WEBVTT - 12-31-25 America's Truckin' Network

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<v Speaker 1>This is America's truck and Network with Kevin Gordon.

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<v Speaker 2>Welcome aboard, Thanks for tuning in on this seventh day

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<v Speaker 2>of Christmas. New Year's Eve, twenty twenty five. My goodness,

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<v Speaker 2>where has the time gone. Generally, at the end of

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<v Speaker 2>the year, there's a lot of different news articles, whether

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<v Speaker 2>it's international news, local news, state news, national news, any

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<v Speaker 2>news round that they do year in review and kind

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<v Speaker 2>of summarize what went on during the year, and of

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<v Speaker 2>course in the transportation industry as well, in the trucking industry,

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<v Speaker 2>it's no difference. And I saw this article that I

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<v Speaker 2>thought was very poignant and talked about a lot of

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<v Speaker 2>the stuff that went on in the trucking industry, a

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<v Speaker 2>lot for the good.

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<v Speaker 3>So let's just get started with it.

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<v Speaker 2>The title of this is many moves by Trump Administration

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<v Speaker 2>shake up Trucking in twenty twenty five. Now, if you

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<v Speaker 2>just read the if all you did was just look

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<v Speaker 2>at the headline there, you would think shakeup. I generally,

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<v Speaker 2>a shakeup is not a good thing at least, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>it's not one of those things that's a warm and

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<v Speaker 2>fuzzy phrase that get people going. But in this instance,

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<v Speaker 2>I think a lot of the stuff in here is

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<v Speaker 2>very positive. Less than ninety days into his second term

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<v Speaker 2>as President, Donald Trump signed an executive order titled Enforcing

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<v Speaker 2>Common Sense Rules for the Road of the Road for

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<v Speaker 2>America's Truck Drivers. This set in motion a series of

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<v Speaker 2>actions as profound as any since President Jimmy Carter signed

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<v Speaker 2>the Motor Carrier Act of nineteen eighty, which deregulated the industry.

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<v Speaker 2>Now that's kind of interesting there, because I kept, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>don't we always hear that it's the Republicans that are

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<v Speaker 2>constantly deregulating things that's not good for things, And you know,

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<v Speaker 2>let the various industry kind of you know, self regulate

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<v Speaker 2>and so on the heavy hand of government, relieving the

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<v Speaker 2>heavy handed government. It's kind of interesting that Jimmy Carter,

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<v Speaker 2>a Democrat, actually did that, which was good for in

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<v Speaker 2>a lot of instances for the trucking industry. Signed into

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<v Speaker 2>the effect in April of twenty eighth. One of Trump's

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<v Speaker 2>earlier executive horrors, this one aimed ostensibly at highway safety,

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<v Speaker 2>proved to be part of the administration sweeping and controversial

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<v Speaker 2>immigration and border enforcement policy. I don't think sweeping, it's sweeping.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't know necessarily that it's controversial, given the fact

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<v Speaker 2>that that's what he campaigned on, and the fact that

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<v Speaker 2>if you go back through the comments of various Democrats

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<v Speaker 2>through the years controlling our borders, stopping the flow of immigration,

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<v Speaker 2>even back when Joe Biden was a senator, he said

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<v Speaker 2>those things. But now, all of a sudden, because Trump

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<v Speaker 2>says it, all of a sudden, it's controversial. Order recented

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<v Speaker 2>the twenty sixteen guidance document titled English Language Proficiency Testing

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<v Speaker 2>and Enforcement Policy, which was laxed.

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<v Speaker 3>They did away with that policy.

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<v Speaker 2>It was not the policy was still on the book

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<v Speaker 2>for the FMCSA, but it wasn't one of those out

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<v Speaker 2>of service regulations that somebody could actually, you know, stop

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<v Speaker 2>being forced to stop driving. So they put that in

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<v Speaker 2>a place and issued a new one to fully enforce

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<v Speaker 2>the regulation requiring truckers to be able to speak and

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<v Speaker 2>read highway signs in English, and earlier such order designated

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<v Speaker 2>English as the nation's official language, which you know, if

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<v Speaker 2>you're going to drive on the roads, you ought to

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<v Speaker 2>be able to read the signs. You ought to be

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<v Speaker 2>able to know where you're at and if you know,

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<v Speaker 2>if obviously some of the universal signs of stop and

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<v Speaker 2>go and that type of thing. But when you're looking

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<v Speaker 2>at a particular destination of where you're going to pull

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<v Speaker 2>off a freeway where you need to switch lanes, that

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<v Speaker 2>kind of thing where you're heading, I don't know how.

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<v Speaker 3>You operate a vehicle without that.

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<v Speaker 2>Trump's executive order also required a view of the tightening

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<v Speaker 2>of the state's policy for the issuance of commercial driver's licenses,

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<v Speaker 2>especially those issue to non domicile drivers. It also directed

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<v Speaker 2>Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy to identify and begin carrying

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<v Speaker 2>out additional administrative, regulatory, and enforcement actions to improve the

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<v Speaker 2>working conditions of American truckers. So, if you're improving the

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<v Speaker 2>working conditions of American truck drivers, America's truck drivers, I

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<v Speaker 2>don't see that that is necessarily shaking up the trucking industry.

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<v Speaker 2>Maybe improving the trucking industry. Helping the trucking industry would

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<v Speaker 2>have been a better phrase to be used in the

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<v Speaker 2>headline of this story. This led to the announcement in

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<v Speaker 2>June of a series of initiatives, pilot programs, and regulatory

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<v Speaker 2>updates designed to support America's truck drivers. These included expanded

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<v Speaker 2>truck parking, which has been an issue for in the

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<v Speaker 2>trucking industry for at least thirty years now, withdrawing the

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<v Speaker 2>proposal man who proposed mandate for speed liminers, which was

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<v Speaker 2>unpopular with truckers and should have been unpopular with truckers

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<v Speaker 2>as well as the driving public, because putting speed limitters

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<v Speaker 2>on trucks would just be an impediment and also wind

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<v Speaker 2>up with differential speed there on the freeway or out

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<v Speaker 2>on the roads, which those are the things that cause accidents.

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<v Speaker 2>Not extending the electronic logging device mandate to pre two

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<v Speaker 2>thousand models, that's a good sign. Eliminating double brokering, creating

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<v Speaker 2>pilot programs to study flexible sleeper birth combinations, and splitting

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<v Speaker 2>the fourteen hour on duty time now the hours of service.

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<v Speaker 2>For as long as I can remember driving back and

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<v Speaker 2>forth and back and forth to Columbus to visit my parents,

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<v Speaker 2>and when I was out going to different clients' offices

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<v Speaker 2>and driving there at night to be their first thing

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<v Speaker 2>in the morning or be there for you know, when they.

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<v Speaker 3>Open their doors.

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<v Speaker 2>I've heard of hours of service and the problems with

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<v Speaker 2>that for again, almost as long as talking about expanding

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<v Speaker 2>the truck parking and so taking a look at that

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<v Speaker 2>and seeing what makes sense, what can be fit in

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<v Speaker 2>and still make the road safe out there. These are

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<v Speaker 2>all good things, not necessarily I don't classify that as

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<v Speaker 2>shaking up the trucking industry. Maybe improving the trucking industry.

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<v Speaker 2>Non Domicile CDLs and we're in the crosshairs. The awarding

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<v Speaker 2>of CDLs to foreign drivers, including those in the US

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<v Speaker 2>with legal working permits, became a high profile target for

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<v Speaker 2>the Trump administration, and auditive states licensing departments found seventeen

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<v Speaker 2>states and the District of Columbia out of federal compliance

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<v Speaker 2>for how they issue non domiciled CDLs.

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<v Speaker 3>Seventeen states, folks, that's.

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<v Speaker 2>Pretty close to well, just around about a third of

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<v Speaker 2>the states out there.

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<v Speaker 3>Not a good thing.

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<v Speaker 2>And a lot of these the states that were mostly

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<v Speaker 2>in compliance. He called out eight states clashed with publicly California, Pennsylvania, Minnesota,

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<v Speaker 2>and New York. Of course they always are, I mean,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, democratic controlled the states that you just decided that, okay, well,

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<v Speaker 2>first of all, we're going to be sanctuary states, sanctuary cities,

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<v Speaker 2>and oh why should we bother doing the little things

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<v Speaker 2>in terms of making sure CDL licenses are distributed properly.

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<v Speaker 3>It's just unbelievable.

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<v Speaker 2>FMCSA ordered all states to stop issuing non domiciled CDLs

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<v Speaker 2>and revoked those they had already issued. It's estimated that

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<v Speaker 2>that would remove as many as two hundred thousand foreign

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<v Speaker 2>truckers from the nation's trucking industry. The emergency final of

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<v Speaker 2>the emergency Final rule issued by FMCSA attracted more than

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<v Speaker 2>eight thousand online comments. However, a lawsuit has been filed

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<v Speaker 2>on behalf of two long time foreign drivers that has

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<v Speaker 2>halted the revocation for the time being. Again, if somebody

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<v Speaker 2>is in this country, if they have emigrated into this country, well,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, obviously illegally they've brought broken the law. But

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<v Speaker 2>since being here, have made no effort to become a

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<v Speaker 2>citizen or to go through the process of becoming a citizen.

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<v Speaker 2>How much do they care about being here? Generally, when

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<v Speaker 2>somebody comes into this country, somebody immigrates here because of

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<v Speaker 2>better opportunity or relatives here telling them how great it

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<v Speaker 2>is to find a job or whatever. The peace, tranquility,

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<v Speaker 2>and the steadiness of the United States as opposed to

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<v Speaker 2>some of these.

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<v Speaker 3>Other areas around the world.

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<v Speaker 2>Why would somebody come in here and just go ahead

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<v Speaker 2>and just keep taking from the system, if you will,

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<v Speaker 2>and not being a part of the system and trying

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<v Speaker 2>to hide in the shadows away from the government.

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<v Speaker 3>I don't understand it.

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<v Speaker 2>So again, this is some of the things that we'll

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<v Speaker 2>pick this up coming up, because attacking the CBL mills

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<v Speaker 2>was part of this, as well as targeting electronic blogging

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<v Speaker 2>devices making sure that those are in compliance, and of

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<v Speaker 2>course some of the ICE focusing on truckers as part

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<v Speaker 2>of these state troopers pulling people over to find out

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<v Speaker 2>if they are in compliance English language proficiency and in

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<v Speaker 2>some of the inspections of these vehicles during some of

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<v Speaker 2>those safety checks during the year. I'm Kevin Gordon, America's

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<v Speaker 2>struck a network seven hundred WLW.

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<v Speaker 3>I need.

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<v Speaker 1>This is the briefing report on America's drugging network on

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<v Speaker 1>seven hundred WLW.

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<v Speaker 4>Another off season tragedy has struck the NASCAR family a

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<v Speaker 4>couple of weeks ago, as the death of Greg Beffel,

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<v Speaker 4>his family, and three others in a North Carolina plane crash.

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<v Speaker 4>Now the father of NASCAR star Denny Hamlin died and

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<v Speaker 4>his mother is critically injured after a weekend fire heavily

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<v Speaker 4>damaged their North Carolina home where they lived. Firefighters arrived

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<v Speaker 4>Sunday to find a two story home near Stanley, North Carolina,

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<v Speaker 4>mostly engulfed in flames. Dennis Hamblin was seventy five years old.

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<v Speaker 4>Mary Lou Hamlin is sixty nine, and she was taken

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<v Speaker 4>to a burn center in Winston Salem.

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<v Speaker 1>I need this is the breathing repard on America's Trucking

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<v Speaker 1>Network on seven hundred WLW say Dennis and.

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<v Speaker 3>A t N. Running a business is hard enough.

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<v Speaker 5>Don't make it harder with dozens of apps that don't

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<v Speaker 5>talk to each other, one for sales, another for inventory.

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<v Speaker 2>Thinking about this is the well, it's New Year's eve.

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<v Speaker 2>So here we are at the end of the year,

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<v Speaker 2>and of course a lot of stories concentrate on what

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<v Speaker 2>went on during the year, and the story that I'm

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<v Speaker 2>talking about here many moves by the Trump administration shake

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<v Speaker 2>up the trucking, shake up trucking in twenty twenty five. Again,

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<v Speaker 2>I'm not so sure about that headline. It's actually some

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<v Speaker 2>of these things that actually improved the trucking industry and

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<v Speaker 2>probably should have been improvements to the trucking industry. Because

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<v Speaker 2>shaking up, in my opinion, always kind of denotes that, well,

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<v Speaker 2>you're messing with things, you're turning things on its head

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<v Speaker 2>or so to speak.

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<v Speaker 3>So anyway, so if you miss.

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<v Speaker 2>That segment and miss any of our other segments, make

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<v Speaker 2>sure you hit up that iHeartRadio app. And of course

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<v Speaker 2>that's brought to you buy our friends at Rush Truck

0:11:11.320 --> 0:11:14.040
<v Speaker 2>Centers getting into this particular story. When we left off,

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<v Speaker 2>they were talking about cracking down on the CDL mills,

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<v Speaker 2>which again, as you know, we talked to Sam Collier

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<v Speaker 2>the other day having to do with the CDL program

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<v Speaker 2>at Gateway Community College. And the amazing thing is the

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<v Speaker 2>fact that the CDL mills could actually be in existence

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<v Speaker 2>out there, that there's no kind of regulation to make

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<v Speaker 2>sure that they're register that they're actually training people to

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<v Speaker 2>put them on the road. And we're not talking about

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<v Speaker 2>something that is barely you know, is fairly safe. We're

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<v Speaker 2>talking about putting somebody on the road with an eighty

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<v Speaker 2>driving an eight one thousand pound piece of equipment hurling

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<v Speaker 2>down the.

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<v Speaker 3>Highway at sixty sixty five miles an hour.

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<v Speaker 2>And if somebody's not qualified for handling that, that puts

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<v Speaker 2>everybody at danger. And really, I think that people that

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<v Speaker 2>issue these false CDLs, or the CDL mills, they should

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<v Speaker 2>be on the hook for manslaughter or murder or something

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<v Speaker 2>along the lines if any of these CDL licenses that

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<v Speaker 2>they've issued, the person winds up creating an accident that

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<v Speaker 2>kills people. On to some of the first Sean Duffy,

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<v Speaker 2>Secretary of Transportation, announced the removal of nearly three thousand

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<v Speaker 2>commercial drivers Licensed training providers from the Federal Motor Carrier

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<v Speaker 2>Safety Administration's Training Provider Registry, or TPR as they refer

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<v Speaker 2>to it. Later on, he said that the providers failed

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<v Speaker 2>to equip trainees with the proper standards of readiness. Another

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<v Speaker 2>forty five hundred training providers were placed on notice due

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<v Speaker 2>to potential non compliance. Duffy used the announcement as another

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<v Speaker 2>opportunity to continue Trump's efforts to vilify former President Joe Biden.

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<v Speaker 2>Of course they had to throw this in. I'm pretty

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<v Speaker 2>sure that this I don't know if this is an all.

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<v Speaker 2>They must be taking talking points from an ap article,

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<v Speaker 2>because again, if somebody has been in effect asleep at

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<v Speaker 2>the wheel, allowed our country to be invaded at the

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<v Speaker 2>southern border, allowed these CDL mills to thrive and to

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<v Speaker 2>be available so that people could get their CDLs, not

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<v Speaker 2>enforce the English language preference proficiency standards that were a

0:13:33.160 --> 0:13:36.080
<v Speaker 2>part of the law. If you're encouraging people to break

0:13:36.120 --> 0:13:39.640
<v Speaker 2>the law, I don't think pointing out somebody not doing

0:13:39.679 --> 0:13:42.880
<v Speaker 2>that or not obeying the law and making the life

0:13:42.960 --> 0:13:47.240
<v Speaker 2>of on the road for the general citizenry unsafe. I

0:13:47.280 --> 0:13:51.520
<v Speaker 2>don't consider that vilifying somebody. I call that calling out

0:13:51.600 --> 0:13:54.600
<v Speaker 2>somebody's record. But of course, you know, depending upon the

0:13:54.840 --> 0:13:58.160
<v Speaker 2>viewpoint of the person writing the article. This administration is

0:13:58.200 --> 0:14:01.040
<v Speaker 2>cracking down on every link in the illegal truck chain.

0:14:01.440 --> 0:14:05.000
<v Speaker 2>Under Joe Biden, the Transportation Secretary Pete Buddha judge bad

0:14:05.040 --> 0:14:08.240
<v Speaker 2>actors were able to game the system and let unqualified

0:14:08.320 --> 0:14:13.280
<v Speaker 2>drivers flood our roadways. Their negligence endangered every family on

0:14:13.320 --> 0:14:17.400
<v Speaker 2>Americans roadways and it ends today. According to Sean Duffy

0:14:17.640 --> 0:14:21.080
<v Speaker 2>that he said in December, under President Trump, we were

0:14:21.200 --> 0:14:25.280
<v Speaker 2>raining in the illegal, reckless practices that let poorly trained

0:14:25.360 --> 0:14:28.160
<v Speaker 2>drivers get behind the wheel of a semi trucks and

0:14:28.240 --> 0:14:33.320
<v Speaker 2>school buses. TPR program, the Training Provider Registry lists all

0:14:33.360 --> 0:14:38.520
<v Speaker 2>providers authorized to offer federally required entry level driver training

0:14:38.560 --> 0:14:43.120
<v Speaker 2>for CDL students in the past CDL training providers, I

0:14:43.240 --> 0:14:47.600
<v Speaker 2>get this. We're able to self certify that they met

0:14:47.760 --> 0:14:51.520
<v Speaker 2>federal training standards. I mean, come on, we're not talking

0:14:51.560 --> 0:14:56.720
<v Speaker 2>about dog training, dog walking, something that's not a danger

0:14:56.760 --> 0:15:01.760
<v Speaker 2>to the citizenry out there. We're talking about the qualifications

0:15:01.800 --> 0:15:06.640
<v Speaker 2>and the specific skills necessary to operate an eighteen wheeler.

0:15:07.000 --> 0:15:10.200
<v Speaker 2>And for this to be sloughed off and say that, oh, well,

0:15:10.240 --> 0:15:11.960
<v Speaker 2>you know, we're just not going to do We're going

0:15:12.040 --> 0:15:14.600
<v Speaker 2>to let people self certify. And that's one of the

0:15:14.640 --> 0:15:17.080
<v Speaker 2>things that when we were talking to Sam Collier, dean

0:15:17.160 --> 0:15:22.360
<v Speaker 2>of Manufacturing and Transportations a school at Gateway Community and

0:15:22.360 --> 0:15:24.640
<v Speaker 2>Technical College, those are one of the things that he

0:15:24.760 --> 0:15:26.840
<v Speaker 2>really got riled up about, especially when I talked to

0:15:26.960 --> 0:15:29.760
<v Speaker 2>him off air, that some of these things out there,

0:15:30.000 --> 0:15:34.000
<v Speaker 2>when you have an organization like Gateway Community College that

0:15:34.120 --> 0:15:37.560
<v Speaker 2>is doing things by the book and going above and

0:15:37.600 --> 0:15:40.640
<v Speaker 2>beyond to make sure that people out there, not only

0:15:40.680 --> 0:15:43.440
<v Speaker 2>for their students, but for the general public aer safe,

0:15:43.680 --> 0:15:45.240
<v Speaker 2>it just infuriates the people.

0:15:45.080 --> 0:15:47.760
<v Speaker 3>That actually follow the law and care. Duffy said.

0:15:47.760 --> 0:15:51.920
<v Speaker 2>The first step fmcsa review of sixteen thousand training providers

0:15:51.960 --> 0:15:56.160
<v Speaker 2>listed in the TPRs who have identified and removed non

0:15:56.200 --> 0:16:01.040
<v Speaker 2>compliant providers. Duffy said CEO training providers were being removed

0:16:01.160 --> 0:16:05.960
<v Speaker 2>due to falsifying or manipulating training data. In other words,

0:16:06.080 --> 0:16:10.240
<v Speaker 2>saying that they've completed programs that they hadn't completed, neglecting

0:16:10.240 --> 0:16:16.680
<v Speaker 2>to meet required curriculum standards, facility conditions, or instructor qualifications,

0:16:16.680 --> 0:16:21.480
<v Speaker 2>failing to maintain accurate, complete documentation, or refusing to provide

0:16:21.520 --> 0:16:24.880
<v Speaker 2>records during federal audits or investigations.

0:16:25.000 --> 0:16:25.880
<v Speaker 3>Unbelievable.

0:16:25.960 --> 0:16:29.400
<v Speaker 2>Training providers that receive a notice of proposal removal were

0:16:29.440 --> 0:16:33.320
<v Speaker 2>given thirty days to respond to the FMCSA and provide

0:16:33.400 --> 0:16:37.840
<v Speaker 2>evidence of compliance to avoid removal from the registry. During

0:16:37.880 --> 0:16:40.840
<v Speaker 2>this period, the provider's name will be including the tpr's

0:16:41.080 --> 0:16:45.840
<v Speaker 2>proposed removal list. So again, asking people to comply with

0:16:45.880 --> 0:16:48.840
<v Speaker 2>the rules and regulations of the road, asking them to

0:16:48.880 --> 0:16:50.800
<v Speaker 2>make sure that the people that are getting behind the

0:16:50.800 --> 0:16:54.960
<v Speaker 2>wheel are fully trained. Especially again, I can't emphasize enough

0:16:55.200 --> 0:16:59.280
<v Speaker 2>and eat eighty thousand pounds piece of equipment hurling down

0:16:59.320 --> 0:17:03.440
<v Speaker 2>the highway, and if it's not in control, it is hurling.

0:17:03.800 --> 0:17:06.680
<v Speaker 2>It's not just moving, it's not rolling, it is hurling

0:17:06.720 --> 0:17:09.120
<v Speaker 2>down the Highway also one of the things that they

0:17:09.160 --> 0:17:13.000
<v Speaker 2>were targeting this year, targeting electronic logging devices. Throughout twenty

0:17:13.080 --> 0:17:17.280
<v Speaker 2>twenty five, FMCSA actively worked at cleaning up the list

0:17:17.320 --> 0:17:22.040
<v Speaker 2>of electronic logging devices. As the year came to a close,

0:17:22.320 --> 0:17:26.000
<v Speaker 2>more than thirty eleds were stricken from the agency's list

0:17:26.280 --> 0:17:30.040
<v Speaker 2>of registered devices. Again, this is an area where they

0:17:30.040 --> 0:17:33.520
<v Speaker 2>talked about that some of these things could be manipulated

0:17:33.960 --> 0:17:39.360
<v Speaker 2>and falsified, and that the qualifications for this was part

0:17:39.480 --> 0:17:43.560
<v Speaker 2>of a self policing effort where they were certifying their

0:17:43.600 --> 0:17:47.919
<v Speaker 2>own piece of equipment when in fact they weren't up

0:17:47.920 --> 0:17:49.080
<v Speaker 2>to the standards that were.

0:17:49.720 --> 0:17:50.600
<v Speaker 3>That were necessary.

0:17:50.880 --> 0:17:55.600
<v Speaker 2>Of course, ICE Immigration Customs and Enforcement have been out

0:17:55.600 --> 0:17:58.760
<v Speaker 2>on the highways along with some of the state troopers

0:17:59.080 --> 0:18:02.400
<v Speaker 2>enforcing some of the these immigration laws. There have been

0:18:02.480 --> 0:18:06.800
<v Speaker 2>stops in Alabama, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Texas trying to crack

0:18:06.840 --> 0:18:10.840
<v Speaker 2>down on you know, illegal CDLs, people that don't have

0:18:10.920 --> 0:18:15.119
<v Speaker 2>the English language proficiency and as well as also maintaining

0:18:15.119 --> 0:18:17.760
<v Speaker 2>their trucks and making sure that they're in proper safety

0:18:17.920 --> 0:18:20.439
<v Speaker 2>order and if they're not then they're given out of

0:18:20.520 --> 0:18:26.720
<v Speaker 2>service notifications and they're you know, obviously their license well

0:18:26.760 --> 0:18:29.159
<v Speaker 2>they didn't have a license begin with, so it's suspended,

0:18:29.200 --> 0:18:33.040
<v Speaker 2>but they're precluded from driving that truck any further. So,

0:18:33.800 --> 0:18:36.360
<v Speaker 2>a lot of this going on in the trucking industry,

0:18:36.520 --> 0:18:42.280
<v Speaker 2>which I think was good, especially focusing on expanded truck

0:18:42.440 --> 0:18:48.760
<v Speaker 2>parking and eliminating double brokerage, and especially making sure that

0:18:49.680 --> 0:18:54.040
<v Speaker 2>removing that mandate of speed limitters, which is a good thing.

0:18:54.440 --> 0:18:59.159
<v Speaker 2>So again, a good year, hopefully moving forward into twenty

0:18:59.240 --> 0:19:02.359
<v Speaker 2>twenty six. Coming up, I'll be speaking with Amber Karen.

0:19:02.680 --> 0:19:06.040
<v Speaker 2>She is director of Communications Reese across America. We'll be

0:19:06.040 --> 0:19:09.439
<v Speaker 2>talking about their recent successful wreath laying ceremony across the

0:19:09.480 --> 0:19:14.840
<v Speaker 2>country and a special matching opportunity through today December the

0:19:14.880 --> 0:19:19.080
<v Speaker 2>thirty first for anyone sponsoring a wreath for National res

0:19:19.160 --> 0:19:23.320
<v Speaker 2>Across America Day, which will be on Saturday, December nineteenth,

0:19:23.640 --> 0:19:29.760
<v Speaker 2>twenty twenty six, twenty twenty six. So we'll be speaking

0:19:29.760 --> 0:19:33.560
<v Speaker 2>with her shortly. I'm Kevin Gordon, America's struck In Network

0:19:33.880 --> 0:19:42.919
<v Speaker 2>seven hundred WLW seven hundred WLW. I'm Kevin Gordon. This

0:19:43.000 --> 0:19:46.320
<v Speaker 2>is America's truck In Network. Joining me is Amber Karen,

0:19:46.440 --> 0:19:50.960
<v Speaker 2>director of Communications Rees across America. Welcome into the Program Amber.

0:19:51.160 --> 0:19:52.880
<v Speaker 6>Good morning, Kevin, thanks for having me.

0:19:53.240 --> 0:19:57.400
<v Speaker 2>My pleasure talk about a fantastic organization that I won't

0:19:57.480 --> 0:20:00.879
<v Speaker 2>learned about only about three four years ago. And the

0:20:00.920 --> 0:20:04.600
<v Speaker 2>work that you guys do is just absolutely phenomenal. Kind

0:20:04.600 --> 0:20:07.760
<v Speaker 2>of give us a thumbnail sketch of reefs across America

0:20:08.040 --> 0:20:12.800
<v Speaker 2>and uh, and we'll talk about the past wreath laying.

0:20:13.400 --> 0:20:15.680
<v Speaker 3>Easy for me to say this past, I know.

0:20:16.359 --> 0:20:18.720
<v Speaker 6>It'd be surprised at the Tung Twisters.

0:20:19.119 --> 0:20:22.080
<v Speaker 5>Yeah, No, res across America. We're a national nonprofit. We're

0:20:22.080 --> 0:20:25.120
<v Speaker 5>in every single state. Our mission is very simple. It's

0:20:25.160 --> 0:20:27.879
<v Speaker 5>to remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach

0:20:27.920 --> 0:20:30.879
<v Speaker 5>the next generation the value of freedom. And this is

0:20:30.920 --> 0:20:34.399
<v Speaker 5>a year round mission that includes many free programs that

0:20:34.480 --> 0:20:37.800
<v Speaker 5>do just those things in your communities across the country.

0:20:37.920 --> 0:20:41.480
<v Speaker 5>It obviously we're probably best known for our annual reef

0:20:41.640 --> 0:20:46.920
<v Speaker 5>laying event called National Wreaths Across America Day. This year

0:20:47.040 --> 0:20:50.680
<v Speaker 5>it was held on Saturday, December thirteenth at five thousand,

0:20:50.840 --> 0:20:51.840
<v Speaker 5>five hundred and.

0:20:51.840 --> 0:20:57.240
<v Speaker 6>Ninety eight locations nationwide. We're in everything in Alaska, Hawaii, Yeah,

0:20:57.280 --> 0:20:57.800
<v Speaker 6>it's amazing.

0:20:57.840 --> 0:21:00.480
<v Speaker 5>Puerto Rico, we've grown a lot, almost seven hundred new

0:21:00.720 --> 0:21:03.560
<v Speaker 5>locations in twenty twenty five, which is really a testament

0:21:03.640 --> 0:21:06.560
<v Speaker 5>to the mission. Yeah, all run by volunteers, and that's

0:21:06.600 --> 0:21:08.880
<v Speaker 5>the part that I think people are surprised by.

0:21:09.080 --> 0:21:10.960
<v Speaker 6>It's really a volunteer program.

0:21:11.720 --> 0:21:15.440
<v Speaker 5>These are people who have participated in the program elsewhere

0:21:15.520 --> 0:21:17.480
<v Speaker 5>and want to bring it to their community, want to

0:21:17.520 --> 0:21:20.360
<v Speaker 5>make sure the veterans and service members and military families

0:21:20.359 --> 0:21:21.760
<v Speaker 5>in their community are being.

0:21:21.560 --> 0:21:23.560
<v Speaker 6>Honored and remembered, and that's how it grows.

0:21:23.640 --> 0:21:26.160
<v Speaker 5>So it's it's pretty you know, we had a pretty

0:21:26.160 --> 0:21:29.320
<v Speaker 5>great National Rescross America Day this year. We placed just

0:21:29.400 --> 0:21:33.080
<v Speaker 5>over three point one million sponsored veterans reads just over

0:21:33.119 --> 0:21:36.800
<v Speaker 5>three million volunteers, a third of whom were children, participated

0:21:37.040 --> 0:21:37.600
<v Speaker 5>in this LIBE.

0:21:37.640 --> 0:21:41.120
<v Speaker 2>I think, so, I think that part is really fantastic.

0:21:41.200 --> 0:21:45.720
<v Speaker 2>The thirty percent of the people that attended our children.

0:21:45.920 --> 0:21:49.160
<v Speaker 2>I was only able to participate in this once over

0:21:49.200 --> 0:21:52.119
<v Speaker 2>the last four years, both the other times I've been

0:21:52.160 --> 0:21:54.719
<v Speaker 2>out of town, but the time that I went, I

0:21:54.840 --> 0:21:58.800
<v Speaker 2>was amazed at how many young people that the parents

0:21:58.880 --> 0:22:04.680
<v Speaker 2>bring to this event and just the all respect and

0:22:04.920 --> 0:22:08.879
<v Speaker 2>just when you think in terms of these fallen soldiers

0:22:09.040 --> 0:22:14.360
<v Speaker 2>and these veterans that to honor them it's very humbling.

0:22:14.640 --> 0:22:17.280
<v Speaker 2>I don't know how else to explain it other than

0:22:17.320 --> 0:22:22.440
<v Speaker 2>the fact that seeing it and witnessing it is amazing.

0:22:22.800 --> 0:22:25.960
<v Speaker 5>Yeah, it's definitely an experience, and I think that that's

0:22:26.000 --> 0:22:26.720
<v Speaker 5>the important thing.

0:22:27.320 --> 0:22:29.640
<v Speaker 6>Whenever anyone says, well, what can I do to get involved?

0:22:29.720 --> 0:22:31.879
<v Speaker 5>I always say, the first thing you can do is

0:22:31.920 --> 0:22:35.440
<v Speaker 5>just find a location near you to go to one year,

0:22:35.640 --> 0:22:38.479
<v Speaker 5>you know, take your family. It's something that's super simple

0:22:38.720 --> 0:22:40.840
<v Speaker 5>to do. It's a very simple act. Place to read,

0:22:40.880 --> 0:22:43.239
<v Speaker 5>it's very memorable. It's a core memory for a lot

0:22:43.280 --> 0:22:45.720
<v Speaker 5>of kids, I think, because it becomes it's something you

0:22:45.760 --> 0:22:46.800
<v Speaker 5>can do, it's an action.

0:22:47.160 --> 0:22:49.560
<v Speaker 6>It's something that you can go back home with your.

0:22:49.400 --> 0:22:52.119
<v Speaker 5>Family and maybe look up the service member that you

0:22:52.200 --> 0:22:54.360
<v Speaker 5>place to read for and learn about their life. And

0:22:54.400 --> 0:22:56.479
<v Speaker 5>it's a very simple way to teach your kids what

0:22:56.520 --> 0:22:57.960
<v Speaker 5>it means to serve, also.

0:22:57.960 --> 0:23:01.399
<v Speaker 2>To understand from the ultimate price and the saying and

0:23:01.440 --> 0:23:04.320
<v Speaker 2>it chokes me up every time I hear it or

0:23:04.359 --> 0:23:06.320
<v Speaker 2>even try to say it. And when they say a

0:23:06.359 --> 0:23:09.600
<v Speaker 2>soldier dies twice, once when they take their last breath,

0:23:09.720 --> 0:23:12.600
<v Speaker 2>and then once their name is no longer mentioned. And

0:23:12.640 --> 0:23:16.080
<v Speaker 2>the fact of laying these reefs at these grave sites

0:23:16.520 --> 0:23:20.160
<v Speaker 2>and then taking the time to speak that person's name.

0:23:20.680 --> 0:23:23.960
<v Speaker 2>It's just it sends chills down your spine because you

0:23:24.040 --> 0:23:27.760
<v Speaker 2>realize that this person either died in combat, served or whatever,

0:23:28.080 --> 0:23:31.600
<v Speaker 2>but actually was there to preserve the freedoms that we

0:23:31.720 --> 0:23:34.240
<v Speaker 2>take so much for granted, and.

0:23:34.160 --> 0:23:37.840
<v Speaker 6>Not everyone has the is given the ability to become

0:23:37.880 --> 0:23:38.400
<v Speaker 6>a veteran.

0:23:39.080 --> 0:23:41.440
<v Speaker 5>You know, a veteran is somebody who served who's living

0:23:42.440 --> 0:23:45.840
<v Speaker 5>when we place it, replacing veterans reeds, and it's what

0:23:45.880 --> 0:23:48.399
<v Speaker 5>we called them, their veterans reads and replacing them for

0:23:48.480 --> 0:23:50.399
<v Speaker 5>service members who.

0:23:49.960 --> 0:23:51.760
<v Speaker 6>You know, maybe never had the chance to be called

0:23:51.760 --> 0:23:52.240
<v Speaker 6>a veteran.

0:23:53.359 --> 0:23:55.600
<v Speaker 3>And well that's a good point. That's a very good point.

0:23:55.720 --> 0:23:59.159
<v Speaker 5>Yeah, yeah, even if they did, you know, it's they

0:23:59.200 --> 0:24:02.359
<v Speaker 5>could have had military career, lived a long, healthy life

0:24:02.359 --> 0:24:05.159
<v Speaker 5>and passed away. They still chose to serve and they

0:24:05.200 --> 0:24:08.800
<v Speaker 5>were willing to do whatever was necessary to protect our freedoms.

0:24:08.800 --> 0:24:11.480
<v Speaker 5>And for that, it's something we can all agree on.

0:24:12.119 --> 0:24:16.919
<v Speaker 5>It's something that is easy to support. A responsorship is

0:24:18.119 --> 0:24:20.359
<v Speaker 5>covers a lot of things. I mean, yes, when you

0:24:20.400 --> 0:24:23.040
<v Speaker 5>place when you make a seventeen dollars sponsorship, yes, you're

0:24:23.080 --> 0:24:26.960
<v Speaker 5>placing a wreath at a specific location, but in many

0:24:26.960 --> 0:24:30.399
<v Speaker 5>cases you're also doing in every case you're supporting the

0:24:30.440 --> 0:24:34.479
<v Speaker 5>year around mission. But right now we also have a

0:24:34.520 --> 0:24:36.720
<v Speaker 5>little promotion going on through the end of the year.

0:24:36.760 --> 0:24:39.800
<v Speaker 5>And one thing that people don't understand about rascross America

0:24:39.840 --> 0:24:42.640
<v Speaker 5>through we have a program called our Group Sponsorship Program.

0:24:43.320 --> 0:24:47.480
<v Speaker 5>And so through that, any other nonprofit so or a

0:24:47.560 --> 0:24:51.600
<v Speaker 5>veteran service organization, if you're a VFW American Legion, you're

0:24:51.760 --> 0:24:55.320
<v Speaker 5>a soup kitchen, you know, or kids baseball team, you

0:24:55.359 --> 0:24:58.520
<v Speaker 5>can sign up to be a sponsorship groups across America.

0:24:59.119 --> 0:25:01.360
<v Speaker 5>And this is a year round program.

0:25:01.240 --> 0:25:03.280
<v Speaker 6>And through it you can do the.

0:25:03.240 --> 0:25:06.800
<v Speaker 5>Five dollars back and so for every seventeen dollars sponsorship

0:25:06.840 --> 0:25:09.800
<v Speaker 5>made through your group, you can earn five dollars back.

0:25:10.280 --> 0:25:13.000
<v Speaker 6>We've given back over twenty eight million.

0:25:12.760 --> 0:25:16.000
<v Speaker 5>Dollars to other nonprofits over the last seventeen years through

0:25:16.000 --> 0:25:19.320
<v Speaker 5>this program. And you know, some other groups sign up

0:25:19.359 --> 0:25:21.360
<v Speaker 5>as to be a five dollars forward instead of taking

0:25:21.359 --> 0:25:23.439
<v Speaker 5>the five dollars back, they want five dollars to go

0:25:23.560 --> 0:25:28.320
<v Speaker 5>towards another wreath, which helps please you know, local cemeteries

0:25:28.359 --> 0:25:29.440
<v Speaker 5>get full coverage.

0:25:29.720 --> 0:25:31.640
<v Speaker 6>But we have a promo going on through the end

0:25:31.680 --> 0:25:32.879
<v Speaker 6>of this week, so through.

0:25:32.760 --> 0:25:36.160
<v Speaker 5>The thirty first any registered group, So if you're registered

0:25:36.160 --> 0:25:39.520
<v Speaker 5>as a sponsorship group through resacross America and you sponsor

0:25:39.640 --> 0:25:42.560
<v Speaker 5>read through their group, if they'll get a second matching

0:25:42.600 --> 0:25:45.600
<v Speaker 5>WREAF for from res across America and.

0:25:45.520 --> 0:25:49.600
<v Speaker 2>That doubles your doubles your contribution. So how do you

0:25:49.720 --> 0:25:52.720
<v Speaker 2>do that on the website because I kind of tinker

0:25:52.840 --> 0:25:58.639
<v Speaker 2>around with that the other day and we're on the website.

0:25:59.000 --> 0:26:03.720
<v Speaker 3>You go to the Reach across America do and then you.

0:26:03.680 --> 0:26:05.919
<v Speaker 5>Click on when you go up to the top, you

0:26:05.920 --> 0:26:07.800
<v Speaker 5>can look for search and you can when it pulls

0:26:07.840 --> 0:26:10.280
<v Speaker 5>up the search, it'll be there's a locations and then

0:26:10.280 --> 0:26:13.520
<v Speaker 5>there's groups. So if you know the location that you

0:26:13.560 --> 0:26:16.800
<v Speaker 5>want to support, you can look up your location and

0:26:17.280 --> 0:26:20.399
<v Speaker 5>it'll it'll pull up the location if it's a participating

0:26:20.440 --> 0:26:22.560
<v Speaker 5>location and they get their own their own page, and

0:26:22.600 --> 0:26:24.680
<v Speaker 5>then you can scroll down and see all the groups

0:26:24.720 --> 0:26:29.919
<v Speaker 5>that support that location, and if you click on their group,

0:26:30.040 --> 0:26:32.679
<v Speaker 5>you can sponsor a reach right through that group. Or

0:26:32.760 --> 0:26:34.440
<v Speaker 5>if you know the name of the group, so so

0:26:34.640 --> 0:26:38.119
<v Speaker 5>you know your local VFW or your local American Legion

0:26:38.840 --> 0:26:41.440
<v Speaker 5>is a sponsorship group for your cemetery, you can go

0:26:41.560 --> 0:26:44.080
<v Speaker 5>directly to the group section and just look up the

0:26:44.160 --> 0:26:47.000
<v Speaker 5>name of that post or that chapter, or the name

0:26:47.040 --> 0:26:50.400
<v Speaker 5>of the whatever the nonprofit's name is, and you can

0:26:50.440 --> 0:26:53.440
<v Speaker 5>pull up their page. So anyone who any group that's

0:26:53.240 --> 0:26:56.640
<v Speaker 5>just you know, participating location or participating group has their

0:26:56.680 --> 0:27:00.080
<v Speaker 5>own page on our website, so it's really easy to

0:27:00.080 --> 0:27:02.880
<v Speaker 5>to find them and to sponsor a reath through them,

0:27:02.920 --> 0:27:04.680
<v Speaker 5>and then we take care of it on the back end.

0:27:04.760 --> 0:27:07.680
<v Speaker 5>So and that's a great way, and you can also

0:27:07.760 --> 0:27:09.920
<v Speaker 5>call you can call our customer service at eight seven

0:27:10.000 --> 0:27:13.600
<v Speaker 5>seven three eight five ninety five oh four and see

0:27:13.600 --> 0:27:16.120
<v Speaker 5>if you know, what are the groups that are supporting

0:27:16.160 --> 0:27:19.240
<v Speaker 5>the local cemetery that you care about, and you can

0:27:19.280 --> 0:27:21.280
<v Speaker 5>support that group. So that way, you know your money

0:27:21.440 --> 0:27:24.240
<v Speaker 5>is going that much further. You know, you're not only

0:27:24.480 --> 0:27:27.480
<v Speaker 5>are you you're also you know, when you support a group,

0:27:27.560 --> 0:27:31.440
<v Speaker 5>you're also supporting two organizations. So for your seventeen dollars contribution,

0:27:31.520 --> 0:27:35.199
<v Speaker 5>you're sponsoring the REEF and you're supporting RECROSSMERCAS programs, but

0:27:35.280 --> 0:27:38.480
<v Speaker 5>you're also helping this other nonprofit in there in your community.

0:27:38.840 --> 0:27:40.320
<v Speaker 5>So it's a really great way to kind of do

0:27:40.440 --> 0:27:43.879
<v Speaker 5>good twice all throughout the year. But obviously, this promos

0:27:43.920 --> 0:27:45.640
<v Speaker 5>through the end of this week is a great way

0:27:45.680 --> 0:27:48.480
<v Speaker 5>for us to help our volunteers to be successful and

0:27:48.600 --> 0:27:50.400
<v Speaker 5>get a great head start for next year.

0:27:50.800 --> 0:27:53.080
<v Speaker 2>My guest is Amber Karen. She is the director of

0:27:53.080 --> 0:27:55.160
<v Speaker 2>Communications Rees across America.

0:27:55.320 --> 0:27:55.800
<v Speaker 3>Now, to be.

0:27:55.880 --> 0:27:59.160
<v Speaker 2>Clear on your web page, you don't want to go

0:27:59.320 --> 0:28:02.280
<v Speaker 2>to the sponsor wreaths, correct?

0:28:02.560 --> 0:28:03.440
<v Speaker 3>You want to go again?

0:28:04.920 --> 0:28:06.760
<v Speaker 6>If you yeah, you actually can do that.

0:28:06.840 --> 0:28:07.040
<v Speaker 5>Yeah.

0:28:07.119 --> 0:28:10.200
<v Speaker 6>If you go to sponsor wreaths and you say you're

0:28:10.200 --> 0:28:12.280
<v Speaker 6>going to click one sponsor.

0:28:11.840 --> 0:28:15.280
<v Speaker 5>One wreath, you can go ahead, I'm gonna go through

0:28:15.280 --> 0:28:18.480
<v Speaker 5>the process and you can add to cart, you can

0:28:18.680 --> 0:28:21.240
<v Speaker 5>proceed to check out and basically you can go through

0:28:21.280 --> 0:28:23.560
<v Speaker 5>and you can actually edit and you can say where

0:28:23.600 --> 0:28:26.000
<v Speaker 5>you want your wreath to go. You can be very

0:28:26.000 --> 0:28:28.359
<v Speaker 5>specific as to what group and location you want to

0:28:28.400 --> 0:28:32.480
<v Speaker 5>go to. That things that I find it easier just

0:28:32.520 --> 0:28:34.320
<v Speaker 5>to start at the group that you want.

0:28:34.400 --> 0:28:38.480
<v Speaker 6>So by going to search sponsor, Yes, yeah, that's probably

0:28:38.520 --> 0:28:39.440
<v Speaker 6>the easiest way, is.

0:28:39.520 --> 0:28:42.160
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I think it's more better way of going to

0:28:42.200 --> 0:28:46.720
<v Speaker 2>it because you know, but backing up, also, if you

0:28:46.840 --> 0:28:50.840
<v Speaker 2>are interested in being part of this and being part

0:28:50.880 --> 0:28:54.760
<v Speaker 2>of the reath playing ceremony, you can go to the

0:28:54.880 --> 0:29:01.040
<v Speaker 2>get involved, and it's very simple. You go you and

0:29:01.080 --> 0:29:04.600
<v Speaker 2>you tell them where you're located or your zip code.

0:29:05.040 --> 0:29:08.600
<v Speaker 2>And when I did this three maybe four years ago,

0:29:09.200 --> 0:29:11.960
<v Speaker 2>within a half hour, one of the people contacted me

0:29:12.040 --> 0:29:14.959
<v Speaker 2>and said, hey, we're interested in having you and all this.

0:29:15.120 --> 0:29:19.120
<v Speaker 2>And so they talked about what cemetery they sponsored and

0:29:19.160 --> 0:29:22.040
<v Speaker 2>how close it was to where I live. And it

0:29:22.080 --> 0:29:25.160
<v Speaker 2>was a very easy sign up policy. And so to

0:29:25.480 --> 0:29:29.040
<v Speaker 2>do that again going back in and purchasing a wreath,

0:29:29.400 --> 0:29:33.680
<v Speaker 2>you can go to that specific sponsor and sponsor the

0:29:33.720 --> 0:29:36.920
<v Speaker 2>wreath at that location. And it's very important to do

0:29:36.960 --> 0:29:39.600
<v Speaker 2>that because you want to get that bang for your buck.

0:29:39.680 --> 0:29:43.040
<v Speaker 2>You want to make sure and it's seventeen dollars. I mean,

0:29:43.400 --> 0:29:46.120
<v Speaker 2>you look at these wreaths. I'm telling you folks. You

0:29:46.240 --> 0:29:49.200
<v Speaker 2>go online and you look at the reefs across America

0:29:49.360 --> 0:29:52.880
<v Speaker 2>dot org and look at the picture on there, and

0:29:53.160 --> 0:29:58.000
<v Speaker 2>that is just such an amazing picture. And I think

0:29:58.040 --> 0:30:03.600
<v Speaker 2>originally at Arlington Nationals a mitery, uh, the when that

0:30:03.880 --> 0:30:07.560
<v Speaker 2>first took place and the snow on the ground, and

0:30:07.800 --> 0:30:09.640
<v Speaker 2>when you look at these reefs, I mean, these are

0:30:10.280 --> 0:30:13.320
<v Speaker 2>anybody that's gone out and bought a wreath seventeen dollars

0:30:13.360 --> 0:30:16.040
<v Speaker 2>for these reefs. You should be probably paying twice as

0:30:16.120 --> 0:30:17.760
<v Speaker 2>much for them. They're that beautiful.

0:30:17.760 --> 0:30:20.120
<v Speaker 5>Well, and you're and you're not just paying And I

0:30:20.200 --> 0:30:22.160
<v Speaker 5>want to be really clear for people saying it's not

0:30:22.280 --> 0:30:23.200
<v Speaker 5>just paying for the wreath.

0:30:23.280 --> 0:30:23.960
<v Speaker 3>The reef is.

0:30:23.960 --> 0:30:27.880
<v Speaker 5>One thing that gives place. But you're supporting local programs.

0:30:28.000 --> 0:30:30.720
<v Speaker 5>You're supporting the res Across America mission and our year

0:30:30.800 --> 0:30:33.520
<v Speaker 5>round program. We have so many things including you know,

0:30:33.600 --> 0:30:35.920
<v Speaker 5>our own we have our own radio station that you

0:30:35.960 --> 0:30:39.479
<v Speaker 5>know that we share content from our veterans and service members.

0:30:39.520 --> 0:30:40.400
<v Speaker 2>We have our.

0:30:41.720 --> 0:30:43.760
<v Speaker 6>We have our museum and our traveling museum.

0:30:43.880 --> 0:30:46.880
<v Speaker 5>We have our education program free curriculum for teachers and

0:30:47.080 --> 0:30:50.400
<v Speaker 5>educators across the country. So there's a year round mission

0:30:50.440 --> 0:30:53.720
<v Speaker 5>here that's being supported with that seventeen dollars sponsorship, and

0:30:53.920 --> 0:30:54.920
<v Speaker 5>a reason is getting placed.

0:30:54.960 --> 0:30:55.160
<v Speaker 3>Yeah.

0:30:55.200 --> 0:30:57.200
<v Speaker 2>I should I should have been more specific on that.

0:30:57.320 --> 0:31:00.200
<v Speaker 2>I apologize for that, but yeah, I think.

0:31:00.040 --> 0:31:03.120
<v Speaker 5>It's an important distinction that people don't realize, yeah, because

0:31:03.120 --> 0:31:05.360
<v Speaker 5>I think they're like, oh, well, seventeen dollars, I'm getting

0:31:05.400 --> 0:31:08.080
<v Speaker 5>a wreath, yes, and.

0:31:07.160 --> 0:31:08.840
<v Speaker 3>Adding all these other things yes.

0:31:09.080 --> 0:31:11.560
<v Speaker 5>Yeah, And in a lot of cases with these sponsorship groups,

0:31:11.600 --> 0:31:13.960
<v Speaker 5>you're supporting on another another group's.

0:31:13.640 --> 0:31:16.640
<v Speaker 6>Mission, right, I mean twenty eight million dollars. I mean

0:31:16.760 --> 0:31:18.560
<v Speaker 6>we haven't gotten the updated figure yet.

0:31:18.440 --> 0:31:20.520
<v Speaker 5>For twenty twenty five, but I guarantee it's going to

0:31:20.560 --> 0:31:23.240
<v Speaker 5>be over thirty million dollars this year. We've we had

0:31:23.280 --> 0:31:25.960
<v Speaker 5>over seven thousand sponsorship groups last year.

0:31:25.960 --> 0:31:28.240
<v Speaker 6>So these are groups that are you know I have.

0:31:28.640 --> 0:31:31.240
<v Speaker 5>I had kids that played baseball and we sold four

0:31:31.320 --> 0:31:35.720
<v Speaker 5>mate popcorn for absurd amounts of money, and those kids

0:31:35.720 --> 0:31:38.080
<v Speaker 5>would see a dollar you know of it, whereas this

0:31:38.280 --> 0:31:41.520
<v Speaker 5>is seventeen dollars and five dollars goes directly back to

0:31:41.560 --> 0:31:45.000
<v Speaker 5>whatever the program is. It's a great it's a great

0:31:45.000 --> 0:31:47.400
<v Speaker 5>way to raise funds and especially for youth programs for

0:31:47.440 --> 0:31:49.760
<v Speaker 5>them to learn about those service members and their community.

0:31:50.200 --> 0:31:53.880
<v Speaker 2>And it is an absolutely fantastic organization and I recommend

0:31:53.880 --> 0:31:56.880
<v Speaker 2>it highly. It's just one of those things that really

0:31:56.920 --> 0:32:01.840
<v Speaker 2>touches your soul. Again, Amber, Karen direct your communications. Rescross America.

0:32:02.880 --> 0:32:05.560
<v Speaker 2>It I just can't speak enough about it, the good

0:32:05.560 --> 0:32:08.680
<v Speaker 2>work that you do. And my other well, my full

0:32:08.720 --> 0:32:12.719
<v Speaker 2>time gig is with America's Truck and Network and we

0:32:12.760 --> 0:32:16.360
<v Speaker 2>were a part of Rescross America and do the truck

0:32:16.400 --> 0:32:19.840
<v Speaker 2>and Tuesday and do the show there. And it's been

0:32:19.880 --> 0:32:22.720
<v Speaker 2>great going to the America Mid America Trucking Show and

0:32:23.360 --> 0:32:27.400
<v Speaker 2>being right around the corner from the booth of Recross America. Uh,

0:32:27.520 --> 0:32:29.880
<v Speaker 2>it's always great to talk to them. Jeff Pearce, in

0:32:29.920 --> 0:32:33.520
<v Speaker 2>your in your crowd. It's just an amazing organization. So

0:32:34.080 --> 0:32:39.320
<v Speaker 2>once again, anybody interested in getting on board, go.

0:32:39.160 --> 0:32:44.280
<v Speaker 5>To read across America dot org and there's plenty of

0:32:44.280 --> 0:32:46.600
<v Speaker 5>ways to followed get involved if you want to look

0:32:46.640 --> 0:32:48.880
<v Speaker 5>to how to get involved locally, or go to the

0:32:48.920 --> 0:32:51.960
<v Speaker 5>search function and look up a sponsorship group near you

0:32:52.040 --> 0:32:56.400
<v Speaker 5>and see where you can make your contribution doubled over

0:32:56.440 --> 0:32:57.080
<v Speaker 5>the next week.

0:32:57.320 --> 0:33:01.520
<v Speaker 2>And if if you prefer the phone route, that would be.

0:33:03.120 --> 0:33:07.680
<v Speaker 5>The phone round at eight seven seven three eight five four.

0:33:08.080 --> 0:33:11.440
<v Speaker 2>And again my guess, Amber, Karen. And by the way,

0:33:11.880 --> 0:33:14.160
<v Speaker 2>I know it was kind of rushed and getting in

0:33:14.240 --> 0:33:17.040
<v Speaker 2>touch with you over the weekend, but I certainly appreciate

0:33:17.200 --> 0:33:20.840
<v Speaker 2>uh you spending time with us today. And again, folks,

0:33:20.960 --> 0:33:25.960
<v Speaker 2>recross America dot org support a very fantastic organization. Get

0:33:26.000 --> 0:33:30.320
<v Speaker 2>on board. Look at the website. If it doesn't touch

0:33:30.360 --> 0:33:32.920
<v Speaker 2>your heart, well nothing will. And that's all I have

0:33:33.000 --> 0:33:38.560
<v Speaker 2>to say, and it's a fantastic organization. Remember, honor and

0:33:38.680 --> 0:33:41.320
<v Speaker 2>teach Heather. It's been a pleasure talking to you. I

0:33:41.360 --> 0:33:45.680
<v Speaker 2>have to do this again sometime and again, folks. This

0:33:45.840 --> 0:33:50.000
<v Speaker 2>is a promotion that goes till December thirty first, New

0:33:50.080 --> 0:33:53.720
<v Speaker 2>Year's Day. Get double bang for your buck, sponsor a

0:33:53.760 --> 0:33:59.120
<v Speaker 2>wreath and they match that from Recross America. Any closing thoughts, No.

0:33:59.080 --> 0:34:00.920
<v Speaker 6>I appreciate it, Kevin, Thank you so much. Everyone.

0:34:01.320 --> 0:34:03.920
<v Speaker 5>Like I said, even though even though Reese Cressmercod Day

0:34:04.520 --> 0:34:07.760
<v Speaker 5>is over for twenty twenty five, the mission continues year round.

0:34:07.840 --> 0:34:10.560
<v Speaker 5>There's ways to get involved year round, and never too

0:34:10.600 --> 0:34:12.920
<v Speaker 5>early to get involved for next year exactly.

0:34:12.960 --> 0:34:17.439
<v Speaker 2>And oh, by the way, save the date December nineteenth.

0:34:17.160 --> 0:34:21.479
<v Speaker 5>Nineteenth, Yeah, twenty six, December December nineteenth, twenty twenty six.

0:34:22.000 --> 0:34:24.319
<v Speaker 5>We'll do it all over again and probably at over

0:34:24.360 --> 0:34:27.160
<v Speaker 5>six thousand locations next year, all right, which is crazy

0:34:27.480 --> 0:34:28.319
<v Speaker 5>crazy to think about.

0:34:28.480 --> 0:34:29.840
<v Speaker 3>Let's hope. Ember.

0:34:30.280 --> 0:34:32.480
<v Speaker 2>It was just mentioned to me that a couple of

0:34:32.520 --> 0:34:35.759
<v Speaker 2>minutes ago I misspoke and said that the promotion for

0:34:35.880 --> 0:34:39.279
<v Speaker 2>Reese Cross America was going through New Year's Day. It

0:34:39.320 --> 0:34:42.920
<v Speaker 2>actually ends today December the thirty first, So I want

0:34:42.960 --> 0:34:44.600
<v Speaker 2>to make sure that you're aware of that. Go to

0:34:44.640 --> 0:34:47.320
<v Speaker 2>their website and make sure that you make that donation

0:34:47.440 --> 0:34:49.600
<v Speaker 2>and sponsor that rece so you get two for the

0:34:49.600 --> 0:34:53.120
<v Speaker 2>price of one, and certainly a worthwhile thing to do.

0:34:53.400 --> 0:34:56.360
<v Speaker 2>Stay tuned for EDI Radio Top the hour. I'm Kevin Gordon.

0:34:56.440 --> 0:35:00.239
<v Speaker 2>America is struck in network seven hundred wl W