One bad day—that’s all it takes. An injury or illness can pull a driver off the road overnight, turning a steady paycheck into a stack of overdue bills. In this episode, Trucking Ray sits down with Diane Hutsell from the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund to talk about what really happens when life hits hard in trucking—and who’s there to help pick up the pieces.
We break down how the fund supports drivers and their families during financial crises, what expenses they cover (and why payments go directly to landlords and service providers), and how their updated application process is making it easier to get help faster. Diane also shares powerful, real-life stories—from drivers pushing themselves too soon after major health scares to families quietly struggling until they finally hear the words, “we’ve got you.”
But this isn’t just about reacting to crisis—it’s about preventing it. We dive into their growing health and wellness programs, including Rigs Without Cigs, diabetes prevention support, vaccine vouchers, and expanded resources for women in trucking—like cervical cancer screenings, at-home testing kits, and free telehealth follow-ups.
We also talk about building awareness in the industry, their presence at the Mid-America Trucking Show, and why so many drivers still don’t know help like this exists—until it’s almost too late.
If you’re a driver in need or want to support a trusted cause in trucking, visit truckersfund.org. Don’t forget to subscribe to That’s Delivered, share this episode with someone in the industry, and leave a review—because the more people who know, the more lives we can impact.
Key Takeaways: 👇
✅ One health emergency can instantly derail a driver’s financial stability
✅ The St. Christopher Fund helps cover essential living expenses—not luxuries
✅ Payments go directly to providers to ensure fast, reliable support
✅ The application process is now simpler and more accessible online
✅ Many drivers delay asking for help until it’s almost too late
✅ Prevention matters: free programs target smoking cessation, diabetes, and overall wellness
✅ Women-specific health resources are expanding, including at-home cancer screenings
✅ Awareness is still a major gap—many drivers don’t know help exists
✅ Community events like MATS play a big role in outreach and support
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Episode Transcript
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SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
Welcome back to That's Delivered where we talk
(00:01):
about what's going on here intrucking, the good, the bad, and
everything in between, thepeople that keep the whole thing
running.
So I'm your host, Truck and Ray,and we have an episode here for
you.
Getting to something real.
What happens when a driver can'tkeep pushing?
Because when you're out there,uh, we're just used to figuring
it out, just grinding throughit.
But sometimes it hits different.
Last time we sat down with St.
(00:23):
Christopher Trucker's ReliefFund.
They uh they talked about thethings that drivers need help
with, the moments where drivershit a wall.
The truth is the part thathasn't changed, but what has
changed is the level of support,the program, and the people
stepping up behind the scenes.
Diane Hutzel is with us again,and she is bringing back a lot
(00:44):
of great conversation that stuckwith a lot of folks last time.
So we wanted to bring her backagain.
So I'm glad to have her runningit back and going deeper into
what's involved with St.
Christopher's Trucking ReliefFund.
Diane, how are you doing?
Welcome back to the show.
So glad to have you here.
SPEAKER_01 (01:04):
Good to be here.
Good to be here.
Always a great opportunity tospread the word about what we do
and let people know how howimportant we think the drivers
are, and we're here to supportthem.
SPEAKER_00 (01:14):
Wow, I feel so honored.
You guys do such great work.
I always look at your post andyou see all the people you're
helping out and the smilingfaces.
So yeah, I mean, you guys aredoing great things, just wanted
to pick it up where we left off.
Let's get started.
Well, if someone missed lastepisode, give them a quick
rundown with Saint ChristopherFund is the relief fund, right?
SPEAKER_01 (01:34):
Yeah, so Saint Christopher's we are the only
one of its kind, which is goodand bad.
But we will help drivers thatare get hurt or injured that are
no longer able to be on theroad.
And obviously, if you're not onthe road, you're probably not
earning a paycheck, and that'sreally hard on your families.
So we, while we don't paymedical bills, we can step in
and pay those bills that you'renormally going to pay, but it's
(01:56):
going to medical.
So we'll pay your rent, yourmortgage, insurance.
We will pay your electric bill.
We've added where we'll kind ofpay some cell phone bills in
there too.
So we're growing a little bit asto what we can do.
We've expanded a little bit moreon how much we can offer.
You know, the economy is tight.
I've been following dieselprices.
That was the excuse me, the bigstory on the news this morning
(02:19):
is diesel prices are going up.
So we know that the smallerdrivers out there are probably
feeling that just, you know,pretty hard.
So if you're an over-the-roaddriver or if you know one and
you're sick and injured and youcan't drive and you're in
financial difficulties and youjust don't know what to do, call
us and and we'll help you.
And if we can't help you, wewill give you directions and
point you to where we can't youcan go get help.
(02:40):
It's not just, oh, I'm sorry wedon't fund that.
We'll we'll get you to where youneed to go to get help.
So we're we're all in.
SPEAKER_00 (02:46):
That's amazing.
So I mean, if you've what'sgrown?
What's changed behind thescenes?
Or I know we sat down last timeand talked.
Are you are you seeing moredrivers reaching out now than uh
than more than ever?
SPEAKER_01 (02:58):
We're we're seeing more, you know, which it's it's
a shame that we do that, thatit, you know, that there are
people out there, but we'rehappy to be there to help them.
We've got a new user easier touse website.
So, you know, you can go onlineand apply.
That's how that process works.
There's a very easy applicationprocess to start with.
Yes or no questions that'llthat'll get you through the door
to figure out if you're you'reable to qualify because there
(03:19):
are a few stipulations.
And there's also information onour health and wellness
programs.
So, as usual, we offer you knowrigs without SIG.
So if you're looking to get offnicotine, you know, we can help
you.
We have diabetes preventionscreenings, we have cancer
screenings, we have where youcan get vaccine vouchers.
We are incredibly excited for tobe able to add to our health and
(03:41):
wellness programs cervicalcancer screenings for the ladies
out there because you know, Iwas at Maths over the weekend.
And if unless you werecolorblind, you saw that tribe
of women in red all over thebuilding.
And so we're really excited tobe able to support female
drivers out there nowspecifically and get the help
that they need.
You know, cervical cancer is oneof those things that if it's
(04:03):
caught early, it has a reallygood survivor rate.
And so all of these servicesthat we offer are 100,
absolutely 100% free.
So we're excited about that.
SPEAKER_00 (04:12):
Yeah, people like the word free.
I love it.
Yeah, I appreciate that.
And helping out helping outwomen, man, the moms and all the
women out there to keep theworld going.
That's amazing.
So, what results are you seeingfrom like this rigs without
cigs?
How has that been going?
SPEAKER_01 (04:28):
The Rigs Without SIGs is going out phenomenally.
You know, we have you know,we're based in Tennessee, and so
just looking at our numbers, weactually have a better quit rate
for cigarettes in the state ofTennessee than the state
actually has because they dotrack those numbers.
So pretty much half of thedrivers that go through that
program, they've they'vesuccessfully quit smoking.
About a third of them have cutback dramatically.
(04:49):
So, you know, you know, peoplewho've tried to quit smoking
know how hard that is.
And so we we take that as adefinite, definite win.
Oh, and we give differentalternatives and and kind of
their support groups to kind ofhelp you get through that.
And we even have a program thatyou know, you kind of get
rewarded for I've been offcigarettes for a certain amount
(05:09):
of of time.
And um, so you get some perkswith that, not just good health.
SPEAKER_00 (05:16):
So when drivers actually go through these
programs, what surprises themmost?
SPEAKER_01 (05:21):
I think that that I guess they kind of made me
think, well, you know, okay,we're gonna give you a pamphlet
and we're gonna brush you off,and then that's the end of the
day.
That's that's not it at all.
I mean, we make real connectionswith our drivers, our health and
wellness staff are phenomenal,all of our staff, you know, we
really care about what we do.
And so, you know, it's it's notjust another day at the office
(05:43):
for us.
We really believe in thedrivers, you know, we all have
connections.
My dad, although he wasn't adriver, he worked for Mac Truck
50-some odd years ago when westill lived in New York.
And we all have connections tothat.
So we know how it affects peopleand being on the road and how
hard it is, not just on thedriver, but on the families that
they leave behind.
The the wives or the husbands insome cases that that are staying
(06:05):
behind, kind of holdingeverything together.
So, you know, I think just thefact that that we we humanize
it, I think we're not just likeI said, just gonna be a pamphlet
and wish you on your way andwish you good luck.
We really care about our driversand we want them to succeed.
SPEAKER_00 (06:20):
Yeah, I can tell.
And the passion comes through,the excitement.
I mean, when I follow your posttoo, you see all the great
things you guys are doing overthere.
SPEAKER_02 (06:28):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_00 (06:29):
Yeah, what what helped get the cervical cancer
screenings on as the next thingor next program?
SPEAKER_01 (06:36):
It's just that natural progression.
I mean, you know, you've got 10%of the drivers out there that
hold their CDL are are female,and that that number is gonna
grow.
And again, those women intrucking they're they're pretty
intent on, you know, is the samelevel of the playing field and
getting everybody out there.
So we just we want to be able tosupport everybody.
So, you know, we we just arelooking at different ways that
(06:58):
we can grow.
And it it's our goal toeventually never have to write
checks because the way ourfunding works, if you're in
need, we're not just gonna writelike so if you needed funding,
right?
We're we're not gonna write youa check, we're gonna send it to
your your landlord or yourelectric company.
So we're very conscientiousabout how we treat our money and
make sure that it actually goesto where it's gonna go.
(07:19):
So it would be great if one daywe didn't have to do that.
I mean, you know, truck driversthough, a lot of people think,
oh, you're just a truck driverand they don't eat, you know,
they don't have the opportunityto get out and exercise, or it's
a fairly sedentary lifestyle, oror you know, I don't imagine
many are stopping to get a saladfor lunch.
So we just want to kind of givethem those tools to to stay
healthy.
We're on the road.
So it would be a wonderful,wonderful world if, you know, we
(07:42):
didn't have to write up checksto to help people with heart
disease or diabetes.
But we're glad that we're here.
And, you know, we're 18 yearswe've been around and we plan on
being here for for another 18years.
It's it's a little bitbittersweet.
We we lost Dr.
John last February, who was oneof our, along with you know,
Dave Numa and the guys overthere, one of our founders.
(08:02):
And so it was a little bitbittersweet being at Matt's
Relouable this last week, wherewe would have, you know, drivers
come up and say, you know, Ineeded a CPAP machine.
And Dr.
John just picked up a phone andjust called somebody and had it
for me within a couple of days.
So we're just trying to continuehis legacy of being there for
the drivers, whatever they need.
And so when something new comesup, we're gonna stop and go,
(08:24):
okay, how can we make thisaccessible to to our drivers?
So who knows what's coming nextafter cervical cancer?
Something, something like that.
SPEAKER_00 (08:31):
I didn't know if there was a rise of of that or
mammogram or what's growing.
SPEAKER_01 (08:35):
It's just, you know, it's it's like I said, it's it's
really treatable if it'sdetected early.
They they figure about there'sabout 14,000 new cases every
year in the United States.
And so again, that earlydetection, that's really can
critical.
So if you can get it early on,the five-year survival rate is
about 91, 92 percent if it'scaught early, but then it drops
(08:57):
significantly as it as itspreads, as if you catch it a
little bit later.
So, you know, we all have momsand wives and sisters and women
in our lives.
So, you know, definitelyencourage them to get that
checked out.
This is something that I knowour health and wellness crew
have been working on for alittle while.
They can keep their own, andit's finally those those at-home
(09:17):
cancer screening kits havefinally been approved.
And so we've been able to getaccess to those.
So if you're interested in oneof those and you want to get
your your cancer screening, anyof our cancer screens, you can
go online and fill out a littlebit of information, and then
that kit is gonna be sent totheir home.
(09:37):
And then you follow theinstructions of whatever it
takes, and then then you send itback.
And then usually within seven toten days, you'll get results.
If the worst happens and you geta positive result, then you're
off that driver's gonna beoffered free telehealth
appointments for that follow-upconsolidation consultation to
kind of figure out, okay, whatare my next steps?
But we we really encourage allthe women out there, drivers, to
(10:00):
to reach out to us and you know,put us to work, make us make us
work for our keep and geteverybody that we can get get
screened as much as we can,especially with we're an office
full of women.
So, you know, we're like, gosh,we haven't really even thought
about that ourselves.
So, you know, it's making usthink about ourselves too.
SPEAKER_00 (10:18):
Yeah, if you're anything like my wife, you you
tend to not want to go to thedoctor because it's like I don't
want to have to argue and fightfor this and get that tested and
get hoped and brought.
And I mean, it's just uh soyeah, the human side of it.
SPEAKER_01 (10:31):
The what if, you know, you're always worried
about something, something bad,you know, could show up.
But again, the earlier you getdetected, the the easier it is
for to cure.
So go get your stuff checked.
SPEAKER_00 (10:42):
Yeah, you gotta get your stuff checked.
Yeah, so yeah, awesome.
So that's great.
I didn't know if it wassomething that was actually
going, you know, something thattruckers were dealing with more
of having trouble with cervicalcancer.
So I didn't know if that's whatsparked it or something.
SPEAKER_01 (10:57):
But yeah, I mean, yeah, I know there's studies
that are out there done, but youknow, women kind of the women
drivers, they're kind of left onthat background.
I don't think people study thehealth effects.
I haven't really found a lot ofstudies on on what it does to
them.
Nothing's really been done onthat.
So that might be something thatwould be, you know, good to look
at down the road.
SPEAKER_02 (11:18):
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (11:20):
But right now, like I said, the they they've
approved it for at-home use.
So we we were ready to go assoon as they said go for it.
We pulled the trigger and we'reable to get that ready and
available to our our ladydrivers out there.
SPEAKER_00 (11:31):
So, how fast did things get left, go, go left for
a driver when they have healthissues pop up?
You know, and maybe you hearthose stories from drivers, you
know, they were doing great oneday, and then all of a sudden
getting hit with things left andright.
SPEAKER_01 (11:46):
Yeah, I mean, that happens.
And and unfortunately, on myend, is director of
philanthropic because I'm alwaysone curious as to why people
donate or how they found outabout us.
And and just a perfect exampleis we had one that she she
donates on a regular basis.
I mean, it's it's wonderful thatshe does that.
And so she said, what hadhappened was that her her
(12:06):
grandfather was a truck driverand he died early, but then her
father was a truck driver and hehad a heart attack.
And his option was stay home,recover 100%, maybe not have a
job, but be healthy, or then getback in the cab and get on the
road and driving.
And he unfortunately passed awayrelatively quickly after that
first heart attack because hewasn't allowed the opportunity
(12:28):
to stay home.
Because it was, I have to get onthe road, I got to get in the
cab, I gotta get, you know, getthis delivered.
And and so if it's betweentaking care of your family and
taking care of yourself, that'skind of the one common
denominator that I've comeacross with most of the drivers
that I've met is that, you know,if they've got a family, they're
in, they're there to protecttheir family and they're gonna
do what's right no matter whatit does to their health.
(12:51):
So, I mean, it can happen and itit at a heartbeat.
You know, you can be out and youcan have a heart attack.
We've had that before.
You think you're fine, you thinkyou're healthy, and you have a
heart attack when you're on theroad.
Well, what are you gonna do?
You can't, obviously, you can'twork.
We've had folks that have hadstrokes.
We've had drivers that have, youknow, broken a leg or broken an
arm.
And even though that's not apermanent or a life-threatening
(13:12):
condition, you know, we've all,oh my gosh, I broke my foot
walking my dog last summer.
So, I mean, it happens in the,you know, in the speed of light.
And so you just don't know whenthat's gonna happen.
And so, what do you do?
A lot of people don't reallyplan for the worst, or the
economy being what it is, it'sreally hard to put money away
for those rainy day things whenterrible things happen.
(13:33):
So, again, we're just we're justthrilled that we get to be here
and we get to be of service andand to help our drivers.
SPEAKER_00 (13:40):
Yeah, you guys are killing it.
I mean, man, your team is in themiddle of all that, and you
know, how do you stay groundedand doing what's this kind of
hard work every day, what keepsyou going?
Because, you know, as a trucker,we got to get back in the truck,
like you said, you know, we justgotta keep going.
I mean, you can you're gettingin the chair and you're getting
on that keyboard.
Is I mean, man, that's thattakes a lot of work too.
SPEAKER_01 (14:00):
It it does.
But you know, we've given outover$5.4 million.
And and like I said, I just camefrom Matt's, which those of you
who are in the truckingindustry, I I don't know how you
don't know what that is, butthat's the Mid-America trucking
show.
It's one of the largest.
There's what 45,000, 50,000folks there over the course of
three days.
And and that right there to me,that is, I mean, I love being
(14:22):
able to fundraise.
I love, you know, seeing thesegood stories.
But but my highlight of theentire weekend was people coming
in and saying, well, you know,Dr.
John did this for me, or I wassick last month, last year.
And I, you know, you guys sentus a check and and we're great
now.
And um, so my next question tothem is always, are you back on
the road?
(14:42):
And every one of them was, I'mI'm back on the road.
So to me, that's what kind ofkeeps me going is these are real
people, they have real problems.
And again, a lot of peopledon't, you know, unless it was
COVID and you weren't gettingyour toilet paper, people didn't
really think about truck driversand the role that they play in
this world.
If it was brought to you andyou've used it today, you've
probably better thank a truckdriver for that.
(15:04):
And you know, I see that mybrother-in-law has this CDL.
He he's not over the road, buthe drives a milk truck and he
hates snow.
And so, you know, if if youdon't have that, then then what
are you guys, what are we allgonna do without our drivers?
And so to me being able to hearthank you and to get to see
their kids' faces and their ortheir wives or their spouses, I
mean, that right there is that'smy bread and butter.
(15:27):
I mean, I like going homefeeling like I've helped people
at the end of the day.
I'm I do this for purely selfishreasons.
I feel good at the end of my daywhen I get to help people, but
you know, that they're doing animportant job, so somebody's got
to be there to have their back.
And we're I'm glad I get to bepart of that.
I can't imagine doing any otherindustry.
SPEAKER_00 (16:07):
Wow, thank you.
Yeah, I got a chance to go toMass as well.
And when you're there, I mean,you the more you go, the more
you feel like you're amongst ajust a great community, yeah,
and everybody is well wellspoken of each of each other.
I mean, it's not like uh you'reout to to get the other person,
like you hear about some of thesome media programs.
(16:27):
Yeah, I love taking a break andgetting there.
I mean, man, this is that's agreat place to network and get
to know each other on a on amore face-to-face because you
know you're doing the stuffonline, uh, like the show I do
is also online, but yeah,actually be able to shake hands
with individuals that you get totalk to.
SPEAKER_01 (16:44):
So they're always so they're so good to us at Matt's
anyway.
This is uh I don't remember howmany multiple years, but they
let us host the silent auctionevery year for the last several
years.
It's an amazing fundraiser.
It's eight, nine thousand, tenthousand dollars that we raise
in an hour and a half.
And this year was even betterthan last year.
We had 50 different things aspart of that silent auction.
(17:06):
You know, we had things like wehad air conditioners from Be
Cool, they were great.
This is the then multiple yearsthat they've given to us.
TA Petro, they actually had areally cool collector's like
racing helmet, mudflap donated,Shell Rotella, who's always been
an amazing partner with us atSt.
Christopher's as well.
And then um House, you know, isa one-year supply of all their
goodies and then you know, swag.
(17:28):
And so we we had a really goodtime, got to meet a lot of our
people and truck parking club.
They're a wild and crazy bunchof guys, and so they donated a
smoker and you know, we it justit was a great evening to just
sit down and talk to everybodyand and you know raise funds.
And we had we had the wheelwhere you can come in and for a
dollar you can spin the wheel.
(17:49):
And so we have great partners,ConnexEal.
They give us great little, youknow, prizes.
Everybody's a winner on thewheel, and so we we raised about
$2,000.
I don't have the final numberson that quite yet.
And then, you know, we do the50-50 split where which was so
phenomenal is the, you know, Idon't know if you know what the
50-50 is.
You pay for a ticket, and thenat the end of the evening, you
(18:09):
know, St.
Christopher's keeps part of it,and then somebody actually wins
half that money.
Well, the person that wondonated a large chunk of that
back to St.
Christopher's.
So it's just it was just a nice,warm, fuzzy kind of evening,
everybody celebrating everybodyelse, and just a great community
from you know, suit and tiewearing folks to to the truck
driving families that win theirdogs because they all had their
(18:29):
dogs with them.
Next year we're gonna learnwe're gonna have dog treats at
our booth.
But yeah, it was Matt's was waswas great and special, and and
just it's always one of myfavorites.
SPEAKER_00 (18:39):
Look at that.
I mean, I mean, I wish I couldhave made it all the days.
I was only able to make for one,so unfortunately I had to keep
working, but uh yeah, it was along three days.
Yeah, oh I was so exhausted whenI got back to the hotel.
I just flopped on the bed.
I was like passed up.
SPEAKER_02 (18:56):
Yep.
SPEAKER_00 (18:57):
And yeah, but man, Matt's is a great place.
If you if you're a trucker outthere, please you have in your
career, you have to try to getto Matt's at least once.
I mean, that's I think is great.
I hope it never changes the thevibes that are going there, just
so nice, so very nice.
And then also, too, connectingon industry.
You mentioned you're wanting toconnect more with podcasters and
(19:19):
and voices in the industry.
Why is that so important rightnow?
SPEAKER_01 (19:22):
Well, I mean, obviously my job as director of
philanthropy is is to raisefunds.
But what I've discovered,because I just I just celebrated
my year anniversary oh, twoweeks ago.
So I'm I'm thrilled to be hereat St.
Christopher's.
But the one thing that we hearall the time is how did I not
know about you?
You know, we had one onelogistics company, we've been
here for 60 years.
(19:42):
How have I not heard about you?
And so that's always my firstand foremost is getting in front
of the people that can spreadthe word to their drivers,
whether it's state truckingassociations, you know, ATA,
Ambest has been fantastic too.
So women in trucking have beengreat.
Podcasters like you arephenomenal to help spread the
word.
I mean, Dave Memo was one of ourfounders, you know, and so as
(20:03):
long as we can, whether you needit yourself, I mean, maybe you
don't need it now, and you know,we hope you don't ever have to
need us, but maybe you will downthe road or you know somebody.
We we've had people that camethrough just over the weekend
and said, you know, my son hasbeen injured and I've been kind
of taking care of his bills.
And so we said, well, okay, sohe's in financial difficulty.
(20:24):
She said, Well, no, but I'vebeen paying his bills.
Yes, you've been paying hisbills.
Let us pay your bills, his billsfor him for a little while.
So that's that's my goal is toget in front of as many people
as we can.
You know, we've had some greattraction with Peppercom, who's a
marketing firm that has donateda lot of their time in getting
press releases out and gettingthe word about St.
Christopher.
So we've had some great tractionthere.
(20:45):
So we're definitely looking toexpand that.
We're we're looking to broadenthe people that we work with.
So we have, you know, pilot andTA and Shell Rotella and that
kind of a thing.
But we're looking, you know, theactual truck manufacturers, Mac
truck, Peterbilt, Vovel, thatkind of thing.
Great Dane kind of came in likethis last year and is a new spot
supporter last year for St.
(21:06):
Christopher.
So we're looking to broaden thatwith the insurance companies
that that support driversbecause you know, we can maybe
save some money out of yourpocket where we're helping the
drivers and we're all, you know,supporting the same cause.
So so yeah, I'm I'm prettyshameless about what I do and
being able to talk about it.
I mean, I was at Bucky's on theway home.
(21:27):
It was my first trip to aBucky's.
It was insane.
It was just insane.
But you're standing there inline waiting to pay for your
barbecue sandwich and yourbanana pudding, and you hear
conversations, and inevitablyyou go, Well, do you know what I
do for a living?
Like, we can help you, you know.
So wherever I go, it's justspreading the word of St.
Christopher's and all the goodstuff we do.
SPEAKER_00 (21:46):
Yeah, I mean, I mean, hopefully Bucky's can work
with uh truck parking club andget some places where we can
park right next there, becauseman, you know, no trucks
allowed.
I mean, I'm always gonna be hardon Buckys.
SPEAKER_01 (21:56):
They are.
If Bucky's, if y'all arelistening, if you know anybody,
you are you are missing out on agood segment of guys, is is you
know, that they're they're wild,but they're growing, racing what
they've done over the last threeyears.
But you know, just all theservices out there to help
drivers, I think that's agrowing segment.
And I think that's a wonderful,that's a wonderful thing to be
able to to say we've got youguys, our drivers have support.
SPEAKER_00 (22:19):
Yeah, I mean, they got a great business model for
making revenue.
I think they mentioned That atruck takes up more space, so
they they kind of targetfamilies that can come in and
and you know I that makes sense.
I get it.
It's nothing that we justthey're not opposed to truck
drivers, but they just don'tmake as much money on us, I
guess.
So I didn't know that.
But yeah, I mean you mentioneduh Dave Nemo.
(22:40):
I mean, those guys are doing agreat job.
I used to hear you guys on thereas well.
Yeah.
Um really sad that that showcame to an end and I he had to
reach out.
SPEAKER_01 (22:48):
I know, I know.
I saw saw Jimmy Mack when wewere over the weekend, and you
know, we've we've talked andtouched face, and and you know,
he's passionate about what we doand supporting drivers, even
though they're not on the radio.
You know, it kind of broke myheart when when Dave said, you
know, we kind of feel like thetrucking industry is done with
us.
No, I don't think so.
(23:08):
Um, I don't think he realizeshow much we appreciate
everything that he's done, notjust for us, because without him
and and the others, you know,St.
Christopher's wouldn't be here,but just for trucking in general
for the last umpteen years orhowever, well, what 50 some odd
years?
SPEAKER_00 (23:24):
Wow.
SPEAKER_01 (23:26):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (23:26):
So amazing.
Yeah, Jimmy Mack, man.
I love those guys.
So, yeah.
So thank you so much forbringing that up, uh, talking
about it, getting on withpodcasters.
We try to keep spreading theword for other podcasters to
have you on and talk about that.
So keep going with that.
And how can people get involved?
If someone's listening rightnow, what's an easier way for
them to get in there and supportwhat's going on over there for
(23:48):
you guys?
SPEAKER_01 (23:49):
Yeah, they can go to our brands thanking shiny new
website.
We're really proud of it.
It's truckersfund.org.
And if you are a driver thatneeds assistance, if you want to
learn how you can quitcigarettes or you want to get a
cancer screening kit, or if youwant to donate fund funds, it's
all right there.
Pretty easy to follow.
You're always welcome to give usa call and you know, we'll kind
(24:11):
of answer whatever questions youhave.
Like I said, we're we're we'rebased in Oxville, Tennessee, go
vault.
But you know, we cover thecountry and you know, we we
treat everybody like they'rejust down the road from us.
So, you know, we're not we'renot this big fancy schmancy
nonprofit.
We're just we're regular peoplelike everybody else, and we just
want to be there to help ourdrivers.
So go online, give us a call,find us on LinkedIn.
(24:33):
We've got, you know, Twitter orX, I guess is what the kids call
it now.
We even have Instagram and allthat kind of thing.
So we're we're out there forsure.
SPEAKER_00 (24:43):
What's the numbers that if we can share um what's
the numbers of percentage ofwhere the money where which way
it goes or the bulk of ourfunding that we do goes to help
paying mortgage and rent,obviously.
SPEAKER_01 (24:54):
I think that's just that's just to scale.
Um and then it goes down, Ithink, electrical or you know,
electricity and stuff, justbecause again, things are so
insanely extensive.
And then just as far as healthand wellness is is is you know,
we see a lot of folks with heartdisease, we see a lot of people
with diabetes.
Those are kind of those top uhillnesses and injuries that that
(25:15):
we see down the road.
And then with our cancerscreenings, you know, our
numbers have have risen a lot onthose, just people being a
little bit more aware, being alot more proactive.
You know, you can get vaccines,you can get flu, pneumonia,
covet, shingles, you can stop atany of the different sites that
we have across the country thatpartner with us where you you
(25:36):
register for that vaccine and weget you set up and then you can
go and stay healthy, not not getthe flu and not get COVID and
and shingles, which are terribleif you've never had them.
And so yeah, we we we'regrowing.
We want we want the health partto grow, maybe not so much the
the help and you know, we helppeople stay healthy, but I'm
always out there.
We had a great year with oursponsors as far as you know,
(25:59):
bringing in funding.
They had the goal of of drivento a million.
We we we cracked a million thisthis year, which is great again,
considering what the economy is.
You know, you've got donors outthere that are are given less,
but but not in our world.
Our our donors are are here forthe long haul and you're just
support drivers.
So if you are one of my donorsand you have not gotten a
(26:20):
handwritten note from me, justtake your time and you'll get
one of them in the mail.
But we we appreciate everybodythat supports, whether, you
know, it's when we hadvolunteers Thursday night at the
auction that helped us set upfor that, you know, people that
have gone through and helpedsort through our medical files
as we we do have a bit of apaper process.
You know, we have an amazingboard of directors that is
active and involved and lovewhat we do from all sorts of
(26:42):
segments of the industry.
And so we've been very blessed.
We're we are small but mighty.
You know, we're a very smallstaff, we have a very small
overhead because we want allthat money to go directly to the
to the drivers.
SPEAKER_00 (26:53):
Nice.
That's awesome.
And and that's a that's a bigdifference where people want to
give give their money and donatebecause if they know like maybe
only two percent is going, theykind of get a little reluctant.
So good job, guys.
And you got a pet programcoming, or you already have
that, or what are you gonna say?
SPEAKER_01 (27:09):
Um right now it's it's it's our cervical cancer.
We're really we're reallyexcited about that.
SPEAKER_00 (27:14):
Um I mean for animals.
SPEAKER_01 (27:16):
Oh, for animals, you know, okay.
So one of the things I've got inmy brain talking with the folks
at Road Dog Care Company, andwe've been working for them.
I don't know if you know Bob andhis crew, they they do great
things.
And so May is pet appreciationmonth, and you've got 50% of
drivers out there that drivewith a four-legged friend.
I got to, I was going throughdog withdrawal myself for four
(27:38):
days.
I didn't have access to mypuppy, although he's a 95-pound
puppy, so I don't really know ifthat's a correct term for him.
But so we're we're gonna do kindof like what Shell Rotella does
with the super rigs.
We want to do a smaller versionof that, or at least start out
small, and have drivers submitpictures of their little
four-legged friends.
Although there is a driver Ithink that travels with goats,
(27:59):
and there's one that I think haslike a chameleon or something.
I don't to each its own.
So we're gonna have the dog carecategory, and then we're gonna
have the other.
And so we're still kind ofbanging out the the details on
that one, but that way everybodycan go and vote on our social
medias as to, you know, bestdog, best scene at picture.
We're still working on the onthe categories on that one, and
and the goal is to have it whereyou can win your own road dog
(28:20):
care company.
And so they have great productsthat if you're on the road and
you know, you you can't reallyshower or whatever, and and
they've got body wipes andthey've got you know deodorants
and that kind of a thing.
And you know, we've we've heardfrom our own drivers that we've
kind of helped that their bodywipes are really good.
They're they're big, they don'tget in your beard, they don't
disintegrate.
(28:41):
So I can I can vouch for theirenergy drinks as well.
Even I need a little energy, butthen they also have another side
to it where it's you can takecare of your dog, they have dry
shampoo for your dog, they havebody wipes.
And I have used the dry shampooon my big old baby boy because
he's a Rhodesian Ridgeback, andyou're not really supposed to
give them a lot of baths becausethey don't have an undercoat.
(29:01):
They were they're African dogsthat were bred to hunt lions,
he's just been killing sockstoday, but I can attest to to
the products that they serve.
So we're gonna kind of kind ofpiggyback with them and kind of
come up with something fun.
And you know, we all love ourkids, but Charlie's my second
baby, and so we're gonna giveeverybody an opportunity to show
off their little fur babies.
SPEAKER_00 (29:22):
Nice.
Yeah, I remember you having thedogs on it on the last episode,
so yeah, it was nice.
Yeah, we love our animals, soyeah, that's that's really good.
That's a great idea, and it's agreat project to get started and
hopefully it goes through, yeah.
So we can see the results onthat as well for a lot of
truckers out there.
So, yeah, man, that's great.
I'm so happy for you guys, andso happy for a lot of the
(29:44):
truckers in the community.
I see a lot of great thingshappening here.
So we really appreciate youcoming on the show.
And uh, at the end of the day,the industry runs on people when
life happens.
Yeah, it will, it matters who isthere and and what they're able
to do to help these individuals.
And like I said, that St.
Christopher's Relief TruckTrucking Relief Fund there.
I mean, you guys are doing greatthings.
(30:04):
Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_01 (30:05):
Well, thank you, and thanks to everybody that
supports us.
We can't we can't do it withoutthem.
SPEAKER_00 (30:09):
Yeah, so we'll make sure drivers out there aren't
alone, you know, that they canget things that are real to help
them get through life.
Diane, really appreciate youcoming on the show.
And uh, what's the best way forpeople to reach out to you so
they don't get lost?
I mean, there's a lot ofinformation out there.
SPEAKER_01 (30:23):
Yeah, just you I mean, you can Google St.
Christopher's Truckers Fund, butjust truckersfund.org.
That's our handle for ourLinkedIn and our Facebook and
our website as well.
So pretty easy to follow us.
SPEAKER_00 (30:34):
Easy, nice.
So, Diane, really appreciate youcoming back on the show, talking
with us.
I know there's a lot of goodthings coming, and I know you
guys are also looking to expandsocial media and outreach and
get people more aware of what'sgoing on.
So, I really hope that worksout.
And uh, so anybody out there,please share this episode with
someone you know, someone youlove.
If you see what you like andlike what you hear, please share
(30:56):
it with a fan.
Subscribe to that's delivered,and uh, we'll be sure to come
out with more episodes like thisfor you to enjoy and be aware of
for professionals to to knowwhat the industry has to offer,
not for just trucking, but alsofor life.
You know, I got my shirt tootrying to support.
Love that, love that hard outhere for a trucker.
So on the back it says hard outhere for a trucker.
SPEAKER_01 (31:19):
I I was saying this weekend, we I saw so many neat
shirts.
I'm like, we need to come upwith our own for St.
Christopher's.
It's kind of funny.
SPEAKER_00 (31:25):
So t shirts is the way to go, even if you know that
you're not selling a ton ofthem, it's just nice, it's fun.
Put put the stuff out there forpeople to enjoy.
Yeah, yeah.
I like t shirts.
All right, well, thank you,Diane.
Thank you so much for your time.
I'll go ahead and get thisepisode sent out for you.
For anyone out there listening,please share it with someone you
know and be sure to check outTrucker's Release Truckers Fund
(31:47):
Truckers.org.
There you go.
SPEAKER_01 (31:50):
All right, thanks.
SPEAKER_00 (31:51):
Thank you.
Welcome back to That's Delivered where we talk
(00:01):
about what's going on here intrucking, the good, the bad, and
everything in between, thepeople that keep the whole thing
running.
So I'm your host, Truck and Ray,and we have an episode here for
you.
Getting to something real.
What happens when a driver can'tkeep pushing?
Because when you're out there,uh, we're just used to figuring
it out, just grinding throughit.
But sometimes it hits different.
Last time we sat down with St.
(00:23):
Christopher Trucker's ReliefFund.
They uh they talked about thethings that drivers need help
with, the moments where drivershit a wall.
The truth is the part thathasn't changed, but what has
changed is the level of support,the program, and the people
stepping up behind the scenes.
Diane Hutzel is with us again,and she is bringing back a lot
(00:44):
of great conversation that stuckwith a lot of folks last time.
So we wanted to bring her backagain.
So I'm glad to have her runningit back and going deeper into
what's involved with St.
Christopher's Trucking ReliefFund.
Diane, how are you doing?
Welcome back to the show.
So glad to have you here.
SPEAKER_01 (01:04):
Good to be here.
Good to be here.
Always a great opportunity tospread the word about what we do
and let people know how howimportant we think the drivers
are, and we're here to supportthem.
SPEAKER_00 (01:14):
Wow, I feel so honored.
You guys do such great work.
I always look at your post andyou see all the people you're
helping out and the smilingfaces.
So yeah, I mean, you guys aredoing great things, just wanted
to pick it up where we left off.
Let's get started.
Well, if someone missed lastepisode, give them a quick
rundown with Saint ChristopherFund is the relief fund, right?
SPEAKER_01 (01:34):
Yeah, so Saint Christopher's we are the only
one of its kind, which is goodand bad.
But we will help drivers thatare get hurt or injured that are
no longer able to be on theroad.
And obviously, if you're not onthe road, you're probably not
earning a paycheck, and that'sreally hard on your families.
So we, while we don't paymedical bills, we can step in
and pay those bills that you'renormally going to pay, but it's
(01:56):
going to medical.
So we'll pay your rent, yourmortgage, insurance.
We will pay your electric bill.
We've added where we'll kind ofpay some cell phone bills in
there too.
So we're growing a little bit asto what we can do.
We've expanded a little bit moreon how much we can offer.
You know, the economy is tight.
I've been following dieselprices.
That was the excuse me, the bigstory on the news this morning
(02:19):
is diesel prices are going up.
So we know that the smallerdrivers out there are probably
feeling that just, you know,pretty hard.
So if you're an over-the-roaddriver or if you know one and
you're sick and injured and youcan't drive and you're in
financial difficulties and youjust don't know what to do, call
us and and we'll help you.
And if we can't help you, wewill give you directions and
point you to where we can't youcan go get help.
(02:40):
It's not just, oh, I'm sorry wedon't fund that.
We'll we'll get you to where youneed to go to get help.
So we're we're all in.
SPEAKER_00 (02:46):
That's amazing.
So I mean, if you've what'sgrown?
What's changed behind thescenes?
Or I know we sat down last timeand talked.
Are you are you seeing moredrivers reaching out now than uh
than more than ever?
SPEAKER_01 (02:58):
We're we're seeing more, you know, which it's it's
a shame that we do that, thatit, you know, that there are
people out there, but we'rehappy to be there to help them.
We've got a new user easier touse website.
So, you know, you can go onlineand apply.
That's how that process works.
There's a very easy applicationprocess to start with.
Yes or no questions that'llthat'll get you through the door
to figure out if you're you'reable to qualify because there
(03:19):
are a few stipulations.
And there's also information onour health and wellness
programs.
So, as usual, we offer you knowrigs without SIG.
So if you're looking to get offnicotine, you know, we can help
you.
We have diabetes preventionscreenings, we have cancer
screenings, we have where youcan get vaccine vouchers.
We are incredibly excited for tobe able to add to our health and
(03:41):
wellness programs cervicalcancer screenings for the ladies
out there because you know, Iwas at Maths over the weekend.
And if unless you werecolorblind, you saw that tribe
of women in red all over thebuilding.
And so we're really excited tobe able to support female
drivers out there nowspecifically and get the help
that they need.
You know, cervical cancer is oneof those things that if it's
(04:03):
caught early, it has a reallygood survivor rate.
And so all of these servicesthat we offer are 100,
absolutely 100% free.
So we're excited about that.
SPEAKER_00 (04:12):
Yeah, people like the word free.
I love it.
Yeah, I appreciate that.
And helping out helping outwomen, man, the moms and all the
women out there to keep theworld going.
That's amazing.
So, what results are you seeingfrom like this rigs without
cigs?
How has that been going?
SPEAKER_01 (04:28):
The Rigs Without SIGs is going out phenomenally.
You know, we have you know,we're based in Tennessee, and so
just looking at our numbers, weactually have a better quit rate
for cigarettes in the state ofTennessee than the state
actually has because they dotrack those numbers.
So pretty much half of thedrivers that go through that
program, they've they'vesuccessfully quit smoking.
About a third of them have cutback dramatically.
(04:49):
So, you know, you know, peoplewho've tried to quit smoking
know how hard that is.
And so we we take that as adefinite, definite win.
Oh, and we give differentalternatives and and kind of
their support groups to kind ofhelp you get through that.
And we even have a program thatyou know, you kind of get
rewarded for I've been offcigarettes for a certain amount
(05:09):
of of time.
And um, so you get some perkswith that, not just good health.
SPEAKER_00 (05:16):
So when drivers actually go through these
programs, what surprises themmost?
SPEAKER_01 (05:21):
I think that that I guess they kind of made me
think, well, you know, okay,we're gonna give you a pamphlet
and we're gonna brush you off,and then that's the end of the
day.
That's that's not it at all.
I mean, we make real connectionswith our drivers, our health and
wellness staff are phenomenal,all of our staff, you know, we
really care about what we do.
And so, you know, it's it's notjust another day at the office
(05:43):
for us.
We really believe in thedrivers, you know, we all have
connections.
My dad, although he wasn't adriver, he worked for Mac Truck
50-some odd years ago when westill lived in New York.
And we all have connections tothat.
So we know how it affects peopleand being on the road and how
hard it is, not just on thedriver, but on the families that
they leave behind.
The the wives or the husbands insome cases that that are staying
(06:05):
behind, kind of holdingeverything together.
So, you know, I think just thefact that that we we humanize
it, I think we're not just likeI said, just gonna be a pamphlet
and wish you on your way andwish you good luck.
We really care about our driversand we want them to succeed.
SPEAKER_00 (06:20):
Yeah, I can tell.
And the passion comes through,the excitement.
I mean, when I follow your posttoo, you see all the great
things you guys are doing overthere.
SPEAKER_02 (06:28):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_00 (06:29):
Yeah, what what helped get the cervical cancer
screenings on as the next thingor next program?
SPEAKER_01 (06:36):
It's just that natural progression.
I mean, you know, you've got 10%of the drivers out there that
hold their CDL are are female,and that that number is gonna
grow.
And again, those women intrucking they're they're pretty
intent on, you know, is the samelevel of the playing field and
getting everybody out there.
So we just we want to be able tosupport everybody.
So, you know, we we just arelooking at different ways that
(06:58):
we can grow.
And it it's our goal toeventually never have to write
checks because the way ourfunding works, if you're in
need, we're not just gonna writelike so if you needed funding,
right?
We're we're not gonna write youa check, we're gonna send it to
your your landlord or yourelectric company.
So we're very conscientiousabout how we treat our money and
make sure that it actually goesto where it's gonna go.
(07:19):
So it would be great if one daywe didn't have to do that.
I mean, you know, truck driversthough, a lot of people think,
oh, you're just a truck driverand they don't eat, you know,
they don't have the opportunityto get out and exercise, or it's
a fairly sedentary lifestyle, oror you know, I don't imagine
many are stopping to get a saladfor lunch.
So we just want to kind of givethem those tools to to stay
healthy.
We're on the road.
So it would be a wonderful,wonderful world if, you know, we
(07:42):
didn't have to write up checksto to help people with heart
disease or diabetes.
But we're glad that we're here.
And, you know, we're 18 yearswe've been around and we plan on
being here for for another 18years.
It's it's a little bitbittersweet.
We we lost Dr.
John last February, who was oneof our, along with you know,
Dave Numa and the guys overthere, one of our founders.
(08:02):
And so it was a little bitbittersweet being at Matt's
Relouable this last week, wherewe would have, you know, drivers
come up and say, you know, Ineeded a CPAP machine.
And Dr.
John just picked up a phone andjust called somebody and had it
for me within a couple of days.
So we're just trying to continuehis legacy of being there for
the drivers, whatever they need.
And so when something new comesup, we're gonna stop and go,
(08:24):
okay, how can we make thisaccessible to to our drivers?
So who knows what's coming nextafter cervical cancer?
Something, something like that.
SPEAKER_00 (08:31):
I didn't know if there was a rise of of that or
mammogram or what's growing.
SPEAKER_01 (08:35):
It's just, you know, it's it's like I said, it's it's
really treatable if it'sdetected early.
They they figure about there'sabout 14,000 new cases every
year in the United States.
And so again, that earlydetection, that's really can
critical.
So if you can get it early on,the five-year survival rate is
about 91, 92 percent if it'scaught early, but then it drops
(08:57):
significantly as it as itspreads, as if you catch it a
little bit later.
So, you know, we all have momsand wives and sisters and women
in our lives.
So, you know, definitelyencourage them to get that
checked out.
This is something that I knowour health and wellness crew
have been working on for alittle while.
They can keep their own, andit's finally those those at-home
(09:17):
cancer screening kits havefinally been approved.
And so we've been able to getaccess to those.
So if you're interested in oneof those and you want to get
your your cancer screening, anyof our cancer screens, you can
go online and fill out a littlebit of information, and then
that kit is gonna be sent totheir home.
(09:37):
And then you follow theinstructions of whatever it
takes, and then then you send itback.
And then usually within seven toten days, you'll get results.
If the worst happens and you geta positive result, then you're
off that driver's gonna beoffered free telehealth
appointments for that follow-upconsolidation consultation to
kind of figure out, okay, whatare my next steps?
But we we really encourage allthe women out there, drivers, to
(10:00):
to reach out to us and you know,put us to work, make us make us
work for our keep and geteverybody that we can get get
screened as much as we can,especially with we're an office
full of women.
So, you know, we're like, gosh,we haven't really even thought
about that ourselves.
So, you know, it's making usthink about ourselves too.
SPEAKER_00 (10:18):
Yeah, if you're anything like my wife, you you
tend to not want to go to thedoctor because it's like I don't
want to have to argue and fightfor this and get that tested and
get hoped and brought.
And I mean, it's just uh soyeah, the human side of it.
SPEAKER_01 (10:31):
The what if, you know, you're always worried
about something, something bad,you know, could show up.
But again, the earlier you getdetected, the the easier it is
for to cure.
So go get your stuff checked.
SPEAKER_00 (10:42):
Yeah, you gotta get your stuff checked.
Yeah, so yeah, awesome.
So that's great.
I didn't know if it wassomething that was actually
going, you know, something thattruckers were dealing with more
of having trouble with cervicalcancer.
So I didn't know if that's whatsparked it or something.
SPEAKER_01 (10:57):
But yeah, I mean, yeah, I know there's studies
that are out there done, but youknow, women kind of the women
drivers, they're kind of left onthat background.
I don't think people study thehealth effects.
I haven't really found a lot ofstudies on on what it does to
them.
Nothing's really been done onthat.
So that might be something thatwould be, you know, good to look
at down the road.
SPEAKER_02 (11:18):
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (11:20):
But right now, like I said, the they they've
approved it for at-home use.
So we we were ready to go assoon as they said go for it.
We pulled the trigger and we'reable to get that ready and
available to our our ladydrivers out there.
SPEAKER_00 (11:31):
So, how fast did things get left, go, go left for
a driver when they have healthissues pop up?
You know, and maybe you hearthose stories from drivers, you
know, they were doing great oneday, and then all of a sudden
getting hit with things left andright.
SPEAKER_01 (11:46):
Yeah, I mean, that happens.
And and unfortunately, on myend, is director of
philanthropic because I'm alwaysone curious as to why people
donate or how they found outabout us.
And and just a perfect exampleis we had one that she she
donates on a regular basis.
I mean, it's it's wonderful thatshe does that.
And so she said, what hadhappened was that her her
(12:06):
grandfather was a truck driverand he died early, but then her
father was a truck driver and hehad a heart attack.
And his option was stay home,recover 100%, maybe not have a
job, but be healthy, or then getback in the cab and get on the
road and driving.
And he unfortunately passed awayrelatively quickly after that
first heart attack because hewasn't allowed the opportunity
(12:28):
to stay home.
Because it was, I have to get onthe road, I got to get in the
cab, I gotta get, you know, getthis delivered.
And and so if it's betweentaking care of your family and
taking care of yourself, that'skind of the one common
denominator that I've comeacross with most of the drivers
that I've met is that, you know,if they've got a family, they're
in, they're there to protecttheir family and they're gonna
do what's right no matter whatit does to their health.
(12:51):
So, I mean, it can happen and itit at a heartbeat.
You know, you can be out and youcan have a heart attack.
We've had that before.
You think you're fine, you thinkyou're healthy, and you have a
heart attack when you're on theroad.
Well, what are you gonna do?
You can't, obviously, you can'twork.
We've had folks that have hadstrokes.
We've had drivers that have, youknow, broken a leg or broken an
arm.
And even though that's not apermanent or a life-threatening
(13:12):
condition, you know, we've all,oh my gosh, I broke my foot
walking my dog last summer.
So, I mean, it happens in the,you know, in the speed of light.
And so you just don't know whenthat's gonna happen.
And so, what do you do?
A lot of people don't reallyplan for the worst, or the
economy being what it is, it'sreally hard to put money away
for those rainy day things whenterrible things happen.
(13:33):
So, again, we're just we're justthrilled that we get to be here
and we get to be of service andand to help our drivers.
SPEAKER_00 (13:40):
Yeah, you guys are killing it.
I mean, man, your team is in themiddle of all that, and you
know, how do you stay groundedand doing what's this kind of
hard work every day, what keepsyou going?
Because, you know, as a trucker,we got to get back in the truck,
like you said, you know, we justgotta keep going.
I mean, you can you're gettingin the chair and you're getting
on that keyboard.
Is I mean, man, that's thattakes a lot of work too.
SPEAKER_01 (14:00):
It it does.
But you know, we've given outover$5.4 million.
And and like I said, I just camefrom Matt's, which those of you
who are in the truckingindustry, I I don't know how you
don't know what that is, butthat's the Mid-America trucking
show.
It's one of the largest.
There's what 45,000, 50,000folks there over the course of
three days.
And and that right there to me,that is, I mean, I love being
(14:22):
able to fundraise.
I love, you know, seeing thesegood stories.
But but my highlight of theentire weekend was people coming
in and saying, well, you know,Dr.
John did this for me, or I wassick last month, last year.
And I, you know, you guys sentus a check and and we're great
now.
And um, so my next question tothem is always, are you back on
the road?
(14:42):
And every one of them was, I'mI'm back on the road.
So to me, that's what kind ofkeeps me going is these are real
people, they have real problems.
And again, a lot of peopledon't, you know, unless it was
COVID and you weren't gettingyour toilet paper, people didn't
really think about truck driversand the role that they play in
this world.
If it was brought to you andyou've used it today, you've
probably better thank a truckdriver for that.
(15:04):
And you know, I see that mybrother-in-law has this CDL.
He he's not over the road, buthe drives a milk truck and he
hates snow.
And so, you know, if if youdon't have that, then then what
are you guys, what are we allgonna do without our drivers?
And so to me being able to hearthank you and to get to see
their kids' faces and their ortheir wives or their spouses, I
mean, that right there is that'smy bread and butter.
(15:27):
I mean, I like going homefeeling like I've helped people
at the end of the day.
I'm I do this for purely selfishreasons.
I feel good at the end of my daywhen I get to help people, but
you know, that they're doing animportant job, so somebody's got
to be there to have their back.
And we're I'm glad I get to bepart of that.
I can't imagine doing any otherindustry.
SPEAKER_00 (16:07):
Wow, thank you.
Yeah, I got a chance to go toMass as well.
And when you're there, I mean,you the more you go, the more
you feel like you're amongst ajust a great community, yeah,
and everybody is well wellspoken of each of each other.
I mean, it's not like uh you'reout to to get the other person,
like you hear about some of thesome media programs.
(16:27):
Yeah, I love taking a break andgetting there.
I mean, man, this is that's agreat place to network and get
to know each other on a on amore face-to-face because you
know you're doing the stuffonline, uh, like the show I do
is also online, but yeah,actually be able to shake hands
with individuals that you get totalk to.
SPEAKER_01 (16:44):
So they're always so they're so good to us at Matt's
anyway.
This is uh I don't remember howmany multiple years, but they
let us host the silent auctionevery year for the last several
years.
It's an amazing fundraiser.
It's eight, nine thousand, tenthousand dollars that we raise
in an hour and a half.
And this year was even betterthan last year.
We had 50 different things aspart of that silent auction.
(17:06):
You know, we had things like wehad air conditioners from Be
Cool, they were great.
This is the then multiple yearsthat they've given to us.
TA Petro, they actually had areally cool collector's like
racing helmet, mudflap donated,Shell Rotella, who's always been
an amazing partner with us atSt.
Christopher's as well.
And then um House, you know, isa one-year supply of all their
goodies and then you know, swag.
(17:28):
And so we we had a really goodtime, got to meet a lot of our
people and truck parking club.
They're a wild and crazy bunchof guys, and so they donated a
smoker and you know, we it justit was a great evening to just
sit down and talk to everybodyand and you know raise funds.
And we had we had the wheelwhere you can come in and for a
dollar you can spin the wheel.
(17:49):
And so we have great partners,ConnexEal.
They give us great little, youknow, prizes.
Everybody's a winner on thewheel, and so we we raised about
$2,000.
I don't have the final numberson that quite yet.
And then, you know, we do the50-50 split where which was so
phenomenal is the, you know, Idon't know if you know what the
50-50 is.
You pay for a ticket, and thenat the end of the evening, you
(18:09):
know, St.
Christopher's keeps part of it,and then somebody actually wins
half that money.
Well, the person that wondonated a large chunk of that
back to St.
Christopher's.
So it's just it was just a nice,warm, fuzzy kind of evening,
everybody celebrating everybodyelse, and just a great community
from you know, suit and tiewearing folks to to the truck
driving families that win theirdogs because they all had their
(18:29):
dogs with them.
Next year we're gonna learnwe're gonna have dog treats at
our booth.
But yeah, it was Matt's was waswas great and special, and and
just it's always one of myfavorites.
SPEAKER_00 (18:39):
Look at that.
I mean, I mean, I wish I couldhave made it all the days.
I was only able to make for one,so unfortunately I had to keep
working, but uh yeah, it was along three days.
Yeah, oh I was so exhausted whenI got back to the hotel.
I just flopped on the bed.
I was like passed up.
SPEAKER_02 (18:56):
Yep.
SPEAKER_00 (18:57):
And yeah, but man, Matt's is a great place.
If you if you're a trucker outthere, please you have in your
career, you have to try to getto Matt's at least once.
I mean, that's I think is great.
I hope it never changes the thevibes that are going there, just
so nice, so very nice.
And then also, too, connectingon industry.
You mentioned you're wanting toconnect more with podcasters and
(19:19):
and voices in the industry.
Why is that so important rightnow?
SPEAKER_01 (19:22):
Well, I mean, obviously my job as director of
philanthropy is is to raisefunds.
But what I've discovered,because I just I just celebrated
my year anniversary oh, twoweeks ago.
So I'm I'm thrilled to be hereat St.
Christopher's.
But the one thing that we hearall the time is how did I not
know about you?
You know, we had one onelogistics company, we've been
here for 60 years.
(19:42):
How have I not heard about you?
And so that's always my firstand foremost is getting in front
of the people that can spreadthe word to their drivers,
whether it's state truckingassociations, you know, ATA,
Ambest has been fantastic too.
So women in trucking have beengreat.
Podcasters like you arephenomenal to help spread the
word.
I mean, Dave Memo was one of ourfounders, you know, and so as
(20:03):
long as we can, whether you needit yourself, I mean, maybe you
don't need it now, and you know,we hope you don't ever have to
need us, but maybe you will downthe road or you know somebody.
We we've had people that camethrough just over the weekend
and said, you know, my son hasbeen injured and I've been kind
of taking care of his bills.
And so we said, well, okay, sohe's in financial difficulty.
(20:24):
She said, Well, no, but I'vebeen paying his bills.
Yes, you've been paying hisbills.
Let us pay your bills, his billsfor him for a little while.
So that's that's my goal is toget in front of as many people
as we can.
You know, we've had some greattraction with Peppercom, who's a
marketing firm that has donateda lot of their time in getting
press releases out and gettingthe word about St.
Christopher.
So we've had some great tractionthere.
(20:45):
So we're definitely looking toexpand that.
We're we're looking to broadenthe people that we work with.
So we have, you know, pilot andTA and Shell Rotella and that
kind of a thing.
But we're looking, you know, theactual truck manufacturers, Mac
truck, Peterbilt, Vovel, thatkind of thing.
Great Dane kind of came in likethis last year and is a new spot
supporter last year for St.
(21:06):
Christopher.
So we're looking to broaden thatwith the insurance companies
that that support driversbecause you know, we can maybe
save some money out of yourpocket where we're helping the
drivers and we're all, you know,supporting the same cause.
So so yeah, I'm I'm prettyshameless about what I do and
being able to talk about it.
I mean, I was at Bucky's on theway home.
(21:27):
It was my first trip to aBucky's.
It was insane.
It was just insane.
But you're standing there inline waiting to pay for your
barbecue sandwich and yourbanana pudding, and you hear
conversations, and inevitablyyou go, Well, do you know what I
do for a living?
Like, we can help you, you know.
So wherever I go, it's justspreading the word of St.
Christopher's and all the goodstuff we do.
SPEAKER_00 (21:46):
Yeah, I mean, I mean, hopefully Bucky's can work
with uh truck parking club andget some places where we can
park right next there, becauseman, you know, no trucks
allowed.
I mean, I'm always gonna be hardon Buckys.
SPEAKER_01 (21:56):
They are.
If Bucky's, if y'all arelistening, if you know anybody,
you are you are missing out on agood segment of guys, is is you
know, that they're they're wild,but they're growing, racing what
they've done over the last threeyears.
But you know, just all theservices out there to help
drivers, I think that's agrowing segment.
And I think that's a wonderful,that's a wonderful thing to be
able to to say we've got youguys, our drivers have support.
SPEAKER_00 (22:19):
Yeah, I mean, they got a great business model for
making revenue.
I think they mentioned That atruck takes up more space, so
they they kind of targetfamilies that can come in and
and you know I that makes sense.
I get it.
It's nothing that we justthey're not opposed to truck
drivers, but they just don'tmake as much money on us, I
guess.
So I didn't know that.
But yeah, I mean you mentioneduh Dave Nemo.
(22:40):
I mean, those guys are doing agreat job.
I used to hear you guys on thereas well.
Yeah.
Um really sad that that showcame to an end and I he had to
reach out.
SPEAKER_01 (22:48):
I know, I know.
I saw saw Jimmy Mack when wewere over the weekend, and you
know, we've we've talked andtouched face, and and you know,
he's passionate about what we doand supporting drivers, even
though they're not on the radio.
You know, it kind of broke myheart when when Dave said, you
know, we kind of feel like thetrucking industry is done with
us.
No, I don't think so.
(23:08):
Um, I don't think he realizeshow much we appreciate
everything that he's done, notjust for us, because without him
and and the others, you know,St.
Christopher's wouldn't be here,but just for trucking in general
for the last umpteen years orhowever, well, what 50 some odd
years?
SPEAKER_00 (23:24):
Wow.
SPEAKER_01 (23:26):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (23:26):
So amazing.
Yeah, Jimmy Mack, man.
I love those guys.
So, yeah.
So thank you so much forbringing that up, uh, talking
about it, getting on withpodcasters.
We try to keep spreading theword for other podcasters to
have you on and talk about that.
So keep going with that.
And how can people get involved?
If someone's listening rightnow, what's an easier way for
them to get in there and supportwhat's going on over there for
(23:48):
you guys?
SPEAKER_01 (23:49):
Yeah, they can go to our brands thanking shiny new
website.
We're really proud of it.
It's truckersfund.org.
And if you are a driver thatneeds assistance, if you want to
learn how you can quitcigarettes or you want to get a
cancer screening kit, or if youwant to donate fund funds, it's
all right there.
Pretty easy to follow.
You're always welcome to give usa call and you know, we'll kind
(24:11):
of answer whatever questions youhave.
Like I said, we're we're we'rebased in Oxville, Tennessee, go
vault.
But you know, we cover thecountry and you know, we we
treat everybody like they'rejust down the road from us.
So, you know, we're not we'renot this big fancy schmancy
nonprofit.
We're just we're regular peoplelike everybody else, and we just
want to be there to help ourdrivers.
So go online, give us a call,find us on LinkedIn.
(24:33):
We've got, you know, Twitter orX, I guess is what the kids call
it now.
We even have Instagram and allthat kind of thing.
So we're we're out there forsure.
SPEAKER_00 (24:43):
What's the numbers that if we can share um what's
the numbers of percentage ofwhere the money where which way
it goes or the bulk of ourfunding that we do goes to help
paying mortgage and rent,obviously.
SPEAKER_01 (24:54):
I think that's just that's just to scale.
Um and then it goes down, Ithink, electrical or you know,
electricity and stuff, justbecause again, things are so
insanely extensive.
And then just as far as healthand wellness is is is you know,
we see a lot of folks with heartdisease, we see a lot of people
with diabetes.
Those are kind of those top uhillnesses and injuries that that
(25:15):
we see down the road.
And then with our cancerscreenings, you know, our
numbers have have risen a lot onthose, just people being a
little bit more aware, being alot more proactive.
You know, you can get vaccines,you can get flu, pneumonia,
covet, shingles, you can stop atany of the different sites that
we have across the country thatpartner with us where you you
(25:36):
register for that vaccine and weget you set up and then you can
go and stay healthy, not not getthe flu and not get COVID and
and shingles, which are terribleif you've never had them.
And so yeah, we we we'regrowing.
We want we want the health partto grow, maybe not so much the
the help and you know, we helppeople stay healthy, but I'm
always out there.
We had a great year with oursponsors as far as you know,
(25:59):
bringing in funding.
They had the goal of of drivento a million.
We we we cracked a million thisthis year, which is great again,
considering what the economy is.
You know, you've got donors outthere that are are given less,
but but not in our world.
Our our donors are are here forthe long haul and you're just
support drivers.
So if you are one of my donorsand you have not gotten a
(26:20):
handwritten note from me, justtake your time and you'll get
one of them in the mail.
But we we appreciate everybodythat supports, whether, you
know, it's when we hadvolunteers Thursday night at the
auction that helped us set upfor that, you know, people that
have gone through and helpedsort through our medical files
as we we do have a bit of apaper process.
You know, we have an amazingboard of directors that is
active and involved and lovewhat we do from all sorts of
(26:42):
segments of the industry.
And so we've been very blessed.
We're we are small but mighty.
You know, we're a very smallstaff, we have a very small
overhead because we want allthat money to go directly to the
to the drivers.
SPEAKER_00 (26:53):
Nice.
That's awesome.
And and that's a that's a bigdifference where people want to
give give their money and donatebecause if they know like maybe
only two percent is going, theykind of get a little reluctant.
So good job, guys.
And you got a pet programcoming, or you already have
that, or what are you gonna say?
SPEAKER_01 (27:09):
Um right now it's it's it's our cervical cancer.
We're really we're reallyexcited about that.
SPEAKER_00 (27:14):
Um I mean for animals.
SPEAKER_01 (27:16):
Oh, for animals, you know, okay.
So one of the things I've got inmy brain talking with the folks
at Road Dog Care Company, andwe've been working for them.
I don't know if you know Bob andhis crew, they they do great
things.
And so May is pet appreciationmonth, and you've got 50% of
drivers out there that drivewith a four-legged friend.
I got to, I was going throughdog withdrawal myself for four
(27:38):
days.
I didn't have access to mypuppy, although he's a 95-pound
puppy, so I don't really know ifthat's a correct term for him.
But so we're we're gonna do kindof like what Shell Rotella does
with the super rigs.
We want to do a smaller versionof that, or at least start out
small, and have drivers submitpictures of their little
four-legged friends.
Although there is a driver Ithink that travels with goats,
(27:59):
and there's one that I think haslike a chameleon or something.
I don't to each its own.
So we're gonna have the dog carecategory, and then we're gonna
have the other.
And so we're still kind ofbanging out the the details on
that one, but that way everybodycan go and vote on our social
medias as to, you know, bestdog, best scene at picture.
We're still working on the onthe categories on that one, and
and the goal is to have it whereyou can win your own road dog
(28:20):
care company.
And so they have great productsthat if you're on the road and
you know, you you can't reallyshower or whatever, and and
they've got body wipes andthey've got you know deodorants
and that kind of a thing.
And you know, we've we've heardfrom our own drivers that we've
kind of helped that their bodywipes are really good.
They're they're big, they don'tget in your beard, they don't
disintegrate.
(28:41):
So I can I can vouch for theirenergy drinks as well.
Even I need a little energy, butthen they also have another side
to it where it's you can takecare of your dog, they have dry
shampoo for your dog, they havebody wipes.
And I have used the dry shampooon my big old baby boy because
he's a Rhodesian Ridgeback, andyou're not really supposed to
give them a lot of baths becausethey don't have an undercoat.
(29:01):
They were they're African dogsthat were bred to hunt lions,
he's just been killing sockstoday, but I can attest to to
the products that they serve.
So we're gonna kind of kind ofpiggyback with them and kind of
come up with something fun.
And you know, we all love ourkids, but Charlie's my second
baby, and so we're gonna giveeverybody an opportunity to show
off their little fur babies.
SPEAKER_00 (29:22):
Nice.
Yeah, I remember you having thedogs on it on the last episode,
so yeah, it was nice.
Yeah, we love our animals, soyeah, that's that's really good.
That's a great idea, and it's agreat project to get started and
hopefully it goes through, yeah.
So we can see the results onthat as well for a lot of
truckers out there.
So, yeah, man, that's great.
I'm so happy for you guys, andso happy for a lot of the
(29:44):
truckers in the community.
I see a lot of great thingshappening here.
So we really appreciate youcoming on the show.
And uh, at the end of the day,the industry runs on people when
life happens.
Yeah, it will, it matters who isthere and and what they're able
to do to help these individuals.
And like I said, that St.
Christopher's Relief TruckTrucking Relief Fund there.
I mean, you guys are doing greatthings.
(30:04):
Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_01 (30:05):
Well, thank you, and thanks to everybody that
supports us.
We can't we can't do it withoutthem.
SPEAKER_00 (30:09):
Yeah, so we'll make sure drivers out there aren't
alone, you know, that they canget things that are real to help
them get through life.
Diane, really appreciate youcoming on the show.
And uh, what's the best way forpeople to reach out to you so
they don't get lost?
I mean, there's a lot ofinformation out there.
SPEAKER_01 (30:23):
Yeah, just you I mean, you can Google St.
Christopher's Truckers Fund, butjust truckersfund.org.
That's our handle for ourLinkedIn and our Facebook and
our website as well.
So pretty easy to follow us.
SPEAKER_00 (30:34):
Easy, nice.
So, Diane, really appreciate youcoming back on the show, talking
with us.
I know there's a lot of goodthings coming, and I know you
guys are also looking to expandsocial media and outreach and
get people more aware of what'sgoing on.
So, I really hope that worksout.
And uh, so anybody out there,please share this episode with
someone you know, someone youlove.
If you see what you like andlike what you hear, please share
(30:56):
it with a fan.
Subscribe to that's delivered,and uh, we'll be sure to come
out with more episodes like thisfor you to enjoy and be aware of
for professionals to to knowwhat the industry has to offer,
not for just trucking, but alsofor life.
You know, I got my shirt tootrying to support.
Love that, love that hard outhere for a trucker.
So on the back it says hard outhere for a trucker.
SPEAKER_01 (31:19):
I I was saying this weekend, we I saw so many neat
shirts.
I'm like, we need to come upwith our own for St.
Christopher's.
It's kind of funny.
SPEAKER_00 (31:25):
So t shirts is the way to go, even if you know that
you're not selling a ton ofthem, it's just nice, it's fun.
Put put the stuff out there forpeople to enjoy.
Yeah, yeah.
I like t shirts.
All right, well, thank you,Diane.
Thank you so much for your time.
I'll go ahead and get thisepisode sent out for you.
For anyone out there listening,please share it with someone you
know and be sure to check outTrucker's Release Truckers Fund
(31:47):
Truckers.org.
There you go.
SPEAKER_01 (31:50):
All right, thanks.
SPEAKER_00 (31:51):
Thank you.
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