Off-Time Hobbies: What Bulk Transit Drivers Do for Fun

Off-Time Hobbies: What Bulk Transit Drivers Do for Fun
Released 05/13/2026
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Episode description

Truck driver hobbies are not what most people expect, and Episode 14 of Always Pneumatic, Never Static is here to prove it. We are taking a full break from freight markets, safety protocols, and operations talk to find out what three Bulk and Spur Transit drivers are actually doing when the wheels stop turning. Gary Cress, Bryan Alexander, and Paul Francis bring a lineup of hobbies that covers everything from Ju-Jitsu competition and coaching to firearm customization, hunting, fishing, project vehicle builds, grilling, and golf. This is the culture highlight episode that long-time listeners have been asking for and it delivers from start to finish. No pressure, no agendas, just three pro drivers talking about the things that light them up outside the cab. If you have ever wondered what the people behind the wheel are really like when they clock out, this is your answer. Laid back, genuinely fun, and a great reminder that the people moving this industry are a lot more interesting than the loads they haul. 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, the freight talk takes a back seat and the real stuff comes out. Host Marcus sits down with three Bulk and Spur Transit drivers to find out what they are actually doing when the wheels stop turning. Bryan Alexander is back on the show. Gerald Cress reached out himself and asked to be on. Paul Francis was recommended by Gerald. What followed was one of Marcus's favorite episodes he has recorded so far, laid back, genuinely fun, and a reminder that you cannot put a truck driver in a box. Not even close.

Episode Highlights

Bryan Alexander, The Jiu-Jitsu grappler: Bryan got into jiu-jitsu before COVID after stumbling into it through amateur boxing. He did not get serious until the gyms reopened and has not looked back since. He has competed in multiple tournaments, earned medals, and now coaches youth jiu-jitsu classes on the side. He walked into this episode with a fresh shiner from taking a knee to the face at training the night before and did not blink. His words on coaching: "I'm trying to make up for lost time."

Gerald Cress,The volunteer firefighter: Gerald's number one off-time hobby is not what most people would guess. He has been a volunteer firefighter and EMS responder for 24 years this November. He served four years in the military right out of high school and the service mentality never left. His words: "Pride is my pay." Marcus stops the conversation to give him a proper round of applause and means every second of it.

Gerald's project S10: Gerald's second passion is turning wrenches. He does his own routine maintenance to save money and has a 2000 Chevy S10 in the garage that he is slowly turning into a show truck. Marcus warns him about the crossmember nightmare from his days as a detail boy at a Chevy dealership. Gerald has already busted his knuckles more than once and describes the urge to punch the toolbox as part of the process.

Gerald builds his own firearms: Gerald's third hobby is building and assembling firearms. He is not a hunter, at least not yet. He describes his shooting as practical training, putting lead downrange, and staying ready. He would like to get into competition shooting but the nearest event is over three hours away.

Paul Francis 12 years and still rolling: Paul is days away from his 12 year anniversary at the Sydney terminal. He joined the show mid-route dealing with mechanical issues and described it the way only a driver with that many miles under him could, water off a duck's back.

Paul and fishing: Paul is a dedicated fisherman and knows his spots well enough that he is not sharing them with anyone. Catfishing is his game and he has been doing it long enough and successfully enough to make it competitive. Marcus notes that multiple OTR drivers keep a rod and a tackle box in the truck for exactly the moments Paul lives for, pull over, find a pond, drop a line, and let the stress melt away.

Paul and golf: Paul and Gerald are both golfers and are already talking about getting a group together for a monthly round. Marcus immediately volunteers. The conversation about golf goes long enough that Marcus has to actively police himself from turning the rest of the episode into a golf podcast.

The company golf outing idea: Gerald mentions that he saw a link about a potential Bulk and Spur company golf outing. Marcus lights up immediately and goes on record, he will be there, he will be on a cart with a microphone, and he will be the entertainment.

Technical difficulties behind the scenes: Marcus closes by thanking all three drivers for their patience during what he describes as a Tasmanian devil moment of pulling plugs, restarting computers, and kicking things while the guests chatted among themselves. They never heard any of it. The episode came together anyway and Marcus credits the guests entirely.

From The Host

“This is the episode I have been wanting to do since we started. Not because hobbies are interesting on paper, they are, but because of what they tell you about a person. Bryan is not just a driver. He is a competitor and a coach who shows up to training with a fresh shiner and a smile. Gerald is not just a driver. He is a 24 year volunteer firefighter who does it for free because pride is the only paycheck he needs. Paul is not just a driver. He is a fisherman who has spent 12 years on the road and still finds time to drop a line in the water and feel the day disappear. Nobody told you any of that when you saw the truck go by on the highway. And that is exactly the point. The next time you see a Bulk and Spur driver, you might just be looking at a grappler, a first responder, or the guy who knows exactly where the catfish are and is absolutely not telling you. This will not be the last off-time hobbies episode. If you have a hobby worth talking about head over to podcast.bulktransit.com and get in touch.” — Marcus Bridges, Host

Have a story to tell or want to be a guest? Email us at podcast.bulktransit.com

Transcript

Expand to read the full episode transcript.

1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:06,560 You ever notice how easy it is to put someone in a box? That that came out a little bit weird. I 2 00:00:06,560 --> 00:00:11,719 don't mean physically put somebody into a box. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking 3 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:18,440 about metaphorically putting someone into a box truck driver, for instance. That's it. That's the 4 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:23,680 label. That's the whole story, right? You see the truck, you see the long hours, you see the miles, 5 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:30,520 and you think you've got that person figured out. But here's the truth. A lot of these guys, for them, 6 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:36,799 the job is just the thing that pays the bills. It's not the whole identity. It's not even close. 7 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:41,200 Because when they park the truck, when they finally get home, when nobody's watching and 8 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:48,080 there's no clock to punch, that's when the real version shows up. And that version might surprise 9 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:54,840 you, which is the reason for today's episode. We're talking off time hobbies today, but not in that 10 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:59,869 surface level. Yeah, I fish on the weekends kind of way. We're talking about the stuff that keeps 11 00:00:59,869 --> 00:01:06,269 these guys sane. The stuff that gives them purpose outside the cab. The stuff that answers a bigger 12 00:01:06,269 --> 00:01:13,150 question. Is this something you do or someone you are? Because trucking will take a lot 13 00:01:13,190 --> 00:01:20,109 out of you if you let it. Time, energy, sometimes even pieces of who you used to be. So 14 00:01:20,110 --> 00:01:26,789 what do you hold on to? What do you build outside of trucking? And who are you when the truck isn't 15 00:01:26,790 --> 00:01:32,749 part of the conversation? Well, today we're going to find out on all these pneumatic ever static. 16 00:01:33,230 --> 00:01:38,550 You are listening to. Always pneumatic, never static. The Totally Pressurized podcast brought to 17 00:01:38,550 --> 00:01:44,069 you by Bulk Transit, where we keep the lines clear, the tanks empty, and the conversation anything but 18 00:01:44,069 --> 00:01:48,910 dry. Whether you're running powder pellets or anything in between. Pull up a seat, crack the 19 00:01:48,910 --> 00:01:55,350 windows, and let's hit it. How's it going out there? Bulk and Spur, welcome into another episode of 20 00:01:55,350 --> 00:02:01,369 Always. Pneumatic, Never Static. Thank you so much for clicking download today. I am your host Marcus 21 00:02:01,369 --> 00:02:08,009 and we are on to, I believe, episode 14 here of always pneumatic, never static. We are cooking with 22 00:02:08,009 --> 00:02:13,489 gas. Uh, we are we are running the rails. We're doing all of the things we're we're all of the 23 00:02:13,490 --> 00:02:18,249 sayings that you could come up with right now. Uh, we're on a gravy train with biscuit wheels. That's 24 00:02:18,249 --> 00:02:24,529 one I like, uh, weekly content here for you from always pneumatic, never static. All about Bulk and 25 00:02:24,529 --> 00:02:30,009 spur and, uh, some really cool episodes that we've had here over the past few weeks. And this one 26 00:02:30,009 --> 00:02:35,649 today is absolutely no different. This one, actually, uh, one of my favorite ones I've recorded 27 00:02:35,649 --> 00:02:41,569 so far. Just because, uh, super laid back a lot of fun was had today, uh, when we were recording this 28 00:02:41,570 --> 00:02:46,889 segment. So we'll get into that here in just a second. But before I do anything else, obviously 29 00:02:46,889 --> 00:02:52,609 you guys know I'm big on the homework. I gotta say this stuff to you every week so that it gets just 30 00:02:52,609 --> 00:02:58,279 tattooed onto your brain like it is onto mine. And then any question that you have can be answered 31 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:04,960 by heading over to the one place I send you every week that is podcast.bulktransit.com. That's our 32 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:11,479 podcast landing website page or web page. Excuse me, website page makes me sound like I grew up in 33 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:17,799 the 20s. Good lord. Um, it's a one stop shop. Okay, all the episodes are there. First and foremost, you 34 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:22,839 can go to Spotify, or you can go to Apple Music or Google, and you can find the episodes of this 35 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:29,840 podcast. But you can also just bookmark podcast.bulktransit.com and go there every single week. Uh, 36 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:35,479 the episode descriptions there will have info on the guys that, uh, joined the show and, uh, we're 37 00:03:35,479 --> 00:03:39,360 going to have info about what we're talking about. That's also where you can find the quizzes each 38 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:43,800 week. Uh, we try to have a quiz with every podcast. Now, something that's interesting this week, I 39 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:48,359 don't actually think there will be a quiz for this week's podcast, because it's more of a laid 40 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:53,720 back, just finding out about some of the people that are your coworkers type of an episode. Uh, so 41 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:57,219 actually what I'm going to see is I'm going to see if the three guys that joined us in here 42 00:03:57,219 --> 00:04:02,819 today for this episode can send us some pictures of some of the hobbies that they enjoy, since 43 00:04:02,820 --> 00:04:07,900 that's what we're here talking about today. You heard it in the cold open. We are talking about 44 00:04:07,939 --> 00:04:14,860 off time hobbies. Now, in a little less than four years of making podcasts for truck drivers as a 45 00:04:14,860 --> 00:04:21,499 as a living, um, I have learned one thing, and that is that you cannot label a truck 46 00:04:21,500 --> 00:04:28,059 driver as just a truck driver. Uh, there are way, way too many nuances about the 47 00:04:28,179 --> 00:04:34,140 job alone, but about the way that the job has worked. Some guys are local drivers. They're home 48 00:04:34,140 --> 00:04:38,780 every night, some guys are regional. They're out on the road a little bit. Some guys are OTR, they're 49 00:04:38,820 --> 00:04:44,179 out on the road a lot, and that can kind of affect the hobbies that we have. Right. Can you do these 50 00:04:44,179 --> 00:04:48,739 hobbies on the road? Do you need to be home for these hobbies? Uh, what does it look like? What what 51 00:04:48,739 --> 00:04:53,489 kind of stuff are you getting involved in in your cab? Um, we're not going to get into a lot of the 52 00:04:53,489 --> 00:04:58,969 Over-the-road stuff today, because that's just not the drivers that we have that joined us. However, I 53 00:04:59,049 --> 00:05:03,529 will say we'll do another one of these off time hobby episodes because for you drivers that are 54 00:05:03,530 --> 00:05:07,170 out there on the road a little bit more, doing some more regional stuff, maybe you're not home 55 00:05:07,170 --> 00:05:13,409 every single night. Uh, that might affect the hobbies that you that you, uh, grab Ahold of. And I 56 00:05:13,489 --> 00:05:20,169 am such a big hobby guy. Um, a lot of people will have said to me over the time, like you do so much, 57 00:05:20,170 --> 00:05:25,890 when do you have time for it all? And really, that's the hardest part. I wish I had more time if 58 00:05:25,890 --> 00:05:32,049 I had more free time in an unlimited budget. Um, you can't imagine the amount of money I would 59 00:05:32,049 --> 00:05:38,929 spend on my hobbies. And my hobbies are are sort of interesting. I mean, I think they are. You 60 00:05:38,929 --> 00:05:44,369 guys know I love golf. Okay. Um, many people don't know because I don't talk about it very much on 61 00:05:44,369 --> 00:05:49,649 on the podcast. But I am a drummer. I've been playing the drums since I believe I was 12 years 62 00:05:49,649 --> 00:05:56,119 old. I'm 42 now, so I've got a solid 30 years under my belt. I have a pop punk cover band. We play all 63 00:05:56,119 --> 00:06:01,720 sorts of blink 182 and Green Day and Fall Out Boy and you name it. Uh, our, our band is called Pop 64 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:07,599 Punk for dummies. And maybe someday we'll be in a city near you. Um, I've. I've loved playing music my 65 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:13,480 entire life. It's a huge release for me. Just like golf is really challenge myself. Do the hard thing. 66 00:06:13,559 --> 00:06:19,479 Get out there. Play the song that you've never played before. Learned something new. Of course, as 67 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:25,320 we've discussed in passing on this podcast, I'm going to align with a couple of the drivers today. 68 00:06:25,359 --> 00:06:31,000 I'm a real outdoorsman. I do like to go out with, uh, with my dad and, uh, and the hunting crew, my 69 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:36,479 uncles and some cousins and elk hunt every single year out here in Oregon, if I can get there. And 70 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:41,840 even if I don't draw a tag, uh, I'm gonna try to go out there and just help and just be out in the 71 00:06:41,840 --> 00:06:48,839 woods. I really do enjoy that, um, deer hunting as well. Uh, I've done some waterfowl hunting. Um, I was 72 00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:54,619 a very avid wake boarder until a pretty catastrophic knee injury. Sort of took me out of 73 00:06:54,659 --> 00:07:01,018 that game, but I still do ride from time to time. I was a wakeboard instructor at one point in time 74 00:07:01,019 --> 00:07:07,699 at a ski school here in Eugene, Oregon called blue turns out at Fern Ridge Reservoir. Um, I obviously 75 00:07:07,700 --> 00:07:14,219 am huge into broadcasting. I've been broadcasting for about 20 years now. I have thousands and I 76 00:07:14,219 --> 00:07:20,860 mean thousands of podcast episodes under my belt that I have either created myself or that I've 77 00:07:20,860 --> 00:07:26,139 just done, I've guested on, I've been a part of for other people in the industry that I've known. So I 78 00:07:26,140 --> 00:07:32,179 do, while this is my job, sort of consider it on the outside, a hobby, because twice a week I will 79 00:07:32,179 --> 00:07:37,539 join another podcast, uh, that that is done by some of my friends. I'm just a guest on and I don't 80 00:07:37,579 --> 00:07:42,099 they don't pay me anything. Uh, there's there's nothing that happens there other than the fact 81 00:07:42,100 --> 00:07:45,980 that I get to flex my muscle a little bit and I get to broadcasts, which is something that I 82 00:07:45,980 --> 00:07:52,729 really enjoy. Um, beyond that, I love I absolutely love a lazy Sunday with my 83 00:07:52,730 --> 00:07:57,608 wife. You could call me a hobby husband. Uh, maybe we get to watch a movie. Maybe we work in the yard 84 00:07:57,649 --> 00:08:03,570 a little bit together. We take the dogs on a walk. Um, you know, make dinner together. That is 85 00:08:03,570 --> 00:08:09,289 something I. I'm kind of a hobbyist husband. Like. I really do enjoy that time. So I think the reason 86 00:08:09,289 --> 00:08:14,809 that I'm putting all of my hobbies out there to sort of introduce this episode is to say you 87 00:08:14,810 --> 00:08:21,649 really can't put somebody in a box. Like I said, off the top, I might look like a 88 00:08:21,649 --> 00:08:28,449 guy that, uh, you know, does XYZ. I might sound like a guy that does ABC, but until you 89 00:08:28,449 --> 00:08:33,729 actually live with me or you, you are out there experiencing these things with me, or you get to a 90 00:08:33,729 --> 00:08:39,889 tailgate, uh, during Oregon Ducks football season, which is also a huge hobby of mine. Uh, you just 91 00:08:39,890 --> 00:08:44,409 really don't know the person that you're talking to. And one thing I've learned about truck drivers 92 00:08:44,409 --> 00:08:51,029 is a lot of them don't make a lot of noise about the things that they do outside of work. Obviously, 93 00:08:51,030 --> 00:08:55,549 it's kind of a solemn job. You're by yourself a lot, so who are you going to make noise to? And 94 00:08:55,550 --> 00:09:01,468 furthermore, um, truck drivers are a very humble bunch, and you're going to see that in one very 95 00:09:01,469 --> 00:09:06,789 particular, uh, driver today that we're going to talk to here in just a few minutes. Um, humble is a 96 00:09:06,789 --> 00:09:11,029 big part of his game. And you can tell you can hear it in his voice and that they're just not 97 00:09:11,070 --> 00:09:15,988 they're not braggadocio guys. They're not big, um, you know, brash people that are out talking about 98 00:09:15,989 --> 00:09:20,869 themselves all the time. That's my experience with truck drivers. And that's why I want to do this 99 00:09:20,869 --> 00:09:26,749 episode, is because I want to pry those doors open, and I want to see, what are you doing? I mean, it's 100 00:09:26,750 --> 00:09:31,709 stereotypical. If you were to say, oh, yeah, I bet you every truck driver likes to turn wrenches and 101 00:09:31,710 --> 00:09:37,149 work on hobby cars in his off time. Some of them do. And and actually, some of them are a lot better 102 00:09:37,150 --> 00:09:42,709 at it than what you'd give them credit for. But I also know drivers out there that would say you 103 00:09:42,710 --> 00:09:49,658 expect me to spend my entire week in a vehicle, and then get out of the vehicle and go get into 104 00:09:49,699 --> 00:09:54,699 another vehicle and start working on it. I don't want to do that. That's great. What do you do, man? 105 00:09:54,700 --> 00:10:00,460 Are you are you out there hunting? Are you fishing? Are you a golfer like I am? Maybe you're a, you 106 00:10:00,460 --> 00:10:07,219 know, any maybe a gamer. Okay. Uh, there's this huge, uh, you know, argument in the online space 107 00:10:07,219 --> 00:10:13,619 about whether or not video games are a hobby. Well, I'll tell you what. I know multiple people that 108 00:10:13,620 --> 00:10:20,099 make lots of money playing or designing video games. I would say it's probably a pretty good 109 00:10:20,140 --> 00:10:24,699 hobby to pick up if you can make money at it. If you can just have fun, turn on a camera and a 110 00:10:24,700 --> 00:10:29,819 bunch of people come to watch you, have fun and pay you to have fun. Man, that's a heck of a hobby. 111 00:10:29,859 --> 00:10:33,939 Sounds like it might even turn into a career, which is pretty cool. That's what I did. That's 112 00:10:33,940 --> 00:10:39,939 what this hobby is. Okay, I started off first time I ever spoken to a microphone on the airwaves. I 113 00:10:40,020 --> 00:10:45,839 volunteered at 17 at the little podunk radio station in my town to play punk rock music on a 114 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:52,238 country station for three hours each Sunday night, and I absolutely fell in love with it. And fast 115 00:10:52,239 --> 00:10:57,039 forward down the road 20 some odd years and here I am, made a career out of it. That's a heck of a 116 00:10:57,039 --> 00:11:03,719 hobby. I got lucky, man. Not everybody gets that lucky, but everybody has hobbies. And today we've 117 00:11:03,719 --> 00:11:08,440 got three drivers here with a bunch of them that are going to add a little bit of nuance to the 118 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:14,159 truck driver label. Okay, not all these guys are the same. In fact, every single one of them is 119 00:11:14,159 --> 00:11:18,839 different. And, uh, today's episode is going to pull the curtain back on that a little bit. I'm very 120 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:23,919 excited about it. So without further ado, without any more chin wagon from your boy here, I'm going 121 00:11:23,919 --> 00:11:28,280 to get out of the way. We're going to get those three drivers in and talk off time hobbies. 122 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:41,439 All right. Now we're cooking with gas here on always pneumatic, never static. Ready to get our 123 00:11:41,469 --> 00:11:47,189 three drivers in here today and talk a little bit about what they get into when the wheels are not 124 00:11:47,190 --> 00:11:52,989 turning. Uh, believe it or not, even truck drivers have a pretty significant life outside of the job, 125 00:11:52,990 --> 00:11:56,909 even though they spend a lot of time doing the job. And I'm very excited to have these three 126 00:11:56,909 --> 00:12:01,468 gentlemen in here today. First and foremost, let's welcome a guy who's joined us on the show before. 127 00:12:01,669 --> 00:12:05,909 Uh, please welcome to the show, Bryan Alexander. Bryan, it's great to have you back, man. Always a 128 00:12:05,909 --> 00:12:10,989 pleasure. Appreciate it, appreciate it. Look forward to the conversation. Yeah, man. We're going to have 129 00:12:10,989 --> 00:12:16,229 some fun today. Um, couple guys making their first appearance. Uh, and they were excited to join us. 130 00:12:16,229 --> 00:12:21,349 We're very excited to have them. Just like we're excited to have any of you guys out there, uh, 131 00:12:21,349 --> 00:12:26,110 driving for Bulk or working in the shop. Whatever. If you're under this umbrella. We're happy to have 132 00:12:26,110 --> 00:12:31,109 you here on the podcast. And, uh, this next driver actually reached out to me and said, hey, I want to 133 00:12:31,109 --> 00:12:36,589 come on, get me on that episode. And here he is. Please welcome to the show, Gerald Cress. Gerald, 134 00:12:36,590 --> 00:12:41,900 really appreciate you reaching out, man. Glad to have you here. Thanks for having me on. Marcus. Of 135 00:12:41,900 --> 00:12:48,538 course. And our third guest today was recommended by Gerald. That is Paul Francis. Paul, we appreciate 136 00:12:48,539 --> 00:12:55,459 your time as well. Welcome to the show. Thank you. And I'm pleased to be on. Well, listen, 137 00:12:55,460 --> 00:13:00,699 Gerald and Paul, I've already gotten a little bit of Bryan's background before because he's joined 138 00:13:00,700 --> 00:13:05,819 us before, like I said. But I always like to introduce the drivers in a way where if somebody 139 00:13:05,820 --> 00:13:10,619 hasn't met you, maybe they'll know who you are if they see you in passing. So, Paul, since I'm with 140 00:13:10,620 --> 00:13:14,700 you already going to go ahead and start with you. How long have you been working here for Balkan 141 00:13:14,700 --> 00:13:21,699 Spur? Well, let's just say next week will be 12 years. Wow. Next week, 12 142 00:13:21,699 --> 00:13:27,098 years. I'm giving you applause for that man. 12 years anywhere is a great, great stretch. Actually. 143 00:13:27,099 --> 00:13:33,619 Two, two weeks. Two weeks. May 14th. Okay, well. We're not going to take your applause back for a one 144 00:13:33,620 --> 00:13:39,479 week gaffe there, Paul. We're going to keep it. And which, uh, which terminal do you call home? Paul. Oh, 145 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:46,479 Sydney. Sydney. Terminal. Okay, great. Yeah. And I understand today is, uh, not the best day out 146 00:13:46,479 --> 00:13:52,159 there on the road for you. Have a little bit of mechanical issues. Did you? Yeah, but I'm used to it. 147 00:13:52,159 --> 00:13:57,479 It don't bother me. You know, anything can happen while you're out here on the road, so you just 148 00:13:57,479 --> 00:14:03,679 roll with it. Yeah. After 12 years, water off a duck's back, right? Exactly. I mean, I'm still 149 00:14:03,680 --> 00:14:10,599 heading. I'll be at the customer in about 20, 25 minutes to unload, and then I'll head home. Perfect. 150 00:14:10,599 --> 00:14:16,799 Well, glad that, uh, nothing too bad t happened out there today. And, uh, we're glad to have you here. Uh, 151 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:22,399 welcome into the show once again, Gerald. Uh, where are you at right now? Today? What's, uh, what's your 152 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:27,839 day looking like? Any mechanical issues got you parked on the side of the road? No. Today's been 153 00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:34,599 pretty smooth sailing other than some slower traffic holding me up, but, uh, got some 154 00:14:34,599 --> 00:14:40,629 pretty, uh, pretty calm roads ahead of me. So won't be. Won't be too much longer. And I'll be, uh, 155 00:14:41,069 --> 00:14:45,630 swapping some trailers around and getting myself ready for the next day. Okay. All right. And how 156 00:14:45,630 --> 00:14:52,589 long have you been working here, Gerald? So, not counting the year and a half break I had back in 157 00:14:52,589 --> 00:14:58,469 21. I've been here cumulatively five years. Okay. That's good. You know what? That deserves a round 158 00:14:58,469 --> 00:15:04,949 of applause as well. Why not? I'm giving him out today. Five years. Yeah. No joke man. That's a good 159 00:15:04,949 --> 00:15:11,949 that's a good career. Yep. I really enjoyed the break because of 160 00:15:11,950 --> 00:15:17,469 some burnout there in 21. And then came and then I was ready to come back and they brought me back 161 00:15:17,470 --> 00:15:22,909 with open arms. So burnout is a truck driver. That's the first time I've ever heard of that. 162 00:15:25,830 --> 00:15:30,949 It happens. It happens to the best of us. It does, man. It does. It's a tough job. There's no question 163 00:15:30,950 --> 00:15:35,849 about it. We don't make any bones about it on this podcast. And, uh, we're just always glad that you 164 00:15:35,849 --> 00:15:41,049 guys can find time in your day to join us, because we know that it is a a crazy job that you guys 165 00:15:41,049 --> 00:15:46,890 work, and for that reason is sort of why I wanted to have this conversation with you guys today. Um, 166 00:15:46,890 --> 00:15:52,210 I have talked to enough drivers in my almost four years of making podcasts for truck drivers to 167 00:15:52,210 --> 00:15:59,129 know there is no end to the amount of unique hobbies that you guys can get into. And the reason 168 00:15:59,130 --> 00:16:03,848 I like doing an episode like this is because you guys spend a lot of time on the phone with each 169 00:16:03,849 --> 00:16:07,848 other. Gerald and Paul actually told me off the air. Hey, we're normally talking to each other all 170 00:16:07,849 --> 00:16:13,288 day. Um, this episode is one of those things that could even teach you guys something new about one 171 00:16:13,289 --> 00:16:18,488 another that you don't know. Uh, even though you guys are, uh, pretty close. So, Bryan, I'm going to 172 00:16:18,489 --> 00:16:24,248 start with you here because, uh, we brought this up a little bit in the past here on the show, and, uh, 173 00:16:24,249 --> 00:16:30,609 you are not only a very accomplished, uh, jujitsu. Do they call it a jiu jitsu fighter? Is that how 174 00:16:30,610 --> 00:16:36,159 they. Is that how you're you're termed. Oh, no. I mean, you could just call it a grappler. Grappler. 175 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:40,718 There you go. That's it. So you are. You are an accomplished jiu jitsu grappler, and this is a big 176 00:16:40,719 --> 00:16:45,679 part of your life. Talk to me a little bit about it, man. What is the, uh. Where have you come? How 177 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:52,439 decorated are you as a grappler, and how long have you been into jiu jitsu? Um, 178 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:59,280 so it's, uh, it's a pretty significant part of my life these days. Um, it started off as, uh, just a 179 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:06,599 cool little hobby I fell into. You know, I'm. I grew up watching the UFC and didn't really have, uh, any 180 00:17:06,599 --> 00:17:13,039 real opportunities where I grew up to, uh, get into it and learn it. Um, I actually got started because 181 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:19,959 I did some amateur boxing in the gym that I was at, um, had some coaches there, and I fell 182 00:17:19,959 --> 00:17:24,759 into it before Covid. Uh, I didn't get real serious until after Covid when the gyms opened back up. 183 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:31,800 Mhm. Um, I'd say I really started about April of 21. Um, so I've been at it, uh, around 184 00:17:31,870 --> 00:17:38,430 Five years now. We just passed April 1st, so I've been at it five years now. Um, I mean, I like to 185 00:17:38,430 --> 00:17:42,989 stay pretty humble. It's a it's a sport that'll humble you if you get if you get too arrogant. Um, 186 00:17:42,990 --> 00:17:49,390 but I'd, uh, I'd say just in the last two years, I've probably had 187 00:17:50,270 --> 00:17:57,069 50 or 60 matches. And I'm probably in the 40s on my on my win count. Wow. Um, 188 00:17:57,109 --> 00:18:04,069 I've actually, um, when this airs will be on the back end of it, but this coming 189 00:18:04,069 --> 00:18:10,149 week in May, second and third, I've got a tournament in Columbus that's a 190 00:18:10,749 --> 00:18:14,989 pretty prestigious banner to compete under that I've never competed under before, so I'm looking 191 00:18:14,990 --> 00:18:19,789 forward to that. That'll be a two day tournament in Columbus, and then I'm turning around and at 192 00:18:19,790 --> 00:18:24,349 the end of the month, uh. Thank you. Thank you. Um, at the end of the month, I'm competing again, um, here 193 00:18:24,350 --> 00:18:30,969 in my local area in Dayton, Ohio. Um, so I like to stay pretty active. I, uh, I trained probably 4 or 5 194 00:18:30,969 --> 00:18:37,889 days a week. Um, I coached four classes a week as well, so. Wow. Honestly, if I'm not at the house 195 00:18:37,890 --> 00:18:44,529 with the family, you know, cooking, making dinner, hanging out with the family, I'm, uh, I'm usually in 196 00:18:44,530 --> 00:18:48,689 the weight room prepping for the tournaments, or I'm at the gym training or coaching. Mondays and 197 00:18:48,689 --> 00:18:55,049 Wednesdays, I get there about 5:00. I don't usually get home to about 10:00 that night, so I work all 198 00:18:55,050 --> 00:19:01,689 day, and then I go train and coach and train some more. So I, uh, I'd say it's a pretty significant 199 00:19:01,689 --> 00:19:06,568 part. I mean, I usually take 1 or 2 days off. That way I can spend it with the wife and the kids, you 200 00:19:06,569 --> 00:19:10,650 know, that way. Uh, well, I guess I should just say the wife. We've got a 20 and a 17 year old. There's 201 00:19:10,650 --> 00:19:17,609 not. There's not much time for mom and dad around, but, uh, I, I like to I like to hang 202 00:19:17,609 --> 00:19:22,849 out with her. You know, I don't want her to feel left out or anything. She, uh. She supports me 203 00:19:22,849 --> 00:19:29,679 through all the craziness. She's always pushing me to get better and and commit. And it's been pretty 204 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:35,999 therapeutic for me. So having her support makes it easier to dedicate to it. And honestly, I think 205 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:42,840 that's why I've ended up having the success that I had. Um, I think 23 and 24, I went, uh, 206 00:19:43,439 --> 00:19:50,399 without a loss in like four different banners. Wow. Um, so we're just pushing it till the wheels fall 207 00:19:50,439 --> 00:19:55,919 off. I just turned 40, so I know I ain't gonna have forever, but I'm trying to look at the longevity 208 00:19:55,920 --> 00:20:02,400 and keep it pumping as long as possible. Heck yeah. Man. That's amazing. And you know, when you talk to 209 00:20:02,439 --> 00:20:07,879 me about it before on on the episode, obviously we weren't focused on that aspect of your life. We 210 00:20:07,879 --> 00:20:14,399 were talking a lot more about the job that day. Um, but I had no idea that you competed as much as 211 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:19,679 you did. And that you are. I mean, I knew you were decorated, but, man, going two full years without a 212 00:20:19,719 --> 00:20:25,159 loss, that's pretty amazing. And you're teaching all these classes. Um, this became a very 213 00:20:25,159 --> 00:20:29,579 significant part of your life, like you said. Have you gotten. Have you had any luck getting the kids 214 00:20:29,579 --> 00:20:36,539 or the wife to the gym and getting them rolling with you at all? Um, so the wife, not so 215 00:20:36,540 --> 00:20:41,619 much. It's just not her personality, and I don't I don't force anybody to do anything. Right. Um, the 216 00:20:41,619 --> 00:20:47,619 17 year olds in and out with me, um, you know, he's still trying to figure out what what route he 217 00:20:47,619 --> 00:20:53,259 wants to go on life and sounds like he's going to end up taking the the Air Force route. Um, our 218 00:20:53,300 --> 00:21:00,099 nephew, um, he's 19. He's trained with me a little bit. Um, honestly, as much as I trained and I 219 00:21:00,140 --> 00:21:05,939 compete, I'd say I've been lucky enough to fall into coaching. And that's really where my passion 220 00:21:05,939 --> 00:21:12,459 has been. Being able to share my knowledge and watch other people become more confident. And, you 221 00:21:12,459 --> 00:21:15,659 know, when you show somebody something and then they come back in a couple of weeks and they're 222 00:21:15,660 --> 00:21:20,939 like, hey, I hit that move. You showed me on like three different people and or I did it in this 223 00:21:20,939 --> 00:21:25,729 competition, you know, that's what that's what really makes me feel good. You know, I just try to 224 00:21:26,170 --> 00:21:30,769 lead from the front, as I like to call it. That way they they see the things that I'm showing them or 225 00:21:30,770 --> 00:21:36,769 stuff that I actually I use. I don't want to show them anything that doesn't give me any success, 226 00:21:36,810 --> 00:21:42,929 you know? And, uh, I don't know, man. It just, uh, I kind of fell into it, and it's, uh, it's been a 227 00:21:42,930 --> 00:21:47,929 healthy addiction ever since. Boy, it sounds like it, man. And how cool that you like to coach and 228 00:21:47,930 --> 00:21:53,369 you like to pass on that knowledge. Um, you know, I, I was a high school wrestler, and I was not a good 229 00:21:53,370 --> 00:22:00,249 one. I think my my, after three years, my record was an even 500. Um, but there is one thing I know, 230 00:22:00,289 --> 00:22:05,809 and that is having a good coach can even make somebody that's not super great at that sport, uh, 231 00:22:06,010 --> 00:22:10,409 really feel like they've accomplished something. And I had some really good coaches in my time 232 00:22:10,449 --> 00:22:17,289 that made me want to be on the wrestling mat, even though I wasn't that good at it. Um, so, uh, just 233 00:22:17,290 --> 00:22:21,529 huge props to you, man, and teaching the younger generation and passing on what you've learned in 234 00:22:21,530 --> 00:22:26,959 these five years. Uh, you can really hear the passion for it in your voice, man. I appreciate it, 235 00:22:26,959 --> 00:22:30,399 I appreciate it, yeah. It's the, uh, the difference between us was in high school. I was a 236 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:36,919 professional knucklehead. So sometimes I think I'm, uh. I'm trying to make up for lost time also. Well, 237 00:22:36,959 --> 00:22:41,879 no. No better way to, uh, to, uh, punish yourself for being a knucklehead than almost getting your arm 238 00:22:41,879 --> 00:22:47,719 broken in some type of arm bar or something like that, right? Absolutely. You know, I just took a, uh, 239 00:22:47,719 --> 00:22:51,879 inadvertent knee to the face last night in training. I'm walking around with a pretty good 240 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:58,039 shiner right now. So. That's a good thing. This is audio and not video. Yes, sir. Well, I can say that 241 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:04,879 about myself every single day, man. Uh, Gerald. If you're embarrassed about that 242 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:10,160 shiner, you can just say, hey, my wife hit me last. Night. Yeah, that's probably what happened. We 243 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:17,039 always know they run the household, huh? Yeah, yeah. We let them think they did well. And you 244 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:21,800 might be good at fighting defense, but, uh, you'll never see that sucker punch coming. They're really 245 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:25,699 good at getting behind you when you don't see them there. And then all of a sudden, POW! Uh, you're 246 00:23:25,699 --> 00:23:31,540 seeing stars. So, uh, great stuff there, Bryan, I appreciate it. Uh, Gerald, I want to come to you 247 00:23:31,540 --> 00:23:37,539 next. You kind of gave me a litany of hobbies that you have. Um, maybe litanies, a bit of a big word, 248 00:23:37,539 --> 00:23:43,579 but you're kind of a man of a different hobbies, Gerald. So let me have you do this. Why don't you 249 00:23:43,579 --> 00:23:49,660 rank your top three off time hobbies for me? What do you like to spend your time doing the most? And, 250 00:23:49,660 --> 00:23:56,619 uh, kind of go from there? Well, I I've always been one to serve. So I got to say, 251 00:23:56,660 --> 00:24:03,579 doing, uh, working at my volunteer fire in the EMS house is probably one of my favorites. Um, 252 00:24:04,099 --> 00:24:09,739 I spent four years in the service right out of high school, and I've always loved serving to. And 253 00:24:09,739 --> 00:24:16,660 I've also been a member of my, uh, volunteer fire department for 20. The. This November will 254 00:24:16,699 --> 00:24:23,489 be 24 years. Wow. I'm running with. Them. I'm giving you a round of applause for that one, man. That's. 255 00:24:23,489 --> 00:24:29,729 I got a special place in my heart for volunteer firefighters. Um, and and I've, you know, I grew up 256 00:24:29,729 --> 00:24:35,848 in a very small town, 2000 people. I think there was maybe 200 kids at my high school. And I have 257 00:24:35,849 --> 00:24:42,010 vivid memories of multiple times during football practice. My four years as a football player, 258 00:24:42,609 --> 00:24:48,409 almost all of my coaches having a just a, a scanner on their hip and all of a sudden that 259 00:24:48,410 --> 00:24:53,530 thing going off and I've never seen guys, I mean, I don't know why they didn't teach us those skills 260 00:24:53,530 --> 00:24:58,729 because the change of direction and the sprint that those guys made to their cars was impressive 261 00:24:58,729 --> 00:25:03,568 at their age. Um, and, and they were out there saving our community. There was more than once 262 00:25:03,569 --> 00:25:08,050 that they went out and put out a fire at somebody's house that we knew personally, or they 263 00:25:08,050 --> 00:25:14,089 put out a structure fire in a business that saved somebody's livelihood. What you do as a volunteer 264 00:25:14,130 --> 00:25:19,389 firefighter is greatly underappreciated. Gerald and I want to take the time not only to thank you 265 00:25:19,390 --> 00:25:23,589 for your service to this great country, but thank you for your service to the community. Man, that is 266 00:25:23,589 --> 00:25:29,229 an underappreciated volunteer role, and we need guys like you out there that that want to do it 267 00:25:29,230 --> 00:25:35,108 and enjoy it. Man does that. It brings a lot to you, right? You you feel you feel definitely like 268 00:25:35,109 --> 00:25:40,109 you've helped out and you've given back to the community after you go out and serve. Yeah. Oh, 269 00:25:40,150 --> 00:25:46,109 absolutely. Just being there to help somebody out and what, what they feel is the worst day of their 270 00:25:46,109 --> 00:25:52,550 life is, is like, and I do it as a volunteer basis. I'd love to do it as a career, but I take more 271 00:25:52,550 --> 00:25:58,949 pride in doing it as a volunteer because I don't receive money to do it. And it's 272 00:25:58,949 --> 00:26:05,869 it's I pride is my pay as I like to as I like to say. Well said man. Well said. Okay. 273 00:26:05,869 --> 00:26:10,789 So that's the that's the first one. That's your love. What's next? What else do you have in the bag 274 00:26:10,829 --> 00:26:17,349 for your off time hobbies. So other off time hobbies. Uh, love renting on cars. 275 00:26:17,819 --> 00:26:24,619 Uh, building my own, uh, firearms. And, um, what was the other one I told you? Uh. 276 00:26:24,699 --> 00:26:31,338 Oh, yeah. I love I love flowers out of the weekend and and and 277 00:26:31,499 --> 00:26:37,420 hit in 18. Yes, sir. Are you talking Marcos's language? Yes you are. Yes you are. Man, don't, don't. 278 00:26:37,459 --> 00:26:42,459 Don't put it past me. I'll bring up golf on this show just to shoehorn it in, because I feel like 279 00:26:42,459 --> 00:26:49,099 it. Okay? I, I love the sport, man. Here's the funny thing. Uh, last time you talked to Brad, Bryan and 280 00:26:49,140 --> 00:26:55,139 Andrea about what they like to do when they're not in the office, and they were. They were talking 281 00:26:55,140 --> 00:27:00,300 about golfing and all that stuff. I, I seen Andre a link about maybe someday having a company golf 282 00:27:00,300 --> 00:27:07,059 outing. Oh, that would be great, man. I love the idea of a golf. Term get you. You could get up there and 283 00:27:07,060 --> 00:27:12,540 play with us, Marcus. You betcha. I'll be there. I'll be the guy that they're going to put a speaker on 284 00:27:12,540 --> 00:27:17,849 the back of my golf cart and give me a microphone. I'll be the entertainment out there. I would love 285 00:27:17,850 --> 00:27:24,009 to do something like that. We have fun. Oh, I bet, I bet. You know, I could see, uh, you know, uh, one thing 286 00:27:24,009 --> 00:27:28,969 I've seen that they're doing it a bunch of, uh, amateur tournaments up in Canada. There's these 287 00:27:28,969 --> 00:27:33,729 two guys that'll sit on one tee box, and they'll just roast everybody that comes up to tee off. It 288 00:27:33,729 --> 00:27:40,289 doesn't matter who you are. Oh, I love those videos. I've seen those. Yeah, yeah. They are great, man. 289 00:27:40,329 --> 00:27:45,289 Uh, that would. Be so they call them. Back off challenges or something like that, I. Think. Yep. 290 00:27:45,329 --> 00:27:49,449 There's there's a few different groups of guys doing them, and I'll tell you, they're ruthless. 291 00:27:49,449 --> 00:27:53,809 It's no holds barred. But that's what you gotta do to get a golfer to mess up his swing when he's 292 00:27:53,810 --> 00:28:00,809 been doing it for 20 some years. So, uh. That actually makes me play better. Yes, sir. Uh, you know, 293 00:28:00,930 --> 00:28:05,050 uh, Paul, that reminds me, I used to play with, uh, one of my dad's friends, and my dad would always 294 00:28:05,050 --> 00:28:10,170 say about this guy, uh, that that Ron, he could fart in his own back swing, and he'd probably make him 295 00:28:10,170 --> 00:28:15,550 hit the ball 20 yards further. You kind of one of those guys. Distractions don't. Bug. Me better. Yeah, 296 00:28:15,589 --> 00:28:22,469 I play better when people are talking and even talking to me. Because it. Takes my mind 297 00:28:22,509 --> 00:28:28,790 off what I'm doing. And I don't mess my swing up there. There you go. There you go. Yeah, the that's 298 00:28:28,790 --> 00:28:33,509 the best way to make me better at golf is to get me to stop thinking about my swing. Once I start 299 00:28:33,509 --> 00:28:38,069 thinking about it, that's when it all goes. All goes down the hill. Just like you're at the range. 300 00:28:38,069 --> 00:28:44,989 I can hit every ball straight, get on that tee box, and then it just all goes to crap. Yep. 301 00:28:45,029 --> 00:28:51,988 You know, it just. Yeah. But man. You get back to your show. No. Hey I we can again we can 302 00:28:51,989 --> 00:28:56,509 take a left turn detour for golf all day, every day. In fact, now you guys just submitted it. I was 303 00:28:56,510 --> 00:29:00,870 thinking about going golfing later. I'm definitely going golfing later because we just talked about 304 00:29:00,870 --> 00:29:07,749 it. So, uh, there goes my afternoon. But, uh. Well, I know me. Gary and a couple other guys are talking 305 00:29:07,750 --> 00:29:14,419 about get together one weekend and try to do it, you know, once a month or something like 306 00:29:14,420 --> 00:29:20,819 that just to get out and play. Absolutely, absolutely. It's such a great thing to get out and 307 00:29:20,820 --> 00:29:26,259 do with your friends. Uh, nothing like walking off of the 18th green and having the back of your 308 00:29:26,259 --> 00:29:31,899 neck hurt because you've been laughing all day. Uh, who cares how you hit the ball, you know? Um. Hey, 309 00:29:32,420 --> 00:29:37,139 real quick here, Gerald, before we get away from it too much. You mentioned, uh, you like to wrench on 310 00:29:37,139 --> 00:29:42,819 cars and and just please understand that I'm just trying to be policing myself here and not talk 311 00:29:42,859 --> 00:29:48,419 about golf for the next 40 minutes, okay? So I'm trying to trying to stay focused here. But, Gerald, 312 00:29:48,420 --> 00:29:52,579 do you have a project car that you're working on or is this do you just kind of like to do the 313 00:29:52,579 --> 00:29:59,259 routine maintenance on your daily drivers? Uh, what type of engine are we doing here? Oh, uh, so a lot 314 00:29:59,259 --> 00:30:04,300 of it is routine. Routine maintenance stuff. Just save myself a buck or two here instead of taking 315 00:30:04,300 --> 00:30:09,419 it to the shop to get it done. Uh, like I got to do wheel bearings on the wife's car here before too 316 00:30:09,420 --> 00:30:16,280 long. I do also have a project in the garage. It's slow going. I got to save up 317 00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:21,599 for parks here and there, but I'm taking care of those little budget items right now that I'm 318 00:30:21,599 --> 00:30:28,519 working on at the 2000 Chevy S10, that I'm trying to turn into a bit of a show truck. I love those 319 00:30:28,519 --> 00:30:33,800 little s tents from that vintage man, those things are great except for I will tell you. Or I will 320 00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:39,160 ask you about this since you're a wrench turner. I was a detail boy at a Chevy dealership as a 321 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:45,559 summer job in high school for a few summers, and I helped one of the mechanics take an engine out of 322 00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:52,039 an S-10 blazer, and there was a crossmember that ran underneath that engine that 323 00:30:52,319 --> 00:30:57,879 I've never seen a mechanic have so much trouble with an engine hoist and with a book, and with all 324 00:30:57,880 --> 00:31:03,640 the knowledge and 20 years of experience, he got that busted engine out of that blazer and put it 325 00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:09,238 over on the ground and took a pry bar and beat the living heck out of it for 20 minutes 326 00:31:09,270 --> 00:31:14,829 afterwards. I mean, it took us hours to get this thing out. Gerald, do you have any experience with 327 00:31:14,829 --> 00:31:20,949 that? Uh, with that crossmember that runs between the engine there, uh, in an S-10 or an S-10 blazer, 328 00:31:20,949 --> 00:31:27,709 because that thing was a nightmare. I haven't had any experience with that. I haven't sold an engine 329 00:31:27,710 --> 00:31:33,910 from that type of truck yet. Um, haven't decided on whether or not I want to pull my engine, but I 330 00:31:33,910 --> 00:31:39,269 have busted my knuckles a few times and, uh, made me want to throw some wrenches, punch a toolbox, 331 00:31:39,269 --> 00:31:45,230 and I feel better. Gotcha. Well, uh, if if I could give you any advice from a guy that's not really 332 00:31:45,230 --> 00:31:49,310 a wrench turner, I would say just leave that engine in there because it's stuck. You'll never 333 00:31:49,349 --> 00:31:54,949 get it out. Uh, and if you do get it out, you might not get it back in. I remember I was working with 334 00:31:54,950 --> 00:32:01,149 this mechanic. Uh, he was running the engine hoist and holding a pry bar. He had me stabilizing the 335 00:32:01,149 --> 00:32:06,349 engine with both hands, and he went to drop the engine in just a little bit. Of course, he dropped 336 00:32:06,350 --> 00:32:11,809 it too far. It took that pry bar and pinched his hand up against the firewall of the engine. It was 337 00:32:11,809 --> 00:32:18,489 a really long process to get this engine out, and I will be honest with you that I love looking at 338 00:32:18,489 --> 00:32:25,408 an S-10. I never want to work on one again. You're a better man than me, Gerald. Yeah, I've done 339 00:32:25,449 --> 00:32:30,568 I've done a few different engine swaps. I've never had that much trouble. But, uh, it can be a little 340 00:32:30,610 --> 00:32:36,208 bit of a pain in the butt. Yeah, no joke there. Uh, real quick, before we we go on to Paul and I, I 341 00:32:36,209 --> 00:32:39,649 don't know, I'm. I'm guessing we might end up talking a little bit more golf there with Paul, 342 00:32:39,650 --> 00:32:45,089 but, uh, you mentioned that you like to assemble firearms. Now, are you a hunter or are you more of 343 00:32:45,089 --> 00:32:49,810 just a sportsman? You like to go out and plink? What is, uh, what is the hobby look like for you, 344 00:32:49,810 --> 00:32:56,530 Gerald? Um. As of right now, it's more just, uh, putting holes through paper, doing some 345 00:32:56,530 --> 00:33:01,849 training and stuff for, like, if if something would actually happen with civilization would break 346 00:33:01,850 --> 00:33:07,998 down. I'm kind of trying to make sure I stay ready for, you know, who? Who knows what? But, uh. 347 00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:15,038 But for most. Most of the time, it's just put some lead downrange. Doing any competition or anything 348 00:33:15,039 --> 00:33:21,599 like that. I'd like to, but it it's doing some competition stuff. 349 00:33:21,640 --> 00:33:26,759 That closest one I've been able to find is over three hours away. It's not really feasible to 350 00:33:26,760 --> 00:33:33,760 drive that far just to go. Just go do one competition in my head where I can find one 351 00:33:33,760 --> 00:33:39,959 at. Sure. Sure, I understand that. Well, that's still a fun hobby and a practical one too. And, uh, based 352 00:33:39,960 --> 00:33:43,718 on where you guys live, there's a lot of deer out there in the Midwest. Just in case you ever decide 353 00:33:43,719 --> 00:33:50,638 you want to put some venison in the fridge, you're ready. Yeah. Unfortunately, my my firearms that 354 00:33:50,639 --> 00:33:56,239 I have are not legal for hunting in the state of Ohio because they're all shoulder cartridges. I 355 00:33:56,239 --> 00:34:03,159 don't have any straight cartridge rifles to be able to go hunting with. Gotcha, gotcha. Oh, 356 00:34:03,199 --> 00:34:07,189 so you just got to go out and buy yourself a bear at 50 cal. They'll let you hunt deer with that out 357 00:34:07,190 --> 00:34:13,949 there, right? Maybe. But I don't think there'll. Be any. Salvageable meat after that. 358 00:34:15,510 --> 00:34:21,469 Yeah, I hear you. That's what I am. I am, I take it all the way out. Yeah. No, it's it's funny, man, I, I 359 00:34:21,549 --> 00:34:28,189 saw a casing from a I think it's, is it called a 375 Nitro Express. Is that the. Is that the 360 00:34:28,350 --> 00:34:34,149 caliber I'm thinking of? Just a it looks like a, like, maybe a little shorter than a 300 wind mag 361 00:34:34,149 --> 00:34:39,148 cartridge, but gosh dang, the thing was as big around as four golf tees in the middle of it. Have 362 00:34:39,149 --> 00:34:46,029 you seen one of those? I have, but that has nothing. That's nothing compared to the 30 363 00:34:46,070 --> 00:34:51,469 Mike Mike that shot out of the two door eight that's in the eight warthog. 364 00:34:52,870 --> 00:34:59,389 Yeah you're right, that doesn't really compare. Okay, cool. Well, uh, Paul, thanks for your patience, 365 00:34:59,389 --> 00:35:04,409 man. Coming to you last here to talk a little bit. Now, we know you're a golfer. Uh, what else do you 366 00:35:04,409 --> 00:35:10,810 get into when, uh, when the wheels aren't turning? Fishing. I'm an avid fisherman, 367 00:35:11,009 --> 00:35:17,809 and I fished a lot of catfish tournaments. Oh, okay. Are you. Are you noodling for these 368 00:35:17,809 --> 00:35:23,929 things, or are you catching them on a limb? No, no. Online. I haven't got the opportunity noodle for 369 00:35:23,930 --> 00:35:30,290 them yet. Uh, I'll tell you, it looks fun, Paul, but I also don't. The thing that it looks fun until they 370 00:35:30,330 --> 00:35:34,969 duck all the way under the water, and then I'm like, maybe that's too far because you're about to 371 00:35:35,010 --> 00:35:40,648 pull a fish the size of a Honda Civic out from that mud hole. Oh, exactly. And it's got your all 372 00:35:40,649 --> 00:35:47,409 the way up to the elbow. And they're mean. They do bite. I mean, even a small one 373 00:35:47,409 --> 00:35:52,649 will make you bleed. Right. I mean, they don't have big teeth. That's just like taking rough sandpaper 374 00:35:52,649 --> 00:35:57,649 and running across your knuckles. Right. And and, I mean, they're just a big, long muscle and a fat 375 00:35:57,649 --> 00:36:04,239 muscle, too. And, man, they can they can flop around. Me and the wife. Probably here in the next couple 376 00:36:04,280 --> 00:36:11,279 of weeks will be going probably every Friday. Saturday night. Wow. And let me tell you, you're 377 00:36:11,279 --> 00:36:15,918 bringing home some nice catfish to fry up, aren't you? What? What do you like to cook out of it? Is 378 00:36:15,919 --> 00:36:20,999 there anything, especially doing catfish sandwiches or anything like that? Nah. Wife don't 379 00:36:20,999 --> 00:36:27,399 like catfish, but I do. I like to make a. I just call it a Cajun catfish, but 380 00:36:28,399 --> 00:36:35,319 I make it over rice with salsa, some cheese on it, some spices. And that. 381 00:36:35,320 --> 00:36:40,639 Sounds good. How I. Like. It. That sounds good, man, that sounds good. You know, I, I don't have very 382 00:36:40,639 --> 00:36:46,919 many catfishing stories. I've got one. I was fishing on a six inch bobber lead for 383 00:36:46,919 --> 00:36:53,678 crappie next to a dam on the snake River. It's oxbow reservoir where we were, and we were 384 00:36:53,679 --> 00:36:59,979 probably 30 or maybe 50 yards from the dam. Just got the boat parked there in the sun passing the 385 00:36:59,979 --> 00:37:05,100 whiskey bottle around, just having a grand old time, not catching a damn thing. And then all of a 386 00:37:05,100 --> 00:37:11,939 sudden my bobber shoots to the bottom of the reservoir like I've never seen. I mean, the the 387 00:37:12,300 --> 00:37:18,179 line was just pouring off of my reel and it finally stopped and we spent, you know, I was on a 388 00:37:18,179 --> 00:37:23,340 5 pound test line and we spent. A. Half an hour, 40 minutes trying to get this thing up off the 389 00:37:23,340 --> 00:37:29,659 bottom, and by the time we did is the biggest freshwater fish I'd ever caught. Um, I'm not going 390 00:37:29,660 --> 00:37:34,218 to do the whole thing where it was three feet. If it was an inch, I don't remember exactly how long 391 00:37:34,219 --> 00:37:40,580 it was. What I remember is not being able to move my arm after the 30 or 45 minutes I spent 392 00:37:40,580 --> 00:37:47,219 fighting that recall. That's why I like fishing for catfish. They're fun. No matter what, what 393 00:37:47,260 --> 00:37:53,499 size you get. You know, most of our lakes around here have channel blues and 394 00:37:53,499 --> 00:38:00,129 flathead. Okay. So channels, if you get a 30 pounder, you're doing really, really 395 00:38:00,129 --> 00:38:06,779 well. Blues can get up over 100. Blacks can get well over 100 to 150 396 00:38:06,780 --> 00:38:12,129 pounds. Wow. They can. They can get huge. What's the biggest one you've ever landed? 397 00:38:13,490 --> 00:38:18,809 Uh, channel was 27 pounds. And that was at a local lake, Kiser Lake. 398 00:38:20,249 --> 00:38:27,169 Uh, biggest flat was 42. Wow. Blue. I've never weighed. I've caught a few, 399 00:38:27,169 --> 00:38:33,689 but. But we got a lake. It's 20 minutes from my house. It's known for 400 00:38:34,250 --> 00:38:40,609 big flathead. Somebody caught one this year. 67 pounds. My God, that's 401 00:38:40,610 --> 00:38:47,529 huge. Now they're out of Indian Lake. That is wild. So you said you you do some, uh, competitions 402 00:38:47,530 --> 00:38:54,489 from time to time? Yeah, I get a lot of tournaments. Local catfish tournaments? Nothing major, but 403 00:38:54,490 --> 00:39:00,119 he still wins. You know, last year I won four tournaments. 404 00:39:01,080 --> 00:39:07,919 Uh, we fished in six of them. Me and my stepson took first and big fish. 405 00:39:08,360 --> 00:39:15,279 So it's just we do it for fun. A lot of guys we know. But it's the same guys that 406 00:39:15,280 --> 00:39:22,040 fish in tournaments every month. So it's just. We do it. Just have 407 00:39:22,040 --> 00:39:27,519 fun. Yeah. Just to have a high old time. Man, that sounds awesome. Yeah. Do you, uh. Is there any other 408 00:39:27,519 --> 00:39:32,439 fish that you fish for? You know, I, I you said you like to to fight them. I'm wondering if you do 409 00:39:32,439 --> 00:39:39,279 bass ever. Yeah, I fish for bass, but I like to fish at night for bass. Okay. And 410 00:39:39,320 --> 00:39:46,279 he's he's a rubber crawl or something. Just jig off the bottom and it's all by touch 411 00:39:46,479 --> 00:39:53,479 and feel. Because you can't see your line because you're fishing, you know, at night. So 412 00:39:53,479 --> 00:40:00,459 you just cast. and when you feel them. Kaiser lakes A really good lake for it. The small lake. I 413 00:40:00,459 --> 00:40:07,259 know Gary knows it. I'm sure Bryan knows it. Yep, yep. It's, uh. It's just. 414 00:40:07,300 --> 00:40:14,019 A. It's a lake with no motor. You're not allowed to. Any boats with motors. Oh. Very peaceful. To clean. 415 00:40:14,139 --> 00:40:21,019 And clean. But I grew up fishing there, so I fished for walleye. 416 00:40:21,659 --> 00:40:28,139 Actually, next weekend I'll be up at Lake Erie on a walleye charter. Okay. Very cool. 417 00:40:28,179 --> 00:40:32,260 Now, uh, do you guys. I don't think you guys have them out there. Do you get any kokanee in any of 418 00:40:32,260 --> 00:40:39,138 those, uh, deep waters out there in the Great Lakes? Yeah, they could affect Lake Erie. Okay, but 419 00:40:39,139 --> 00:40:46,139 I'm not sure. We have all kinds of different fish up there. I don't even know what's all in 420 00:40:46,179 --> 00:40:52,259 that lake. Okay. You know, I, I only ask because that was some some fun fishing I did as a kid at the 421 00:40:52,260 --> 00:40:58,289 lake that I grew up on. Willow, a lake in northeast Oregon. Big Mountain Lake was formed by a glacier. 422 00:40:58,289 --> 00:41:04,849 And they catch and they catch a new state record kokanee out of that lake every couple of years. In 423 00:41:04,850 --> 00:41:10,049 fact, I had a buddy, one of my best friends in the world, held that record for less than two weeks, 424 00:41:10,049 --> 00:41:15,809 and his best friend went out there and caught the next one. And it wasn't me. But they they're just 425 00:41:15,809 --> 00:41:22,169 constantly yarning these things out. Um, but we had to go deep, deep, deep water for him. Uh, Paul. And 426 00:41:22,169 --> 00:41:26,610 that's why I was wondering if if up there in Lake Erie, that's a pretty deep one. I would assume 427 00:41:26,610 --> 00:41:33,129 they're up there. Yeah, it probably is. I know they got sturgeon up there. Oh, man. See, I've never I've 428 00:41:33,129 --> 00:41:38,889 never fished for sturgeon, but I've watched guys fish for sturgeon. Uh, from the Bonneville Dam, uh, 429 00:41:38,889 --> 00:41:45,370 here on the Columbia River. Have you ever caught a sturgeon or fished for him, Paul? No, no, no. My main 430 00:41:45,370 --> 00:41:52,110 thing is basically carp, catfish, bass. You know, bluegill, crappie, perch, 431 00:41:52,550 --> 00:41:59,349 trout, just what's basically around the lakes and rivers. Sure. You know, just 432 00:41:59,350 --> 00:42:04,989 around our area. Well, Paul, I gotta be honest with you. With golf and fishing, as two of the main 433 00:42:04,990 --> 00:42:09,509 hobbies, you are going to have one hell of a retirement, my friend, whenever you decide to hang 434 00:42:09,509 --> 00:42:16,269 up. The. Boots. I'm an avid hunter. Okay, shooter. I also shoot like Gary 435 00:42:16,309 --> 00:42:21,709 does. Actually, my wife owns one of guns that Gary put together. Oh, really? What he put together for 436 00:42:21,709 --> 00:42:28,269 her? It was an AR five, five, six guy. He can tell you more about it. We haven't even shot it 437 00:42:28,270 --> 00:42:34,749 yet. My stepson bought it from Gary. Then I traded, uh, for 50 438 00:42:34,790 --> 00:42:41,589 Bushmaster to get the AR. So Jake would have a gun to use for deer hunt. Okay. 439 00:42:41,590 --> 00:42:47,509 Gotcha. So is it mostly deer hunting that you're doing, or are you hunting anything else? I do deer, 440 00:42:47,549 --> 00:42:53,698 rabbit. Squirrel, Turkey. Wow. You know, if I get a chance. 441 00:42:54,740 --> 00:43:01,659 I took about a ten year break in the last 2 or 3 years. I got back into it. Yeah, it. Was. Because 442 00:43:01,659 --> 00:43:06,539 of my stepson. Oh, okay. Good. So you got somebody that kind of pulled you back into it? Well, in all 443 00:43:06,540 --> 00:43:10,580 those years without venison in the fridge to. Right. Those will those will pull you back closer. 444 00:43:10,620 --> 00:43:16,419 No, I. Always got deer because Jake would shoot one every year and give it to me. So. Oh, okay. Good. So 445 00:43:16,419 --> 00:43:22,658 he kept you stuck? I always had. Yeah. And I, I mushroom hunt. Uh 446 00:43:23,780 --> 00:43:29,819 oh. You know, I say golf, just basically whatever I can do outdoors. I tried. To. Do. Yeah. Sounds like 447 00:43:29,820 --> 00:43:35,059 you're a real avid outdoorsman, Paul. That's that's great. I, I definitely got a huge amount of respect 448 00:43:35,060 --> 00:43:41,580 for that. You know, that was as much as I like golf now. Um, really, my childhood was kind of spent 449 00:43:41,580 --> 00:43:47,419 doing stuff like that. I was always out hunting with my dad. We did a lot of waterfowl hunting 450 00:43:47,419 --> 00:43:52,249 over where I was from. A lot of duck and goose hunting. You get into any of that? Yeah, I've done 451 00:43:52,249 --> 00:43:59,168 it a few times. I just don't care for the meat. Oh, you got to make pepperoni. Oh. Do you? I 452 00:43:59,169 --> 00:44:05,610 like duck. I just never. Did. Get into the geese, but. Duck. Yeah, I like duck. We I'm an 453 00:44:05,610 --> 00:44:12,449 avid. I like to cook, grill. Okay. So what, you you do any competitions there? I 454 00:44:12,449 --> 00:44:16,490 know sometimes you guys get grilling. Like to get out there and compete a little bit too. Are you, uh, 455 00:44:16,490 --> 00:44:23,090 are you competitive in the grill? My, no, I haven't got into that yet, but I do get into some 456 00:44:23,290 --> 00:44:30,050 chili cook offs and stuff like that. I haven't won yet, but it's still fun. 457 00:44:30,090 --> 00:44:36,968 It is all stuff I do. I do it for fun. I hear you, I hear you. Well, uh, 458 00:44:36,969 --> 00:44:40,769 Paul, I don't mean to brag here. I feel like I. I don't want to steal your thunder, but you are 459 00:44:40,769 --> 00:44:45,888 talking to a one time chili champ right now on the podcast. Oh, wow. Good. Yeah. Good. My, uh. My 460 00:44:45,929 --> 00:44:52,309 thunder from down Under. Tailgate Chile won the 2009 Bicoastal Media Chili Cookoff. I still have 461 00:44:52,310 --> 00:44:58,749 the award and I wear it proudly. Um, it's it's one of my biggest accomplishments, having an elk 462 00:44:58,749 --> 00:45:04,589 burger chili that everybody really likes to eat. So. Um, yeah, I. Can't go wrong. There. I mean, it 463 00:45:04,590 --> 00:45:09,629 sounds like you and I need to hang out. Golf, outdoors, activities and grilling. Man, I could get 464 00:45:09,629 --> 00:45:14,549 in on, I don't know. You know, uh, Bryan and Gerald have been pretty patient over there. Uh, is 465 00:45:14,550 --> 00:45:19,668 anything Paul is talking about here? Uh, Gerald got your got your fancy up you a grill or two by 466 00:45:19,669 --> 00:45:26,470 chance? Oh, dude, I love taking any opportunity I can to go outside, fire up the grill and 467 00:45:26,470 --> 00:45:33,309 throw the meat on there. Yeah. Favorite thing to grill? Uh. As of right now, 468 00:45:33,350 --> 00:45:39,270 I like smoking ribs. But, uh, this year, I'm going to go out and buy some brisket and try to smoke. Ooh. 469 00:45:39,309 --> 00:45:45,299 Brave man. Turns out brave man. I'm doing most of my grilling on the open fire. 470 00:45:45,699 --> 00:45:52,459 Really? Yeah. Rustic. I like. It. Yeah. Yeah. And what's your favorite thing? To cook up over an open fire. 471 00:45:52,499 --> 00:45:59,419 Paul. Uh, I'd say rib eye or ribs. Yeah, yeah. There's nothing like a rib 472 00:45:59,419 --> 00:46:04,899 eye over an open flame, man. I mean, the. Only thing. I swear to. Go. The only thing that stinks is that 473 00:46:04,899 --> 00:46:09,339 I can't get my head between that steak and the open flame to catch the juices running out of it. 474 00:46:09,379 --> 00:46:16,139 You know, that's exactly. That's the issue for sure. Bryan, how about you? Are you a you a griller at 475 00:46:16,139 --> 00:46:22,859 all? Oh, yeah. I'll, uh. I'll cook any way I can possibly make it happen. I'm, uh, if there's, 476 00:46:22,899 --> 00:46:27,220 uh. My favorite pastime is probably eating. So, you know, somebody's got to cook your food if you're 477 00:46:27,220 --> 00:46:34,019 going to eat on a regular basis. Me, too. Yes, sir. And. And that that jiu jitsu regimen will 478 00:46:34,020 --> 00:46:39,620 keep you eating, too, because you're spending a lot of time in the gym. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. You gotta get 479 00:46:39,620 --> 00:46:46,279 those calories back one way or another. Yeah. Name a truck driver that doesn't like to eat, and I'll 480 00:46:46,279 --> 00:46:53,279 go ahead and tell you you're lying. Yeah, right. I think I can eat my head. Yeah, we just gotta. Gotta 481 00:46:53,280 --> 00:46:58,398 make a little better decisions and all that gas station food. I can't do all that. No, no. I use it. I 482 00:46:58,399 --> 00:47:03,398 won't eat til I get home. I don't I don't think the guys on the mats would like all that gas from 483 00:47:03,399 --> 00:47:09,679 the gas station. Exactly. Amen to that. Amen to that. And. And Paul. No. No roller dogs for you. 484 00:47:11,439 --> 00:47:15,639 Well, you know, I could take one, but I'm going to need to go put it on one of your guys's smokers 485 00:47:15,639 --> 00:47:20,079 and flavor it up a little bit different than gas station flavor. That's the only thing, right? You 486 00:47:20,080 --> 00:47:26,399 gotta you gotta dress those things up a little bit. Well, uh, you know, Paul, I. I was thinking about 487 00:47:26,399 --> 00:47:32,079 it there. Um, you're home every night, right? So you can wait until you're, uh, until you're home to eat. 488 00:47:32,120 --> 00:47:39,119 Yeah. Yeah, I just got back to this route I'm on. Last week. I was running overnight. 489 00:47:39,439 --> 00:47:46,428 So when I'm on dispatch, Guys like Gary don't like it because I take 490 00:47:46,429 --> 00:47:53,269 the loads he wants. Okay. And you're calling. You're calling Gerald. Gary. Is that correct? 491 00:47:53,270 --> 00:47:59,389 I'm not. These aren't two different people. Yeah. That's what we call him. Gary. Okay, gotcha, gotcha. I 492 00:47:59,389 --> 00:48:03,229 wasn't sure there for when you first mentioned Gary. I thought, man, we got to get this Gary guy on. 493 00:48:03,229 --> 00:48:09,949 He sounds cool. We already got him. Uh. He's here. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, well, I like, 494 00:48:09,950 --> 00:48:16,789 take it Paul likes taking my loads. I like to run down, like. Like Tennessee and and 495 00:48:16,790 --> 00:48:22,469 stuff like that. Every time he goes, yep, I took that load. I'm like, you son of a gun. Yeah, man, I, 496 00:48:22,470 --> 00:48:26,749 I've given you a few different ways that you can distract him. All you got to do is say, hey, man, I 497 00:48:26,749 --> 00:48:30,709 saw a real big flathead in the channel on the way to work. You ought to stop and catch that thing. 498 00:48:30,909 --> 00:48:37,909 That's all you gotta do. But that burnout was real, right, Gary? Oh, absolutely. You know, you 499 00:48:37,949 --> 00:48:43,449 need a little change. Yeah. You live and learn. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Well, fellas, I got kind of an 500 00:48:43,449 --> 00:48:46,649 interesting question I want to ask you here because you guys have been talking a lot about 501 00:48:46,649 --> 00:48:52,849 the things that you like to do. And, uh, one thing that I notice about truck drivers is you guys 502 00:48:52,850 --> 00:48:58,049 have to own the job that you do. You guys kind of. Yeah, your personality will embody it. If somebody 503 00:48:58,050 --> 00:49:04,489 asks you, what do you do? You don't say, I drive truck. You say, I am a truck driver. And I 504 00:49:04,530 --> 00:49:10,569 wonder about. And Bryan, I'm going to start here with you because the jiu jitsu thing is, is so 505 00:49:10,569 --> 00:49:17,009 prevalent in your life, you dedicate so much time to it. Um, would you say that, uh, that 506 00:49:17,050 --> 00:49:22,449 trucking is something you do or something that you are? And I want you to do the same thing with 507 00:49:22,450 --> 00:49:29,289 jiu jitsu as jiu jitsu. Something you do or something that you are. Um, you know, I think they 508 00:49:29,290 --> 00:49:34,129 could both fall into a little bit of both categories. I mean, the career is always going to 509 00:49:34,129 --> 00:49:39,759 come first. That's how we pay the bills and get the free time to do the things we want to do. Um, 510 00:49:40,679 --> 00:49:47,519 I'd say I probably am, personality wise, more of a, um, a jiu jitsu 511 00:49:47,520 --> 00:49:52,919 grappler submission grappler. Um, just I mean, if you're if you've got free time and you're 512 00:49:52,919 --> 00:49:57,359 choosing to do something, I think that, uh, falls more in line with your character and your 513 00:49:57,360 --> 00:50:03,198 personality. Um, don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed holding that steering wheel. I'd say I'm 514 00:50:03,199 --> 00:50:10,159 more of a steering wheel holder than a truck driver. Um, uh, but, you know, I, I do 515 00:50:10,159 --> 00:50:15,320 that, so me and the family can do the things we want to do, and then that way I have the free time 516 00:50:15,320 --> 00:50:21,760 to to train. And it just, you know, it it more or less, even if I'm not competing because I've taken 517 00:50:21,760 --> 00:50:27,199 breaks from competing. Um, even though I've got quite a few competitions under my belt, I did take 518 00:50:27,239 --> 00:50:32,759 about a 6 or 7 month hiatus from competing. Um, just so I could get the nerves back when I do 519 00:50:32,800 --> 00:50:39,549 compete. Um, but it's it's more of a therapy. You know, I, uh, I believe as men 520 00:50:39,550 --> 00:50:44,189 and, you know, these guys, their hobbies aren't the easiest of hobbies either. I just feel like we 521 00:50:44,190 --> 00:50:51,030 gotta continue to challenge ourselves and doing the hard thing. Um, even if we're not 522 00:50:51,110 --> 00:50:56,389 the most, uh, communicative about, you know, what we might be going dealing with mentally or even 523 00:50:56,389 --> 00:51:01,668 emotionally, putting ourselves through the hard thing, uh, kind of centers us. Gives us a good 524 00:51:01,669 --> 00:51:06,389 release, gets rid of that toxic energy, and allows us to keep more moving forward with a good, humble 525 00:51:06,389 --> 00:51:12,030 attitude and keeping everybody around us going and happy. Boy, that's that's really well said. 526 00:51:12,070 --> 00:51:18,469 Bryan. I, I appreciate the, the sentiment there because, um, doing hard things that is that is 527 00:51:18,470 --> 00:51:23,669 definitely something that keeps our character high. And, uh, I will tell you right now, um, for 528 00:51:23,669 --> 00:51:29,789 those of you that are golfers that listen, that's why golf, I'm so bad at it. It's so hard to be good 529 00:51:29,789 --> 00:51:36,489 at it. And, uh, yeah, it's a challenge. Um, uh, Gerald, Gary, I'll come to you now. Uh, kind of the same 530 00:51:36,489 --> 00:51:43,409 thing for your hobbies. Are you a wrench turner? Are you a, uh, a gunsmith? Um. Are you a 531 00:51:43,409 --> 00:51:50,009 truck driver? Is this who you are, or is it just something that you do. The the gun sniffing thing 532 00:51:50,010 --> 00:51:55,889 that that's definitely, uh, that's just definitely more something I do. That's not who I am. Because 533 00:51:55,889 --> 00:52:02,849 it's actually been a hot minute since I've put together my last firearm. Just really haven't 534 00:52:02,849 --> 00:52:08,969 had a whole lot of time to time to do it and been dedicated, uh, dedicating some funds to some other 535 00:52:08,970 --> 00:52:15,889 stuff and, and, uh, yeah, it doesn't take me much time. Once I got everything, once I 536 00:52:15,889 --> 00:52:20,169 got everything to do, it takes me no time at all to put something together. But, um, it's just more 537 00:52:20,169 --> 00:52:26,689 along the lines of, I ain't got really a whole lot of, uh, dedicated my funds. Funds to other 538 00:52:26,689 --> 00:52:33,250 things. To where? Uh. They're a little bit higher on the priority list. Um, 539 00:52:34,000 --> 00:52:40,519 But I definitely can say I am a firefighter in EMT and I definitely am a truck driver because 540 00:52:40,639 --> 00:52:45,878 honestly, where else am I going to be able to make the kind of living that I'm used to? 541 00:52:48,080 --> 00:52:53,799 Outside of a truck? Because, I mean, I've looked into factory jobs and there is no factory job 542 00:52:53,800 --> 00:52:58,519 that I can even go apply for today and start tomorrow, where I'll be making the type of money 543 00:52:58,519 --> 00:53:04,199 that I'm currently making right now. Right. Exactly right. And then, you know, furthermore, if that's the 544 00:53:04,199 --> 00:53:08,359 case and you were to take a different job, you start working more hours at that job to make the 545 00:53:08,360 --> 00:53:12,080 extra money. All of a sudden you don't have the time to give back to your community as a 546 00:53:12,080 --> 00:53:18,918 volunteer firefighter anymore. Exactly. All right, Paul, on to you now, man. Same question. Are your 547 00:53:18,919 --> 00:53:25,359 hobbies something you do or somebody that you are? And same question about your job. Are you a truck 548 00:53:25,360 --> 00:53:31,359 driver? Is driving trucks something you do? No, I think I'm a truck driver because I really enjoy 549 00:53:31,360 --> 00:53:38,299 it. I look forward to, you know, coming to work every day because I enjoy it. Plus, you know, it 550 00:53:38,300 --> 00:53:45,019 gets me out of the house. But, uh, my hobbies, you know, the hunting, the fishing, golfing. 551 00:53:45,459 --> 00:53:50,979 I'd tell you, I, too, I am also because I take a lot of pride in it. Even though golfing, I'm not the 552 00:53:50,979 --> 00:53:57,979 greatest, but I enjoy it just like I do my job. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. And I 553 00:53:57,979 --> 00:54:03,020 know. It's hard to say you're anything other than an outdoorsman. When you have as many outdoor 554 00:54:03,020 --> 00:54:10,019 hobbies as you do. You just like to be outside in nature. Yeah. I mean, I can't, uh, you 555 00:54:10,019 --> 00:54:16,379 know, I could probably think of a few more things I dabble in, but, you know, those are the main 556 00:54:16,379 --> 00:54:23,100 things I do. Just like work. You know, I put in a lot of hours every week in five days. 557 00:54:23,260 --> 00:54:28,059 Yeah, it depends on how traffic falls. It usually right around 12. Averages out to about 12 hour a 558 00:54:28,060 --> 00:54:34,089 day. Got it. Well, uh, fellas, this has been an awesome conversation. And there's one thing that I 559 00:54:34,090 --> 00:54:40,569 want to say about my three guests today. Uh, I'll always be fully transparent here. We've had just 560 00:54:40,570 --> 00:54:47,049 nonstop technical difficulties today, and we still were able to get this episode cranked out. So, uh, 561 00:54:47,090 --> 00:54:53,209 Bryan, Gary, Paul, first and foremost, I want to thank you for your saint like patience today. Uh, 562 00:54:53,210 --> 00:54:57,649 with. Oh. You're welcome. I mean, you guys were all so gracious. We're happy to just sit on the phone 563 00:54:57,649 --> 00:55:03,168 and talk amongst yourselves. I promise you, if you could have heard my microphone in those, like, 5 to 564 00:55:03,169 --> 00:55:07,489 10 minutes and I was trying to fix things, you would have heard so many words that are not good 565 00:55:07,489 --> 00:55:14,289 for air. Um, I was really. Having. I was spinning out over here, guys, but you guys did awesome 566 00:55:14,290 --> 00:55:18,849 today. Um, and I just want to say thank you real quick before we get to the final thoughts for 567 00:55:18,889 --> 00:55:23,610 that patience. Uh, there's a lot that goes on on this podcast off the air that sometimes you guys 568 00:55:23,610 --> 00:55:28,570 don't hear. And I just want to let everybody know we're living it here. Okay, I will answer the 569 00:55:28,639 --> 00:55:35,399 question too. I am a broadcaster and good lord sometimes does it put the stress on me. So great 570 00:55:35,399 --> 00:55:40,559 to have. Yeah, great to have you guys here and just be so patient with me today. I can't thank you 571 00:55:40,559 --> 00:55:45,959 enough for that. Our Final Thoughts segment here on the show today, fellas. Uh, I'll explain it to 572 00:55:45,959 --> 00:55:50,519 you, Gary and Paul, since it's your first appearance here, we give you a segment here called 573 00:55:50,520 --> 00:55:54,959 Final Thoughts where you get to talk about anything you want. Now, if we left anything on the 574 00:55:54,959 --> 00:55:59,479 table here and you didn't get to bring it up during the recording, now's the time. If you want 575 00:55:59,480 --> 00:56:05,359 to give a shout out to friends, family, coworkers, now's the time. It's literally wide open for you 576 00:56:05,399 --> 00:56:11,159 guys to say whatever you want as we close out the segment. And since he's a vet now and he's done it, 577 00:56:11,159 --> 00:56:16,799 uh, I'm going to go to Bryan first with his final thoughts. Uh, Bryan Alexander, again, thank you so 578 00:56:16,799 --> 00:56:22,600 much for joining us today. Thank you for the Saint. Like patience. You guys were awesome. Yeah, 579 00:56:22,639 --> 00:56:28,019 absolutely. Man, I appreciate you having me back on. Um, it's always a good conversation. Get to know a 580 00:56:28,020 --> 00:56:34,899 couple other drivers. Uh, I, uh, I like the idea of the the golf outing with the with the 581 00:56:34,899 --> 00:56:38,739 team. That would be fun. As long as you don't judge me. The closer we get to the hole, I look real good 582 00:56:38,780 --> 00:56:45,378 off the tee box. But the closer we get, the, uh, the more of a dumpster fire it becomes. Um. That's just 583 00:56:45,379 --> 00:56:52,219 part of the game. Yes, sir. Oh, yeah. Absolutely, absolutely. Um, yeah. You know, I obviously want 584 00:56:52,219 --> 00:56:57,459 to give a shout out to the wife. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have built a hobby that I got that 585 00:56:57,500 --> 00:57:03,099 made you give me the call to hop on to the second podcast. So, um, big shout out to her and obviously 586 00:57:03,100 --> 00:57:09,940 the family for pushing me as well. Um, as always, big shout out to Bulk transit. If it wasn't for 587 00:57:09,940 --> 00:57:15,299 them giving me the opportunity, I also wouldn't be here. So, you know, uh, shout out to both of them and 588 00:57:15,300 --> 00:57:20,499 for you, for your own patience and fighting through the hard time you had today just getting 589 00:57:20,499 --> 00:57:25,459 through the end of the podcast. So. Oh, yeah. I appreciate you for having me on, Paul. Gary. Nice 590 00:57:25,459 --> 00:57:31,928 meeting you guys. Maybe meet. New. Maybe one day we'll actually meet in person, and. I'm sure we 591 00:57:31,929 --> 00:57:37,089 will. Other than that, uh, that's that's it. Appreciate you for having me on again. Hey, of 592 00:57:37,089 --> 00:57:41,729 course, Bryan, we appreciate you coming on. And and let me tell you something about the golf. They say 593 00:57:41,729 --> 00:57:46,688 drive for show, putt for dough. Nobody's been paying me to play golf all 30 years that I've 594 00:57:46,689 --> 00:57:51,129 been playing it. So that's all I do to just get distance off the tee. The rest of it will resolve 595 00:57:51,129 --> 00:57:57,769 itself. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm good till we get to the putt. And so I ain't never making no money. Hey man 596 00:57:57,769 --> 00:58:02,449 man. And as far as the issues I dealt with today compared to what Paul's dealt with, you could call 597 00:58:02,490 --> 00:58:08,289 me soft hands ten times over and it. Still wouldn't do it justice. Uh, but. Again, I appreciate 598 00:58:08,289 --> 00:58:12,929 your patience, Bryan. You're always welcome, just like all you drivers are. Thank you so much for 599 00:58:12,929 --> 00:58:18,529 joining us today. Uh, Gary, we're going to go to you next. Final thoughts from you. First of all, thank 600 00:58:18,529 --> 00:58:23,928 you so much for making your first appearance here. Thank you for reaching out to me. Um, I promise 601 00:58:23,929 --> 00:58:28,869 I'll make it painless. If you guys are wondering how the process goes. Reaching out to Gary here 602 00:58:28,869 --> 00:58:34,229 and asking him how the whole thing came together is a good start for you. It's real simple. Send me 603 00:58:34,229 --> 00:58:40,228 a message you'll get on the podcast. Uh, one and one equals two. Right, Gary? Oh, 604 00:58:40,269 --> 00:58:46,309 absolutely. Finally, I want to thank. Oh, I. Want to thank you again for allowing me to come on the 605 00:58:46,309 --> 00:58:52,469 podcast and, uh, get to say a little bit about what I do away from work, because what I do here at 606 00:58:52,469 --> 00:58:57,269 work, everyone else does, too. I load trailers and I unload trailers, I get them, I get them where they 607 00:58:57,269 --> 00:59:04,149 need to go. So the steering wheel. Yeah. And hold that steering wheel. But, uh, 608 00:59:04,310 --> 00:59:11,229 honestly. Final thought. Hey, Brad, uh, can you get us a manual transmission again? And then 609 00:59:11,229 --> 00:59:18,109 we wouldn't. Be steering wheel. Holders? I'll just. I do miss thing in gears, man. So, uh, but, 610 00:59:18,110 --> 00:59:23,300 uh, no, I, I gotta give a huge shout out to Brad, Bryan and Andrea because like I said, when I left 611 00:59:23,300 --> 00:59:28,698 back in 21 and then came back towards the towards the latter portions of 22, they welcomed me back 612 00:59:28,699 --> 00:59:34,779 with open arms. Man. It was it was a nice feeling. And, uh, I gotta give a shout out to my terminal 613 00:59:34,779 --> 00:59:39,619 manager, Jason Schaffner. I know, I know, he's probably not listening to this because he's not a 614 00:59:39,620 --> 00:59:44,819 big podcast guy, but I gotta I gotta throw a little spotlight on him. He worked his tail off in 615 00:59:44,820 --> 00:59:49,739 the office to make sure that we got plenty of work to do. So we're not just sitting at home, and 616 00:59:49,740 --> 00:59:56,259 that's why a lot of drivers, they'll be like, man, Sydney Terminal's got so much work and. Because of 617 00:59:56,260 --> 01:00:02,980 Jason. Jason works his tail off to make sure that we don't sit. So I gotta give a huge shout out to 618 01:00:02,980 --> 01:00:08,739 him. We benefited that sometimes in Fairborn. Oh, absolutely. You guys have come out and helped us 619 01:00:08,739 --> 01:00:14,859 out when we were, when we were, when Jason bite off a little bit more than he can chew. And he does 620 01:00:14,860 --> 01:00:20,419 that quite often. Well, he knows he's got a good line of truckers waiting there to take his load, 621 01:00:20,419 --> 01:00:25,489 so he's going to bite off a big bite, man, I'm sure, and shout out to him. And I'm glad you brought 622 01:00:25,490 --> 01:00:29,409 that up, Gary, because, you know, we've talked to some terminal managers here on the show, but we 623 01:00:29,409 --> 01:00:33,009 haven't gotten through all of them yet. And I love to give them a shout out because I know they're 624 01:00:33,009 --> 01:00:39,929 out there working their tail off. Yep. Yep. He's he's he's a he's a good manager. He when he 625 01:00:39,930 --> 01:00:46,289 stepped into the management role up four years ago Paul. Yeah 45 years ago. 626 01:00:47,290 --> 01:00:53,009 Honestly if he if he if he decides he wants to go further in the company besides terminal manager, I 627 01:00:53,009 --> 01:00:59,769 think I think he'd be, uh, I think he'd be one of those, uh, battling Bill spring for his job because 628 01:00:59,769 --> 01:01:05,889 he's just a natural failure. I don't think it'd be much of a battle, but. Well. 629 01:01:07,489 --> 01:01:14,408 Jason is. Jason is a salesman. He did it for years, you know? 630 01:01:14,490 --> 01:01:21,349 So he fits good as a terminal man. Copy that. Well, big shout out to him. Uh, and I'll say this to 631 01:01:21,350 --> 01:01:25,549 you. Thanks for, uh, thanks for letting your drivers come on the show. Man, I, I know nobody's going to 632 01:01:25,550 --> 01:01:30,749 stand in the way of that, but I appreciate it greatly. And, uh, and, Paul, uh, we're coming to you 633 01:01:30,790 --> 01:01:35,229 last here for your final thoughts, my friend. Uh, great job today. Thank you so much for wanting to 634 01:01:35,230 --> 01:01:39,989 be involved in this episode. Oh, yeah. Uh, final thoughts from you before we let you get back to 635 01:01:39,990 --> 01:01:46,869 it. Well, I just want to say thanks for having me on the show. Uh, give a shout out to my wife for 636 01:01:46,870 --> 01:01:53,709 putting up with these long, hours, long days. And I don't get us there a whole lot. But she 637 01:01:53,710 --> 01:02:00,590 knows why I do it. And I want to give a shout out to a few drivers 638 01:02:00,670 --> 01:02:07,069 that I talk with every day, which is Gary. Uh, Josh? Dylan, 639 01:02:07,110 --> 01:02:13,428 Dawson. You know what? For them guys, we get bored. You know, we talk, 640 01:02:14,790 --> 01:02:21,739 you know, pretty much all day long. You know, we go. We'll have 4 or 5 of us on a call and we just all 641 01:02:21,739 --> 01:02:28,459 shoot shit, pick at each other. You know, just have fun. Just a nice. Time. Go by. Yep. 642 01:02:28,499 --> 01:02:34,620 Absolutely. Four and a half, 5.5 hour drives seem like it only takes a half hour. 643 01:02:35,019 --> 01:02:41,819 Absolutely. Well, you know, I. Have a shout out to Bulk transit also, you know, for, you know, 644 01:02:41,860 --> 01:02:48,539 giving all of us the opportunity to do what we do and, you know, make the money we need to make 645 01:02:48,580 --> 01:02:55,499 to make a living. Well said there, Paul, and I'll tell you what. Call those names out one more time, 646 01:02:55,499 --> 01:03:00,979 because I want those guys on the show, too. And, uh, there. They got. Josh Hall, 647 01:03:02,540 --> 01:03:09,259 Dylan Hensley, uh. Awesome pants. Awesome pants. 648 01:03:10,100 --> 01:03:16,519 You already got me and Gary on here, so. Okay, well, that's a start. You've had Ron 649 01:03:16,559 --> 01:03:23,279 Thompson on there, too? Yeah. Ron, help him every day. Yes, sir. He calls me 2 or 3 times a 650 01:03:23,280 --> 01:03:29,639 day. Awesome. Well, we'll get him on here. Especially now that you guys are on here calling him out. And 651 01:03:29,640 --> 01:03:35,199 before we put the brakes on this segment, um, Gary, I want to give you a chance here for just a 652 01:03:35,199 --> 01:03:41,679 little bit of reprieve. Bryan and, uh, and Paul both gave a shout out to their wife. I don't want you 653 01:03:41,679 --> 01:03:46,959 to be the only guy that doesn't give your wife a shout out here. Out of the three of you. Yeah, I 654 01:03:46,959 --> 01:03:53,119 gotta give my wife a shout out. Geez. She, uh, she just got off work now, and she's on her way to go 655 01:03:53,119 --> 01:03:59,839 pick up the pick up the kid, and and, uh. Yeah, my my daughter is going to be turning two 656 01:03:59,879 --> 01:04:06,719 here in, uh, in about two months, so. Wow. Congratulations, man. That's awesome. Well. I can put 657 01:04:07,360 --> 01:04:12,359 you put up with the long hours and taking care of the kid by herself a lot. And if it wasn't for 658 01:04:12,399 --> 01:04:17,949 that, then I. If she wasn't willing to do it, then I definitely would not have stayed here as long as 659 01:04:17,949 --> 01:04:22,869 I have. So. Amen. Well, now she can listen to this episode and you won't be in hot water later. Okay. 660 01:04:22,909 --> 01:04:28,470 That's that was the whole point of that. Giving. You a chance. I wanted to. I wanted to tell you 661 01:04:28,470 --> 01:04:35,429 I've known Jason for over 45 years. Wow. Terminal 662 01:04:35,429 --> 01:04:42,269 manager. That's a that's wild. Paul. That's so cool. We played against each other in high school. In 663 01:04:42,269 --> 01:04:49,190 sports. Who's who was better? I was, yes. Yep. You got to. Take the 664 01:04:49,190 --> 01:04:54,429 chance. He's not here to defend him. I have a rebuttal. To that one. So we might have to get 665 01:04:54,430 --> 01:05:00,388 Jason on the show. Yes, sir. We could talk high school sports glory days. I love that episode. Idea, 666 01:05:00,429 --> 01:05:06,350 man. That sounds like a good one. If you ever talk to Jason, call him frog. Frog? You got it. I'm 667 01:05:06,350 --> 01:05:11,389 writing it down right now. Is that going. To get. Me in hot water? That might get me, but. 668 01:05:13,820 --> 01:05:18,819 His new name in high school. Okay, it may not. It may not get you in as much hot water. If you talk 669 01:05:18,820 --> 01:05:24,499 to Joe Clark and call him Freddy. Okay, well, I, I feel like you guys are setting me up to fail here. 670 01:05:24,500 --> 01:05:29,299 I haven't met these people yet, so you gotta give me a little bit of, uh, advice here before I go 671 01:05:29,300 --> 01:05:35,939 running my mouth, because everybody knows I can do that. Jason, who told you? As soon as you say 672 01:05:35,979 --> 01:05:40,659 frog to him. Okay. All right. Good to know. Good to know. Well, sounds like you're getting your route 673 01:05:40,660 --> 01:05:47,220 back. Oh, man. Hey. 674 01:05:47,699 --> 01:05:54,459 We're running this round. I got a brand new trailer, and so I'm stuck on it. 675 01:05:54,499 --> 01:06:00,738 Uh, it sounds like you're. It sounds like you're happy, man. Well, listen, Paul. I. Am Paul. Gary. Bryan, 676 01:06:00,739 --> 01:06:05,939 you guys did awesome today, and, uh, you're welcome back anytime. Please look me up. You've all got my 677 01:06:05,940 --> 01:06:10,139 phone number. Now hit me right in the pocket. If you want to come back on this show, we will 678 01:06:10,139 --> 01:06:15,959 definitely make space for you. Uh, please be safe out there doing the job, fellas. And, uh, thank you 679 01:06:15,959 --> 01:06:20,559 again for such an awesome conversation. We'll talk to you all soon, okay? All right. Thank you. 680 01:06:20,600 --> 01:06:21,959 Appreciate y'all. Marcus. 681 01:06:30,199 --> 01:06:37,199 Paul Francis. Gary Cress and Bryan Alexander. Fantastic stuff from them. That was a lot 682 01:06:37,199 --> 01:06:44,199 of fun, man. One of the best parts about this podcast is that I get to meet new people. I let 683 01:06:44,200 --> 01:06:49,718 me stop and back that up a little bit. One of the best parts about it for me, um, if I can be so 684 01:06:49,719 --> 01:06:55,599 self-indulgent, is to say that I get to meet new people and develop relationships every single day 685 01:06:55,600 --> 01:07:00,359 when we have new people. Join the podcast. Uh, new people reaching out to me, asking me what we're 686 01:07:00,359 --> 01:07:04,799 talking about, asking if they can come on suggesting topics. That's what this whole thing is 687 01:07:04,800 --> 01:07:11,149 all about. Listen, Bulk and Spur have a fantastic culture and you can tell. Just listen to the guys 688 01:07:11,150 --> 01:07:17,149 talk. I mean, Gary and Paul are on the phone all day, every day, um, and with a multitude of other 689 01:07:17,149 --> 01:07:23,988 drivers as well. Um, it's it's really cool to just get new drivers on, build a bit of a relationship. 690 01:07:24,029 --> 01:07:29,829 Welcome an older driver back that's been with us before on the show. And Bryan and, uh, always have a 691 01:07:29,829 --> 01:07:36,429 great conversation with him. Man, I really enjoy just kind of making friends, like I. You wouldn't 692 01:07:36,429 --> 01:07:41,350 guess if you caught me out at a at a bar or your local pizza place or an arcade or something like 693 01:07:41,350 --> 01:07:48,349 that. I'm not. Johnny, walk up and shake your hand. I just, you know, it's I'm. I'm here for me right now. 694 01:07:48,629 --> 01:07:54,949 I'm here for you during this podcasting thing. And that means that I can't wait to meet every single 695 01:07:54,949 --> 01:08:00,669 one of you and welcome you to the show. Here. Uh, I want you if you know Paul, if you know Gary, if you 696 01:08:00,669 --> 01:08:05,189 know Bryan, reach out to him and ask him a little bit about the experience of coming on. Always 697 01:08:05,189 --> 01:08:10,609 pneumatic, never static. Uh, because we have a lot of fun in here and today's episode is no 698 01:08:10,610 --> 01:08:15,489 exception. It's really cool to hear about some of the stuff that these guys do. Being such a 699 01:08:15,490 --> 01:08:21,529 hobbyist myself, being a guy that likes to get into all sorts of different things to spend and 700 01:08:21,529 --> 01:08:28,369 or waste my time, and that's on me. Uh, it's what I feel like gives value to 701 01:08:28,410 --> 01:08:35,329 life. You know, I am not like a lot of people my age. I am 41, I don't have any kids. My wife and I 702 01:08:35,330 --> 01:08:41,729 will not be having kids. And so we have more free time inherently to devote to our hobbies. 703 01:08:41,729 --> 01:08:48,528 And, uh, I just I gotta tell you, it's what makes life so vibrant for me. It's one of the things 704 01:08:48,529 --> 01:08:54,809 that makes me feel alive. If I go out there on the golf course later today, which I already told you 705 01:08:54,810 --> 01:08:59,929 I'm doing, it's already on the calendar. There's nothing you can do about it to take it off. All I 706 01:08:59,930 --> 01:09:06,679 have to do in 18 holes is hit one good shot. That's it. Just one good shot. And I'm not talking 707 01:09:06,680 --> 01:09:13,519 good. I'm talking one pro-level shot and I might only find one. Okay. Even a blind squirrel finds a 708 01:09:13,520 --> 01:09:18,679 nut once in a while so it can happen out there. I might not find one. Fact of the matter is, I'm 709 01:09:18,680 --> 01:09:23,679 gonna feel alive when I'm out there, and I'm gonna feel full. I'm gonna have a full heart when I come 710 01:09:23,680 --> 01:09:28,279 back and put the clubs back in the garage. And that's what having a hobby is all about. You heard 711 01:09:28,279 --> 01:09:34,319 it from each one of these guys, Bryan. He's a competitor. He's a coach. He's wanting to pass that 712 01:09:34,320 --> 01:09:39,519 knowledge down to the next generation. And you heard him say, the real fulfilling part is having 713 01:09:39,519 --> 01:09:43,918 somebody come up and say, hey, I hit that move. You taught me on somebody the other day, or I hit it 714 01:09:43,919 --> 01:09:49,199 in the competition. Man, I totally get how that would make him feel, because I've been that person 715 01:09:49,200 --> 01:09:54,839 that's walked up to a coach and said that before. Um, and not only that, but jiu jitsu, that's that's 716 01:09:54,839 --> 01:10:00,639 no soft sport. Okay? You get your arm broken. You heard him say he took a knee to the eye. He's got 717 01:10:00,640 --> 01:10:06,659 a shiner. Um, it's a tough sports, challenging. And I think it's really cool to see somebody dedicate 718 01:10:06,659 --> 01:10:11,419 themselves so much to it that not only they're out there competing and competing very 719 01:10:11,419 --> 01:10:16,180 effectively, but they're out there teaching the next generation how to do it the right way. And we 720 01:10:16,180 --> 01:10:22,699 move on to Gary, volunteer firefighter and EMS. Man, I told you guys got a huge soft spot, a soft spot 721 01:10:22,700 --> 01:10:29,418 in my heart for volunteer firefighters. And to hear somebody that's as dedicated as Gary 722 01:10:29,419 --> 01:10:35,619 is to it, that's one thing that you have to you really have to hone in on to realize that if you 723 01:10:35,660 --> 01:10:41,940 can't be like that in that position, I don't even know if I want you as a volunteer firefighter, 724 01:10:41,940 --> 01:10:48,299 because everybody that I know that's a volunteer firefighter, Gary included, will talk about it like 725 01:10:48,299 --> 01:10:52,659 Gary just did. It's a way to give back to the community. It's a way to help protect the 726 01:10:52,660 --> 01:10:57,660 community. It's a way to help people feel safe. And these small communities that don't have big 727 01:10:57,660 --> 01:11:03,809 firehouses, they need the volunteers, and they need guys like Gary to step up, do the job effectively. 728 01:11:03,810 --> 01:11:10,088 24 years as a volunteer firefighter is nothing to scoff about. Let me ask everybody out there 729 01:11:10,089 --> 01:11:16,729 listening. Is there anything that you can think of that you have volunteered for for 24 years? How 730 01:11:16,729 --> 01:11:22,049 about this? Is there anything you can think of that you volunteered for for 2 or 4 years? Uh, 731 01:11:22,049 --> 01:11:27,609 because this guy can't. I'm not that good of a person. Not as much as Gary, anyway. Uh, 24 years of 732 01:11:27,610 --> 01:11:34,289 volunteer firefighter big ups to him. And, uh, and thank you from the podcast, the entire community 733 01:11:34,290 --> 01:11:38,930 and, and volunteer fire firefighters everywhere. I don't speak for him, but I know that they 734 01:11:38,930 --> 01:11:45,569 appreciate a guy like Gary, uh, in the golf game, too. Man, I know the struggle. Okay, we've we've 735 01:11:45,609 --> 01:11:49,849 talked about it, um, turning wrenches on the S10. I hope you never have to pull the engine out of 736 01:11:49,890 --> 01:11:55,849 that thing. Uh, God bless you and godspeed if you ever decide to. Gary and Paul. Paul was great to 737 01:11:55,849 --> 01:12:01,008 have on, man. You can tell Paul loves his time outdoors. You get that guy with a fishing rod in 738 01:12:01,009 --> 01:12:06,279 his hand and he is happy. Now, I've talked to a lot of truck drivers over the time that I've spent 739 01:12:06,279 --> 01:12:13,240 making podcasts for them, and I know multiple OTR guys that keep a fishing pole and a 740 01:12:13,240 --> 01:12:18,798 tackle box on the truck, because sometimes they stop at a place and there's a little pond over 741 01:12:18,799 --> 01:12:23,039 there, there's a little stream or a little river, and they can just walk right from the parking 742 01:12:23,040 --> 01:12:29,079 spot, drop a line in the water, and feel all that stress melt away from the day. Um, it's a cool 743 01:12:29,120 --> 01:12:33,919 hobby. And to turn it into a bit of a competition, maybe win a few shekels here and there. Sounds 744 01:12:33,919 --> 01:12:39,039 like Paul's got it figured out. If you want to know a good cat fishing spot, don't ask Paul 745 01:12:39,079 --> 01:12:43,279 because I'm sure he's not sharing them with you. If he's done it for as long and been as 746 01:12:43,279 --> 01:12:48,919 successful as he is, you're lucky he even named the lakes that he goes out to. Uh, but maybe you 747 01:12:48,919 --> 01:12:54,240 get lucky and catch him out there and can get some tips from him on exactly how to land the big 748 01:12:54,240 --> 01:12:59,439 ones. Um, and just all the other outdoor stuff that he did. I can really resonate with that because, 749 01:12:59,480 --> 01:13:06,339 you know, grew up as as a hunter. Um, I'll be honest with you. Not as as accomplished 750 01:13:06,340 --> 01:13:12,418 of a fisherman as I am a hunter. In fact, not an accomplished fisherman at all. Um, really always 751 01:13:12,419 --> 01:13:17,418 had bad luck with fish. The only steelhead I ever caught and fought for, like, a half an hour on the 752 01:13:17,419 --> 01:13:22,220 Grand Ronde River was like a four foot long stick, and it just kept getting snagged on the bottom 753 01:13:22,220 --> 01:13:27,739 and making me feel like I had the anchor on. I'm not that good at it. But again, like I said, in golf, 754 01:13:27,740 --> 01:13:33,579 even a blind squirrel finds a nut. I did catch that big catfish on a six foot crappie lead. So we 755 01:13:33,580 --> 01:13:39,379 all have our stories. This is what hobbies do. They enrich us as people. We have more to talk about. 756 01:13:39,419 --> 01:13:44,939 We're happier because we got to spend time doing what we wanted. This will not be the last off time 757 01:13:44,939 --> 01:13:49,859 hobbies episode that we do here on Always pneumatic, never static. I know there's drivers out 758 01:13:49,860 --> 01:13:54,539 there listening to this right now who are thinking, man, if they could only hear what it is 759 01:13:54,540 --> 01:14:00,089 that I get into when the door shuts, I would love to give us a call. Get online 760 01:14:00,089 --> 01:14:06,729 podcast.bulktransit.com. Send me an email. I want to make it happen. Okay, I'm more than happy to welcome 761 01:14:06,729 --> 01:14:12,729 anybody that wants to come on this show. All you got to do is get in touch with me or get in touch 762 01:14:12,730 --> 01:14:18,209 with your terminal manager. They can help you, too. Man, it's been a long day. I want to also thank 763 01:14:18,210 --> 01:14:24,889 Bryan, Paul and Gary. One more time. I was not lying to you when I said there were some technical 764 01:14:24,890 --> 01:14:30,969 difficulties in this episode. Um, I have a hat on right now, so you can't see that my hairline has 765 01:14:30,970 --> 01:14:36,809 receded. Probably a good three inches since the beginning of the recording of this episode, but we 766 01:14:36,810 --> 01:14:41,169 were able to pull it off, and the main reason we were able to pull it off is because we had three 767 01:14:41,169 --> 01:14:45,369 guys on the air that were super patient with me. They chatted amongst themselves and had a great 768 01:14:45,370 --> 01:14:51,569 conversation while I was running around like a Tasmanian devil, pulling out plugs and restarting 769 01:14:51,569 --> 01:14:56,410 computers and kicking things. And eventually everything worked. And thank God we got a full 770 01:14:56,470 --> 01:15:01,669 episode out of it, but hats off to my guys today. Bryan. Paul, Gary. Thank you guys so much for the 771 01:15:01,669 --> 01:15:06,949 patience. Thank you for the awesome content. This was a great episode. We will do more just like 772 01:15:06,950 --> 01:15:11,789 this one. All you got to do is reach out to me, tell me you're interested and we will put it 773 01:15:11,789 --> 01:15:17,189 together. Uh, thanks again to everybody that clicked download today. You guys are the reason we 774 01:15:17,190 --> 01:15:23,349 do this. The podcast is for you, Bulk and Spur. So let us know what you want to hear on the next 775 01:15:23,350 --> 01:15:29,029 episode of Always Pneumatic, Never Static. Thanks again to Bryan, Paul and Gary. We'll see you guys 776 01:15:29,029 --> 01:15:35,269 all next week for another episode. 5 a.m. local time. Always pneumatic, never static. Signing off. 777 01:15:36,470 --> 01:15:42,269 And that's all she blows for today's episode of Always Pneumatic, never Static. Your number one and 778 01:15:42,269 --> 01:15:48,189 probably only Pneumatic Trucking podcast, brought to you by Bulk Transit. Thanks for rolling with us 779 01:15:48,189 --> 01:15:52,989 today. Till next time, stay safe, keep those lines clear and keep it pumping.