The Weight of the Miles: Mental Health OTR

1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:06,320 Real quick here. Before we get into episode 15, we want to take a moment to recognize Memorial Day 2 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:12,000 for what it truly is. For a lot of people, Memorial Day means cookouts, family gathering, the 3 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:17,319 unofficial start of summer, and maybe just a rare chance to slow down for a minute. And there's 4 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:22,840 nothing wrong with that. You should enjoy those moments, that freedom to gather with the people 5 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:29,000 you love and care about is part of what this country was built on. But while we enjoy these 6 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:34,559 things, we also have to remember the reason this day exists in the first place. Memorial day is 7 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:40,840 about the more than 1 million American service members who never made it home. Men and women who 8 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:46,800 sacrificed their futures, their time with family, and ultimately their lives in service to 9 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:52,560 something bigger than themselves. And behind every fallen service member is a family that carried 10 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:59,549 that sacrifice to parents, spouses, children, friends, people who still feel 11 00:00:59,549 --> 00:01:06,509 that absence every single day at bulk. We know sacrifice means something. Time away from 12 00:01:06,510 --> 00:01:12,469 home means something. Missing holidays, birthdays, ballgames, dinners and moments with the people you 13 00:01:12,470 --> 00:01:19,469 love. Is something drivers understand better than most. That's why today matters. So however you 14 00:01:19,470 --> 00:01:24,870 spend Memorial Day, we just ask that you take a moment to pause and remember the people who gave 15 00:01:24,870 --> 00:01:31,190 everything so the rest of us could have the life we live today. From all of us here at always 16 00:01:31,190 --> 00:01:36,389 pneumatic, never static. We honor the fallen. We remember their sacrifice, and we thank the 17 00:01:36,389 --> 00:01:39,709 families who continue to carry their legacy forward. 18 00:01:43,190 --> 00:01:49,710 You know, out here, the job doesn't change much. Same road, same truck, same routine. But what does 19 00:01:49,710 --> 00:01:56,030 change is what's going on upstairs. And that's the part that nobody can really train you for. Nobody 20 00:01:56,030 --> 00:02:00,699 sits down in orientation and says, hey, here's how you handle the quiet. Here's how you deal with 21 00:02:00,699 --> 00:02:05,339 being gone. Here's how you help keep your head right when it's just you in the windshield for 22 00:02:05,339 --> 00:02:12,020 hours on end. Because the truth is, every driver figures that part out their own way. Some guys 23 00:02:12,020 --> 00:02:18,899 stay connected. Some stay busy, some stay moving. Some just learn how to sit with it. So today, 24 00:02:18,899 --> 00:02:24,179 we're not getting into anybody's past. We're not making this heavy. We're talking about the real 25 00:02:24,179 --> 00:02:29,580 side of this job that doesn't show up on a load sheet. How you stay steady out there, how you 26 00:02:29,580 --> 00:02:36,059 manage the isolation and exactly what it takes to keep your mind right when the road gets long. 27 00:02:38,259 --> 00:02:43,580 You are listening to always pneumatic, never static. The Totally Pressurized podcast, brought to 28 00:02:43,580 --> 00:02:49,139 you by Bulk Transit, where we keep the lines clear, the tanks empty, and the conversation anything but 29 00:02:49,139 --> 00:02:53,940 dried. Whether you're running powder, pellets or anything in between, pull up a seat, crack the 30 00:02:53,940 --> 00:03:00,729 windows, and let's hit it. What's happening out there? Bulk and Spur. 31 00:03:00,729 --> 00:03:06,929 Welcome into always pneumatic, never static. Thank you so much for being here with us today. We have 32 00:03:06,929 --> 00:03:12,209 a great episode with you for you today with you technically if I was sitting with you, but since 33 00:03:12,210 --> 00:03:17,529 I'm not, it is an episode for you. A couple awesome drivers coming in here to join us in just a 34 00:03:17,529 --> 00:03:22,369 little bit. We'll get to that. I will tell you what they're going to join us to talk about. But first 35 00:03:22,369 --> 00:03:28,129 let's hit the homework so we can really keep everything packaged tightly. Today in this episode 36 00:03:28,210 --> 00:03:33,529 podcast.bulktransit.com. That is your website. That's where most of you are listening to this 37 00:03:33,529 --> 00:03:38,249 podcast from. So head on over there and put the bookmark on it. This keeps you from having to 38 00:03:38,250 --> 00:03:43,289 download any other apps that you might not want. Uh, going through Spotify and looking for it, going 39 00:03:43,329 --> 00:03:48,689 through Apple and looking for it. Hey, if you head on over to podcast.bulktransit.com, you've got 40 00:03:48,689 --> 00:03:53,809 everything that the podcast is involved in right there. All of our episodes, all the people, all the 41 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:59,160 information. All the people that we've talked to and a little short description of what we're 42 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:04,079 talking about. Plus all of the quizzes that you can take up there, which those are going to be 43 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:08,560 important. You know, we've already given out a couple of really cool cooling vests. Uh, and I 44 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:13,240 would be willing to bet with the weather getting warmer across these great United States. Uh, those 45 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:18,759 cooling vests are going to start to be getting used very soon. Um, and here, sometime in the future, 46 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:23,759 we will be giving away more stuff on this podcast. So make sure you stay tuned not only to the 47 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:28,479 episodes, but to the website, and you're taking those quizzes once again. podcast.bulktransit.com 48 00:04:28,519 --> 00:04:35,480 Okay. Today's episode is an important one for so many reasons, but 49 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:40,359 really the main reason and the main thought behind this episode is it's Mental Health 50 00:04:40,359 --> 00:04:47,279 Awareness month. And mental health is a very important part of truck driving. Uh, 11 hours a day 51 00:04:47,280 --> 00:04:52,399 by yourself, staring out of a windshield can do some things to the six inches between your ears. 52 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:59,269 The stress of traffic. The stress of all the red tape that you guys have to be in tune to, and all 53 00:04:59,269 --> 00:05:04,630 of the, uh, the laws that you have to follow, and making sure that you operate your trailer 54 00:05:04,630 --> 00:05:10,230 correctly and making sure that you're maintaining your truck correctly. Pre trips, post trips. There 55 00:05:10,230 --> 00:05:16,988 is so much going on that the synapses might not always be able to fire enough to keep up with it 56 00:05:16,989 --> 00:05:21,910 all. And I don't mean that you just all of a sudden are drooling and can't add two plus two. 57 00:05:21,950 --> 00:05:27,229 That's not what I mean at all. What I mean is, a lot of times when you have to be so focused at a 58 00:05:27,230 --> 00:05:34,149 job like hauling pneumatic, um, you might not make as much room in your head for other things like 59 00:05:34,190 --> 00:05:40,309 family matters. Uh, you know, um, just generally kind of cleaning out the cobwebs and making sure that 60 00:05:40,309 --> 00:05:46,510 you're not having negative self-talk, that type of thing. Okay. And isolation can do that to people. 61 00:05:46,549 --> 00:05:53,500 Okay. Um, you know, uh, Stockholm syndrome is a thing, right? And and that all jokes aside here, I 62 00:05:53,500 --> 00:05:58,739 think what I'm really getting at is there's a very specific subset of the trucking industry, and 63 00:05:58,739 --> 00:06:03,100 I don't even know if I'd call it a subset. It might be the largest subset of the trucking 64 00:06:03,100 --> 00:06:09,779 industry, but that is our over-the-road drivers, people that are out on the road living out of the 65 00:06:09,779 --> 00:06:14,499 truck for any given period of time. It could be a few days, it could be a few weeks, it could be a 66 00:06:14,499 --> 00:06:19,899 few months. It doesn't really matter. Everything else kind of stays the same when you're talking 67 00:06:19,900 --> 00:06:25,299 about mental health and over-the-road trucking. And today what we wanted to do is bring in a 68 00:06:25,299 --> 00:06:31,099 couple of drivers that can talk to you about the things that they do to keep their head right out 69 00:06:31,100 --> 00:06:35,659 on the road. And what's interesting about this conversation, and I've already had the 70 00:06:35,660 --> 00:06:40,099 conversation. So I'm talking to you from the future right now. It's so cool that I get to do 71 00:06:40,099 --> 00:06:46,699 that. But something that I think is really important to understand here. 72 00:06:47,459 --> 00:06:53,049 While yes, that is the point of the conversation. I want to know what you guys do to kind of keep 73 00:06:53,049 --> 00:06:59,450 things right out there. What you're going to hear from our drivers is that even 74 00:06:59,450 --> 00:07:04,488 sometimes some of the things that they don't realize they're intentionally doing to help their 75 00:07:04,489 --> 00:07:11,409 mental health is very much intentional. It comes from almost a place of necessity. And I 76 00:07:11,410 --> 00:07:17,170 know that doesn't mean anything to you before you hear the conversation, but trust me, if you 77 00:07:17,170 --> 00:07:23,489 remember that, remember that part, that one word intentional. I think that's a really, really 78 00:07:23,489 --> 00:07:28,208 important word here. When we talk about keeping our mental health out on the road. So this 79 00:07:28,209 --> 00:07:32,609 conversation ran a little bit long. I'm going to be honest with you. We talked for almost an hour. 80 00:07:32,609 --> 00:07:37,369 And that's because, as I've told you guys before on this podcast, I'm never going to shut down a 81 00:07:37,370 --> 00:07:42,809 good conversation. And this one, well, I think that there were some nerves starting out. Those went 82 00:07:42,810 --> 00:07:48,919 away almost immediately. And what we got was some amazing conversation from our two drivers here 83 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:55,199 talking about how they stay right out there on the road, and just the little methods that they 84 00:07:55,200 --> 00:08:01,799 use to compete with the isolation, the long hours, uh, being away from home, all of that. So 85 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:07,599 without further ado, let's bring our drivers in here. Because again, I say this almost every week, 86 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:11,759 it's like we keep recording the best episode of this podcast every week. That's a really good 87 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:17,078 problem to have. Uh, this one, I think there's a lot in it for a lot of drivers to be able to take 88 00:08:17,079 --> 00:08:21,559 something from. So let's get them in here. And let's talk a little bit about keeping our head 89 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:23,199 right out there on the road. 90 00:08:31,119 --> 00:08:36,598 Welcome back into always pneumatic never static. Thank you so much for being here today. I'm really 91 00:08:36,599 --> 00:08:41,919 excited to bring my next two drivers in. Of course it's Mental Health Awareness Month and we are 92 00:08:41,999 --> 00:08:48,749 celebrating it here on the Always pneumatic Never Static podcast today. Uh, otter driving is 93 00:08:48,749 --> 00:08:54,110 a serious animal. I've talked to a lot of drivers in my career making podcast for truck drivers for 94 00:08:54,110 --> 00:09:00,069 almost four years now, and I can tell you that OTR drivers are a special breed. It's somebody that 95 00:09:00,069 --> 00:09:05,589 can put up with the isolation of being out for weeks at a time, or maybe even months. I've even 96 00:09:05,590 --> 00:09:11,029 talked to people that live in their truck and never really go. Quote unquote, home. Now, that's not 97 00:09:11,030 --> 00:09:15,629 the case that we've got today is actually one of our drivers is joining us from home time right 98 00:09:15,630 --> 00:09:22,429 now. And he's very kind to do. So. Please welcome to the show OTR driver for bulk Jackie Thomas. Jackie, 99 00:09:22,469 --> 00:09:28,229 we greatly appreciate you being here today man. Especially on your time off. Yes. That's no problem. 100 00:09:28,229 --> 00:09:34,429 I'm glad to be here. Now, Jackie. I like to get to know my drivers just a little bit beforehand. So, 101 00:09:34,430 --> 00:09:40,269 uh, tell me how long you've been driving for bulk? A little over five years now. A little over five 102 00:09:40,270 --> 00:09:47,249 years. And how long have you been driving? Total, sir. Total. Ever since 1988. Wow. So 103 00:09:47,250 --> 00:09:54,049 you were around for the Wild West? Yes, I was. How much different is 104 00:09:54,049 --> 00:10:00,968 driving today than it was in 1988, Jackie? It's terrible. It is. You had 105 00:10:01,010 --> 00:10:07,449 a you could drive out there in 1988. I have no better problems. Anybody cutting you off going 106 00:10:07,450 --> 00:10:13,089 down the interstate or whatever? Now you get cut off all the time. You. You get put off all the time 107 00:10:13,090 --> 00:10:17,849 and all that good stuff. Yeah, a lot of difference. A lot more congestion out there these days, isn't 108 00:10:17,849 --> 00:10:24,849 there? Yes it is. Yes. And what about the, uh, the advancements in the truck? Do you find 109 00:10:24,849 --> 00:10:31,489 the truck to be easier to drive now with all the technology advancements? Yes. It's very, very 110 00:10:31,489 --> 00:10:37,929 comfortable, very relaxing. And compared to the old trucks back in the 80s and 111 00:10:37,929 --> 00:10:44,520 90s. So you could they're a lot more comfortable driving, and you don't get beat up as bad. 112 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:50,439 Yes. Very comfortable. And it's automatic, which that's fine too. Yeah. You're one of the few out 113 00:10:50,439 --> 00:10:54,559 there that came from a manual and went to an automatic and was actually okay with it, you know 114 00:10:54,560 --> 00:11:01,440 that, right? Yes, I do now. I never drove a manual until five years ago. Oh, 115 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:07,599 really? Wow. Very cool. Well, well, uh, glad to have you here, Jackie. We're going to get into a lot 116 00:11:07,599 --> 00:11:12,199 more from your driving experience here. But before we get too far into it, I want to welcome our 117 00:11:12,199 --> 00:11:17,599 second guest on, uh. She's nice enough to join us from the Picton terminal where she's dispatched 118 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:23,079 out of. This is OTR driver for bulk, Stephanie Evans. Stephanie, thank you so much for being here 119 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:29,520 today. Yeah, thank you for having me. Of course. Now, how long have you been driving for Bull Stephanie? 120 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:36,279 I've been driving since October of last year. So about 6 or 7 months now. Okay. And how long 121 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:40,079 total for you is this your. Is this your first driving gig, or have you been driving for a while? 122 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:47,109 No, I was over the road for about four years. So August will be five years driving 123 00:11:47,390 --> 00:11:52,950 trucks. Very cool. And, uh, when when you're out over the road about, uh, it's a question I should have 124 00:11:52,950 --> 00:11:59,749 asked Jackie, too, but about how long do you stay out when you go out over the road? Um, with bulk, 125 00:11:59,789 --> 00:12:06,390 it never more than just overnight or two days or something of that nature. Um, but 126 00:12:06,390 --> 00:12:13,189 prior to this, I would say out 30 to 60 days at a time. Oh, wow. Okay. So long time for for your prior 127 00:12:13,189 --> 00:12:20,030 experience. And you were out for for big stretches. Yeah. That's just as we traveled, um, coast to 128 00:12:20,030 --> 00:12:26,909 coast and then Canada border to Mexico. Border. Okay, now I can ask you this question. 129 00:12:26,909 --> 00:12:31,909 Kind of imagining what your answer is going to be because of where you're at. But did you like 130 00:12:31,909 --> 00:12:36,229 staying out for 30 to 60 days at a time, or are you more, uh, one of those people that would like 131 00:12:36,229 --> 00:12:42,659 to get back every couple of days? So it has its, um, pros and cons. So 132 00:12:43,020 --> 00:12:49,779 where I've been, I'm kind of from Appalachian region. Um, and I've never 133 00:12:49,780 --> 00:12:55,459 really been anywhere. You know, coming from generational poverty. So to be able to go and see 134 00:12:55,460 --> 00:13:00,699 all of these amazing things across the country that I could never afford for these vacations, and 135 00:13:00,700 --> 00:13:07,659 we're I'm doing resets available to go to Las Vegas or LA or 136 00:13:07,700 --> 00:13:13,779 New York, New York, and just all over the country and seeing everything it. 137 00:13:14,419 --> 00:13:21,260 Um, but I do like to come home. Yeah. That was the the pool for 138 00:13:21,260 --> 00:13:27,939 bulk transit is in. Coming here is the opportunity to have a quality of life with human 139 00:13:27,939 --> 00:13:34,859 connection and not just the virus. Absolutely. The isolation is the one thing I always wonder about 140 00:13:34,859 --> 00:13:41,569 with those big long, coast to coast runs in and staying out for so long. Stephanie, I'm curious how 141 00:13:41,569 --> 00:13:45,609 you dealt with that because you're on one hand, you've got all this excitement of seeing all 142 00:13:45,609 --> 00:13:50,169 these places that you want to see, but on the other hand, you're doing it by yourself. How did 143 00:13:50,169 --> 00:13:54,650 you compete with that out there? Were you taking lots of pictures? Always in touch with family, 144 00:13:54,650 --> 00:14:00,689 letting them know what you were seeing? What? What was your M.O. out there? So, yeah, pictures just 145 00:14:00,690 --> 00:14:07,530 come with it. Mostly it was learning from some of the drivers that have been out here for 146 00:14:07,530 --> 00:14:13,889 a long time, or the company that I was with. Finding other drivers with in that 147 00:14:13,889 --> 00:14:20,728 company, like as you park at night or something like that to talk or whatever it may be. 148 00:14:20,729 --> 00:14:27,049 But majority of the time I just put myself first. And when I'm putting myself or my truck 149 00:14:27,049 --> 00:14:33,529 first, I rarely have time for anything else. Sure, it's a very detail oriented job, and you have to 150 00:14:33,569 --> 00:14:40,479 focus, right? Yeah. Yeah, I get that? I get that, Jackie. I did miss that question 151 00:14:40,479 --> 00:14:45,519 for you about how long when you go out, are you staying out over the road? Is it kind of similar 152 00:14:45,519 --> 00:14:52,159 to to what Stephanie does just a couple days at a time? No, I usually stay out. Any word from 6 to 12 153 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:58,119 days. Okay. So so it's a it's a longer stretch, but it's not the 60 day stretch like Stephanie was 154 00:14:58,119 --> 00:15:04,918 talking about with her old company. No I couldn't have that I couldn't. No, no I 155 00:15:04,919 --> 00:15:09,759 understand what she what she's saying too, because I've talked to some people that stayed out there 156 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:16,319 like that, and I just don't think I could stay away from home that long. Sure. Drive me bonkers. 157 00:15:16,359 --> 00:15:23,280 Sure. I understand. What's the longest you've ever stayed out? I've stayed out. Uh, stayed out 158 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:28,759 about 14, 15 days before. That's about it. Okay, a couple of weeks. That's still a long time from 159 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:34,080 home. I mean, I can't look back and think about the last time I was away from home for two weeks. Um, 160 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:38,669 and and I tell you, you take me away from my wife and my dogs for two weeks. I'm gonna be a puddle. 161 00:15:38,710 --> 00:15:45,389 By the time I get home, Jackie. Well, I got a girlfriend at home and a dog at home, so I don't 162 00:15:45,389 --> 00:15:52,349 mind to break every now and then. Yeah. I totally hear you. So, how are you guys staying in 163 00:15:52,350 --> 00:15:56,949 touch when you're out there for those, uh, you know, those those 14 day stretches or two week 164 00:15:56,950 --> 00:16:02,310 stretches? Do you talk religiously? Kind of. Every day. Do you have a scheduled time that you get in 165 00:16:02,310 --> 00:16:09,189 touch with your girlfriend, or is it just kind of as time allows? Man, her is usually in the 166 00:16:09,189 --> 00:16:14,469 mornings while she's on her way to work, and I'm just getting up, getting ready to get going, get my 167 00:16:14,469 --> 00:16:20,268 coffee in me. And in the evening when she gets off, I'm. Which I'm usually driving. I'm on a headset 168 00:16:20,310 --> 00:16:24,948 too, but most of the time I got a couple of buddies, a couple trucking buddies, one of them 169 00:16:24,949 --> 00:16:31,149 with bulk and one of them's over the road. We talk all the time. See, and that's something I noticed 170 00:16:31,190 --> 00:16:37,579 is very common. Um, I had a couple drivers on here and multiple other podcasts that I do. Where 171 00:16:37,620 --> 00:16:42,699 they'll come on and they'll get a couple of their buddies that they talk to all day, every day, and 172 00:16:42,699 --> 00:16:47,379 they'll tell me before we turn the mics on. This is just a normal day for us. We're just adding you 173 00:16:47,379 --> 00:16:53,858 to the conversation. So I think that's really cool, Jackie, that that helps you stay level out there, 174 00:16:53,859 --> 00:17:00,859 doesn't it? Having somebody to talk to. Yes. And you don't you don't lose. You don't lose your mind 175 00:17:00,939 --> 00:17:07,579 out there on somebody, you know, you say go, hey, cut me off guard. I'm talking to my friends here. I'm 176 00:17:07,580 --> 00:17:12,819 having a really good day here. So especially coming around Chicago. It's the worst. It's the 177 00:17:12,819 --> 00:17:19,099 worst place I've ever been, man. Around two. Hours. It definitely ranks up at the top of the ones 178 00:17:19,100 --> 00:17:24,739 that I've heard out there with Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York are the four that I kind of 179 00:17:24,780 --> 00:17:30,219 hear all the time that people would rather not go to, but they end up going to because there's a lot 180 00:17:30,219 --> 00:17:36,249 of industry in those cities. Atlanta. I don't have a problem with Atlanta. I've been down there so 181 00:17:36,249 --> 00:17:43,009 much for both. It was unreal. Running out of Dundee for James apart, and I've been to Canada a few 182 00:17:43,009 --> 00:17:47,050 times through here with bulk. I don't have a bit of trouble with that. I don't have any trouble 183 00:17:47,089 --> 00:17:53,129 going to Florida. I'd rather run south if I could, but right now, you know I'm on a dedicated run to 184 00:17:53,170 --> 00:18:00,089 Missouri and to green Bay, Wisconsin, then back to Ohio, the plain city. Okay, so you're 185 00:18:00,090 --> 00:18:06,489 getting you're getting your Chicago dose whether you want it or not. Yes, I am. Four times a week. Oh, 186 00:18:06,490 --> 00:18:12,329 man. Jackie. Well, you're resilient man. Truck drivers have to be. Uh. That's interesting. 187 00:18:12,329 --> 00:18:18,209 Stephanie, I want to I want to go to you right now. Um, on that note, and I didn't ask you. And you guys 188 00:18:18,209 --> 00:18:21,609 are going to find this with me. I'm going to forget to ask you questions that I asked the 189 00:18:21,609 --> 00:18:26,609 other person, but I promise I'll bring it back around. Okay. Um, what's your family life like at 190 00:18:26,609 --> 00:18:31,399 home, Stephanie? Do you have, uh, a significant other? Do you have any children waiting at home for you. 191 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:38,719 So I do have kids and I do not have a significant other. I found that, um, 192 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:45,959 when I started just focusing on myself and my truck, um, I really didn't have time for any of 193 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:52,599 that. And my main goal was to elevate myself as a as a person and as a 194 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:59,438 woman to be able to be a reflection of someone else before I wanted to 195 00:18:59,479 --> 00:19:06,078 commit to someone. So I'm not at that point where I feel I could be a reflection of my partner 196 00:19:06,360 --> 00:19:13,359 to even start that kind of thing. But, um, no, my kids are good. You know, my kid's dad is 197 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:20,279 a trucker as well, and but he gets to come home every night, so he has our little girl. And then 198 00:19:20,399 --> 00:19:26,599 my other children are grown or teenager, and they, I don't know, I try to fit in their life and like, 199 00:19:26,599 --> 00:19:33,389 mom, get out of here. Kind of that time in, in their in their growth and. Yeah 200 00:19:33,829 --> 00:19:37,749 teenager especially later teenager. They're starting to live their own adult life out there. 201 00:19:37,790 --> 00:19:44,708 Aren't they. They would rather be with their friends than me. Yeah. I totally understand. 202 00:19:44,709 --> 00:19:51,509 So so how often do you get to catch up with them? So I try not to interfere, if that makes any 203 00:19:51,510 --> 00:19:58,029 kind of sense, because it makes it hurt worse. I totally understand that. Yeah. 204 00:19:58,670 --> 00:20:05,549 I mean them as well as me. So like my little girl, my seven, eight year old, if she's just 205 00:20:05,550 --> 00:20:11,150 like going to school and playing at home and stuff like that, she don't even realize what's 206 00:20:11,150 --> 00:20:17,789 going on. You know, when I come home and I grab her, we haven't skipped a beat. But if I'm calling her 207 00:20:17,790 --> 00:20:24,469 and telling her, um, you know, I'll be home in five days. So 208 00:20:24,470 --> 00:20:31,059 every day she wakes up, she's like, I got four days. I about three days. And it makes it harder on her. 209 00:20:31,100 --> 00:20:37,300 We found so I just, I, I tried to just focus on 210 00:20:38,140 --> 00:20:43,579 doing what I need to do for financial gain. At the end of the day, I love my truck. My truck is my 211 00:20:43,580 --> 00:20:50,579 first priority. Um, because my life depends on, you know, the operation of my vehicle. So I do 212 00:20:50,620 --> 00:20:56,978 put that first in it. It's kind of selfish, but I'm doing it for a future, 213 00:20:57,579 --> 00:21:03,900 you know? Um, and I'm so grateful to ball. So, um, giving me the opportunity to 214 00:21:03,939 --> 00:21:10,578 actually be with them, you know, to be home for Christmas or birthdays 215 00:21:10,579 --> 00:21:17,458 or births, funerals, you know, just regular everyday things, like a dentist appointment. So, 216 00:21:17,459 --> 00:21:24,020 uh, yeah, it's it's definitely very different than where I was coming from. Sure, sure. I can tell now 217 00:21:24,020 --> 00:21:28,009 one thing that I want to bring up here, because it's just occurred to me while you were talking 218 00:21:28,010 --> 00:21:32,049 there, Stephanie, is that you know, we're here talking about mental health. It's mental health 219 00:21:32,050 --> 00:21:36,050 awareness month. We're talking about how over-the-road drivers kind of keep their head 220 00:21:36,050 --> 00:21:41,569 level. And what you just heard from Stephanie there was so poignant to me. You've made the 221 00:21:41,569 --> 00:21:47,289 decision that might be harder on you to not talk to your daughter every single day and count down 222 00:21:47,290 --> 00:21:52,569 the days, because you understand what an eight year old goes through, or seven year old, however 223 00:21:52,609 --> 00:21:59,370 old she is. That those days for kids that age last forever. If anybody can think 224 00:21:59,370 --> 00:22:05,129 back to being 7 or 8 years old, when somebody told you on a Monday that the weekend was going to be, 225 00:22:05,130 --> 00:22:12,129 uh, was going to hold some type of exciting event, that week felt like a year. And it 226 00:22:12,129 --> 00:22:17,169 does to every kid that age. And and just understanding that, Stephanie, I feel like is a is 227 00:22:17,170 --> 00:22:22,449 a really good indicator that you've taken some steps to make sure that not only your mental 228 00:22:22,449 --> 00:22:26,480 health is in good shape when it comes to getting in touch with family. But you're also not a 229 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:31,640 detriment to your daughter, which I think is is another layer that is really important. And I know 230 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:37,079 it's not easy to not talk to her. I know that I, I've talked to enough moms and dads on this show, 231 00:22:37,079 --> 00:22:41,399 but you're doing that for the greater good, Stephanie. And and much like, you know, I don't 232 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:48,239 think that sounds selfish at all. Um, I think it it it shows a level of maturity and awareness, um, 233 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:55,039 that a lot of people that are struggling probably wish that they could, could find. Yeah, I 234 00:22:55,040 --> 00:23:01,919 believe that finding it through the dedication to my truck and myself, 235 00:23:02,959 --> 00:23:09,639 I have so many things going on in order to make my life better for the future. Um, I, I 236 00:23:09,639 --> 00:23:15,959 think that there's no time for no one else. You know, by the time I'm done, if I take a shower, I'm 237 00:23:15,959 --> 00:23:22,759 ready for bed. I'm like, I've had enough of the world today. I'm done. You know, um, so 238 00:23:22,759 --> 00:23:29,549 between truck and sleep. I really don't have time to be lonely. Does that make sense? I hear you make 239 00:23:29,589 --> 00:23:34,189 totally makes sense. Jackie, I wonder what's what's going through your head as you hear Stephanie 240 00:23:34,230 --> 00:23:39,829 talk about her situation here. Any similarities for you? Um, you you seem like you're talking to 241 00:23:39,829 --> 00:23:45,468 your buddies out there. You've got some time to talk to, uh, the girlfriend. You don't have any kids. 242 00:23:45,469 --> 00:23:50,069 I at least that you've mentioned yet. So what's going through your mind as you hear? Uh, Stephanie 243 00:23:50,110 --> 00:23:57,069 talked through her situation. Being there and done that. I have, because I have a 244 00:23:57,069 --> 00:24:03,309 son that's fixing to turn 42 years old, and I got four grandkids, which I do got one grandson that's 245 00:24:03,310 --> 00:24:09,349 15. He calls me at least once a week out here and asked me how I'm doing and where I'm at. 246 00:24:09,989 --> 00:24:16,589 And tell me how that affects your week. When you see his number come over your cell phone. Oh, when 247 00:24:16,589 --> 00:24:22,500 it comes up, it comes up his bub. And when it comes up, it just lights my day up. I'm sure it does. I'm 248 00:24:22,500 --> 00:24:29,379 sure it's very delightful. And, uh, Stephanie was talking about bulk or to, you know, how bulk 249 00:24:29,420 --> 00:24:35,979 treats us. Bulk is an excellent comedy company to work for. Their family orientated. And they will. 250 00:24:36,020 --> 00:24:41,780 They will work with you. Don't matter what it is the time you need. All for family or anything. 251 00:24:41,819 --> 00:24:48,660 Because I had to have some time off last year for my girlfriend. I have a, uh, cancer 252 00:24:48,660 --> 00:24:54,259 and and that all went well. They they just jumped right in there and they called me and asked me 253 00:24:54,260 --> 00:25:01,179 how she was doing all that. So she is definitely correct about how family they are. Yeah, 254 00:25:01,219 --> 00:25:07,459 we've seen that come through on this podcast ever since we started it on every single episode. Uh, I 255 00:25:07,459 --> 00:25:12,659 feel like we never failed to mention that aspect. And and it's such an important aspect. Jackie, and 256 00:25:12,660 --> 00:25:19,660 I want to ask you first and foremost, if your girlfriend was able to make a full recovery. Yes, 257 00:25:19,660 --> 00:25:25,649 she was. She was. She's doing great. Now, it's been over a year just to hire. Over. Yeah. She's doing 258 00:25:25,650 --> 00:25:30,130 really good. Well, I got an applause button for that. That deserves. That deserves a round of 259 00:25:30,130 --> 00:25:35,529 applause. Cancer. That. That big C-word is never an easy one to hear. So, uh, whenever somebody makes a 260 00:25:35,529 --> 00:25:42,289 recovery, we want to cheer them on for sure. Oh. Oh, yeah. Yes. I mean, because I've had it, too. 261 00:25:42,290 --> 00:25:47,249 I've had it 15 years ago. You know, I had prostate cancer, and I. I made it through it. I'm right here, 262 00:25:47,249 --> 00:25:53,769 right now, still driving, driving a truck, and I. I hope I can make it three more years in the truck 263 00:25:53,769 --> 00:25:58,769 and I'll be done. Oh, well, you sound very vibrant and full of life to me, Jackie. So I think you got 264 00:25:58,769 --> 00:26:04,329 it in you for sure, man. But I also want to give you a round of applause for beating cancer, man. Uh, 265 00:26:04,329 --> 00:26:09,208 everybody, every every story we ever tell about beating cancer on this show is going to get a 266 00:26:09,209 --> 00:26:14,209 round of applause from from always pneumatic, never static. Congratulations on both of those 267 00:26:14,209 --> 00:26:19,679 recoveries. And I'm glad to hear that when you needed the time, uh, bulk was able to get it for 268 00:26:19,680 --> 00:26:24,679 you because I think we all know you guys have talked to enough truck drivers. In your experience, 269 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:30,519 we all know of a story where, uh, a company wasn't able to get that person back, and those ones never 270 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:35,119 seem to have quite as happy of an ending. And I can't imagine what it would do to your mental 271 00:26:35,120 --> 00:26:39,399 state, Jackie, out there on the road, if you knew that that stuff was going on and you couldn't get 272 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:46,399 back to her. Yes, that it would really bother me. I actually, when she, um, she was diagnosed 273 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:52,759 with it, I was in Saginaw, Texas, hauling for, uh, up there for those guys hauling 274 00:26:52,759 --> 00:26:57,519 flour. I was up there for a week, and she called me and she was giving up on life. I said, no, you're 275 00:26:57,520 --> 00:27:04,479 not. So I told him I can't remember the the terminal manager's name anyway. But anyway, he I 276 00:27:04,479 --> 00:27:10,479 told him, I said I got to go. Can't give up on life just because he got the C word. You gotta work it 277 00:27:10,479 --> 00:27:15,920 out. Work hard for it. That's a great mindset to have. Jackie. And you can tell that you've faced it 278 00:27:15,920 --> 00:27:22,819 before and, you aren't scared of it? I'm not. Believe it or not. I mean, at the time 279 00:27:22,819 --> 00:27:29,499 I was married. I was married for 34 years, you know, and she passed away my health issues and. And when 280 00:27:29,499 --> 00:27:33,578 they was all sitting out there in the room crying and everything because I was going in for four 281 00:27:33,579 --> 00:27:38,299 hours surgery, I said everything would be all right. And if I don't wake up, it'll be fine. Teeth. 282 00:27:39,099 --> 00:27:45,818 Wow. Uh, I'll tell you, Jackie, that mindset is, is, uh, something to be, uh, it's it's deserving of a tip 283 00:27:45,819 --> 00:27:52,299 of the cap for sure, my friend. Um, and and, uh, I wish I could be as as relentlessly positive as 284 00:27:52,300 --> 00:27:57,739 you are. Um, that that's something about your personality. Never let that go. Alright. I I've had 285 00:27:57,740 --> 00:28:02,338 so much fun talking to you, and I've spent quite a bit of time on the phone outside of recording, 286 00:28:02,339 --> 00:28:07,499 just getting this whole thing set up, and, um, I, I haven't heard a cross word out of your mouth, man, 287 00:28:07,499 --> 00:28:14,259 you are a happy individual, and I. I commend that. I'd like this every day. I mean, my my better half. 288 00:28:14,380 --> 00:28:21,169 She even says, why do you wake up so happy? I said, well, life is short and just well, make it fun. Amen 289 00:28:21,170 --> 00:28:26,369 to that. I gotta try waking up happy a few times a week. That sounds like a really nice thing, Jackie. 290 00:28:27,209 --> 00:28:32,849 A good cup of coffee. There you go. There you go. I can I can get behind that. Uh, you know, here's 291 00:28:32,850 --> 00:28:37,649 something that that I kind of want to talk about, um, moving past kind of the, the family aspect of 292 00:28:37,650 --> 00:28:41,809 it. That's a very important one. There's a reason that that I wanted to talk about that first, 293 00:28:41,810 --> 00:28:48,250 because the isolation that OTR drivers can feel is very real. And here we've got a couple examples 294 00:28:48,250 --> 00:28:53,929 of people that will tell you there's ways that they go about keeping that isolation from 295 00:28:53,929 --> 00:28:58,689 creeping in. You heard Stephanie talk about dedicating herself to her truck and making sure 296 00:28:58,689 --> 00:29:03,810 that she focuses on her truck and the job at hand. And of course, Jackie talking about hearing from 297 00:29:03,810 --> 00:29:09,569 his grandson out there on the road, talking to his buddies, uh, keeping a good attitude. Those are 298 00:29:09,610 --> 00:29:15,519 those are intentional things that you guys do that aren't easy to do, but you do them, and that's 299 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:20,399 all part of keeping steady mental health out there on the road with the job that you do. Now, 300 00:29:20,399 --> 00:29:26,399 something else about keeping steady mental health out there is that windshield time. Um, and I wonder, 301 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:31,760 Stefan, I'm going to go to you here first. Uh, what do you do to pass the hours? Are you listening to 302 00:29:31,799 --> 00:29:38,119 podcasts, audiobooks? Music? Uh, are you just listening to the breeze blow through the air? What 303 00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:42,399 do you do to pass windshield time? Or are you having telephone conversations with people? 304 00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:48,159 There's. There's a litany of things. But what we know is it's a long day. And sometimes you're 305 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:53,239 driving for a long time just staring out the windshield. Stephanie. So how do you enjoy passing 306 00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:59,599 the time when you're just putting miles behind you? So I would say it's a variety of all of the 307 00:29:59,599 --> 00:30:06,079 above audiobooks. Um, music. I'm going to keep a watcher. That's 308 00:30:06,080 --> 00:30:11,640 weird. Kind of creepy. But, um, it's fun, you know, like, you look out the window and you, like, see 309 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:16,509 something going on and you'll be like, oh, I wonder what they're doing. Or you see something funny, 310 00:30:16,510 --> 00:30:23,349 like a flatbed, or have a toy truck strapped to the back of it, or, you know, weird stuff. I don't 311 00:30:23,390 --> 00:30:30,109 know, I'm a people watcher, so I guess that's helpful. I'm a dreamer. Yeah, yeah. No, it's fun 312 00:30:30,110 --> 00:30:34,108 because sometimes my wife and I all see something that doesn't make sense when we're on a road trip, 313 00:30:34,109 --> 00:30:39,829 and we will spend the next 10 or 15 minutes making up a backstory for whatever we just saw. 314 00:30:39,869 --> 00:30:43,949 And I'll tell you, it can be some of the most entertaining stuff that you ever get into, you 315 00:30:43,949 --> 00:30:50,589 know? Yeah. Oh, another thing that really passes the time. Like, if I'm, um, hopping to sit 316 00:30:50,629 --> 00:30:57,309 somewhere in the parking lot, um, it actually helps me be a better driver watching other 317 00:30:57,310 --> 00:31:03,708 drivers maneuver. Oh, yeah, their truck. I love doing that. And it was so weird. 318 00:31:05,430 --> 00:31:10,779 I don't think so. I'll tell you right now, I think that just makes you a student of truck driver 319 00:31:10,780 --> 00:31:16,458 nature is all it does. And and my guess is you're picking up as many things not to do as you pick 320 00:31:16,500 --> 00:31:23,300 up things that are good ideas that you want to do. And watching these guys. Right. Yes, yes. So 321 00:31:23,339 --> 00:31:30,339 yeah. And it's some of it's pretty good. So it was pretty funny. Do you can you think 322 00:31:30,340 --> 00:31:34,339 of any examples off the top of your head. Or when you saw a driver doing something and you just 323 00:31:34,339 --> 00:31:40,579 thought, what on earth is going on in your mind? Where did you learn to drive? Oh yeah, plenty of 324 00:31:40,580 --> 00:31:44,739 times. But, uh, some of them, most of them are inappropriate, but. 325 00:31:47,900 --> 00:31:54,858 But yeah. Oh, yeah, I think I came clean 326 00:31:54,859 --> 00:32:00,540 for you. I appreciate it, but you can. You can dance close to the line. Okay. We've got a little bit of 327 00:32:00,540 --> 00:32:06,419 leeway on this podcast. Yeah, I don't know. There are some there are some 328 00:32:07,060 --> 00:32:12,289 slow, slow people, but yeah. No, I like I like seeing the truck, watching people, you know, in the parking 329 00:32:12,290 --> 00:32:16,609 lot maneuver their trucks or like, work on their trucks. It gives you a good opportunity. Like if 330 00:32:16,650 --> 00:32:22,929 you were thinking about something that you're unsure about or maybe needed other suggestions on 331 00:32:23,249 --> 00:32:29,609 talking to them when they're on that downtime. Doing that is great as well. Yeah, absolutely. 332 00:32:29,609 --> 00:32:34,809 There's some camaraderie out there between drivers, isn't there? Yeah, if there isn't, I'm the 333 00:32:34,810 --> 00:32:41,209 type of person my my personality is I'm I'm curious. I want to learn. So even if they're not, 334 00:32:41,249 --> 00:32:46,290 you know, they're disgruntled. They're not wanting to be talked to. I'm still like, hey, uh, hi. How are 335 00:32:46,290 --> 00:32:53,249 you doing? Get away from me, ladies. You know. Maybe you use the, 336 00:32:53,250 --> 00:32:57,369 uh, technique that my mom always taught me, which is kill them with kindness. Just be so nice that 337 00:32:57,370 --> 00:33:04,289 they can't ignore you, right? Yeah, yeah. And in my wanting to learn, um. 338 00:33:05,170 --> 00:33:11,800 I won't stop me, you know what I mean? I'm still tired. Absolutely. So. But now I don't talk on the 339 00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:18,560 phone very much. And it all turns back to my previous life before talking. 340 00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:25,239 Um, had a lot to do with this. I just I don't communicate with anyone, 341 00:33:25,240 --> 00:33:31,879 really. Maybe once a week. Um, once every two weeks or something like that. Because I don't want 342 00:33:32,400 --> 00:33:38,479 the longing to be there on either side. You know what I mean? If I'm just doing whatever I'm doing 343 00:33:38,520 --> 00:33:43,799 to get my money and get out of here. Um, I'm not really paying attention to time. If I'm thinking 344 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:49,239 what everyone else is doing or what I'm missing, I'm thinking at that time. Does that make sense? Oh, 345 00:33:49,280 --> 00:33:54,039 it makes it makes really good sense. And again, it's something intentional that that probably 346 00:33:54,040 --> 00:33:58,880 when you first realize that if it was that a habit that you had to break, Stephanie, when you 347 00:33:58,919 --> 00:34:03,438 when you finally realized that, hey, we're both longing when we're talking multiple times every 348 00:34:03,480 --> 00:34:07,790 day, I've got to separate myself from that a little bit to make it easier on everybody. Was 349 00:34:07,790 --> 00:34:13,789 that a hard transition to make when you finally figured that out? Um, so the previous lifestyle I 350 00:34:13,790 --> 00:34:20,709 lived before I became a truck driver, um, was helpful in that because it 351 00:34:20,709 --> 00:34:27,549 went hand in hand. So, yeah. Okay, I just did I. I just do what I gotta do to get out of here. And 352 00:34:27,750 --> 00:34:33,388 so trucking, I love trucking more than anything in the world. Like, it's so weird, but, um, I never in a 353 00:34:33,389 --> 00:34:36,948 million years would have thought I would be driving a truck. I never got a driver's license 354 00:34:36,949 --> 00:34:43,070 til I was 36 years old. Wow. Yeah, I never even drove. Um, 355 00:34:44,190 --> 00:34:51,149 but the the money that came from it is life changing. And that that was a fool. So 356 00:34:51,149 --> 00:34:57,668 it just is a bonus that I do love it, you know for sure. For sure. Well, I would be remiss if I didn't 357 00:34:57,709 --> 00:35:02,070 ask you this question because, uh, whenever I'm talking about it, I do ask, is there are there any 358 00:35:02,070 --> 00:35:07,059 audiobooks, podcasts, or anything like that you might recommend. That you're listening to right 359 00:35:07,060 --> 00:35:13,019 now to pass some time that other drivers out there that are listening might enjoy. Never static. 360 00:35:13,060 --> 00:35:18,178 Always be back. Oh, hey, there you go. That's what I'm talking about. That's what I'm talking about. 361 00:35:18,179 --> 00:35:22,259 I'm gonna. I'm giving you a round of applause for that. All right, I got the button cued up. We might 362 00:35:22,300 --> 00:35:29,100 as well. But you've actually been listening to the show. Uh, kind of know sometimes. 363 00:35:29,139 --> 00:35:35,299 Kind of. Sometimes. That's okay. I will take that, I promise you. Uh, that's. But I love it because, 364 00:35:35,300 --> 00:35:41,059 listen, keeping I think variety in your life is a very important thing. I only give you one one hour 365 00:35:41,060 --> 00:35:46,299 of content a week, Stephanie. So even if you were, uh, the biggest fan of this podcast and you were 366 00:35:46,300 --> 00:35:51,419 wearing the t shirt every day, uh, I wouldn't keep you busy, that's for sure. You would be needing to 367 00:35:51,419 --> 00:35:56,619 find something else. So, uh, I totally understand that. And we appreciate any clicks that we get, 368 00:35:56,659 --> 00:36:01,938 whether you're listening to one episode or all of them here on always pneumatic, never static. Uh, 369 00:36:01,939 --> 00:36:06,889 Jackie, I'm going to turn that same kind of question to you. Uh, are you spending most of your 370 00:36:06,889 --> 00:36:11,729 windshield time on the phone with those guys that you talked about, or are you listening to podcast 371 00:36:11,729 --> 00:36:16,769 audiobooks? Uh, what what have you got going on out there to put the miles behind you and pass the 372 00:36:16,770 --> 00:36:23,649 time? I do listen to the bulk podcast. I do listen to it, not every time, 373 00:36:23,649 --> 00:36:30,569 but I do listen to it. And I listen to a lot of country music, too. I like the stuff I do, and 374 00:36:30,970 --> 00:36:36,769 I can do that all the way up about 1:00 during the day. Then my buddies start calling. So you guys 375 00:36:36,810 --> 00:36:41,888 kind of have a set time where you're looking for that phone to ring? Yeah, yeah. After a lot of tips 376 00:36:41,929 --> 00:36:47,569 going to ring, I promise. Okay. Yeah. I mean, it's, um. And another thing too, I thought was funny. I was 377 00:36:47,570 --> 00:36:52,209 kind of holding my giggles back when Stephanie said about stuff being on flat pads and stuff. 378 00:36:52,370 --> 00:36:57,688 Yeah, there's one flatbed that goes around Chicago all the time, and he's got a Tonka dump truck 379 00:36:57,689 --> 00:37:03,479 strapped to the back of it. I've seen videos of that on the on the internet before and it always 380 00:37:03,480 --> 00:37:09,399 makes me laugh. That's a good sense of humor that guy's got. Yeah, yeah. And you know, she was talking 381 00:37:09,399 --> 00:37:16,159 about what other drivers do. Yeah, I, I kind of, you know, laugh about a lot of stuff because I know I 382 00:37:16,199 --> 00:37:22,120 had done it, something stupid trying to back in or something like it in the dock or whatever 383 00:37:23,040 --> 00:37:28,959 or tight spot. And um, that is, that is funny because I know I've done it and I can laugh at 384 00:37:28,960 --> 00:37:34,120 them and say, well, you know, don't do it that way. Do it this way, you know? So, yeah, I would bet since 385 00:37:34,120 --> 00:37:39,759 1988 you've seen about all of it that there is to see out there. Jackie. I've done some stuff. I've 386 00:37:39,759 --> 00:37:46,759 done some crazy stuff myself. You know, we all have. I don't care who you are. We're not perfect. No. So. 387 00:37:47,199 --> 00:37:53,240 But I mean it. It's great to be out there like, you know, I've been to 40 states. I have, I don't know 388 00:37:53,240 --> 00:38:00,149 how many Stephanie's been to, but. And I've been to a lot of them with balls. And I'm just thankful 389 00:38:00,149 --> 00:38:06,789 to get paid, to go and visit these places that I've always liked to go and see. Sure, I 390 00:38:06,989 --> 00:38:12,110 totally understand that part of it. Uh, I gotta ask something real quick. You said you enjoy the 391 00:38:12,110 --> 00:38:17,148 country music, but you said the oldies. And I'm wondering, uh, how old he's here. We talk in Conway 392 00:38:17,189 --> 00:38:23,349 Twitty. Are we? George Strait, Randy Travis. Garth brooks. What? What's your, uh, where's your fancy lie? 393 00:38:23,749 --> 00:38:30,069 I love it all. Alan Jackson. Although, I mean, George Strait, too. I mean, I'm back in George Young days. I 394 00:38:30,070 --> 00:38:34,949 am, because that's what I had to listen to growing up. My dad and mom, you know. Yes, sir. I mean, that's 395 00:38:34,950 --> 00:38:41,309 all they listened to in the 60s, old stuff like that. So. And it kind of rubbed off, I guess it 396 00:38:41,310 --> 00:38:47,388 didn't. So I enjoyed though. Then sometimes I'll flip it over on a rock station just to break up 397 00:38:47,389 --> 00:38:53,189 the monotony. I'm getting tired of listening to something. So yeah, get a little enjoy. Get a little 398 00:38:53,189 --> 00:38:57,230 speed and noise in your life on the rock station, and then get back to feeling the feelings on the 399 00:38:57,230 --> 00:39:04,099 country station, right? Yes, yes. You know, I mean, Stephanie had a good point. 400 00:39:04,139 --> 00:39:09,579 There are a lot of windshield time to there. You know, because the. I've had a lot of windshield 401 00:39:09,620 --> 00:39:16,619 time out there, too. Because me when I, when I take off on my 11 hour drive clock, I do 402 00:39:17,219 --> 00:39:23,138 I just stopped, you know, like say like if I'm coming from green Bay, Wisconsin to Plain City, 403 00:39:23,139 --> 00:39:28,819 Ohio. Okay. It's it's a good drive. It's, um, it's a, 404 00:39:30,060 --> 00:39:36,939 I mean, how far I can't remember, but anyway, I'll drive. I'll drive up to 10.5 hours one way 405 00:39:36,939 --> 00:39:43,099 if I have to, just to get some words, you know, break it up for one time. Stop. But feel. Sure. 406 00:39:44,180 --> 00:39:49,860 Yeah. So. But may I. I like the windshield time. You see a lot of stuff out there, you know, like 407 00:39:49,860 --> 00:39:54,580 Stephanie, Stephanie said, there's a lot of stuff we don't want to say over here, but I've seen that 408 00:39:54,580 --> 00:40:00,569 too. Stuff like that. And it's it's it's really crazy. Then you see them waving and stuff. You know, 409 00:40:00,570 --> 00:40:07,090 even trucks. And you say. My first thought when I see a tractor trailer weaving in a road, it keeps 410 00:40:07,090 --> 00:40:13,289 on the phone. Yep. Yeah. That's my first thought. First off, probably with anything on rubber tires 411 00:40:13,290 --> 00:40:18,489 out there on the highway. If it's weaving, that's probably what they're doing is if if their eyes 412 00:40:18,489 --> 00:40:24,849 are open and they're not falling asleep, they're on the phone. Right? Yeah. 99% of the time. And 413 00:40:24,850 --> 00:40:30,009 that's the way it is. And it's a it's a big problem. And and I just want to draw attention to 414 00:40:30,009 --> 00:40:35,448 the fact that we were actually going to record this yesterday, but we decided that we were not 415 00:40:35,449 --> 00:40:39,329 going to record it yesterday because Stephanie was going to be driving, and she was very kind. 416 00:40:39,370 --> 00:40:43,729 Today she's sitting in the truck waiting for us to get done with this so she could take off 417 00:40:43,729 --> 00:40:50,169 driving. I got a huge amount of respect for that. The safety of this job is paramount, and I can 418 00:40:50,169 --> 00:40:55,280 tell that you bulk drivers take it very seriously. And if you haven't heard it out of Stephanie and 419 00:40:55,280 --> 00:41:00,839 Jackie on this call yet. Just keep listening, because to keep talking about how important that 420 00:41:00,840 --> 00:41:07,398 part of it is, uh, in, in kind of nuanced ways is the best way that I could put it. So, um, 421 00:41:07,560 --> 00:41:12,359 and Stephanie, I, I want to make that clear. We're very appreciative of you making time for us, 422 00:41:12,360 --> 00:41:16,999 because this has been an awesome conversation so far. So thank you very much for making this 423 00:41:17,000 --> 00:41:23,959 possible. So can I say something like, totally left. I would love to shadow Jackie or to meet him in 424 00:41:23,960 --> 00:41:30,679 person. I don't never remember meeting him, but his experience with bulk is something that 425 00:41:31,840 --> 00:41:38,759 is a goal for me, because I would love to be able to stay with bulk for the duration of my, 426 00:41:38,959 --> 00:41:44,879 you know, my driving career. Um, but knowing the things that he does about the trucks, the trailers, 427 00:41:44,879 --> 00:41:51,399 the runs, um, I would love to shadow him if anyone out there is 428 00:41:51,399 --> 00:41:58,269 listening with the authority to let me out to Jackie. That would be great. Jackie. How does that 429 00:41:58,269 --> 00:42:04,949 make you feel? That makes me feel really good. Because, you know, she's taking an older guy and 430 00:42:04,949 --> 00:42:11,870 trying to get trying to get some feel for what, you know, maybe what to do, maybe on something 431 00:42:12,190 --> 00:42:18,109 on the job or what our job is, you know, pulling a teacher or something. You know, I mean, well. You're 432 00:42:18,110 --> 00:42:23,469 saying that you have a dedicated run, which obviously you're doing something right to get a 433 00:42:23,469 --> 00:42:30,030 dedicated run and not have different sporadic ones, as well as saying you were down in Texas 434 00:42:30,030 --> 00:42:36,309 working and and all that poor bulk transit. And so they don't give you those opportunities if you 435 00:42:36,310 --> 00:42:43,309 don't know a bunch of different stuff. I'm a I'm a baby here. So. Yeah. Well, what 436 00:42:43,309 --> 00:42:49,869 it was for me before I started out. Foster Kentucky, right out of that terminal. So I run out 437 00:42:49,870 --> 00:42:54,819 of that terminal for about two, two and a half years, something like that. Then I said, you know, I 438 00:42:54,820 --> 00:43:01,179 mean, we're getting a little slow on work and I'm not making the money I want to make. So, um, so Sean 439 00:43:01,180 --> 00:43:08,059 started this, um, like, um, he didn't really start the OTR yet. I started transfer, you know, 440 00:43:08,100 --> 00:43:14,580 helping other terminals out and stuff. Dundee out, Sydney out and a bike, and I helped. I've helped 441 00:43:14,620 --> 00:43:21,499 Kelly out down there, you know, pulling clay and stuff and um, then I, I then one day I first 442 00:43:21,500 --> 00:43:26,819 got which he's retired now he said, Jackie, I just want to keep you on like for years down this 443 00:43:26,820 --> 00:43:33,459 Missouri and Green Bay run two rounds a week, two loads a week from each each day. And, uh, would you 444 00:43:33,459 --> 00:43:39,979 like that? Then they transferred me to Plant City, and I'm happy. Would you say. Would you say, Jackie, 445 00:43:39,979 --> 00:43:44,340 that just kind of that, uh, willingness to jump around to some of the other terminals is what 446 00:43:44,379 --> 00:43:50,969 kind of opened up that opportunity for you? Yes. It did. It sure did. Because, um, I mean, I don't know 447 00:43:50,969 --> 00:43:57,610 Jason at Sydney. I mean, he's treated me good. I've run to Texas for him, too. It's he. 448 00:43:57,649 --> 00:44:04,369 Evansville on fire. I've run for Charlie up here to to Texas and and for James at 449 00:44:04,409 --> 00:44:10,969 Dundee. I mean, they've all treated me good. I mean, they they know I like the long run. Let's put it 450 00:44:10,969 --> 00:44:17,849 that way. If it ain't long, don't call me. I went. Down. Well, Stephanie, that's really 451 00:44:17,850 --> 00:44:21,968 cool. I'm glad that you did say that. That's not off the wall at all, because that's one thing that 452 00:44:21,969 --> 00:44:27,330 this podcast aims to do. If I can get two drivers on here that have never connected before, and have 453 00:44:27,330 --> 00:44:33,250 you guys connect outside of the podcast for the positivity of your own careers or the advancement 454 00:44:33,250 --> 00:44:39,969 of the company? I that is that is the a one goal that I have here is to kind of grow 455 00:44:40,009 --> 00:44:44,889 this, uh, you know, you guys have such a great culture already. We're not we're not installing 456 00:44:44,889 --> 00:44:49,639 your culture at all with this podcast. We're just trying to add to it and what you just did right 457 00:44:49,639 --> 00:44:55,398 there. It adds to that culture because you've got Jackie who's saying, yeah, I that's awesome. And you 458 00:44:55,399 --> 00:45:00,638 are hungry to learn, Stephanie. So anytime you do something like that on this podcast, you're going 459 00:45:00,639 --> 00:45:07,239 to get a lot of flowers for me. Okay. Oh my. I'm a random side note to why you guys were 460 00:45:07,239 --> 00:45:14,159 talking. I'm a foster Kentucky sit and just watching you on the turkey. I sent you some 461 00:45:14,159 --> 00:45:19,158 pictures of it. It's running across the wall just randomly. Only in foster, Kentucky only. And 462 00:45:21,159 --> 00:45:26,799 yeah, the wild turkeys. Oh my gosh. Oh that's crazy. I'm looking at the pictures right now. That thing 463 00:45:26,799 --> 00:45:33,439 just walking around like it owns the lot. Yeah. Oh my kids at one time down 464 00:45:33,440 --> 00:45:39,839 Tennessee I was outside of Nashville. Oh, it's the worst day of my life. I just woke up out of bed, 465 00:45:39,879 --> 00:45:44,839 walking into the truck stop and the chicken pulled on attacked me. My son laughed till he 466 00:45:44,879 --> 00:45:51,459 cried. And then. So I'm just Or thinking, hey, the chicken is gone. The lady of the cow. Science. It's 467 00:45:51,500 --> 00:45:58,139 waiting at the front door on me to come out. Oh, you got a rival chicken? Yeah. Keep going out. First 468 00:45:58,139 --> 00:46:05,099 thing in the morning, about 6:00 in the morning. Holy cow, I got my ass kicked by a chicken. 469 00:46:05,179 --> 00:46:10,739 Oh. You know, you never you never know what's going to happen out there over the road. You just don't 470 00:46:10,740 --> 00:46:17,139 know. You can be attacked by poultry. We've we've documented it here on the podcast, so. Oh that's 471 00:46:17,139 --> 00:46:23,459 great. That's great. Yeah. That video. Damn film. I got a picture. But anyway. Oh, 472 00:46:24,860 --> 00:46:31,099 yeah. So, Jackie, another question. I'm sorry to be in your podcast doing this, but, um, did you have to 473 00:46:31,139 --> 00:46:37,499 move, like, sell your homes or move apartments or whatever, uh, living situations to get to those 474 00:46:37,500 --> 00:46:44,499 other rooms? To get away from where I'm driving from these terminals? No, I didn't 475 00:46:44,500 --> 00:46:50,250 move. No, I didn't have to move. Let me drive the truck home. Is that what you're saying? Yeah, so I 476 00:46:50,250 --> 00:46:56,329 didn't. I know when you get hired, you have to be within so much range of that terminal. And that's 477 00:46:56,330 --> 00:47:02,169 for truck repurposing purposes. You know what I mean? This is the great thing. This is the great 478 00:47:02,170 --> 00:47:08,850 thing about my house from where I live. And I live in Cynthiana, Kentucky, 30 479 00:47:08,850 --> 00:47:15,769 miles north of Lexington, Kentucky. I know you know where it is. Oh, yeah. Okay. All right. From 480 00:47:15,769 --> 00:47:22,769 my house to the plain city at two hours and 54 minutes with no hiccups. And. And they 481 00:47:22,770 --> 00:47:29,729 let me drive my truck home stuff. But there's an exception to this. 99% of 482 00:47:29,729 --> 00:47:36,489 the time when I leave. When I leave Plant City up there, I've got to load it. I got a load of, 483 00:47:36,530 --> 00:47:43,489 um, ash or not. Ash. It's, um, it's bad, it's bad, but material that comes 484 00:47:43,490 --> 00:47:50,479 out of haunt at Marysville, Ohio. I take it to a cool place in Missouri. So see all I 485 00:47:50,480 --> 00:47:54,999 do. I can go down Bluegrass Parkway to go to Missouri. I can go to Louisville and go around 486 00:47:55,000 --> 00:48:01,878 that way. It's real simple. So that's why they let me bring the truck home with a load every week 487 00:48:02,120 --> 00:48:07,320 because they know I'm out. I've already got a three hour jump on anybody that's coming out of 488 00:48:07,320 --> 00:48:13,959 Ohio. Yeah. And then on top of it, you're, um, you're staying going all week. So you're only going when 489 00:48:13,959 --> 00:48:20,479 you leave home. You won't be home again for, you know, five, six, seven days. Yeah. I mean, like, if I 490 00:48:20,519 --> 00:48:26,679 leave, I'm gonna leave Sunday morning at 6:00. I bobtail up there, hook up the load up our. Because, 491 00:48:26,679 --> 00:48:32,480 you know, I've been off for five weeks, and, um, I'll, I'll tell if I hook up the load. I'll go to 492 00:48:32,519 --> 00:48:38,919 Louisville. That's the best way to go down 64. Go to Mizzou, blow my load off. Go get my tanker 493 00:48:38,959 --> 00:48:45,189 washed out Monday morning at the truck works. Then I go to green Bay and load and I head back to 494 00:48:45,189 --> 00:48:51,749 Brain City. Be back up there Tuesday morning. Like. Clockwork, watching out. I doubt I can do it. Five 495 00:48:51,790 --> 00:48:58,309 and a half days or less. And also, his load sounds fantastic 496 00:48:58,350 --> 00:49:04,749 in theory. Until the snow comes. Until the snow comes. Yep. Ain't nothing 497 00:49:05,029 --> 00:49:11,990 until the ice and snow comes. And I was already an adult. Sounds well, yeah. Cause he said, yeah, 498 00:49:12,030 --> 00:49:18,909 you got me, man. I'm sorry to interrupt you on this once, Anthony, but that's what everybody said after 499 00:49:18,909 --> 00:49:24,549 playing city two. When I took envelopes, I said, you ain't going to like it when the snow and ice come. 500 00:49:24,870 --> 00:49:29,510 No, it's. And listen, when you've been driving for as long as you have, you've seen that snow and ice 501 00:49:29,510 --> 00:49:34,789 before. You said you've been to 40 states. So obviously some of those states are going to be 502 00:49:34,790 --> 00:49:41,459 wintry states in the winter months. Uh, we only got that that swath down south that gets the sun 24 503 00:49:41,459 --> 00:49:47,418 over seven. So, um, uh, or uh, excuse me, Stephanie, it kind of sounds like, do you have very much 504 00:49:47,459 --> 00:49:53,300 experience driving in the snow and ice, uh, either from your prior gig or where you're at now? Yeah. 505 00:49:53,340 --> 00:49:59,779 So I've been to the majority of the lower 48. Um, I don't do the northwest at all. 506 00:50:00,340 --> 00:50:06,979 Um, normally, but, yeah, you know, Maine, Connecticut, all that good stuff. Uh, 507 00:50:06,979 --> 00:50:11,659 Colorado. I am a little hurt that you don't come out to see me here at the northwest, because, you 508 00:50:11,659 --> 00:50:18,499 know, I would buy you a cup of coffee if you had a break to take in Eugene, Oregon. Right. Uh oh. My God. 509 00:50:18,540 --> 00:50:25,539 I'm not going home. Yeah, I know. It's a it's a long trip, I promise you. I did it on a 510 00:50:25,540 --> 00:50:30,979 plane, and it was a long trip. I went out to Plain City and, uh. Yeah. You know, it's, uh, it's very nice 511 00:50:30,979 --> 00:50:35,100 out here, but I totally understand why you guys wouldn't want to come out here, especially in the 512 00:50:35,100 --> 00:50:41,009 winter months. A lot of elevation change out here. Uh, in the Pacific Northwest. Um, and, you know, of 513 00:50:41,010 --> 00:50:46,569 course, you got to get through the Rocky Mountains to even get over here. So it's a pretty hairy trip, 514 00:50:46,610 --> 00:50:51,649 you know? Yeah. Where's your favorite place to drive to, Stephanie. 515 00:50:53,450 --> 00:51:00,409 Favorite place on ten? On ten. Just anywhere on ten. Yeah. So ten 516 00:51:00,449 --> 00:51:05,769 is good money. Just because now you make sure you have any rations, like through the desert, like 517 00:51:05,769 --> 00:51:12,289 Muhammad desert and stuff. Um, but make sure you have everything you should ever need an extra 518 00:51:12,289 --> 00:51:18,969 tire, clothing, food, whatever, because they could get on hand and it's going to take you before you 519 00:51:18,969 --> 00:51:25,889 even see a gas station or human life. It's going to be like 6 or 7 hours one way. 520 00:51:26,169 --> 00:51:31,329 But the money is here and the parking is real good. Oh, you know, right. There's nobody out there. 521 00:51:31,929 --> 00:51:38,878 So I realize, being from the United States of America, I'm just assuming we are all the same, 522 00:51:39,000 --> 00:51:45,479 right? We're all living the same lifestyles and the same. No. If you go from one part of America to 523 00:51:45,520 --> 00:51:51,039 the other, you might as well be in another country. Yep. That's true. The way they are, how they handle 524 00:51:51,040 --> 00:51:56,959 theirself, even their livestock or their wildlife or, um, the 525 00:51:56,959 --> 00:52:03,399 vegetation, the way that people act. Everything is different. It is. Yeah. No question. Jackie, I hear 526 00:52:03,399 --> 00:52:10,278 you giggling about that. You have some thoughts? Yeah. I, I don't know, I, I 527 00:52:10,279 --> 00:52:17,159 might not, I might want to keep to myself on this and what do you think. But no, it's a it's 528 00:52:17,159 --> 00:52:23,520 all good. I love it out of here. You know, I mean, I've learned a lot. I've seen a lot, you know, and I 529 00:52:23,559 --> 00:52:29,959 grew up, you know, in the business. My dad had four trucks. I knew at 13 I was going to drive. So let's 530 00:52:29,959 --> 00:52:35,319 put it that way. And I was driving in because at 14 years old, I drove from Syracuse, New York, to 531 00:52:35,320 --> 00:52:42,148 Cincinnati, Ohio. Nice. Wow. So I was with my uncle, and he had. He had to get some 532 00:52:42,149 --> 00:52:48,550 sleep. Yeah. So I got a little wind chill. So, see, I'm fortunate. I grew up in the in the business, 533 00:52:48,550 --> 00:52:53,870 and I knew that's what I was going to do. For sure. For sure. You know, Stephanie, I think there's 534 00:52:53,870 --> 00:52:58,149 something that I want to touch on that you said there talking about how every state can can be 535 00:52:58,190 --> 00:53:04,188 kind of a different country. I think a lot of times that, uh, that Europeans that I've met don't 536 00:53:04,189 --> 00:53:09,549 understand that when you're talking about, you know, uh, bebop and through Europe and you're 537 00:53:09,550 --> 00:53:14,349 taking this the bullet train all around, and you're seeing Italy in Germany and France, and you 538 00:53:14,350 --> 00:53:19,109 do that all in the in the space of a couple of days. They don't always understand that their 539 00:53:19,110 --> 00:53:25,909 countries are many times as big or smaller than our states. Like, you start putting Alaska and 540 00:53:25,909 --> 00:53:31,829 Texas up against the size of some European countries and it gets downright scary. This is a 541 00:53:31,830 --> 00:53:38,779 huge country and there are all manner of of different lifestyles and cultures all the way 542 00:53:38,779 --> 00:53:42,938 across the country. And it sounds to me like that's one of your favorite parts about trucking, 543 00:53:42,939 --> 00:53:49,419 Stephanie. It is. It is. It is just great. So, um, 544 00:53:50,979 --> 00:53:56,299 I know another one. That's my favorite. It's Connecticut and, uh, the holiday season around 545 00:53:56,299 --> 00:54:03,179 Christmas. Yeah. People out there like a hallmark movie. Yeah. I was about to say that you took the 546 00:54:03,180 --> 00:54:07,580 words right out of my mouth. I've seen the pictures. Uh, they do Christmas different out there 547 00:54:07,580 --> 00:54:14,539 in Connecticut. Yes. It's a hallmark movie. Um, it's great, but I remember going through 548 00:54:14,540 --> 00:54:19,939 the Mojave Desert, and I had never seen these animals before. Uh, you know, and I'm from a long 549 00:54:19,939 --> 00:54:26,859 line of, like, hunters and fishers and whatever. So I'm thinking, I know what America is doing. I was 550 00:54:26,860 --> 00:54:32,459 born I don't know if you know the pronghorn is or not. I was fortunate enough to, uh. I was fortunate 551 00:54:32,459 --> 00:54:37,649 enough to go hunt pronghorn and actually fill my tag. I waited 20 years for that tag, and three 552 00:54:37,649 --> 00:54:42,489 years ago this September, I was able to take down a pronghorn. So I know what you're talking about. 553 00:54:42,530 --> 00:54:49,409 Yeah. So? So me being from Appalachia, you know, country, I've been isolated. We never had money to 554 00:54:49,449 --> 00:54:56,448 go nowhere, you know? But, um, so I'm driving my first couple times to Los Angeles, but 555 00:54:56,449 --> 00:55:02,609 I'm going through the desert, see a pronghorn. I call my grandma, I'll take a simple escape from 556 00:55:02,610 --> 00:55:07,850 the zoo, or it's been imported from Africa or something, because it was like the one that runs 557 00:55:07,850 --> 00:55:13,849 with the lions over there. And mother was like, go, get out the truck. Daphne, you just stay right 558 00:55:13,850 --> 00:55:20,609 there. Don't get out of that truck. And I was at a loss, you know, mind you, she's 559 00:55:20,610 --> 00:55:26,329 almost 89 years old. She's all this crap. So between the two of us, we didn't know what that 560 00:55:26,330 --> 00:55:33,319 thing was. That's so funny. That's funny. I love it. Now that I found out what it was and that it 561 00:55:33,320 --> 00:55:38,720 was supposed to be here, I felt so stupid. Oh, no. Hey, there's. Those things look a lot different 562 00:55:38,720 --> 00:55:44,120 than anything you've ever seen. And you are 100% right when you see them run away from you across 563 00:55:44,120 --> 00:55:49,039 an alfalfa field or across an open desert. They look like they should be running from lions and 564 00:55:49,040 --> 00:55:55,480 tigers, not just from whatever's out in New Mexico. Right? Yeah, and then roadrunners. I'm sorry to be 565 00:55:55,480 --> 00:56:00,799 all animals, but roadrunners. I thought they were big. Like the cartoons. No, we were getting tiny 566 00:56:00,840 --> 00:56:06,199 things, and they were super fast. Oh, yeah, they are. Those things are really cool. I, you know, that is 567 00:56:06,199 --> 00:56:11,359 one thing about Oregon, where I live that a lot of people don't know is the Great Basin Range 568 00:56:11,360 --> 00:56:16,759 stretches into the southern part of Oregon, and we have a pretty big, uh, what I would call almost 569 00:56:16,799 --> 00:56:22,039 alpine desert, uh, down in the lower part of our state. And we do get some antelope. And I am right 570 00:56:22,039 --> 00:56:27,919 there with you. They do not seem like they belong in our state, but they're here, and I'll tell you, 571 00:56:27,959 --> 00:56:34,029 they are delicious. If any of you are a hunter man, they make a good steak. In fact, my wife just 572 00:56:34,029 --> 00:56:40,269 cooked up some antelope for me last night and put it with some gnocchi pasta. It's so good. It might 573 00:56:40,270 --> 00:56:44,709 be my favorite game. Meat, if I'm going to be honest with you. Um, so if you ever get a chance to 574 00:56:44,709 --> 00:56:49,269 get a tag and you like to do you like to go out and hunt, I would highly recommend an antelope 575 00:56:49,269 --> 00:56:55,110 hunt. They're really fun. They're hard. Uh, they are incredibly in tune to their predators. They are 576 00:56:55,110 --> 00:57:01,229 very fast. And you don't get closer to them than about 300 yards unless you're lucky. So, uh, it's 577 00:57:01,230 --> 00:57:07,709 it's a very fun and challenging game. Uh, or if you just enjoy sightseeing, they run in huge herds, and 578 00:57:07,709 --> 00:57:13,988 they're really fun to watch. Yeah. You have to be a good shot on that one. Well, you know, my my adage 579 00:57:13,989 --> 00:57:18,229 with that one, Stephanie is even a blind squirrel finds a nut. Once in a while, I think I was 580 00:57:18,229 --> 00:57:24,629 throwing lead in the air and that thing jumped into it, if you want my honest opinion. But, uh, it 581 00:57:24,629 --> 00:57:30,339 still hit the ground, and I. I got it on my wall because, as I said, I applied for that tag for 20 582 00:57:30,379 --> 00:57:36,259 plus years before I finally got enough preference points to get the tag. So, uh, very, very special 583 00:57:36,260 --> 00:57:40,780 moment for me. I'm glad you brought up antelope. It never. It never hurts my feelings to talk about 584 00:57:40,780 --> 00:57:46,379 them. Um, but, uh, Jackie, I wonder. I never asked you the question that got Stephanie there to talking 585 00:57:46,380 --> 00:57:51,379 about the different animals in the different states. Uh, do you have a favorite place in all of 586 00:57:51,380 --> 00:57:58,019 your experience driving since 1988? Where's your favorite place to end up in the truck? Oh, 587 00:57:58,020 --> 00:58:04,898 man, I really like going south, I really do, okay. I mean, I love going down 588 00:58:04,899 --> 00:58:11,899 in Florida. I just love the view going down. And it's so relaxing going down 75, 589 00:58:11,939 --> 00:58:18,658 you know, down in there. And I'll tell you, I'm like Stephanie in the fall. I've been to Connecticut 590 00:58:18,659 --> 00:58:24,458 and stuff for for bulk delivery now delivering malt and stuff up there for the breweries. And I 591 00:58:24,459 --> 00:58:31,050 really like it up there in the fall too. Yeah, it is because, you know, the I don't know, it's just 592 00:58:31,050 --> 00:58:37,808 the way the trees and everything is up in there. You know, I don't mind it, but when you get out of 593 00:58:37,809 --> 00:58:43,449 can get out of your way. I don't know where Stephanie lives up, but I live here in a town 594 00:58:43,489 --> 00:58:49,649 that's not a hundred mile an hour pace. Mhm. And when I get out of here in these other 595 00:58:49,649 --> 00:58:56,609 states, these vehicles, they're just all motoring. They are. But no I do I like going south I do, I 596 00:58:56,610 --> 00:59:01,369 like going up Connecticut in that area there. Yeah. The colors up there in Connecticut in the fall I 597 00:59:01,370 --> 00:59:06,689 have got to just be mind blowing. And I'll say this. Yeah, I can never hurt anybody's feelings to 598 00:59:06,689 --> 00:59:12,649 get out after you've left Kentucky or Ohio, to get out of the truck down in Florida and warm the 599 00:59:12,650 --> 00:59:19,089 cold bones up a little bit. Right. You're you're exactly right. You know, I mean, it gets cold on our 600 00:59:19,090 --> 00:59:25,479 tune sometimes certain part of the year, but, I mean, it's still nice to go. It is always like that. 601 00:59:25,520 --> 00:59:32,119 Like that. Run that man for sure. Well. That was 602 00:59:32,280 --> 00:59:38,119 something to do in the Everglades and their cheap, um, adventures that you can do in just a couple of 603 00:59:38,120 --> 00:59:44,279 hours. When you shut down, like going on those air boats and stuff, you just take a little trip down 604 00:59:44,280 --> 00:59:49,079 the Everglades. Yeah. Pretty nice. That's great. You got parking for your trip right there, too. Oh. 605 00:59:49,080 --> 00:59:55,519 That's awesome. Oh, I got it. Yeah, I got. Family down in Orlando, so, I mean, it's good for me if I get to 606 00:59:55,560 --> 01:00:00,679 go down there. You know, the few times I went down there for boat, I visit with my cousin, took her 607 01:00:00,679 --> 01:00:06,720 out for dinner and stuff. Barbecue place. So, I mean, it's really good for me to see my family, you know, 608 01:00:06,759 --> 01:00:11,520 that's in these other states, too. Absolutely, absolutely. And some of the it's one of the things 609 01:00:11,520 --> 01:00:16,439 that I feel like a lot of people don't understand when they see Over-the-road truck driving as a 610 01:00:16,439 --> 01:00:22,918 career. They think, uh, being out, being isolated, long miles, uh, really hard work. But there are some 611 01:00:22,919 --> 01:00:27,750 caveats that come with it. Stephanie's talked about it there. You just heard Jackie talk about 612 01:00:27,750 --> 01:00:32,109 it. You sometimes you get to go out and see family. I mean, who knows how often you're just going to 613 01:00:32,109 --> 01:00:36,949 take a plane flight down to Orlando to see your cousin and take her to dinner? But, hey, if bull 614 01:00:36,949 --> 01:00:41,189 gets you down there, uh, you're down there. It's that easy. It's just part of the gig, and you get 615 01:00:41,189 --> 01:00:45,908 to go out and enjoy some barbecue with a family member. There's nothing wrong with that. And I 616 01:00:45,909 --> 01:00:51,830 think it's all part of how you guys stay level out there on the road and set yourself up for 617 01:00:51,830 --> 01:00:58,749 success. To be able to do this job, that is a very demanding job. Um, and listen, it's not an easy one, 618 01:00:58,749 --> 01:01:02,829 but you guys are really good at it, and you can tell that there's a lot of dedication that's made 619 01:01:02,829 --> 01:01:08,708 you good at it. Um, we have gone for almost an hour, believe it or not, Jackie and Stephanie, I'll 620 01:01:08,709 --> 01:01:13,389 always say whenever I look up at the clock and that much time has passed, but it feels like 15 621 01:01:13,389 --> 01:01:19,509 minutes. That was a good conversation. Uh, so I want to wrap it up, though, because I know Stephanie has 622 01:01:19,510 --> 01:01:25,059 given us her time right now, and far be it for me to take a single minute more of Jackie's time off 623 01:01:25,060 --> 01:01:31,979 than what I need to. So let's go. Ahead. Sorry. Go ahead. Yeah. Thank you for having 624 01:01:31,979 --> 01:01:38,739 me. Having me. Jackie. If you see me again, make a point. Because everyone is a blur most of the time. 625 01:01:38,780 --> 01:01:44,819 Say, I was on the podcast with you. I'm good to give you my number two off the podcast. Yes, sir. 626 01:01:44,860 --> 01:01:51,579 Yes, sir. Well, as. Soon as you give them the ball and we'll call you for advice. So? So we 627 01:01:51,580 --> 01:01:56,900 will. We will make sure that you guys can exchange numbers after we shut the mics off here. I'll make 628 01:01:56,900 --> 01:02:01,179 sure and keep you on the line so we can do that. Because that is a big moment in my life, too. I'm 629 01:02:01,179 --> 01:02:06,620 very excited to hear all of the things. You know, Stephanie, I think about this maybe in six months, 630 01:02:06,620 --> 01:02:11,738 we'll get you guys back on here together and talk about what you've learned from Jackie over those 631 01:02:11,739 --> 01:02:17,059 six months since you connected here on the show. But this podcast, there's one thing that we do for 632 01:02:17,060 --> 01:02:23,369 every single person that joins and we call it Final thoughts. This is a time for you to say 633 01:02:23,370 --> 01:02:27,449 anything that you didn't say. Bring up anything that might have gotten left on the table during 634 01:02:27,450 --> 01:02:32,569 the recording here, or give some shout outs to family members, coworkers, whoever might be 635 01:02:32,570 --> 01:02:38,929 listening. The point is, the floor is yours and you can take as much time as you need. So Jackie 636 01:02:38,929 --> 01:02:44,968 Thomas, we're going to go to you first for your final thoughts here, my friend. Trucking since 1988. 637 01:02:44,969 --> 01:02:49,769 Seen just about everything there is to see a wealth of knowledge. We greatly appreciate your 638 01:02:49,769 --> 01:02:54,729 time here today, Jackie. Final thoughts for us before we let you get back to enjoying the last 639 01:02:54,729 --> 01:03:01,209 bit of your time off. I've really enjoyed this podcast with you and Stephanie and 640 01:03:01,650 --> 01:03:08,329 it's been really, really excited. You know, just hear Stephanie talk about she's been places I 641 01:03:08,330 --> 01:03:15,009 haven't been and and I just I encourage anybody, you know, to if they want to work for both. I 642 01:03:15,009 --> 01:03:21,509 mean, it's a good place to work. Amen to that, Jackie. Great stuff from you. Thank you so much for 643 01:03:21,509 --> 01:03:28,028 being here today, my friend. We will get you back on here again soon for sure. Uh, Stephanie Evans, 644 01:03:28,070 --> 01:03:33,069 your time is also greatly appreciated, especially because I know that you waited to get on the road 645 01:03:33,070 --> 01:03:38,589 today. Uh, I I'll never ask somebody to do that, but if they are going to do it for me, I'll tell you, 646 01:03:38,590 --> 01:03:43,749 I'm very grateful. Thank you so much for all the great content today. Final thoughts from you 647 01:03:43,749 --> 01:03:50,629 before we let you go. Um, so mine's probably in a in in both directions. I 648 01:03:50,629 --> 01:03:57,588 want to give a shout out to Kelly and Python Terminal. What an amazing, um, 649 01:03:57,949 --> 01:04:04,749 person and employee for both trains. And she. She's super loyal and super helpful. And I could have 650 01:04:04,750 --> 01:04:11,389 not done this without Kelly. Um, so very grateful to her. But patience, um, 651 01:04:11,909 --> 01:04:17,978 and knowing the dangers of the job, like, when we leave home, we might not go back. So, um, 652 01:04:18,899 --> 01:04:24,539 you know, and I've watched a lot of it, you know, just on the road. So it is it is great. It's good 653 01:04:24,539 --> 01:04:31,498 money. It is an amazing company. But just always be aware of the danger that 654 01:04:31,499 --> 01:04:36,580 comes with it. And it could be in the moment. It could be a split second. You're not paying 655 01:04:36,580 --> 01:04:41,860 attention and trying to hurry or thinking, I'm going to make one more dollar if I stay out one 656 01:04:41,860 --> 01:04:48,579 more hour. Or if I do this really fast. And that's not the ticket here. The the goal is to, you 657 01:04:48,580 --> 01:04:55,139 know, to help the company advance as well as myself. And being in a rush or not paying 658 01:04:55,139 --> 01:05:02,100 attention is one of the number one things, um, that, you know, hurt 659 01:05:02,140 --> 01:05:08,899 drivers. Absolutely. You know, and and always to be prepared, I would say, like being prepared 660 01:05:08,900 --> 01:05:15,289 for anything that would happen. Um, have all of your provisions with you, anything extra and You 661 01:05:15,490 --> 01:05:20,209 bring that stuff with you? Great advice there, Stephanie. Thank you so much for the time. Hang on 662 01:05:20,209 --> 01:05:24,249 the line with me, guys. After we shut the mics off, we'll get your we'll get your information 663 01:05:24,249 --> 01:05:29,769 exchange so that you two can touch base off the air. Uh, this has been a fantastic conversation. Big 664 01:05:29,769 --> 01:05:34,889 thanks to Stephanie Evans and Jackie Thomas. We'll talk to you guys soon. Thanks for being here. Okay. 665 01:05:35,569 --> 01:05:38,369 Okay. Thank you. Have a nice day. I. 666 01:05:46,210 --> 01:05:51,649 Can confirm that Jackie and Stephanie exchanged information off the air. And they will be 667 01:05:51,649 --> 01:05:58,409 connecting so that Stephanie can soak up, like, a sponge. All of that great knowledge that Jackie 668 01:05:58,410 --> 01:06:05,369 has amassed over his career. Trucking since 1988. Growing up with a father that had four trucks 669 01:06:05,369 --> 01:06:11,570 and getting his first. I'll put it in quotes. Long haul experience, miles wise at the ripe old age of 670 01:06:11,570 --> 01:06:18,279 14. Um, that's that's an amazing story. And what you heard there was a newer driver and I won't even 671 01:06:18,280 --> 01:06:23,199 really consider Stephanie a newer driver. She's been with us for a while, but somebody that 672 01:06:23,199 --> 01:06:29,879 doesn't have as much experience as what Jackie does, um, is is looking to try to 673 01:06:29,880 --> 01:06:34,840 absorb that experience because she's so dedicated to the job. And you could hear that in Stephanie's 674 01:06:34,840 --> 01:06:41,039 voice talking about how one of the things that she uses intentionally to keep the isolation and 675 01:06:41,039 --> 01:06:47,839 the loneliness from creeping in is focusing on her truck and making sure that that truck is in 676 01:06:47,840 --> 01:06:54,639 shipshape and everything is running perfectly. That alone gives her the confidence to approach 677 01:06:54,639 --> 01:07:01,479 the job the way that she wants to. And it also helps her not think constantly 678 01:07:01,479 --> 01:07:07,239 about that little girl sitting back at home waiting for her to come home. Um, and again, I told 679 01:07:07,240 --> 01:07:12,830 you off the top. Think of the word intentional. This is not something that just happens. It's 680 01:07:12,830 --> 01:07:17,869 something that you have to make happen. Trust me. I mean, you heard our Mother's Day episode just a 681 01:07:17,869 --> 01:07:24,029 couple of weeks ago. It is not easy for a mother to not be talking to their child, especially not 682 01:07:24,070 --> 01:07:31,070 when it's available. So what Stephanie does is very intentional, and it produces results, and it 683 01:07:31,070 --> 01:07:37,069 keeps her level out there on the road so that she can do a really good job, get her check and get 684 01:07:37,069 --> 01:07:43,149 home, and then concentrate on the things that matter once the truck is parked. As for Jackie, 685 01:07:43,310 --> 01:07:48,229 seen it all out there, man, there's not a thing that a guy that's been driving since 88 hasn't 686 01:07:48,229 --> 01:07:55,229 seen. Um, and I think a lot of that kind of comes with the territory of of 687 01:07:55,230 --> 01:08:01,430 being intentional about staying, uh, staying right out there from a mental standpoint. And you heard 688 01:08:01,430 --> 01:08:06,629 it from Jackie. I mean, have you ever heard a happier guy on this podcast or in general? There's 689 01:08:06,629 --> 01:08:11,579 not anything that you could tell Jackie that's gonna upset him, and that's intentional too. You 690 01:08:11,580 --> 01:08:16,579 heard him talk about waking up in a good mood every day. Get a good cup of coffee in you. Even 691 01:08:16,579 --> 01:08:20,659 his girlfriend doesn't understand how he does it. But he does it. And he's been through some things. 692 01:08:20,660 --> 01:08:27,179 Lost a partner to illness, got through cancer himself, went through a cancer diagnosis with his 693 01:08:27,180 --> 01:08:31,939 current significant other, and got through that. That's a guy that doesn't have to be happy every 694 01:08:31,980 --> 01:08:38,659 day. But he is because he wants to be. And that is where I wrap it back to being intentional about 695 01:08:38,660 --> 01:08:44,699 your mental health. At the end of the day, this job asks a lot more than driving a truck. It asks for 696 01:08:44,700 --> 01:08:51,659 discipline, it asks for patience. And whether we talk about it or not, it demands a 697 01:08:51,859 --> 01:08:57,179 very high level of mental fortitude. Because here's the reality long haul drivers might spend 698 01:08:57,180 --> 01:09:03,019 weeks at a time working in isolation, and studies have shown that truck drivers are at a higher 699 01:09:03,020 --> 01:09:08,660 risk for depression and loneliness compared to the general workforce. And in some research, nearly 700 01:09:08,660 --> 01:09:15,249 1 in 4 drivers report symptoms tied to mental health strain, whether that's stress, fatigue or 701 01:09:15,249 --> 01:09:21,289 just the weight of being out there alone. And that is not a weakness. That's the environment we live 702 01:09:21,290 --> 01:09:28,168 in. That's the job. So what matters is what you do about it. Intentional and 703 01:09:28,169 --> 01:09:34,649 what you heard today. That's the blueprint. Stay connected. Find your routines. Take care of the 704 01:09:34,649 --> 01:09:41,329 little things, break up the monotony, and don't ignore the days when something feels a little off. 705 01:09:41,329 --> 01:09:47,049 Because out here you can't control the miles, but you can control how you take care of yourself 706 01:09:47,049 --> 01:09:52,369 along the way. And sometimes that's the difference between just getting through it and actually 707 01:09:52,370 --> 01:09:58,450 being good to go out there. And I hope that this episode did a good job of painting the picture of 708 01:09:58,450 --> 01:10:03,129 how just two drivers handle it. And I also hope that the rest of you drivers that are listening 709 01:10:03,130 --> 01:10:08,319 to this might want to come on and share the way that you keep your head right out there over the 710 01:10:08,319 --> 01:10:12,839 road. Or maybe you're a regional driver. You don't stay out that long. Maybe you're home every night, 711 01:10:12,840 --> 01:10:18,120 but you still concentrate on your mental health. We're here to talk about it, and more than happy 712 01:10:18,120 --> 01:10:23,758 to welcome you onto the show. I told Stephanie and Jackie they are definitely both. Welcome back 713 01:10:23,759 --> 01:10:28,120 anytime. If you're listening to this right now and you're going, how in the heck do I get in touch 714 01:10:28,120 --> 01:10:33,079 with Marcus? That was an awesome episode. I want to be on the show. I hope you're saying that. God, I 715 01:10:33,080 --> 01:10:38,079 hope you're saying that. But it's simple. You just head over to the website podcast.bulktransit.com. 716 01:10:38,080 --> 01:10:43,039 There's a link there where you can email me directly, or if you already have my phone number, 717 01:10:43,079 --> 01:10:49,278 feel free. Shoot me a call, send me a text. I'm available all the time. That way I will answer if 718 01:10:49,279 --> 01:10:55,440 I can. If I can't answer, I'll get back to you. Okay, but this is important stuff that we talked about 719 01:10:55,440 --> 01:11:01,639 today. This is kind of a gravitational episode because we learned about some techniques and some 720 01:11:01,640 --> 01:11:06,589 tips and just being intentional about doing things in a way that works for you that I think 721 01:11:06,589 --> 01:11:11,230 will really resonate with a lot of you Bulk drivers out there and Spur as well. We're not 722 01:11:11,230 --> 01:11:16,629 going to forget them. Thank you so much for clicking download on today's episode. Um, it is 723 01:11:16,629 --> 01:11:21,429 Mental Health Awareness Month and I think we gave it its flowers today. So really appreciate 724 01:11:21,430 --> 01:11:26,189 Stephanie and Jackie coming on here and sharing so much time with me. And thank all of you for 725 01:11:26,189 --> 01:11:32,469 being here, listening today. We appreciate always every single click that we get podcast.bulktransit.com 726 01:11:32,509 --> 01:11:37,989 the website, and we will have another hour of content for you next week, 727 01:11:37,990 --> 01:11:44,270 Wednesday, 5 a.m. local time. Take care out there. Book. Be safe. Make sure to keep that shiny side up. 728 01:11:46,110 --> 01:11:51,989 And that's all she blows for today's episode of Always Pneumatic, Never Static your number one and 729 01:11:51,990 --> 01:11:57,869 probably only Pneumatic Trucking podcast, brought to you by Bulk Transit. Thanks for rolling with us 730 01:11:57,870 --> 01:12:02,669 today. Till next time, stay safe. Keep those lines clear and keep it pumping.