The Cypress Truck Lines Podcast

Every driver who comes through Cypress orientation has one job: prove they are ready. Randy Wells and Blaine Carver have seen hundreds of drivers walk through that door, and they can tell almost immediately who will succeed and who will not. In Episode 18 of the Cypress Truck Lines Podcast, Marcus sits down with the two men who built Cypress's orientation program into one of the most respected driver development processes. Randy and Blaine are no-nonsense. They do not sugarcoat, and they do not hold back. You will learn what new CDL holders get wrong before they ever climb into a truck, what the orientation team at Cypress wishes every driver knew walking in, and what the drivers who go on to build long, successful careers at Cypress have in common from day one. This episode is for drivers in CTC right now, drivers heading into Cypress orientation, and anyone who wants to understand what separates the drivers who thrive from those who do not make it. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Subscribe now and come prepared.

The Life360 app started as a simple way for OTR drivers to keep tabs on each other out on the road. What it became for Tony Miller, Kevin Barritt, and Adolf Metzer is something a lot bigger than that. In Episode 17 of the Cypress Truck Lines Podcast, Kevin reached out after Tony mentioned the app in a previous episode because he wanted the world to know just how much it has meant to him and the drivers around him. What followed is one of the most genuine conversations we have had on this show. Tony, Kevin, and retired Cypress driver Adolf Metzer walk you through the tips, tricks, and real-world experiences that have made Life360 one of the most essential tools in the OTR driver safety belt. They talk about the camaraderie it builds among Cypress and Sun Belt drivers out on the road, the friendships that have grown from it, and the peace of mind it gives to the families waiting at home. And then Adolf tells a story. It is heavy. It puts everything into perspective. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Subscribe now and keep your circle close out there. 

Living out of a car. Down to your last $100. Borrowing money from friends and family just to get through the week. For some people, that's rock bottom. For three Cypress Truck Lines drivers, it was the beginning of something they never saw coming. In Episode 16 of the Cypress Truck Lines Podcast, Trevis Gary, Mateo Van Holten, and James Yoder share the kind of stories that don't get told enough in this industry. Where they were before they found trucking. What it took to get here. And what building a career with Cypress has meant for their lives and the people they love. These are not polished-up success stories. There is real heartache in this episode and real grit. But there is also real hope. The kind that comes from watching somebody who had nothing figure out exactly what they were capable of when they found the right road and the right company to drive it for. If you have ever felt like your back was against the wall, this episode was made for you. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Subscribe now and never miss a mile.

Lease purchase programs promise freedom, ownership, and the big money. What they don't tell you is what's waiting on the other side of that signature. In Episode 15 of the Cypress Truck Lines Podcast, three Cypress drivers who have seen the owner/operator life up close share what nobody tells you before you make the leap. One driver left Cypress for seven years to chase the O/O dream and came back with a story that will make you think twice. Another watched his brothers navigate trucking authority, insurance, maintenance costs, and the kind of breakdowns that don't just stop your truck, they stop your income. And a third didn't file his taxes for two years as an O/O and found himself staring down a $160,000 IRS bill. Knowing the difference between those outcomes is exactly why this episode exists. You also hear directly from Cypress leadership on why Cypress doesn't offer a lease purchase program and what that decision says about how they treat their drivers. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Subscribe now and never make a six-figure mistake without doing your homework first.

Sasquatch. Cryptids. A black dog so terrifying it stopped a truck dead in its tracks. Episode 14 of the Cypress Truck Lines Podcast ventures into territory we've never explored before, and honestly, we're not sure we're coming back. Cypress driver Steve "Gibby" Gibson sits down with Marcus to share his real-life encounter with what he firmly believes was a Bigfoot or some other cryptid out on the road. Gibby details everything. What he saw, what to watch for, and why he has no doubt about what happened that night. Afterwards, we welcome Drew Hearn, a professional truck driver who recounts his own frightening paranormal experience with a black dog that literally brought him to a halt on the highway. Two drivers. Two stories. Zero explanations. If you've ever felt like something was watching you out there on a dark stretch of road at 2 a.m., this episode is going to hit differently. The open road has always held its mysteries, and the drivers who log the most miles see things the rest of us never will. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Subscribe now and keep your eyes open out there.

OTR, Regional, or Local, it's the question every new CDL holder asks, and almost nobody answers straight, until now. In Episode 13 of the Cypress Truck Lines Podcast, we brought in three Cypress drivers who live in each lane every single day to break it down for you the right way. Kevin Barritt runs OTR. Brad Hollinger runs Local. John Weideman runs Regional. Together, they walk you through schedules, home time, earning potential, the biggest challenges in each lane, and most importantly, what drove each of them to choose the path they're on. This is the episode that drivers finishing up at Cypress Trucking College need before orientation even starts, and it's essential listening for anyone who's CDL-curious and trying to figure out where flatbed trucking fits into their life. The first 90 days behind the wheel look very different depending on which lane you choose, knowing that going in changes everything. Whether you're eyeing the open road or trying to be home every night, this conversation gives you the insider information to make the right call for you. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Subscribe now and never miss a mile.

What does it take to walk away from a 25-year career and start completely over? For Tony Miller, it took a CDL, two sons willing to make the leap alongside him, and a flatbed trucking company that felt like family from day one. In Episode 12 of the Cypress Truck Lines Podcast, Tony shares one of the most unique stories we've had on the show, a feel-good journey from Regional Bank Manager to professional flatbed driver and trainer at Cypress Truck Lines. Tony talks candidly about what made him leave the banking world behind, what CDL school was really like as a career changer, and how a Cypress team member named Pam from Safety stepped up and solved a major problem for him right at the start. If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to make a move, or if a trucking career could work for someone like you, Tony's story answers that question better than we ever could. This is what Sun Belt trucking looks like when a company genuinely takes care of its people. New episodes drop every week. Subscribe now and never miss a mile.

Hair follicle drug screening, the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, and random drug tests. In Episode 11 of the Cypress Truck Lines Podcast, we sit down with Joe Reilly, founder of National Drug Screening Inc. and a recognized expert witness in the field, to break down everything drivers and fleet operators need to know about modern drug testing. We're talking test types, look-back periods, how each screen works, and frankly, how well they can or can't be beaten. Then, Cypress Truck Lines Safety Director Sharee DeHart steps in to bring it home, explaining exactly why Cypress uses the hair follicle test, what the company’s drug screening policy looks like from the inside, and sharing a few cautionary tales that every driver needs to hear. Your CDL is your livelihood, and this is the episode every driver wishes they’d heard before it was too late. New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe now and stay ahead of what the road demands.

Two countries. Two journeys. One home at Cypress Truck Lines. In Episode 10, we sit down with Abdul Waheed, a former lawyer and U.S. Government contractor in Afghanistan who traded courtrooms for load boards, and Tyler Goodwin, a flatbed driver who hopped over from Manchester, England, at just 15 years old, only to discover his high school diploma meant four more years of American classrooms. These aren't just immigrant trucking stories. They're proof that the Sun Belt trucking industry has a place for people willing to work hard, no matter where they started. We dig into the real challenges of starting over in a new country, building a career in flatbed trucking, and why both Abdul and Tyler have stuck around for the long haul at Cypress Truck Lines. If you've ever felt like an outsider trying to find your footing in this industry, this episode delivers. New episodes drop regularly, packed with real voices from the cab, the office, and everywhere in between. Hit follow and join the Cypress community. Your next chapter might start right here.

MirrorEye cameras and SMARTdrive systems are becoming more common on trucks each year, but what is it really like to drive with them? In Episode 9 of the Cypress Truck Lines Podcast, we hear honest insights from two drivers who have experienced it firsthand. Angel Escoto and Kevin Barritt, both drivers and trainers at Cypress, share their real-world experiences with driver-facing cameras and advanced driver assistance systems: the adjustment period, the genuine safety wins, the frustrations, and everything in between. No corporate spin, just cab-level honesty from guys who have logged the miles with this tech. Then, Tech Director Shannon Brougham flips the lens, sharing what it's like to select drivers as test pilots for emerging trucking tech before it’s rolled out fleet-wide. New episodes are released weekly. Subscribe now so you never miss a mile.

Low Country Loading Service doesn't just load flatbeds; they make or break your run before you ever leave the yard. In this episode of the Cypress Truck Lines Podcast, we sit down with all four Low Country Managers, Juan Perez, Michael Mena, Michael Allen, and Martin Olphert, covering operations out of Palatka, Wilmington, Apollo, and Jacksonville. These guys live on the dock, and they're sharing everything you need to know about proper tarping techniques, secured versus unsecured loads, how wallboard gets staged, and the do's and don'ts that every flatbed driver needs to hear straight from the source. Drivers, here's your chance to understand what the loading crew needs from you and exactly how they'll have your back in return. Hit play. You won't want to miss this one.

What does it take to go from zero to flatbed driver at one of the Sun Belt's most trusted trucking companies? In Episode 7 of the Cypress Truck Lines Podcast, we're going straight to the source on Cypress CDL School. Ken Coderre and Lawrence Jones, the Director and lead instructor who are the heartbeat of Cypress CDL School, walk us through the entire process from the inside. We're talking orientation, first week out, the trainer-trainee relationship, OTR vs. local vs. regional routes, and what makes Cypress CDL School's FMCSA-compliant program stand apart with a 99% pass rate that leaves the Federal Standard in the dust. If you've ever wondered whether you have what it takes, or whether Cypress is the right home for your driving career, Ken and Lawrence answer every question you didn't know to ask. Trust the process; it works. Hit play and find out why. Ready to level up your trucking career? Hit subscribe and join the Cypress community.

Ever wonder what truly occurs between a truck driver trainer and trainee during those first crucial weeks? This episode puts the entire driver training process at Cypress Truck Lines under a microscope. Join us as we sit down with three experienced trainers, Angel Escoto, Ryan Widgery, and Jimmie Henry, who collectively share decades of real-world training wisdom. You'll discover what separates successful trainees from those who struggle, how to prepare for orientation and your first week out, and why "The Cypress Way" philosophy creates safer, more confident professional drivers. If you're a new CDL holder weighing career options, an owner-operator considering Sun Belt Trucking opportunities, a fleet executive refining training programs, or a retired driver thinking about returning to flatbed work, this conversation delivers insider knowledge you won't find in any manual. Our trainers share honest stories about regional and OTR challenges, trainee preparation mistakes, and the personalized approach that sets Cypress apart. Ready to level up your trucking career? Hit subscribe and join the Cypress community.

In this episode of the Cypress Truck Lines Podcast, we sit down with Debbie Master, Plant Manager at CertainTeed's Palatka gypsum manufacturing plant, to reveal the secrets behind one of the most successful shipper-carrier partnerships in Sun Belt trucking. Cypress hauled the very first load out of Palatka, and that handshake has grown into something extraordinary. You'll discover how CertainTeed invested $240 million into factory expansion while Cypress expanded their flatbed operations to match. This isn't just a business story; it's a masterclass in how owner-operators, fleet executives, and manufacturers can build relationships that foster mutual success. If you're a professional driver evaluating carriers, a fleet owner seeking shippers, or a plant worker interested in the logistics of wallboard and gypsum distribution, this conversation offers valuable insights on driver fitness programs, operational excellence, and long-term strategies in the trucking industry. Subscribe now and join the Cypress Truck Lines community.

Ready to master the balance between driver fitness and business performance? This episode of the Cypress Truck Lines Podcast delivers the ultimate roadmap for professional flatbed drivers and fleet owners who refuse to compromise on health or profitability. First, physical therapist Dr. Mark Manera reveals insider secrets to changing your nutrition and fitness habits on the road, because progress beats perfection every time. You'll discover practical strategies for driver health that work with the realities of the Sun Belt trucking schedules. Then, Cypress Truck Lines owner Thad Penland breaks down the company's performance indicators that drive results. We dive into the 2025 metrics, miles hauled, loads completed, on-time delivery rates, and what these numbers signal for growth opportunities in 2026. Subscribe now and join the Cypress Truck Lines community.

Every flatbed driver knows one poorly secured load can end your career, or worse. In this week’s episode of the Cypress Truck Lines Podcast, we cut through the noise and deliver straight-talk load securement training you can use today. Join Load Securement Instructor Cecil Clark Jr from Cypress Trucking College, veteran driver trainer Jim Keeley, and Safety Manager Sharee Dehart for an unfiltered conversation about flatbed cargo securement. You'll discover the critical differences between proper strapping techniques and dangerous shortcuts, why bungees fail when you need them most, and the tarping mistakes that cause costly load shifts on the highway. Sharee also shares their career journey in trucking safety and breaks down essential SOPs every professional driver needs to know.

In Part 2 of The Cypress Story, Dave Jr., Thad, Aaron, and Matt Penland, alongside Pete Peterson and Clay Hamblen, share the defining moments that transformed their operation from a scrappy flatbed outfit into a 500-truck Sun Belt trucking leader. You'll hear about the expansion decisions that kept them up at night, how they weathered economic downturns that killed their competitors, the fleet management innovations that set them apart, and the family dynamics that either make or break a multi-generational trucking business.

What does it take to build a trucking company from one beat-up flatbed to a 500-truck powerhouse? The Cypress Truck Lines Podcast pulls back the curtain on real trucking history you won't hear anywhere else. Join the Penland brothers, Dave Jr., Thad, Aaron, and Matt, along with "VP of Everything" Pete Peterson and safety expert Clay Hamblen, as they tell the unfiltered story of Cypress Truck Lines. From midnight wrenching sessions to landing major gypsum and flatbed hauling contracts with clients like Ploof, these episodes reveal the hard-won wisdom of Sun Belt trucking legends.

Here's a little taste of what our podcast will bring each week!