AdVANtage Contractor Newsletter

Mark your calendar!
Contractor Appreciation Days

Dallas	..........June 9
Eagan	..........July 28
Sellersburg	..........September 10-14
Buford	..........October 13

Bring your family and friends!

Dart Transit Company announces its 2006 Contractors of the Year: Juan Garcia at the Dallas Operating Center and Jerry Miller at the Eagan Operating Center.

Juan Garcia
Dallas Operating Center
Heather Grantland, Staff Writer

Juan Garcia was named Dart Transit Company's Contractor of the Year for 2006 at the Dallas Operating Center.

Juan is from Guanajuato, Mexico and currently lives in San Antonio, Texas with Marcella, his mother, and Nelly, his sister. Both were there to support Juan at the Contractor of the Year ceremony in Dallas.

Juan contracted with Dart in June 2003. He found out about Dart through a friend who was happily contracted. "I decided to give it a try," Juan said. "It is a great company."

When asked what the best thing about being an owner operator with Dart was, he answered, "True independence."

He said if he wasn't an owner operator, he would be a police officer. His personal motto is "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Juan has been driving over-the-road for 12 years and operates in Dart's Super South Region. "I love the Super South," he said. "The roads are less crowded and I get home when I want to."

When he is not on the road, Juan enjoys bowling, fishing, hunting and target practice.

During the Contractor of the Year ceremony, Juan gave a brief speech, saying, "I am happy to be working with Dart. Even though I don't know everyone here by name, I appreciate all that everyone does and how the Dart team offers continuous support for me and other contractors.

"The whole Contractor of the Year experience is very humbling," he said. "It is an honor to be part of the Dart team."

Jerry Miller
Eagan Operating Center
Kristin Ries, Staff Writer

"It is a great honor," said Jerry Miller, Dart's Contractor of the Year for 2006 at the Eagan Operating Center. "I just do my job and try to do it well. I don't expect anything out of it."

A humble man, Jerry gives credit for his success to Laurie, his wife of 20 years. "I couldn't have done it without her," he said in a speech at the Contractor of the Year Ceremony in Eagan. "Laurie and I are a team."

Jerry contracted with Dart in 1988, and he and Laurie operate a 2002 Kenworth with a Target National Dedicated contract. "At Dart it's more about personal relationships," Jerry said. "Everybody seems to be concerned about you. And it's really family-oriented."

Jerry began his career in the trucking industry by working on docks, loading and unloading trucks. "My step-dad raised me," Jerry said. "And he drove trucks."

Jerry has been an owner operator since 1982. "My first truck was a Kenworth cabover with a Detroit engine," he laughed. "That truck was a nightmare."

Laurie met Jerry while she waitressed at a truck stop that Jerry frequently visited. "Jerry came in one morning and left without paying," she said. "He walked out to his truck and I had to run out after him."

"I was getting the money from my truck," Jerry quickly replied with a smile. After that, the two got married and Laurie said, "I went from being a waitress, to a mother of five, to being a truck driver."

Laurie has two kids, and Jerry has three. So driving team with Jerry worked out perfectly because she was able to spend time at home with the kids, and now grandkids.

"Jerry and I are never separated," Laurie said. "Even when I'm at home or if we're in different states, we're always talking to each other."

So what makes them so successful? "Determination," said Laurie. "And being conservative," Jerry said. "If you go 70 miles per hour (mph), profit goes out your stack. But if you go 60 mph you're going to put profit in your pocket."

"Neither of us have business degrees," said Laurie. "It all boils down to common sense."

"If you're wise, you learn by your mistakes," Jerry added. "Nobody's perfect, but you try to do things to the best of your ability."

They said success is due to working together more than anything else. "I'm sure there were times when you wanted to set me out on the road," Laurie said to Jerry, laughing.

"And I'm sure there were times when you wanted to set me out on the road, too," Jerry replied with a smile. "You have to settle your differences – driving as a team."

"It's about team effort," Laurie said. "We couldn't have done it without Dart."

"Dart Transit – every employee in the company and all the contractors – we are all a team," Jerry said. "There are a lot of companies who say you will be a name, not a number at their company. Well, at Dart you are a name.

"Dart's been real good to us. They really have. Dart has let us be owner operators and control our own business."

With nearly four million accident-free miles in their careers, the two said, "We've driven that much only because of God's grace. It's been an amazing journey."

Dart Contractors of the Year are selected out of its Contractors of the Month. Each Contractor of the Year receives a marble trophy, a $1,000 bonus check and personalized leather jacket.

Dart recently opened a new building at its Minnesota Corporate Office.

The new four-level building is attached to the original building at 800 Lone Oak Road in Eagan.

Construction on the new building began last summer and doubled the size of the original to 80,000 square feet. It provides employees with more workspace and contractors with a larger lounge with kitchen and television areas, desks with Internet connection, more private restrooms with showers and a larger free laundry facility.

Contractor services such as settlements, permits, and dispatching are accessible from the lounge. Tractor parking space increased by more than 50% and includes electrical power outlets. There are also plans to add a workout center for employees and contractors.

If you haven't already, come take a look!

Jose Fernandez - Dallas Operating Center

Kristin Ries, Staff Writer
Jose Fernandez moved from Spain to the United States in 1971. Ten years later he got his CDL and in 2004, he contracted with Dart, hoping to make money and live his dream.

Since then he has operated with a Dart National contract and is living his dream. "I like to travel," he says, "Not sit in one place every day. I like being out the road."

Jose realizes the importance of good customer service every day. "I try to make the customer happy and meet their needs," he says. "If they're happy, then I'm happy."

He also says being an owner operator is not for everyone. "You have to be dedicated. And you have to be hard-working."

Jose was surprised to be named Contractor of the Month, but says it is a great honor. "It feels real good," he says. "It shows that Dart appreciates what I do."

Taney Altizer - Eagan Operating Center

Kristin Ries, Staff Writer
"I always wanted to own my own truck," said Taney Altizer, who has been in the trucking industry 34 years.

In 1994 he contracted with Dart and bought his first truck. Since then, Taney has learned: "If you watch your pennies, the dollars will take care of themselves."

To make the most of his money, he limits idling, sets his cruise between 62 and 65 miles per hour, gets a complete truck service every 12-15,000 miles, keeps track of tire pressure, and uses his laptop in his truck to look up the cheapest places to buy fuel on Dart's web site.

His business advice to others: "Work hard and remember that it's a job. Have a goal of how many miles you need to get the money you need."

Taney's wife helps him manage his finances. "She's at home doing the taxes right now," he said. In June, the couple will celebrate their 11th wedding anniversary.

New model trucks are now for sale at the Pro Shop at Dart's Minnesota Corporate Office.

We have two collector models by Ertl: a Peterbilt 379 tractor in Midnight Blue Metallic with a 53-foot dry van trailer, and a Freightliner Columbia high-rise tractor in Viper Red with a 53-foot dry van trailer. Both are 1:64 scale.

The model trucks are not available on the Pro Shop catalog web site. If you would like to purchase one please stop by the shop during store hours (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.), or call me at extension 1398 to order one.

Also, the Pro Shop moved! Come see the new location in the lounge across from Settlements and Operations.

Edie

Kristin Ries, Staff Writer
When I heard that Mona Pray and Bob Zimmerman, two Dart contractors, were getting married, I had to get the whole story. And theirs will make you believe (if you didn't already) that finding true love is possible, even if you're not looking for it.

How did you meet?
Bob: I saw her at Dart's Dallas Operating Center and thought, "That is a beautiful woman." But we met in Peculiar, Missouri, at a Flying J truck stop.

Mona: I was just sitting, drinking hot cocoa and reading a book.

B: And I came up to her and said, "So you're from Dart, huh?"

M: So I closed my book and we got to talking.

B: We talked for several hours.

M: He mentioned he didn't have laundry detergent and I had some extra. So I brought it to him.

B: When she came to my truck she looked up at me and my heart just left me. I was in-love.

What happened then?
B: After that we talked on the phone. I asked her to marry me, but she said it was too soon. A couple months later she said, "I'm ready."

M: It's like being 16 again. (She smiles.)

Now what are your plans?
B: We're going to get married and have a big supper and ceremony at my house with both of our families.

Where are you going to live after you get married?
M: We're going to live at Bob's but keep my house in Louisiana, so when I go to visit my family I can stay there.

B: We want to make our house a place where our kids can live and be happy someday.

How many kids do you have?
M: I have three kids and a grandson in Louisiana.

B: And I have six kids and grandkids.

Have you met each other's families?
B: Not yet. The kids are anxious to meet her. One of my sons asked, "Can she cook?"

Are you a good cook?
B: She is a great cook!

M: (She laughs.) We both love cooking. We have so many things in common – our love for God, country life, gardening, flowers and grandkids.

You also share trucking. Are you looking forward to driving as a team after you get married?
M: We can't wait to get out and see the country together.

B: I feel like I'm on vacation every time I'm with her.

M: And we've both driven as teams before so we know what it's like.

Who did you drive with?
B: I drove with my previous wife. She passed away in 2004. She was a diabetic and had complications. We were married for a little over 25 years. When I was with her in the hospital I told my fleet manager, "Look, I'm here and not going anywhere. I'm going to stay with my wife. So if you need the truck or you need me to turn anything in to you, I will." But I didn't need to turn my truck in. To me that was real . . . Dart was there to help. But that was the past; this right here's my future (he smiles at Mona).

M: The first time I drove was as a team. I used to manage a gardening center, but a guy I was with said, "Just give it a go." So I started driving with him, drove for a couple other places, and then a friend who was contracted with Dart asked me to come to Dart. This was the first time I owned a truck. It was my first leap into the business end of it.

Bob, why did you start driving?
B: I grew up on a farm. I'm an old country boy. My dad used to drive. He's the one who got me addicted to trucking. I've been in the trucking industry since 1973.

Did any of your kids get into trucking?
B: I took my son Glenn with me back when I was hauling cattle. But he got scared when the trailer almost tipped over, and was too scared to do it again.

M: My daughter drove for a while. She tried it for nine months and didn't like it.

Looking back at how you met, do you believe you were meant to find each other?
B: Meeting her (he says looking at Mona), that was strictly the Lord. I wasn't looking, but God blessed me twice. He gave me a beautiful woman on the outside and a beautiful woman in here (he points to his heart). I can't wipe the old grin off.

M: And I feel the same!

Now that's amore!

Are you a Dart contractor? Do you have a business tip or advice on how to improve fuel economy? Share it with your fellow Dart contractors. E-mail your tip or advice to Kristin at