December 29, 2024 • 51 mins
Step into the world of entertainment trucking with Danielle Cessna, a pioneering force in a field often dominated by men. Hear Danielle's inspiring story of transformation, from delivering bread in a box truck to leading a fleet of big rigs across the country. Learn how a Facebook ad changed her career path and discover the unique challenges she faces maneuvering massive vehicles through the bustling entertainment circuit. Danielle's journey is a testament to resilience, and her insights provide a fresh perspective on the gender dynamics and evolving culture within the trucking industry.
Peek behind the curtain of entertainment trucking as Danielle contrasts the differences between freight and her current role, where she transports high-value equipment from venue to venue. With an impressive narrative of her rise as the only female lead driver in her company, Danielle shares the nuances of managing diverse team personalities and the importance of seamless communication on tours. Her reflections shed light on the camaraderie, challenges, and financial aspects of the job, offering a raw look at a world few truly understand.
Listeners will also appreciate Danielle's candid advice on maintaining a balanced lifestyle on the road. From sampling delectable treats at a charming Wisconsin truck stop to her strategies for staying fit, Danielle's anecdotes are as informative as they are entertaining. She emphasizes the importance of finding the right niche within the trucking industry and touches on the adaptive measures taken post-COVID to ensure drivers remain successful. Don't miss this episode if you're curious about the life of an entertainment industry driver and the inspiring tale of a woman thriving in a male-dominated field.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey girl, I see you've come a long, long way.
You're not alone anymore.
Come sit with me and tell meyour story.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
You've come a long way, girl.
Pulled yourself out of quitethe mess.
Those were some dark times backthen, but it's all over now.
You're not alone anymore.
Come sit with me and tell meyour story this is trucking with
(00:37):
tainty.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Way journeys heard and your voice is free.
You're not alone.
Come share your story with me.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Good afternoon and welcome to Truckin' with Tammy.
I am your host, tammy.
Today's guest is Danielle Sutma.
Danielle is joining us.
From where are you at today,danielle?
Speaker 4 (01:02):
Hendersonville, Tennessee.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
I didn't know, because I know you've been
bouncing all over the place withthe tour lately.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Yeah, I just got back from Oklahoma.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Nice.
So Danielle is a driver in theentertainment segment.
She comes to us with 14 yearsof driving experience, eight of
those in the entertainmentsegment, and we're going to get
the ins and outs of Danielle'strucking career and see what she
has to say about thosewonderful 14 years as a woman
(01:33):
out here.
So, Danielle, how in the worlddid you get into trucking?
Speaker 4 (01:41):
I just woke up one morning decided to drive a big
truck.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Is there drivers in your family?
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Anybody no, everybody went into the military or
something along those lines, andI was delivering bread in a box
truck and I decided to drivesomething bigger.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
So what was the appeal?
Speaker 4 (02:02):
So what was the appeal?
The size of the vehicle, Iguess.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Just something.
The challenge Now were youlooking to go over the road when
you started your career or didyou think I'll deliver bread?
Still, I'll just do it.
You know.
Dc versus to the store.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
I honestly had no insight on it, so I just kind of
went with the flow and found acompany whenever I first started
, did my year and then switchedto a different company and spent
four years there and then cameover to StageCall.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
So when you started your career and you started
school, did you think, oh no,what did I get myself into?
Or were you like yes, this isexactly the challenge I wanted.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
It was the challenge that I wanted and it was
interesting because I was theonly female in my class.
Everybody else were males.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
And I put through that I had a couple girls of
mine, because we were a prettybig group.
But how did the guys handle youbeing there?
Were they pretty good about it?
Did you have?
Any challenges.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
They were pretty good .
A lot of them would apologizeif they cussed in front of me or
said something you knowderogatory, in a way, like a
dirty joke or something likethat, which doesn't bother me
any, but they respected that Iwas standing there and said, oh
sorry.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
That's good.
Were you in the Midwest or downsouth when you went to school?
Yes, out of Arkansas, yeah, sodown there they're still saying
yes, ma'am sir.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Yeah, I can see that.
So did you go to a college foryour school or did you go to one
of the shorter programs?
Speaker 4 (03:45):
It was actually a 25-week program that happened at
night, so that way I couldstill work during the day, and
they got you ready for thewritten test and then also the
road test.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Nice, so 25 weeks at night so the one thing that
everybody hates driving at night.
You, literally that's how youstarted.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Oh, I love it.
I prefer driving at night.
There's nobody else out.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
So have you stayed with nights then throughout your
career?
Speaker 4 (04:12):
then as much as I can , especially with entertainment,
because you'll load up at nightand then drive to the next
venue, so all your driving ismostly at nighttime.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Yeah, and I've hit the entertainment industry part
of it a little bit, because it'sreally interesting and a lot of
people have a.
There's a lot of myths with it.
I want to say we had a littleshort stunt with it a few years
ago with my drivers and it'sdifferent when you're in it and
you know a lot of people see itdifferently than what it really
(04:43):
is.
I want to say, say, but beforewe get to the trucking industry,
let's talk about how you gotthere.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
So you started out you were hauling dry van and
reefer yes, so I started out dryvan first, for, you know, a
typical starter up company andthen I hauled reefer for about a
year and a half and then wentright back to dry van, because
that's when I switched to adifferent company that was out
of Springfield, missouri, andstayed there for a while and
(05:13):
then switched over to thiscompany.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
So when you got your first year experience?
I hear a lot of women have goodand bad experiences.
I myself did not have a a badone when I came out, but you
were pretty young when youstarted your trucking career.
At that age, you were 22, um.
So a 22 year old female comingout in a very male-dominated
world, how did your trainers,how did that situation go for
(05:41):
you?
Speaker 4 (05:41):
um, I didn't have a bad situation.
Um, I did have a male trainer,um, but he was very respectful
and you know nothing.
Uh, weird there.
Um, I still get it to this day.
People ask me you drive thatthing?
I'm like, yes, I do.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
No, no, somebody else is sitting in there waiting,
know, driving it for me, and Ijust get to look pretty in the
driver's seat when I get outyeah, I, I pulled up to the fuel
island there, so and you knowit wasn't really me right so
your first year was it what you,when you got into trucking and
you were going through beingaway from home and over the road
(06:24):
and doing that first year, howdid that go for you?
Speaker 4 (06:27):
um, I think it went pretty easy.
It was a little bit toacclimate to, uh, being gone and
being over the road trying toplan your day, because people
don't realize the necessitiesthey have at home as far as a
bathroom and shower and food allthe time right there next to
you, whereas as a truck driveryou have to go down the road and
you have to plan your trip soyou're not late for your
(06:50):
deliveries or pickups yeah, andtraining that ladder is one of
the hardest things you have todo you know there's not always a
semi-accessible restroom closeyes, exactly.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
So what was the biggest struggle that you had?
Or I don't really want to sayproblem, but you know our first
year.
There's always somethingobstacle, struggle, something
that we have to overcome.
What was yours?
Speaker 4 (07:22):
I would say there, the long days sitting and
driving for long distances.
I was not used to driving thatmuch, so I think that was the
hardest thing.
A lot of people say it's thebacking into the docks where I
think that's where I was kind ofat an advantage with the school
(07:42):
that I went through because wedid a lot of backing, so I think
that kind of helped me.
Once I was kind of at anadvantage with the school that I
went through because we did alot of backing, so I think that
kind of helped me once I was outby myself.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
So yours was the driving for long hours, which is
exhausting and people don'trealize they're like oh you just
sit and drive.
Speaker 4 (07:57):
Right.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
But it's very, very exhausting.
So is there any lessons youlearned your first year that you
think a new driver um would getgood advice from you?
Definitely?
Speaker 4 (08:10):
yeah definitely trip planning is the biggest thing
because people get flusteredwith the e-logs and, honestly,
it will help you.
You just have to plan out yourday for it and um learning when
to stop to find parking, soyou're not having to make a spot
(08:31):
and try and sleep withoutsomebody trying to wake you up
and say you have to move.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
So so working nights about the time you would park?
Generally that's probably ahard time to find a decent space
because they're pretty full andthen people have made spots,
which makes it even morecomplicated.
How do you handle that?
Speaker 4 (08:53):
um well, driving at night it's not too bad,
especially if you plan to stoparound eight or nine in the
morning.
Then everybody else uh will be.
You know what did.
What do people call them?
Solar drivers will be leavingas you're coming in, so you kind
of have a better chance offinding parking than you would
if you're driving during the dayand then trying to park eight
(09:15):
or nine o'clock at night.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Yeah, I used to ride and do.
We would have to park betweenthree and four o'clock in the
morning sometimes and that isalmost impossible.
Yes, maneuver around the truckso I can see where eight or nine
o'clock would be a much bettertime frame to find a spot yes,
definitely, and if you do get toa crowded place, this is, I
(09:39):
think, another thing that peopledon't take into account.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
They forget how long they are and don't use the space
and they start taking outpeople's hoods.
So, yeah, not paying attention,is you know?
They really need to payattention to their turns?
Speaker 3 (09:57):
my favorite is the rest areas where you have both
sides with parking and peoplewon't pull up far enough.
So the rear and you're tryingto maneuver in between those
vehicles and you're like this,far away from the back of them,
trying to get through yeah,there was one time I actually
had to wake a couple people upbecause you couldn't get through
and there was people behind me.
Speaker 4 (10:17):
I'm like there's no way I'm getting through.
My mirror is on this person'strailer, so they're're going to
have to move up.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Move up, move back something let's go through.
So, are you now family-like?
What's family-like like for you?
Are you married kids?
Speaker 4 (10:37):
I'm single, no kids.
I have family in Arkansas,washington State, Missouri,
pennsylvania.
So usually as I'm going through, I'll be like can I borrow your
couch for a couple days?
Speaker 3 (10:48):
right and go visit, which is my yes because I
imagine, being on theentertainment, and here we go,
we are going to talkentertainment industry here.
Um, being on the entertainmentindustry, you have to make a
commitment to it, for so you, ahome time isn't uh like every
two weeks or every week, like alot of drivers like exactly.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
A lot of people ask you know, how do I get into the
entertainment industry?
And I ask them the first thingis well, how much time do you
want home?
Because I literally live on mytruck.
I don't, you know, I don't havea home of my own.
Um, to give a good example, mymain tour that I'm going to be
on is going until June of nextyear and we sit so long at a
(11:31):
certain venue, load up, go toanother venue and sit again.
If I get lucky enough to gothrough the house, then I'll
stop and visit as long as I can.
That's something people have ahard time with moving from
freight to entertainment,because you're not getting paid
by the mile, you're getting paidby the day, so you're not
(11:53):
running for those miles, and alot of freight haulers will come
in thinking oh, I got to move,move, move, because if the
wheels aren't turning I'm notmaking money.
But then it'll click in yourhead oh wait, I am making money,
I don't have to worry about it.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Right right, I'm making money regardless of what
I'm doing, so that's a good wayto look at it.
So how did entertainment comeabout for you?
Speaker 4 (12:16):
I found an ad on Facebook and I'm like, oh, that
sounds fun, I will apply.
The worst they can say is no,and I got hired after.
I guess it was 2017, in January.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
And so backing in the entertainment industry is very
challenging.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
Yes, it's another hurdle people come into because
you're actually out with a leaddriver.
I know with my company, if it'sthree trucks or more, you'll
have a lead driver.
I know with my company, if it'sthree trucks or more, you'll
have a lead driver.
That person goes in betweenproduction and the other drivers
.
They're also in charge ofsetting up parking and backing
the trucks in, because we willgo to some places that are very,
(12:59):
very tight.
They weren't made for 53-foottrailers, let alone an extended.
They weren't made for 53-foottrailers, let alone an extended
sleeper cab.
So backing in is the leaddriver's job and the driver of
that truck has to really listenand it becomes a struggle for
them to listen to somebody elseto back them in.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
But if they would just let the lead driver do
their job, it actually goesreally smooth.
So when you apply and knowingsome of the ins and outs and the
difficulties of this job,especially in the entertainment
industry the hiring companieshow do they approach that with
you?
Do they say, hey, this is thegood and bad about what you're
looking for.
Are you still interested?
You know, is there a differencebetween applying to an
entertainment industry companyversus a regular driving company
(13:53):
?
Speaker 4 (13:54):
I think so, because most entertainment companies
will want you to have threeyears experience because of the
challenging places we have to go, and I mean we're hauling
trailers that are worth, youknow, $2 million, $3 million
worth of gear inside and youknow you have to be on your A
game to get from one place toanother in time.
(14:16):
And then, whenever I hired on,they asked if I wanted to speak
to another driver and I said yes, absolutely.
So I got to ask them questionsAnytime.
Somebody you know asked mequestions about the you know the
company or the industry itself.
I always try to give out, youknow, if they want to ever call
(14:36):
me sometime, if they'reinterested, I'll give them the
company's name and phone numberfor the recruiter and they can
always call me if they haveadditional questions so, being
in the entertainment industry,you work with a group of drivers
, and each concert or each tourrequires a different set amount
(14:59):
of drivers, so you guys are witheach other every day throughout
this time period, correct?
Speaker 3 (15:06):
How many people on general do you work with?
Speaker 4 (15:10):
It can range anywhere from a one truck tour, so you
have to deal with yourself andsometimes that's the hardest
thing of all, or I know ofpeople that are out on 26 truck
tours, and that's a lot ofpersonalities to deal with.
At this company I'm the onlyfemale lead driver.
I prefer the smaller.
I prefer the smaller tours.
(15:31):
It's less personalities to dealwith.
I hand out a little worddocument of you know rules to
follow while out on tour.
One of the things that peopleseem to like not follow
sometimes is if you have aproblem with someone, either
deal with it or just stay inyour truck.
You don't have to be near thatperson.
(15:53):
So, cause you're with eachother so much, you're gonna, you
know, start to bump heads everynow and then, just because
that's just normal.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
So yeah, and we're so used to be by ourselves in our
truck right For hours on end.
So, yeah, you start having tospend all that time with another
personality and it'soverwhelming for some people.
So you are the only female lead, but how many actual females do
you guys have?
Speaker 4 (16:22):
I want to say we have about 10 female drivers at this
company and we're about a 100truck company, so about 10%.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
That is really good percentage.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
Yes, actually, on the tour that my main tour we have
three female drivers and thenone male driver.
We call him our honorary femaledriver and he goes along with
it.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Just one of the girls , so how long?
Have you been a lead.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
I've been a lead for almost eight years or well, I
guess it'd be seven and a halfyears.
So I started six months after Istarted at Stage Call.
That was after a recommendationfrom another lead driver after
working with him, so I got totrain under other leads and then
moved into my own tour leadsand then moved into my own uh
(17:15):
tour.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Yeah, so as a team lead, I mean you obviously have
to to be able to manage allthose different personalities.
Um, without you know, you can'tbe too soft, you can't be too
mean.
You gotta find that middleground with them.
How do you do it?
Speaker 4 (17:26):
uh, I've always been told I'm too nice, so, but I
have a very calm personality, soI think that's what helps um,
everything work out.
Plus, at the end of the day,I'm just another driver with you
guys.
We're all trying to worktogether as a team to get this
done.
So if we work together, it makesit so much easier you get much
(17:49):
pushback with that from driverssometimes, and I hate to say it
older male drivers have atendency not to want to listen
to me, I think, because one myage and I'm a female, which I
can't hold it against them toomuch because that's just how
they are and I just try to do myjob the best I can yeah, I know
(18:09):
that.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
You see, I've been driving for 20 years.
Oh, we get that all the timefreight haulers coming in.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
They're like I've been doing this for 30 years,
okay.
Well, this is different youknow, right, I'm not saying you
don't know how to do your job.
I'm just saying we have alittle bit different way of
doing it here.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Yeah, and there's a lot different in the
entertainment industry.
It's not just, you know,somebody maneuvering you to back
, it's the lifestyle.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
Yes all drivers are given a laminate and you have to
be careful with laminates.
Some people get a littleoverzealous with social media.
You have to be very carefulwhat you post and where you post
it, because some of these tours, even when you sign on with a
company, most companies have uhsocial media guidelines on um,
(18:59):
if the public can post, you know, take a picture of it and post
it, then you're okay to do that.
Uh, my rule of thumb I justdon't check into venues or
things like that sort, just not,so I'm not highlighting exactly
what I'm hauling, cause youdon't know what people are
following you on Facebook or anyother type of social media.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
Which is not just a entertainment industry safety
issue.
That is a safety issue forwomen, regardless of the freight
.
Speaker 4 (19:28):
Yeah, that's true?
Speaker 3 (19:30):
Yeah, I, as a rule of thumb, I am.
When I first came out here, Iused to always tag my location
for family and friends, but then, as a woman, there are men who
you know will find somebody thatthey want to target and you
know your location to them couldbe dangerous for you.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
Yeah, thankfully, I've only ever had one incident.
It was in Memphis and Granted,I had one of my headphones in so
I was listening to music, notpaying attention to my
surroundings.
Thankfully, I don't think hewas meant meaning to be harmful.
I think he was coming up to askme for money, but he was drunk
and he tripped and it caused awhole kerfuffle.
(20:09):
And money, but he was drunk andhe tripped and it caused a
whole kerfuffle and uh, ended upwith a nice bruise on my face
and people were like what onearth happened?
Speaker 3 (20:15):
I'm like it's a big story yeah, drunk and unsteady
is rough, but I hope you're okay, oh yeah, I was fine.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
there was a driver in the truck next in another fuel
island.
He got out, pulled the guy offof me.
The security officer inside thetruck stop came out and you
know was talking to him and I'mlike I'm fine.
I ended up actually having aconcussion, but didn't know it,
oh my gosh.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
Over a drunk guy at the fuel island.
That is crazy.
That is crazy.
For a drunk guy at the fuelisland, that is crazy, that is
crazy.
So, uh, being entertainmentindustry, one of the biggest
myths, I've heard a driver'sthink it's party time because
he's going with the bandcompletely opposite and
unfortunately, that's what a lotof uh.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
you get the nickname as a poser if you start hanging
around inside all the time,which really that doesn't look
good for the driver becauseproduction's like, well, this
person's not sleeping, how arethey going to get to the next
venue safely?
You know, because while theshow's going on you're supposed
to be sleeping.
That doesn't mean we can't goinside.
You can use the restroom, getfood, do what you need to do,
(21:26):
but you're supposed to limityour time just so you're rested
for the next night or that nightfor the next drive.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
So one of the perks of being a driver is the food,
though.
Speaker 4 (21:38):
So yeah definitely free food.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
They set up a pretty good buffet or spread a food
when you are on site on locationcorrect.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
Correct.
It'll usually be just the showdays or if you have what they
call a pre-rig day, which theybring in the rigging equipment
that goes up in the air, lightsand motors and things of that
sort they'll set up the daybefore.
And it also depends on the tour.
The smaller the tour, the lesschance of actually having
(22:14):
catering.
So that is a perk of being ontour.
I have to tell people when I'mout on my Broadway tours we do
not get catering, so you'regoing to have to plan your meals
.
Every now and then a venue willprovide a loadout meal, but
that's very rare sometimes.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
And what about showering facilities when you're
on those doors?
Speaker 4 (22:40):
So I always tell the drivers you can do the showers.
The older the theater, theworse the showers are, only
because those are the lastthings to be upgraded.
In an older theater, uh, youhave to wait about 30 minutes
for the water to get evenlukewarm, and uh, the rule of
(23:00):
thumb for showers is to be donebefore the artist or the cast
comes in.
That way, you're out of the way, so they can do what they need
to do.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
Okay, so you are the drivers, you're also the set
crew.
This is a big crew with all thepieces having to work together.
So is there a rhythm that youguys have so that you can
schedule that you have to abideby for eating showers, so that
(23:30):
everybody gets taken care of?
Speaker 4 (23:32):
Yes, with the bigger tours you kind of have to set up
a schedule so everybody can getthe showers done.
Usually, with catering, you'llhave breakfast from 7 to 10,
lunch 12 to 3, and then dinner 5to 8.
And you know you can go induring those times to eat, and
(23:56):
sometimes it depends on thevenue.
Obviously they don't want youhanging out in catering,
obviously.
But you know, go in, eat If youwant to.
You know, take a water back toyour truck or something like
that.
They just don't want you tofill your truck with food and
drinks because there are otherpeople that have to eat.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
Right, and I would imagine the time for you are
different than the actual bandand the headliners their time as
well.
Speaker 4 (24:26):
Yes, so usually band and the lead singer or whoever
whatever it is, will come in inthe afternoon.
If it's an overnight, they'llusually travel with the cast bus
or the crew buses as well toget there and they'll be
sleeping during the day whilethey're setting up and then
they'll get up and do the soundcheck and get ready for their
(24:50):
show.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
But the access to the drivers, I think is what I'm
trying to get, is they don'thave access to those members,
correct, well?
Speaker 4 (25:00):
I mean technically, yes, we do, but you're held to a
higher professional standard,to.
Yes, you have an all accesspass, but you're not supposed to
misuse that x all-access passright.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
So it basically what if there's a your favorite
singer and you are um drivingand you're hollering for them
and you see them, it can't belike, oh my god, you know, yeah,
you can't turn it you can'tturn into a fan girl.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
Uh out on tour, uh in .
You want to hold a professionalmanner at all times just
because, at the end of the day,they're a person just like you.
They have a job to do.
You have a job to do so nowthat's oh sorry, go ahead no no,
go ahead oh, I was gonna saythat doesn't mean if, uh, the
band member or the singer youknow says hi to you or starts
(25:54):
talking to you, it doesn't meanyou ignore them.
You know you can be polite, um,you just don't want to go out
of your way to you know exactlyyes.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
So how do new drivers to the tour normally and do
they have that adjustment period?
Do you have to really um hammerthat home that they can't be
fangirls and fanboys?
Speaker 4 (26:18):
yes, and unfortunately you know there are
drivers out there who don'tabide by that and you know will
be in places they shouldn't beand they have to have a talking
to.
But majority of entertainmentdrivers will be professional at
all times.
I think it.
I always tell people it's athree to six month adjustment
period going from freight toentertainment, because one's
(26:40):
schedule, the type of lifestyleit is, is different than freight
hauling.
You are set to a specificschedule.
So whereas freight you may havea few hours here and there you
can just kind of, you know, doyour own thing, whereas
entertainment you may have a 400mile overnight that you have to
(27:01):
get to and there's no time forstopping.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Right.
So what are the biggestpositives about being a woman in
the entertainment segment oftransportation?
Speaker 4 (27:16):
I don't know.
I've never noticed a difference.
I have talked to older femaledrivers in this industry.
There was a lot of hazing.
I guess that would happenprobably 20 years ago, Whereas
when I came in, none of that wasactually happening.
I had a great support system.
My mom actually prefers mebeing in entertainment because
(27:41):
I'm around other drivers.
I'm not by myself all the timeanymore, so I have that support
system.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Safer.
That's what I'm thinking.
Since you have that network ofpeople that you're with all the
time, it seems to be a saferenvironment.
Speaker 4 (27:55):
Yeah, you get to.
You have more of a buddy systemwhen you're out here rather
than where freight you're justby yourself.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
So what's the biggest downplay to that downfall to
the entertainment industry?
Speaker 4 (28:10):
I would have to say the home time for most people,
for me.
I'm not married, I have no kids, so it really doesn't bother me
any.
My family has been used to mebeing over the road for so long
that it doesn't phase themanymore.
I just had a hiccup missingChristmas because I forgot to
send an email.
I got so excited about goinghome for Christmas and I was
telling everybody about it, Iforgot to send an email.
I got so excited about goinghome for Christmas and I was
(28:31):
telling everybody about it, Iforgot to send an email.
So, those plans kind of gotsquashed and we planned it for a
different time.
So it's just one of thosethings they're kind of used to
it.
Oh, you know, Danielle had hermoment.
We'll have to change the plans.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
Right, right, yeah Well, at least you, you know you
forgot to do it right yes it'sbetter, when we mess up, to
understand that we messed upthan if somebody else messed up
and caused us to mess up yes,exactly.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
Uh, with this industry you definitely have to
be flexible.
Uh, until you're actually outon the tour.
Don't get set in your schedule,because I had my schedule
changed three different times inone day.
They're like we're going to putyou on this, and then about two
hours later I got another phonecall Never mind, we're putting
you on this.
And then about four hours later, I got another phone call
(29:25):
Squash all that.
We're putting you on somethingelse.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
I'm like okay, so once the tour is set, though
when you're on, is there muchchange that that happens?
Speaker 4 (29:35):
typically no, because all the venues are already
booked.
People are buying tickets um.
Most tours are booked outtechnically a year in advance,
if not more, depending on thattour, because they have to get
in with certain venues and getinto their schedule.
Speaker 3 (29:53):
Now would your employer pull you off a tour to
put you on another one normally,or do they like to keep the
same crew throughout?
Speaker 4 (30:01):
Typically they like to keep the same people
throughout, especially leaddrivers.
Lead drivers usually won't getpulled off of a tour, unless
somebody has some sort ofvacation that was planned ahead
of time or, god forbid, amedical emergency, family
emergency.
Then most drivers will stay onthe same tour.
Speaker 3 (30:21):
Okay, and how many months of the year are you out?
Speaker 4 (30:27):
I just say I'm out 365 days a year.
I'll plan vacation here andthere.
Every year my mom and I go on amother-daughter trip, we go on
some sort of cruise or, you know, go exploring somewhere.
So I plan those out and then Ilet the company know I'm like I
need these two weeks.
Everything else, you know.
Just put me on what you need me.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
So do you guys do the tours 12 months of the year
then, or does the entertainmentindustry have a downtime?
Speaker 4 (30:56):
um, I mean, typical downtime is winter time.
However, you'll have some toursthat will keep moving, which is
good.
Um, like, my tour coming upwill go back out january 5th and
go until June, and there's nomore downtime during those six
months.
Speaker 3 (31:14):
So you're off, so are you home then until January 5th
.
Speaker 4 (31:18):
I'm doing little things here and there, what they
call one-off tours, which islike a show you go in, deliver
it and then leave, or you'll goin, deliver, load back up and
then go back and take the gearwherever it needs to go.
Speaker 3 (31:32):
Nice, nice, nice.
So let's talk money.
Everybody heard about TaylorSwift's drivers getting a huge
bonus, which was really nice,but how does pay work in the
transportation industry?
Speaker 4 (31:48):
I know every company is different, but from what I've
understood, most entertainmentcompanies do do a salary type
pay where you're getting paidper day as long as you're
available to work and that'syour base pay.
When you're actually out ontour, you'll get extra pay, what
they call your travel pay.
(32:09):
Lead drivers will get extra payas well.
Certain tours will give theirbonuses, but they will never be
like Taylor Swift, and I have afeeling there is way more to
that than people are actuallysaying, because I'm sure there's
a catch somewhere.
Speaker 3 (32:26):
Yeah, that was a pretty good bonus.
So what is the average sizebonus that you guys get?
Speaker 4 (32:32):
I've heard anywhere from 500 to 1500, depending on
the length of the tour, andagain, depending on the size of
the tour will make a differenceas well.
Speaker 3 (32:42):
So and that comes directly from the tour to you
guys Correct yes really nice fora job Well done.
Speaker 4 (32:50):
It is Uh, and most companies will follow uh.
File a W2 or W4, whatever it is.
You have to fill out the form,so you get, you have to pay your
taxes on it and then you'll getthe rest of it.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
So what's the average salary that they can expect in
the entertainment industry?
Speaker 4 (33:09):
I've heard companies starting as low as $200 a day,
so that's, you know, $1,400 aweek just starting out and not
doing anything but showing up.
And then most companies willpay you per diem or you'll get
that at the end of the year.
That's the same for any truckdriver.
Because you're out on the road,you'll get that at the end of
the year.
That's the same for any truckdriver.
(33:30):
Because you're out on the road,you get that extra money there.
Travel days, you get what theycall hotel buyouts money.
So that ranges depending oncompany, anywhere from 50 to 80
a day depending on the tour andthe company.
Speaker 3 (33:48):
I think so are a lot of drivers making upwards of six
figures, then, or I mean,what's the average?
Speaker 4 (33:56):
I know lead drivers can definitely make up over six
figures.
Starting out, you're looking atabout $80,000 a year and then
it goes up from there.
Speaker 3 (34:08):
That's not too bad, though.
I mean, if you don't mind notbeing home and you know working
nights and a tight schedule.
You know if that's somethinginteresting.
Speaker 4 (34:21):
I mean the pay isn't horrible for the environment,
that you're working in, runfreight and make more money.
But then you have to rely onthose miles, whereas in this
industry, as long as you'rethere to and you're available to
work, you're getting a paycheck.
You don't have to.
You know count miles, you don'thave to worry about it.
(34:42):
It's going to be the same, aslong as you're available to work
.
Speaker 3 (34:45):
Right, so you've been with your company.
You're a lead driver.
What's your next?
Speaker 4 (34:49):
step, eventually going part-time and maybe having
a real life.
Speaker 3 (34:55):
I have no idea you think, after 14 years you may be
ready for a real life Just alittle bit.
Speaker 4 (35:03):
My goal is to eventually have some land, build
a little barnaminium and, youknow, just kind of hang out on
the porch and hunt and gofishing and do whatever I want
to do so are you.
Speaker 3 (35:15):
Do you have any hobbies while you're on the road
that you do besides trucking?
Speaker 4 (35:20):
um, I'll go to the gun range a lot, especially with
some other drivers.
We enjoy going and just tearingup some paper and getting out
of the trucks.
Uh, walking around the downtowncities is a lot of fun because
you get to find some of thoselittle small stores or
restaurants and you get to findsome of the hidden gems of
downtown areas.
Speaker 3 (35:41):
What's your favorite restaurant or little gems that
you've found so far?
Speaker 4 (35:46):
It was a little mom and pop place in New Jersey.
It's right across the streetfrom a theater up there and it
was owned by a Polish couple andvery, very nice people.
A couple of us went in thereand we were talking to the owner
and they were asking usquestions about the trucks,
about the tour and you know, wewere just having a good old time
talking and it was really goodfood.
Speaker 3 (36:08):
Oh man, those little mom, mom and pops are the best.
Speaker 4 (36:11):
They really are.
We found another one.
It's in Madison, wisconsin, Ithink it is.
There's a TA and then down thestreet is, you know, an
off-brand truck stop.
Speaker 3 (36:25):
Pine Cone, is that it ?
Yeah, so they have like abakery and they have like the
really big.
Yes, oh, it was so good.
Speaker 4 (36:34):
We were stuck there for six days and again we got to
know the owner there.
It's an American-German couplewho runs the restaurant.
Really really nice people,because they got to know us.
We came in two, three times aday just to sit and talk with
them or have coffee or get oneof their ginormous danishes, and
(36:55):
it was so good.
Speaker 3 (36:57):
It is one of my favorite restaurant truck stops
in Madison, so it's a rundowntruck stop right.
It's just a small littleconvenience store.
They got a CV shop upstairs andthen they got that little
restaurant attached to it andthey have the best bakery item
and yes oh yeah, definitely we.
Speaker 4 (37:17):
Uh, everyone tried something different each time
they went in, so we almost Ithink we almost went through the
entire menu, wow yeah, theircinnamon rolls are literally as
big as my face it took me threedays to finish the cinnamon roll
.
I could not do it in onesitting.
Speaker 3 (37:33):
There's just no way yeah, they have a second
location, um in the truck stop.
That's uh farther down on 94and I can't remember the name of
the town, but it's east ofthere.
Um, yeah, and I I literallyhave to put on blinders when I
drive by.
I'm no Tammy, not today.
You can't take it today, yes.
(37:56):
Yeah, when you say the wordWisconsin and I just grow so
because it's so good inWisconsin.
So what's retirement lookinglike?
So you've been driving 14 years.
You're thinking about part time.
When are you thinking aboutmaking that?
Speaker 4 (38:13):
leap, Probably within 10 years.
That'll put me, you know, about45, 46 years old, which isn't a
bad time to go, even if it'sjust part-time, or I may change
my mind.
I don't know where life willtake me.
Speaker 3 (38:28):
So not having a house , not having all those extra
expenditures?
Are you saving for that barndominium so that you can get
that built?
Speaker 4 (38:37):
Trying to the company offers.
I don't know if this is allcompanies.
I know with my company theyoffer a 401k and they'll do
matching.
So I've been trying to put asmuch into that as I possibly can
.
I have actually broken down howmuch money I spend on food,
which is a lot.
If you don't have a tour thathas catering, you're definitely
(38:59):
spending a lot of extra on food.
This year I'm making a changeon eating out of the truck a lot
more.
I bought a portable freezerfrom Amazon and it just plugs
into a cigarette lighter.
It's actually dual section so Ican do one side freezer, the
other side a regularrefrigerator, so it'll help me
get more food on the truck.
Speaker 3 (39:20):
So before that were you just eating out all the time
then?
Speaker 4 (39:24):
All the time not healthy at all.
That's another thing.
With truck driving you don'tget a lot of exercise.
You have to force yourself towalk or get out and do something
.
Unfortunately, I have a lot offriends who are very, very
overweight and they worry me.
I worry about their health andI try to get them to walk with
me.
Sometimes they just groan andjust roll their eyes at me.
Speaker 3 (39:47):
Well, I can put the big 5-0 this year.
And so before I used to carry ajump rope with me, okay, and
when I was getting loaded orunloaded I would jump rope and I
would get a lot of weird looks.
But it really helps with thecardio when you've been sitting
all day, and I haven't done thatlately.
But I carry dumbbells with me,okay, to try and keep that, and
(40:12):
some I'm just after working 14hour days, I'm too tired and I
just look at them like, hey, you, you are an ornament in my
truck, but, exactly, it's reallyimportant, even if you just do
laps around the semi and thetrailer.
Um, it's really important,especially as you get older yes,
absolutely.
Speaker 4 (40:31):
I carry um.
It's different weighted bands.
I find the bands to be veryhelpful.
Plus, they're a little bit morecompact than um and lighter
weight than a dumbbell might befor some people uh because you
can also put them behind yourseat and use it, you know, while
you're just sitting in thefront seat waiting at the dock
or whatever you're doing, um anduh, I tried one, uh, putting it
(40:55):
on the truck, um, and itactually worked out really nice
on either the side of the truckwhere it has the handle, or on
the back of the trailer, puttingthe band around that and doing
you know some sort of workoutoutside.
Speaker 3 (41:08):
Yeah, I think the people use the TRX some.
Speaker 4 (41:11):
I have one of those as well.
They're actually really nice.
Focusing more on body weighttype exercises yeah.
Speaker 3 (41:21):
Yeah, so one of the things that I, being in the
entertainment industry, is youalso have to keep your equipment
clean.
Speaker 4 (41:30):
Yes, so it's all about looking professional,
looking clean.
Uh, every company will give youtruck washes.
So the rule of thumb is beforeyou go to the venue, get as
close as you can find.
Uh, we use blue beacon, so uh,find a blue beacon as close to
the venue as you can and getwashed up.
That way when you're rolling inyou you don't look dirty.
(41:52):
A lot of tours will have whatthey call wrapped trailers, so
it'll have the band or singer'spicture all over this trailer
and you don't want to be rollingup dirty.
You know it doesn't.
That doesn't look professionalat all, so you always want to
keep it looking clean.
Speaker 3 (42:09):
How often are you watching them then?
Speaker 4 (42:11):
About once a week at least.
If it's, if you're goingthrough snow or something like
that, some companies will giveyou the option.
Okay, here's an extra truckwash.
Go get that cleaned up.
Speaker 3 (42:25):
Nice.
Now do you guys have to wearuniforms?
Speaker 4 (42:28):
No, no uniforms, Obviously.
Again, it's all aboutprofessionalism.
You don't want to be runningaround in holy shirts and you
know looking dirty.
But there's no strict, you knowdress code for it.
Speaker 3 (42:42):
Yeah, so are you going to stay in the
entertainment industry thenuntil you retire, or is there
something else out there thatyou're like, oh, it's
challenging.
Speaker 4 (42:51):
I think I'll stick here because I actually enjoy it
.
I enjoy what I do.
Every tour is different, so Iget to learn something new each
tour I go out on.
Every production manager isgoing to be different, so I get
to learn a different type ofpersonality to work with and the
same with different driversworking with different drivers.
(43:11):
So I actually enjoy thisindustry.
I don't think I'll ever leaveit.
Speaker 3 (43:15):
That's good.
It's always the goal to findyour niche in driving.
I'm a private fleet driver.
I love what I do, so you know Ialways tell people the
wonderful thing about truckingis there's so many different
segments of it.
Yes, you know, find what makesyou happy and that fits your
(43:41):
lifestyle.
Uh, so I I'm keeping you herefor a little bit, but is there
for new people that are like,hey, this sounds interesting.
What advice would you give them?
Where would they look?
What areas?
Hire any?
Any input you can give forpeople?
Speaker 4 (43:55):
who are interested?
Definitely, uh, do yourresearch on the company.
Not every it's the same.
With freight hauling, not everycompany is going to be a good
fit for every driver.
Um, I'm sure I could go toanother company and make more
money, but that's not importantto me.
I enjoy how the company thatI'm with treats me.
They get me where I need to beif I want to go home somewhere,
(44:20):
and I've built it's taken a longtime to build the reputation I
have at this company, especiallyas a lead driver and a female
lead driver.
It's a different atmosphere.
So I actually I'll probablyjust stay here unless something
drastic changes.
But you can call anyentertainment company and talk
(44:43):
to a recruiter.
My advice would be to talk toan actual driver at that company
, not just the recruiter,because at least the driver can
tell you the trucking side of it, not the office side.
Speaker 3 (44:55):
Right, yeah, I mean as far as respect, I know you're
respected because you werereferred to me personally by
someone who I respect.
Speaker 4 (45:03):
He is awesome, he really is.
He's good, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (45:05):
Yeah, so you know.
You know you're respected whensomebody's putting your name out
there saying, hey, go talk toher I love it.
Speaker 4 (45:14):
I was shocked to see.
I'm like, yeah sure, I'd loveto talk about it.
That's awesome yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (45:19):
Well, you know, I I love getting so for females out
here.
They don't always knoweverything that's available to
them, or whether it will be agood fit, or all the ins and
outs, the good things, the badthings, and so being able to
provide all that informationfrom somebody who's in it.
Speaker 4 (45:39):
Right yeah.
Speaker 3 (45:40):
You know it's beneficial, especially someone
your age who's been in truckingsince such a very early age.
You know you've done almost themajority of your career in this
section, which is, you know.
So someone with me out here whodon't have ties at home, who
want to live out on the road,like you are, it'd be a great
(46:01):
fit.
Somebody who's balancing youngkids at home, not so much.
Speaker 4 (46:06):
Yeah, not so much.
If you ask older drivers,they're like you kind of screwed
yourself starting in truckingso early because now you're kind
of stuck.
I'm like, well, sort of, I'malways trying to learn something
new.
I actually finished abachelor's degree while out on
the road.
So if I ever wanted to switchcareers, I technically could Not
(46:26):
that I ever would.
So what did you get yourbachelor's in?
Just general studies, because Icouldn't figure out what I
wanted to be when I grow up.
So I just started taking randomclasses.
Uh, my favorites were thecomputer classes and psych
classes, which the psych classesactually helped me uh, in, you
know, interact with otherdrivers.
(46:47):
Uh, going through college helpsme, uh helped me with my
writing.
So when I'm sending emails toproduction managers I don't
sound like a dumb truck driver.
Speaker 3 (46:57):
I actually can sound professional wow now, was that
something that you paid foryourself, or was that something
that the company I paid?
Speaker 4 (47:06):
for it myself.
Um, I would take anywhere fromone to two classes.
It was through Southern NewHampshire University.
It's all online so it made itvery easy to do on the road.
Depending on the class, I wouldtake one to two classes because
it's a lot of work in eightweeks and depending on the tour
that I was on.
I was busy with the tour andthen trying to do schoolwork.
(47:29):
It was tough.
Speaker 3 (47:32):
It's brutal.
It's brutal.
Yes, With 14-hour days and yourtight schedule, I was like how
did you manage to fit schoolworkin with that?
Speaker 4 (47:41):
I got lucky because with my Broadway so I got the.
My very first tour was aBroadway show and that same
production company is like oh,we want to keep having you back,
so I've been with.
That same production company islike, oh, we want to keep
having you back.
So I've been with that sameproduction team since 2017.
They're talking about going outagain next year for 2025, 2026.
(48:03):
So I'll work with them foranother year.
So I've actually with theirschedule, you sit for six days,
so that made taking classes alot easier.
Speaker 3 (48:14):
Oh, wow, yeah, so you're getting paid.
So this is, I imagine, onBroadway.
So you know you're getting paid, while they're having their
multiple shows every week andyou're just waiting for them to
finish up.
Speaker 4 (48:25):
Yep, We'll load up and just move to the next one
sit.
Sometimes you'll haveovernighters, good push, but
typically you're sitting atleast two to three days, if not
more.
Speaker 3 (48:40):
So that leads me to a question when you are sitting
for those specified amounts oftime, especially when it's
longer, will your company pullyou to do anything else in
between?
You were just there sitting,making your appearance every day
technically you're just theresitting.
Speaker 4 (48:56):
Um, I know with this company if there's, if it's 12
days or more, uh, trucks will bepulled off and trailers will go
into what they call storageuntil the next time they have to
go back out and during thosethose 12 days, if the company
needs you elsewhere, they'llsend you out.
(49:16):
On that.
Since COVID, unfortunately alot of companies are going to
hauling freight to kind of fillin the gaps and just kind of
make up some money for thedrivers having to sit and wait.
Speaker 3 (49:29):
Right.
I've heard that, especiallywith our mutual friends, that
they do that.
So so that gives you some timeto catch up on your studies and
while you're, you're gettingpaid to just hang out.
Speaker 4 (49:39):
Yes, exactly, which is nice.
I've in the back of my mindI've thought about doing my
master's, but I think it'd justbe a waste of money because I
wouldn't know what the to youknow focus on.
I wish there was a way just totake the classes, just for the
hell of it.
Speaker 3 (49:57):
Right, I am always looking at online classes and
little training things just tokeep, because we're always
changing and evolving andgrowing and even at my age I
don't want to be stagnant.
Speaker 4 (50:11):
I always love to learn something new.
Exactly yes, that's how I am.
I try to find something newevery day, even if it's
something little.
Uh, one of my friends like,well, you could learn little
facts like kangaroos can't hopbackwards.
I'm like, well, I did learnsomething new today.
Speaker 3 (50:27):
Then they can't hop backwards.
Interesting.
Now I know something new.
It's because of their tail,apparently.
I'm sitting here trying topicture it.
What would you do with yourtail, kangaroo?
(50:49):
Is there anything else youwould like to ask?
Speaker 4 (50:53):
I can't think of anything at the moment, but if
any of your viewers have anyquestions, they're more than
welcome to reach out to me.
I'd be happy to answer anythingI can.
Speaker 3 (51:06):
I will tag your social media when I post these
up.
I thank you so much for joiningus today and having the spare
time.
I really appreciate it.
Well, thank you for having meon If you want to hold on.
I'm going to go ahead and endour live Everybody.
Thank you for tuning in toTrucking with Tammy.
You have a great day and we'llsee you on the next live.
Hey girl, I see you've come a long, long way.
You're not alone anymore.
Come sit with me and tell meyour story.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
You've come a long way, girl.
Pulled yourself out of quitethe mess.
Those were some dark times backthen, but it's all over now.
You're not alone anymore.
Come sit with me and tell meyour story this is trucking with
(00:37):
tainty.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Way journeys heard and your voice is free.
You're not alone.
Come share your story with me.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Good afternoon and welcome to Truckin' with Tammy.
I am your host, tammy.
Today's guest is Danielle Sutma.
Danielle is joining us.
From where are you at today,danielle?
Speaker 4 (01:02):
Hendersonville, Tennessee.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
I didn't know, because I know you've been
bouncing all over the place withthe tour lately.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Yeah, I just got back from Oklahoma.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Nice.
So Danielle is a driver in theentertainment segment.
She comes to us with 14 yearsof driving experience, eight of
those in the entertainmentsegment, and we're going to get
the ins and outs of Danielle'strucking career and see what she
has to say about thosewonderful 14 years as a woman
(01:33):
out here.
So, Danielle, how in the worlddid you get into trucking?
Speaker 4 (01:41):
I just woke up one morning decided to drive a big
truck.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Is there drivers in your family?
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Anybody no, everybody went into the military or
something along those lines, andI was delivering bread in a box
truck and I decided to drivesomething bigger.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
So what was the appeal?
Speaker 4 (02:02):
So what was the appeal?
The size of the vehicle, Iguess.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Just something.
The challenge Now were youlooking to go over the road when
you started your career or didyou think I'll deliver bread?
Still, I'll just do it.
You know.
Dc versus to the store.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
I honestly had no insight on it, so I just kind of
went with the flow and found acompany whenever I first started
, did my year and then switchedto a different company and spent
four years there and then cameover to StageCall.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
So when you started your career and you started
school, did you think, oh no,what did I get myself into?
Or were you like yes, this isexactly the challenge I wanted.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
It was the challenge that I wanted and it was
interesting because I was theonly female in my class.
Everybody else were males.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
And I put through that I had a couple girls of
mine, because we were a prettybig group.
But how did the guys handle youbeing there?
Were they pretty good about it?
Did you have?
Any challenges.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
They were pretty good .
A lot of them would apologizeif they cussed in front of me or
said something you knowderogatory, in a way, like a
dirty joke or something likethat, which doesn't bother me
any, but they respected that Iwas standing there and said, oh
sorry.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
That's good.
Were you in the Midwest or downsouth when you went to school?
Yes, out of Arkansas, yeah, sodown there they're still saying
yes, ma'am sir.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Yeah, I can see that.
So did you go to a college foryour school or did you go to one
of the shorter programs?
Speaker 4 (03:45):
It was actually a 25-week program that happened at
night, so that way I couldstill work during the day, and
they got you ready for thewritten test and then also the
road test.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Nice, so 25 weeks at night so the one thing that
everybody hates driving at night.
You, literally that's how youstarted.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Oh, I love it.
I prefer driving at night.
There's nobody else out.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
So have you stayed with nights then throughout your
career?
Speaker 4 (04:12):
then as much as I can , especially with entertainment,
because you'll load up at nightand then drive to the next
venue, so all your driving ismostly at nighttime.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Yeah, and I've hit the entertainment industry part
of it a little bit, because it'sreally interesting and a lot of
people have a.
There's a lot of myths with it.
I want to say we had a littleshort stunt with it a few years
ago with my drivers and it'sdifferent when you're in it and
you know a lot of people see itdifferently than what it really
(04:43):
is.
I want to say, say, but beforewe get to the trucking industry,
let's talk about how you gotthere.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
So you started out you were hauling dry van and
reefer yes, so I started out dryvan first, for, you know, a
typical starter up company andthen I hauled reefer for about a
year and a half and then wentright back to dry van, because
that's when I switched to adifferent company that was out
of Springfield, missouri, andstayed there for a while and
(05:13):
then switched over to thiscompany.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
So when you got your first year experience?
I hear a lot of women have goodand bad experiences.
I myself did not have a a badone when I came out, but you
were pretty young when youstarted your trucking career.
At that age, you were 22, um.
So a 22 year old female comingout in a very male-dominated
world, how did your trainers,how did that situation go for
(05:41):
you?
Speaker 4 (05:41):
um, I didn't have a bad situation.
Um, I did have a male trainer,um, but he was very respectful
and you know nothing.
Uh, weird there.
Um, I still get it to this day.
People ask me you drive thatthing?
I'm like, yes, I do.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
No, no, somebody else is sitting in there waiting,
know, driving it for me, and Ijust get to look pretty in the
driver's seat when I get outyeah, I, I pulled up to the fuel
island there, so and you knowit wasn't really me right so
your first year was it what you,when you got into trucking and
you were going through beingaway from home and over the road
(06:24):
and doing that first year, howdid that go for you?
Speaker 4 (06:27):
um, I think it went pretty easy.
It was a little bit toacclimate to, uh, being gone and
being over the road trying toplan your day, because people
don't realize the necessitiesthey have at home as far as a
bathroom and shower and food allthe time right there next to
you, whereas as a truck driveryou have to go down the road and
you have to plan your trip soyou're not late for your
(06:50):
deliveries or pickups yeah, andtraining that ladder is one of
the hardest things you have todo you know there's not always a
semi-accessible restroom closeyes, exactly.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
So what was the biggest struggle that you had?
Or I don't really want to sayproblem, but you know our first
year.
There's always somethingobstacle, struggle, something
that we have to overcome.
What was yours?
Speaker 4 (07:22):
I would say there, the long days sitting and
driving for long distances.
I was not used to driving thatmuch, so I think that was the
hardest thing.
A lot of people say it's thebacking into the docks where I
think that's where I was kind ofat an advantage with the school
(07:42):
that I went through because wedid a lot of backing, so I think
that kind of helped me.
Once I was kind of at anadvantage with the school that I
went through because we did alot of backing, so I think that
kind of helped me once I was outby myself.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
So yours was the driving for long hours, which is
exhausting and people don'trealize they're like oh you just
sit and drive.
Speaker 4 (07:57):
Right.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
But it's very, very exhausting.
So is there any lessons youlearned your first year that you
think a new driver um would getgood advice from you?
Definitely?
Speaker 4 (08:10):
yeah definitely trip planning is the biggest thing
because people get flusteredwith the e-logs and, honestly,
it will help you.
You just have to plan out yourday for it and um learning when
to stop to find parking, soyou're not having to make a spot
(08:31):
and try and sleep withoutsomebody trying to wake you up
and say you have to move.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
So so working nights about the time you would park?
Generally that's probably ahard time to find a decent space
because they're pretty full andthen people have made spots,
which makes it even morecomplicated.
How do you handle that?
Speaker 4 (08:53):
um well, driving at night it's not too bad,
especially if you plan to stoparound eight or nine in the
morning.
Then everybody else uh will be.
You know what did.
What do people call them?
Solar drivers will be leavingas you're coming in, so you kind
of have a better chance offinding parking than you would
if you're driving during the dayand then trying to park eight
(09:15):
or nine o'clock at night.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Yeah, I used to ride and do.
We would have to park betweenthree and four o'clock in the
morning sometimes and that isalmost impossible.
Yes, maneuver around the truckso I can see where eight or nine
o'clock would be a much bettertime frame to find a spot yes,
definitely, and if you do get toa crowded place, this is, I
(09:39):
think, another thing that peopledon't take into account.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
They forget how long they are and don't use the space
and they start taking outpeople's hoods.
So, yeah, not paying attention,is you know?
They really need to payattention to their turns?
Speaker 3 (09:57):
my favorite is the rest areas where you have both
sides with parking and peoplewon't pull up far enough.
So the rear and you're tryingto maneuver in between those
vehicles and you're like this,far away from the back of them,
trying to get through yeah,there was one time I actually
had to wake a couple people upbecause you couldn't get through
and there was people behind me.
Speaker 4 (10:17):
I'm like there's no way I'm getting through.
My mirror is on this person'strailer, so they're're going to
have to move up.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Move up, move back something let's go through.
So, are you now family-like?
What's family-like like for you?
Are you married kids?
Speaker 4 (10:37):
I'm single, no kids.
I have family in Arkansas,washington State, Missouri,
pennsylvania.
So usually as I'm going through, I'll be like can I borrow your
couch for a couple days?
Speaker 3 (10:48):
right and go visit, which is my yes because I
imagine, being on theentertainment, and here we go,
we are going to talkentertainment industry here.
Um, being on the entertainmentindustry, you have to make a
commitment to it, for so you, ahome time isn't uh like every
two weeks or every week, like alot of drivers like exactly.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
A lot of people ask you know, how do I get into the
entertainment industry?
And I ask them the first thingis well, how much time do you
want home?
Because I literally live on mytruck.
I don't, you know, I don't havea home of my own.
Um, to give a good example, mymain tour that I'm going to be
on is going until June of nextyear and we sit so long at a
(11:31):
certain venue, load up, go toanother venue and sit again.
If I get lucky enough to gothrough the house, then I'll
stop and visit as long as I can.
That's something people have ahard time with moving from
freight to entertainment,because you're not getting paid
by the mile, you're getting paidby the day, so you're not
(11:53):
running for those miles, and alot of freight haulers will come
in thinking oh, I got to move,move, move, because if the
wheels aren't turning I'm notmaking money.
But then it'll click in yourhead oh wait, I am making money,
I don't have to worry about it.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Right right, I'm making money regardless of what
I'm doing, so that's a good wayto look at it.
So how did entertainment comeabout for you?
Speaker 4 (12:16):
I found an ad on Facebook and I'm like, oh, that
sounds fun, I will apply.
The worst they can say is no,and I got hired after.
I guess it was 2017, in January.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
And so backing in the entertainment industry is very
challenging.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
Yes, it's another hurdle people come into because
you're actually out with a leaddriver.
I know with my company, if it'sthree trucks or more, you'll
have a lead driver.
I know with my company, if it'sthree trucks or more, you'll
have a lead driver.
That person goes in betweenproduction and the other drivers
.
They're also in charge ofsetting up parking and backing
the trucks in, because we willgo to some places that are very,
(12:59):
very tight.
They weren't made for 53-foottrailers, let alone an extended.
They weren't made for 53-foottrailers, let alone an extended
sleeper cab.
So backing in is the leaddriver's job and the driver of
that truck has to really listenand it becomes a struggle for
them to listen to somebody elseto back them in.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
But if they would just let the lead driver do
their job, it actually goesreally smooth.
So when you apply and knowingsome of the ins and outs and the
difficulties of this job,especially in the entertainment
industry the hiring companieshow do they approach that with
you?
Do they say, hey, this is thegood and bad about what you're
looking for.
Are you still interested?
You know, is there a differencebetween applying to an
entertainment industry companyversus a regular driving company
(13:53):
?
Speaker 4 (13:54):
I think so, because most entertainment companies
will want you to have threeyears experience because of the
challenging places we have to go, and I mean we're hauling
trailers that are worth, youknow, $2 million, $3 million
worth of gear inside and youknow you have to be on your A
game to get from one place toanother in time.
(14:16):
And then, whenever I hired on,they asked if I wanted to speak
to another driver and I said yes, absolutely.
So I got to ask them questionsAnytime.
Somebody you know asked mequestions about the you know the
company or the industry itself.
I always try to give out, youknow, if they want to ever call
(14:36):
me sometime, if they'reinterested, I'll give them the
company's name and phone numberfor the recruiter and they can
always call me if they haveadditional questions so, being
in the entertainment industry,you work with a group of drivers
, and each concert or each tourrequires a different set amount
(14:59):
of drivers, so you guys are witheach other every day throughout
this time period, correct?
Speaker 3 (15:06):
How many people on general do you work with?
Speaker 4 (15:10):
It can range anywhere from a one truck tour, so you
have to deal with yourself andsometimes that's the hardest
thing of all, or I know ofpeople that are out on 26 truck
tours, and that's a lot ofpersonalities to deal with.
At this company I'm the onlyfemale lead driver.
I prefer the smaller.
I prefer the smaller tours.
(15:31):
It's less personalities to dealwith.
I hand out a little worddocument of you know rules to
follow while out on tour.
One of the things that peopleseem to like not follow
sometimes is if you have aproblem with someone, either
deal with it or just stay inyour truck.
You don't have to be near thatperson.
(15:53):
So, cause you're with eachother so much, you're gonna, you
know, start to bump heads everynow and then, just because
that's just normal.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
So yeah, and we're so used to be by ourselves in our
truck right For hours on end.
So, yeah, you start having tospend all that time with another
personality and it'soverwhelming for some people.
So you are the only female lead, but how many actual females do
you guys have?
Speaker 4 (16:22):
I want to say we have about 10 female drivers at this
company and we're about a 100truck company, so about 10%.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
That is really good percentage.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
Yes, actually, on the tour that my main tour we have
three female drivers and thenone male driver.
We call him our honorary femaledriver and he goes along with
it.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Just one of the girls , so how long?
Have you been a lead.
Speaker 4 (16:48):
I've been a lead for almost eight years or well, I
guess it'd be seven and a halfyears.
So I started six months after Istarted at Stage Call.
That was after a recommendationfrom another lead driver after
working with him, so I got totrain under other leads and then
moved into my own tour leadsand then moved into my own uh
(17:15):
tour.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Yeah, so as a team lead, I mean you obviously have
to to be able to manage allthose different personalities.
Um, without you know, you can'tbe too soft, you can't be too
mean.
You gotta find that middleground with them.
How do you do it?
Speaker 4 (17:26):
uh, I've always been told I'm too nice, so, but I
have a very calm personality, soI think that's what helps um,
everything work out.
Plus, at the end of the day,I'm just another driver with you
guys.
We're all trying to worktogether as a team to get this
done.
So if we work together, it makesit so much easier you get much
(17:49):
pushback with that from driverssometimes, and I hate to say it
older male drivers have atendency not to want to listen
to me, I think, because one myage and I'm a female, which I
can't hold it against them toomuch because that's just how
they are and I just try to do myjob the best I can yeah, I know
(18:09):
that.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
You see, I've been driving for 20 years.
Oh, we get that all the timefreight haulers coming in.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
They're like I've been doing this for 30 years,
okay.
Well, this is different youknow, right, I'm not saying you
don't know how to do your job.
I'm just saying we have alittle bit different way of
doing it here.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Yeah, and there's a lot different in the
entertainment industry.
It's not just, you know,somebody maneuvering you to back
, it's the lifestyle.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
Yes all drivers are given a laminate and you have to
be careful with laminates.
Some people get a littleoverzealous with social media.
You have to be very carefulwhat you post and where you post
it, because some of these tours, even when you sign on with a
company, most companies have uhsocial media guidelines on um,
(18:59):
if the public can post, you know, take a picture of it and post
it, then you're okay to do that.
Uh, my rule of thumb I justdon't check into venues or
things like that sort, just not,so I'm not highlighting exactly
what I'm hauling, cause youdon't know what people are
following you on Facebook or anyother type of social media.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
Which is not just a entertainment industry safety
issue.
That is a safety issue forwomen, regardless of the freight
.
Speaker 4 (19:28):
Yeah, that's true?
Speaker 3 (19:30):
Yeah, I, as a rule of thumb, I am.
When I first came out here, Iused to always tag my location
for family and friends, but then, as a woman, there are men who
you know will find somebody thatthey want to target and you
know your location to them couldbe dangerous for you.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
Yeah, thankfully, I've only ever had one incident.
It was in Memphis and Granted,I had one of my headphones in so
I was listening to music, notpaying attention to my
surroundings.
Thankfully, I don't think hewas meant meaning to be harmful.
I think he was coming up to askme for money, but he was drunk
and he tripped and it caused awhole kerfuffle.
(20:09):
And money, but he was drunk andhe tripped and it caused a
whole kerfuffle and uh, ended upwith a nice bruise on my face
and people were like what onearth happened?
Speaker 3 (20:15):
I'm like it's a big story yeah, drunk and unsteady
is rough, but I hope you're okay, oh yeah, I was fine.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
there was a driver in the truck next in another fuel
island.
He got out, pulled the guy offof me.
The security officer inside thetruck stop came out and you
know was talking to him and I'mlike I'm fine.
I ended up actually having aconcussion, but didn't know it,
oh my gosh.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
Over a drunk guy at the fuel island.
That is crazy.
That is crazy.
For a drunk guy at the fuelisland, that is crazy, that is
crazy.
So, uh, being entertainmentindustry, one of the biggest
myths, I've heard a driver'sthink it's party time because
he's going with the bandcompletely opposite and
unfortunately, that's what a lotof uh.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
you get the nickname as a poser if you start hanging
around inside all the time,which really that doesn't look
good for the driver becauseproduction's like, well, this
person's not sleeping, how arethey going to get to the next
venue safely?
You know, because while theshow's going on you're supposed
to be sleeping.
That doesn't mean we can't goinside.
You can use the restroom, getfood, do what you need to do,
(21:26):
but you're supposed to limityour time just so you're rested
for the next night or that nightfor the next drive.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
So one of the perks of being a driver is the food,
though.
Speaker 4 (21:38):
So yeah definitely free food.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
They set up a pretty good buffet or spread a food
when you are on site on locationcorrect.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
Correct.
It'll usually be just the showdays or if you have what they
call a pre-rig day, which theybring in the rigging equipment
that goes up in the air, lightsand motors and things of that
sort they'll set up the daybefore.
And it also depends on the tour.
The smaller the tour, the lesschance of actually having
(22:14):
catering.
So that is a perk of being ontour.
I have to tell people when I'mout on my Broadway tours we do
not get catering, so you'regoing to have to plan your meals
.
Every now and then a venue willprovide a loadout meal, but
that's very rare sometimes.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
And what about showering facilities when you're
on those doors?
Speaker 4 (22:40):
So I always tell the drivers you can do the showers.
The older the theater, theworse the showers are, only
because those are the lastthings to be upgraded.
In an older theater, uh, youhave to wait about 30 minutes
for the water to get evenlukewarm, and uh, the rule of
(23:00):
thumb for showers is to be donebefore the artist or the cast
comes in.
That way, you're out of the way, so they can do what they need
to do.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
Okay, so you are the drivers, you're also the set
crew.
This is a big crew with all thepieces having to work together.
So is there a rhythm that youguys have so that you can
schedule that you have to abideby for eating showers, so that
(23:30):
everybody gets taken care of?
Speaker 4 (23:32):
Yes, with the bigger tours you kind of have to set up
a schedule so everybody can getthe showers done.
Usually, with catering, you'llhave breakfast from 7 to 10,
lunch 12 to 3, and then dinner 5to 8.
And you know you can go induring those times to eat, and
(23:56):
sometimes it depends on thevenue.
Obviously they don't want youhanging out in catering,
obviously.
But you know, go in, eat If youwant to.
You know, take a water back toyour truck or something like
that.
They just don't want you tofill your truck with food and
drinks because there are otherpeople that have to eat.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
Right, and I would imagine the time for you are
different than the actual bandand the headliners their time as
well.
Speaker 4 (24:26):
Yes, so usually band and the lead singer or whoever
whatever it is, will come in inthe afternoon.
If it's an overnight, they'llusually travel with the cast bus
or the crew buses as well toget there and they'll be
sleeping during the day whilethey're setting up and then
they'll get up and do the soundcheck and get ready for their
(24:50):
show.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
But the access to the drivers, I think is what I'm
trying to get, is they don'thave access to those members,
correct, well?
Speaker 4 (25:00):
I mean technically, yes, we do, but you're held to a
higher professional standard,to.
Yes, you have an all accesspass, but you're not supposed to
misuse that x all-access passright.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
So it basically what if there's a your favorite
singer and you are um drivingand you're hollering for them
and you see them, it can't belike, oh my god, you know, yeah,
you can't turn it you can'tturn into a fan girl.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
Uh out on tour, uh in .
You want to hold a professionalmanner at all times just
because, at the end of the day,they're a person just like you.
They have a job to do.
You have a job to do so nowthat's oh sorry, go ahead no no,
go ahead oh, I was gonna saythat doesn't mean if, uh, the
band member or the singer youknow says hi to you or starts
(25:54):
talking to you, it doesn't meanyou ignore them.
You know you can be polite, um,you just don't want to go out
of your way to you know exactlyyes.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
So how do new drivers to the tour normally and do
they have that adjustment period?
Do you have to really um hammerthat home that they can't be
fangirls and fanboys?
Speaker 4 (26:18):
yes, and unfortunately you know there are
drivers out there who don'tabide by that and you know will
be in places they shouldn't beand they have to have a talking
to.
But majority of entertainmentdrivers will be professional at
all times.
I think it.
I always tell people it's athree to six month adjustment
period going from freight toentertainment, because one's
(26:40):
schedule, the type of lifestyleit is, is different than freight
hauling.
You are set to a specificschedule.
So whereas freight you may havea few hours here and there you
can just kind of, you know, doyour own thing, whereas
entertainment you may have a 400mile overnight that you have to
(27:01):
get to and there's no time forstopping.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Right.
So what are the biggestpositives about being a woman in
the entertainment segment oftransportation?
Speaker 4 (27:16):
I don't know.
I've never noticed a difference.
I have talked to older femaledrivers in this industry.
There was a lot of hazing.
I guess that would happenprobably 20 years ago, Whereas
when I came in, none of that wasactually happening.
I had a great support system.
My mom actually prefers mebeing in entertainment because
(27:41):
I'm around other drivers.
I'm not by myself all the timeanymore, so I have that support
system.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Safer.
That's what I'm thinking.
Since you have that network ofpeople that you're with all the
time, it seems to be a saferenvironment.
Speaker 4 (27:55):
Yeah, you get to.
You have more of a buddy systemwhen you're out here rather
than where freight you're justby yourself.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
So what's the biggest downplay to that downfall to
the entertainment industry?
Speaker 4 (28:10):
I would have to say the home time for most people,
for me.
I'm not married, I have no kids, so it really doesn't bother me
any.
My family has been used to mebeing over the road for so long
that it doesn't phase themanymore.
I just had a hiccup missingChristmas because I forgot to
send an email.
I got so excited about goinghome for Christmas and I was
telling everybody about it, Iforgot to send an email.
I got so excited about goinghome for Christmas and I was
(28:31):
telling everybody about it, Iforgot to send an email.
So, those plans kind of gotsquashed and we planned it for a
different time.
So it's just one of thosethings they're kind of used to
it.
Oh, you know, Danielle had hermoment.
We'll have to change the plans.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
Right, right, yeah Well, at least you, you know you
forgot to do it right yes it'sbetter, when we mess up, to
understand that we messed upthan if somebody else messed up
and caused us to mess up yes,exactly.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
Uh, with this industry you definitely have to
be flexible.
Uh, until you're actually outon the tour.
Don't get set in your schedule,because I had my schedule
changed three different times inone day.
They're like we're going to putyou on this, and then about two
hours later I got another phonecall Never mind, we're putting
you on this.
And then about four hours later, I got another phone call
(29:25):
Squash all that.
We're putting you on somethingelse.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
I'm like okay, so once the tour is set, though
when you're on, is there muchchange that that happens?
Speaker 4 (29:35):
typically no, because all the venues are already
booked.
People are buying tickets um.
Most tours are booked outtechnically a year in advance,
if not more, depending on thattour, because they have to get
in with certain venues and getinto their schedule.
Speaker 3 (29:53):
Now would your employer pull you off a tour to
put you on another one normally,or do they like to keep the
same crew throughout?
Speaker 4 (30:01):
Typically they like to keep the same people
throughout, especially leaddrivers.
Lead drivers usually won't getpulled off of a tour, unless
somebody has some sort ofvacation that was planned ahead
of time or, god forbid, amedical emergency, family
emergency.
Then most drivers will stay onthe same tour.
Speaker 3 (30:21):
Okay, and how many months of the year are you out?
Speaker 4 (30:27):
I just say I'm out 365 days a year.
I'll plan vacation here andthere.
Every year my mom and I go on amother-daughter trip, we go on
some sort of cruise or, you know, go exploring somewhere.
So I plan those out and then Ilet the company know I'm like I
need these two weeks.
Everything else, you know.
Just put me on what you need me.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
So do you guys do the tours 12 months of the year
then, or does the entertainmentindustry have a downtime?
Speaker 4 (30:56):
um, I mean, typical downtime is winter time.
However, you'll have some toursthat will keep moving, which is
good.
Um, like, my tour coming upwill go back out january 5th and
go until June, and there's nomore downtime during those six
months.
Speaker 3 (31:14):
So you're off, so are you home then until January 5th
.
Speaker 4 (31:18):
I'm doing little things here and there, what they
call one-off tours, which islike a show you go in, deliver
it and then leave, or you'll goin, deliver, load back up and
then go back and take the gearwherever it needs to go.
Speaker 3 (31:32):
Nice, nice, nice.
So let's talk money.
Everybody heard about TaylorSwift's drivers getting a huge
bonus, which was really nice,but how does pay work in the
transportation industry?
Speaker 4 (31:48):
I know every company is different, but from what I've
understood, most entertainmentcompanies do do a salary type
pay where you're getting paidper day as long as you're
available to work and that'syour base pay.
When you're actually out ontour, you'll get extra pay, what
they call your travel pay.
(32:09):
Lead drivers will get extra payas well.
Certain tours will give theirbonuses, but they will never be
like Taylor Swift, and I have afeeling there is way more to
that than people are actuallysaying, because I'm sure there's
a catch somewhere.
Speaker 3 (32:26):
Yeah, that was a pretty good bonus.
So what is the average sizebonus that you guys get?
Speaker 4 (32:32):
I've heard anywhere from 500 to 1500, depending on
the length of the tour, andagain, depending on the size of
the tour will make a differenceas well.
Speaker 3 (32:42):
So and that comes directly from the tour to you
guys Correct yes really nice fora job Well done.
Speaker 4 (32:50):
It is Uh, and most companies will follow uh.
File a W2 or W4, whatever it is.
You have to fill out the form,so you get, you have to pay your
taxes on it and then you'll getthe rest of it.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
So what's the average salary that they can expect in
the entertainment industry?
Speaker 4 (33:09):
I've heard companies starting as low as $200 a day,
so that's, you know, $1,400 aweek just starting out and not
doing anything but showing up.
And then most companies willpay you per diem or you'll get
that at the end of the year.
That's the same for any truckdriver.
Because you're out on the road,you'll get that at the end of
the year.
That's the same for any truckdriver.
(33:30):
Because you're out on the road,you get that extra money there.
Travel days, you get what theycall hotel buyouts money.
So that ranges depending oncompany, anywhere from 50 to 80
a day depending on the tour andthe company.
Speaker 3 (33:48):
I think so are a lot of drivers making upwards of six
figures, then, or I mean,what's the average?
Speaker 4 (33:56):
I know lead drivers can definitely make up over six
figures.
Starting out, you're looking atabout $80,000 a year and then
it goes up from there.
Speaker 3 (34:08):
That's not too bad, though.
I mean, if you don't mind notbeing home and you know working
nights and a tight schedule.
You know if that's somethinginteresting.
Speaker 4 (34:21):
I mean the pay isn't horrible for the environment,
that you're working in, runfreight and make more money.
But then you have to rely onthose miles, whereas in this
industry, as long as you'rethere to and you're available to
work, you're getting a paycheck.
You don't have to.
You know count miles, you don'thave to worry about it.
(34:42):
It's going to be the same, aslong as you're available to work
.
Speaker 3 (34:45):
Right, so you've been with your company.
You're a lead driver.
What's your next?
Speaker 4 (34:49):
step, eventually going part-time and maybe having
a real life.
Speaker 3 (34:55):
I have no idea you think, after 14 years you may be
ready for a real life Just alittle bit.
Speaker 4 (35:03):
My goal is to eventually have some land, build
a little barnaminium and, youknow, just kind of hang out on
the porch and hunt and gofishing and do whatever I want
to do so are you.
Speaker 3 (35:15):
Do you have any hobbies while you're on the road
that you do besides trucking?
Speaker 4 (35:20):
um, I'll go to the gun range a lot, especially with
some other drivers.
We enjoy going and just tearingup some paper and getting out
of the trucks.
Uh, walking around the downtowncities is a lot of fun because
you get to find some of thoselittle small stores or
restaurants and you get to findsome of the hidden gems of
downtown areas.
Speaker 3 (35:41):
What's your favorite restaurant or little gems that
you've found so far?
Speaker 4 (35:46):
It was a little mom and pop place in New Jersey.
It's right across the streetfrom a theater up there and it
was owned by a Polish couple andvery, very nice people.
A couple of us went in thereand we were talking to the owner
and they were asking usquestions about the trucks,
about the tour and you know, wewere just having a good old time
talking and it was really goodfood.
Speaker 3 (36:08):
Oh man, those little mom, mom and pops are the best.
Speaker 4 (36:11):
They really are.
We found another one.
It's in Madison, wisconsin, Ithink it is.
There's a TA and then down thestreet is, you know, an
off-brand truck stop.
Speaker 3 (36:25):
Pine Cone, is that it ?
Yeah, so they have like abakery and they have like the
really big.
Yes, oh, it was so good.
Speaker 4 (36:34):
We were stuck there for six days and again we got to
know the owner there.
It's an American-German couplewho runs the restaurant.
Really really nice people,because they got to know us.
We came in two, three times aday just to sit and talk with
them or have coffee or get oneof their ginormous danishes, and
(36:55):
it was so good.
Speaker 3 (36:57):
It is one of my favorite restaurant truck stops
in Madison, so it's a rundowntruck stop right.
It's just a small littleconvenience store.
They got a CV shop upstairs andthen they got that little
restaurant attached to it andthey have the best bakery item
and yes oh yeah, definitely we.
Speaker 4 (37:17):
Uh, everyone tried something different each time
they went in, so we almost Ithink we almost went through the
entire menu, wow yeah, theircinnamon rolls are literally as
big as my face it took me threedays to finish the cinnamon roll
.
I could not do it in onesitting.
Speaker 3 (37:33):
There's just no way yeah, they have a second
location, um in the truck stop.
That's uh farther down on 94and I can't remember the name of
the town, but it's east ofthere.
Um, yeah, and I I literallyhave to put on blinders when I
drive by.
I'm no Tammy, not today.
You can't take it today, yes.
(37:56):
Yeah, when you say the wordWisconsin and I just grow so
because it's so good inWisconsin.
So what's retirement lookinglike?
So you've been driving 14 years.
You're thinking about part time.
When are you thinking aboutmaking that?
Speaker 4 (38:13):
leap, Probably within 10 years.
That'll put me, you know, about45, 46 years old, which isn't a
bad time to go, even if it'sjust part-time, or I may change
my mind.
I don't know where life willtake me.
Speaker 3 (38:28):
So not having a house , not having all those extra
expenditures?
Are you saving for that barndominium so that you can get
that built?
Speaker 4 (38:37):
Trying to the company offers.
I don't know if this is allcompanies.
I know with my company theyoffer a 401k and they'll do
matching.
So I've been trying to put asmuch into that as I possibly can
.
I have actually broken down howmuch money I spend on food,
which is a lot.
If you don't have a tour thathas catering, you're definitely
(38:59):
spending a lot of extra on food.
This year I'm making a changeon eating out of the truck a lot
more.
I bought a portable freezerfrom Amazon and it just plugs
into a cigarette lighter.
It's actually dual section so Ican do one side freezer, the
other side a regularrefrigerator, so it'll help me
get more food on the truck.
Speaker 3 (39:20):
So before that were you just eating out all the time
then?
Speaker 4 (39:24):
All the time not healthy at all.
That's another thing.
With truck driving you don'tget a lot of exercise.
You have to force yourself towalk or get out and do something
.
Unfortunately, I have a lot offriends who are very, very
overweight and they worry me.
I worry about their health andI try to get them to walk with
me.
Sometimes they just groan andjust roll their eyes at me.
Speaker 3 (39:47):
Well, I can put the big 5-0 this year.
And so before I used to carry ajump rope with me, okay, and
when I was getting loaded orunloaded I would jump rope and I
would get a lot of weird looks.
But it really helps with thecardio when you've been sitting
all day, and I haven't done thatlately.
But I carry dumbbells with me,okay, to try and keep that, and
(40:12):
some I'm just after working 14hour days, I'm too tired and I
just look at them like, hey, you, you are an ornament in my
truck, but, exactly, it's reallyimportant, even if you just do
laps around the semi and thetrailer.
Um, it's really important,especially as you get older yes,
absolutely.
Speaker 4 (40:31):
I carry um.
It's different weighted bands.
I find the bands to be veryhelpful.
Plus, they're a little bit morecompact than um and lighter
weight than a dumbbell might befor some people uh because you
can also put them behind yourseat and use it, you know, while
you're just sitting in thefront seat waiting at the dock
or whatever you're doing, um anduh, I tried one, uh, putting it
(40:55):
on the truck, um, and itactually worked out really nice
on either the side of the truckwhere it has the handle, or on
the back of the trailer, puttingthe band around that and doing
you know some sort of workoutoutside.
Speaker 3 (41:08):
Yeah, I think the people use the TRX some.
Speaker 4 (41:11):
I have one of those as well.
They're actually really nice.
Focusing more on body weighttype exercises yeah.
Speaker 3 (41:21):
Yeah, so one of the things that I, being in the
entertainment industry, is youalso have to keep your equipment
clean.
Speaker 4 (41:30):
Yes, so it's all about looking professional,
looking clean.
Uh, every company will give youtruck washes.
So the rule of thumb is beforeyou go to the venue, get as
close as you can find.
Uh, we use blue beacon, so uh,find a blue beacon as close to
the venue as you can and getwashed up.
That way when you're rolling inyou you don't look dirty.
(41:52):
A lot of tours will have whatthey call wrapped trailers, so
it'll have the band or singer'spicture all over this trailer
and you don't want to be rollingup dirty.
You know it doesn't.
That doesn't look professionalat all, so you always want to
keep it looking clean.
Speaker 3 (42:09):
How often are you watching them then?
Speaker 4 (42:11):
About once a week at least.
If it's, if you're goingthrough snow or something like
that, some companies will giveyou the option.
Okay, here's an extra truckwash.
Go get that cleaned up.
Speaker 3 (42:25):
Nice.
Now do you guys have to wearuniforms?
Speaker 4 (42:28):
No, no uniforms, Obviously.
Again, it's all aboutprofessionalism.
You don't want to be runningaround in holy shirts and you
know looking dirty.
But there's no strict, you knowdress code for it.
Speaker 3 (42:42):
Yeah, so are you going to stay in the
entertainment industry thenuntil you retire, or is there
something else out there thatyou're like, oh, it's
challenging.
Speaker 4 (42:51):
I think I'll stick here because I actually enjoy it
.
I enjoy what I do.
Every tour is different, so Iget to learn something new each
tour I go out on.
Every production manager isgoing to be different, so I get
to learn a different type ofpersonality to work with and the
same with different driversworking with different drivers.
(43:11):
So I actually enjoy thisindustry.
I don't think I'll ever leaveit.
Speaker 3 (43:15):
That's good.
It's always the goal to findyour niche in driving.
I'm a private fleet driver.
I love what I do, so you know Ialways tell people the
wonderful thing about truckingis there's so many different
segments of it.
Yes, you know, find what makesyou happy and that fits your
(43:41):
lifestyle.
Uh, so I I'm keeping you herefor a little bit, but is there
for new people that are like,hey, this sounds interesting.
What advice would you give them?
Where would they look?
What areas?
Hire any?
Any input you can give forpeople?
Speaker 4 (43:55):
who are interested?
Definitely, uh, do yourresearch on the company.
Not every it's the same.
With freight hauling, not everycompany is going to be a good
fit for every driver.
Um, I'm sure I could go toanother company and make more
money, but that's not importantto me.
I enjoy how the company thatI'm with treats me.
They get me where I need to beif I want to go home somewhere,
(44:20):
and I've built it's taken a longtime to build the reputation I
have at this company, especiallyas a lead driver and a female
lead driver.
It's a different atmosphere.
So I actually I'll probablyjust stay here unless something
drastic changes.
But you can call anyentertainment company and talk
(44:43):
to a recruiter.
My advice would be to talk toan actual driver at that company
, not just the recruiter,because at least the driver can
tell you the trucking side of it, not the office side.
Speaker 3 (44:55):
Right, yeah, I mean as far as respect, I know you're
respected because you werereferred to me personally by
someone who I respect.
Speaker 4 (45:03):
He is awesome, he really is.
He's good, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (45:05):
Yeah, so you know.
You know you're respected whensomebody's putting your name out
there saying, hey, go talk toher I love it.
Speaker 4 (45:14):
I was shocked to see.
I'm like, yeah sure, I'd loveto talk about it.
That's awesome yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (45:19):
Well, you know, I I love getting so for females out
here.
They don't always knoweverything that's available to
them, or whether it will be agood fit, or all the ins and
outs, the good things, the badthings, and so being able to
provide all that informationfrom somebody who's in it.
Speaker 4 (45:39):
Right yeah.
Speaker 3 (45:40):
You know it's beneficial, especially someone
your age who's been in truckingsince such a very early age.
You know you've done almost themajority of your career in this
section, which is, you know.
So someone with me out here whodon't have ties at home, who
want to live out on the road,like you are, it'd be a great
(46:01):
fit.
Somebody who's balancing youngkids at home, not so much.
Speaker 4 (46:06):
Yeah, not so much.
If you ask older drivers,they're like you kind of screwed
yourself starting in truckingso early because now you're kind
of stuck.
I'm like, well, sort of, I'malways trying to learn something
new.
I actually finished abachelor's degree while out on
the road.
So if I ever wanted to switchcareers, I technically could Not
(46:26):
that I ever would.
So what did you get yourbachelor's in?
Just general studies, because Icouldn't figure out what I
wanted to be when I grow up.
So I just started taking randomclasses.
Uh, my favorites were thecomputer classes and psych
classes, which the psych classesactually helped me uh, in, you
know, interact with otherdrivers.
(46:47):
Uh, going through college helpsme, uh helped me with my
writing.
So when I'm sending emails toproduction managers I don't
sound like a dumb truck driver.
Speaker 3 (46:57):
I actually can sound professional wow now, was that
something that you paid foryourself, or was that something
that the company I paid?
Speaker 4 (47:06):
for it myself.
Um, I would take anywhere fromone to two classes.
It was through Southern NewHampshire University.
It's all online so it made itvery easy to do on the road.
Depending on the class, I wouldtake one to two classes because
it's a lot of work in eightweeks and depending on the tour
that I was on.
I was busy with the tour andthen trying to do schoolwork.
(47:29):
It was tough.
Speaker 3 (47:32):
It's brutal.
It's brutal.
Yes, With 14-hour days and yourtight schedule, I was like how
did you manage to fit schoolworkin with that?
Speaker 4 (47:41):
I got lucky because with my Broadway so I got the.
My very first tour was aBroadway show and that same
production company is like oh,we want to keep having you back,
so I've been with.
That same production company islike, oh, we want to keep
having you back.
So I've been with that sameproduction team since 2017.
They're talking about going outagain next year for 2025, 2026.
(48:03):
So I'll work with them foranother year.
So I've actually with theirschedule, you sit for six days,
so that made taking classes alot easier.
Speaker 3 (48:14):
Oh, wow, yeah, so you're getting paid.
So this is, I imagine, onBroadway.
So you know you're getting paid, while they're having their
multiple shows every week andyou're just waiting for them to
finish up.
Speaker 4 (48:25):
Yep, We'll load up and just move to the next one
sit.
Sometimes you'll haveovernighters, good push, but
typically you're sitting atleast two to three days, if not
more.
Speaker 3 (48:40):
So that leads me to a question when you are sitting
for those specified amounts oftime, especially when it's
longer, will your company pullyou to do anything else in
between?
You were just there sitting,making your appearance every day
technically you're just theresitting.
Speaker 4 (48:56):
Um, I know with this company if there's, if it's 12
days or more, uh, trucks will bepulled off and trailers will go
into what they call storageuntil the next time they have to
go back out and during thosethose 12 days, if the company
needs you elsewhere, they'llsend you out.
(49:16):
On that.
Since COVID, unfortunately alot of companies are going to
hauling freight to kind of fillin the gaps and just kind of
make up some money for thedrivers having to sit and wait.
Speaker 3 (49:29):
Right.
I've heard that, especiallywith our mutual friends, that
they do that.
So so that gives you some timeto catch up on your studies and
while you're, you're gettingpaid to just hang out.
Speaker 4 (49:39):
Yes, exactly, which is nice.
I've in the back of my mindI've thought about doing my
master's, but I think it'd justbe a waste of money because I
wouldn't know what the to youknow focus on.
I wish there was a way just totake the classes, just for the
hell of it.
Speaker 3 (49:57):
Right, I am always looking at online classes and
little training things just tokeep, because we're always
changing and evolving andgrowing and even at my age I
don't want to be stagnant.
Speaker 4 (50:11):
I always love to learn something new.
Exactly yes, that's how I am.
I try to find something newevery day, even if it's
something little.
Uh, one of my friends like,well, you could learn little
facts like kangaroos can't hopbackwards.
I'm like, well, I did learnsomething new today.
Speaker 3 (50:27):
Then they can't hop backwards.
Interesting.
Now I know something new.
It's because of their tail,apparently.
I'm sitting here trying topicture it.
What would you do with yourtail, kangaroo?
(50:49):
Is there anything else youwould like to ask?
Speaker 4 (50:53):
I can't think of anything at the moment, but if
any of your viewers have anyquestions, they're more than
welcome to reach out to me.
I'd be happy to answer anythingI can.
Speaker 3 (51:06):
I will tag your social media when I post these
up.
I thank you so much for joiningus today and having the spare
time.
I really appreciate it.
Well, thank you for having meon If you want to hold on.
I'm going to go ahead and endour live Everybody.
Thank you for tuning in toTrucking with Tammy.
You have a great day and we'llsee you on the next live.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd is a thought-provoking, opinionated, and topic-driven journey through the top sports stories of the day.