Minnesota trucker Gerald Popp up for driver of the year after a life on the road
Gerald "Red" Popp and his newest truck.
Courtesy photo
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Gerald “Red” Popp has been a trucker for most of his life. “Anywhere the load goes, we go,” he said.
This year, the Minnesota Trucking Association recognized him as one of its drivers of the month. Now, he is among the 12 drivers up for driver of the year, which will be announced at a banquet coming up on Jan. 17.
Popp was born and raised in central Minnesota. He’s a farm kid, and always loved trucks. He was used to tractors and pickups, but driving truck for a living was a bit different.
He says he enjoys the lifestyle, sleeping in the truck, eating at truck stops. It can be lonely, but a love of driving and meeting new people across the county keeps him going.
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The first time he crawled up in a truck in 1978, he said he knew.
“I knew it was what I wanted to do — I just got such a kick out of being in the truck and the opportunity to go and see the country interested me to no end,” he said.
Popp drives about 11 hours a day, 600 to 700 miles. The only two states he has not been to are Alaska and Hawaii, but they’re on his bucket list.
“I want to go before I decide to retire from driving, it’s my last frontier so to speak.”
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
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Audio transcript
INTERVIEWER: A lot of us love a good road trip. I know I do. Think of a summer day, the windows rolled down, the music's blasting, road trip snacks nearby. But how long would the romance last if you were on the road 11 hours a day 300 days a year? Well, our next guest probably has the answer. Gerald Popp has been a trucker for most of his life. He goes by the nickname Red. Red's a well-respected guy on the road.
And this year, the Minnesota Trucking Association recognized him as one of its drivers of the month. And now Red is among the 12 drivers up for Driver of the Year, which will be announced at a banquet coming up on January 17. Red Pop is on the line. Red, we are so glad to have you on Minnesota Now. How you been?
GERALD POP: I've been great. Thank you very much for having me.
CATHY WURZER: Welcome. Say, where are you right now?
GERALD POP: I'm in St. Joseph in our office right now.
CATHY WURZER: [CHUCKLES]
Were you-- I'm assuming you were on the road earlier in the week.
GERALD POP: Yes, I was. Yep. I just got back from Seattle, Washington.
CATHY WURZER: So can I call you a long haul trucker? Do you have a specific route?
GERALD POP: No, anywhere that the load goes, we'll go. So anywhere in the country.
CATHY WURZER: So it could be even some local, say, trips in Minnesota?
GERALD POP: Definitely. Yes.
CATHY WURZER: How many miles do you think you put on in a day?
GERALD POP: Try to average 600 to 700--
CATHY WURZER: Oh, Red.
GERALD POP: --every day, which is a standard on an 11 hour day.
CATHY WURZER: Wow. I'm curious, now you're a Native Minnesotan? You're a farm kid.
GERALD POP: I was born and raised here in Central Minnesota, yes.
CATHY WURZER: Is that where you got your love of trucks?
GERALD POP: Kind of, yeah. I had a friend of mine that actually got me started in trucks the first time I sat in one. But growing up on the farm driving tractors, and pickups, and just our rigger farm truck, got it going.
CATHY WURZER: I see. So this is not a 9:00 to 5:00 job, obviously. What's the lifestyle like?
GERALD POP: Well, you're alone a lot because you're in the truck, of course, eating at truck stops. You sleep in the truck at rest areas or at truck stops. So it's a lonely life. But I enjoy it. It's fun.
CATHY WURZER: What keeps you on the road?
GERALD POP: A lot of things. The love of driving. The fact I get to see this country and meet different people and new people all the time. I just get a real charge out of doing that, a real kick.
CATHY WURZER: I can only imagine the people you meet on the road, characters.
GERALD POP: There are some very interesting people out there. There's no doubt, yes.
CATHY WURZER: No kidding.
[LAUGHS]
GERALD POP: Yep.
CATHY WURZER: I'm also betting you see all manner of foolishness on the road in terms of sharing the road with motorists, who might not be as, say, well-versed in driving, the rules of the road then, as you are.
GERALD POP: Well, that has definitely changed over the years, the courtesy. Or maybe it's lack of driving knowledge. I don't know what I would attribute it to. But yeah, that has definitely changed over the years. You have to be a lot more defensive as far as your driving and aware of your surroundings now than you ever have been.
CATHY WURZER: This is a pretty dangerous job. I think people don't truly understand that.
GERALD POP: Well, it definitely can be. There's no doubt about it. You have to, like I said, pay attention all the time. Yeah, it can be very dangerous. No doubt.
CATHY WURZER: Yeah, what's the hardest part of the job?
GERALD POP: I guess I would have to say probably just paying attention to your surroundings to not get yourself in a situation that can cause damage or harm to anybody or anything. I think that's the one thing you concentrate on the most when you're driving, the loading and unloading. And after 40 some years, that's standard. That is not an issue anymore.
CATHY WURZER: You've been doing this for 40 years.
GERALD POP: 40-- yeah, 1978. Yeah, so 44.
CATHY WURZER: [CHUCKLES]
GERALD POP: Yeah.
CATHY WURZER: So you could have done anything in your life. And you decided to be a trucker. So this friend that introduced you, who was that? And why did you think this was going to be a career for you?
GERALD POP: Well, I just thought-- it was a friend of mine. He's no longer with us. He passed away. It's been quite a few years ago. But yeah, the first time I crawl up in his truck, I knew that was something that I wanted to try. And after I got on the road, I knew that was what I wanted to do. I just got such a kick out of being in the truck. And pulling trailers and the opportunity to go and see the country just interested me to no end.
CATHY WURZER: Now do you own your own-- is the correct term tractor? It's not--
GERALD POP: Yes, I--
CATHY WURZER: Yes, OK. It's a-- people usually think semi-trucks. But you call it a tractor.
GERALD POP: Right. Yeah, the tractor part, which pulls a trailer, is the-- the semi's the entire unit. I own the tractor. And the company I'm leased to, Brenny Specialized, owns the trailers and stuff like that.
CATHY WURZER: So what are you driving?
GERALD POP: I'm driving a 2023 International Lone Star that I just got in November.
CATHY WURZER: Oh.
[LAUGHS]
GERALD POP: Yep.
CATHY WURZER: Nice.
GERALD POP: Yes.
CATHY WURZER: I presume, do you have a little sleeping area in the back there?
GERALD POP: Yes, it's got a bunk back there and your refrigerator or microwave, TVs, stuff like that. It's set up pretty well.
CATHY WURZER: So if you needed to pull over and get some sleep, you could do that instead of going into a truck stop.
GERALD POP: Oh.
CATHY WURZER: Yeah.
GERALD POP: Definitely. Definitely. A rest area and stuff like that.
CATHY WURZER: So you put on a lot of miles every day and you're going across the country. Where have you not been?
GERALD POP: Alaska and Hawaii.
CATHY WURZER: Ah, well, of course, Hawaii, yeah.
[LAUGHS]
GERALD POP: Yeah.
[LAUGHS]
CATHY WURZER: But Alaska. Well, it's still possible you might get a trip out there.
GERALD POP: That is definitely on my bucket list before I decide to retire from driving. It truly, truly is. I think that's the--
CATHY WURZER: Now--
GERALD POP: Yes?
CATHY WURZER: That sounds like that would be the trip of a lifetime.
GERALD POP: That's exactly right. I guess I would consider that, if there is anything to it, the last frontier, so to speak.
CATHY WURZER: Yeah.
GERALD POP: Yeah.
CATHY WURZER: Now you mentioned it can get lonely. So how do you entertain-- obviously, you're working and you're driving. But how do you keep-- how do you kind stave off the loneliness? Do you listen to the radio?
GERALD POP: Yeah, the new trucks, they have satellite radio. So you'll have-- in my new truck, there's 200 and some channels on the radio. So you can pick pretty much whatever you want to listen to, whether it's music, or talk radio, or sports, or anything. So the availability to keep you occupied is a lot better than it used to be. When I started, we had AM radio only. So that has definitely changed.
CATHY WURZER: [CHUCKLES]
Hey, look, I got my start in AM radio. So I understand that.
GERALD POP: [LAUGHS]
CATHY WURZER: I do. I really do.
GERALD POP: Yeah.
CATHY WURZER: Well, I'm hoping that you listen to NPR News on the road at least a couple of different times, Red. That's what I'm-- that's my hope.
GERALD POP: Well, I definitely do. Yes. Yes. You guys--
CATHY WURZER: Not to put you on the spot.
GERALD POP: Yeah, well, you have some interesting subjects. Definitely.
CATHY WURZER: [LAUGHS]
Yeah, that's probably true.
GERALD POP: Yeah.
CATHY WURZER: That's probably true. And is such a thing as CBs anymore in the world?
GERALD POP: There is. But they're not as widely used as they were. With cell phones and things of that sort now, that type of communication doesn't happen like it used to.
CATHY WURZER: Now--
GERALD POP: Because that used to be our only means of communicating when we were out there because we had no cell phones.
CATHY WURZER: Right. Exactly.
GERALD POP: Yeah.
CATHY WURZER: Back in the old days there.
GERALD POP: Right. Right.
CATHY WURZER: So before you go, what's the next trip for you here?
GERALD POP: We're going to North Carolina next.
CATHY WURZER: All right.
GERALD POP: Yeah.
CATHY WURZER: Well, I'm going to wish you well. I'm going to wish you have-- I hope I get to visit with you again. Safe travels. And we're going to be watching to see if you get Driver of the Year.
GERALD POP: Well, I thank you very much for having me. I truly appreciate it. Thank you.
CATHY WURZER: All right. Congratulations. That is Red Pop. The Minnesota Trucking Association named him August's Driver of the Month. It was-- of course, he's now 12 drivers of the month. He'll be up for Driver of the Year, announced January 17.
And this year, the Minnesota Trucking Association recognized him as one of its drivers of the month. And now Red is among the 12 drivers up for Driver of the Year, which will be announced at a banquet coming up on January 17. Red Pop is on the line. Red, we are so glad to have you on Minnesota Now. How you been?
GERALD POP: I've been great. Thank you very much for having me.
CATHY WURZER: Welcome. Say, where are you right now?
GERALD POP: I'm in St. Joseph in our office right now.
CATHY WURZER: [CHUCKLES]
Were you-- I'm assuming you were on the road earlier in the week.
GERALD POP: Yes, I was. Yep. I just got back from Seattle, Washington.
CATHY WURZER: So can I call you a long haul trucker? Do you have a specific route?
GERALD POP: No, anywhere that the load goes, we'll go. So anywhere in the country.
CATHY WURZER: So it could be even some local, say, trips in Minnesota?
GERALD POP: Definitely. Yes.
CATHY WURZER: How many miles do you think you put on in a day?
GERALD POP: Try to average 600 to 700--
CATHY WURZER: Oh, Red.
GERALD POP: --every day, which is a standard on an 11 hour day.
CATHY WURZER: Wow. I'm curious, now you're a Native Minnesotan? You're a farm kid.
GERALD POP: I was born and raised here in Central Minnesota, yes.
CATHY WURZER: Is that where you got your love of trucks?
GERALD POP: Kind of, yeah. I had a friend of mine that actually got me started in trucks the first time I sat in one. But growing up on the farm driving tractors, and pickups, and just our rigger farm truck, got it going.
CATHY WURZER: I see. So this is not a 9:00 to 5:00 job, obviously. What's the lifestyle like?
GERALD POP: Well, you're alone a lot because you're in the truck, of course, eating at truck stops. You sleep in the truck at rest areas or at truck stops. So it's a lonely life. But I enjoy it. It's fun.
CATHY WURZER: What keeps you on the road?
GERALD POP: A lot of things. The love of driving. The fact I get to see this country and meet different people and new people all the time. I just get a real charge out of doing that, a real kick.
CATHY WURZER: I can only imagine the people you meet on the road, characters.
GERALD POP: There are some very interesting people out there. There's no doubt, yes.
CATHY WURZER: No kidding.
[LAUGHS]
GERALD POP: Yep.
CATHY WURZER: I'm also betting you see all manner of foolishness on the road in terms of sharing the road with motorists, who might not be as, say, well-versed in driving, the rules of the road then, as you are.
GERALD POP: Well, that has definitely changed over the years, the courtesy. Or maybe it's lack of driving knowledge. I don't know what I would attribute it to. But yeah, that has definitely changed over the years. You have to be a lot more defensive as far as your driving and aware of your surroundings now than you ever have been.
CATHY WURZER: This is a pretty dangerous job. I think people don't truly understand that.
GERALD POP: Well, it definitely can be. There's no doubt about it. You have to, like I said, pay attention all the time. Yeah, it can be very dangerous. No doubt.
CATHY WURZER: Yeah, what's the hardest part of the job?
GERALD POP: I guess I would have to say probably just paying attention to your surroundings to not get yourself in a situation that can cause damage or harm to anybody or anything. I think that's the one thing you concentrate on the most when you're driving, the loading and unloading. And after 40 some years, that's standard. That is not an issue anymore.
CATHY WURZER: You've been doing this for 40 years.
GERALD POP: 40-- yeah, 1978. Yeah, so 44.
CATHY WURZER: [CHUCKLES]
GERALD POP: Yeah.
CATHY WURZER: So you could have done anything in your life. And you decided to be a trucker. So this friend that introduced you, who was that? And why did you think this was going to be a career for you?
GERALD POP: Well, I just thought-- it was a friend of mine. He's no longer with us. He passed away. It's been quite a few years ago. But yeah, the first time I crawl up in his truck, I knew that was something that I wanted to try. And after I got on the road, I knew that was what I wanted to do. I just got such a kick out of being in the truck. And pulling trailers and the opportunity to go and see the country just interested me to no end.
CATHY WURZER: Now do you own your own-- is the correct term tractor? It's not--
GERALD POP: Yes, I--
CATHY WURZER: Yes, OK. It's a-- people usually think semi-trucks. But you call it a tractor.
GERALD POP: Right. Yeah, the tractor part, which pulls a trailer, is the-- the semi's the entire unit. I own the tractor. And the company I'm leased to, Brenny Specialized, owns the trailers and stuff like that.
CATHY WURZER: So what are you driving?
GERALD POP: I'm driving a 2023 International Lone Star that I just got in November.
CATHY WURZER: Oh.
[LAUGHS]
GERALD POP: Yep.
CATHY WURZER: Nice.
GERALD POP: Yes.
CATHY WURZER: I presume, do you have a little sleeping area in the back there?
GERALD POP: Yes, it's got a bunk back there and your refrigerator or microwave, TVs, stuff like that. It's set up pretty well.
CATHY WURZER: So if you needed to pull over and get some sleep, you could do that instead of going into a truck stop.
GERALD POP: Oh.
CATHY WURZER: Yeah.
GERALD POP: Definitely. Definitely. A rest area and stuff like that.
CATHY WURZER: So you put on a lot of miles every day and you're going across the country. Where have you not been?
GERALD POP: Alaska and Hawaii.
CATHY WURZER: Ah, well, of course, Hawaii, yeah.
[LAUGHS]
GERALD POP: Yeah.
[LAUGHS]
CATHY WURZER: But Alaska. Well, it's still possible you might get a trip out there.
GERALD POP: That is definitely on my bucket list before I decide to retire from driving. It truly, truly is. I think that's the--
CATHY WURZER: Now--
GERALD POP: Yes?
CATHY WURZER: That sounds like that would be the trip of a lifetime.
GERALD POP: That's exactly right. I guess I would consider that, if there is anything to it, the last frontier, so to speak.
CATHY WURZER: Yeah.
GERALD POP: Yeah.
CATHY WURZER: Now you mentioned it can get lonely. So how do you entertain-- obviously, you're working and you're driving. But how do you keep-- how do you kind stave off the loneliness? Do you listen to the radio?
GERALD POP: Yeah, the new trucks, they have satellite radio. So you'll have-- in my new truck, there's 200 and some channels on the radio. So you can pick pretty much whatever you want to listen to, whether it's music, or talk radio, or sports, or anything. So the availability to keep you occupied is a lot better than it used to be. When I started, we had AM radio only. So that has definitely changed.
CATHY WURZER: [CHUCKLES]
Hey, look, I got my start in AM radio. So I understand that.
GERALD POP: [LAUGHS]
CATHY WURZER: I do. I really do.
GERALD POP: Yeah.
CATHY WURZER: Well, I'm hoping that you listen to NPR News on the road at least a couple of different times, Red. That's what I'm-- that's my hope.
GERALD POP: Well, I definitely do. Yes. Yes. You guys--
CATHY WURZER: Not to put you on the spot.
GERALD POP: Yeah, well, you have some interesting subjects. Definitely.
CATHY WURZER: [LAUGHS]
Yeah, that's probably true.
GERALD POP: Yeah.
CATHY WURZER: That's probably true. And is such a thing as CBs anymore in the world?
GERALD POP: There is. But they're not as widely used as they were. With cell phones and things of that sort now, that type of communication doesn't happen like it used to.
CATHY WURZER: Now--
GERALD POP: Because that used to be our only means of communicating when we were out there because we had no cell phones.
CATHY WURZER: Right. Exactly.
GERALD POP: Yeah.
CATHY WURZER: Back in the old days there.
GERALD POP: Right. Right.
CATHY WURZER: So before you go, what's the next trip for you here?
GERALD POP: We're going to North Carolina next.
CATHY WURZER: All right.
GERALD POP: Yeah.
CATHY WURZER: Well, I'm going to wish you well. I'm going to wish you have-- I hope I get to visit with you again. Safe travels. And we're going to be watching to see if you get Driver of the Year.
GERALD POP: Well, I thank you very much for having me. I truly appreciate it. Thank you.
CATHY WURZER: All right. Congratulations. That is Red Pop. The Minnesota Trucking Association named him August's Driver of the Month. It was-- of course, he's now 12 drivers of the month. He'll be up for Driver of the Year, announced January 17.
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