AdVANtage Contractor Newsletter

Randall Johnson
Contractor of the Year at Dallas

Randall Johnson of Lumberton, Mississippi has been named Dart Transit Company's Contractor of the Year for 2004. The award recognizes his life-time achievements as a professional truck driver, including an accident-free safety record that covers more than a million accident-free miles and operation of a successful trucking business. He received a walnut and marble trophy, a $1,000 bonus, a monogrammed leather jacket, and a reception in his honor at Dart’s Dallas office.

Dart sponsored Johnson to the National Safety Council’s Million Mile Club safety award, and he was a Dart Contractor of the Month at Dart’s Dallas Operating Center in 2002 and 2004.

Roger Magers

Roger Magers
Contractor of the Year at Eagan

Richard Magers, Sr. of Novinger, Missouri, has been named Dart Transit Company’s Contractor of the Year for 2004 at its Eagan Operating Center. His achievements include more than 2 million accident-free miles. He has also helped two of his sons to become successful contractors with Dart.

He received a walnut and marble trophy, a $1,000 bonus, and a monogrammed leather jacket at a reception in his honor at Dart’s corporate office.

Trucking is a family affair for Mr. Magers. He has contracted with Dart for 24 years, and trained his sons, Richard Jr. and Chris as professional truck drivers. Both sons own show-quality trucks and contract them with Dart. Combined, the three have 42 successful years as Dart contractors.

“One of the things I've taught my boys is that it’s worth sticking with a good carrier like Dart,” Magers said. That loyalty paid off for Mr. Magers with business success and the respect of his peers. Richard earned a Two Million Mile Club Safety Award from the National Safety Council in 2000, and he was a Dart Contractor of the Month in 1984.

Dennis Siler

Dennis Siler takes 2nd in TCA’s Contractor of the Year contest

Dart contractors continued their winning ways in the 2004 Independent Contractor of the Year contest when Dennis Siler placed second. Mr. Siler is a 20 year contractor with Dart.

The contest is sponsored by the Truckload Carriers Association to honor the contributions of America’s professional truck drivers. Dart contractors have taken first place six times since 1990.

Like many professional company drivers, Dennis Siler had dreams of buying his own truck to become an independent owner operator. The year was 1985, and Dennis had the itch but little nerve to make the move. “I didn’t have the money to buy a truck (or enough money to make a mistake), so I took my time to look for the right opportunity.”

One day he met a Dart contractor who had gotten his truck through Highway Sales, Inc. “He was happy because he got a much better deal than he could get anywhere else,” Dennis recalls. So Dennis looked and was so impressed that he drove away with his first truck -- a brand new Kenworth Aerodyne. “I thought it was the best deal in the industry, and after twenty years, I think it’s still the best deal.”

Since then Dennis has purchased two tractors with Highway Sales leases. When he bought his current Freightliner from Highway Sales, he chose to finance directly through Mercedes-Benz, another Dart finance option. “Got a good interest rate, too,” he says.

While Siler’s owner operator dream came true in 1985, the dream got even better this year when he won second place in the Truckload Carriers Association’s 2004 Independent Contractor of the Year contest. The honor highlights his 33-year career, which spans more than 3.5 million accident free miles.

According to Siler, Dart is a company worth sticking with. “If you’re willing to work, it’s the easiest place to be successful. If you can’t make it with Dart, you can’t make it anywhere,” he explains. “Dart has always worked with me when I was down. When my Dad passed away, I had to take time off. They covered my expenses until I was running again. If I have a problem, I can talk to someone and work it out.”

He gives much of the credit for his success to his dispatchers. In particular, he brags about D.J. Kramer. “She’s a former road driver, and she has a lot of empathy for what we do out here,” he says. “If I’m having a bad day, she’s got a knack for picking me right back up.” He also brags about his wife, Sandy. The couple have been married for three years, and they often travel together. “She knows it’s not an easy life out here, so she’s very supportive.”

Larry Severson

Larry Severson is 2004
MTA Driver of the Year

Forty-three years of accident-free truck driving was rewarded January 31st when the Minnesota Trucking Association named Larry Severson as its 2004 “Driver of the Year”. Mr. Severson is an independent owner-operator who has contracted his truck with Dart Transit Company for 30 years. He has specialized in the Minneapolis/St Paul metro area deliveries for the last 20 years.

Mr. Severson made the jump from company driver to owner operator in 1975 when he sold his car and motorcycle to pay for his first truck. He put it to work at Dart Transit Company and drove over-the-road for 10 years. He then switched to Twin City metro deliveries so that he could spend more time with his family. He has accumulated the equivalent of 4.2 million accident-free miles.

“With so many years of city driving, Larry’s safety record is quite an achievement,” said Dart Safety Director, Jim Tammes. “Traffic congestion and tight dock deliveries make driving across town more hazardous than driving across country. Larry makes up to 10 metro deliveries a day. In my opinion, his perfect safety record is a pretty spectacular achievement,” Tammes said.

Severson was announced as the MTA Driver of the Year at the association’s annual awards banquet in St. Paul. “Character is what you do when no one is looking,” observed MTA president John Hausladen. “Truck drivers do their jobs alone, without supervision. You can’t perform at this level unless you consistently do the little things right.” Severson has done them right for a long time.

As Driver of the Year, Larry received an impressive trophy, a $500 prize, and a monogrammed letterman’s jacket. His wife, Linda, accompanied him to the podium where she received a dozen long-stemmed roses.

Besides 48-state, regional, and dedicated truckload operations, Dart provides local deliveries in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas and Houston, Texas; and Atlanta, Georgia.

John Paul Chandler, a Special Olympics athlete who
competes in bowling and shot-put, enjoyed a ride in
the truck of Dart Owner-Operator, Randy Peterson

"World's Largest Convoy"
benefits Special Olympics

Dart is proudly sponsoring the 2005 Special Olympics World’s Largest Convoy in Dallas, Texas and in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. This will be Dart’s second year in a row sponsoring the event in Texas, and the first year in Minnesota. Dart sponsored 50 trucks at Dallas and 25 trucks in the Twin Cities.

The Truck Convoy celebrates the trucking industry and its support of the Special Olympics. Participants in the convoy raise money so athletes can participate in the Special Olympics events all over the world.

Bonnie Dilworth

Dart Contractors of the Month

Bonnie Dilworth
Dallas Operating Center
Cathy Aydelott, Staff Writer

Bonnie Dilworth has been leasing a tractor to Dart for a year and in the trucking industry for eight years. Bonnie got his truck through the Highway Sales Program. He was a police officer for eight years prior to driving a truck.

Bonnie’s fleet manager is Mike James. He says, “Mike is a good fleet manager. He listens and does what he can to help.”

In his spare time, Bonnie enjoys spending time with his wife, Michelle. They have been married for 10 years. Bonnie also has a son and three step-daughters that he enjoys spending time with. When he’s not in his truck he enjoys relaxing and hanging out with friends.

Don Jackson

Don Jackson
Eagan Operating Center
Kristin Ries, Staff Writer

Success has two meanings to Don Jackson. “If you can operate today, with all the regulations, and still make a living, then you are successful,” Jackson said. But real success, he said, is having good health, a good life, and a family to depend on. And Jackson has all of those things.

In 1994, Jackson took a friend's recommendation, and contracted with Dart. Jackson describes himself as free- spirited, and one thing he likes about being an owner operator is determining his own schedule.

Jackson lives in Jackson, Tennessee with his wife, Deleasa and his two children. He said he was happy to be there when his kids were young, and now he gets home to spend time with his family whenever he can.

Jackson operates on Dart's National board, and said he is successful because, “I get along with everyone, and I accept pretty much every load they give me.”

Steve Nunez

Steve Nunez
Dallas Operating Center
Cathy Aydelott, Staff Writer

Steve Nunez has been leasing a tractor to Dart since 2003 and in the trucking business since 1993. He is purchasing a truck through the Highway Sales program.

I asked Steve what advice he would give someone considering truck driving as a career, he said, “If you can get dedicated type freight that would be best. Always strive to prove yourself.” Steve says he typically stays out two to three months at a time and when he goes home it’s for about a week.

Steve lives in El Paso and enjoys spending time with his daughters Mandi and Teres and his granddaughter, Hanna. Steve says he doesn’t have any hobbies, when he’s home he’s fixing things and doing yard work.

Dennis Yoder

Dennis Yoder
Eagan Operating Center
Kristin Ries, Staff Writer

Traveling the country is one thing that has kept Dennis Yoder driving for more than 35 years. “My favorite load is one that takes me to a place where I’ve never been. I get to see some really pretty country,” he said. “The desert, the mountains, the cornfields. I like all of them. Every area has its beauty.”

Yoder said the most difficult part of his career is leaving on Sunday and being away from home. He looks forward to just sitting on the deck, watching hummingbirds, and going fishing or watching his two sons coach their basketball teams.

Although driving trucks may not have been Yoder’s dream job when he was growing up, he has stayed at Dart for 14 years now. “I learn something new every day,” Yoder said. “You have to just go with the flow, and you have to have a lot of patience, patience, and patience.”

Highway Watch -- Dart contractors are looking out for our country and each other
Anti-Terror Training Hits the Road at Dart
Kristin Ries, Reporter

Would you do anything to prevent another 9/11 from happening?

Before 9/11, a lot of people saw suspicious activity and wish they had reported it. Because Dart values safety, contractors may participate in a program to learn to recognize potential safety and security threats to avoid becoming a target of terrorists, and to learn how to accurately report suspicious activity to the authorities.

“Highway Watch” is a national safety and security program that uses the “road smarts” of transportation professionals like you to help protect the nation. The “Highway Watch” effort seeks to prevent terrorists from using large vehicles or hazardous cargo as weapons.

More than 500 Dart contractors have become members since the program began at Dart in March. And according to the American Trucking Association in June, more than 100,000 truck drivers and transportation professionals across the nation have completed training in the Highway Watch anti-terrorism program.

Help keep America and your fellow contractors safe. Training for Highway Watch is available for all contractors who want to join. Contact the Safety Department in Eagan, Dallas, or Sellersburg for more information.

Daniel Kincaid scans settlement
documents at the SCAN & GO kiosk
at Dart's Eagan Operating Center

Why wait until tomorrow?
Get paid today!
Kristin Ries, Reporter

Dart is famous for fast settlements. And now, Dart settlements are faster than ever, thanks to Scan & Go, a new service available at Flying J Truck Stops. Dart also has a Scan & Go kiosk at its Eagan Operating Center.

Many contractors already take advantage of the new system. “It’s easy to use,” said Dart contractor Joseph Smith. “My settlements are done within 35-45 minutes.”

Scan & Go is fast and easy. Just swipe your EFS fuel card to retrieve your loads, and then scan your envelope, bills of lading, and reimbursements. You can scan documents 24 hours, 7 days a week, but settlements are available only during regular business hours (Monday through-Friday, from 7 A.M. to 5 P.M.) when settlement staff are available. Settlement requests after 5 P.M. are completed the next business day.

The scanner guides you through the process and shows you the order to scan the documents. If you have any problems or questions , pick up the handset (included on all SCAN & GO kiosks) to speak to a customer service representative.

Crystal clear images of your documents are sent from the SCAN & GO kiosks directly to Dart. A receipt prints from the SCAN & GO confirming that your scanned documents have been sent. After you scan, put everything into the envelope and drop it in the mail.

“It’s 100% better than Trip Pak,” Smith said. “You know you sent it because QualComm lets you know that Dart has received it.”

Dart contractor Lorri Romano agrees. “With Trip Pak, you plan on the money being there, but the time is not guaranteed. With SCAN & GO you know instantly that Dart has received it.”

The cost for the SCAN & GO service is just $5.00 per month, and is charged on your settlement, just like TripPak.

Take it from Dart contractor Joel Shelton who has been using the system for over a month and likes the fast pay; “I definitely recommend it to other contractors.” Ask one of the Dart contractors who are already using it. It’s a great way to get your settlement money even faster.

Joyce Jordan volunteered
for the dunk tank

Dart celebrates Driver Appreciation Week with Contractor Appreciation Days

What do country music, dunk tanks, a watermelon eating contest, tug-o-war, celebrity autographs, and chicken dancing have in common?

That’s easy, if you’re a Dart contractor who attended one of Dart’s Contractor Appreciation Day picnics, you know the answer. Add to this list lots of great food, thousands of dollars of Shine’n Polish door prizes, and recognition for the Dart contractors who have million mile safe driving records.

Who can resist a watermelon eating contest?
Everyone has fun at Dart's Contractor
Appreciation Day picnics

Yes, Dart Transit Company appreciates the owner operators who call Dart their home. We salute all of you as the finest professional drivers in America. We’re all proud of you!

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