Company Anniversary: Bulk Transit Leadership Looks Back & Ahead

Company Anniversary: Bulk Transit Leadership Looks Back & Ahead
Released 07/29/2026
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Episode description

Fifty-four years of rolling down the road, and the people who run Bulk and Spur Transit have something to say about it. In Episode 25, host Marcus brings five of the company's top leaders together for a company anniversary special that is part year-in-review, part state of the union, and entirely for the team who keep this operation moving every single day. Director of Operations Shawn Stephens and Director of Safety Tim Hamilton reflect on the wins, the surprises, and the moments that defined the past year at Bulk and Spur Transit. Then President Bryan DeWolf, Director of Maintenance Brad DeWolf, and Human Resource Director Andrea McClung share their first memories of the company, the things they never want to change, and personal messages sent directly to the employees who make it all possible. This is the episode every Bulk and Spur driver deserves to hear. The people at the top are paying attention; they are proud of what has been built, and they want you to know it. New episodes every Wednesday at podcast.bulktransit.com.

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Show Highlights

Key moments and takeaways from this episode.

About This Episode

This week on Always Pneumatic, Never Static, host Marcus steps back from the day-to-day and takes a moment to celebrate something genuinely worth celebrating. Bulk and Spur Transit is 54 years old. Half a century plus four. And the people who built it, run it, and keep it moving every single day showed up today to talk about what that actually means. Episode 25 is a two-part anniversary special featuring the company's top leadership, and it is the most personal episode the show has produced in 25 weeks.

Episode Highlights

Part One: The State of the Company

One word from each leader: Marcus opened the anniversary segment with a simple question. One word to describe the past year. Shawn Stephens said dynamic. Tim Hamilton said positive. Both answers were unprompted, both were genuine, and together they tell the story of a company that has had a year it can be proud of.

Accident numbers are down and mileage is up: Tim confirmed that fleet mileage increased over the past year while accident frequency declined. His explanation was direct — better training, better recruiting, and better driver awareness all contributing simultaneously. He expects next year to be even better.

Operations is managed chaos getting smoother: Shawn described operations the way only someone who has been inside it long enough to understand it would. Not ten individual terminals doing their own thing. One company working together to quiet the chaos collectively. He credited the team for that shift more than anything else.

A shoutout to the Spur terminals in Texas: Shawn gave a specific acknowledgment to the two Spur Transit terminals in Texas. Far removed from the rest of the network, those two terminals lean on each other in a way that earns them recognition on an anniversary like this one. Marcus tried to get him to call out one terminal above all others. Shawn saw it coming from a mile away and declined with a smile.

Awareness is both the win and the work in progress: Tim described awareness as the thing drivers have gotten noticeably better at over the past year and the thing that still has the most room for improvement. His answer to both questions was the same word. Marcus pointed out that Tim is the guy who once said complacency is the enemy of safety. Tim confirmed he would still like that tattooed on someone's arm. He is offering five dollars to anyone who commits.

Final messages from Tim and Shawn: Shawn closed his segment by thanking the DeWolf family for providing a home worth being proud of. Tim said that after nearly 30 years in the industry, his only regret is that he did not start at Bulk sooner. His message to drivers was simple. Do not sit there and stew about something. Talk to somebody. Communication fixes most things before they become real problems.

Part Two: The Family Behind the Company

Bryan's earliest memory: A dime or a quarter from Ron DeWolf for every flat tire he found walking the yard. He was ten or eleven years old. Before that he was toddling around the terminal on Sundays while his dad did tire work with a sledgehammer and tube tires in the era before modern equipment made any of that easier. Bryan's words: he was an independent contractor. Marcus noted he was glad Ron did not 1099 him.

Andrea's earliest memory: Standing in tall weeds outside the old terminal on Wilson Road in Columbus, Ohio, convinced her entire family had disappeared. She described it as a children of the corn moment, which she confirmed is accurate. Her favorite memory after that was the go-kart the mechanics built from a lawnmower engine and an upside-down kitchen chair that she and her brothers raced up and down Memorial Drive at the current location.

Brad's earliest memory: Vague but consistent with his siblings. Wilson Road. Tire work. Ron DeWolf doing everything himself on a Sunday. Brad also happens to be the same age as the company which he noted he does not celebrate with quite as much enthusiasm as the anniversary itself deserves.

What Bryan is proudest of: Keeping the lights on. He said it the way only someone who has been responsible for it can. Not in a humble way. In an honest way. Ten years since he and Brad and Andrea took over in 2016. Fifty-four years since Ron DeWolf started the whole thing. Biggest is not always best. But continuing dad's legacy and doing right by the people inside the company is something Bryan believes Ron would be proud of.

The one thing none of them will change: Open door access. Bryan, Brad, and Andrea all landed on the same answer independently. Brad was most direct about it. He limits his access to salespeople far more aggressively than he limits it to employees. If a driver can call Bryan DeWolf directly without a phone tree or a chain of management approval, that is not an accident. It is a choice. And it is the thing that keeps the family business feeling like a family business regardless of how much the company grows.

Andrea's message to driver trainers: Andrea closed with a specific and deeply personal thank you to the driver trainers at Bulk and Spur. Her words were unscripted and clear. Without the trainers, the company cannot grow. They are selfless, they go above and beyond, and they are the first impression a new hire gets of what it means to work here. She wanted them to know she saw it.

Brad's message to the whole company: Check your lights. Check your tires. Short, practical, and exactly what you would expect from the Director of Maintenance speaking on behalf of the shop and everyone in it. Those two checks, he said, cover most of what safety is really about at the ground level. Then he reminded everyone that the trucks run 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. and none of those hours are regular. A shoutout to everyone showing up for the weird ones.

From The Host

Fifty-four years of a trucking company is not an accident. It is a culture. It is the fact that Bryan DeWolf's earliest memory of this business was earning a quarter to find flat tires in the yard for his dad. It is the fact that Tim Hamilton wishes he had started here 30 years ago instead of ten. It is the fact that Brad DeWolf limits his access to salespeople but not to the people doing the work. And it is the fact that every driver on this podcast for twenty-five episodes has said some version of the same thing. They like their gig. They like the people. They like where they drive. That does not come from a policy document. That comes from fifty-four years of a family that built something real and then kept it real as it grew. Happy anniversary to Bulk and Spur Transit. Here are fifty-four more.” — Marcus Bridges, Host

Transcript

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1 00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:06,239 How's it going out there? Bulk and Spur, welcome into another episode of Always Pneumatic, Never 2 00:00:06,239 --> 00:00:12,439 Static. I am your host, Marcus. Thank you so much for being here today. Uh, we greatly appreciate 3 00:00:12,439 --> 00:00:17,400 every single one of you guys clicking download every single week. And, uh, go ahead and tell a 4 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:22,120 friend about it too. We got we're our listeners are looking good, but they could be looking better. 5 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:28,160 I know there are some drivers out there that haven't listened yet. In fact, I got a little 6 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:32,840 survey that we did of some of the bulk drivers here just recently, and there were a couple of 7 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:38,400 people that answered that they had either not listened to the podcast yet, or that they didn't 8 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:44,159 know that we had a podcast. Uh, we totally do. That's what you're listening to right now. So if 9 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:49,560 you get to take advantage of this every day and you get there every week, and you enjoy the hour 10 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:54,360 of content that we put out every single week, tell one of your friends that's a driver for Bulk and 11 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:58,680 Spur. Let them know, hey, if you listen to the podcast yet, if they say, I didn't even know we had 12 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:03,540 one, show him how to access it. If they say, you know, I knew about the podcast, but I just haven't 13 00:01:03,540 --> 00:01:08,980 listened yet. Shove them in the right direction for us because as you'll hear later on in this 14 00:01:08,980 --> 00:01:14,660 episode, we want everybody listening to this. And that's not just me. Uh, that's some of the people 15 00:01:14,660 --> 00:01:20,019 responsible for making some of the biggest decisions that get made around these parts. So, uh, 16 00:01:20,060 --> 00:01:25,620 podcast.bulktransit.com is where you want to send them. That's where you can find all of our episodes, all the 17 00:01:25,620 --> 00:01:31,300 information. There's quizzes that we put up there after every show. So you can test your memory a 18 00:01:31,300 --> 00:01:37,060 little bit. Hey, I don't know if any of you were like me. I'm 41. The memory is starting to fade. 19 00:01:37,100 --> 00:01:42,980 These little quizzes help me out, uh, remembering exactly what it was that we talked about. Because 20 00:01:43,019 --> 00:01:48,220 let me tell you, sometimes it all starts to blend together. I don't know if I talked about scrambled 21 00:01:48,220 --> 00:01:54,459 eggs on the podcast or if that's what I had for breakfast. It just happens that way. That's, I think, 22 00:01:54,459 --> 00:02:00,470 one of the crosses I bear as one of the people that chose the run your mouth as like their lead 23 00:02:00,470 --> 00:02:05,830 skill. It's really hard to remember everything that comes out of my pie hole, so forgive me for 24 00:02:05,870 --> 00:02:11,750 that, but tell a friend because we're having fun in here and today we're having even more fun. We 25 00:02:11,750 --> 00:02:17,750 are celebrating Bulk and Spurs 54th anniversary as a company. 26 00:02:21,030 --> 00:02:27,910 54 years hang half a decade on him. What an amazing run and we're 27 00:02:27,910 --> 00:02:34,109 not done yet. Okay, everything is moving up into the right. We're we're cooking with gas, as they 28 00:02:34,110 --> 00:02:39,229 say. I've said it before. We're on a gravy train with biscuit wheels, and we wanted to take the 29 00:02:39,229 --> 00:02:44,670 to celebrate the company's anniversary here today on the podcast. And we've got a bunch of 30 00:02:44,670 --> 00:02:50,429 people joining us here in just a little bit to kind of help us do that. We're going to have, uh, 31 00:02:50,429 --> 00:02:55,850 Shaun Stephens and Tim Hamilton on. That's your, uh, director of ops, director of safety. We're going to 32 00:02:55,850 --> 00:03:00,729 talk to them sort of about the state of the company as they see it. What's going well? Uh, are 33 00:03:00,729 --> 00:03:05,729 there is there room for improvement anywhere? How are you feeling about it? It's this. There's a lot 34 00:03:05,729 --> 00:03:11,410 of feelings in today's episode, and I'm okay with that. Uh, because having something last like this 35 00:03:11,410 --> 00:03:17,689 company as well as it has for 54 years, um, that'll make you well up with some feelings, and I'm okay 36 00:03:17,689 --> 00:03:22,889 with that. We're going to talk about them today. And then after Tim and Shawn join us, we are going 37 00:03:22,889 --> 00:03:29,809 to welcome Bryan, Brad and Andrea to the show and talk to them, the ownership trio about, 38 00:03:29,929 --> 00:03:34,889 um, some of how, how they feel about it, a little bit of state of the Union stuff. But I'm also 39 00:03:34,890 --> 00:03:40,049 going to dig a little bit deeper or zoom out a little, if you will. We'll talk about some of their 40 00:03:40,049 --> 00:03:44,929 earliest memories. We'll talk about some things that have changed over the years and, uh, just get 41 00:03:44,929 --> 00:03:51,529 their thoughts on this awesome 54th anniversary for Bulk and Spur. Um, what a 42 00:03:51,530 --> 00:03:56,179 fantastic company. I'll tell you this. A little peek behind the curtain here. I work with more 43 00:03:56,220 --> 00:04:01,099 than just this one trucking fleet. I make podcasts for a few different trucking fleets, and I see 44 00:04:01,100 --> 00:04:07,179 something very special behind the scenes. At bulk, I see drivers that are just endlessly happy with 45 00:04:07,179 --> 00:04:12,579 the gig that they have. They like the work, they like the miles, they like where they drive. They're 46 00:04:12,579 --> 00:04:17,179 happy. You guys hear them on this show all the time. And then outside of that, we've got the 47 00:04:17,179 --> 00:04:23,859 terminal staff that is very dedicated to making sure that these drivers and the shop employees, 48 00:04:23,859 --> 00:04:30,019 everybody that's involved has a good job, knows what their responsibilities are, likes coming to 49 00:04:30,060 --> 00:04:35,979 work and does a good job. And it takes a village. I'll tell you right now the dedication that you 50 00:04:35,980 --> 00:04:42,299 see, that you will hear from the five people that are joining us today is just the very tip end of 51 00:04:42,299 --> 00:04:48,220 the iceberg. That sentiment runs through the entire company, and never is it more evident than 52 00:04:48,260 --> 00:04:53,959 a day like today, when we get kind of the top level of management in here and talk to them 53 00:04:53,959 --> 00:05:00,799 about what they see in this company. Um, so super cool episode. I'm super excited once again 54 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:07,399 to everybody wearing Bulk or Spur, uh, on their t shirt or on their truck or on their hard hat or 55 00:05:07,399 --> 00:05:14,399 on their gloves today. Happy anniversary. 54 years. That's a heck 56 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:19,199 of a run. And I don't want to stand in the way anymore, because everything that needs to be said 57 00:05:19,239 --> 00:05:25,279 today is going to be said in these following two segments. So strap in. Let's celebrate the company 58 00:05:25,280 --> 00:05:31,239 anniversary by first getting Shawn and Tim in here to give us a little bit of a state of the Union. 59 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:39,319 You are listening to Always Pneumatic, Never Static, the Totally Pressurized podcast brought to 60 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:44,879 you by Bulk Transit, where we keep the lines clear, the tanks empty, and the conversation anything but 61 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:49,720 dry. Whether you're running powder pellets or anything in between. Pull up a seat, crack the 62 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:56,609 windows and let's hit it. Welcome back into our anniversary 63 00:05:56,609 --> 00:06:02,769 special here on Always pneumatic, never static. Very excited. Uh, for our next segment here as we 64 00:06:02,769 --> 00:06:08,049 welcome in Director of Operations Shaun Stephens to the show. Shaun, thanks for joining us today man. 65 00:06:08,089 --> 00:06:13,569 Really excited to talk a little anniversary with you today. Appreciate it Marcus. Glad to be here. 66 00:06:13,609 --> 00:06:18,529 Glad to have you also joining us today. We've got the Director of safety on the show Tim Hamilton. 67 00:06:18,529 --> 00:06:24,689 Tim, welcome back as well man. Always a pleasure to have you here. Well, thanks for inviting me. Of 68 00:06:24,689 --> 00:06:31,129 course. Gentlemen. Now, uh, as we talk about the anniversary, uh, first off, I feel like jumping 69 00:06:31,130 --> 00:06:37,569 in. Uh, let's just do this in in kind of a fun way. Shawn, if you could describe this past year, 70 00:06:37,969 --> 00:06:44,890 uh, in one word for me, what word would you use? Dynamic. And why is that? 71 00:06:46,089 --> 00:06:51,269 Because we've seen a lot of, uh, we've seen a lot of positive changes, a lot of positive direction, I 72 00:06:51,269 --> 00:06:56,549 think. I like it short and simple and to the point. Tim, how about you? One word to describe this last 73 00:06:56,549 --> 00:07:01,950 year. Well, positive. That's great. Why positive? I mean, that's kind of a you know, that that word 74 00:07:01,950 --> 00:07:08,349 kind of comes loaded. But I'll ask you why anyway. Yeah. It seems, uh, morale has been up 75 00:07:08,630 --> 00:07:15,509 more this year than last year. So, see, positivity on the rise over, uh, over last 76 00:07:15,510 --> 00:07:21,469 year. That's great. I think that if you were to, uh, if I were to take us back to last year at this 77 00:07:21,470 --> 00:07:26,590 point and ask you the same question, uh, or ask you, hey, if a year from now you were saying that 78 00:07:26,590 --> 00:07:32,109 positive and dynamic are the two words that you guys will use, uh, we'd probably be pretty excited 79 00:07:32,109 --> 00:07:37,509 about it. Uh, what? What do you think, Tim? I'll. I'll stick right here with you. Uh, as you look back 80 00:07:37,509 --> 00:07:42,309 over the last year, what's one of the first things that comes to mind that really makes you smile? 81 00:07:42,309 --> 00:07:47,209 And and this can be company wide. This can be departmental, or this could even be personal. It 82 00:07:47,209 --> 00:07:52,328 doesn't really matter to me. I just I want to know something. One of those positive things over that 83 00:07:52,329 --> 00:07:59,249 past year that's happened that you can kind of point out for us. I think, uh, one thing that stands 84 00:07:59,250 --> 00:08:05,729 out is, uh, I think our mileage as a, as a fleet has gone up. And with 85 00:08:05,729 --> 00:08:12,649 that, we've had a decline in accident frequencies. Oh. That's great. So, 86 00:08:12,969 --> 00:08:19,368 uh, I think it all it accounts to, uh, how our training's been going, uh, 87 00:08:19,649 --> 00:08:26,330 recruiting the right drivers, training the right drivers, all that good stuff. It's, uh, definitely 88 00:08:26,330 --> 00:08:31,329 seeing, you know, uh, positive change over the last year. And I expect next year to even be even 89 00:08:31,329 --> 00:08:37,168 better. That's great. Got some positive momentum. I love to hear that on our company anniversary 90 00:08:37,169 --> 00:08:42,929 special. Shawn, same thing to you. As you look back over last year, uh, something that makes you smile. 91 00:08:42,929 --> 00:08:48,339 Uh, neither departmental company wide or personal? I mean, just, uh, just looking at it. I've always 92 00:08:48,340 --> 00:08:55,139 considered operations to be really nothing more than managed chaos. And it 93 00:08:55,179 --> 00:09:00,779 it it seems like the, uh, either the chaos is quieted down or the management of it has improved, 94 00:09:00,780 --> 00:09:06,819 but, I don't know, things just they seem to be smoother. They seem to be clicking a little bit, uh, 95 00:09:06,819 --> 00:09:12,379 clicking along a little bit better, if that makes any sense. Oh, it does 100%. And as somebody who and 96 00:09:12,380 --> 00:09:15,739 I've called this out before, but you knew I was going to bring it up as somebody that's been a 97 00:09:15,740 --> 00:09:20,900 part of one of the meetings that you run as one of the most organized meetings I've ever been a 98 00:09:20,900 --> 00:09:26,499 part of. The, uh, the terminal manager meeting that you hold each week, it really does take a village 99 00:09:26,499 --> 00:09:31,299 to make that happen, doesn't it? Organized chaos happens in every single terminal that we've got. 100 00:09:31,340 --> 00:09:36,619 Uh, but, uh, getting that management to smooth out and getting the chaos to kind of settle down 101 00:09:36,659 --> 00:09:43,520 takes everybody, doesn't it? Well, and it's not, uh, that's one thing that I'm just so very happy and 102 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:50,320 very proud of my team for is it's not being done in isolation. It's not ten 103 00:09:50,359 --> 00:09:56,999 individual camps. It's to your point, everybody just coming together and working to manage it, not 104 00:09:56,999 --> 00:10:03,840 individually, but together. I think that is what quiets it more than anything else. I honestly, I do. 105 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:11,039 So as, uh, you know, having ten shops out there, having ten terminals out there is, is a lot. 106 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:16,319 Right? It's a big lift. I wonder if there's any one of those terminals, uh, that deserves some flowers. 107 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:21,159 Maybe they all do, Shawn. But is there are any of the terminals standing out to you as you look 108 00:10:21,159 --> 00:10:27,159 back over the past year and kind of, uh, the growth that they've had, the success that they've had. You 109 00:10:27,239 --> 00:10:32,119 should know better than that, Mark, as I'm, I wouldn't be about to call out any one individual 110 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:38,279 terminal. But I will tell you that, you know, there there are certainly some standouts. Uh, but across 111 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:44,808 the board as a whole, I mean, all of them have really just uh, to me, they've they've 112 00:10:44,809 --> 00:10:51,529 really stepped up. They've really blossomed. They've really done a great job as far as 113 00:10:51,530 --> 00:10:57,210 just reaching out to everybody else. I will call out, you know, one, I'm not really going to call 114 00:10:57,210 --> 00:11:03,249 them an anomaly by any means, but our our spur outfit down in Texas, they do such a great job 115 00:11:03,250 --> 00:11:10,049 just those two terminals because they're they're so far removed they don't have the benefit of 116 00:11:10,049 --> 00:11:15,409 the, of the network that we have up there. So they they really do a good job leaning amongst 117 00:11:15,409 --> 00:11:20,129 themselves, just, you know, just the two of them. Let's face it, Texas is not is not right around 118 00:11:20,129 --> 00:11:24,530 the corner. No it's not. In fact, Texas is right around the corner from Texas. And that's the only 119 00:11:24,570 --> 00:11:30,409 thing that's right around the corner from Texas. Shawn. Yes, the Republic of Texas. Yeah, exactly. And 120 00:11:30,409 --> 00:11:34,770 and you're right, I do know better, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to try to get you to 121 00:11:34,770 --> 00:11:40,549 call somebody. Disappointed if you didn't try. Yeah, but I'm glad that you you scolded me a bit there 122 00:11:40,549 --> 00:11:46,150 because, hey, I. You're right. I understand we've had these conversations before, and and, uh, you know, 123 00:11:46,189 --> 00:11:51,589 it's the reason I say it takes a village is because, um, you really do see it having so many 124 00:11:51,590 --> 00:11:56,589 terminals so far removed from one another, especially those Texas ones. Uh, it makes that 125 00:11:56,590 --> 00:12:01,108 meeting that I talk about that that weekly terminal manager meeting that you guys have so 126 00:12:01,109 --> 00:12:06,149 important. And what is something that I always see in that meeting? I've been in it a couple times 127 00:12:06,150 --> 00:12:10,829 now is that everybody's happy to be there. This isn't like I'll be honest with you guys. I've got 128 00:12:10,830 --> 00:12:17,310 my Monday all team meeting coming up shortly after this recording, and I'm kind of, uh, I don't 129 00:12:17,349 --> 00:12:22,629 know, man. It's it's been it's going to be a lot for Monday at noon. Uh, but I didn't get that, uh, 130 00:12:22,629 --> 00:12:27,029 that impression from anybody in that meeting, Shawn. And and that means that everybody's excited to 131 00:12:27,030 --> 00:12:33,309 come to work and and be successful and work for Bullock and Spurs. So, uh, I love it. I love it there. 132 00:12:33,310 --> 00:12:39,999 Uh, Tim, from a safety standpoint, uh, you already talked about the the accident numbers going 133 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:45,280 down. Um, but I kind of wonder, is there anything else over the past year? You know, are we doing 134 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:50,799 better with speeding? Is there something specific, uh, that we're doing that really had you proud? Or 135 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:57,559 is there a driver, maybe a group of drivers or or anybody in specific that you really want to shout 136 00:12:57,560 --> 00:13:02,559 out here on the company anniversary special for a job well done. That could even be somebody within 137 00:13:02,560 --> 00:13:09,239 your department there in the terminal drivers. I'm really it's wide open for you here. Yeah. Well, you 138 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:15,759 know, a shout out to, you know, 194 to 198 drivers, not just one in 139 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:22,759 specific. I mean, they're they all they all do a great job. That's that's why we see what we see. So, 140 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:29,359 uh, you know, to, to again, like, you know, Shawn's point to put one out there above everybody else, 141 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:35,760 uh, isn't right because they they all do it. They all do it. Uh, a fantastic job. 142 00:13:36,539 --> 00:13:43,059 Well said. I agree and man there are happy bunch of guys too. And gals. We get them on this show and 143 00:13:43,060 --> 00:13:47,539 uh, they have so much fun in here. And it really again, you can tell that they love their job, they 144 00:13:47,539 --> 00:13:53,579 love the company they work for. Uh, and with respect to that, Shawn, I wonder, is there anything 145 00:13:53,900 --> 00:13:59,659 that the average driver might have never realized happened behind the scenes this year? Any any 146 00:13:59,659 --> 00:14:05,019 changes that are, uh, you know, maybe something that might affect the drivers, but it's not big company 147 00:14:05,020 --> 00:14:10,219 news or anything like that. I maybe this is also a time that we shout out some of the, uh, the 148 00:14:10,219 --> 00:14:15,260 terminal staff. We don't have to do individuals. I, I understand the the sentiment here guys, but 149 00:14:15,260 --> 00:14:20,139 maybe there's a department or something that stands out, um, something the drivers might not 150 00:14:20,140 --> 00:14:26,899 know about Shawn, that you can really, uh, you can really, I guess, hang your hat on this year. Well, 151 00:14:26,940 --> 00:14:31,058 I'll give you one. Uh. It's nothing. I'll hang my hat on, but it's it's something that I'm. You know, 152 00:14:31,100 --> 00:14:37,839 I'm very happy for this individual. Uh, our Dundee terminal manager, James Thompson is retiring. He is. 153 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:44,879 He is getting ready to go and spend the rest of his hopefully long days fishing with his kids and 154 00:14:44,879 --> 00:14:49,839 his grandkids. So yeah, that's, uh, that that's coming down the pike here. Actually, within the 155 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:56,519 next few weeks, we've already got our new manager on board. He's working with James and that that's 156 00:14:56,519 --> 00:15:02,839 one thing that I love to see is we've got so much longevity at at so many of these different 157 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:09,839 terminals to see somebody that can, you know, step away, hang it up and cruise into retirement like 158 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:16,718 that. It's, uh, it's really a pleasure to watch that. Man. How great. Congratulations to, uh, to 159 00:15:16,759 --> 00:15:21,840 James there in a big round of applause. For. Finishing out what I'm sure was. A stellar 160 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:27,079 professional career. Uh, I always love to see guys walk into the sunset like that, especially when 161 00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:31,759 their plans are so well cemented. You mentioned fishing with the grandkids. He's probably been 162 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:37,328 talking about that for the last year, hasn't he, Shawn? Well, it's funny you bring that up. We had 163 00:15:37,329 --> 00:15:43,769 just had a conversation. I swear it wasn't two weeks before he dropped his news and he had gone 164 00:15:43,770 --> 00:15:50,609 on vacation for a week. And he comes back and he's like, Shawn, I spent the whole week up 165 00:15:50,610 --> 00:15:55,209 north fishing with my kids and my grandkids, and I liked it. 166 00:15:56,810 --> 00:16:02,489 Yeah, nothing that makes you consider that retirement like a week long vacation, doing what 167 00:16:02,489 --> 00:16:08,330 you would do all day, every day once you retired. I know that. And, uh, man, I that's so cool. I really 168 00:16:08,330 --> 00:16:14,609 hope that he has a great time. And, uh, like you said, lots of long years left, uh, to enjoy that 169 00:16:14,610 --> 00:16:20,928 time with the kids and the grandkids. Uh, shout out to James. Congratulations on the retirement. Uh, Tim, 170 00:16:20,929 --> 00:16:25,650 how about you, uh, anything anything like that that you got going on in your department or with the 171 00:16:25,650 --> 00:16:30,990 people that you work with? Anybody. Anybody retiring or got a big life event coming up that's, 172 00:16:31,030 --> 00:16:36,588 uh, you know, making the rounds in the in at the company water cooler right now. Not that I've 173 00:16:36,589 --> 00:16:43,189 heard of, uh, you know, except her, you know, congratulations to, uh, James on on 174 00:16:43,189 --> 00:16:49,909 retiring and, uh, but other than that, no, I really haven't heard of any, any 175 00:16:49,909 --> 00:16:56,309 other, uh, any other news going on. Okay. Just wanted to check there. I got some really cool driver 176 00:16:56,309 --> 00:17:00,949 centric questions that I want to fire at you guys now. And we'll go back and forth between you here 177 00:17:00,950 --> 00:17:06,630 for this. And, Tim, I'll stick right with you. Uh, if the driver's listening only knew one thing about 178 00:17:06,630 --> 00:17:13,589 how the office viewed the past year. Uh, what would you want them to know, Tim? Just how 179 00:17:13,589 --> 00:17:19,949 proud we are again. What they do. Uh, you know, it's a it's it's not a 180 00:17:19,949 --> 00:17:26,629 lifestyle that a lot of people choose to do or even want to do. Uh, trucking is not 181 00:17:26,629 --> 00:17:33,399 easy, you know, with the with the climate out there. Uh, you know, traffic and 182 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:40,399 and regulations and, you know, it's it's a tough game. I mean, it it's it's evolved more 183 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:44,559 complicated than it was, you know, 20 years ago. I know you've talked to a lot of the old school 184 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:50,920 drivers, and they said the same thing. Uh, yeah. Uh, how it's evolved. So, you know, give credit to these 185 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:57,759 guys what they do, uh, and maintain driving safely, looking out 186 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:04,280 for the general public, uh, staying out of any, any little minor 187 00:18:04,280 --> 00:18:11,119 issues, uh, with, with equipment and, uh, uh, just real proud of 188 00:18:11,120 --> 00:18:17,838 what they do. And always wearing that PPE. Right. Oh it gloves AJ will tell you. Gloves. 189 00:18:17,839 --> 00:18:24,318 Gloves gloves. Yep. Absolutely. Uh, Shawn on to you. If the driver's listening. Only knew one thing about 190 00:18:24,319 --> 00:18:29,659 how the office viewed them this year, what would you want them to know? Well, I mean, to Tim's point, 191 00:18:29,699 --> 00:18:35,899 obviously very proud of all of them, but I think to go a different direction. Similar, though 192 00:18:36,860 --> 00:18:43,459 I would want them to know how truly important what they do is for this company. You know, we we 193 00:18:43,540 --> 00:18:49,699 we don't we don't exist without them. Our customers don't get service without them. 194 00:18:50,379 --> 00:18:57,379 They're literally the the backbone of this company. Love it, love it. Great stuff. 195 00:18:57,380 --> 00:19:04,379 What's something that surprised you this year? Shawn? The, uh. You know 196 00:19:04,380 --> 00:19:10,539 what's really surprised me? And it's kind of is kind of strange. Uh, I did not anticipate, uh, driver 197 00:19:10,540 --> 00:19:16,699 hiring shortages this year. Uh, the industry struggled going, uh, coming out of last year, there 198 00:19:16,699 --> 00:19:22,900 were, uh, unfortunately, a lot of, uh, a lot of small companies closed. Yep. And my thoughts are, you know, 199 00:19:22,939 --> 00:19:28,109 that is going to be available drivers because I knew and I knew and this did pan out. You know, 200 00:19:28,150 --> 00:19:32,229 we've had a lot of great business opportunities that we've been able to take advantage of. Very 201 00:19:32,269 --> 00:19:38,149 happy about that. I think that's definitely a a nice shot in the arm for the company. But I 202 00:19:38,149 --> 00:19:44,789 figured we were going to be in a rare position of having business availability and drivers, 203 00:19:45,709 --> 00:19:52,469 and the driver portion of it didn't quite pan out. Yeah, I hear you, man. We had 204 00:19:52,470 --> 00:19:58,109 Rachel on, uh, not very long ago. I feel like it's maybe been a month, maybe five weeks ago here on 205 00:19:58,110 --> 00:20:03,948 the pod to talk about recruiting. And she brought up. Hey, uh, as the freight market turns and things 206 00:20:03,949 --> 00:20:09,069 start to get a little bit more positive, when we look at rates and freight moving, uh, things get 207 00:20:09,069 --> 00:20:12,749 really competitive out there. And that was one thing that she called out, is that the the 208 00:20:12,750 --> 00:20:19,189 recruiting right now is incredibly competitive, not only because drivers are being very judicious 209 00:20:19,189 --> 00:20:24,689 about looking for good jobs, but, uh, companies are really turning their, their focus on the retention, 210 00:20:24,689 --> 00:20:30,329 Shawn, and keeping those good drivers that they have there. And bulk does the same thing, right? No, 211 00:20:30,329 --> 00:20:36,848 we we have to. I mean, anytime you lose a tenured driver, you're losing not just a not just a body 212 00:20:36,849 --> 00:20:42,329 and a seat by any means. I mean, you're losing a tremendous amount of experience. Yeah. And that. 213 00:20:42,329 --> 00:20:46,569 Customer service knowledge that they gain over working with the same customer. You can't put a 214 00:20:46,569 --> 00:20:52,489 value on that. Yep. 100%. Well, it's rough out there, but at least we can say that the market is 215 00:20:52,490 --> 00:20:57,529 turning right for the positive. And that's probably it absolutely is. It absolutely is. And 216 00:20:57,530 --> 00:21:03,169 and please, hats off to Rachel. Uh, just in the past couple of months, I mean, she's bolstered our 217 00:21:03,170 --> 00:21:10,010 driver numbers going into the busy season. How she did it, I don't know, but she she did a wonderful 218 00:21:10,010 --> 00:21:15,569 job of it. She did. I think she did it just by being her. Uh, Shawn, I. Wouldn't disagree with you. 219 00:21:15,610 --> 00:21:20,810 What a phenomenal employee you guys got there. And, uh, that's, you know what? Love to love. A good shout 220 00:21:20,850 --> 00:21:26,189 out for somebody on this show. And Rachel has not only done great things for the company, she's done 221 00:21:26,189 --> 00:21:31,229 stellar things for this podcast. She's given us so much time. She's always got great recommendations, 222 00:21:31,230 --> 00:21:36,949 just like all you guys do. Tim, Shawn, you guys are a part of that as well. This podcast, a much like 223 00:21:37,110 --> 00:21:41,670 having the success that Bullock has. It takes a little bit of a village to make it, and we got a 224 00:21:41,670 --> 00:21:47,189 great group of people that are always giving us time, just like you guys are today. So, uh, shout out 225 00:21:47,230 --> 00:21:53,989 Rachel for, uh, 100 different reasons. Um, Tim. Well, real quick, Shawn, I want to make sure I let you 226 00:21:54,030 --> 00:21:57,510 say everything you wanted to say there about something that surprised you this year. Anything 227 00:21:57,510 --> 00:22:04,229 else? Uh, it I gotta say, it really did surprise me as far as how well we were 228 00:22:04,229 --> 00:22:10,629 able to take advantage of so many of the business opportunities, even with the capacity crunch. Uh, 229 00:22:10,630 --> 00:22:17,389 you know, that goes back to the terminals working together to prioritize just making it 230 00:22:17,389 --> 00:22:22,519 happen. You know, working with each other through, you know, through out all of it. So we were just 231 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:27,079 able to take advantage of so many opportunities that otherwise could have been a struggle if we 232 00:22:27,079 --> 00:22:33,119 had not, as a group, been willing to look outside the outside of the box. And do you think the same 233 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:37,519 type of movement to the positive direction up into the right, as they say in a corporate 234 00:22:37,519 --> 00:22:43,039 boardroom, uh, is possible next year as well? You think this is just a, uh, we're cooking with gas. 235 00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:46,879 We're on a gravy train with biscuit wheels type thing. Let's keep this momentum moving forward. 236 00:22:47,079 --> 00:22:53,079 Look, I am not about to say that it is that it is not possible on the next year and beyond. I've 237 00:22:53,079 --> 00:22:59,439 just that kind of an optimist. Is this industry cyclical? Yes, unfortunately. But I'm I'm 238 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:06,759 bound and determined that we've got the team in place to continue that up. And. Right. That's 239 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:11,560 years of experience you hear talking there. Yes, we're optimistic. But yes we understand this 240 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:17,519 industry as well. So uh well said. There's Shawn. Tim, let's go over to you. Something that surprised 241 00:23:17,519 --> 00:23:24,300 you this year. One thing that surprised me was like, you know, Shawn was talking 242 00:23:24,300 --> 00:23:31,259 about the lack of availability with drivers. Uh, but we did find we did find a lot of success with 243 00:23:31,260 --> 00:23:37,339 hiring entry level drivers. Now, the the this industry, the problem with entry level drivers, 244 00:23:37,340 --> 00:23:43,619 especially with us being a specialized carrier, the type of work we do. You know, it's you get a 245 00:23:43,619 --> 00:23:48,338 lot of entry level drivers. They wanted their first job. They want to just, you know, bump docks. 246 00:23:48,379 --> 00:23:53,300 Right. Our work there's a little bit of physicality to it. Give one shout out to the 247 00:23:53,300 --> 00:23:59,979 Fairborn terminal. Rob he's been on your show. I know. Uh, he he's uh, 248 00:24:00,020 --> 00:24:06,539 uh, acquired a lot of, uh, entry level drivers this year. And he's done a really, really great 249 00:24:06,540 --> 00:24:13,259 job with getting them trained. You know, shout out to the trainers there at Fairborn Terminal. And, 250 00:24:13,300 --> 00:24:19,229 uh, you know, retention is super with the with the entry level drivers that we've had this year. So a 251 00:24:19,230 --> 00:24:25,910 large part of it goes, I believe, to the trainers, uh, they're obviously, you know, 252 00:24:26,910 --> 00:24:33,629 after six weeks of training, they're instilling enough confidence in the in the new driver 253 00:24:33,630 --> 00:24:40,149 to do the job. Uh, it's been it's been really surprising. And also, 254 00:24:40,229 --> 00:24:47,188 uh, you know, we were talking about the, uh, amount of female drivers that have entered our company. 255 00:24:47,229 --> 00:24:53,789 Yep. And we always, always, always encourage it. But again, you know, female drivers, you know, 256 00:24:53,829 --> 00:24:59,910 nationally is, you know what, 9% of all the trucking truck driver jobs out there 257 00:25:01,109 --> 00:25:07,109 since I've been here, we might have had 1 or 2, maybe three at one time. And then we drop off to 258 00:25:07,109 --> 00:25:13,988 one. Currently right now we have ten. Wow. That's amazing. And and actually, uh, you mentioned just in 259 00:25:14,030 --> 00:25:18,050 that short little bit where you were talking there two different episodes that we've got 260 00:25:18,050 --> 00:25:22,569 coming up on the board. Uh, we're trying to put together an episode to meet some of these ladies 261 00:25:22,569 --> 00:25:27,930 that we haven't already met on this podcast and, uh, get a chance to talk with them about doing the 262 00:25:27,930 --> 00:25:34,489 job and their experience at bulk. And, uh, outside of that, you mentioned another episode that, uh, 263 00:25:34,490 --> 00:25:40,089 we're we're working on here, Tim, which is why entry level drivers should consider pneumatics. 264 00:25:40,089 --> 00:25:44,810 And, uh, you just put that bug in my ear. I got to get Ahold of Rob and talk to him a little bit so 265 00:25:44,810 --> 00:25:49,929 he can get us, uh, some of those guys on the show. But you're right. It's not something I don't think 266 00:25:49,930 --> 00:25:55,289 pneumatics is something that a lot of, uh, first time drivers look for right out of CDL school. But 267 00:25:55,290 --> 00:26:00,409 there's definitely, uh, the opportunity for success coming into pneumatics right off the bat, isn't 268 00:26:00,410 --> 00:26:07,009 there, Tim? Well, there is. I mean, the one thing with pneumatics is our length of runs aren't as long 269 00:26:07,050 --> 00:26:13,859 as a van driver. Whether a person that's in in a truck driving school doesn't realize 270 00:26:13,859 --> 00:26:20,859 that, you know, vans, you could run, uh, you know, five, 600 miles a day. Uh, 271 00:26:21,180 --> 00:26:27,299 we may run 5 or 600 miles a day, but they're shorter runs. You may do two, two loads that total 272 00:26:27,300 --> 00:26:34,100 500 miles for the day. So it's it's a little bit it's it's a little bit. To me, 273 00:26:34,100 --> 00:26:40,099 it's easier if I was an entry level driver, uh, to learn this trade, uh, in the 274 00:26:40,099 --> 00:26:46,579 pneumatics. Yeah. The tech and everything might make it a little bit easier to, you know, the the 275 00:26:46,579 --> 00:26:51,979 trucks are just, uh, they're they're more user friendly these days, aren't they? Tim. Oh, definitely. 276 00:26:51,979 --> 00:26:58,059 Definitely. And, you know, if I had a crystal ball looking into the future, uh, things are going to 277 00:26:58,060 --> 00:27:04,699 get a lot simpler for drivers with the technology that's 278 00:27:04,699 --> 00:27:10,339 coming out. Yeah. And of course, there might be some speed bumps along the way. There might be some, uh, 279 00:27:10,339 --> 00:27:16,719 some growing pains. It seems like adopting new technology is always a little bit of a gamble, but 280 00:27:16,719 --> 00:27:21,919 if you can get drivers bought in and really show them the actual reasons, you know it it. I've been 281 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:27,640 doing this job for four years now. Tim and I remember back at the very first podcast I ever 282 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:33,478 did for a trucking fleet. One of the main things that was on our table was how much the drivers 283 00:27:33,479 --> 00:27:39,439 dislike the inward facing cameras. Well. Uh, fast forward four years. I barely hear anything about 284 00:27:39,439 --> 00:27:45,079 those anymore because I think the drivers kind of understand how they protect them from, you know, 285 00:27:45,119 --> 00:27:49,559 all these these crazy nuclear verdicts and cops that think they see something that maybe they 286 00:27:49,560 --> 00:27:55,760 don't. Uh, so, you know, new tech, it's it's a little bit of a bumpy road, but for sure it does help out. 287 00:27:55,760 --> 00:28:01,199 And it creates these opportunities like we're talking about maybe ten years ago, maybe 20 years 288 00:28:01,199 --> 00:28:06,239 ago, pneumatics wasn't the best choice for a new driver. But there's definitely opportunity for 289 00:28:06,239 --> 00:28:13,219 success now. Absolutely, Absolutely. And, and, uh, uh, you know, we do we do 290 00:28:13,219 --> 00:28:19,580 a great job of, uh, of recruiting entry level drivers and and putting them through the training 291 00:28:19,580 --> 00:28:26,499 program. And like I said, uh, the our success with it is, uh, definitely noticed. And 292 00:28:26,499 --> 00:28:31,579 shout out to all those trainers too, that you mentioned, uh, driver trainers are such a big part 293 00:28:31,579 --> 00:28:38,258 of having a good fleet, having a successful fleet. And, uh, the trainers do such a fantastic job with 294 00:28:38,259 --> 00:28:42,619 these new guys. And that's another episode we've got on our board. We want to get a bunch of 295 00:28:42,619 --> 00:28:47,219 trainers on here and talk to them about their philosophy. Uh, we will do it. And again, just 296 00:28:47,219 --> 00:28:50,659 remember, if you're listening to this right now and you're hearing all these great ideas we've 297 00:28:50,659 --> 00:28:57,419 got, we're still open for business and taking ideas. So head on over to podcast.bulktransit.com. Send me an 298 00:28:57,419 --> 00:29:03,858 email. If you've got something that you want to hear on this podcast. Uh, Shawn, you talked about new 299 00:29:03,859 --> 00:29:10,109 business opportunities and it made me wonder, um, what's different about what the customers are 300 00:29:10,110 --> 00:29:17,109 asking for now versus maybe a few years ago? Uh, anything stand out? Are they asking 301 00:29:17,110 --> 00:29:23,109 for better communication, better safety protocol, specialized hauling service, anything like that? 302 00:29:23,109 --> 00:29:28,790 That kind of sticks out on what the customers are looking for here in 2026 as we move into the 303 00:29:28,790 --> 00:29:35,790 future. Not really. Uh, as far as the, you know, as far as the basics, it, it it pretty 304 00:29:35,790 --> 00:29:42,509 much all remains the same and really has throughout the years. Uh, there are some, you know, 305 00:29:42,550 --> 00:29:48,310 there are some that want to integrate a little bit deeper with, uh, you know, their operations with 306 00:29:48,310 --> 00:29:55,309 ours. Uh, we've got some customers that we actually do implant work for, so we actually help them with 307 00:29:55,309 --> 00:30:02,309 their own production. So that's that's not unusual. Uh, you know, dealt with situations 308 00:30:02,310 --> 00:30:06,409 like that, you know, over many years. But that's always a good thing because it deepens the 309 00:30:06,409 --> 00:30:13,169 relationship. I think the biggest thing as far as what the customer is looking for and this 310 00:30:13,169 --> 00:30:20,089 this very well may go to the type of business, the type of customer that, uh, that 311 00:30:20,089 --> 00:30:26,929 Bryan really focuses on is the partnerships we don't like so 312 00:30:26,930 --> 00:30:33,889 much transactional as much as partnerships. Yeah. I'd much rather than feel like, you know, they're 313 00:30:33,889 --> 00:30:38,249 going to, uh, they're I'd like I'd much rather than feel like they're coming to Neiman Marcus and 314 00:30:38,249 --> 00:30:42,410 getting a true experience than just, you know, going and shopping for something at Walmart. 315 00:30:42,570 --> 00:30:48,089 Absolutely. And man, am I glad that they decided to use my name on a luxury brand and not Marcus 316 00:30:48,090 --> 00:30:55,049 Smart. Right. I mean, I got so lucky there, I really did. Um, Tim, uh, back over to you now. And 317 00:30:55,050 --> 00:30:59,889 you already mentioned one thing you said off the top that our accident numbers are down, and you're 318 00:30:59,889 --> 00:31:06,059 really happy with that. I got kind of a two parter here for you. uh, over the year. And you can say 319 00:31:06,099 --> 00:31:11,179 accident prevention again. But over the year here, the last year, what's something that drivers have 320 00:31:11,179 --> 00:31:17,139 gotten noticeably better at? And, uh, by comparison, what's something that we could still work on from 321 00:31:17,140 --> 00:31:24,099 your from your seat, Tim. Awareness and awareness. Both the same answer to to the 322 00:31:24,099 --> 00:31:30,499 same or to different questions I like it. Yeah, I think I think, uh, definitely awareness. Uh, you know, 323 00:31:30,540 --> 00:31:37,459 on the driver's part, on our part, getting that awareness out, safety training. It's all 324 00:31:37,459 --> 00:31:43,779 evolutionary. You just got to keep you just got to keep improving, you know, every day, every month, 325 00:31:43,780 --> 00:31:50,660 every year. Work on it. Good stuff, I like it. The awareness is a constantly evolving, uh, aspect 326 00:31:50,660 --> 00:31:55,659 of what we do here at bulk. And, uh, even though you're, you're saying, hey, we're getting better at 327 00:31:55,660 --> 00:32:00,739 it, there's still room for improvement. We can get better every day. I like it, especially from your 328 00:32:00,739 --> 00:32:05,399 seat, man. That's a very. That's somebody that's been a director of safety. He understands how to 329 00:32:05,439 --> 00:32:09,839 how to answer these questions, folks, just in case you were wondering. You remember in the One one 330 00:32:09,840 --> 00:32:16,319 podcast, I said that complacency is the enemy of safety. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. That's something that 331 00:32:16,319 --> 00:32:23,198 that every every employee, uh, you know, at Ball Everywhere should 332 00:32:23,199 --> 00:32:27,519 always remember that. You'd like to have the drivers get that tattooed on the back of their 333 00:32:27,520 --> 00:32:33,360 eyelids, wouldn't you? I'll. I'll tell you what I'll give. I'll give $5 to anybody that will put that 334 00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:38,799 tattoo on their arm. Well, I got my wife's a tattoo artist, so swing on through, Eugene. We'll get you 335 00:32:38,799 --> 00:32:45,319 guys a deal, okay? Uh, great stuff there. We'll. Fellas, listen, before I let you get back to it. I 336 00:32:45,319 --> 00:32:48,958 know you're both busy. I want to say thank you for coming in and sharing a little bit of time with 337 00:32:48,959 --> 00:32:54,159 me today to celebrate, uh, the company's anniversary. Um, very important that we get you 338 00:32:54,159 --> 00:32:58,399 guys on the show every now and then and hear from you, and you're always willing to jump in here. So 339 00:32:58,399 --> 00:33:04,169 I greatly appreciate that. But for our final thoughts segment today of this of this bit, let's 340 00:33:04,169 --> 00:33:10,049 go ahead and just hear from you guys a message to the company as we celebrate the anniversary here. 341 00:33:10,049 --> 00:33:16,088 The floor is totally yours. Say anything you want to take as long as you need. Uh, but Shawn Stephens, 342 00:33:16,089 --> 00:33:20,689 director of operations. We'll go ahead and start with you. Uh, final thoughts for us here as we 343 00:33:20,729 --> 00:33:27,569 celebrate the company anniversary. My, uh, honestly, just, uh, thanks to the DeWolf family for 344 00:33:27,570 --> 00:33:32,969 for providing a home. And a home that you're pretty proud of, I can tell I always notice the 345 00:33:32,969 --> 00:33:38,570 passion and, uh, and and and the the care that comes through in your voice. Shawn, when we're doing 346 00:33:38,570 --> 00:33:43,849 these, uh. And I can't thank you enough for having that brutal honesty here on the show, because it 347 00:33:43,849 --> 00:33:48,249 really does make the show better. And I know the drivers love to hear from you, my friend. 348 00:33:49,369 --> 00:33:54,889 Appreciate that. Thank you Shawn. We appreciate the time as always. Tim, final thoughts from you today 349 00:33:54,889 --> 00:34:01,670 on the company anniversary special. Thanks for being here. Yeah. Just, uh. Just like I said. Bryan. 350 00:34:01,670 --> 00:34:07,869 Andrea. Brad. Great people. I've been in this industry almost 30 years. I've been here at bulk, 351 00:34:08,110 --> 00:34:14,869 uh, a little over ten. Sort of wish I would have started here 30 years ago. Great place. 352 00:34:14,870 --> 00:34:21,869 Uh, you know, communication's great. Uh, encourage communication with drivers. 353 00:34:21,870 --> 00:34:27,509 Just remember, don't sit there in the seat and get all steamed about something. Talk to somebody. 354 00:34:27,830 --> 00:34:32,110 There you go. Hey, if you'd have started here 30 years ago, Tim, Brad might have put a wrench in 355 00:34:32,110 --> 00:34:36,469 your hand. You never know. This could. This whole thing could look totally different for you. I'm 356 00:34:36,470 --> 00:34:41,749 like Bryan. We mean them both. We don't turn wrenches. We do everything else. We will not. We're 357 00:34:41,750 --> 00:34:46,349 not good at turning wrenches. Got it. We'll shout out to the shop for being good at it. Because 358 00:34:46,350 --> 00:34:51,269 without them, uh, we wouldn't have what we got. And that's one thing I don't want to get through this 359 00:34:51,269 --> 00:34:56,389 company anniversary special before we shout those guys out as well. And, uh, you know, you'll hear from 360 00:34:56,389 --> 00:35:03,209 Brad on today's episode. So, uh, Tim, Shawn, thank you guys so much. Happy anniversary to bulk. And, uh, we 361 00:35:03,249 --> 00:35:07,128 greatly appreciate the time. You guys take care. We'll get you back in here soon, okay? All right. 362 00:35:07,169 --> 00:35:09,370 Thank you. Marcus. Everybody be safe. 363 00:35:17,770 --> 00:35:22,649 All right. Welcome back in here to always pneumatic, never static. It, of course, is our 364 00:35:22,649 --> 00:35:28,128 company anniversary special. And we've got some very special people here to talk about it, uh, 365 00:35:28,129 --> 00:35:32,249 today. And I wanted to kind of set this up by saying, you know, in the first half of the episode, 366 00:35:32,250 --> 00:35:38,009 we talked to Tim and Shawn. We got a good idea of where bulk is today and how they're feeling about 367 00:35:38,010 --> 00:35:43,249 it. But for this second half, I want to zoom out just a little bit because every trucking company 368 00:35:43,250 --> 00:35:50,209 has trucks and trailers, customers and freight. But every family company also has a story, and nobody 369 00:35:50,209 --> 00:35:53,968 knows the story better than the three people sitting right in front of me here today. So let's 370 00:35:53,969 --> 00:35:59,138 go ahead and welcome them in. First off, welcome Brad DeWolf to the show. Brad. Thanks for being 371 00:35:59,139 --> 00:36:04,699 here today. Welcome, Markus. How are you doing? Hey, I'm doing great over here on the West Coast. 372 00:36:04,739 --> 00:36:10,059 Really excited to have you guys back again. Uh, also joining us today, we got Bryan De Wolfe here. 373 00:36:10,059 --> 00:36:16,138 Bryan, thanks for being here. Thanks for having me. Markus. Good to see you. Of course. Great to see you 374 00:36:16,139 --> 00:36:22,339 as well. And always. Uh, last but not least here by any means. We've got Andrew McClung joining us as 375 00:36:22,339 --> 00:36:28,459 well. Andrea, thank you so much for being here today. Hi. Mark is happy to be here. Well, you know, I 376 00:36:28,659 --> 00:36:33,339 since you you all said that you're all happy to be here. I want to say, before we even get started 377 00:36:33,340 --> 00:36:39,739 here, uh, a big thank you to the three of you, uh, from the podcast, myself, the host and everybody 378 00:36:39,740 --> 00:36:45,339 involved. I think this is the third time we've had the three of you on the show already, and we're 379 00:36:45,340 --> 00:36:51,979 only, you know, 25, 30 episodes in here. That type of access is not something that we typically get 380 00:36:51,979 --> 00:36:56,479 to, uh, people running a company the size of the ones that you got, or the size of the one that you 381 00:36:56,479 --> 00:37:01,559 guys are all running. So from the very bottom of my heart and everybody's heart involved in the 382 00:37:01,560 --> 00:37:06,319 podcast, we just want to tell you all, thank you for being so gracious with your time. We know 383 00:37:06,319 --> 00:37:11,439 you're busy, but we think one of the things that makes this podcast so awesome is the access that 384 00:37:11,439 --> 00:37:16,638 you three give us. So, uh, to all of you, we really greatly appreciate the time here today. 385 00:37:17,680 --> 00:37:24,519 Thanks. No problem. I'm loving the podcast. So it's oh, thank you. Thank you. We're having so 386 00:37:24,519 --> 00:37:30,600 much fun. And and I want to start off here with the question to all three of you. Um, that I think 387 00:37:30,720 --> 00:37:35,479 maybe we'll just kind of bring things into perspective for us a little bit here. Before there 388 00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:42,480 were titles, before there were meetings, before, uh, everything got to where it is today. I want to ask 389 00:37:42,480 --> 00:37:49,319 you guys individually, what's your very earliest memory of bulk as a company? Bryan, I'll start 390 00:37:49,319 --> 00:37:56,089 with you. Well, I'm not so sure I didn't talk about it, but my earliest memory 391 00:37:57,169 --> 00:38:04,089 is dad giving me having me go out in the yard and check try to find flat 392 00:38:04,129 --> 00:38:09,209 tires. It was like a treasure hunt because you'd give me, I don't know. Back then I think he gave me 393 00:38:09,250 --> 00:38:16,169 a dime or a quarter, which, you know, you know, back in the late, you know, early 80s, whatever was a 394 00:38:16,169 --> 00:38:22,769 decent was, was, was, uh, was okay, you know, that get you a candy bar and a pop? Probably. But, 395 00:38:22,810 --> 00:38:29,809 uh, no, that was my that's my earliest memory is the is just going out in the yard and trying to 396 00:38:29,809 --> 00:38:36,648 find flat tires. Um, I love it. Um, you know, they there was always a story 397 00:38:36,649 --> 00:38:40,968 that he would that he would take me in on Sundays when I was young, even younger than that, though. 398 00:38:40,969 --> 00:38:47,530 And and I'd play around in the tires and get all dirty and make a ton or whatever, and, uh, well, 399 00:38:47,570 --> 00:38:52,989 because his Sunday was his tire out, So like when he had, I don't know how many trucks then he was 400 00:38:52,990 --> 00:38:58,750 running, you know, maybe half a dozen or whatever, or ten and had, you know, maybe he had another ten, 401 00:38:58,789 --> 00:39:04,148 you know, ten trailers or whatever. But he'd go in on Sundays to do all his tire work. And back then 402 00:39:04,149 --> 00:39:10,189 there were tube tires. So you'd have to, uh, you'd have to break him down with a sledgehammer, kind 403 00:39:10,189 --> 00:39:16,469 of, you know, sledgehammer and take the rings off and then break them apart and get the tubes out 404 00:39:16,469 --> 00:39:22,029 of them. Either pass the tube or, you know, and put a new or put a new tube in or whatever it is, 405 00:39:22,070 --> 00:39:26,148 whatever it was, whatever, whatever it needed. But he did all his tire work on Sunday and he'd take 406 00:39:26,149 --> 00:39:32,109 me in. He drink beer. I play around on the tire. So, uh, but I don't really remember that. That was 407 00:39:32,110 --> 00:39:36,989 pretty young. Uh, but I, I do remember and I was probably, I guess that would probably have been, 408 00:39:37,030 --> 00:39:43,789 you know, 10 or 11 years old whenever we, uh, you know, whenever he took me in 409 00:39:43,790 --> 00:39:48,918 and had or had me go out and look for flats. So, yeah, when you were earning a when you were first 410 00:39:48,919 --> 00:39:54,720 earning a wage is the way to look at that, right? I was I was an independent contractor. Marcus like 411 00:39:54,720 --> 00:40:01,718 it. Thankfully he didn't get 10.99 me or anything. Well, you know, and I, I do think that you had 412 00:40:01,719 --> 00:40:06,399 talked about that in maybe one of the earlier episodes that we had on, but that's okay if we're 413 00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:10,319 if we're doing a little refresh here, uh, I'm totally okay with it because I'm just kind of 414 00:40:10,360 --> 00:40:15,918 using this to set the stage today. Uh, but fantastic stuff there. Bryan. Uh, Andrea, I'm going 415 00:40:15,919 --> 00:40:21,479 to come to you next. Earliest memory of the company that you can think of. Okay. Well, I'm going 416 00:40:21,480 --> 00:40:26,199 to give you my earliest memory is terrifying. So I'm going to give you a terrifying memory that 417 00:40:26,199 --> 00:40:32,359 I'm going to give you a fun memory. So my first memory, I remember being out at, uh, the old main 418 00:40:32,360 --> 00:40:39,119 terminal, which was on Wilson Road in Columbus, Ohio. And I remember we'd gone outside. I was with 419 00:40:39,120 --> 00:40:45,158 dad. My mom was with us. I remember that we're walking around outside, or I must have gotten 420 00:40:45,159 --> 00:40:51,379 distracted. They all went inside the building and I was in, like, these tall weeds and I'm like, can 421 00:40:51,379 --> 00:40:56,099 barely see over the weeds because I'm not short. So I had to have been very young. And I remember, 422 00:40:56,139 --> 00:41:01,339 like, feeling like I'd been a man abandoned outside in these weeds in my family had 423 00:41:01,340 --> 00:41:06,899 disappeared. A little bit of a children of the corn moment there, huh? Yes, yes, exactly like that. 424 00:41:06,939 --> 00:41:13,939 It was the way back, somehow or another. I remember my panic. Of course. I was very 425 00:41:13,939 --> 00:41:20,418 attached to my mom. So you can understand my panic. And my favorite like memory of when I was really 426 00:41:20,419 --> 00:41:26,699 young is when, um. The mechanics made us are a very own go kart. Oh, wow. 427 00:41:27,220 --> 00:41:33,378 Yeah, they took a like. I think it was like a lawnmower engine and one of those, um, old 428 00:41:33,379 --> 00:41:39,539 fashioned kitchen chairs that had, like, the tall back on it, and they flipped it upside down. And 429 00:41:39,539 --> 00:41:44,878 basically we had our own little go kart. And when Bryan was mowing the grass, or Brad for that 430 00:41:44,879 --> 00:41:49,759 matter. We would be running that go kart up and down Memorial Drive here at the current location. 431 00:41:49,760 --> 00:41:56,200 So tons of fun. That's amazing. What a fun memory. Nothing better than a go kart when you're a kid. 432 00:41:56,200 --> 00:42:01,359 Somebody hands you the keys to one of those things. It's all over, I love it. That's awesome. But, 433 00:42:01,360 --> 00:42:06,799 Brad, coming to you next. Uh, best or favorite memory that you can remember? Or earliest memory, 434 00:42:06,800 --> 00:42:13,399 either one. Well, you know, Marcus, I had a kind of a storied past. A memory is not my greatest 435 00:42:13,399 --> 00:42:20,239 thing, but, um, I mean, I have I have vague memories of 436 00:42:20,240 --> 00:42:25,878 Wilson Road in that terminal over there, but. And doing a little bit of tire work, like Bryan said, 437 00:42:25,879 --> 00:42:32,759 but not much there. Uh, most of my memories are at this location, so that means I was at 438 00:42:32,759 --> 00:42:39,679 least seven. But. And I don't know exactly what, how old I was, but I definitely remember mowing the 439 00:42:39,679 --> 00:42:46,449 grass here. I definitely remember Lawson latex trailers on weekends. Uh, and 440 00:42:47,209 --> 00:42:54,168 I definitely remember scraping the inside of latex trailers with a razor blade. Yeah. You gotta, 441 00:42:54,210 --> 00:42:58,530 you know, I, I kind of had a similar thing with my dad. It sounds like you guys had with your dad. 442 00:42:58,570 --> 00:43:03,489 There were certain, uh, certain labor jobs that he would put you on. That kind of felt like maybe 443 00:43:03,489 --> 00:43:10,009 this is just a job that he didn't want to do. And, uh. Almost, almost. Feel like it's the only job you 444 00:43:10,009 --> 00:43:16,249 had to use family. Otherwise it'd be against the law. There you go. And. And what was it like 445 00:43:16,250 --> 00:43:21,089 scraping latex off the insides of those trailers with the razor blade? I imagine that took quite a 446 00:43:21,090 --> 00:43:26,569 bit of time. Oh, it took forever. And, you know, latex shoes. Everyone knows what the consistency of 447 00:43:26,570 --> 00:43:33,049 latex is. So. And it was just like that. It would peel off a little thin layer and the width of a 448 00:43:33,049 --> 00:43:39,569 razor blade. And it's a 5500 gallon tank. So wow. Wow. It took 449 00:43:39,610 --> 00:43:44,909 time. I hear you, I hear you. You know, I always go back to it, and I know he's going to be listening. 450 00:43:44,909 --> 00:43:50,349 So my dad's gonna love that I'm mentioning this. But I was the lawnmower as a kid, and I'll never 451 00:43:50,350 --> 00:43:56,188 forget the day I graduated and went to college. My dad bought a riding lawnmower, and I thought, what 452 00:43:56,230 --> 00:44:02,149 on? And I figure probably the day that you were no longer the latex scraping guy, he probably had a 453 00:44:02,149 --> 00:44:06,949 really good fix for that. That wasn't named. Brad didn't know. We started dropping man at the local 454 00:44:06,990 --> 00:44:13,869 tank wash in Columbus. Making all the. Time. Yeah, that. I don't know. Yeah, 455 00:44:14,149 --> 00:44:20,269 honestly, it wasn't it was one of them jobs that nobody wanted to do. So I hear you, I hear you. 456 00:44:20,270 --> 00:44:25,869 That's great. Well, uh, what a what a great little, uh, just flash back into the past there that we 457 00:44:25,870 --> 00:44:30,349 got to have from you guys. I appreciate you bringing that to the table. Um, we'll talk a little 458 00:44:30,389 --> 00:44:35,908 bit more. Kind of big picture here. Um, Bryan, I'll start with you, and we'll kind of roundtable this 459 00:44:35,909 --> 00:44:41,719 question. But how have things changed? Uh, how has your relationship changed from growing up 460 00:44:41,720 --> 00:44:47,759 together to running a company? Um, lots of responsibility, I imagine. But, uh, the way that you 461 00:44:47,759 --> 00:44:52,199 guys get along between the three of you and work together to make this whole thing happen. How has 462 00:44:52,200 --> 00:44:59,159 that changed or evolved in the years since it started? Bryan. You know, surprisingly, 463 00:44:59,159 --> 00:45:04,519 I would say not a whole lot. I don't think I don't think our relationship has changed a whole lot at 464 00:45:04,519 --> 00:45:10,959 all. Um, you know, when we're together outside of work, you know, if we were with 465 00:45:10,959 --> 00:45:17,398 family, with mom, you know, going to dinner, we don't. We don't talk about work. Very rarely. I'm not 466 00:45:17,399 --> 00:45:23,999 saying ever, but we're we're focused on, you know, our families, you know, with the 467 00:45:23,999 --> 00:45:30,399 kids, like, when we had the kids, when the kids were younger and we could all get together. You know, we 468 00:45:30,399 --> 00:45:36,839 just we would focus on focus on that and, you know, and visit with the kids and, 469 00:45:37,419 --> 00:45:43,418 um, you know, we so we, you know, we our, our relationship hasn't really changed. I think we 470 00:45:43,419 --> 00:45:48,499 bring I think we bring our personal lives probably more to work than we do at work in our 471 00:45:48,499 --> 00:45:54,899 personal lives. Okay. So, you know, we you know, we can't we can catch up obviously a lot during the 472 00:45:54,899 --> 00:46:01,819 day. You know, if we, you know, just to touch base. But, uh, but surprisingly, there's some days 473 00:46:01,820 --> 00:46:05,339 that, you know, we'll go days without really even talking to each other too, because we all kind of 474 00:46:05,379 --> 00:46:09,619 work in, uh, different, you know, our own little silos to, to some extent. I mean, there's some 475 00:46:09,620 --> 00:46:16,059 crossover, but, um, so I really I wouldn't say it's changed a whole lot. I 476 00:46:16,060 --> 00:46:22,739 mean, you know, you can ask Brad and Andrea, but that's that's my opinion. Andrea, do you have any 477 00:46:22,740 --> 00:46:29,699 thoughts? Um, I mean, I agree, I don't think it's changed a lot. I just know my 478 00:46:29,699 --> 00:46:35,340 stress level has definitely increased since, um, we're now, you know, owning and operating the 479 00:46:35,439 --> 00:46:42,239 business without dad. Um, so, you know, obviously the, you know, it's just it's a lot. It's a lot. 480 00:46:42,239 --> 00:46:49,119 And I want to do his legacy proud. Right. So and I think for me, I definitely feel 481 00:46:49,120 --> 00:46:55,479 that difference. You know, um, I'm not a huge risk taker. And so finding myself, you know, in this role, 482 00:46:55,480 --> 00:47:01,119 I definitely feel how big it is, you know, to own and operate a business and feel responsible for 483 00:47:01,120 --> 00:47:05,999 it and its success and, and whatnot. But other than that, our relationships, I don't think I've have 484 00:47:05,999 --> 00:47:12,798 changed at all, honestly. I think, um, Bryan's exactly right. We don't tend to take work home. Um, 485 00:47:12,799 --> 00:47:19,799 I try really hard not to. Um, and so that allows us to kind of separate the two. So it's worked out 486 00:47:19,800 --> 00:47:25,238 pretty well for us. That compartmentalization is so important. Uh, being a guy that works from home, 487 00:47:25,239 --> 00:47:30,519 do you have any advice for me on how not to take work home? Andrea, I have not cracked that nut yet. 488 00:47:31,280 --> 00:47:36,089 Yeah, you'd probably have to get a desk job. Yeah, I think so. I think so. And I don't have that in me. 489 00:47:36,090 --> 00:47:41,450 I'll be honest with you. You guys have met me, I. I move around too much for that. Uh, but, Brad, I'll go 490 00:47:41,450 --> 00:47:46,369 to you with that same question. How's the relationship changed or evolved in your eyes? Yeah. 491 00:47:46,409 --> 00:47:51,289 I don't know that I'm. I agree, I don't think the relationship has changed a whole lot. It's, uh, I 492 00:47:51,290 --> 00:47:58,169 mean, obviously the dynamic of some of our conversations are dictated 493 00:47:58,169 --> 00:48:04,929 by what we do, but, um, for the most part, we stay in our lanes for the most 494 00:48:04,929 --> 00:48:11,849 part, you know, and trust each other to get the job done. So, uh, yeah. And I mean, you 495 00:48:11,850 --> 00:48:16,850 know, outside of work, you you can't I mean, I know you work from home, so obviously that's a 496 00:48:16,850 --> 00:48:22,488 different dynamic. I sure hope that you separate some time for family and some time for actual 497 00:48:22,489 --> 00:48:27,850 sitting there and working. If. But, uh, when you leave here, you have to, you gotta you gotta 498 00:48:27,850 --> 00:48:34,749 de-stress some and and just, uh, concentrate on what's most important. You know. I do take, 499 00:48:34,789 --> 00:48:39,469 uh, frequent ten minute breaks to go down and pat my two corgis on the head every now and then, just 500 00:48:39,469 --> 00:48:44,389 to just to keep the day exciting. I never know what they're up to downstairs, so I got to go down 501 00:48:44,389 --> 00:48:50,990 there and check on it every now and then, but, uh. Get out, get about six kids. Keep. You see, that's 502 00:48:51,030 --> 00:48:55,869 that's the thing is, I think the only reason this jobs works is because I don't have six kids 503 00:48:55,870 --> 00:49:01,509 downstairs and I have to take care of. But, um, I love hearing about all the time that you guys 504 00:49:01,510 --> 00:49:06,350 spend together outside of work. We've talked about it before on this show. And the other thing that 505 00:49:06,350 --> 00:49:11,269 we hear all the time here on Always Pneumatic, never static from you guys, but also from a lot of 506 00:49:11,269 --> 00:49:17,070 the drivers. The employees that we talk to is that they feel like this company is one big family, and 507 00:49:17,070 --> 00:49:22,110 they feel like part of the family. They don't feel like a truck number. I know that that's something 508 00:49:22,110 --> 00:49:28,189 that you guys put a lot of effort into, keeping it that way and making it feel that way. And I want 509 00:49:28,189 --> 00:49:33,519 to know, is there ever or has there ever been anything in your tenure running the company that 510 00:49:33,520 --> 00:49:38,719 you've intentionally refused to change because you feel like it's part of the fabric of the 511 00:49:38,719 --> 00:49:44,199 company? That bulk is today? A little bit of a convoluted question there, Bryan, but I'm going to 512 00:49:44,199 --> 00:49:49,239 start with you. It's kind of this, no resting on our laurels moment, anything like that in your 513 00:49:49,239 --> 00:49:54,360 tenure that you could kind of pinpoint for me? Talk about a little bit here. I don't know if 514 00:49:54,360 --> 00:49:59,039 there's anything that I would refuse to change other than dad's office. 515 00:50:01,479 --> 00:50:07,239 Dad still has his office and set up just exactly like it was the the the last day he worked in it. 516 00:50:07,239 --> 00:50:14,119 So, um, it may be at some point we'll we'll make that change, but, uh, but 517 00:50:14,120 --> 00:50:18,639 other than that, right now. No, I'm not I'm not against change. If it's going to make us a better 518 00:50:18,639 --> 00:50:25,159 organization. Yeah. If it's going to better, if it's if it's going to better bulk, bulk or spur transit. 519 00:50:25,199 --> 00:50:31,219 I'm not against making any changes. Really. um, you know, when you're when you're 520 00:50:31,580 --> 00:50:38,299 everybody, you know, when you're when you're working with, um, you know, uh, the 521 00:50:38,299 --> 00:50:42,659 teammates, you, you know, the, the people you work with in your organization, you know, hopefully 522 00:50:42,659 --> 00:50:49,659 everybody has the same goal in mind as to, to, um, you know, make, make ball and spur the 523 00:50:49,660 --> 00:50:55,099 best company possible, whether it's the best company to work for the best, the best, the best 524 00:50:55,100 --> 00:51:01,259 company that, uh, that's out there servicing customers and the bulk space that we, we want, we 525 00:51:01,260 --> 00:51:06,978 want bulk to be this. We want it to be the best. You know, we want it to be the best. So, you know, to 526 00:51:07,340 --> 00:51:12,979 to say you're going to refuse to change something even though it would better the company wouldn't 527 00:51:12,979 --> 00:51:17,739 make a lot of sense to me. It wouldn't make sense to my father either. You know, he would. He would 528 00:51:17,739 --> 00:51:22,859 make the changes that need to be made. So. And that change is hard, though. I mean, that's the that's 529 00:51:22,860 --> 00:51:28,469 the thing you don't you know, a lot of times it's easy to identify things that need to be changed, 530 00:51:28,470 --> 00:51:35,269 but changing them a lot of times a lot harder. Sure. So you could I could maybe suffice it to 531 00:51:35,310 --> 00:51:40,269 say, based on what you just said there, Bryan, that one thing that you're not refusing to change is 532 00:51:40,269 --> 00:51:45,470 that you're not ever going to be against change. That's always something that you're going to be 533 00:51:45,470 --> 00:51:51,310 willing to look at and willing to listen to reasoning and, and work it out. If it's the better 534 00:51:51,310 --> 00:51:55,509 thing for the company, we're going to change it. And that might be a little bit of speed bumps 535 00:51:55,509 --> 00:52:01,709 along the way. But that's okay, right? Yeah. If it's if the change is better for bulk transit, then, you 536 00:52:01,709 --> 00:52:07,948 know, that's that's what we, um, you know, that's that's what we do. And, you know, it's, 537 00:52:08,590 --> 00:52:15,309 um, sometimes there's things that may be a little better for profitability, but worse for customer 538 00:52:15,310 --> 00:52:20,709 service. I mean, I know a lot of lot of companies for dispatch is one of them. A lot of companies do 539 00:52:20,709 --> 00:52:27,609 a central dispatch. We don't do central dispatch, um, you know, it probably would save us some people 540 00:52:27,610 --> 00:52:33,928 if we did, but, uh, but I think we service our customers and take care of our drivers better. 541 00:52:33,969 --> 00:52:40,809 When we got people on site at locations. Um, sure. So, you know, 542 00:52:40,850 --> 00:52:46,249 that's one thing that we haven't changed, but I don't. But again, I don't think it's I don't think 543 00:52:46,249 --> 00:52:51,609 it would be to the betterment of bulks. I know it wouldn't be to the betterment of bulk service to 544 00:52:51,610 --> 00:52:58,089 its customers. And I don't think it also would be better for the drivers either. So, um, so we like 545 00:52:58,090 --> 00:53:03,449 the personal touch instead of, you know, the drivers never seeing. There's some companies I 546 00:53:03,449 --> 00:53:09,929 don't know, the drivers really ever see their dispatchers face to face, like. Right. In person. 547 00:53:09,969 --> 00:53:16,729 They may yeah, FaceTime or something. But um, yeah, I think that's that's pretty cool, you 548 00:53:16,729 --> 00:53:23,549 know. Absolutely. I, I agree 100%. Uh, Andrea and I do want to call myself out here a little bit, 549 00:53:23,550 --> 00:53:29,749 because probably bad phrasing in the question, to be honest with you, Brad. Um, and Bryan, I'm sorry. I, 550 00:53:29,749 --> 00:53:36,428 I think that I refuse to change is a bad way to put it, because it makes it sound like you're 551 00:53:36,429 --> 00:53:41,109 standing in the face of something. Uh, maybe I should have said something. You've done it, and 552 00:53:41,110 --> 00:53:46,668 damn it, we're not going to do it in any way. Any other way. Right, right. Uh, maybe something that, 553 00:53:46,710 --> 00:53:52,029 instead of refuse to change, something that you've decided to keep the same, or maybe a pulse that 554 00:53:52,030 --> 00:53:58,269 your dad started with, the company that you've kept with it. And now that Bryan was able to, uh, 555 00:53:58,269 --> 00:54:03,269 actually figure out that I had phrased this question terribly. Andrea, I'll put it to you, uh, 556 00:54:03,269 --> 00:54:08,349 phrased the way that it should be. Is there anything that you always want to keep about bulk, 557 00:54:08,350 --> 00:54:13,590 something that maybe your dad started? Maybe it's a mindset thing. Maybe it's, uh, fabric of the 558 00:54:13,590 --> 00:54:20,469 company type thing, but something that you always want to see, uh, continue as a process or 559 00:54:20,550 --> 00:54:26,359 as just a mindset that the company has. Um, I might have just made that phrasing even worse with that 560 00:54:26,360 --> 00:54:30,718 question, but I'm throwing it to you anyway because we're having a roundtable here. Andrea. 561 00:54:31,160 --> 00:54:35,519 Yeah, I think I like the original question better. Okay. Yep. That's that's what I do. I have a 562 00:54:35,520 --> 00:54:40,320 tendency. I'm so okay with change that I'll change things for the worse and figure it out on the 563 00:54:40,320 --> 00:54:45,800 back end, but, uh, lot, lot lower stakes here on the podcast than what you guys do from the day to day, 564 00:54:45,800 --> 00:54:52,638 right? Yeah. I like and one of the things that, you know, we've always been pretty, pretty set on is 565 00:54:52,639 --> 00:54:58,760 the fact that our office staff and workers, we want them to be in person. 566 00:54:59,520 --> 00:55:04,759 Um, you know, obviously during Covid, a lot of people had to work from home for us to be able to 567 00:55:04,759 --> 00:55:11,599 get it done. And you lose so many efficiencies. And it just we're just not a remote 568 00:55:11,600 --> 00:55:18,279 environment. My mindset doesn't like it. I just, um, you know, the collaboration that happens by, you 569 00:55:18,279 --> 00:55:25,179 know, working with people. It's just so much better to have people in person. And I know, you know, the 570 00:55:25,179 --> 00:55:30,899 world's kind of gone very much remote, and then people are trying to pull it back. And and that's 571 00:55:30,899 --> 00:55:36,579 been a struggle. We've always been in person other than like, you know, for a few weeks, a couple 572 00:55:36,580 --> 00:55:42,459 months maybe during Covid, but, um, there's just so many good things that happen from being at person 573 00:55:42,500 --> 00:55:48,499 in person and working with, um, with other people in the organization. It's just it's just so much 574 00:55:48,500 --> 00:55:54,420 better and way more efficient. So that's something that I'm not really willing to bend on. Um, you 575 00:55:54,420 --> 00:55:58,139 know, obviously there's times that somebody's got to be working, you know, because they're traveling 576 00:55:58,139 --> 00:56:01,339 to one of our other locations. That's a different situation I'm talking about, like when they're 577 00:56:01,340 --> 00:56:07,418 actually setting up their office at home or away from, you know, one of our buildings. So I really 578 00:56:07,419 --> 00:56:12,820 like people to be in person. I totally understand that. I don't think the remote work environment 579 00:56:12,820 --> 00:56:17,789 works for every industry. And, you know, and and there's an aspect of it where, hey, the drivers are 580 00:56:17,789 --> 00:56:21,668 kind of remote employees as it is, right? You're going to see them every now and then. Then they're 581 00:56:21,669 --> 00:56:28,269 gone for, uh, who knows how long. It's always different. But I totally get that, Andrea, because 582 00:56:28,269 --> 00:56:33,549 one of the things that you lose as a remote environment is the ability to just pop over and 583 00:56:33,550 --> 00:56:38,469 stick your head in somebody's office and ask a quick question that in and of itself turns into 584 00:56:38,509 --> 00:56:42,709 like a 15 or 20 minute meeting, because you have to check schedules and you don't know if that 585 00:56:42,710 --> 00:56:48,069 person's, you know, for me, over here on the West Coast, almost everybody that I work with is on the 586 00:56:48,070 --> 00:56:53,749 East Coast or in the Midwest. And those time differences start to jump in. They've got kids, 587 00:56:53,749 --> 00:56:58,949 they're doing this. They're doing that. I totally understand it. And I think, too, having actually set 588 00:56:58,989 --> 00:57:05,269 foot in your guys's, uh, terminal there, I kind of see that that is something that kind of is a 589 00:57:05,269 --> 00:57:10,188 pulse of the company. You guys have kind of an open door policy. You're never really closed off 590 00:57:10,189 --> 00:57:14,270 from your employees. If they need to come and ask you a question, they can ask it. That's one thing 591 00:57:14,270 --> 00:57:19,569 you can't do with the remote job, Andrea. There's no question about it. And I think that you guys, uh, 592 00:57:19,610 --> 00:57:24,089 I mean, everybody I saw a lot of smiling faces in there, I'll say that. And it wasn't just when Brad 593 00:57:24,129 --> 00:57:28,529 brought us all barbecue for, uh, when we were talking to the shop guys. Everybody was smiling 594 00:57:28,570 --> 00:57:34,089 the whole day over. That tells me it's a good in-person environment. And, uh, that type of thing 595 00:57:34,090 --> 00:57:39,169 is, I feel like it really second to none. When you're looking for a job, you don't want to go to 596 00:57:39,169 --> 00:57:44,329 a place and hate it every single day. Doesn't seem like that's what's going on over there. Right? 597 00:57:44,330 --> 00:57:49,769 Exactly. Brad, how about for you? We've butchered this question six ways from Sunday, and now it's 598 00:57:49,769 --> 00:57:55,849 your turn to answer it. You just took my answer. You took my answer? That's the one thing. Oh, I. Did. 599 00:57:55,889 --> 00:58:02,689 I refuse to change is to limit my access to the people. I actually limit my access to salesmen way 600 00:58:02,689 --> 00:58:09,689 more than I do my employees. Okay. Okay. Like way. More. And is there any is there any 601 00:58:09,690 --> 00:58:15,178 philosophy behind that that you'd like to share with us? Well, no, but that's how I. I mean, you can't 602 00:58:15,179 --> 00:58:20,779 have a family feeling if you then if they can't ever talk to me, if the employees can't walk in 603 00:58:20,779 --> 00:58:26,619 and talk to me, then they probably don't feel like it's much of a family business, you know? So, yeah, 604 00:58:26,659 --> 00:58:31,699 well, I don't have time to sit here and talk to every employee every time they come in here. Uh, 605 00:58:31,740 --> 00:58:37,659 but, you know, uh, you know, you just I don't know, there's a point where sometimes you want to limit 606 00:58:37,659 --> 00:58:44,299 your access, but I just it's something you can't do, you know? Well, it's phenomenal that you guys 607 00:58:44,299 --> 00:58:49,138 have, uh, that type, that level of access for the employees because they definitely feel it. I mean, 608 00:58:49,139 --> 00:58:54,979 they've told me here on the show, I've had drivers say, if I have a problem, I can call Bryan and I 609 00:58:54,979 --> 00:59:00,099 can talk to Bryan, or I can call Brad, talk to Brad. Andrea, talk to Andrea. I don't have to go through 610 00:59:00,100 --> 00:59:04,859 a phone tree. I don't have to fight my way through multiple levels of management. You guys are 611 00:59:04,860 --> 00:59:09,899 accessible. And that's one of the things that keeps, uh, the family, the family run company 612 00:59:09,940 --> 00:59:16,800 feeling here, regardless of how much the company grows. Um, and now kind of zooming out, even just a 613 00:59:16,800 --> 00:59:22,239 little bit more, I'm going to ask you a really broad question here. And, uh, it can be really 614 00:59:22,240 --> 00:59:27,279 anything. Bryan, we'll go back to you as you look down on all this. You look. You look at everything 615 00:59:27,280 --> 00:59:32,239 that you've done and where you're at today. What makes you the proudest about bulk and Spur? 616 00:59:34,360 --> 00:59:41,119 I mean, I think just the fact that we've been able to, you 617 00:59:41,120 --> 00:59:47,198 know, keep the lights on. I mean, really, it's about it's about not failing. I mean, I don't know, it's 618 00:59:47,199 --> 00:59:54,199 he's weird, but, you know, you just want to be able to continue on, like Andrew had mentioned before, 619 00:59:54,240 --> 01:00:00,639 when we want to continue dad's legacy and, you know, just being able to do that and, uh, and, and, 620 01:00:00,679 --> 01:00:06,280 you know, we're doing it now for, you know, we've, we took over in 2016. So we've been doing it now for 621 01:00:06,280 --> 01:00:12,818 ten years. And um, yeah, I think that's, that's just the, the best part of 622 01:00:12,819 --> 01:00:19,780 it. Uh, and, and just being able to continue on really, uh, you know, 623 01:00:19,819 --> 01:00:26,659 we want to always grow and, and do those things, but, um, you know, biggest isn't always the best. So 624 01:00:26,699 --> 01:00:33,419 we, I think we, I think we've done, we've done a great job with. Yeah. Just keeping dad's 625 01:00:33,419 --> 01:00:40,099 legacy. I think our I think he would be proud of the way we service our customers, how we treat our 626 01:00:40,100 --> 01:00:46,619 employee. You know, how we treat our, you know, the people we work with. And so yeah, I think that's 627 01:00:46,620 --> 01:00:52,539 the biggest thing is, um, you know, he probably wouldn't say he's proud of us because he was kind 628 01:00:52,540 --> 01:00:58,499 of he didn't give out a lot of compliments, but I think that I think he would be I think he it'd be 629 01:00:58,500 --> 01:01:04,379 something that he, you know, he would be proud of. Yeah. I think you're right. Did those ten years, 630 01:01:04,379 --> 01:01:10,229 have they just gone by in an absolute flash Bryan. Yeah. It's in it's insane. You know, it really is. 631 01:01:10,709 --> 01:01:17,709 Ten years is a long time to be to be doing the one thing. And, uh, it's it's funny how as you you 632 01:01:17,709 --> 01:01:23,189 move through life, they say that the days seem like they go faster because you have more 633 01:01:23,189 --> 01:01:28,909 memories and less time in front of you. Uh, I would say that's probably how these last ten years feel. 634 01:01:28,910 --> 01:01:33,989 Just like an absolute flash. But here we are, and things are going well. And I think you're 100% 635 01:01:33,989 --> 01:01:39,110 correct. I think dad would be proud, even if he's not big on, uh, you know, dealing out the credit. I 636 01:01:39,110 --> 01:01:43,549 think he'd look down and be very proud at what you guys have done at this point in time. Uh, 637 01:01:43,549 --> 01:01:48,429 Andrea, something that you look at for bulk and spur, that just makes you proud over these last 638 01:01:48,429 --> 01:01:54,749 ten years. Yeah. I mean, I'll kind of add on to what Bryan was saying. I really think it's it's 639 01:01:54,790 --> 01:02:00,549 100% about the relationships. Um, and that we've been able to continue those relationships and, you 640 01:02:00,549 --> 01:02:05,870 know, that, you know, dad started so that goes from our, you know, our relationships with our customers, 641 01:02:05,870 --> 01:02:11,688 our vendors, are most importantly our employees. I just think. We've really been able to continue 642 01:02:11,689 --> 01:02:17,729 those relationships that made both bulk and spur successful. And I think it's it's been a blessing. 643 01:02:18,050 --> 01:02:22,249 And, you know, a lot of that I attribute to dad, we got to work alongside him for so long and kind of 644 01:02:22,289 --> 01:02:27,089 watch how he did it. And, um, I learned a lot from that. And I just think it's awesome that we were 645 01:02:27,090 --> 01:02:32,649 able to continue those relationships. Well said Brad onto you. Something that makes you proud 646 01:02:32,649 --> 01:02:39,169 since you've been running the company. Uh, I mean, just obviously piggybacking on that, it's, uh, 647 01:02:39,169 --> 01:02:44,009 anytime you can have your original customer and you still service your original customer, the fact 648 01:02:44,010 --> 01:02:48,688 that you're still in business 50 years later and they're still in business, although they've been 649 01:02:48,689 --> 01:02:53,410 bought out several times over the years, but they're still in business that for that long it's 650 01:02:53,410 --> 01:03:00,329 pretty impressive, you know? Um, and I mean, we have a lot, of, lot of just proud of I mean, we 651 01:03:00,329 --> 01:03:06,259 had a lot of, a lot of people that spend a lot of their, their time, a lot of their lives working for 652 01:03:06,260 --> 01:03:12,900 us and, um, giving us their all their time and valuable time and all the time that the employees 653 01:03:12,900 --> 01:03:18,699 have put in. Um, you know, you're just proud that we're we're still here and trying to give back. 654 01:03:20,260 --> 01:03:25,579 Well said. There's. Well, uh, thanks for that, Brad. Nothing there like the job. One more thing, I think. 655 01:03:25,580 --> 01:03:31,979 I think just an extension of that. You know, the cool thing is the the people that work for my dad 656 01:03:32,020 --> 01:03:38,459 are now and then continue to work for us. And to see those guys and gals retire 657 01:03:39,060 --> 01:03:44,300 is pretty cool now because we're up, you know, we're it feels like we're having, you know, we're 658 01:03:44,300 --> 01:03:51,179 getting like 4 or 5 retirements a year feels like now. And, uh, and 659 01:03:51,180 --> 01:03:57,459 so that's pretty neat. You know, we've had mechanics that worked for us for 30 plus years, uh, 660 01:03:57,460 --> 01:04:02,500 worked for both trains, 30 plus years. Retired drivers, of course. And we've had some management 661 01:04:02,560 --> 01:04:09,479 Staff retire as well. That all worked in. Knew my dad and worked for him and continue to work for 662 01:04:09,519 --> 01:04:16,279 work for us. And you know while we when we took over and so to see them be able to retire and, 663 01:04:16,279 --> 01:04:23,079 and uh, is is pretty cool. Yeah. I agree 100%. You know, Tim and Shawn mentioned that 664 01:04:23,080 --> 01:04:29,799 too. Um, and that is a really cool thing, especially if they've got that 20, 30, maybe even 40 year 665 01:04:29,800 --> 01:04:35,560 tenure with your company. Uh, how cool to see them, uh, you know, step off into their golden years and 666 01:04:35,560 --> 01:04:41,200 get to enjoy that, uh, retirement. I think that's so cool. Uh, I've got one more question for you that I 667 01:04:41,200 --> 01:04:45,639 want to roundtable, and then I want to clear some time for you guys to share your thoughts. Anything 668 01:04:45,640 --> 01:04:50,519 that we left on the table, we'll definitely get to it, because this is a very special episode, and we 669 01:04:50,520 --> 01:04:55,878 can't go leaving things on the table. Um, but we talk about the access that you guys give to 670 01:04:55,879 --> 01:05:01,239 employees and obviously, uh, it's there. Uh, we hear it all the time on this podcast. Now, one thing 671 01:05:01,240 --> 01:05:06,369 that you probably can't do, because there's not enough time in the week, is sit down individually 672 01:05:06,369 --> 01:05:13,289 with every single driver that wears the the bulk or spur logo as they do their job. So what I want 673 01:05:13,330 --> 01:05:19,289 to give you the opportunity to do here is, is kind of just snowball that all together. Tell me, Bryan, 674 01:05:19,289 --> 01:05:24,729 if you could sit down with every bulk driver individually, what's one thing that you would want 675 01:05:24,729 --> 01:05:30,809 them to hear directly from you? Just that I appreciate them so much, you know, just that I just 676 01:05:30,809 --> 01:05:37,490 appreciate them. I appreciate the job they do. It's not an easy job. It's it's certainly, um, 677 01:05:37,850 --> 01:05:44,649 you know, it's it's in some ways a dangerous job. I mean, you're out on the road and I, I appreciate 678 01:05:44,649 --> 01:05:51,610 the professionalism and, and, and that they conduct themselves with. And it's not easy 679 01:05:51,610 --> 01:05:57,929 to do I mean, I, I get the I, I get an opportunity um, 680 01:05:58,449 --> 01:06:04,629 to, you know, sit down with the newer drivers that we bring in. You know, we do a meeting, we try to do 681 01:06:04,629 --> 01:06:08,869 a meet and greet and and I tell them that I tell you no, I get to tell them that that I do 682 01:06:08,869 --> 01:06:15,829 appreciate the job they do and how hard it can be at times. And, and, um, and, uh, 683 01:06:15,870 --> 01:06:22,589 you know, there's, uh, you know, I questioned sometimes whether I could even do it, my patience 684 01:06:22,669 --> 01:06:29,349 just driving to work. Sometimes it's tested, uh, quite often. So, um, and 685 01:06:29,349 --> 01:06:34,789 so, yeah, it's it's, uh, I just just the appreciation I have for the driver. Well, for everybody, though, 686 01:06:34,789 --> 01:06:40,149 the drivers, obviously, you know, our our maintenance staff is second to none. I mean, 687 01:06:40,149 --> 01:06:46,748 they're just terrific. I mean, they're great. Honestly, uh, our office, our office staff and 688 01:06:46,749 --> 01:06:51,549 administration, we just all up and down the line, we have we have great people working for us. I 689 01:06:51,549 --> 01:06:58,529 just appreciate all all that they do for us and and do for the for the company. And, you know, and 690 01:06:58,529 --> 01:07:05,128 I think everybody has a spirit of trying to work together and, and, um, and do their job in a 691 01:07:05,129 --> 01:07:11,929 professional manner and, and, and do it well. So everybody, everybody, everybody always seems 692 01:07:11,970 --> 01:07:18,489 to, to get on board with that. And, and uh, we're just very fortunate and blessed that to work with 693 01:07:18,490 --> 01:07:24,129 the people we do for sure. It shows. It really does show. Andrea, uh, if you could sit down with every 694 01:07:24,129 --> 01:07:28,609 bulk driver individually, what's one thing you'd want to hear? Uh, what's one thing you would want 695 01:07:28,610 --> 01:07:35,529 them to hear directly from you? Yeah, I think I would want them to know that they. They matter to 696 01:07:35,529 --> 01:07:41,289 us. I mean, we we view them, you know, like we are always saying, we view them like family. And so, you 697 01:07:41,290 --> 01:07:47,209 know, for me, you know, safety is just so important. I just I want them to be safe and be able to be 698 01:07:47,210 --> 01:07:53,289 able to safely get home to their families. And, you know, I just, you know, I just want everybody to be 699 01:07:53,330 --> 01:07:59,739 be safe and good, honestly. And and we're a team. You know, I mean, we need them. And, you know, I think 700 01:07:59,740 --> 01:08:06,539 they need us a little bit, at least. But, you know, we need them and they are the face of the company. 701 01:08:06,539 --> 01:08:13,499 And, you know, we just want everybody to be good and well and healthy and safe and all the 702 01:08:13,499 --> 01:08:19,540 things, um, so that, you know, that they can they can go home and, you know, spend time with their 703 01:08:19,540 --> 01:08:25,339 families and provide for them and, and do all the things. So just, you know, just let them know that, 704 01:08:25,379 --> 01:08:30,939 that we really are a team. We can't do this without any of them 100%. Brad, I'm on to you. And 705 01:08:30,939 --> 01:08:35,139 I'm wondering if this might have something to do with pre trips. If you got a chance to sit down 706 01:08:35,140 --> 01:08:39,660 with every single one of them individually or something like that. But I don't want to take the 707 01:08:39,660 --> 01:08:45,259 words out of your mouth again. So one thing you tell every driver. You just did, you literally just 708 01:08:45,259 --> 01:08:50,660 did. I don't even know why. Not even sure why you have me on the podcast. You can just do it for me. 709 01:08:51,019 --> 01:08:56,798 I just talked to all the drivers how important it is to check your lights and tires, lights and 710 01:08:56,799 --> 01:09:03,559 tires. All we ask of them for the pre-trip, we'll take care of the rest. We really like lights and 711 01:09:03,559 --> 01:09:10,398 tires to be looked at. I got it. I got it. Hey. Functional but meaningful. Yeah, I know, but no, 712 01:09:10,439 --> 01:09:16,239 I don't just. And I tell almost I know almost every conversation with have a safe trip or 713 01:09:16,479 --> 01:09:23,119 whatever. Safe travels. Uh, I mean, there's just so much traffic out there, and, you know, we're in the 714 01:09:23,119 --> 01:09:28,079 Midwest. We're a flyover state, so we don't even know what it's like in California, but I'm sure 715 01:09:28,080 --> 01:09:34,680 it's stupid. Um, but, you know, or it's so it's just like Bryan said, I get 716 01:09:34,680 --> 01:09:41,680 frustrated trying to dry places. Coming back from southern Kentucky on Sunday is always busy. In 717 01:09:41,680 --> 01:09:48,639 this last Sunday was, it seemed like a holiday weekend. It was worse than 4th of July. We 718 01:09:48,640 --> 01:09:53,729 came back late that day. But anyways, it's it's busy out there. We appreciate the patience that 719 01:09:53,730 --> 01:09:58,889 they have every day. And, you know, just pray they all come back safe every day. That's that's what 720 01:09:58,890 --> 01:10:05,209 it's about. Absolutely, absolutely. And and I think the drivers can really feel that from you guys 721 01:10:05,370 --> 01:10:11,770 completely independent of the podcast. But they do tell me on here all the time. And, um, I just think 722 01:10:11,770 --> 01:10:17,529 hearing you guys talk about it, it really goes to show how important the drivers are. And that 723 01:10:17,529 --> 01:10:23,409 extends to every employee, right? It takes a village to make this company go. And, uh, you got a 724 01:10:23,410 --> 01:10:28,490 great village going right now, that's for sure. Uh, want to thank you guys all for your time here 725 01:10:28,490 --> 01:10:33,369 today. We wanted to keep this one a little short. We don't want to run super long. Uh, but I do want 726 01:10:33,370 --> 01:10:38,169 to clear some time here at the end of the segment for you guys to share anything that we might have 727 01:10:38,170 --> 01:10:42,648 left out or say anything that you haven't got to say. Of course, we're celebrating the company's 728 01:10:42,649 --> 01:10:48,249 anniversary here. Uh, so, Bryan, I gave you one last chance before we let you go, my friend. Anything 729 01:10:48,249 --> 01:10:52,949 else you want to say? Uh, to the employees out there that are listening on our company 730 01:10:52,950 --> 01:10:59,429 anniversary special. Um, no, it's just, uh, you know, I think just to kind of 731 01:10:59,990 --> 01:11:06,390 piggyback a little bit more is we when we go down and we try to make decisions, that's, like I said, 732 01:11:06,430 --> 01:11:12,870 best for the company. And we always, we always have. Um, and part of that equation is always to 733 01:11:12,870 --> 01:11:19,829 have, uh, the people we work with in mind. You know, we, we want the best for them. We really do. I wish 734 01:11:20,189 --> 01:11:25,549 there was infinite amount of money that we could pay them and, and, you know, but unfortunately, 735 01:11:25,549 --> 01:11:32,470 there's budgets and, um, you know, we have to we have to pay for stuff, you know, so, but we try to 736 01:11:32,549 --> 01:11:38,990 we try to provide good equipment. We try to, uh, provide good, a good environment for everyone to 737 01:11:39,029 --> 01:11:44,989 work, work in. And, and we really take that into consideration every time we make a decision. Then 738 01:11:44,990 --> 01:11:51,798 just shifting gears, you know, about the podcast, uh, like I said, I'm loving the podcast and I and all 739 01:11:51,799 --> 01:11:57,838 the all your guests that have come on. It's been great to get to know, 740 01:11:58,640 --> 01:12:05,159 uh, all the different people you've had on through the podcast. I love it. So that's been that's been 741 01:12:05,160 --> 01:12:11,919 terrific. So I hope, uh, I hope we, we, uh, we get more and more people to listen. Uh, I think it's doing 742 01:12:11,959 --> 01:12:18,919 pretty well, but there, you know, I'd love to have 100% of the the the staff, uh, listen to it 743 01:12:18,919 --> 01:12:25,318 and just love to keep it going. So, uh, we need more guests, though. We gotta get more 744 01:12:25,399 --> 01:12:30,240 variety, because I think there's a lot of there's a lot of cool stories out there that we have yet 745 01:12:30,240 --> 01:12:36,479 to hear. And, and, uh, you know, it gives me, like I said, it gives me a chance to know the people that 746 01:12:36,479 --> 01:12:42,319 work. Work for Balkan Spur a little bit better. Uh, than I would have ever been able to. So it's been 747 01:12:42,319 --> 01:12:47,579 cool. That's awesome. Well, we appreciate the kind words about the show, Bryan. And and I will tell 748 01:12:47,579 --> 01:12:52,740 you, even with all of the awesome personalities that we've discovered that worked their bulk and 749 01:12:52,740 --> 01:12:57,699 spur, I feel like we've barely scratched the surface. We've got a lot more people to meet and a 750 01:12:57,700 --> 01:13:01,819 lot more people to get on this show, and you know how to do it. If you're one of those people out 751 01:13:01,819 --> 01:13:07,659 there, you want to come on this show podcast.bulktransit.com. It's that easy. Send me an email. We 752 01:13:07,660 --> 01:13:12,979 will get you on here. Uh, and thanks again, Bryan. I really appreciate the kind sentiment there about 753 01:13:12,980 --> 01:13:17,700 the show. We're we're trying our best, and we've got a heck of a company to work with in bulk in 754 01:13:17,700 --> 01:13:23,099 transit. So I'll be honest with you, it makes my job pretty easy. Uh, here I am doing the third, I 755 01:13:23,100 --> 01:13:28,259 think, podcast with the ownership team of the company. So you guys are playing ball. Makes it 756 01:13:28,259 --> 01:13:33,700 easy on us. Andrea, final thoughts from you. Hear anything left that you'd like to say before we 757 01:13:33,700 --> 01:13:39,899 let you go here on our, uh, company anniversary special? Yeah. I mean, first of all, obviously super 758 01:13:39,899 --> 01:13:45,679 excited to be celebrating 54 years. That's awesome. Um, couldn't have done it without all of our 759 01:13:45,680 --> 01:13:50,879 employees, that's for sure. And then I want to give a special, special shout out to our driver 760 01:13:50,879 --> 01:13:57,639 trainers because, you know, they are so responsible for, you know, they 761 01:13:57,639 --> 01:14:02,958 really without them I don't we you know, they train, they help us retain drivers. You know they 762 01:14:02,959 --> 01:14:08,399 they are the first base, the first interaction that a lot of our new hires have. And, you know, as 763 01:14:08,439 --> 01:14:14,519 we're trying to grow, um, we, you know, without the trainers, we wouldn't be able to do it. And they 764 01:14:14,640 --> 01:14:20,439 they are selfless. They are really selfless. And they go above and beyond. And I just can't thank 765 01:14:20,439 --> 01:14:25,759 them enough for what they do to help grow this business. So really appreciative of the trainers 766 01:14:25,759 --> 01:14:32,639 that help us get drivers on the road. 54 years is a long time and it's running strong. Very well 767 01:14:32,680 --> 01:14:38,119 said there. Andrea. Thank you for your time today. Brad. Final thoughts from you on our company 768 01:14:38,119 --> 01:14:42,239 anniversary special. Anything left on the table that you want to get off your mind before we let 769 01:14:42,240 --> 01:14:47,410 you go? Well, I don't have a whole lot. Me and the company, me and the company are the same age, so I 770 01:14:47,410 --> 01:14:54,329 don't celebrate it with so much enthusiasm as some of the other ones do. Marks. Uh, no 771 01:14:54,490 --> 01:14:59,729 more of the same. Just a shout out to everybody. It's long hours. They're. They're not regular hours 772 01:14:59,730 --> 01:15:06,169 either. It's not even like it's a a 7 to 9 or 7 to 8 p.m. every day. You know, we got the 4 a.m. 773 01:15:06,169 --> 01:15:12,089 people. We got the, the 10 p.m. people out there working. So the trucks are always rolling. So just 774 01:15:12,089 --> 01:15:18,410 shout out to everybody for all the long hours, long days and not regular hours and 775 01:15:18,769 --> 01:15:25,569 weird circumstances and spur the moment decisions that we have to make and actions that we have to 776 01:15:25,569 --> 01:15:32,529 take. So there you go. Thank you. And just a reminder. Check your lights. Check your tires. 777 01:15:32,529 --> 01:15:37,729 Right. Those were the two of. The that goes into everything. Safety that does all the lights and 778 01:15:37,729 --> 01:15:44,430 tires are good. We're ready to roll. All right, I love it, Bryan. Andrea. Brad, thank you all so much 779 01:15:44,430 --> 01:15:50,309 for the time today from all of us here at Always Nomadic, Never Static. Happy 54th company 780 01:15:50,309 --> 01:15:54,990 Anniversary to Bullock and Spur. It's been awesome having you guys on again and thank you so 781 01:15:54,990 --> 01:16:00,548 much once more for all the access that you give us. Uh, this is this has been a really fun episode. 782 01:16:00,549 --> 01:16:06,589 Really cool episode. Uh, thank you all for the time today. Thanks, Marcus. Thank you. 783 01:16:15,710 --> 01:16:21,829 Great stuff there. Uh, first and foremost, want to thank Tim and Shawn for their time. Awesome stuff 784 01:16:21,830 --> 01:16:28,189 from them. And then, uh, you again, you heard me. Follow my all over myself, thanking, uh, Bryan, Brad 785 01:16:28,190 --> 01:16:33,588 and Andrea, and, uh, I'll do it again. I'll tell you, I talked a little bit towards the end of that 786 01:16:33,589 --> 01:16:39,229 last segment about how the access that I get at bulk is one of the things that makes my job easy, 787 01:16:39,230 --> 01:16:44,839 and I do really appreciate it. One of the things that makes my job hard is when we do such a good 788 01:16:44,839 --> 01:16:51,839 job with the episode, and I say we and I, I put myself in the very, very minor segment of The 789 01:16:51,840 --> 01:16:58,599 Greater we there. Uh, the we that brought you this awesome episode today was Tim, Shawn, 790 01:16:58,600 --> 01:17:04,240 Bryan, Brad and Andrea. And what makes my job hard is when we've already said all the things that 791 01:17:04,240 --> 01:17:10,879 needed to be said on today's 54th anniversary special. Um, I there's not a lot for me to do here 792 01:17:10,879 --> 01:17:17,358 in the outro. I mean, you listen to the episode, you made it this far. Uh, what else can I say? I mean, 793 01:17:17,399 --> 01:17:22,999 again, I'll blow the party horns for a third time today. I'll give the round of applause for a third 794 01:17:23,040 --> 01:17:29,719 time today. It's 54 years of a successful trucking company. And not only that, but a very 795 01:17:29,720 --> 01:17:36,159 specific type of freight that we're hauling. Okay, 54 years should be celebrated and it should be 796 01:17:36,160 --> 01:17:43,100 talked about. And it should be. um, I guess looked upon favorably, if you will. And hey, I think we 797 01:17:43,100 --> 01:17:47,818 did that today. I think we did a good job. I didn't do anything. I think the people that came to this 798 01:17:47,819 --> 01:17:53,539 episode today gave us a peek behind the curtain of why the drivers that come on this show talk 799 01:17:53,540 --> 01:17:58,619 how talk about how much they love working for this company and beyond that as well. You know, we 800 01:17:58,619 --> 01:18:03,579 haven't had a lot of shop techs on. We've done one episode with them, but they like their gig here. 801 01:18:03,580 --> 01:18:08,019 We've talked to a lot of terminal staff, uh, various terminal staff across a lot of the 802 01:18:08,019 --> 01:18:13,579 terminals. And you get the same, uh, the same impression from them as well. So that's it? That's 803 01:18:13,619 --> 01:18:19,859 there's not really a lot for me to say in this outro, other than Happy Anniversary Book and Spur. 804 01:18:19,859 --> 01:18:26,219 And again, not only thank you to Brad, Bryan and Andrea for allowing us to do this podcast, but 805 01:18:26,220 --> 01:18:31,899 thank you to everybody in the company that's taken part or even listened. Maybe you've never 806 01:18:31,940 --> 01:18:37,229 had your name even mentioned on this podcast and you're totally fine with that, but you click it 807 01:18:37,230 --> 01:18:42,229 every single week and you listen in. You are just as important to us as the people that come on the 808 01:18:42,230 --> 01:18:48,229 show. We thank you all. We have so much fun working for this amazing company, and we can't wait to 809 01:18:48,270 --> 01:18:54,950 pump out more content for you every single week, 5 a.m. local time you get a new hour, so 810 01:18:54,990 --> 01:19:01,909 stay tuned here to. Always pneumatic, never static. Don't forget to check out the website podcast.bulktransit.com 811 01:19:01,910 --> 01:19:08,389 and once again tell a friend. Happy anniversary book 54 years strong. Here's to 812 01:19:08,430 --> 01:19:10,788 54 more. We'll see you all next week. 813 01:19:15,790 --> 01:19:21,869 And that's all she blows for today's episode of Always Pneumatic, Never Static. Your number one and 814 01:19:21,869 --> 01:19:27,789 probably only Pneumatic Trucking podcast, brought to you by Bulk Transit. Thanks for rolling with us 815 01:19:27,789 --> 01:19:32,589 today. Till next time, stay safe, keep those lines clear and keep it pumping.