Driver Trainer at Cypress: Is It the Right Move for You?

1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:05,840 There's something that I realized making podcast episodes for truck drivers for a little over four 2 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:11,479 years now, and that's that. Every single driver remembers the person who first handed them the 3 00:00:11,479 --> 00:00:16,760 keys and said, all right, let's see what you got. Some trainers teach you how to shift gears, but 4 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:22,439 the great ones teach you how to think. And this week we're talking to two of Cypress's driver 5 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:28,240 trainers, Joey Intorcia and Rufus Freeman. And what surprised me about this conversation you're 6 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:34,560 about to hear wasn't how they became trainers. It was why they wanted to become trainers in the 7 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:39,759 first place. You're going to hear why neither one of them says that the extra money is the only 8 00:00:39,759 --> 00:00:45,279 reason that they did it. Why? Rufus believes you're changing someone's life every time you climb into 9 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:50,440 your passenger seat. And why? Joey says you're not just teaching someone to drive a truck. You're 10 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:55,720 helping build a career that could last the rest of their life. We'll talk about what Cypress looks 11 00:00:55,720 --> 00:01:00,429 for in a trainer, what responsibilities come with the job, the funny moments every trainee 12 00:01:00,470 --> 00:01:05,669 eventually creates, including the first time someone hears the phrase suicide load and 13 00:01:05,669 --> 00:01:10,709 immediately starts asking questions. But we'll also hear about the moments that remind you this 14 00:01:10,709 --> 00:01:16,870 job carries real responsibility. Joey shares a story about stopping a trainee just seconds 15 00:01:16,870 --> 00:01:22,349 before what could have been a massive collision, and Rufus explains why, even after years behind 16 00:01:22,349 --> 00:01:28,469 the wheel, he still says he's afraid of the truck. And it's not for the reasons you might think. It's 17 00:01:28,470 --> 00:01:34,349 not because he lacks confidence, but it's because of the respect that he has for 80,000 pounds, and 18 00:01:34,349 --> 00:01:40,230 that is what he believes keeps everybody going home safely. If you've ever wondered what it takes 19 00:01:40,230 --> 00:01:46,510 to become a Cypress driver trainer, or maybe you've thought about becoming one yourself, this episode 20 00:01:46,550 --> 00:01:49,989 might just convince you to take the next step. Let's get rolling! 21 00:01:55,030 --> 00:01:59,619 Countdown to the Cypress Truck Lines podcast Starts now. 22 00:02:01,940 --> 00:02:08,419 Your number one professional flat betting podcast here to deliver stories, safety updates and 23 00:02:08,419 --> 00:02:13,539 company news directly to your ears. Let's get down to business. 24 00:02:19,580 --> 00:02:25,220 How's the weather out there? Cypress and Sun belt. Welcome into episode 31 of the Cypress Truck 25 00:02:25,259 --> 00:02:31,020 Lines podcast. Very happy to have you all here with me today. Of course. My name is Marcus. I am 26 00:02:31,020 --> 00:02:36,739 the host if you are brand new to this podcast. First of all, what the heck have you been doing? 27 00:02:36,740 --> 00:02:43,019 We've been having fun for 31 episodes. But second, fortunately we archive those for you in a very 28 00:02:43,020 --> 00:02:49,660 easy to locate place. You just go over to podcast.cypresstruck.com, and you've got every 29 00:02:49,660 --> 00:02:54,499 single episode that we've ever produced right there on the page. Uh, actually, I think you have to 30 00:02:54,539 --> 00:03:00,619 click the episode tab, so forgive me a couple of clicks there to get you to him. But also at that 31 00:03:00,619 --> 00:03:06,139 website you've got all the info about what we're talking about, who we're talking to. And, uh, you 32 00:03:06,139 --> 00:03:10,940 could play the episode right there from the website. So if you're not an app guy, if you don't 33 00:03:10,940 --> 00:03:16,419 want to download Spotify for Apple Music or any of the rest of them, you can find it once again at 34 00:03:16,419 --> 00:03:22,819 our website podcast.cypresstruck.com. Uh, we always get into a little bit of homework at the 35 00:03:22,820 --> 00:03:27,580 very beginning of these shows, and your homework hasn't changed from last week. We're telling a 36 00:03:27,580 --> 00:03:32,539 friend right now, we're show and tell with this podcast. Anybody gives you a chance to talk about 37 00:03:32,539 --> 00:03:38,140 it, and there's something on this podcast that you actually got something out of, whether it be 38 00:03:38,140 --> 00:03:43,980 entertainment, safety, efficiency, tips, tricks, whatever. If we've helped you at any time in the 39 00:03:43,980 --> 00:03:48,979 past or you've learned something from this show, do us a favor and just tell a friend about it. 40 00:03:48,979 --> 00:03:54,099 That's all it takes. That's how we keep growing the show. That's how we keep getting more new 41 00:03:54,099 --> 00:03:59,529 drivers to join us. And today we're very fortunate because we got two guys that have never been on 42 00:03:59,530 --> 00:04:04,529 the show before. And, uh, towards the end of this interview segment, which I've already completed. So 43 00:04:04,529 --> 00:04:10,889 I, I am talking to you from the future right now. Um, I think you'll hear exactly what it is that I 44 00:04:10,929 --> 00:04:16,929 hope every driver gets out of their time with me on this show. Um, I'm not going to spoil it. I'm 45 00:04:16,929 --> 00:04:22,009 going to let those guys say it themselves. But they said something in the Final Thought segment 46 00:04:22,010 --> 00:04:27,209 at the end of this interview. Uh, that really brings it all home for me. And, uh, this is a 47 00:04:27,209 --> 00:04:32,009 fantastic episode. We'll get to what we're talking about here in a moment, but I really want to 48 00:04:32,049 --> 00:04:37,129 involve, as many of you, Cypress and Sun Belt drivers as want to be on this show. That is the 49 00:04:37,130 --> 00:04:41,729 most important thing. And I'll be honest with you, I might twist some of your arms just a little bit, 50 00:04:41,769 --> 00:04:46,889 even if you don't want to be on the show, to try to get you to come on and talk about all of the 51 00:04:46,890 --> 00:04:51,928 knowledge that you've gained and some of the great things that you know that might help other 52 00:04:51,929 --> 00:04:57,358 drivers. I understand when a random dude from Oregon calls you in the middle of a Tuesday and 53 00:04:57,359 --> 00:05:02,600 says, do you want to come on record and talk about your job? Uh, it can be a little bit intimidating, 54 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:07,480 but I will promise you this. We have a lot of fun in here, regardless of what we're talking about. 55 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:12,679 And today's episode is a pretty serious one. We're not laughing and telling a lot of jokes. We're not 56 00:05:12,679 --> 00:05:18,039 cracking a bunch of pig missile references today. We're being very serious, because what I wanted to 57 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:24,239 do with today's episode was learn about how to become a driver trainer. What is the what is the 58 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:30,119 whole, uh, scenario look like? Do you get approached by somebody? Do you have to seek this opportunity 59 00:05:30,119 --> 00:05:35,840 out? What are the responsibilities that come with it? Is there a pay bump? Um. What happens if the 60 00:05:35,840 --> 00:05:41,840 worst thing happens? What are some of the funny things that happen? This episode is a fantastic 61 00:05:41,840 --> 00:05:46,919 peek behind the curtain, and, uh, Joey and Rufus are going to join us here just around the corner in a 62 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:52,919 couple of minutes to talk about their journey. Because both of these guys are relatively new to 63 00:05:52,989 --> 00:05:59,350 driver training at Cypress, but they've got some fantastic insight, not only about how this whole 64 00:05:59,350 --> 00:06:04,589 thing plays out and what it looks like to actually become a trainer. Um, but really some 65 00:06:04,590 --> 00:06:10,988 insight into the why. What was it about this that made you want to do it? And, uh, you'll hear it in 66 00:06:11,029 --> 00:06:15,349 there. It ain't the money. And look, the money's great. Everybody wants more money. I mean, if you're 67 00:06:15,350 --> 00:06:20,229 just going to put more money on the table and tell me I can have it, uh, great. But normally with 68 00:06:20,230 --> 00:06:25,910 a job, there's going to be something that, uh, that resembles, you know, an increase in responsibility. 69 00:06:25,910 --> 00:06:31,709 And I would say that becoming a driver trainer is, is a pretty big increase in responsibility, uh, 70 00:06:31,710 --> 00:06:38,709 because you are responsible for training the next crop of great, safe and efficient Cypress drivers. 71 00:06:38,709 --> 00:06:44,149 So it's no small responsibility. It's something that these guys take very seriously. And what 72 00:06:44,149 --> 00:06:48,590 you'll find in this interview is the money doesn't ever really come into the conversation. I 73 00:06:48,590 --> 00:06:54,630 mean, I think it gets mentioned once or twice. Uh, but it's not at all the motivation for why these 74 00:06:54,630 --> 00:07:01,310 guys decided to start training people. And Joey and Rufus, man, if you pay attention 75 00:07:01,670 --> 00:07:07,189 to the things that they're saying and and really sit down and kind of assess their answers to my 76 00:07:07,189 --> 00:07:12,910 questions in this interview coming up, you'll understand that these two guys are going to be 77 00:07:12,910 --> 00:07:18,189 part of the ranks of the best trainers that Cypress has out in the future. And I think that's 78 00:07:18,189 --> 00:07:24,869 because not only a they know how to do the job safely and efficiently, and they were tapped 79 00:07:24,869 --> 00:07:30,350 by people asking them, hey, would you be interested in becoming a trainer? But their answers to the 80 00:07:30,350 --> 00:07:35,350 questions really give you that peek behind the curtain of of why they decided to do it. And, you 81 00:07:35,350 --> 00:07:41,429 know, uh, Rufus and Joey both have their own specific reasons, and both of them are, I think, the 82 00:07:41,430 --> 00:07:46,509 exact reasons that you want to hear from a budding driver trainer, somebody that's just 83 00:07:46,510 --> 00:07:52,379 getting into it. Um, fantastic conversation. I could not believe how much came out of this one, 84 00:07:52,459 --> 00:07:58,059 especially if two guys that have not been on the show before they did. Awesome. If you are out there 85 00:07:58,059 --> 00:08:04,179 right now as a driver for Cypress, thinking, hey, maybe I want to become a driver trainer, maybe 86 00:08:04,179 --> 00:08:09,859 that would be cool to have somebody in the seat that I can shape and I can mold into a safe and 87 00:08:09,859 --> 00:08:16,019 efficient driver that has a successful career and provides for his family at this company. This is 88 00:08:16,019 --> 00:08:22,659 an episode that you want to pay close attention to because that's how I framed it. I 89 00:08:22,900 --> 00:08:29,259 formulated all these questions by going in and saying, what would a driver thinking about making 90 00:08:29,260 --> 00:08:35,739 this transition want to know? And man, Joey and Rufus did an awesome job. In fact, I'm just gonna 91 00:08:35,780 --> 00:08:41,059 clam up. Um, you know, we all know the reason that I'm in the position that I am in is because I 92 00:08:41,059 --> 00:08:45,939 like the chat, and I'm already getting chatty just because of how excited I am to bring you guys 93 00:08:45,940 --> 00:08:51,689 this next interview. So without further ado, and without further Chinh wagon from your host, we're 94 00:08:51,689 --> 00:08:57,010 going to go ahead and get Joey and Rufus in here right now to tell us how to become a driver 95 00:08:57,010 --> 00:08:59,049 trainer at Cypress Truck Lines. 96 00:09:03,770 --> 00:09:10,649 Oh. All right. Welcome back in here to the Cypress Truck Lines podcast. We got to 97 00:09:10,650 --> 00:09:16,249 get our drivers in here. Or should I say driver trainers in here today. Because these guys are 98 00:09:16,250 --> 00:09:21,729 here to talk to us a little bit about the trainer program, how to become a part of it. And let's face 99 00:09:21,729 --> 00:09:27,609 it, everybody remembers their driver trainer. So this is a really cool episode, and I'm super happy 100 00:09:27,610 --> 00:09:32,809 to have our two guests with us today. Let's welcome first to the show, Rufus Freeman. Rufus, 101 00:09:32,809 --> 00:09:38,689 thank you so much for being here. Welcome to the show, my friend. Oh my pleasure, my pleasure. Now, 102 00:09:38,689 --> 00:09:45,369 Rufus, how long have you been driving for Cypress? I've been with Cypress now, come. June was a year, 103 00:09:45,370 --> 00:09:51,040 so I'm about a year in a month or so in okay. Year in change, I like it. And how long have you been 104 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:57,640 training? So I've been training now about a little over two months. 105 00:09:57,719 --> 00:10:04,199 Okay, so still pretty fresh to this training game. Yep. Still a baby. I love it man, I love it. Well, I'm 106 00:10:04,199 --> 00:10:09,399 looking forward to getting some insight into your experience so far. Uh, thank you again for, uh, for 107 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:15,999 being here today. Also on the show, uh, we have driver trainer Joey in torture. Joey, thank you so 108 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:20,158 much for being here today, my friend. We really appreciate the time. Yes, sir. I appreciate. The 109 00:10:20,159 --> 00:10:26,599 invite. How long have you been with Cypress? Joey? So I. Am. Right. About online 110 00:10:26,599 --> 00:10:33,479 with Rufus. Um, just out of year. So I think my hire date might have been like June 14th. Okay, 111 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:38,199 so. You guys, a little over two years and a month or so. Okay. You guys got very similar timelines 112 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:42,799 there. And how about for you training. Are you are you kind of fresh to it. Like uh like Rufus is as 113 00:10:42,799 --> 00:10:49,630 well. I am fresh. I might have a few months on him. Technically, he probably has 114 00:10:49,669 --> 00:10:55,789 more trainees than than I do. Just being local, we kind of get, you know, the guys who it's like, hey, 115 00:10:55,830 --> 00:11:01,629 like, I had a guy, you know, Monday and Tuesday of this week who just his trainer, you know, wasn't 116 00:11:01,630 --> 00:11:05,830 able to make it till Wednesday. So they're like, hey, we need you to hold this guy over till his 117 00:11:05,869 --> 00:11:12,789 till his other guy gets here. Um, so I think the consistency isn't quite there, but, uh. 118 00:11:12,990 --> 00:11:18,389 Yeah, we're probably right. Right about the thing. Okay. Very cool. Well, fellas, uh, again, I really 119 00:11:18,390 --> 00:11:23,309 appreciate you joining us today to have this conversation because like I said, in the open 120 00:11:23,309 --> 00:11:29,669 there, I feel like everybody remembers their trainer. And, uh, I mean, you guys, Joey, you probably 121 00:11:29,669 --> 00:11:33,869 remember your trainer. Anything you can tell us about when you started with Cypress, the guy that 122 00:11:33,869 --> 00:11:40,509 you were in the truck with? Yeah. So it's funny, they kind of, uh, fast track me to be 123 00:11:40,510 --> 00:11:46,789 local, which was awesome. Exactly what I wanted. Um, and they always talk about, well, you know, fast 124 00:11:46,789 --> 00:11:52,069 paced and you know, they don't. They don't really want you. You mean coming in with, you know, no 125 00:11:52,069 --> 00:11:58,309 tractor trailer experience to be local. So that was kind of a they had to they had to really put 126 00:11:58,309 --> 00:12:05,108 a lot of trust in me, which I appreciated. But now about the trainer. So it's actually funny I, I. 127 00:12:05,150 --> 00:12:11,309 Jacksonville is the largest city, you know, land wise in the in the whole country. But it feels 128 00:12:11,309 --> 00:12:16,909 like a small town. Everybody kind of knows everybody. And that was the case with, uh, Brad. Brad 129 00:12:16,950 --> 00:12:22,269 Hollinger. Um, I went to high school with his son, Troy. We played baseball for many years together. 130 00:12:22,270 --> 00:12:28,029 So I was already really familiar with with with Brad. And when they said the name, you know, I 131 00:12:28,030 --> 00:12:33,149 couldn't quite remember that had been about ten years since high school from, like, Hollinger can't 132 00:12:33,150 --> 00:12:40,149 be the same one. And sure enough, it was. But he was great, man. I mean, he very thorough, you know, 133 00:12:40,190 --> 00:12:46,900 we'll tell you exactly how to run and and it's it's it's local driving too. So 134 00:12:46,900 --> 00:12:52,139 all city we do a lot of job sites. I mean it was really fun with him. So I was with him for a whole 135 00:12:52,140 --> 00:12:57,819 month. That's awesome. Shout out Brad. What a small world moment there to to be like, hey man, I played 136 00:12:57,820 --> 00:13:01,900 ball with your with your son. He's got a good he's got a good arm on him. Got a cannon. I bet the 137 00:13:01,900 --> 00:13:07,379 conversations were fun when you guys were putting miles behind you. Yeah. Yeah, that's that's right. I 138 00:13:07,380 --> 00:13:11,820 mean, we both played in college, granted separate colleges, but yeah, we knew each other really well 139 00:13:11,859 --> 00:13:18,619 going into it. So made made the chemistry kind of off rip, uh, match really well between the two of 140 00:13:18,620 --> 00:13:24,419 us. Very cool man. Uh, Rufus, how about for you? Did you have a trainer that left a lasting impression? 141 00:13:24,500 --> 00:13:31,259 Yeah, man. My, uh, shout out to, uh, Jimmy Henry. A local guy runs local right there in Jax. So 142 00:13:31,299 --> 00:13:37,779 I, uh, my experience with the trainer, I actually had two trainers. Um, my first couple of weeks was 143 00:13:37,780 --> 00:13:44,529 with Jimmy Henry right there locally. Um, good guy. Did a very good job. Um, like, 144 00:13:44,570 --> 00:13:51,329 uh, we did a lot of local stuff, which really helped. Helped me. And it's actually helping me now 145 00:13:51,329 --> 00:13:57,889 as a trainer. Um, then I went out regional for a couple of weeks with, uh, Angel esparto. 146 00:13:58,169 --> 00:14:04,169 Um, so I kind of got a little bit of the local world and the regional world. Um, which kind of 147 00:14:04,210 --> 00:14:11,049 helps me, like I say, as a trainer. Um, because I run here in Florida only, so I 148 00:14:11,090 --> 00:14:16,449 kind of, um, I'm able to give these guys some thoughts on running. We do a lot of local stuff, 149 00:14:16,489 --> 00:14:21,890 getting the, like, a lot of tight places down in Miami. Um, but I'm also to give them able to give 150 00:14:21,890 --> 00:14:26,729 them the regional aspect. So when they go regional, I'm able to give them insight a little bit on 151 00:14:26,729 --> 00:14:31,529 both worlds. That's great man. That's and that's exactly what we're here to talk about today is 152 00:14:31,529 --> 00:14:36,129 that insight that you can provide. And and you heard your guys's examples right there. And, and 153 00:14:36,129 --> 00:14:41,199 real quick shout out to Jimmy. Shout out to Angel. Uh, we haven't got Jimmy on the show yet, but we've 154 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:45,679 had Angel on here quite a few times. In fact, I was trying to get him on this episode today to come 155 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:50,638 in with you guys, but we just weren't able to make that happen. So we'll we'll try for another time 156 00:14:50,639 --> 00:14:57,038 with Angel because, um, what a phenomenal trainer he he is. And, uh, you know, Rufus, I'm sure you can 157 00:14:57,039 --> 00:15:02,159 speak to that. There might not be a more dedicated guy to, uh, cypress truck lines out there, man. 158 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:08,280 Angel's got his stuff together. Absolutely, absolutely. Is there anything that either one of 159 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:12,679 those trainers instilled in you and and, Joey, I'll come to you for this question as well after Rufus. 160 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:18,519 But, uh, Rufus, anything that either one of those trainers instilled in you that you still remember 161 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:25,359 and and execute every day. Okay. Yeah, actually, almost all of it, um, being 162 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:32,039 local with, um, being local with Jimmy for one, like, uh, Joey said, it's kind of fast 163 00:15:32,039 --> 00:15:38,360 paced. Um, so you, you gotta be able to know what you're doing. You gotta be very 164 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:44,399 efficient. Um, I would say that's something that I actually took from both of them is being very 165 00:15:44,399 --> 00:15:51,039 efficient. Um, using your time wisely, knowing how to run, 166 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:57,959 run at a fast pace, but do it safely and efficiently. Um, those are the two 167 00:15:57,959 --> 00:16:03,999 words that I can say that I got from them, and that I didn't try to instill in all my trainees 168 00:16:04,039 --> 00:16:10,879 is safely being efficient. I guess that's a good way to say it, to put it. Yeah, absolutely. Get 169 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:17,878 that tattooed on the back of your eyelids. So you see it when you're sleeping, right? Right. Uh, Joey, 170 00:16:17,879 --> 00:16:22,519 I'll come to you for the same thing, man. You talked about Brad being your trainer. Uh, anything 171 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:28,960 that you learned from him that you still apply every single day now? Oh, yeah. I mean, uh, 172 00:16:29,199 --> 00:16:35,719 just the absence of, you know, maneuvering the truck, right? So, like, when we're on the 173 00:16:35,719 --> 00:16:42,269 interstate, which we do some. You're driving the truck. And then once you get onto your surface 174 00:16:42,270 --> 00:16:46,870 roads, right, it's like you're driving the trailer, especially if you're having a backup into a hole. 175 00:16:47,229 --> 00:16:52,668 You know, get out of a maybe it's a job site that doesn't circle around. You got to find somewhere 176 00:16:52,669 --> 00:16:57,389 to turn around. So you're you're you're driving the truck, but you're also driving the trailer 177 00:16:57,389 --> 00:17:02,869 because you got to think that the trucks are pretty long, but the trailer is about, you know, 178 00:17:03,310 --> 00:17:09,310 double to two and a half times the length of the truck. Mhm. So that's, that's obviously big. And then 179 00:17:09,349 --> 00:17:15,709 you know, uh, tug test no matter what. Like we don't spend a whole lot of time in the truck stops. But 180 00:17:15,749 --> 00:17:20,510 you know I tell guys all the time I'm like, look, you leave that truck for even ten minutes, you 181 00:17:20,550 --> 00:17:24,549 come back. You better do a tug test because you never know. Yeah, absolutely. Whether it's a 182 00:17:24,910 --> 00:17:29,910 malfunction or you get a guy who you know is a jerk, doesn't like where you're parked at, might 183 00:17:29,910 --> 00:17:35,509 just pull your pull your pulpit on your fifth wheel. So stranger things have happened. Um, but. 184 00:17:35,550 --> 00:17:41,098 Yeah. And then and then to touch on. You know what Rufus was saying about efficiency. It's like guys 185 00:17:41,099 --> 00:17:46,739 will tell me all the time, like, oh, man. Like, how do you get so fast? Like, you're so fast? And I'm like, 186 00:17:46,860 --> 00:17:53,260 hold on. Like, I'm not fast, I'm efficient. You know, there's a big difference because. Because fast. You 187 00:17:53,260 --> 00:17:59,539 know, it sounds dangerous. Like, yes, we we work. We work quickly. You know, the way Cypress Local is 188 00:17:59,540 --> 00:18:05,179 paid, we are by the load. So obviously the more loads you can get in, the better. But, um, you know, 189 00:18:05,219 --> 00:18:11,620 at the end of the day, it's all about the safety aspect. So efficiency is the keyword there. Yeah 190 00:18:11,620 --> 00:18:18,060 for sure. It reminds me of an adage I heard one time, fellas, uh, the adage was slow is smooth, and 191 00:18:18,060 --> 00:18:24,699 smooth is fast. Um, and it really kind of I mean, as you guys shape those instincts that you all have 192 00:18:24,739 --> 00:18:30,499 now, um, you just get better at them over time, but you don't get better at them by rushing them. You 193 00:18:30,500 --> 00:18:36,250 get better at them by slowing down and really paying attention to the details. And in turn that 194 00:18:36,250 --> 00:18:41,329 produces that efficiency on the other end. And I think that's one of the things that we want to 195 00:18:41,329 --> 00:18:47,569 talk about here today is how a really good trainer can, can influence just generations of 196 00:18:47,569 --> 00:18:54,050 drivers, really dozens of drivers, when you think about it. Um, and I want to kind of move from that 197 00:18:54,050 --> 00:18:59,569 part of the conversation now into how you guys became a trainer. Now, I understand that, you know, 198 00:18:59,610 --> 00:19:06,488 Cypress is really big on promoting good, safe, efficient drivers to become driver trainers. Um, 199 00:19:06,489 --> 00:19:12,049 so, Rufus, I'll start with you here. Did someone approach you or was this an opportunity that you 200 00:19:12,050 --> 00:19:18,688 sought out to become a trainer? So when I first came to Cypress, um, like I said, it first got hired, 201 00:19:18,689 --> 00:19:25,169 learned about, you know, the process, and learned about everything. I knew from the beginning that 202 00:19:25,170 --> 00:19:32,049 once I was able, I knew I wanted to become a trainer. Um, in every aspect of life and 203 00:19:32,050 --> 00:19:38,800 everything that I did, I've always had in some form, shape or fashion. I was always 204 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:45,679 a teacher and always giving back. So, um, it was kind of a no brainer for me. So 205 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:51,039 as soon as my time was ready and I was able, yeah, I went ahead and pulled a gun and said, hey, I'm 206 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:57,839 ready to be a trainer. Yes. What do I need to do? Yes, sir. Uh, do you have any kids, Rufus. I do. I 207 00:19:57,839 --> 00:20:01,999 do. I knew it because that's a fatherly thing to be a teacher. That's one of those fatherly 208 00:20:01,999 --> 00:20:08,239 instincts that comes with having kids, isn't it? Yeah, I do it, man. I got two twin girls, so. 209 00:20:08,439 --> 00:20:14,040 Yeah. Well, shout out to those twin girls. I'm sure they love having a dad that loves to teach, man. 210 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:19,079 And that's that's really cool. And I. You know, the reason I ask that question is because a lot of 211 00:20:19,079 --> 00:20:23,999 guys might think that the only reason to become a trainer is because they're. It comes with a pay 212 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:30,599 bump. Uh, but there are different motivations for everybody. And I knew that, you know, just having 213 00:20:30,599 --> 00:20:35,439 you guys only be with Cypress for as long as you have. And now you're both training. I kind of 214 00:20:35,479 --> 00:20:39,799 figured you had a little bit of that in you, Rufus. So I was trying to get there, and you hit the nail 215 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:44,759 on the head, man. That's awesome. And that means that you get to enjoy your days, too, out there 216 00:20:44,759 --> 00:20:49,239 when you got a trainee. It's not stressful for you. You enjoy passing this knowledge down, right? 217 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:55,920 Absolutely. I believe it's something like you said, it's something you have to enjoy doing. Um, yeah. At 218 00:20:55,920 --> 00:21:01,400 the end of the week, you know, whenever, you know, it has a little bit to your paycheck. Um, but like 219 00:21:01,439 --> 00:21:05,760 they say sometimes. What's that saying? Money don't always buy happiness. Yeah. You know what I'm 220 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:12,559 saying. And so it has to be something that you want to do. And you, you, you like doing in order to 221 00:21:12,599 --> 00:21:18,720 make. This day is already, um. What we do is stressful enough. Yep. Um, driving this truck, 222 00:21:18,760 --> 00:21:23,879 driving 80. You know what I'm saying? You got a truck loaded, 80,000 pounds. You pushing, you know, 223 00:21:23,920 --> 00:21:30,679 down the road. So that's stressful enough in itself. But to be able to teach someone else 224 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:37,670 how to maneuver that you know how to do it safely, how to be good at it. You know, you 225 00:21:37,670 --> 00:21:43,429 that's something that you gotta want to do. And you got to have a heart for it. Yes, sir. What would 226 00:21:43,430 --> 00:21:49,469 you say is the most, uh, rewarding part about being a trainer, Rufus? Seeing my guys get their own 227 00:21:49,470 --> 00:21:54,869 truck on being successful. You know, when after they they go through, they go through their 228 00:21:54,869 --> 00:22:01,029 training process. You know, it's absolutely exciting when, you know, they hit it all week 229 00:22:01,030 --> 00:22:06,069 because, you know, a week after that later, they're probably in their own truck. So to see them get to 230 00:22:06,069 --> 00:22:12,949 that is our week. Then to see them get that first week under their belt by themselves 231 00:22:12,949 --> 00:22:19,188 and it goes successful for them. Now you know that you've done your part and 232 00:22:19,870 --> 00:22:25,069 that they're on their way to be good. As long as they continue to do what they've done to get them 233 00:22:25,069 --> 00:22:30,779 there, for sure. That's awesome man. Thanks. Uh, Joey, I kind of got the same question for you starting 234 00:22:30,780 --> 00:22:35,499 out, uh, did you seek out this opportunity or did somebody come to you and say, hey, man, I got I got 235 00:22:35,500 --> 00:22:42,139 a question. You want to train people? Yeah. No. It's funny, I definitely did not seek this out. 236 00:22:42,740 --> 00:22:47,900 Not because I didn't want to do it. I guess it all comes down to, like, a whole trust thing, because it 237 00:22:47,900 --> 00:22:52,660 is, you know, you're you're putting a lot of faith in these guys, and you got to let them drive. At 238 00:22:52,660 --> 00:22:56,579 the end of the day, you know, as badly as I just want to say, hey, look, I'll drive. I'll teach you 239 00:22:56,579 --> 00:23:01,619 how it's all done. Like that's doing them no good. It's a disservice to them because they're just 240 00:23:01,620 --> 00:23:07,459 not getting the reps in. No. So it was, uh, actually, it's been quite a while. I want to say it was late 241 00:23:07,459 --> 00:23:14,459 20, 25. I remember, uh, Randy Wells came up to me and he's like, hey, sir, uh, you ever think 242 00:23:14,459 --> 00:23:20,699 about becoming a trainer? I'm like, I'm gonna be honest with you, Randy. Absolutely not. Be like, well, 243 00:23:20,699 --> 00:23:26,659 just think about it. And, you know, let us know. I'm like, I mean, you need an answer today. He's like, no, 244 00:23:26,659 --> 00:23:33,489 no, just, you know, give it a couple weeks. Think about it. Let us know. And, uh, so the ball was 245 00:23:33,489 --> 00:23:40,328 in my court, and, uh, it ended up coming to, uh, you know, Corey was like, hey, it's been like two 246 00:23:40,329 --> 00:23:45,129 months, and we hadn't gotten an answer from you. What's going on? I'm like, sure, I'll give it a shot. 247 00:23:46,770 --> 00:23:53,689 And and the rest is all history. Exactly. No. So it's it came 248 00:23:53,689 --> 00:23:59,849 as a surprise to me. I enjoy it a bit more than I think. I was willing to admit it first. Um, 249 00:24:00,969 --> 00:24:05,329 it's always nice having a little break. Especially if you get a guy who may not be as receptive as 250 00:24:05,329 --> 00:24:11,088 the others. You know, it's cool to take a week off here and there. Um, which is the cool thing about 251 00:24:11,089 --> 00:24:16,449 the way Cypress does it, right? Because it's not a marriage contract. You're not, you know, signing 252 00:24:16,449 --> 00:24:22,249 your life away, and you're you're Joey the trainer from now on. Now you're you're still a driver. And, 253 00:24:22,249 --> 00:24:26,649 uh, you know, any anytime you want to train and they'll act, you're like, hey, you're good for this 254 00:24:26,650 --> 00:24:32,609 week. And it's either yes or no. But for me it's usually a yes. So that's great. So there's a lot of 255 00:24:32,609 --> 00:24:38,050 flexibility there. That's a big point for drivers that are listening that might be considering this. 256 00:24:38,050 --> 00:24:43,529 You don't necessarily have to do this all the time forever. You can come in and come out uh, just 257 00:24:43,569 --> 00:24:50,488 kind of, uh, as it works for you, it sounds like. Exactly. Okay. Copy that. What what's the most 258 00:24:50,489 --> 00:24:56,770 rewarding part for you, Joey? I think it's just something that. And I didn't originally think 259 00:24:57,050 --> 00:25:03,649 about it. And this and this light. Um, Curtis Davis actually said, well, you know, it's if it's all 260 00:25:03,649 --> 00:25:08,329 about money, you know, you're not going to like it, I'll tell you that. And, you know, obviously, you 261 00:25:08,329 --> 00:25:14,129 know, we're paid by the load. Our Jacksonville local, you know, if it's a Jacksonville to 262 00:25:14,130 --> 00:25:18,768 Jacksonville and in-town delivery, whether it's on the north side or the south side or whether it's 263 00:25:18,769 --> 00:25:24,769 five minutes away, it's about 55 bucks. So that that $60 at the end of the day, on top of it, you 264 00:25:24,769 --> 00:25:30,638 could look at like another load. But at the end of the day, if. If you're in it for the money, probably 265 00:25:30,639 --> 00:25:36,159 not going to work out for either parties. And it's just a little bit unfair to the to the trainees 266 00:25:36,199 --> 00:25:42,599 too. But I would say the most rewarding. Got to just be like, we're building careers. You know what 267 00:25:42,599 --> 00:25:49,239 I mean? I mean, a lot of these guys are coming from a, you know, a a place of desperation. Maybe they 268 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:55,598 were in it. And AI is starting to take over their jobs, and they need to get into an industry where 269 00:25:55,599 --> 00:26:01,319 you can make, you know, decent money fairly quickly. So Curtis was like, well, you know, we're we're 270 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:06,559 we're helping guys, you know, with their with their careers. I mean, they could be doing this for the 271 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:11,760 rest of their lives. So I think that's that's pretty cool when you think about it in that sense 272 00:26:12,079 --> 00:26:18,638 that we're we're we're molding guys into, you know, the rest of their lives really. And that may not 273 00:26:18,639 --> 00:26:25,389 even be truck driving. That could just be, you know, life experience. Yes, sir. Yeah. I'm I'm still pretty 274 00:26:25,389 --> 00:26:31,669 young, but I consider myself wise beyond my years. You know, I've got a lot to offer, whether you're, 275 00:26:31,949 --> 00:26:37,069 you know, ten years younger or whether you're ten years older. Well, there's so much life experience 276 00:26:37,069 --> 00:26:42,069 that comes from being behind the wheel of a truck. And that's something I'm fortunate enough to be 277 00:26:42,109 --> 00:26:46,990 kind of a fly on the wall. I've never driven a truck before. I've sat in a few of them. I've 278 00:26:46,990 --> 00:26:50,789 ridden in a few of them, but I've never been behind that wheel, and I've definitely never had 279 00:26:50,789 --> 00:26:57,550 80,000 pounds in a backpack on. So, um, you know, I see that just doing the job in and of 280 00:26:57,550 --> 00:27:02,550 itself will give you that experience. You'll learn a lot about the way people act out there on the 281 00:27:02,550 --> 00:27:08,030 road, and the crazy things that they do just to try to maneuver their car into the correct lane 282 00:27:08,030 --> 00:27:13,109 so they can make their turn. So I can I could see that, Joey. That's a that's a real good point that 283 00:27:13,110 --> 00:27:18,829 you make there. Um, what do you think if you guys were talking to a couple of drivers right now and 284 00:27:18,829 --> 00:27:23,189 Joey, I'll keep it with you and Rufus. I'll come to you in just a second here. But you guys are 285 00:27:23,189 --> 00:27:27,979 talking to a lot of Cypress drivers right now, whether it feels like it or not. And some of these 286 00:27:27,979 --> 00:27:32,619 guys are going to be sitting there thinking, man, I just maybe I'm just fresh out of my 90 day eval 287 00:27:32,619 --> 00:27:38,259 period, or maybe I'm just out of orientation and I'm with my trainer, but I think that this sounds 288 00:27:38,259 --> 00:27:43,219 like something I would like to do. I feel motivated, I feel like it would be rewarding. What 289 00:27:43,220 --> 00:27:50,099 can those drivers do right now, Joey, to start preparing for becoming a trainer? I would 290 00:27:50,099 --> 00:27:57,098 say just I mean, for me, I'm a you know, as I said, I had a baseball background and, you know, Yogi 291 00:27:57,099 --> 00:28:02,619 Berra would say it was a famous quote by Yogi Berra. Baseball is 90% half mental. And if you can 292 00:28:02,620 --> 00:28:08,139 get over the mental obstacles, um, because that's all it is, right? I mean, that's that's what the 293 00:28:08,139 --> 00:28:12,739 biggest, the biggest challenge for me, I was like, man, is it something I really want to do or do? I 294 00:28:12,739 --> 00:28:19,699 just want to, you know, keep it the same as it was, come in to work, do my job, be alone, you know, 295 00:28:19,739 --> 00:28:26,568 go home. Um, So I would say, you know, if you're on the fence about it, give it a 296 00:28:26,569 --> 00:28:31,249 shot. And like we were saying earlier, with the flexibility part of it, it's it's not a life 297 00:28:31,250 --> 00:28:37,089 sentence if you don't like it. You know, you could have one trainee and it would be a nightmare. 298 00:28:37,130 --> 00:28:42,370 You're like, you know what? Even if you give it one more shot and you get a guy who's a little bit 299 00:28:42,370 --> 00:28:47,729 better, but you're like, yeah, it's it's not really for me. Then you just you let safety know or 300 00:28:47,730 --> 00:28:52,769 whoever and you're like, listen, this is not what I thought it was going to be. And hey, that's 301 00:28:52,769 --> 00:28:59,049 perfectly okay. They'll say, we appreciate you giving it a shot. Right. So, yeah, Cypress isn't a 302 00:28:59,049 --> 00:29:02,769 vindictive company. They're not going to be upset with you if you decide that this isn't for you. 303 00:29:02,769 --> 00:29:07,489 Because at the end of the day, they want you safe and fishing out there on the road so that you can 304 00:29:07,489 --> 00:29:12,609 do the best job. And, and, uh, you know, earn your, earn your living. So, uh, they're not going to want 305 00:29:12,609 --> 00:29:16,769 to force you into doing something like that that you don't want to do because this is a big deal. 306 00:29:16,770 --> 00:29:21,809 And I imagine, uh, I mean, I don't know, but I would think that if you've got a trainer in there that 307 00:29:21,810 --> 00:29:26,770 doesn't want to be there. The training that they give is not going to be as effective as somebody 308 00:29:26,770 --> 00:29:33,650 that does want to be there. Would you agree. 100%? Yeah, absolutely. Rufus, uh, 309 00:29:33,689 --> 00:29:38,129 same thing to you, man. What what do you think? Uh, what advice can you give drivers out there right 310 00:29:38,129 --> 00:29:43,529 now that are maybe thinking about this in the future? What how can they get prepared and best be 311 00:29:43,530 --> 00:29:50,489 ready to become a driver trainer? Um, I'm going to actually, you really 312 00:29:50,490 --> 00:29:57,369 just about just said it with the last comment. You said you, um, you have to. I think you 313 00:29:57,370 --> 00:30:04,248 have to know that this is what you want to do. You have to want to do it. So 314 00:30:04,290 --> 00:30:11,170 if this is something that you want to do, take it serious. Um, start 315 00:30:11,249 --> 00:30:17,528 now. Even if you're with a trainer. Because, you know, sometimes we do things, and even though we're 316 00:30:17,529 --> 00:30:23,679 learning, sometimes we just go through the motions. Um, just sometimes to get through something. We 317 00:30:23,680 --> 00:30:30,199 think we know it all. You know, we, you know, but this is this is serious. Because as Joey said 318 00:30:30,199 --> 00:30:35,959 earlier, you're you're changing lives. You know, you're giving people there. You're starting it. We 319 00:30:35,959 --> 00:30:42,120 as trainers, we are giving them their foundation. Yeah, that's a really good point. 320 00:30:43,040 --> 00:30:49,800 As it goes, the more solid the foundation, the solid the wall, the solid, the more solid the whole 321 00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:56,319 build is going to be. Weak foundation. You know, you you kind of set them up for failure. 322 00:30:56,319 --> 00:31:02,958 So just just know that it's something you want to do. Take it serious and, you know, um. Be solid. 323 00:31:03,079 --> 00:31:08,718 Be solid. Yes, sir. I mean, hey, nothing better than a solid foundation down there in hurricane country 324 00:31:08,719 --> 00:31:14,039 where you guys live, right? You got you got to make sure that things in the soil, man. That I'm telling. 325 00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:20,228 You. And then in the soil. So more. Yeah, exactly. And once you feel like it's solid, dig it down another 326 00:31:20,229 --> 00:31:26,748 five feet. Right. Good point, man. Uh, Rufus, I'll keep it here with you. Uh, because I'm trying to hit 327 00:31:26,749 --> 00:31:31,269 kind of the bullet points of what I think drivers out there that are listening might be wondering 328 00:31:31,270 --> 00:31:37,389 about this whole process. Um, when I ask you about the responsibilities and how things change for 329 00:31:37,390 --> 00:31:42,189 you, when you when you do become a trainer and when you are training somebody, um, what what 330 00:31:42,229 --> 00:31:46,029 things can you highlight? We know that you're still picking up loads. You're still dropping off 331 00:31:46,029 --> 00:31:51,269 loads, you're still securing loads, um, and all that. You're you're doing it all safely and efficiently. 332 00:31:51,269 --> 00:31:56,870 But from the trainer standpoint, is there, uh. Is there some paperwork? What type of of 333 00:31:56,870 --> 00:32:02,468 responsibilities besides just the training? Will drivers see if they decide to become a driver 334 00:32:02,469 --> 00:32:08,789 trainer? Rufus. Um, honestly, nothing really 335 00:32:08,790 --> 00:32:15,549 changes with what you do on an everyday basis. Except for, um, of course, you know, we 336 00:32:15,589 --> 00:32:22,259 we evolve the treaties. You know that we have. We do an email every day. Um, 337 00:32:22,300 --> 00:32:29,180 it's pretty simple. Um, it's already basically laid out for you within the Cypress app. Um, and 338 00:32:29,180 --> 00:32:35,818 you just you have to be honest. Do you ever find that to be. To be tough? Rufus is there. Has there 339 00:32:35,819 --> 00:32:39,660 been a time when you're like, man, I gotta be honest here, but I. I want to give this guy a break, 340 00:32:39,660 --> 00:32:46,579 but I can't. No, no, um, that's not hard. Because, like I say, it's, um, this 341 00:32:46,579 --> 00:32:51,419 is something that you. If you, you gotta have the heart for. And it's got to be something that you 342 00:32:51,419 --> 00:32:58,299 want to do. And a part of that is being totally honest with your trainee. That is a 343 00:32:58,300 --> 00:33:05,300 conversation on the first day that I have with every trainee that I get is I explained that, hey, 344 00:33:05,340 --> 00:33:12,059 I'm a grown man, you're a grown man, you're human, I'm human. You're here to learn. 345 00:33:12,060 --> 00:33:19,019 I'm here to teach you. We both have jobs that we have to do now. I'm going to expect things out 346 00:33:19,020 --> 00:33:25,099 of you and hopefully you're going to expect something out of me. But at any time, if you don't 347 00:33:25,099 --> 00:33:31,938 feel comfortable doing something, you tell me and I will respect that and we'll find 348 00:33:31,939 --> 00:33:38,699 another way. But we gotta be honest with each other because once again, I'm laying down your 349 00:33:38,699 --> 00:33:44,059 foundation. So we gotta be honest. Yeah. And any dishonesty there, there's going to be cracks in 350 00:33:44,100 --> 00:33:49,379 that foundation. It's a really good point, man. Really good point. Uh, Joey, uh, same question to you. 351 00:33:49,420 --> 00:33:54,180 Did you feel that the responsibilities changed much, if at all? Or is it kind of the same thing 352 00:33:54,180 --> 00:33:57,779 that Rufus said? There's just there's not a lot more that you're doing. You're just bringing 353 00:33:57,780 --> 00:34:04,779 somebody along and and teaching them the ropes. Well, the responsibility definitely comes with it. 354 00:34:04,860 --> 00:34:11,379 Um, at the end of the day, you know, these guys go through eval, they're going to be asked like, you 355 00:34:11,379 --> 00:34:16,849 know, hey, did you go over this with your trainer? And There was a lot of boxes to check, but we do 356 00:34:16,850 --> 00:34:22,408 fill out a daily trainer report and then a final one. You know, by the by the end of the the 357 00:34:22,409 --> 00:34:29,329 training. Um, so that kind of helps us as trainers just reminds us 358 00:34:29,370 --> 00:34:35,770 like, hey, like we didn't cover this today. I can't remember if we covered it, you know, ten days ago 359 00:34:35,770 --> 00:34:41,649 or not. So let's maybe bring that up to these guys tomorrow. You know, it could be simple stuff like, 360 00:34:41,850 --> 00:34:48,729 you know, scanning in your paperwork because at the end of the day, that's how we get paid. Um, that 361 00:34:48,730 --> 00:34:53,809 might be easier for me to get away with, right? Because I'm here, I'm always at the at the 362 00:34:53,850 --> 00:34:57,849 terminal. But, you know, a lot of times you're you're standing in paperwork and you're having to 363 00:34:57,850 --> 00:35:04,689 mail it here. So, you know, if you miss scanning something or you, you, you fat finger on a, on an 364 00:35:04,689 --> 00:35:11,649 order number, you know, you might not get paid for it if payroll doesn't catch it for sure. Um, so, you 365 00:35:11,649 --> 00:35:17,839 know, it's just, uh, just a lot of your, you know, checking your boxes got in your eyes and crossing 366 00:35:17,840 --> 00:35:24,599 your t's. So it I to be fair, I mean, I enjoy the challenge. It just kind of 367 00:35:24,639 --> 00:35:30,759 keeps me levelheaded and everybody learns a little bit different. So, you know, like Rufus was 368 00:35:30,760 --> 00:35:36,080 saying, if one way doesn't work, we gotta find a another route. I mean, there's more than one way to 369 00:35:36,120 --> 00:35:42,959 skin a cat, but we have to communicate, too. Right. So I think communication probably number one 370 00:35:42,960 --> 00:35:49,120 there. You know, a little bit of communication goes a long way. Yeah. For sure. I love Rufus. What you 371 00:35:49,120 --> 00:35:55,839 said too, about having that conversation with them right off the bat and kind of getting that, um, uh, 372 00:35:56,039 --> 00:36:02,719 kind of setting the relationship between trainer and trainee up appropriately, saying we we got to 373 00:36:02,719 --> 00:36:07,199 be 100% honest with each other. We got to build this foundation, and we have to make sure that, you 374 00:36:07,199 --> 00:36:13,149 know, all aspects of this job, not just the ones that you're worried about, um. That communication 375 00:36:13,150 --> 00:36:20,069 is so important, I wonder. Um, on that very first day. Uh, what's running through your head when you 376 00:36:20,069 --> 00:36:25,429 first meet a trainee? Joey? Are you. Do you kind of have a checklist that you go by? Are you kind of 377 00:36:25,469 --> 00:36:31,589 looking for anything specific to figure out whether or not this person, uh, either has it or 378 00:36:31,589 --> 00:36:36,229 doesn't have it? What's going on in that very first day? That very first interaction? What's it 379 00:36:36,229 --> 00:36:42,988 look like? So I actually not the not to backtrack, but if it's they'll typically let us know, 380 00:36:43,189 --> 00:36:48,388 you know Friday afternoon they'll be like, hey, here's so-and-so. Here's his number. Uh, and they'll 381 00:36:48,389 --> 00:36:54,069 let you know whether he's a rehire or if he's a seven week or which they try not to put seven 382 00:36:54,070 --> 00:37:00,189 weeks with us right out of the gate, local, just because it is a lot of city driving and it's very 383 00:37:00,189 --> 00:37:07,189 fast paced. But if, if I, if I get a name and a number and it's not too late in the day 384 00:37:07,189 --> 00:37:12,339 and I happen to be around, I'll try to go seek that person out and just try to get a feel for 385 00:37:12,340 --> 00:37:18,769 him. Uh, just, you know, let him know. Kind of my ground rules, right? Like, I treat this like my 9 to 386 00:37:18,769 --> 00:37:24,978 5. I don't have a fridge. I don't have a microwave. I bring my own lunch. I don't take a lunch break 387 00:37:25,340 --> 00:37:31,260 because I don't want to. Just because it's. It can be, you know, it just doesn't. It doesn't benefit me 388 00:37:31,260 --> 00:37:35,580 to take a 30 minute break. I'd rather just keep moving, get my day done a little bit quicker. So 389 00:37:35,580 --> 00:37:40,859 it's things like that. And then if I know they're a rehire, then it's kind of like, okay, this guy 390 00:37:40,899 --> 00:37:47,300 kind of knows the system. We're just getting them refilled with, you know, the LDS and the in the 391 00:37:47,300 --> 00:37:52,499 paper wise for the scanning of the bills and stuff like that. And if anything else has changed. 392 00:37:52,739 --> 00:37:59,699 If it's a new guy, I try to pick his brain, you know, before even that first day comes. 393 00:37:59,699 --> 00:38:05,419 And then when that first day rolls around, I'll typically be doing the driving. Uh, just kind of 394 00:38:05,459 --> 00:38:10,379 like, get his nerves out of the way. We can answer, you know, I can answer any questions that he might 395 00:38:10,379 --> 00:38:17,259 have. And just kind of keeps it, you know, a friendly and relaxed environment. So then I 396 00:38:17,299 --> 00:38:22,100 kind of know what I'm dealing with. You know, on that second day, because he'll be he'll be driving 397 00:38:22,100 --> 00:38:27,779 the rest of the time, you know, as long as it's a load that I feel like he's, you know, that I'm 398 00:38:27,779 --> 00:38:32,099 confident in him that he can haul, you know, because there are certain things that we, we touch 399 00:38:32,139 --> 00:38:36,579 as local drivers that it's like either they don't want you to touch it and let the, you know, you're 400 00:38:36,580 --> 00:38:41,540 six months in or what have you, or sometimes it's an oversize load. They definitely don't want 401 00:38:41,580 --> 00:38:47,899 trains running oversize loads. So little things like that. But now I mean they're they're doing 402 00:38:47,899 --> 00:38:54,379 most of the driving. I'd say 99% of the driving. So I just make sure that on that first day 403 00:38:54,379 --> 00:39:01,218 that, you know, I'm I'm fully confident in their ability. And obviously, you know, the brand new guys 404 00:39:01,219 --> 00:39:06,939 have a little bit of nerves, which I understand. And we try to knock the cobwebs off. I would say 405 00:39:06,940 --> 00:39:13,530 by that by the end of that week, you know, we shouldn't be talking about, hey, you know, here's 406 00:39:13,530 --> 00:39:19,529 how you do a turn, here's how you do this and that. Unless it's, you know, specific things like getting 407 00:39:19,530 --> 00:39:24,889 in and out of a shipper, that this is exactly the way you have to do it. So I tried, you know, by by 408 00:39:24,889 --> 00:39:29,370 the end of that week, we try to I try to get my guys to the point where we can start focusing on 409 00:39:29,370 --> 00:39:36,369 the actual trade of the flatbed side of the job. Copy. I like it. Rufus, same 410 00:39:36,370 --> 00:39:40,609 question for you, man. How do you approach that very first interaction that that very first day 411 00:39:40,610 --> 00:39:45,249 you already told us about the conversation that you'll have with them about building that strong 412 00:39:45,290 --> 00:39:50,569 foundation. But how do you go about kind of introducing yourself and making that first 413 00:39:50,569 --> 00:39:56,449 interaction something that breeds a positive relationship out in the future? It's very similar 414 00:39:56,449 --> 00:40:01,888 to Joey, like you say, you know, we own we, for instance, if they're going out with us on that 415 00:40:01,889 --> 00:40:08,758 Monday for the first day, generally, we know on that Friday before. Um, so we reach 416 00:40:08,759 --> 00:40:13,999 out, we have a conversation. Normally, you know, we'll either conversate over the weekend, so you 417 00:40:14,040 --> 00:40:20,559 kind of tell them how you run, what you do, what you expect. So they already come in knowing kind 418 00:40:20,560 --> 00:40:27,439 of what to expect, you know, a little bit, um, like Joey, I, um, I do most of the driving 419 00:40:27,439 --> 00:40:34,279 on the first day and normally on the way home knowing because normally we are we 420 00:40:34,280 --> 00:40:39,879 get a nice stretch on the highway to run. So normally on the way home, I ask them, I say, hey, how 421 00:40:39,879 --> 00:40:46,159 you feel? You know, um, you listen, you, you know, they're always nervous, especially the new guys. 422 00:40:46,200 --> 00:40:51,678 You know, they're always nervous. So I say, hey, how you feel when they're hitting get hit a couple of 423 00:40:51,719 --> 00:40:56,919 highway miles. So it's knocking them cobwebs, you know, just getting them nerves out of the way. And 424 00:40:56,919 --> 00:41:02,479 usually they'll say yes or, you know, if they'll be like, hey, then now I kind of know what I'm dealing 425 00:41:02,479 --> 00:41:08,629 with. So that's kind of how I find out how nervous they are or. And then you'll have one that'll be 426 00:41:08,629 --> 00:41:12,708 like, hey, yo, let's go. You know what I'm saying? He's ready. He's ready to get behind that will. So 427 00:41:12,709 --> 00:41:18,510 I'm like, okay, all right. This guy is you know, he he's going to be a fast paced guy. So that's 428 00:41:18,510 --> 00:41:24,790 that's kind of how I tell is how quickly they want to get behind the wheel for sure. Well, fellas, 429 00:41:24,790 --> 00:41:29,189 I want to lighten the mood here a little bit because, uh, we all know if it doesn't matter what 430 00:41:29,189 --> 00:41:35,908 profession you've been in, if you've ever been in the position to train somebody for a job. Um, 431 00:41:35,909 --> 00:41:42,909 sometimes funny stuff happens. Now, I am interested to know, because I've heard some stories from 432 00:41:42,909 --> 00:41:48,869 some trainers, especially over the road. Guys, when you hear OTR guys talk about their trainees, it's 433 00:41:48,870 --> 00:41:54,230 almost always something that has to do with being prepared for being away from home. Maybe this guy 434 00:41:54,230 --> 00:41:58,029 didn't bring it up, maybe the trainee didn't bring enough socks or underwear, or maybe they brought 435 00:41:58,030 --> 00:42:04,869 no food or something like that. But I wonder for you guys, uh, what's some. Are there any funny 436 00:42:04,870 --> 00:42:11,349 stories that you've had trainees, um, do or say to you when you're kind of first starting out there? 437 00:42:11,350 --> 00:42:17,229 And obviously, um, I want to keep this more on the lighthearted side. I know that sometimes things go 438 00:42:17,229 --> 00:42:22,989 wrong and you might have had, uh, more serious things happen. But for this intent and purpose, 439 00:42:22,989 --> 00:42:27,349 let's let's kind of keep it on the lighthearted side. Rufus, anything that's happened between you 440 00:42:27,350 --> 00:42:31,269 and a trainee that's just made you bust up laughing or something that you never thought 441 00:42:31,269 --> 00:42:38,229 you'd see out there? Uh, that kind of surprised you in a fun way. I, I can truly say I 442 00:42:38,229 --> 00:42:44,829 probably get a laugh with my guys almost every day. We we get a laugh. We do a lot of Miami 443 00:42:44,830 --> 00:42:51,589 ruins. So what? When we get in Miami, then sometimes we we get in some tight places 444 00:42:51,949 --> 00:42:58,669 on some very tight places, you know, maneuver in that truck or. We get in congested 445 00:42:58,709 --> 00:43:05,539 traffic and, you know, those those, those four wheelers. The four wheel drivers. Oh, 446 00:43:05,580 --> 00:43:11,939 boy. They they. Sometimes you just gotta laugh, you know? But sometimes it's just the look on the 447 00:43:11,939 --> 00:43:18,539 driver's face. You know, when they're asked to put the truck in a certain place or, you 448 00:43:18,540 --> 00:43:25,259 know, when, when, when they get cut off by that four wheel driver for the very first time 449 00:43:25,259 --> 00:43:31,739 and they slam on them brakes and throw both of us into the windshield. Yeah, that's that's that 450 00:43:31,740 --> 00:43:37,219 that's a that's a laugh every time. Out of the laugh every time. And there's no way that they can 451 00:43:37,219 --> 00:43:42,859 be ready for that. Right. Until they've experienced that they cannot be ready for it. You try and tell 452 00:43:42,860 --> 00:43:48,579 them and there's there's no way. And especially after you've delivered in your trailer is empty 453 00:43:48,580 --> 00:43:53,499 and man, you hit them, breaks you up, man. It feels like we both going to go through that one yet. 454 00:43:53,660 --> 00:43:59,619 It's kind of funny. And to see that look on their face, I bet. Man. Joey, over to you for that, uh, funny 455 00:43:59,620 --> 00:44:06,408 experiences with trainees in the cab and you come to mind. I would say anytime we're 456 00:44:06,409 --> 00:44:11,169 out in Anderson, Florida, you know, there's a there's a wire mill out there. They've been in 457 00:44:11,169 --> 00:44:17,929 business for, you know, probably double my lifetime. And, uh, you know, then these guys that 458 00:44:17,929 --> 00:44:22,889 they're there, typically the loads that we get out of there, they'll be seven coils. They're about 459 00:44:22,889 --> 00:44:29,849 7000. And some change each. Right. So pretty heavy at the short little stubby load. But I'm like, 460 00:44:29,889 --> 00:44:36,490 man, these are the heavy loads that we pull. For the most part. There's a there's a certain way 461 00:44:36,490 --> 00:44:40,450 they'll load them. You know, they'll either have four by fours attached to them and they're loaded. 462 00:44:40,489 --> 00:44:46,529 You know what they call them? Flip loads, eyes of the sky, or they'll be chalked on pieces of 463 00:44:46,529 --> 00:44:51,649 dunnage across your trailer, and they'll be tied with the side. Well, anytime you rise to the side, 464 00:44:52,050 --> 00:44:57,449 you know, a lot of the older drivers will say, oh yeah, that's a suicide load. So, you know, you'll 465 00:44:57,449 --> 00:45:01,599 just be like, yeah, they're lovin suicide today. You know, I'm not really thinking anything of it. And 466 00:45:01,600 --> 00:45:08,519 the training is always like suicide. Yeah. It's just. Yeah. 467 00:45:08,560 --> 00:45:15,119 You know. It's like. Sometimes, you know, it don't matter how how good you tie it down, man. You gotta, 468 00:45:15,279 --> 00:45:20,519 you gotta be able to haul this thing and or you don't want it to end up, you know, going through 469 00:45:20,519 --> 00:45:27,159 the cab of your truck. They're typically they're like, well, you want to drive this one? Yes. I am 470 00:45:27,160 --> 00:45:33,638 laughing because I remember that with Jerry Henry. Man, do I remember that Joey. Oh that's great. 471 00:45:33,680 --> 00:45:38,199 That's just so you busted. You must have had a suicide load there with, uh, with Jimmy Rufus. Tell 472 00:45:38,199 --> 00:45:44,120 us about. It. Yeah, yeah, 1 or 2. I remember the first one I remember Joey, I remember, I remember Jimmy 473 00:45:44,159 --> 00:45:49,239 saying that same thing. Joey just said suicide, Lord. And you're like, man, what do you mean by 474 00:45:49,239 --> 00:45:55,919 suicide, bro? I mean, you know. So, yeah, I remember that. As long as I don't have to haul this one in 475 00:45:55,919 --> 00:46:02,749 the oncoming lane, then I'm okay with it, all right? But, yes, because it's funny how vocabulary. And, you 476 00:46:02,749 --> 00:46:07,669 know, that's one thing about the trucking industry that I've always loved. Um, you get a handful of 477 00:46:07,669 --> 00:46:14,030 truckers together in a room. And the vocabulary, whether it be colorful or not, that comes out you 478 00:46:14,070 --> 00:46:20,949 you learn new ways to refer to things that you never knew of before. Idioms, phrases, you name it. 479 00:46:20,949 --> 00:46:26,069 And I absolutely love it. I, I, I'm trying to learn to speak the language, fellas. So you're helping me 480 00:46:26,070 --> 00:46:31,349 out here today? Uh, because I look, if I was a new wide eyed trainee, too, I'll tell you right now, if 481 00:46:31,350 --> 00:46:36,509 somebody said suicide load, I would put the brakes on everything and say, explain that to me in 482 00:46:36,510 --> 00:46:42,989 triplicate before I get behind the wheel. Uh, because that's great, man. Well, uh, 483 00:46:43,550 --> 00:46:48,110 let's talk about, uh, now that we've, I, I wanted to lighten the mood a little bit because now I want 484 00:46:48,110 --> 00:46:54,628 to come to sort of the other side of things. Um, is there is there a time, Rufus, that you've 485 00:46:54,629 --> 00:47:01,629 maybe prevented a trainee from something, uh, from, you know, having something very bad happen to them 486 00:47:01,629 --> 00:47:07,509 during the training. Uh, I wonder this because, listen, you're you're through CTC, or maybe you got 487 00:47:07,509 --> 00:47:11,669 your CDL someplace else. You've been through orientation, you've gotten a lot of the 488 00:47:11,710 --> 00:47:16,989 instruction. Uh, but getting out there and actually doing it is obviously a learning experience. 489 00:47:16,989 --> 00:47:21,829 That's why these guys are with you. Um, can you think about Rufus? A time where maybe you 490 00:47:21,829 --> 00:47:28,829 prevented something, uh, from happening and kind of just. I guess what I would say is put it in 491 00:47:28,830 --> 00:47:33,509 perspective for the guys that are thinking about becoming trainers, because this is a serious part 492 00:47:33,509 --> 00:47:39,149 of the job, too, right? We've had we had Adolf Metzger on this show. Um, and he told us a story 493 00:47:39,149 --> 00:47:44,110 when he was training about, uh, a gentleman that that, uh, actually passed away in the driver's seat 494 00:47:44,110 --> 00:47:50,469 when he was driving. And it was a very harrowing story. And fortunately, uh, Adolf was okay. That was 495 00:47:50,470 --> 00:47:55,269 a that was a medical event that happened. It wasn't an accident. Um, Adolf was able to get the 496 00:47:55,269 --> 00:48:01,100 car to the truck over to the side of the road and and be safe. But this type of stuff can happen. And 497 00:48:01,100 --> 00:48:06,418 I don't want to have this whole episode go by without, you know, talking about the maybe the 498 00:48:06,419 --> 00:48:11,340 tougher parts of being a trainer from time to time. So anything that comes to mind there, Rufus, 499 00:48:11,340 --> 00:48:16,459 where you've stepped in and kind of been the, uh, the prevention mode from something very bad 500 00:48:16,459 --> 00:48:23,018 happening with the trainee. So I can't say I've had anything very detrimental 501 00:48:23,139 --> 00:48:29,459 yet. Thank God you know, that's happened. But you just you always 502 00:48:29,459 --> 00:48:35,979 have to be ready and be on your P's and Q's and tell my 503 00:48:35,979 --> 00:48:42,860 trainees the day that you stop being afraid of this truck and 504 00:48:42,860 --> 00:48:48,459 afraid of what it can do when you get too comfortable driving this truck, when you get 505 00:48:48,459 --> 00:48:55,128 afraid of the weight that you're pushing, you know that is when you're going to get in trouble. 506 00:48:55,530 --> 00:49:02,168 I've been driving this truck, you know, not long. I've been driving, you know, full. And every day I 507 00:49:02,290 --> 00:49:09,169 get in this truck, I still tell my trainees. I am still afraid. I am still afraid of this truck. So, 508 00:49:09,409 --> 00:49:15,649 you know, you just remind them of that. You remind them of their speed. You know what they're hauling. 509 00:49:15,770 --> 00:49:22,049 You know what this truck can do. So. But luckily, like I said, I haven't gotten to that 510 00:49:22,050 --> 00:49:27,649 situation yet to where there's been something detrimental. We've had, you know, close calls or 511 00:49:27,649 --> 00:49:33,889 maybe bumping something here or there. You know, I've had some close calls, but, you know, that's 512 00:49:33,929 --> 00:49:40,009 prevented, but nothing very detrimental yet. Thank God. Thank God for that. How about you, Joey? 513 00:49:42,449 --> 00:49:49,409 Yeah, actually, uh. This was a memorial day. Weekend, so we had. Or. Excuse me, it was the 514 00:49:49,409 --> 00:49:55,839 following weekend after Memorial Day. So we had that Monday off. I had a guy, he was seven. Weaker. 515 00:49:57,040 --> 00:50:03,999 Good guy, great guy. He was from Ocala. Uh, he was actually able to. He drove his. He drove his car 516 00:50:04,000 --> 00:50:07,919 to the hotel. Was willing to meet me, which was great, because, you know, I can get my day started a 517 00:50:07,919 --> 00:50:12,759 little bit earlier rather than having to wait for the the guys to come in on the shuttle, they're 518 00:50:12,759 --> 00:50:19,479 usually there about 8:00. Um, so, you know, he had a good attitude. I mean, good guy just 519 00:50:19,520 --> 00:50:25,759 wasn't really all that receptive. It's like he he listened to you. And then it was like, whatever you 520 00:50:25,760 --> 00:50:32,759 just said goes in one ear and out the other. And I was aware of that. So, like, you know, I do what I 521 00:50:32,759 --> 00:50:37,839 do with most of my guys, unless you're, you know, ten years of experience coming back. I drove the 522 00:50:37,840 --> 00:50:44,679 whole first day. So, you know, he I'll give him that. He only had Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. 523 00:50:44,840 --> 00:50:50,159 Um, and this happened on Friday. We were up in Brunswick a little bit slower. We were up in 524 00:50:50,159 --> 00:50:56,719 Brunswick running just a load of drywall up to a place called capital. For whatever 525 00:50:56,719 --> 00:51:02,399 reason, they were super slow over there. I mean, it was one load. We were up there 9:00 in the morning, 526 00:51:02,400 --> 00:51:09,120 and I don't think we got empty until closer to 4:00 430. Wow. And it rained. So, like, 527 00:51:09,399 --> 00:51:16,239 you know, I'm hustling to get the drywall covered back up after we'd already broken down. So 528 00:51:16,360 --> 00:51:23,079 we got, you know, rained on. Wasn't really. You know, I was I was a little bit pissed, right? Like, I'm 529 00:51:23,080 --> 00:51:27,559 like, first of all, I made no money. Second of all, I got rained on. Third of all, we're still up here in 530 00:51:27,560 --> 00:51:34,439 Brunswick, and we we still have the entire load on the trailer. Um, so, you know, we're leaving, and I'm 531 00:51:34,439 --> 00:51:41,279 explaining to this guy like, listen, man, we're empty. It's still pouring down rain. And it 532 00:51:41,280 --> 00:51:46,158 was it was the first rain that, you know, the, the the southeast, you know, North Florida, South 533 00:51:46,159 --> 00:51:51,269 Georgia had had in quite some time. So those roads are going to be extra wet, extra slick, and I 534 00:51:51,269 --> 00:51:56,470 explained that to them and it's like, listen. Like I'll walk you through every step of the way, but 535 00:51:56,470 --> 00:52:02,628 just be very mindful of your speed and your following distance. Um, so we're pulling out of 536 00:52:02,629 --> 00:52:09,468 this plate, getting on to, uh, I think it's Golden Isles Parkway. It's like exit 36 or something like 537 00:52:09,469 --> 00:52:16,029 that. Real, real short little turn before we're back on the interstate. Um, and it was a 538 00:52:16,389 --> 00:52:22,030 it was blind for me, and the passengers feet were making a right. We had just missed the light, which, 539 00:52:22,070 --> 00:52:27,989 you know, every trainee is like, oh, man, now we gotta sit and wait. And it's like, yes, we do. No big 540 00:52:27,990 --> 00:52:33,749 deal. Happens every day. Happens every day. Three minutes. Three minutes, maybe passes. And then we 541 00:52:33,750 --> 00:52:39,948 can go like we're fine. So, you know, a minute or two passes. He's getting impatient, worried about 542 00:52:39,949 --> 00:52:44,509 the cars behind him. I'm like, don't worry about it. We're fine. We're fine. Just wait until that light 543 00:52:44,550 --> 00:52:51,259 turns green because we had a right hand turn. It was technically a yield. The cars that were next 544 00:52:51,260 --> 00:52:57,259 to us had a double left hand turn. So I was like, just wait for that green arrow for them and then 545 00:52:57,260 --> 00:53:04,100 we know we're good. Okay, okay. Well, he just decides to take off. And I guess what he 546 00:53:04,100 --> 00:53:09,300 thought was it was a break in traffic, not enough for a semi truck to get out. Maybe enough for a 547 00:53:09,300 --> 00:53:15,259 car or motorcycle to get out where he saw the traffic that was coming 548 00:53:15,979 --> 00:53:22,939 onto the road that we were coming off of. Turning left, he saw 1 or 2 cars able to go because 549 00:53:22,939 --> 00:53:29,698 of the break in traffic. I'm like, okay, like, yeah, must have been because I couldn't see the the 550 00:53:29,699 --> 00:53:34,699 light turn green and in the back of my mind I'm like, did it ever turn green? And then sure enough, 551 00:53:34,740 --> 00:53:40,138 you know, I'm looking in the hood mirror and I see headlights. And, you know, if I was. Whoa, whoa whoa 552 00:53:40,139 --> 00:53:45,100 whoa whoa. You know, I think if I hadn't said that, we'd have. We'd ended up with this little car. I 553 00:53:45,100 --> 00:53:50,050 think it was a Buick. We did. We did drag them right underneath us. Oh, jeez. Um, but you were able 554 00:53:50,050 --> 00:53:56,249 to get him stopped? Yeah. You were stopped dead in his tracks. And, you know, 555 00:53:56,929 --> 00:54:03,849 thankfully, the car stopped, too. So, you know, we were able to avoid that. That accident. Um, and 556 00:54:03,850 --> 00:54:08,089 then, you know, he was just kind of backpedaling, like, well, no, he was stopped at the light, and then 557 00:54:08,090 --> 00:54:15,089 he just decided to go, and I'm like, ah, I don't know. And this was a Friday. So Saturday morning I 558 00:54:15,090 --> 00:54:20,090 called someone that could get me, you know, video footage. And we saw that indeed he had just pulled 559 00:54:20,090 --> 00:54:26,809 right out in front of the guy. So it was just a situation of, you know, not paying attention to, 560 00:54:27,169 --> 00:54:32,249 you know, your surroundings, right? Like, I call it tunnel vision. They're focused on this one part of 561 00:54:32,249 --> 00:54:37,570 the road, but you've got many different moving parts. And he just he just wasn't receptive to 562 00:54:37,610 --> 00:54:42,610 that. Sure. Well, thank God you were there. And and you were able to get him stopped beforehand 563 00:54:42,610 --> 00:54:46,999 because it sounds like you avoided what could have been a pretty serious accident there, fellas. 564 00:54:47,040 --> 00:54:53,679 And I mean, listen, that's that's all you can ask for. And listen, I don't I don't bring that 565 00:54:53,680 --> 00:54:58,959 part of the job up lightly. I bring it up because I think it's important that guys that are out 566 00:54:58,959 --> 00:55:03,360 there listening to this right now and thinking about it, understand that that is a part of the 567 00:55:03,360 --> 00:55:08,519 job and maybe it doesn't happen. Maybe you're you're like Rufus and and you're sitting there 568 00:55:08,520 --> 00:55:13,559 saying, hey, thank God we haven't been in that situation yet. But you also heard Rufus say, uh, 569 00:55:13,600 --> 00:55:18,279 he's still afraid of that truck. He's got a lot of respect for that piece of equipment. And that's 570 00:55:18,279 --> 00:55:24,719 why, because you know that it could only be seconds, fractions of a second, even between, uh, 571 00:55:24,719 --> 00:55:29,359 between everything going fine and absolute disaster. And and that's a that's an important 572 00:55:29,360 --> 00:55:35,439 part of what we're talking about here. Um, fellas, this has been great. I know you guys are busy. I've 573 00:55:35,439 --> 00:55:41,158 had you here for almost 50 minutes. I want to get you back to, uh, to to your job and or to your week 574 00:55:41,159 --> 00:55:47,359 or whatever you guys got going on here. But, uh, I also want to say thank you very much for the time 575 00:55:47,360 --> 00:55:52,678 and just the insight here. This has been such an informative episode. I feel like I want to become 576 00:55:52,679 --> 00:55:57,519 a trainer, and I've never even been behind the wheel at this point, but you guys have me very 577 00:55:57,520 --> 00:56:01,719 excited about it. It's really cool to have two people that take a lot of pride in doing this and 578 00:56:01,719 --> 00:56:07,240 doing it right, and teaching the next crop of drivers how to do it right. Um, every single time 579 00:56:07,240 --> 00:56:11,599 we welcome somebody on the show, guys, we give them the opportunity to share their final thoughts 580 00:56:11,600 --> 00:56:16,560 with us. And this can be anything. If you want to shout out the wife and kids back at home, you can 581 00:56:16,560 --> 00:56:21,519 do it if you want to, uh, you know, talk about something that maybe we left on the table that 582 00:56:21,519 --> 00:56:26,519 you think is an important aspect of this conversation. You can do it. The point is, the floor 583 00:56:26,519 --> 00:56:32,279 is yours. You can take as much time as you like. Uh, Joey. And torture will start with you, man. First 584 00:56:32,279 --> 00:56:37,199 and foremost, thank you so much for joining us here today on the Cypress Truck Lines podcast. And, 585 00:56:37,199 --> 00:56:42,958 uh, second beyond that, final thoughts from you before we let you go today? No, I mean, I think we, 586 00:56:43,000 --> 00:56:48,908 we we covered a lot. I mean, we covered a lot more than than I could even think of. But this is your 587 00:56:48,909 --> 00:56:55,589 bread and butter, right? Um, you're good at it. And, uh, I just I guess I'll. I'll leave it here. Uh, 588 00:56:55,590 --> 00:57:01,909 I appreciate the invite. And, uh, you know, if you ever need me back on the show, you just let me 589 00:57:01,909 --> 00:57:08,590 know. Uh, we'll shout out Jimmy Henry, because that's my boy. You know, he had a good time having 590 00:57:08,590 --> 00:57:15,189 Rufus on his truck. And, uh, shout out to Brad. He was the trainer and, uh, shout, shout out 591 00:57:15,189 --> 00:57:21,149 Cypress truck. Love it. Man, I love I love it when we get some good shout outs in the Final Thoughts 592 00:57:21,149 --> 00:57:26,110 segment. Joey and you are welcome back on the show anytime my friend. We greatly appreciate the time 593 00:57:26,110 --> 00:57:30,669 you've given us today. I know you guys are busy. I know you got a lot going on during your week and 594 00:57:30,669 --> 00:57:35,349 and getting this much time with you and this much insight, uh, is so valuable to what we're doing 595 00:57:35,349 --> 00:57:40,429 here on the Cypress Truck Lines podcast. We greatly appreciate the time. Joey, uh, be safe with 596 00:57:40,429 --> 00:57:45,860 you and your trainer out there, okay? And we'll have you back on here soon. Yes, sir. My pleasure. Uh, 597 00:57:45,860 --> 00:57:50,899 Rufus, final thoughts from you, my friend, before we let you go today. Thank you so much for the time. 598 00:57:51,300 --> 00:57:57,780 Hey, first of all, thank you. I'm honored. Ecstatic for you guys to invite me on. Um. Very 599 00:57:57,820 --> 00:58:04,420 humble. Um, just to give a shout out to all the trainers out there. Just shout out to them. You 600 00:58:04,420 --> 00:58:10,579 know, thanks for what you do. Thanks to Cypress for giving us the opportunity. Thanks to them for 601 00:58:10,580 --> 00:58:16,939 being a very good company and for always having our back. Um, that's very important when you're 602 00:58:16,939 --> 00:58:22,059 trying to do something that you know someone and that your company, they stand behind you and they 603 00:58:22,059 --> 00:58:27,659 have your back when you're right. So just shout out to everybody. Shout out to you for having us 604 00:58:27,659 --> 00:58:34,379 on. Um, like Joyce said, you can tell you you're very good at what you do. Um, likewise. As I know, 605 00:58:34,379 --> 00:58:41,370 Joey, um, he's good at what he does. And I would like to think that I'm good at what I do. So 606 00:58:41,370 --> 00:58:46,569 hey, just a shout out to everybody. And hey, like Joey said, anytime you need me, feel free to reach 607 00:58:46,569 --> 00:58:52,089 out. I'm always glad to step in and help. Oh, fellas, I can't thank you enough, man. You guys are making 608 00:58:52,090 --> 00:58:57,928 me blush here. I, I you know, I love it when people enjoy their time here on the show. And, uh, you guys 609 00:58:57,929 --> 00:59:03,409 have given us so much great information today. You're both welcome back. Anytime you want. Uh, I 610 00:59:03,409 --> 00:59:08,449 like to say this on record so that other drivers hear it. You guys have got my phone number, and 611 00:59:08,449 --> 00:59:13,489 that phone goes both ways. If you want to come back on this show, all you got to do is reach out 612 00:59:13,490 --> 00:59:18,529 to me. And that goes for every single Cypress and Sun Belt driver out there that's got my number. 613 00:59:18,569 --> 00:59:23,489 Shoot me a text, give me a call. Even if you just want to chop it up for a few minutes, I'm good for 614 00:59:23,490 --> 00:59:28,529 it. That's what I do. Uh, I talk way too much. My wife needs you guys to get in touch with me so I 615 00:59:28,530 --> 00:59:34,969 don't talk her ear off when the day is over. Okay, fellas. Uh, and and, uh, Rufus, let's give one more 616 00:59:34,969 --> 00:59:39,689 shout out to those twin girls ears back at home, man. Let's, uh, we'll make sure make some room for 617 00:59:39,689 --> 00:59:44,769 them as well. Uh, I know you guys, uh, it's a tough job that you work and always love it when we hear 618 00:59:44,770 --> 00:59:48,969 a little bit about the family life back at home here on the show. So thanks for bringing that to 619 00:59:48,970 --> 00:59:55,369 us as well. Absolutely. You know, those are my girls. They're. They're my heartbeat. My family. I love my 620 00:59:55,370 --> 01:00:02,168 family on it. You know, it's easy to do what you do when you have people behind you, supporting you. Um, 621 01:00:02,209 --> 01:00:08,929 they support me a lot. Um, they get me through a lot. So. Hey, shout outs to them. Absolutely. Uh, Joey. 622 01:00:08,929 --> 01:00:13,929 Rufus, again, thank you both for your time today. You guys be safe out there. We'll get you back in 623 01:00:13,929 --> 01:00:19,129 here again soon. Okay, fellas? Thanks, Marcus. Yes, sir. Thanks, Marcus. 624 01:00:27,169 --> 01:00:33,769 Hats off to Joey and Rufus, man. What an awesome segment that was. I gotta be honest with you, if 625 01:00:33,770 --> 01:00:39,039 you're out there thinking about it, you've got most of the information at this point in time. we 626 01:00:39,040 --> 01:00:43,239 might have missed on on a couple of things. We might have left out some of the logistics of 627 01:00:43,240 --> 01:00:48,919 actually making this happen for you. But as far as what the job itself entails and how to go about 628 01:00:48,919 --> 01:00:55,439 it and what mindset to have going into it, you just heard it all. Uh, Rufus and Joey, man 629 01:00:55,439 --> 01:01:01,839 again. They did such a great job, and I teased it a little bit in the intro there. I told you they 630 01:01:01,839 --> 01:01:06,999 were going to say something that really brings this whole thing home for me. Um, having those guys 631 01:01:07,000 --> 01:01:12,999 both thank me for the invite. That blows me away. Man. I can't tell you how full my heart is right 632 01:01:12,999 --> 01:01:18,799 now. All I want is for as many of you guys that want to take part in this, to come on and take 633 01:01:18,799 --> 01:01:24,600 part in it. And I want to remind you all that if you haven't been reached out to by me yet and 634 01:01:24,600 --> 01:01:30,319 you're sitting there listening to these episodes week after week saying, when's will be my time? Go 635 01:01:30,319 --> 01:01:36,999 to the website podcast.cypresstruck.com and send me a message. All right. I've had drivers do it before. 636 01:01:37,000 --> 01:01:42,190 It's okay if you just say, hey, I want to be involved. I don't care what we're talking about. 637 01:01:42,229 --> 01:01:47,430 Shoot me a message. If you have something very specific that you want to hear about, shoot me a 638 01:01:47,430 --> 01:01:53,029 message. Do not let the opportunity pass. It's real quick. It's easy to send me an email. It hits me 639 01:01:53,030 --> 01:01:58,229 right in the pocket. Doesn't matter if I'm on the golf course, if I'm at band practice, or if I'm 640 01:01:58,230 --> 01:02:03,350 just hanging out with the wife watching TV, I will get the message and I will get back to you, 641 01:02:03,350 --> 01:02:10,270 because that's that. That's what we're missing. By not getting more and more people on is fantastic 642 01:02:10,270 --> 01:02:17,069 content. Like what Joey and Rufus just brought you. Um, that was so in-depth and it gave such a great 643 01:02:17,069 --> 01:02:23,709 peek behind the curtain of what being a driver trainer at Cypress is all about. Um, and to have 644 01:02:23,710 --> 01:02:29,829 them thank me, I, I thank them like 20 times because I couldn't imagine that it would have 645 01:02:29,830 --> 01:02:34,869 been that great of a segment. And here at the end, these two guys are coming on telling me they're 646 01:02:34,910 --> 01:02:40,458 humbled by the opportunity, and they can't thank me. Come on, man. You're making me blush over here. 647 01:02:40,459 --> 01:02:46,339 But that's what it's all about. This, this, uh, this Cypress is a community. It's a family. We've learned 648 01:02:46,339 --> 01:02:53,219 that on this on this podcast, uh, over 31 episodes now. And I'm very fortunate to be a part of 649 01:02:53,220 --> 01:02:59,059 it. And what I want to do is get as many of you involved as possible. Uh, we got two more guys that 650 01:02:59,060 --> 01:03:04,458 I hope will become regulars on this show with Joey and Rufus today. I will be calling them back, 651 01:03:04,459 --> 01:03:11,380 for sure. Uh, because those guys, one thing that I really loved about Joey and Rufus both is 652 01:03:11,419 --> 01:03:17,619 they weren't afraid to open up and talk a little bit more in depth about the topic of the subject 653 01:03:17,619 --> 01:03:22,859 matter here today. Excuse me. Um, I, I'm blushing so much that I'm tripping over my own tongue. I'm 654 01:03:22,859 --> 01:03:29,259 supposed to be the pro here. Come on, Marcus, get it together. Um, but, you know, I get it again. I said 655 01:03:29,259 --> 01:03:33,899 this in the open. It's weird when a dude from Oregon on a Tuesday calls you and just asks you 656 01:03:33,899 --> 01:03:39,888 to come on a podcast. Um, but I promise you, I'll make it as easy on you as I can. And, uh, we will 657 01:03:39,889 --> 01:03:45,489 have a good conversation because we're all here for the same reason. Uh, we want Cypress truck 658 01:03:45,489 --> 01:03:52,009 lines to continue to operate safely, efficiently, and have such a great crop of drivers, not only 659 01:03:52,009 --> 01:03:56,249 the ones that are very experienced, but the new ones that are coming on, the guys that are 660 01:03:56,250 --> 01:04:02,570 becoming driver trainers, the guys that have been training for years. CTC with Ken and the boys, uh, 661 01:04:02,570 --> 01:04:09,129 orientation with Randy and the boys. I mean, this is what it's all about. And I feel very fortunate, 662 01:04:09,129 --> 01:04:14,809 very blessed today, uh, to be the guy that got to welcome Rufus and Joey and have that conversation. 663 01:04:14,809 --> 01:04:20,049 And that's just the start of it, fellas. Uh, ladies, gentlemen, we can have as many of these as you 664 01:04:20,049 --> 01:04:26,849 want. Once again, all you have to do is go and, uh, send me a message. If you know somebody, uh, maybe 665 01:04:26,850 --> 01:04:31,449 you're pals with somebody that we've talked to on this show. They will have my phone number and they 666 01:04:31,449 --> 01:04:37,929 will give it to you. But if you just want to send me an email once again. podcast.cypresstruck.com, we 667 01:04:37,929 --> 01:04:43,889 found out a lot today about what it entails to be a driver trainer at Cypress Truck Lines. We found 668 01:04:43,889 --> 01:04:50,369 out what it takes to actually make it happen. Um, you know, you heard Rufus say, like I thought from 669 01:04:50,370 --> 01:04:54,849 the minute I said in this truck, I've always liked to teach. I've always liked to give back. I've 670 01:04:54,849 --> 01:05:00,528 always liked to pass down knowledge. He was he was waiting for the opportunity. Joey, it kind of 671 01:05:00,570 --> 01:05:04,889 blindsided him a little bit. In fact, he took a little bit of time to think about it until Sheree 672 01:05:04,929 --> 01:05:10,169 had to put the bug back in his ear and say, hey, what's up? You want to do this or not? Uh, he did, 673 01:05:10,169 --> 01:05:16,529 and and he's enjoying it. And another aspect to this, uh, that Joey brought up that I think is very 674 01:05:16,530 --> 01:05:22,610 important. He he said it in a few different, very creative ways. Which, man, you gotta love former 675 01:05:22,610 --> 01:05:28,529 ballplayers. Um, just like truck drivers. Ballplayers have their own language. And, uh, I 676 01:05:28,530 --> 01:05:32,879 always love it, but, uh, Joey said it a few different ways. He said you're not getting married 677 01:05:32,880 --> 01:05:37,719 here. It's not a marriage license. He also said it's not a life sentence, which is funny. I've had 678 01:05:37,719 --> 01:05:43,959 some of my friends describe their marriage as a life sentence, but the fact is, Cypress will always 679 01:05:43,959 --> 01:05:48,799 work with you. We found that out on our have it Your Way episode how ops makes this whole thing 680 01:05:48,800 --> 01:05:54,959 happen. Um, that's just the kind of the blood that pumps through Cypress as a company. They're not 681 01:05:54,959 --> 01:06:00,919 going to, uh, get you to, to sign on to becoming a driver trainer and then hamstring you at that. If 682 01:06:00,920 --> 01:06:05,199 it doesn't work for you that week, they're going to be okay with that. There's no hard feelings 683 01:06:05,199 --> 01:06:10,639 there. And, uh, fortunately, we've got enough really good trainers here at Cypress Truck Lines that we 684 01:06:10,680 --> 01:06:15,519 don't have to worry about it if if this week Joey doesn't want to take somebody or maybe Rufus 685 01:06:15,519 --> 01:06:20,319 doesn't want to take somebody, uh, there'll be somebody else to put them in the truck with and 686 01:06:20,319 --> 01:06:27,159 still get that stellar training on how to become a safe and efficient Cypress truck lines driver. 687 01:06:27,320 --> 01:06:32,269 Um, and we've had a lot of trainers on this show. Some of the guys that come on this show that are 688 01:06:32,270 --> 01:06:38,069 driver trainers, you don't even know it because we're not talking about that aspect of the job. Um, 689 01:06:38,069 --> 01:06:44,749 but I will tell you right now, if you're fortunate enough to, to get a job at Cypress, the training 690 01:06:44,750 --> 01:06:50,708 is going to be there for you. I've been making podcast episodes for truck drivers for almost 691 01:06:50,709 --> 01:06:57,189 four years now. I've probably got somewhere between, I don't know, four and 500 episodes under 692 01:06:57,190 --> 01:07:02,389 my belt. That's a lot of truck drivers I've talked to, because we try to feature multiple drivers on 693 01:07:02,389 --> 01:07:09,310 every episode. And I will tell you that some companies, not Cypress, but some other companies, uh, 694 01:07:09,310 --> 01:07:16,109 don't take training quite as seriously as what Cypress does, and they don't bestow the 695 01:07:16,109 --> 01:07:22,869 responsibility in the way that Cypress does. And they don't make people, um, feel as whole 696 01:07:22,869 --> 01:07:28,188 working for the company as what Cypress does. And that's one of the reasons we wanted to make this 697 01:07:28,189 --> 01:07:33,819 episode today. We've seen that over our time working with Cypress, and we thought, this is a 698 01:07:33,900 --> 01:07:40,179 spotlight type thing. We need to shine a spotlight on these guys and talk to some of them about why 699 01:07:40,180 --> 01:07:46,099 they're here. Um, you know, we we brought up some of the great trainers, Brad Hollinger, uh, Jimmy Hendry, 700 01:07:46,139 --> 01:07:51,179 Angela Scotto, these guys, a couple of them have even been on the show before. We've had Angel on, 701 01:07:51,179 --> 01:07:57,739 and we'll get him back on hopefully sometime in the future. Um, but when we had Angel on, uh, gosh, 702 01:07:57,740 --> 01:08:03,059 it's been it's been quite a while. But I remember saying during that episode, man, I can tell how 703 01:08:03,100 --> 01:08:07,898 dedicated to this you are. There might not be a more dedicated guy running around out there than 704 01:08:07,939 --> 01:08:13,939 Angel, uh, but Rufus and, uh, and Joey and and Brad and Jimmy, all these guys, they're they're getting 705 01:08:13,940 --> 01:08:20,219 there. Um, you know Kevin Barrett? Yeah. He's been a trainer before. Tony Miller, trainer. Adolph Metzger, 706 01:08:20,259 --> 01:08:25,179 trainer. Those guys were just on the show last week. Um, they're dedicated not only to this job, 707 01:08:25,180 --> 01:08:29,579 but to this company. And for great reason. It's because the company has shown that they're also 708 01:08:29,579 --> 01:08:36,339 dedicated to these guys as drivers, as trainers and as people. Um, as not a number, but as a 709 01:08:36,339 --> 01:08:42,579 person and, uh, a person that they have to remain always faithful to. Semper fi. That's, that's more 710 01:08:42,580 --> 01:08:48,019 of the lifeblood running through Cypress truck lines and Sun Belt as well. Um, I can't say enough 711 01:08:48,020 --> 01:08:53,659 good things about this episode. I've already been saying good things for 8.5 minutes here on this 712 01:08:53,699 --> 01:08:59,299 outro, and it was supposed to be like a four minute outro. My producer Scott and my editor Mike 713 01:08:59,299 --> 01:09:04,778 right now are sitting there twiddling their thumbs, going, get on with it. We've we've passed 714 01:09:04,779 --> 01:09:10,579 the one hour mark, but hey, I just have more nice things to say. I want to go ahead and say em. I 715 01:09:10,580 --> 01:09:15,819 want to remind you all, if you want to be involved in this podcast, we will make room for you. Send me 716 01:09:15,819 --> 01:09:20,939 a message. Uh, get my phone number from any one of the guys that's been on this show before, or any 717 01:09:20,940 --> 01:09:26,019 one of the penguins, they will gladly hook you up. Clay will get you in touch with me. Sheree will 718 01:09:26,019 --> 01:09:31,369 get you in touch with me. There's just no end to how you can get in touch with me if you want to 719 01:09:31,370 --> 01:09:36,329 be involved in this podcast. We saw two new guys come in here today and absolutely knock it out of 720 01:09:36,329 --> 01:09:43,329 the park. True. Pros. Uh, so once again, thank you to Joey Intorcia and Rufus Freeman for what 721 01:09:43,329 --> 01:09:48,048 they brought you today. We're going to keep doing this. We got a new one coming for you next 722 01:09:48,049 --> 01:09:53,729 Wednesday, 5 a.m. local time every single week here on the Cypress Truck Lines podcast. So if you 723 01:09:53,730 --> 01:09:59,609 want to be involved, we want to involve you. Stay safe out there. Uh, keep the shiny side up, if you 724 01:09:59,609 --> 01:10:04,769 know what I'm saying. And we will talk to you next week here on another episode of the Cypress Truck 725 01:10:04,770 --> 01:10:06,528 Lines podcast. Be good.