 --> 00:01:26,179 never wants to see again. In fact, there was one stretch of runs through the northeast that made 14 00:01:26,180 --> 00:01:31,700 Ronnie so fed up. He eventually marched into dispatch with an atlas in his hand and started 15 00:01:31,700 --> 00:01:38,380 ripping pages out of it. And that's all I'll tell you about that for now, because today we're not 16 00:01:38,380 --> 00:01:44,259 just talking to a long time Cypress driver. We're sitting down with a living piece of Cypress truck 17 00:01:44,260 --> 00:01:50,179 lines history. 38 years, 5 million safe miles, 18 00:01:51,139 --> 00:01:57,539 one hell of a career. And fortunately for us, Ronnie Norris remembers the stories. 19 00:01:58,030 --> 00:02:02,230 This is the Cypress Truck Lines podcast. Let's roll. 20 00:02:07,150 --> 00:02:11,710 Countdown to the Cypress Truck Lines podcast starts now. 21 00:02:14,070 --> 00:02:20,950 Your number one professional flatbed podcast here to deliver stories, safety updates and company 22 00:02:20,950 --> 00:02:25,709 news directly to your ears. Let's get down to business. 23 00:02:31,190 --> 00:02:36,869 How's the weather out there? Cypress and Sun Belt. Welcome into another episode of the Cypress Truck 24 00:02:36,910 --> 00:02:43,390 Lines podcast, episode 41. In fact, as we cruise through, we are more than about 25 00:02:43,390 --> 00:02:50,310 4/5 of the way through our first year here on the Cypress Truck Lines podcast and what a year 26 00:02:50,310 --> 00:02:57,009 it has been. We have talked about so much, uh, from the company itself to the products we 27 00:02:57,049 --> 00:03:03,089 haul, to the reasons we have terminals where we do safety. Autonomous trucks, 28 00:03:03,089 --> 00:03:09,049 football. Just having some fun out here. Just learning about how to stay healthy out there on 29 00:03:09,049 --> 00:03:14,409 the road, how to keep yourself in shape so that flat betting doesn't make you to sort of get out 30 00:03:14,410 --> 00:03:19,849 of the bed in the morning. All these things have been phenomenal here on this podcast. I will tell 31 00:03:19,850 --> 00:03:26,409 you right now, I've had so much fun in these first 40 episodes and now 41, and I can't thank all of 32 00:03:26,410 --> 00:03:31,929 you drivers and staff members out there enough, because out of all the things that I just 33 00:03:31,929 --> 00:03:37,169 mentioned there, we didn't even talk about the fact that we get some great people on this 34 00:03:37,169 --> 00:03:43,489 podcast from the terminals that are all loved and respected greatly by the people that they work 35 00:03:43,489 --> 00:03:49,889 for and with. And, um, you guys have done an amazing job. From soup to nuts on this. It doesn't matter 36 00:03:49,889 --> 00:03:55,900 if you're a driver, your office staff, you're in dispatch safety. There have been so many different 37 00:03:55,900 --> 00:04:02,739 people that have come on this podcast and given us their time, and it means the world to us here 38 00:04:02,739 --> 00:04:09,059 as a Cypress podcast team. Um, and this episode today is no different from all of that. There's a 39 00:04:09,059 --> 00:04:13,899 reason that I started out being a little sappy and a little sentimental with you guys. Uh, because 40 00:04:13,900 --> 00:04:19,179 this is an episode that I have been teasing, as we call it, in the industry, for a very long time. You 41 00:04:19,179 --> 00:04:23,779 guys have heard me talk about the fact that we're going to have this episode. We just didn't really 42 00:04:23,779 --> 00:04:29,059 know when, and that's fine. That's one of the things I've learned about working with truck 43 00:04:29,059 --> 00:04:35,660 drivers and trucking fleets is that your day is fluid. It could never be the same. There's 44 00:04:35,660 --> 00:04:40,499 always things that are changing out there. There's always things that might look different. Your day 45 00:04:40,499 --> 00:04:46,499 can turn around at the drop of a hat and go from terrible to great, great to terrible and any 46 00:04:46,499 --> 00:04:52,260 measure in between. So we greatly understand sometimes that it's hard to get something on the 47 00:04:52,260 --> 00:04:56,959 schedule. You guys are busy, and it's a very important job that you work. In fact, I venture to 48 00:04:56,999 --> 00:05:00,999 guess if somebody that looked a lot like you driving a truck that looks a lot like the one you 49 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:07,919 drive every day. Didn't show up in Eugene, Oregon, some 25, 27 years ago. My house wouldn't 50 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:13,200 be covered in all of the wallboard and the nice painted, textured walls that it is. It would be 51 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:20,000 nothing but a stack of toothpicks on the side of the highway. So I get it. I really do. 52 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:26,640 And today's episode I'm so happy to bring you, is a spotlight on one of the living pieces of 53 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:33,479 history of Cypress Truck Lines and Sunbelt as well. That man is Ronnie Norris. 54 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:38,200 Some of you might know him as daddy longlegs. That's the old term. I haven't heard anybody call 55 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:42,920 him that for a while, but I do know that that was a nickname that Ronnie's had over the years. And 56 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:49,079 let me tell you something. You heard me say it in the cold open. 5 million 57 00:05:49,079 --> 00:05:55,609 miles. Okay? 5 million safe miles is what Ronnie has under his 58 00:05:55,609 --> 00:06:02,329 belt. When I first started this job four years ago, I went on sort of a sales 59 00:06:02,329 --> 00:06:09,089 trip with, uh, the the CEO of my company, Grant. He and I flew to Omaha, Nebraska. 60 00:06:09,130 --> 00:06:15,928 We went out to Plattsmouth, Nebraska. We got in the car and we drove all the way up to someplace in 61 00:06:15,929 --> 00:06:21,290 Iowa that I don't know what it was even called. What I can tell you is, in this very, very small 62 00:06:21,290 --> 00:06:27,369 town that we pulled into beautiful little town out there. Uh, it felt like stepping back in time. 63 00:06:27,369 --> 00:06:32,729 There was maybe ten, 15 buildings in this entire town. Every single one of them was made out of red 64 00:06:32,769 --> 00:06:39,649 brick. It felt like you were stepping into, like, the pioneer days. Okay. It was way back in time. 65 00:06:39,809 --> 00:06:45,649 Really, really cool place. Beautiful cornfields as far as the eye can see in every direction, like 66 00:06:45,649 --> 00:06:50,730 you might imagine. But this little secluded town had these trees that grew up and provided nice 67 00:06:50,730 --> 00:06:55,310 shade. There was a cool breeze blowing through on the day that we went there. We found a little 68 00:06:55,310 --> 00:07:01,150 coffee shop to sit down and drum up ideas and make a few phone calls before we went to a 69 00:07:01,150 --> 00:07:08,029 celebration for a truck driver. Uh, actually, there was about four of them. There was 3 or 4 that were 70 00:07:08,030 --> 00:07:13,669 getting their, uh, million safe mile recognition, which was really cool. There was one that I 71 00:07:13,669 --> 00:07:19,109 believe was 2 million. And the big deal, the guy that everyone was there to see, the guy that had 72 00:07:19,109 --> 00:07:25,309 been at that company for some 25, 30 years at the time was being honored for 4 73 00:07:25,310 --> 00:07:31,829 million safe miles. And I remember looking at that entire trucking fleet, all the drivers that had 74 00:07:31,829 --> 00:07:36,469 stopped by to honor this guy, all of the office staff that were their friends and family, they 75 00:07:36,470 --> 00:07:43,269 they threw this big dinner party. It was really nice. And what I noticed was 4 million miles is 76 00:07:43,269 --> 00:07:50,040 a big deal. These guys have a ton of respect for this person. They have adulation for this person. 77 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:55,160 They want to know how this person approaches their job so that they can get to 4 million safe 78 00:07:55,160 --> 00:08:00,479 miles. And it's not something that very many people in the trucking industry do. And I remember 79 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:07,118 thinking, wow, will I ever be lucky enough to meet somebody that outdoes that guy for million 80 00:08:07,119 --> 00:08:12,079 miles? That's a lot of miles, man. Don't start counting to 4 million. You won't get there. It'll 81 00:08:12,079 --> 00:08:18,759 take you a while. And then I got to meet Ronnie Norris and find out that 4 million miles. 82 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:25,999 Well, it's cool. It's only 80% of what Ronnie has, which is 5 million. And these are safe miles. These 83 00:08:25,999 --> 00:08:31,639 are not. Ronnie drove for a year and a half and got into an accident. And then another three, ten 84 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:38,159 years, whatever. And another accident. No, this is 5 million safe miles. 85 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:43,959 Okay. And I just I had to say that a few more times before we got to the actual interview 86 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:49,179 segment of this, because I want it to sit with you guys for a little bit. I want you to understand 87 00:08:49,180 --> 00:08:54,620 that with the training that you receive at CTC, uh, with Ken and the boys out there and the 88 00:08:54,620 --> 00:09:01,419 orientation that you get with Randy and Cecil and everybody else involved out there, you are set up 89 00:09:01,419 --> 00:09:06,779 to have this type of success at this company. Um, I've seen drivers, you know, there's a lot of 90 00:09:06,780 --> 00:09:12,460 drivers out there right now that met me, uh, well over a year ago, the first time I ever came out to 91 00:09:12,500 --> 00:09:16,739 Jacksonville to figure out what Cypress Truck Lines was all about. Shake hands with everybody, 92 00:09:16,780 --> 00:09:22,259 sit in the room with them and talk about the lure of this company. Those guys that were in 93 00:09:22,260 --> 00:09:26,659 orientation at the time that were in CTC at the time I met them, I got to chat with them. They're 94 00:09:26,700 --> 00:09:32,619 out driving right now. They have started to compile their 5 million safe miles under their 95 00:09:32,619 --> 00:09:38,419 belt. And, you know, it's going great for some of them. Others are struggling a bit. But the fact of 96 00:09:38,419 --> 00:09:44,339 the matter is there's help. And it's something that Ronnie draws attention to towards the end of 97 00:09:44,340 --> 00:09:48,989 his interview. And I really want you to listen because at the very end of this interview segment 98 00:09:48,990 --> 00:09:54,150 with Ronnie, I'm going to ask him for a piece of advice he would give any driver that's walking 99 00:09:54,150 --> 00:09:59,989 onto the Cypress lot and starting a career with this company, and I don't think what he's going to 100 00:10:00,030 --> 00:10:06,150 say is going to surprise you, but I want you to listen to it. I want you to take it to heart, and I 101 00:10:06,150 --> 00:10:11,030 want you to act on it. If you feel like it's something that you need to act on, so remember 102 00:10:11,030 --> 00:10:16,389 that. Okay, before we get in with Ronnie here real quick, I just want to remind you that there's a 103 00:10:16,389 --> 00:10:20,869 bit of homework here. We don't ask for much from you here at the Cypress Truck Lines podcast, all 104 00:10:20,869 --> 00:10:26,309 we ask is that if this podcast is ever moved the needle for you at all, maybe you picked up a tip 105 00:10:26,309 --> 00:10:31,429 on trip planning. Maybe you picked up a tip on your pre-trip. Maybe all the way back when we had 106 00:10:31,429 --> 00:10:36,270 Cecil Clarke on, we talked about load security. He talked you through some stuff and you went, oh, 107 00:10:36,270 --> 00:10:42,709 okay, I get that, um, maybe you really enjoyed it when we've just had some fun conversations and 108 00:10:42,710 --> 00:10:47,529 Tony and Kevin have come in here and talked football with me. Uh, maybe you learned a little 109 00:10:47,570 --> 00:10:52,929 bit when we talked to Angel Escobedo about the way that he approaches training. It doesn't matter. 110 00:10:52,929 --> 00:10:59,489 Whatever. This podcast has moved the needle for you on if it has indeed moved the needle. I want 111 00:10:59,489 --> 00:11:03,569 you to go out and tell a friend for me, because we can move the needle for other people, too. And 112 00:11:03,570 --> 00:11:09,049 that's what trucking is all about. And especially Cypress truck lines. It's very inclusive. It's a 113 00:11:09,050 --> 00:11:15,048 very helpful environment that we all work in here. And I just want everybody to remember that before 114 00:11:15,049 --> 00:11:20,969 we welcome on the man, the myth, the legend Ronnie Norris. So let's get him in here. Let's hear about 115 00:11:20,969 --> 00:11:26,928 some of these stories, and especially let's hear about the time that Ronnie headed northeast and 116 00:11:26,929 --> 00:11:30,129 just couldn't get home. It's a great story. Let's go. 117 00:11:34,689 --> 00:11:41,608 Oh. All right. Welcome back in here to the Cypress Truck Lines podcast. Now, 118 00:11:41,609 --> 00:11:46,459 I've been talking about our next guest on this show from time to time, all the way since we 119 00:11:46,460 --> 00:11:52,538 launched, because I got to have such a cool interaction with him and learn so much about the 120 00:11:52,539 --> 00:11:58,939 company before I really ever even started making podcast episodes for you guys. Uh, and I'm so happy 121 00:11:58,940 --> 00:12:03,339 that we're finally getting to do this. He's a real busy guy, and he's cool enough to give us some of 122 00:12:03,340 --> 00:12:09,779 his time today. And we welcome to the show very happily, Mr. Ronnie Norris. Ronnie, thank you so 123 00:12:09,780 --> 00:12:14,899 much for being here today, my friend. How are you doing out there? Thanks for having me, Marcus. And 124 00:12:14,900 --> 00:12:19,820 I'm doing all right. Well, you're joining us out there from the middle of nowhere. And was it North 125 00:12:19,820 --> 00:12:26,379 Carolina? Is that where you're at right now? Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I had to go get a. I'm in my 126 00:12:26,379 --> 00:12:33,139 record. I had to go, uh, in the middle of nowhere and get a truck. Copy that. Well, we 127 00:12:33,140 --> 00:12:39,339 appreciate the time, Ronnie, for sure today. And and, uh, I think we can start this by just having you 128 00:12:39,340 --> 00:12:44,199 take me all the way back to the beginning. Uh, let's tell a little bit of your story here with 129 00:12:44,199 --> 00:12:49,599 Cypress. Ronnie. When did you start driving with the company? And, uh. And what was going on with the 130 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:55,439 company at the time? Yeah, I started in 1988. I've been here 131 00:12:55,440 --> 00:13:02,320 38 years. Wow. And how much different did the company look in 1988 than it looks 132 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:09,319 in 2026, Ronnie? Well, back then I started we as all driving cab over trucks. My 133 00:13:09,319 --> 00:13:16,158 first truck was a two tone brown cab over Peterbilt that didn't have no 134 00:13:16,159 --> 00:13:23,039 power steering, no air ride on the back of the truck. So it was all spring 135 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:29,719 ride on the air I had was in the driver's seat. That was it. Wow. You 136 00:13:29,719 --> 00:13:33,919 probably got a little bit beat up by some of those old trucks back then, didn't you? Not quite 137 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:40,879 as comfortable as the one you're running around in today. Oh, yeah. And not having any parts. And 138 00:13:40,919 --> 00:13:47,739 the stairwell was three times bigger than what they are nowadays. And if 139 00:13:47,740 --> 00:13:54,620 you wouldn't know a Mervin, you couldn't hardly turn that thing. I imagine. Did it have a knob 140 00:13:54,620 --> 00:14:01,139 on it, too? Ronnie, back then, when they didn't have power steering? No, no, I was afraid I was going to 141 00:14:01,620 --> 00:14:07,460 break my hand or something. As much as I had to hold it. Strain to turn the steering wheel from 142 00:14:07,780 --> 00:14:14,739 right. I imagine, man, I imagine. Well, uh, do you remember that first day at Cypress? Do you 143 00:14:14,739 --> 00:14:21,460 remember how you got the job and what it was like starting out with the company? Uh, yeah. My dad 144 00:14:21,460 --> 00:14:28,019 worked here. He worked here for 28 years or something like that. But anyway, he was working 145 00:14:28,020 --> 00:14:34,819 here. I was married, had for two years, and, uh, struggling to make ends 146 00:14:34,819 --> 00:14:41,749 meet. And they. Penny was looking for good Drivers. My dad talked 147 00:14:41,750 --> 00:14:47,749 to him, and then he came home and talked to me and asked me if I was interested in going back, 148 00:14:47,789 --> 00:14:54,670 driving the truck, because all my driving before I came to soccer was in 149 00:14:54,670 --> 00:15:01,149 my dad's truck, and my dad taught me. My dad taught me when I was 150 00:15:01,150 --> 00:15:07,989 11 years old, I had to drive a semi. Wow. I imagine that semi 151 00:15:08,030 --> 00:15:14,549 felt pretty big when you were only 11, didn't it, Ronnie? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I mean, there was times 152 00:15:14,549 --> 00:15:21,468 back when I was 14, 15 years old, I used to stay in the truck during the summertime with my 153 00:15:21,469 --> 00:15:27,349 dad. At nighttime, he would get into late, out of sleep, and I'd be driving down the 154 00:15:27,750 --> 00:15:34,468 road when I was only 14 or 15. Wow. So you really have been doing this your 155 00:15:34,469 --> 00:15:40,809 entire life when you really think about it, haven't you, Ronnie? Yes, sir, I have. I've saved my 156 00:15:40,810 --> 00:15:47,610 arm as well. When my dad taught me. He had his own trucks. He taught me how to drive. And 157 00:15:47,849 --> 00:15:54,808 he was teaching me how to drive. And he, uh, you know, got me going. We went down the road a little 158 00:15:54,809 --> 00:16:00,809 bit and all that, and. No, he told me to stop. When I stopped, he said I was going to start all back 159 00:16:00,809 --> 00:16:07,529 over again. And if he scraped my gears, I'm going to backhand you. So I learned real 160 00:16:07,570 --> 00:16:14,569 fast how to drive the truck. Man, it sounds like it. Do you remember that 161 00:16:14,569 --> 00:16:21,489 first load that you took back in 88 for Cypress? Well, Matt, when I started the stockers, you 162 00:16:21,489 --> 00:16:27,089 know, I didn't have no flatbed experience. Everything I have is through 163 00:16:27,129 --> 00:16:33,889 refrigeration trailers. You know, that's what my dad used to pull. So when I 164 00:16:34,330 --> 00:16:41,099 first started, because the Airstrikes and the strike. As Dave Penland and Cypress 165 00:16:41,419 --> 00:16:48,379 Lyons was about who they hired and all that stuff. I ran six months 166 00:16:48,380 --> 00:16:55,260 with my dad to learn how to do flatbed. And how hard was that to learn versus 167 00:16:55,260 --> 00:17:01,979 the experience that you had with reefers, Ronnie? It was very hard. But, um, there 168 00:17:01,979 --> 00:17:08,539 was, you know, there's some roads, uh, you know, it takes more time and more, uh, 169 00:17:08,579 --> 00:17:15,139 stand back and think how I'm going to tie this low down, you know, to be safe and all that 170 00:17:15,139 --> 00:17:21,739 stuff. So I'll say I was in it all my life, so it wasn't that much of a difference 171 00:17:22,300 --> 00:17:28,899 for me. Now, what can you tell me about, uh, about Dave Penland? Because we've heard a lot about him 172 00:17:28,899 --> 00:17:34,339 on this show. Uh, but of course, I always want to hear about it from people that went to work for 173 00:17:34,339 --> 00:17:39,839 him. Kind of back in the beginning and back in the, in the, uh, the real ramp up of what Cypress 174 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:45,438 Trucking has become. So talk to me a little about a bit about working beneath Dave Penland and what 175 00:17:45,439 --> 00:17:51,399 that meant to you, Ronnie. It meant a lot to me. I had a lot, a lot of, um, 176 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:58,759 respect for David Tennant and stuff. He, uh, always every time I came in to the 177 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:05,439 yard and stuff, uh, where he was down underneath the arc bridge back then, and he was riding a 178 00:18:05,479 --> 00:18:11,679 bicycle around, and he would come out there and stomp 179 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:18,879 wherever I was and ask me how I was doing, how my family was doing in my life, my kids and 180 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:25,839 all that stuff. And we just start talking, and then he'll look at me and he said, he asked me. He 181 00:18:25,879 --> 00:18:32,599 said, uh, you're running enough, miles. Uh, you want more miles, you want last 182 00:18:32,599 --> 00:18:39,089 mile. And, you know, I know I'm good. And here, right off the top of his head, he'll know 183 00:18:39,089 --> 00:18:45,849 exactly how many miles I ran the week before. Wow. But he was always asking 184 00:18:45,850 --> 00:18:52,170 me if I wanted more miles, last miles or whatever. And I gotta had a lot of 185 00:18:52,170 --> 00:18:59,169 respect for Dave Pender. He was, uh, treating me like family. That's what 186 00:18:59,169 --> 00:19:06,089 we constantly is. Yep. That's what we constantly here is that he didn't only have respect for 187 00:19:06,089 --> 00:19:10,889 the job itself, but he had a lot of respect for the people that were doing the job. And, uh, you're 188 00:19:10,889 --> 00:19:16,329 definitely not the first one on here to tell us that. And I love hearing those stories because he 189 00:19:16,329 --> 00:19:21,089 really depended on you back then. I mean, if you joined the company in 1988, there still couldn't 190 00:19:21,129 --> 00:19:25,969 have been that many drivers. Uh, do you remember about how big the company was back when you 191 00:19:25,969 --> 00:19:32,169 joined it? I believe they had, like, maybe 50 trucks. That's counting local. 192 00:19:32,410 --> 00:19:39,029 Local, everybody, you know. Wow. So. So I think he was 193 00:19:39,030 --> 00:19:45,909 around 50, 50. Much taller. So this company is has grown over ten times the size 194 00:19:45,910 --> 00:19:51,148 that it was when you joined it. Ronnie, I wonder, uh, just from your eyes and all the work that you've 195 00:19:51,149 --> 00:19:56,389 done, all the miles put behind you in a truck that says Cypress on the side of it. Uh, what are some 196 00:19:56,389 --> 00:20:00,948 of the biggest changes that you've seen over the years here? Obviously, you were here when we went 197 00:20:00,949 --> 00:20:07,189 from paper logs to LDS. Uh, you've been here for all sorts of technological advancements in the 198 00:20:07,189 --> 00:20:12,030 truck and creature comfort advancements in the truck. What are some of the biggest things that 199 00:20:12,030 --> 00:20:18,949 you see as different from all the way back in 88, when you joined to now in 2026? Well, there's a big 200 00:20:18,949 --> 00:20:25,949 difference in the trucks and stuff. You know, they all they're right. More up to date. 201 00:20:26,149 --> 00:20:32,639 You know more comfort in the truck and everything else. Remember I started in a cab over. So when I 202 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:38,639 went to bed, I had to climb up over the dog house to get to my bed instead of just getting out of 203 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:45,239 the seat and walking to it. Right. Right. Those cab owners were. Those cab overs were different animal 204 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:52,159 men. Oh, yes. Oh, yes. As far as. Yeah, we used to pay 205 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:58,680 for this hat and everything else. And when we started changing over to, uh, electronics 206 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:05,519 logs. Now, I'm old school man. I was one of the one of the person that 207 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:12,439 was, uh, against it. I mean, I was against it, you know, thinking, well, you know, 208 00:21:12,519 --> 00:21:18,959 this is going to cut into my money and this, that and everything else. I was probably one of the 209 00:21:18,959 --> 00:21:25,719 last drivers. They had that old logs in their truck, you 210 00:21:25,719 --> 00:21:32,219 know, computer and yelled logs in the truck. And it took me about two weeks 211 00:21:32,540 --> 00:21:38,978 to work it just right. But once I figure it out, there was no evidence. To me. There is no 212 00:21:38,979 --> 00:21:45,818 difference. I was still running 35 to 4000 miles a 213 00:21:45,819 --> 00:21:52,698 week easily on Eld. Wow. So you just had to. You just had to get your feet wet 214 00:21:52,699 --> 00:21:57,740 and kind of figure it out a little bit. It was more about, uh, learning the system than it was. 215 00:21:57,859 --> 00:22:04,378 Anything actually changing is the way you did the job. That's right. It's just learning how to 216 00:22:04,699 --> 00:22:11,698 work the field and all that stuff. Other than that, you know, I didn't change my, you know, way 217 00:22:11,699 --> 00:22:18,099 of driving, the way I've done things and stuff. And actually, I'm in it 38 218 00:22:18,100 --> 00:22:24,859 years. I got five over 5 million miles, and I stayed 219 00:22:24,899 --> 00:22:31,669 90 miles for this company. Wow. That's amazing. You know what? I gotta I gotta up an applause 220 00:22:31,670 --> 00:22:37,189 button here, Ronnie. And I think you deserve a round of applause for that 5 million safe miles 221 00:22:37,189 --> 00:22:43,989 is something that very few drivers will ever even get close to. And, uh, and you take a lot of pride 222 00:22:43,990 --> 00:22:48,629 in the safety part of it. Ronnie, I noticed that you've mentioned that word. Normally, I'm the guy 223 00:22:48,629 --> 00:22:54,269 that brings up safety and asked people, hey, talk to me about safety. But you have mentioned safety 224 00:22:54,270 --> 00:22:59,909 a couple of times here. Uh, during just our short time together so far. And I got to feel like all 225 00:22:59,910 --> 00:23:05,989 these technological advancements in the trucks have made it easier to be a safer driver. But is 226 00:23:05,989 --> 00:23:12,670 that is that just me, uh, thinking about it wrong, or would you agree with that statement? No, I 227 00:23:12,670 --> 00:23:19,269 agree, you know, all our trucks nowadays, you know, of course, when they started putting cameras in 228 00:23:19,269 --> 00:23:25,989 the truck, you know, there was a lot of people talking bad and all that stuff. You know, I 229 00:23:26,110 --> 00:23:32,449 see it. It helps the doctors out stuff. And if something happens and you do 230 00:23:33,050 --> 00:23:39,849 get into an accident, that wasn't your fault. Stuff these hammers. They can go to it 231 00:23:39,849 --> 00:23:46,849 and look at it and see, you know, it wasn't the driver's fault. Now, don't get 232 00:23:46,890 --> 00:23:53,129 me wrong there. Sometimes you know it is the driver's fault and the camera's hurt them, but 233 00:23:53,209 --> 00:24:00,010 that's the driver. But yeah, I see it as a safety 234 00:24:00,569 --> 00:24:07,290 helping situation. Sure, sure. And that's. We've heard so many stories on this podcast, 235 00:24:07,329 --> 00:24:13,328 Ronnie, about drivers that they had exactly that mindset. They didn't like it until it saved their 236 00:24:13,329 --> 00:24:19,769 bacon. And then they become fans really quick, you know? Yes, sir. Yes, 237 00:24:19,810 --> 00:24:26,579 sir. Ronnie, am I to understand that you have been to all of the lower 48 states 238 00:24:26,579 --> 00:24:33,459 by virtue of this job. I've been in every state down here 239 00:24:33,699 --> 00:24:40,499 except for one. And that was California. And you're avoiding that one like the plague, 240 00:24:40,500 --> 00:24:47,219 aren't you? I had chances, we had lows going out to California and 241 00:24:47,220 --> 00:24:53,979 stuff. They offer it to me, and I turn it down. Now I'm in close. I think I'm in there. 242 00:24:54,019 --> 00:25:00,739 Yuma, Arizona. You know, that's right there at the border and all that stuff. But I never 243 00:25:00,739 --> 00:25:07,699 crossed in to California. And I also we used to ride 244 00:25:07,739 --> 00:25:14,339 Canada all the time. I've been to Canada a bunch of times. So that makes up for California. Yes, 245 00:25:14,339 --> 00:25:21,019 sir. Yes, sir. It does all so. So 47 or 48 and another country. That's a pretty good way to look 246 00:25:21,020 --> 00:25:26,840 at it. So I think I got to ask you the most natural question that I come to. Ronnie is what's 247 00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:31,719 the favorite one out of all those states you've seen and driven through? What one really stuck 248 00:25:31,719 --> 00:25:38,400 with you is sort of your favorite? Well, uh, I like to run the Midwest. I like, you know, 249 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:44,879 Kansas, Nebraska and all that stuff, you know, out in the mid. Because I was born in 250 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:51,319 Nebraska. My mom and dad moved back to Florida when I was only three months old. So I tell 251 00:25:51,319 --> 00:25:57,959 everybody I was just born and raised here in Florida. But, uh, I got a bunch of camp out 252 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:04,958 all around Colorado and Nebraska and stuff, and I used to love running out in that area. 253 00:26:05,199 --> 00:26:10,838 You like those long, flat, uh, runs that don't change in elevation very much, and you can kind of 254 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:17,438 see forever. Is that what you like about it? Yeah. Yeah, that. I mean, don't get me wrong, I've been all 255 00:26:17,439 --> 00:26:24,099 that. Utah. Oregon. Oh, man. I've been all out there and stuff, you know, but I just 256 00:26:24,099 --> 00:26:30,659 basically like the middle of the middle section of the United States. Yep. Yeah, it's 257 00:26:30,659 --> 00:26:35,299 beautiful out there. And and listen, I'm not gonna sit here and lie to you and tell you that I'm not 258 00:26:35,300 --> 00:26:40,978 very biased about where I live out here in the Pacific Northwest, in Oregon. Uh, it's it's a 259 00:26:40,979 --> 00:26:46,739 beautiful place. But I hadn't been to the Midwest to really get some exploring done and some 260 00:26:46,739 --> 00:26:52,899 driving done. Uh, save for maybe the last few years and, uh, taking multiple trips out there to 261 00:26:52,900 --> 00:26:57,979 Nebraska and Iowa over these last few years. Ronnie and I gotta say, uh, it's a special part of 262 00:26:57,980 --> 00:27:04,699 the country and maybe some of the nicest people you'll ever meet out there. Yeah, yeah, there's a 263 00:27:04,699 --> 00:27:11,579 lot of nice people. Uh, so by. By comparison, Ronnie, uh, 264 00:27:11,579 --> 00:27:17,660 you told us the Midwest is sort of your favorite runs. What is your least favorite? What? Run outside 265 00:27:17,660 --> 00:27:23,309 of California. We know you're not going there, but what other places would you avoid like the plague 266 00:27:23,310 --> 00:27:30,030 if given the opportunity? Everything north of Richmond, Virginia on 267 00:27:30,030 --> 00:27:35,669 95. I got you that whole eastern seaboard up there is one that you don't want anything to do with, 268 00:27:35,710 --> 00:27:42,589 isn't it? No, no, I don't care for it. No, but. But back in 269 00:27:42,589 --> 00:27:49,429 the day, if you want a good long run every week I was running up to Boston, New York 270 00:27:49,430 --> 00:27:55,949 City, Long Island, Connecticut. Man, you know, I was doing all that, 271 00:27:56,389 --> 00:28:03,229 so it's kind of boring me out running up the East Coast. And I 272 00:28:03,230 --> 00:28:09,229 don't know, there's just something about the people from the northeast that I don't understand. 273 00:28:09,349 --> 00:28:14,989 I put it that way. I hear you, I hear you. You know, I've said it before on this podcast, and I always 274 00:28:14,990 --> 00:28:20,109 like to to put this out in front of drivers like you, Ronnie, that have so much experience and, and 275 00:28:20,110 --> 00:28:27,009 have lived this, but they will tell you that people from the West Coast are, uh, nice, but 276 00:28:27,010 --> 00:28:33,249 not kind. And they'll tell you that people from the East Coast are kind, but not nice. Um, and I 277 00:28:33,249 --> 00:28:38,049 like to equate that by if you were, if you had a blown out tire and you were on the side of the 278 00:28:38,049 --> 00:28:43,409 road and you're in, say, California, people are going to drive by in California and they're going 279 00:28:43,410 --> 00:28:47,649 to say, oh, I feel so bad for you. And then they're going to keep driving. They're not going to help 280 00:28:47,649 --> 00:28:52,609 you. Now, by comparison, out there on the eastern seaboard, you might have somebody come up to you 281 00:28:52,610 --> 00:28:58,568 and say, well, you idiot, what did you do to blow out your tire? But then they'll help you fix it. Uh, 282 00:28:58,569 --> 00:29:04,209 is that is that sort of your experience, Ronnie, or do you have a different take on that? Well, 283 00:29:05,369 --> 00:29:12,368 back in the day, it didn't matter where you were that, um, you broke 284 00:29:12,369 --> 00:29:19,369 down or had any trouble or stuff. There was other truckers stopping to help. 285 00:29:19,380 --> 00:29:26,179 Right? Nowadays it seems like. You better make sure you're well off the road or they 286 00:29:26,180 --> 00:29:31,060 don't run slam over you. Yep. Well, I actually, I was just going to tell you that just happened out 287 00:29:31,060 --> 00:29:37,378 here in the state of Oregon just last week where a, uh, a police officer was, uh, pulled over trying 288 00:29:37,379 --> 00:29:42,820 to help a truck driver who was broken down on the side of the road. And, uh, another semi truck came 289 00:29:42,820 --> 00:29:47,419 by and hit that driver and unfortunately killed him. Ronnie. And it's, uh, that type of stuff happens 290 00:29:47,420 --> 00:29:54,219 a lot these days. Unfortunately, a lot different than what it used to be, it sounds like. Yeah. It is. 291 00:29:54,259 --> 00:30:00,779 I mean, it ain't just truck drivers anymore, is everybody? There is 292 00:30:00,779 --> 00:30:07,739 one good and bad invention that was ever made. That was 293 00:30:07,739 --> 00:30:14,739 a cell phone. Yup. Cell phone? Yep. I knew where you were going with it. It 294 00:30:14,739 --> 00:30:21,319 was good, you know, to keep in touch and all this there's the bash back that people can't stay off 295 00:30:21,319 --> 00:30:28,159 of it. Yes, sir. Now, back in the day, we didn't have cell phones. We didn't 296 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:35,119 have GPS. We didn't have our cell phones or nothing. Uh, we had to stop at a 297 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:42,000 payphone to call dispatch to see what we're going to do next. You know, after you got out of this 298 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:47,919 stuff, or if you unloaded that cash to them and say, hey, can I borrow your phone to call the 800 299 00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:54,559 number to see where I'm going next? You know, it got aggravating and stuff, but then 300 00:30:54,560 --> 00:31:01,359 they, you know, it's just everybody. They can't do without the cell 301 00:31:01,360 --> 00:31:08,159 phone. Yep. So yeah, I'll tell you a little advice that I give anybody. Um, just this last weekend, 302 00:31:08,160 --> 00:31:14,599 I, uh, I was out on an elk hunt, and there was a football game that I really wanted to watch. And I 303 00:31:14,599 --> 00:31:19,049 knew because I had to go to my nephew's birthday that I wasn't going to be able to watch this game 304 00:31:19,050 --> 00:31:25,530 live, and I can't have my cell phone in my pocket if I'm not watching a live game, because all my 305 00:31:25,530 --> 00:31:30,888 friends will be texting me about it and they'll ruin the game for me. Ronnie. So I left my phone at 306 00:31:30,889 --> 00:31:36,850 a different house for about six hours, wasn't in my pocket, didn't think about it. And I gotta be 307 00:31:36,850 --> 00:31:42,210 honest with you, that's some of the most memorable six hours that I've had in my life over the past 308 00:31:42,210 --> 00:31:49,049 few months. And it really all is about that cell phone. Yeah, and it's just 309 00:31:49,089 --> 00:31:54,649 it's funny, Ronnie, with cell phones, uh, how much of a distraction they've become and how dangerous it 310 00:31:54,650 --> 00:31:58,929 really is out there. When we talk about people driving anything, it doesn't matter if you're 311 00:31:58,930 --> 00:32:04,370 driving a Fiat or if you're in, uh, a flatbed loaded with 80,000 pounds. It's very dangerous to 312 00:32:04,409 --> 00:32:09,290 be that distracted. And I'm glad we got a chance to kind of talk about that today, because it's a 313 00:32:09,290 --> 00:32:16,109 big change when you look all the way back to 1988, when you started to. Now that is a huge part of 314 00:32:16,109 --> 00:32:21,030 just our society in the way that we've. Technologically moved forward. But it's not all 315 00:32:21,030 --> 00:32:26,829 good things, right? You probably had a CB in your truck years ago, and I imagine that that thing 316 00:32:26,830 --> 00:32:33,469 probably got you out of some jams back in the day. Oh, yeah. Yeah, we, uh, had a 317 00:32:33,670 --> 00:32:39,949 CD in the truck and run and, you know, taught other drivers, you know, uh, 318 00:32:40,309 --> 00:32:47,309 advise you if anything was happening in front of you and stuff. Way back before I even started 319 00:32:47,310 --> 00:32:53,469 the cyphers, when I was, uh, running with my dad and stuff, we didn't have a CB 320 00:32:53,470 --> 00:32:59,949 radio. And the way the truck is used to communicate going down the 321 00:32:59,949 --> 00:33:06,629 road, if they pass a car or something and they come up on the dirt, 322 00:33:06,949 --> 00:33:13,589 they'll sit there and and and hold up one, two, three calls back. The 323 00:33:13,589 --> 00:33:20,399 car was fingered. And if he didn't see nobody. You sit there and 324 00:33:20,399 --> 00:33:26,318 throw your finger around. And I was letting the driver know. Let it roll. Everything was cleared to 325 00:33:26,319 --> 00:33:33,239 go. So there's many ways. Long, long time ago, when we how we used to 326 00:33:33,239 --> 00:33:39,159 communicate to other truck drivers going down the road. That's amazing. I did not know that you guys 327 00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:43,760 used to communicate with hand signals in the days before the CB, but that makes a lot of sense. You 328 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:49,519 you gotta help your fellow driver out, right? Yes, sir. Yes, sir. You do? 329 00:33:50,520 --> 00:33:55,559 Ronnie, uh, when we talked about places you don't like to go. You mentioned, uh, anything north of 330 00:33:55,560 --> 00:34:01,119 Richmond, Virginia, on the eastern seaboard there. And I got to take you back to a story you told me 331 00:34:01,160 --> 00:34:06,758 when we were sitting in the conference room in Jacksonville. The first time we ever met, you had a 332 00:34:06,759 --> 00:34:12,699 run that I believe was headed up to New York or New Jersey. And, uh, it didn't matter how hard you 333 00:34:12,699 --> 00:34:17,259 tried, you couldn't get back home. Can you tell us that story from the very beginning? 334 00:34:18,979 --> 00:34:25,898 Yeah, it started out I picked up the chain link fence out of Tampa, Florida, going out 335 00:34:25,899 --> 00:34:32,139 there to Long Island, New York. And like I say back then, the good 336 00:34:32,139 --> 00:34:38,019 long, uh, loads always went up the East Coast. So 337 00:34:38,939 --> 00:34:45,619 I left and went up there and I delivered first thing Monday morning. I had a Long Island and all 338 00:34:45,620 --> 00:34:52,540 that stuff. And, uh, they sent me over there to wanting to connect and pick 339 00:34:52,540 --> 00:34:59,419 up what we call sneaky. This wire that's rolled up. It was like a slinky, 340 00:34:59,860 --> 00:35:06,859 if you ever seen it. Yep. But anyway, ever going to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, I said, all right, 341 00:35:06,899 --> 00:35:13,509 I get loaded and I start and they, uh, By then. We had cell phones 342 00:35:13,509 --> 00:35:20,109 now in there, but they told me, hey, uh, I need you to, 343 00:35:20,389 --> 00:35:26,668 uh, meet truck so-and-so down here at Brooke or Glen. Virginia. Uh, 344 00:35:26,669 --> 00:35:33,589 loads. He got a load going to Boston. So, you know, I 345 00:35:33,629 --> 00:35:40,389 did. I went down there smartly. He went south to Florida. I went up to 346 00:35:40,389 --> 00:35:47,388 Boston, delivered the next day. Then they gave me a load of lumber out of 347 00:35:47,389 --> 00:35:53,749 Marsh, going to Atlanta, Georgia. I get loaded and everything, and I started heading 348 00:35:53,749 --> 00:36:00,749 south. They called me again. Hey, I need you to meet someone, so I'm ready to go in and 349 00:36:00,749 --> 00:36:07,549 swap out. He got a load of Armstrong sealing power that had two stops right there in 350 00:36:07,549 --> 00:36:14,529 Connecticut. So I go down there and I'll swap out. I'll turn around. I run back up there again. 351 00:36:14,570 --> 00:36:20,929 Connecticut got that all got alert out of there and hit her back in the 352 00:36:20,929 --> 00:36:27,209 Carolinas somewhere. But I get going south. They call me again. 353 00:36:28,129 --> 00:36:34,529 They got a look. I got Trump out for this guy. He got a load of that beach going out over Long 354 00:36:34,570 --> 00:36:41,408 Island, New York. I said, all right. I didn't like it, but I did it. Yeah, I went 355 00:36:41,409 --> 00:36:48,009 out there and I swapped out, delivered the next morning, Long Island. And they sent me back to 356 00:36:48,010 --> 00:36:54,169 Connecticut to get me a, uh, another load of damn slinky going to Florida. 357 00:36:55,169 --> 00:37:01,929 So I get loaded and I start going south. They call me again. They go, hey, uh, I 358 00:37:02,090 --> 00:37:08,659 hate to do this, but we need you to swap out for so-and-so. I don't know, I'm not doing it. 359 00:37:13,740 --> 00:37:20,659 What? I said no, I don't smoke that all week long. I hadn't been south of Virginia yet. And everybody 360 00:37:20,659 --> 00:37:27,259 else getting my good runs, you know. They go, well, it's a 361 00:37:27,259 --> 00:37:32,979 south east out of here. You know, he ain't supposed to be that far up. I said, well, I hope he got some 362 00:37:32,980 --> 00:37:39,659 clothes because I'm coming to Jacksonville. And is that. One. 363 00:37:40,219 --> 00:37:46,899 Oh, sorry. Go ahead, go ahead. But anyway, uh, they said, oh, you ain't going. I said no. I 364 00:37:46,899 --> 00:37:53,658 said, matter of fact, I'll see y'all tomorrow morning in Jacksonville. So I hung 365 00:37:53,659 --> 00:38:00,419 up and I kept riding south. The next morning I pulled into Jacksonville. I 366 00:38:00,419 --> 00:38:06,779 went upstairs and I had this old atlas, one of my old ones underneath the, 367 00:38:07,560 --> 00:38:14,519 the mattress in my bunk. I took it. Went upstairs. I walked into this patch. I 368 00:38:14,520 --> 00:38:20,718 said, you see this? I said, This is New York. I ripped a page out of the book. 369 00:38:21,840 --> 00:38:28,559 They just staring at me. I said, This is Connecticut. I ripped it out. All the northeast 370 00:38:29,240 --> 00:38:36,159 states. I ripped down the atlas and threw it on the floor. I said, I do not run no more of 371 00:38:36,160 --> 00:38:42,959 these states anymore. And so that's really the kind of the story behind 372 00:38:42,959 --> 00:38:47,199 why you don't like those states anymore. They kept you up there for a week and you got your belly 373 00:38:47,199 --> 00:38:54,079 full, didn't you? Oh, yeah. I mean, I mean, I didn't mind doing it once or twice, but I was up 374 00:38:54,080 --> 00:39:00,919 there all, you know, almost every week, but not every single day. Turn around and going back 375 00:39:00,960 --> 00:39:07,299 up. I just got fed up with it. And I said, that's that's said so. 376 00:39:07,499 --> 00:39:14,340 After that we started getting some roads going to Chicago. I really don't like Chicago, 377 00:39:14,340 --> 00:39:20,739 but I know Chicago before I will in New York City anyway. Yeah, every day and twice on Sunday. 378 00:39:20,740 --> 00:39:27,539 Right? Yeah. Oh, well, that's a great story, Ronnie. I enjoyed it so 379 00:39:27,540 --> 00:39:31,659 much when you told us that story, when I was there in person, getting to meet you, and I knew that 380 00:39:31,659 --> 00:39:37,458 that would be a great one for the podcast there. So I appreciate you telling that story. And it's 381 00:39:37,459 --> 00:39:42,739 all about the having a good relationship with your dispatcher, right? Uh, I'm surprised if I'd 382 00:39:42,740 --> 00:39:47,100 have been you. I might have thrown that cell phone out the window after the third or fourth call, man. 383 00:39:47,100 --> 00:39:51,739 But, uh, you're a better person than I am because of that. Yeah. 384 00:39:54,540 --> 00:40:01,339 Uh, I new artist that I worked for, the company for 385 00:40:01,340 --> 00:40:08,029 TV and stuff. I mean, you know, I'm just that type of person. Ever since I was big enough to 386 00:40:08,070 --> 00:40:14,908 walk or whatever, you know, I was always working. Always working. I mean, when I was 5 or 387 00:40:14,909 --> 00:40:21,909 6 years old, my dad bought a brand new riding lawnmower. I thought we was 388 00:40:21,909 --> 00:40:28,749 in heaven, you know. And, uh, my grandmother, uh, had a store 389 00:40:29,189 --> 00:40:35,189 about three miles down the road, and I used to go down there and cut her grass. I ride that riding 390 00:40:35,189 --> 00:40:41,549 lawnmower down the sidewalk all the way to her store and her store and her house and all that. 391 00:40:41,590 --> 00:40:48,349 That's just the way I was. I was out of work. Yep. Yep. So. And how 392 00:40:48,350 --> 00:40:53,069 important was it getting that time with your dad? You mentioned earlier that you trained with about 393 00:40:53,110 --> 00:40:58,309 or for about six months with your dad when you first started at Cypress? Uh, how much did he teach 394 00:40:58,310 --> 00:41:04,169 you about the job, Ronnie? And how much of that stuck with you over these years? He taught me a 395 00:41:04,169 --> 00:41:11,049 lot. There's stuff that he taught me. I probably forgot by now. Stuff. But, uh, I 396 00:41:11,050 --> 00:41:17,609 appreciate my dad. Uh, he passed away five years ago, and, uh, 397 00:41:18,090 --> 00:41:24,409 he, uh, he taught me a lot. And I remember a lot of stuff 398 00:41:24,409 --> 00:41:31,249 and about, like, tears, you know? So. Right. Yeah, it's. It can be so good to 399 00:41:31,250 --> 00:41:36,769 have that mentor there. Because life out on the road is different than any other job. And until 400 00:41:36,770 --> 00:41:41,570 you've had your feet in that water, you don't really know what it's all about. Do you, Ronnie? Now, 401 00:41:41,570 --> 00:41:48,408 are you young? And, uh, you know, I've seen a lot of these young guys nowadays and 402 00:41:48,409 --> 00:41:55,409 stuff. You know, they've come to learn how to, uh, go through our school, you know, to learn how to be a 403 00:41:55,409 --> 00:42:01,819 truck driver stuff because they see these ads on TV and all that. Yeah, they learn to drive a big to 404 00:42:01,899 --> 00:42:08,779 fight the big bucks, but they don't stop and think how much work it is to drive a big truck. It 405 00:42:08,780 --> 00:42:15,659 ain't. It's not just sitting in their seat holding their steering wheel. There's a 406 00:42:15,659 --> 00:42:22,459 whole lot of work. Especially in flatbed, you know, making sure the, uh, 407 00:42:22,500 --> 00:42:29,100 loads tarp and tie down crack and everything else. You know, it's 408 00:42:30,060 --> 00:42:36,699 there's a lot of work into it. And truck driving is a lot of a mental mind 409 00:42:37,139 --> 00:42:43,419 work. You got to have your mind and focus with 410 00:42:43,419 --> 00:42:50,139 everything you know. So. And if you had Ronnie, with all these years of 411 00:42:50,139 --> 00:42:56,739 experience and 5 million safe miles under your belt, if you could give one sentence worth of 412 00:42:56,739 --> 00:43:02,959 advice to every new driver that's maybe Currently going through CTC, or maybe they've just finished 413 00:43:02,959 --> 00:43:07,638 up school and they're about to get an orientation. I'm sure that a lot of these drivers get this 414 00:43:07,639 --> 00:43:12,959 advice from you, because you can be found around the yard from time to time, but what's some advice 415 00:43:12,959 --> 00:43:17,359 you might give a new guy that's just about to jump in because you said it right there? This is a 416 00:43:17,360 --> 00:43:23,239 mental game and a physical game, and it's really hard to understand what it is before you've seen 417 00:43:23,240 --> 00:43:29,639 it. So what advice would you have for some newer guys here on the show for me today? Don't be 418 00:43:29,639 --> 00:43:36,639 afraid to ask someone if you don't know what you're doing. If you 419 00:43:36,639 --> 00:43:42,039 pick out the letter that you know you never seen before or never 420 00:43:43,480 --> 00:43:48,398 seen anything about tying it down, don't be afraid to ask. 421 00:43:50,760 --> 00:43:56,840 Most of the older guys, they will help you, you know, and 422 00:43:57,479 --> 00:44:04,169 just take your time and don't be afraid to ask and always have 423 00:44:04,169 --> 00:44:11,009 safety on your mind. Really good advice there, Ronnie. And and that's coming from 5 million safe 424 00:44:11,010 --> 00:44:16,609 miles. In case you guys didn't hear me say that and hear Ronnie say it earlier, this might be one 425 00:44:16,610 --> 00:44:22,609 of the best people that could give that advice. And so definitely take that to heart. And and, 426 00:44:22,610 --> 00:44:27,249 Ronnie, I'm sure you enjoy helping out the new guys. Do you like it when a, when a younger guy 427 00:44:27,250 --> 00:44:30,489 comes up to you and ask you a really good question, gives you a chance to teach him 428 00:44:30,490 --> 00:44:37,409 something? Oh, yes. Yes. Um, the size of working. Um, I've been 429 00:44:37,649 --> 00:44:44,329 doing our regular service here for over over a year now, but besides doing the record 430 00:44:44,329 --> 00:44:50,969 stuff, I work with the safety department. I'm still like a safety 431 00:44:50,970 --> 00:44:57,789 supervisor, so I'm on the yard line. I work a lot of diners 432 00:44:57,790 --> 00:45:04,509 get upset. I walk over there and try to get them for not, you know, trying to load down 433 00:45:04,749 --> 00:45:11,628 the correct way and stuff. But hey, that's what they paid me for it. Yeah. To make sure everybody, 434 00:45:11,669 --> 00:45:18,549 you know, um, is doing their job right. You know, and it all comes 435 00:45:18,550 --> 00:45:25,190 down to safety. So I don't mind helping anybody. 436 00:45:26,070 --> 00:45:30,908 And if you have to slap somebody's hand, it's only in the interest of having them make a safe trip 437 00:45:30,909 --> 00:45:36,509 and get back safe and not harm anybody else on the road. Right. That's right, that's right. 438 00:45:37,269 --> 00:45:44,149 Because, I mean, we all right here. We want to be safe. You know, you always 439 00:45:44,309 --> 00:45:50,908 you always gotta think. Is your family right next to you? Right. You know. Yeah. 440 00:45:51,350 --> 00:45:56,399 Yeah. Pretend grandma is in that Cadillac sedan right next to you. And you'll be the safest driver 441 00:45:56,439 --> 00:46:03,439 out there on the road, won't you? Yes. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. That's great stuff, Ronnie. Well, listen, 442 00:46:03,439 --> 00:46:08,279 if you're listening to this right now and you see Ronnie out there on the lot. Uh, go introduce 443 00:46:08,279 --> 00:46:13,279 yourself to the guy, because that's 5 million safe miles worth of experience right there. And I 444 00:46:13,279 --> 00:46:18,119 promise you, Ronnie will be able to teach you something now. Uh, Ronnie, there's a couple more 445 00:46:18,120 --> 00:46:23,158 things I want to ask you here before, uh, before we get out of here and let you get back to work. 446 00:46:23,159 --> 00:46:28,799 Today, I asked you about your favorite and least favorite places to drive out there in the United 447 00:46:28,800 --> 00:46:35,479 States. I gotta figure that there's a truck stop out there somewhere that you love to get to 448 00:46:35,520 --> 00:46:41,559 your favorite truck stop. Ronnie, anything come to mind when I say, what's your favorite truck stop? 449 00:46:42,439 --> 00:46:49,439 Well, it is a tough problem, but, um, one of the, uh, one of them is the our 80 truck 450 00:46:49,439 --> 00:46:56,138 stop. One car. Iowa. Yes, sir. On I-80, they have truck shows 451 00:46:56,139 --> 00:47:03,139 and and the parking is humongous and all that stuff, and it's just 452 00:47:03,419 --> 00:47:09,419 it's got everything in it you need. And kind of a kind of a little bit of a museum of trucking 453 00:47:09,419 --> 00:47:16,179 history to there, isn't it? Yeah. They got a museum there, you know, on the property and all this stuff 454 00:47:16,219 --> 00:47:23,059 and, and, uh, big nice chrome shop, you know, uh, got 455 00:47:23,100 --> 00:47:30,019 everything. It's got movie theaters in the areas that, you know, it's real nice. They 456 00:47:30,019 --> 00:47:34,100 even got a barber in there. You could get your ears lowered while you're sitting back on your 457 00:47:34,100 --> 00:47:40,939 ten. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. And believe me, there's been times I got my haircut there 458 00:47:40,980 --> 00:47:45,819 because my time I get home and stuff. I want to spend it with the family and stuff instead of 459 00:47:45,860 --> 00:47:52,340 going out trying to, you know, do other stuff. Stuff? Yeah. And you gotta make sure they'll recognize 460 00:47:52,340 --> 00:47:59,029 you when you get home, right? So you gotta get that hair in, in, uh, in order. Yeah, yeah. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. 461 00:47:59,030 --> 00:48:04,310 Well, uh, any other favorite ones out there? I mean, Iowa 80 is a big one, and that's one that a lot of 462 00:48:04,310 --> 00:48:09,309 drivers, I think would call their favorite. You you got any well kept secrets out there that you know 463 00:48:09,310 --> 00:48:14,109 about that you always want to swing into? If you're in the neighborhood. Where you got to 464 00:48:14,110 --> 00:48:21,069 patrolling Joplin, it's nice. It's got a big chrome shop, got everything you need in 465 00:48:21,110 --> 00:48:27,389 there, just like our 80 and stuff. So if I'm out in that area, I usually 466 00:48:27,389 --> 00:48:34,149 stop. There's a couple of small mom and pops that the 467 00:48:34,149 --> 00:48:40,948 food is good, but, you know, it ain't much helps. Right? Right. But they are. 468 00:48:41,550 --> 00:48:48,549 But they are, um, dying away. Yes. Yeah, they really are. And and 469 00:48:48,550 --> 00:48:52,929 if you want to help keep them in business, swing in there and have a burger or a chicken fried 470 00:48:52,929 --> 00:48:57,850 steak. Uh, and help them out the best you can, because they are slowly going the way of the 471 00:48:57,889 --> 00:49:04,769 buffalo. Ronnie. There's no question about that. Yes, sir. Well, I've got one more question here 472 00:49:04,770 --> 00:49:10,089 for you. Uh, because I noticed something when I was out there in Jacksonville. Uh, everybody pointed it 473 00:49:10,090 --> 00:49:14,769 out to me. You know, uh, when you're talking and meeting people from a trucking fleet, especially 474 00:49:14,770 --> 00:49:20,490 one that's been around for as long as Cypress has and grown to the size that Cypress has, you're 475 00:49:20,490 --> 00:49:25,289 going to start to really like trucks. It's just part of the job. You're going to sit. You hear 476 00:49:25,289 --> 00:49:29,769 Ronnie talking about the chrome shops at these different truck stops. That's because he like to 477 00:49:29,769 --> 00:49:35,849 go in. You like to have a nicely appointed truck. And, uh, Ronnie's got exactly that now, Ronnie, I was 478 00:49:35,850 --> 00:49:41,329 fortunate enough. I even took some pictures of it. You're beautiful, long nosed Pete that sits out 479 00:49:41,330 --> 00:49:46,169 there at the lot at Jacksonville. Tell me a little bit about that truck, man, because it doesn't look 480 00:49:46,169 --> 00:49:50,699 like the rest of the Cypress trucks that are running around. That one's very unique. What do you 481 00:49:50,699 --> 00:49:56,059 love about it? Why have you kept that one around for so many years? Well, 482 00:49:57,940 --> 00:50:04,699 I just like the looks of the long nosed Peterbilt and all that. It's older. They don't 483 00:50:04,699 --> 00:50:10,899 have all this emission, uh, def fluid and all that stuff. It ain't got 484 00:50:10,939 --> 00:50:17,298 10,000 sensors like these new engines and stuff. It's got a good, strong old 485 00:50:17,699 --> 00:50:24,699 appeal engine. And that's what I was raised on. Was a 486 00:50:24,739 --> 00:50:31,459 cat engine and stuff. And it's just, like I say on the side of the truck. If you like me. 487 00:50:31,499 --> 00:50:38,499 Old school. I'm old. School. Yes, sir. Well, it's a beautiful truck, Ronnie. And I gotta 488 00:50:38,539 --> 00:50:43,739 say, uh, keeping it up and having it look as good as it does all these years later is a is a feat 489 00:50:43,740 --> 00:50:48,979 in and of itself, man. And, uh, I was just really excited to get out there and stand next to that 490 00:50:48,999 --> 00:50:54,520 thing felt like I was standing next to a piece of Cypress history. Uh, which is a lot like just 491 00:50:54,520 --> 00:50:59,879 having you on the show. Ronnie, you've got so much, uh, experience under your belt here for this 492 00:50:59,879 --> 00:51:05,360 company, and it's really cool to get to break it down with you and hear some of the stories. I hope 493 00:51:05,360 --> 00:51:09,999 this won't be the last time you join us here on the podcast, because I know there's a lot of 494 00:51:09,999 --> 00:51:15,199 drivers out there that want to hear even more from you. Uh, but I want to thank you for your time 495 00:51:15,200 --> 00:51:19,718 here today. I want to thank you for the time you spent with me in Jacksonville, getting to know me. 496 00:51:19,879 --> 00:51:24,839 Uh, look, I understand some weird guy from Oregon with a beard shows up and just starts asking you 497 00:51:24,840 --> 00:51:29,878 to be on a podcast. It can be a little bit weird, and you've always been really gracious with your 498 00:51:29,879 --> 00:51:35,520 time. Ronnie, I really appreciate it today. Um, and I want to give you a chance for some final thoughts 499 00:51:35,520 --> 00:51:40,239 here. If you've if you've listened to any of our podcast episodes, I like to give everybody that 500 00:51:40,240 --> 00:51:45,399 comes on the air with me, uh, a chance to just put anything else out on the table that we didn't 501 00:51:45,399 --> 00:51:50,059 talk about. If you have any shoutouts that you want to make. If you want to thank the company, 502 00:51:50,060 --> 00:51:56,499 it's literally anything that you want to say in this part. Uh, the floor is yours. So. Ronnie Norris, 503 00:51:56,540 --> 00:52:02,779 5 million safe miles under his belt for Cypress, started here all the way back in 1988. Thank you 504 00:52:02,779 --> 00:52:07,659 so much for the time today, my friend. Final thoughts from you, Ronnie Norris, before we let you 505 00:52:07,659 --> 00:52:14,379 get back to it today. I want to give him a shout out to my wife, my kids 506 00:52:14,379 --> 00:52:20,259 and my grandkids for putting up with me being gone all this time. 507 00:52:20,819 --> 00:52:27,219 And I want to thank the Penguins for giving me the opportunity back in 508 00:52:27,219 --> 00:52:34,099 1988 to come to work and to treat, uh, the way they treated me like family 509 00:52:34,100 --> 00:52:40,019 and all that stuff. I want to say thanks to them. And also, 510 00:52:40,860 --> 00:52:46,870 I just want these younger guys, like I say, don't be afraid to ask 511 00:52:46,870 --> 00:52:53,429 somebody if you don't know. Ask somebody. Somebody around will 512 00:52:53,429 --> 00:52:59,668 be willing to help you out. All you got to do is ask. 513 00:52:59,710 --> 00:53:06,708 And please don't get in a hurry. If it takes you 510 minutes extra 514 00:53:06,709 --> 00:53:13,388 to tie you down, just make sure you're doing it correctly the way that shoppers want you to 515 00:53:13,389 --> 00:53:20,269 do. I know we go one step above the other team requirements, 516 00:53:20,269 --> 00:53:27,189 but that's what the Penguins wanted to be extra safe and 517 00:53:27,949 --> 00:53:34,269 just take it down there. Don't get in a rush. And always, always 518 00:53:34,629 --> 00:53:41,389 just think that it might be your family right next to you. Just be safe. 519 00:53:42,189 --> 00:53:47,449 Great advice, Ronnie. Great advice. And listen, if Cypress didn't take that extra step above and 520 00:53:47,449 --> 00:53:53,169 beyond. Um, who knows if you'd even have 5 million safe miles under your belt, right? That extra step 521 00:53:53,170 --> 00:53:59,409 above and beyond is what keeps us all safe out there. Yes. Yeah. I mean, 522 00:54:00,129 --> 00:54:07,009 a little bit of extra don't hurt. Yes, yes. I'd rather be over protected than 523 00:54:07,009 --> 00:54:13,888 not protected enough. Yes, sir. Great stuff. Ronnie and I also will say, uh, real good call here to 524 00:54:13,929 --> 00:54:19,169 give a shout out to your wife, your kids and your grandkids on the show. Uh, nobody's ever ended up 525 00:54:19,169 --> 00:54:24,449 in trouble after giving a shout out to the loved ones. So good on you there, buddy. Good on. You. 526 00:54:26,370 --> 00:54:31,009 Ronnie Norris, thank you so much for the time today. Please be safe out there as you're running 527 00:54:31,010 --> 00:54:35,889 the wrecker service and being a safety supervisor, my friend. We'll get you back on here again 528 00:54:35,889 --> 00:54:40,808 sometime in the future and have another one of these chats. Okay, this was a lot of fun. Thank you. 529 00:54:41,250 --> 00:54:48,059 Yeah, yeah, yeah. Sorry it took so long to get on here the first time, but yeah, let's do it 530 00:54:48,060 --> 00:54:53,019 again. All right, Ronnie Norris, you take care of yourself. We'll talk. Soon. All right. Thank you. 531 00:54:53,060 --> 00:54:58,979 Marcus. Oh. 532 00:55:02,139 --> 00:55:06,939 Man. Ronnie Norris, everybody, another round of applause for that guy. 533 00:55:10,740 --> 00:55:17,739 You know. One thing about doing the job that I do here. Um, first of all, it's an amazing job. I. 534 00:55:17,739 --> 00:55:24,460 I will never actually be able to put into words how rich my life has become. Not financially. Okay. 535 00:55:24,739 --> 00:55:31,299 You guys know us radio and podcast broadcasters. There's only about 100 of us in the world that 536 00:55:31,300 --> 00:55:36,779 make the big bucks. And most of them have names like Joe Rogan or Ryan Seacrest or Howard Stern. 537 00:55:36,820 --> 00:55:43,679 Okay, it's not Marcus. And when I say my life has become richer, It's because I've gotten to meet 538 00:55:43,679 --> 00:55:50,279 and sit down with and hear the stories that a guy like Ronnie Norris can bring to the table, a guy 539 00:55:50,279 --> 00:55:56,959 that started his trucking journey when most of us were still concerned about our Ninja Turtles and 540 00:55:56,959 --> 00:56:03,560 our G.I. Joes. Uh, at that age, uh, Ronnie was actually learning how to drive his dad's 541 00:56:03,560 --> 00:56:09,679 semi. And further than that, when most of us are only worried about when our next baseball game is 542 00:56:09,679 --> 00:56:15,319 or what this girl that I'm trying to talk to is going to think about me. And will she go to the 543 00:56:15,320 --> 00:56:21,879 Sadie Hawkins dance with me? Ronnie was spending summer nights with his dad out on the road, in the 544 00:56:21,879 --> 00:56:28,119 reefer and even at the ripe old age of 14, uh, spending some overnights driving while his dad 545 00:56:28,120 --> 00:56:33,600 slept so that they could keep that truck moving down the road. Things have changed so much since 546 00:56:33,600 --> 00:56:40,359 Ronnie first started out, but in 1988, when he cracked the lid at Cypress and Dave Penland 547 00:56:40,360 --> 00:56:46,249 senior asked him if he wanted to come work here. Uh, that was when it all changed for Ronnie and 548 00:56:46,449 --> 00:56:53,090 amazing stuff. Now, I'll tell you right now, after spending a couple hours just sitting in an office 549 00:56:53,090 --> 00:56:58,009 with Ronnie and talking to him about his career here at Cypress, I'll tell you that we scratched 550 00:56:58,010 --> 00:57:03,050 the surface today, and we got down a couple of layers. There's no question about it. Ronnie told 551 00:57:03,050 --> 00:57:08,888 us some phenomenal stories, and maybe none more poignant ever than I asked him, where won't you go? 552 00:57:08,929 --> 00:57:15,448 Where don't you like to drive? And he said, anywhere north of, uh, Richmond, Virginia. And I knew 553 00:57:15,489 --> 00:57:22,250 that that story about all those northeast turnarounds was going to come in. And sure enough, 554 00:57:22,289 --> 00:57:28,449 not only does he tell you still, to this day in 2026, I ain't going up there. Um, he told you a 555 00:57:28,449 --> 00:57:34,649 fantastic story about just doing it because that's the person he is. I'm a hard worker. I 556 00:57:34,690 --> 00:57:40,510 didn't like it, but I did it. And that is the attitude that Ronnie's had his entire career here 557 00:57:40,510 --> 00:57:45,709 at Cypress. I might not like it. It might not be my favorite thing. That doesn't mean that I can't do 558 00:57:45,709 --> 00:57:51,149 the job. And he did the job. And what that led to was him ripping a few pages out of the atlas and 559 00:57:51,149 --> 00:57:56,590 telling his dispatcher, this is my new Atlas. There's a few states missing, and I wouldn't be 560 00:57:56,590 --> 00:58:00,949 surprised if later on down the road, Ronnie went and ripped California out of there too, because 561 00:58:00,949 --> 00:58:07,548 Yuma, Arizona is as close as you can get to California without waving the flag and just 562 00:58:07,549 --> 00:58:13,829 saying you're in California. And that's the one state in the lower 48 that Ronnie has not been to. 563 00:58:13,869 --> 00:58:18,028 He's been to all the surrounding states. He's been up here in my neck of the woods in Oregon and 564 00:58:18,029 --> 00:58:24,628 Washington. He's been out there in Utah, Arizona, and every single one of the lower 48. Aside from 565 00:58:24,629 --> 00:58:31,429 California, the experience that Ronnie has is enough experience for you to 566 00:58:31,429 --> 00:58:38,159 ask him any question. There is not something out there that he hasn't seen and maybe maybe he 567 00:58:38,160 --> 00:58:43,399 hasn't experienced it. But I guarantee you. Through all of the the talking that he's done with other 568 00:58:43,400 --> 00:58:49,600 drivers of similar experience levels of him, he's heard about it and he's figured it out in his 569 00:58:49,600 --> 00:58:55,080 head even if he hasn't experienced it firsthand. But my guess is most of the questions that you 570 00:58:55,080 --> 00:58:59,959 ask him. Not only is Ronnie going to have firsthand experience and be able to help you, he 571 00:58:59,959 --> 00:59:05,119 might even be able to solve your problem just by talking to you over the phone. So what I wanted 572 00:59:05,119 --> 00:59:09,360 you to really take away from that is that last piece of advice that Ronnie gave, because we've 573 00:59:09,360 --> 00:59:15,719 had so many drivers give that advice here on the Cypress Truck Lines podcast, and that advice is, if 574 00:59:15,760 --> 00:59:20,439 you need help with something, you need to ask. Don't try to go out there and figure it out 575 00:59:20,439 --> 00:59:25,879 yourself. Don't get yourself into a pickle. Don't get yourself out there on the road with a load 576 00:59:25,879 --> 00:59:30,279 that you've strapped down, thinking that you know how to do it right, while only really guessing 577 00:59:30,280 --> 00:59:35,239 about the actual way that it's supposed to happen. There are many people in this country, in this 578 00:59:35,239 --> 00:59:42,019 company, Uh, Ronnie Norris is one of many that will walk out there on the lot and get 579 00:59:42,019 --> 00:59:48,020 their hands dirty, helping you and teaching you so that you know how to do this. The cypress way, the 580 00:59:48,020 --> 00:59:54,499 right way, the safe way. Um, so hats off once again to Ronnie Norris. Can't thank him enough for the 581 00:59:54,500 --> 00:59:59,179 time that he spent with us here today, and can't wait to get back on the air with him again, 582 00:59:59,179 --> 01:00:05,499 because that guy has more stories. He's probably forgotten more stories than most of us have. And 583 01:00:05,499 --> 01:00:12,100 that goes to show you what 5 million safe miles really means. And, uh, you know, a lot of drivers 584 01:00:12,100 --> 01:00:17,739 might have 5 million safe miles, but they also might have 6 or 7 fleets to, um, attribute those 585 01:00:17,739 --> 01:00:23,899 miles to. Ronnie does it? Ronnie started in 1988. It said Cypress on the side. And we were living under 586 01:00:23,899 --> 01:00:30,480 the bridge with a very, very small fleet, 50 trucks compared to where we're at today, between 587 01:00:30,480 --> 01:00:37,349 450 and 500. Um, that's a ten x growth that Ronnie's experienced here through his days. 588 01:00:37,349 --> 01:00:43,149 So if he can't help you out, if he hasn't seen it before, chances are you're dealing with something 589 01:00:43,149 --> 01:00:49,628 novel and nobody has seen it before. But you still gotta ask because that knowledge, that experience 590 01:00:49,629 --> 01:00:55,790 is there for you. It's almost like every driver at Cypress has a library full of 591 01:00:55,790 --> 01:01:02,149 encyclopedias about flat betting, flat betting for Cypress and trucking in general. And all you got to 592 01:01:02,150 --> 01:01:07,228 do is go open one of those encyclopedias and start poking around a little bit to really find 593 01:01:07,229 --> 01:01:11,989 the good stuff. And let me tell you, if you ever get a chance to just sit down and talk to Ronnie 594 01:01:11,989 --> 01:01:17,189 Norris, sit down and talk to him, it'll be worth your time. And I highly recommend getting out 595 01:01:17,190 --> 01:01:21,549 there and taking a look at that long nosed Pete that he still has. I'm sure you've seen it sitting 596 01:01:21,549 --> 01:01:26,549 there on the lot. Get up close and personal with it. That's a really cool looking truck and a piece 597 01:01:26,549 --> 01:01:32,589 of history, much like Ronnie himself. So huge thanks to Ronnie Norris for making this happen 598 01:01:32,590 --> 01:01:37,849 for us today. We've been trying to get him on. He's a busy dude. That's a guy with 5 million safe 599 01:01:37,849 --> 01:01:44,249 miles under his belt. That works maybe as hard as anybody else does in this entire fleet. So, uh, hats 600 01:01:44,290 --> 01:01:49,208 off to him once again, and we will be welcoming him back whenever we can get our hooks into him. 601 01:01:49,209 --> 01:01:54,809 Uh, for part two of of the Ronnie Norris Experience. Uh, fantastic episode today. I want to 602 01:01:54,809 --> 01:02:00,729 thank everybody for going over to our website, podcast.cypresstruck.com and clicking 603 01:02:00,769 --> 01:02:05,729 today's episode, if that's where you listen to it, if you listen to it on Spotify or Apple or any of 604 01:02:05,729 --> 01:02:11,850 the other platforms, do us a favor and give us a rating on those platforms. Uh, if you're going to 605 01:02:11,850 --> 01:02:16,009 give us a five star, if you're going to give us a thumbs up, whatever it is, leave a comment. It 606 01:02:16,009 --> 01:02:20,930 doesn't matter. You can help us out in any way, shape or form. We'd love for you to tell a friend 607 01:02:20,930 --> 01:02:24,809 about this podcast. We'd love for you to give us a five star rating on what platform you're 608 01:02:24,810 --> 01:02:29,609 listening to, but at the end of the day, the most important thing is that you're going to the 609 01:02:29,610 --> 01:02:34,579 website or going to your favorite platform every single week and clicking on the Cypress Truck 610 01:02:34,579 --> 01:02:39,339 Lines podcast. Thank you all for being here today. I want everybody out there to take a page out of 611 01:02:39,339 --> 01:02:43,579 Ronnie's book. Um, not one of the ones that he ripped from the atlas, but a page out of his 612 01:02:43,620 --> 01:02:49,099 encyclopedia. And be safe out there. Get home safe to your family. Make sure that everybody out there 613 01:02:49,100 --> 01:02:55,579 on the road sharing it with you is safe as well as much as you can. As we like to say here, we've 614 01:02:55,580 --> 01:03:01,500 got an obligation to the motoring public and we are always faithful to that obligation at Cypress 615 01:03:01,500 --> 01:03:06,659 Truck Lines. We'll see you next Wednesday for a full hour of content right here from the Cypress 616 01:03:06,659 --> 01:03:11,539 Truck Lines podcast. I've been Marcus, you've been awesome. Stay safe out there, drivers. We'll see you 617 01:03:11,540 --> 01:03:12,299 next week.