by Dennis Dalman
After driving more than 4.7-million miles all over the United States without so much as one accident, Gerald “Red” Popp knows a thing or two about staying safe on the road.
From the cab of his truck he’s seen it all: terrible accidents, speed demons, motorists obviously impaired weaving side to side on roads, drivers using the shoulders of roadways to pass others, flipping on the wrong signals or not signaling at all, all too many motorists in a big hurry – speeding and recklessly changing lanes, and more and more distracted drivers gabbing, gabbing, gabbing – or worse yet, texting – on their phones while behind the wheel.
“Pay attention to your surroundings,” he advises. “Put that cell phone down! And watch the road, take stock of your situation at all times. Keep a safe distance from other vehicles, including especially big trucks. Pay attention and be patient. Stop being in such a hurry.”
Despite the dangerous driving behavior he often witnesses, Popp said he is constantly impressed by how good and thoughtful most people are whom he’s met Coast to Coast and everywhere in between.
During his long-distance interview with the Newsleader, Popp was on a Maryland highway, heading for Baltimore to deliver a bi-fold door to a company. He communicated via the sound system in his truck’s cab.
Formerly a St. Joseph resident, Popp recently moved to Bowlus. He is his own owner/operator who drives his large flatbed truck, delivering equipment for the multiple-award-winning St. Joseph-based Brenny Transportation. Just two months ago, Popp bought himself a brand-new 2023 International Lodestar truck. He is one of about 75 truckers who hauls for Brenny, both company drivers and independent owner-operators.
Popp is one of 12 truckers in the state, each of them honored, one a month during 2022, for their trucking excellence and safety records. The Trucker of the Year will be announced in mid-January by the Minnesota Truckers Association at its annual awards banquet in Brooklyn Center. The MTA was founded in 1932.
Popp, 66, has driven truck for 44 years, a total of 4.7 million miles, which is equivalent to driving around the world, at the equator, for nearly 200 times. He started with Brenny in 2000. Before that he drove for other companies in the area, including ones in St. Joseph.
Popp doesn’t count his millions of miles as remarkable.
“The average full-time trucker drives about 120,000 miles, and that’s average for most truckers,” he said. “I was humbled to be honored with that award, but all those years I was just doing my job. So many more drivers are more deserving than I am, like the ones who have to leave a wife and kids back home when they’re on the road.”
Popp explained he was divorced years ago and has no children.
Trucking, to Popp, is not “just a job.” Growing up on a dairy farm just east of Rice, Popp said his father and brothers were completely passionate about farm work.
“I didn’t share that passion,” he said. “I didn’t develop that kind of passion until years later when a friend taught me how to drive a truck. I knew right away that’s what I wanted to do. I caught the trucking fever. Some people get diesel fuel in their blood. I know I did and still do. I still love what I’m doing and hope to stay physically able to keep doing it, even if I have to slow down a bit.”
Just three examples of the many large items Popp trucks and delivers far and wide are giant valves made by the DeZurik plant in Sartell; machines that cut granite for countertops from Park Industries in Waite Park; and huge tanks and medical equipment made by the DCI Co., also located in Waite Park.
During his interview with the Newsleader, Popp commented on the good things (almost entirely good things) and the not-so-good things about life on the road, driving his truck for a maximum of 11 hours in a 24-hour period:
Majestic scenery
“I love the country, especially its scenery. When I sleep in my truck and wake up somewhere and see oceans and mountains, I love those sights! How amazing this country is! When I see things like that, I just know there’s a higher power.”
Favorite city
When asked, he didn’t pause even a millisecond.
“New York City,” he said. “There is such a diversity of people there. You have to be patient when driving through it because of the traffic, but it’s such an exciting city to be in.”
Nickname ‘Red’
“When I was younger, much younger, I had bright red hair. That’s how I got my nickname “Red” – and that was before women and trucks came along. Now I have silver hair.”
Truck stops
Truck stops/trucker diners are fading fast, Popp said, turning into fast-food joints, not specializing for truckers’ needs as they used to do.
“I have to plan my route around that fact,” he said. “I have a fridge and microwave in my truck so I can make my own food when I have to.”
People he meets
Almost all people Popp meets on his travels are kind, helpful and very friendly and eager to give good directions when he needs them.
“There are nice people everywhere I’ve gone, almost all the people I’ve ever met,” he said. “And I’ve never felt threatened by anyone. Not even once.”
A drawback, however, is that sometimes when Popp enters a restaurant or truck stop and says hello to a stranger, he said that individual will sometimes cast a suspicious look at him as if the “hello” means some kind of intrusion or trouble. He attributes that to a slowly growing mutual suspicion going on in modern society.
Time in the truck
Popp spends hour after hour, all day long or all night long, at the wheel of his moving truck and yet he never feels bored or lonesome, he said.
“I have a radio in my truck,” he said. I listen to talk, to sports, to music. I have eight-track tapes. It’s like I have good company in the truck at all times.”
Camaraderie
Popp has always loved the special camaraderie among fellow truckers at truck stops and other places they happen to meet.
“I love to listen to drivers telling their stories,” he said. “And they are always such good stories and sometimes hilarious stories. We can all relate to other drivers and those great stories. It’s always great to run into some trucker I haven’t seen in a long time. We always recognize each other no matter how long it’s been since we last saw each other. That’s always a good surprise.”
Working with Brenny
Driving for Brenny Transportation is such a pleasure, Popp said.
“They are so on top of things – (Brenny Transportation owners) Joyce and her husband, Todd (Brenny) and Bonnie Supan, vice president of operations and finance for Brenny Transportation. They keep safety at the forefront, they are always up to date with the latest developments in the industry and they do a great job in promoting trucking everywhere.”
Worst part of job
“Driving in fog and heavy snow is the worst,” Popp said. “Those visibility issues are always a worry because it’s so important to see and be aware of your surroundings at all times.”
Gerald “Red” Popp stands by his trusty truck. Honored by the Minnesota Trucking Association, Popp is a finalist for the state’s Trucker of the Year for 2022. In his 40-plus years of trucking , he has logged more than 4.7-million miles driving throughout the United States.
