Dart sponsors convoy
To raise money for Special Olympics

Kristin Ries, Staff Writer
           

Dart contractors who participated in the Minnesota convoy.  Everyone at the Minnesota convoy wore ribbons to honor the truck driver who dies when the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed in Minneapolis on August 1.

For the third year in a row, Dart Transit Company sponsored the “World’s Largest Truck Convoy” in Minnesota.  Each year, convoys are held in metro locations across the United States and Canada to benefit the Special Olympics.
           
The Minnesota convoy was held on Saturday, October 6.  It began at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota, where trucks lined up and then traveled 45 miles – heading south on 169 and looping back north to Canterbury.
           
A total of 117 trucks participated in the Minnesota convoy and nearly $30,000 was raised for the Special Olympics.  As a carrier, Dart provided $2,000 in sponsorship funds for the event and had the strongest presence with 20 trucks participating.
           
But the greatest support came from the Dart contractors behind the wheel.  No one showed more support for the convoy than Brad Chapdelaine.  This year, Brad was a member on the Special Olympics Committee to help plan the event.  He also recruits Dart contractors to participate each year, and sold t-shirts at the convoy, raising an additional $700 for Special Olympics.
           
Dart contractors Rich and Nancy Carlson, and Dennis Whatton won the privilege of being the two lead trucks in the convoy by making additional donations to the Special Olympics.
           

Rich (L) and Nancy (R) Carlson with their friend's grandson Marshall and his friend Tiffany at the convoy.  Marshall is currently participating in bowling for Special Olympics.

This was the first year Rich and Nancy participated in the convoy.  “I always thought about participating,” Nancy said.  That’s because her friend’s grandson, Marshall, participates in Special Olympics events and he and his family attended the convoy.
           
“We asked Marshall to ride with us,” said Nancy, “but the noise from the truck bothered him.  So we took his friend, Tiffany, with us instead.  She loved it.”
           
f you ask any of the contractors why they participate in the convoy, they will tell you it’s all about the kids.  “The kids love it,” said Rich.  “They were so happy,” Nancy agreed.
           
Other contractors also took Special Olympics athletes in their trucks during the convoy, but Harvey Zander had a different passenger – country music singer Leland Martin.  He performed the night before the convoy at Canterbury, and wanted to ride in the convoy.

Dart contractors who participated in the event include Al Beck, Jeff Brown, John Bruinooge, Rich and Nancy Carlson, Brad Chapdelaine, Tom Devine, Tim Dupla, Tom Grogan, James Jepson, Stanley Kemp, James MacPhee, James Rarrick, David Simon, Amado Solis, Abel Tavares, Larry VanDame, Rolando Velazquez, Dennis Whatton, Dennis Yoder, and Harvey Zander.

2 years, 75 events and 4,700 people
Dart looks forward to another successful year with the simulator

Sandy Alcala-Villagran, Fleet Services Administrative Assistant, Dallas
           

Dart's simulator travels across the country, stopping at truck shows, truck stops, and other events.  Above:  The simulator in an interesting situation.

Over the past two years the Dart Transit Company Safety Advantage Simulator has seen a lot of country.  Since Dart purchased the simulator, it has traveled all over the United States – from the West Coast to the Northeast, clear across the South and back to West Texas.  It stopped in California, Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota, North and South Carolina, Utah, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Wisconsin.
           
The simulator attended community events, customer-organized events, truck shows and charitable events.  Do you ever wonder how many events in which the simulator has participated?  In 2006 the simulator made 39 appearances and in 2007 it attended 36 events.  Our goal in 2008 is to increase the number of appearances by 10%.
           
The simulator was also a success at recruiting events both years.  It appeared at 33 recruiting events.
           
Every person who comes through the simulator’s door is a potential customer and a lot of the simulator’s business stems from referrals.  The main purpose for the simulator, though, is to get the safety awareness message across to the motoring public.
           
In 2006 1,087 individuals went through the simulator and in 2007 3,613 individuals took the simulator driving challenge.
           
If you see the simulator rolling through your area, remember “Have Simulator Will Travel.”

About the simulator . . .

The simulator teaches the public how to safely share the road with trucks.

Dart acquired the truck-driving simulator in late 2005.  It is used to improve highway safety through driver training and educate the public about the challenges that truck drivers face on the road.

The simulator makes appearances at major truck shows, truck stops, and other events across the nation.  The unit is housed and managed from Dart’s Dallas, Texas Operating Center.
           
For more information on scheduling or seeing the truck-driving simulator, go to Dart’s web site at (www.dart.net) and click on the simulator link.

 

Dart thanks Charles Bishop
Retired after 25 years of service

In November Dart said goodbye to a long-term contractor, Charles Bishop, when he retired.
           
Charles contracted with Dart in 1982.  In December 1985, he was named Dart Contractor of the Month and went on to be named Contractor of the Year in 2000.
           
During his time with Dart, Charles received numerous safety awards including Dart’s 20-Year Truck Trophy Safety Award for 20 years of safe driving with Dart, and the National Safety Council’s Three Million Mile Safety Award for driving more than three million accident-free miles.
           
“I have known Charles for 25 years,” said Gary Randall, Dart Vice President of Operations.  “We started at Dart the same year.  Over our time together, I’ve had the pleasure of serving Charles from the permits department, the settlements department, and the operations department.  I know Charles as a fine family man, businessman, driver, and friend.  Dart and our industry will miss Charles and the professional way in which he handles himself and his business.”
           
Congratulations on your retirement Charles!

 

Dart has 3 finalists
In the 2007 TCA Owner Operator of the Year contest

Kristin Ries, Staff Writer

Each year the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) searches for successful independent contractors who best represent the industry and honors them in its Owner Operator of the Year contest.
           
This year, Dart Transit Company has three finalists in the contest:  Billy Smith from Dart’s Dallas Operating Center, and John Gill and Melissa Owens from Dart’s Eagan Operating Center.
           

Billy contracted with Dart in 1995 and has accumulated four million accident-free miles during his 20-year career in the trucking industry.  In 2002, he entered the Dart Hall of Fame for seven years of safe driving.









John has contracted with Dart for 25 years.  This year, he received the National Safety Council’s Three Million Mile Safety Award for driving more than three million accident-free miles.  In 2003 he was Dart Contractor of the Year.

           

Melissa contracted with Dart in 1996.  She was awarded the National Safety Council’s Two Million Mile Safety Award this year, and in 2006 she received the Dart President’s Safety Award for 10 years of safe driving.
           


The TCA will select winners based on the operator’s ability to run a successful business, operate safely, and enhance the public image of the trucking industry.  The top three winners, including the grand prizewinner will fly to The Bahamas in March for the TCA Annual Convention where the winners will be announced and recognized.
           
Congratulations to the Dart contractors who made it to the final round!

 

Dart raises $8,387
for nonprofit organizations

Every year Dart’s Eagan Operating Center designates a week to raise money for nonprofit organizations or to support the community.
           
This year, the fundraisers were held October 22-26.  Dart raised $8,387 to be divided between three organizations: Surreia’s Place, Inc., which serves families affected by autism and other special needs in Minnesota and Wisconsin; Doctors Without Borders, an international medical organization that delivers help to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural or man-made disasters, or exclusion from health care; and the ALS Association, which funds support and research for those affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
           
Fundraiser activities included “Penny Wars” between the departments, catered lunch, a silent auction, and raffles.

 

“Trucks and Toys”

Dart helps deliver happiness to children in need

Throughout the month of November, Dart collected toys for the annual Minnesota Trucking Association’s (MTA) “Trucks and Toys” campaign.  The effort gets trucking companies involved in collecting toys and other gifts for less-fortunate families.  The MTA then distributes the collected gifts to area shelters.
           
Visit the MTA’s web site (www.mntruck.org) for more information or to make a monetary donation.

 

Code blue on two wheels!

Sandy Alcala-Villagran, Fleet Services Administrative Assistant, Dallas

Officers line up for the Lone Star Police Motorcycle Championship at the "Empower your Future" event, which helps motivate students to excel and teaches them how to set and achieve goals.

Recently, employees from Dart’s Dallas Operating Center – Alf Papineau, Chaun Burch, and I – along with independent contractor Randy Peterson, took the simulator to a fundraiser called “Empower Your Future.”
           
The event helps motivate students to excel in life and be productive citizens.  A mentoring center is designed to help them with school, help them find hobbies and answer any questions they have.
           
During the event, the students are introduced to goals and learn how to gauge their progress in achieving those goals. They use a goals booklet to record who they want to be and what they want to achieve in life. By having the booklet, the students can see their progress and develop a path to success.
           
“Empower Your Future” also included The Lone Star Police Motorcycle Championship. Dart was one of several vendors at the championship.  The 48 traffic officers competing were from all over northern Texas, including Denton, Grand Prairie, Crowley, Rowlett, Frisco, Dallas and Fort Worth.
           
The competition had three different categories: Road King, Super Glide and Kawasaki. Scoring depended on the length of time each competitor spent on the obstacle course. Their goal was to have a clean ride in a respectable time.  Once the contestant finished their ride, any penalties were added, and their final score was calculated.
           
Penalties included: two seconds added to the final score if they hit a traffic cone, dropping their foot added four seconds, leaning over added five, and if they leaned over too far and fell off their bike they were eliminated from the round.
           
While this competition was held in Dallas, there are other competitions held in other cities across the nation. The final competition of the year will be in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
           
When I asked what the overall winner would receive, I found that the only thing the competitors wanted were the bragging rights!  Dart has been asked to participate in another event in 2008 for the North Richland Hills Police Department.  Count on us to be there!

 

The gift of giving

Randy Peterson and his wife volunteer to help others

Sandy Alcala-Villagran, Fleet Services Administrative Assistant, Dallas

Each year Randy Peterson (R) and his wife Pat volunteer at the Denton State School's Fall Festival.  In the photo, the couple takes Ricky, from Denton State School, for a spin in the simulator.

Every year Randy Peterson, Dart independent contractor and operator of Dart’s Safety Advantage Simulator, and his wife Pat donate their time to a very special cause – the Denton State School Fall Festival and Parade for the United Way.  The event is held for members of the Denton State School and their caretakers.
           
For the past 11 years Randy and Pat have helped the school prepare parade floats, make bake sale goods and crafts, and help with the food booths.  This is a very exciting time for the patients and their caretakers – they look forward to it each year.  This year I attended the event with the simulator.
           
Most of the patients at Denton State School have some sort of disability.  I met several patients with debilitating conditions.  I especially took interest in one patient named Ricky.  Ricky is 52 years old and was born with cerebral palsy, which is progressing, as he gets older.
           
I watched Ricky as he wheeled himself around in the parking area.  His independence surprised me, considering the extent of his disability.  Although he has a disabling disease he does not let it stop him from getting around on his own.  He has a wheelchair that helps him maneuver and allows him to participate in the event.  And even though Ricky cannot speak, he communicates with facial expressions.
           
Next year Ricky will get a computer that creates a voice for him to communicate with others.  The great thing about the new computer is Ricky will be able to pick out the kind of voice he wants.  I asked him what kind of voice he would like to have and one of the caretakers said something with an accent!
           
Ricky was able to take a ride in the simulator, with the help of others lifting him in and out of his wheel chair, and he loved it.  It really made his day – I’ve never seen a smile so big.
           
Watching the other patients made me realize how fortunate we all are to have the quality of life we enjoy.  So, if you are having a bad day, put yourself in Ricky’s shoes and remember to count your blessings and take time to give back to your community.  Finding ways to help others can be rewarding.  Just ask Randy and Pat Peterson!

Copyright 2008 Dart Transit Company