Latest Podcasts From Dart Listen Up: Meet Tom Kearns, A New Member of Dart's Military Truck Fleet In this edition of the podcast, we meet Dart company driver Tom Kearns. Tom joined Gerald Northcutt earlier this year as a new member of Dart's Military Truck Fleet. Gerald began driving his military-wrapped truck in March and Tom picked up his new ride in May.As you’ll hear during our interview, Tom’s family has established a strong connection with the military over several generations. When Tom learned that one of the military trucks in the Dart fleet had an opening, he sent an application in the hope that he could pay tribute to his family’s dedication to service to the preservation of freedom for our country. Explore Our Featured Listings... The PodWheels Network has been working with Dart since 2016 on the development of the Dart Network Podcast Series. The collection we have assembled on this page we give listeners a sense for topics we have covered and people we have featured. We invite you to explore our listings and check out the Dart Network Podcast. If you would like to learn more about the opportunities for owner-operators and company drivers in the Dart Network, please visit DartTruckingJobs.com. If you would like to return to the home page of the Dart.net website, please click here. If you have comments, questions or any feedback related to our Driving Through History Series, please send your emails to info@podwheelsnetwork.com. Listen Up: Meet Gerald Northcutt, A New Member of Dart's Military Truck Fleet In this edition of the podcast, we meet Dart company driver Gerald Northcutt. Earlier this year, Gerald was seated in one of the military-wrapped trucks in the Dart Network fleet. We discuss Gerald’s military career and when he first saw the Kenworth T-680 that would eventually become his new ride within the Dart Network fleet. You’ll also hear Gerald’s harrowing experience in overcoming a MRSA infection. Listen Up: Meet Scott Draper & How He Honors His Family With Every Mile He Drives In this edition of the podcast, you’ll meet Scott Draper, the new driver behind the wheel of Dart’s Breast Cancer Awareness Truck. As you’ll hear, Scott felt a strong call to submit an application to fill the open seat of this special truck within the Dart company fleet. Scott’s new ride features decals of the iconic pink ribbon that has become the symbol of American Cancer Society’s ongoing Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. For Scott, the opportunity to drive this truck provides him with a rolling tribute to his mother and his sister. As you’ll hear Scott tell PodWheels Network Executive Producer Greg Thompson during our interview, Scott lost both his mother and his sister to breast cancer in recent years. And while the pain of those losses is still present, Scott shares with Greg how driving across the nation’s highways these days has also allowed him to the feel hope and inspiration his new truck delivers with every mile. Listen Up: Meet Anthony Page, Company Driver of the Year for Dart's Dedicated Fleet In this edition of the podcast, we conclude our series highlighting Dart's annual award winners by featuring Anthony Thomas, Dart's Company Driver of the Year for Dedicated Operations. PodWheels Executive Producer Greg Thompson caught up with Anthony as he was taking a break from the road. As you’ll hear during Greg’s phone call with Anthony, the award announcement is the highlight of what has become an amazing run for Anthony since he joined Dart in the latter part of 2018. An Army veteran who was once assigned as the driver of a four-star general, Anthony values being part of a strong team and he is continually looking at ways to improve his performance and serve. Listen Up: Meet Guled, Contractor of the Year for the Dart's Dedicated Fleet In this edition of the podcast, we'll meet Guled as we continue our series of segments introducing you to Dart’s award winners for the Company Driver of the Year and the Independent Contractor of the Year. Guled earned the title of the Independent Contractor of the Year for the Dedicated fleet. A native of Somalia who found the trucking industry in 2005, Guled became an owner-operator and, in 2012, he brought his talents to the Dart Network. Guled has been running in the Dedicated fleet and serving the same customer during his entire time with Dart. Also, in this podcast, we talk with Jennifer Hurley, Dart’s Director of Dedicated Operations. Along with sharing her observations on Guled, Jennifer provides insight into the nomination and selection process involved with these annual awards. Listen Up: Meet Anthony Thomas, Contractor of the Year for the Dart Network Fleet In this edition of the podcast, we will begin a series of segments introducing you to Dart’s award winners for the Company Driver of the Year and the Independent Contractor of the Year. We are going to begin our series by placing the spotlight on Anthony Thomas. Anthony recently earned the award as the Independent Contractor of the Year for the Dart Network fleet. You’ll hear how his younger brother inspired him to become an owner-operator and how he encouraged Anthony to join the Dart Network. You’ll also hear Anthony discuss the relationship he’s built over the past decade with Highway Sales. Anthony is now leasing his third truck from Highway Sales. Listen Up: Industry Update & Conversation With Dart President & CEO Dave Ables Recorded during the first week of May, Dart President & CEO Dave Ables is our guest for an extended Q&A session that covers a variety of topics of interest to everyone in the Dart Network. We talked to Dave on how the Dart Network continues to respond as the country addresses the COVID-19 national emergency. We ask Dave to look ahead as Dart’s customers work to get back to business and establish a new normal. Toward the end of the podcast, Dave discusses the possibility of taking an over-the-road ride with a member of the Dart Network fleet. Listen Up: Meet The Fleet, Owner-Operator Paul Konzen Shares His Perspective On The Role Of Communication In this edition of the podcast, we’ll introduce you to Paul Konzen, an owner-operator in the Dart Network. Prior to the COVID-19 National Emergency, Paul met with members of the Dart Management Team in Eagan. During his time at the headquarters, Paul talked about the importance of communication and the recent enhancements Dart has made in reaching out to the fleet. During our phone interview with Paul, he talks about what he learned in his most recent trip to Eagan. He also discusses the key role that company drivers and owner-operators hold in the communications process with the team supporting them at Dart. Listen Up: How Dart & The Trucking Industry Have Responded To The COVID-19 National Emergency Recorded on March 24, we talk with Dart General Counsel Doug Grawe to learn how the Dart Network is responding to the changes and challenges that the COVID-19 National emergency has created. In addition, Doug shares a number of important reminders related to keeping owner-operators and company drivers healthy and safe while they are out on the road. You’ll also hear Doug express the company’s appreciation for the way that the fleet and the entire Dart team has stepped up to join the rest of the trucking industry in the effort to keep the American supply chain moving. Listen Up: Meet The Fleet, Leonard Larson Shares His Secrets For Great Road Photos In this edition of the podcast, we spend some time with Leonard Larson, a company driver in the Dart Network since 2007 who has developed quite a talent for capturing stunning scenic pictures during his time out on the road. Leonard’s work has become a fixture in the annual Dart calendar, and his photos can also be seen from time to time on Dart’s Facebook page. In our phone interview, Leonard shares some of the secrets he has learned over the years for capturing memorable photos. Listen Up: A Look At The State Of The Nation's Highway Infrastructure As part of our series looking at some of the headlines and national issues that have become topics of discussion in the trucking industry, the Dart Network Podcast explores a subject that every company driver and owner-operator has studied mile by mile while traveling across the nation’s roads and bridges. In this podcast, we’ll be talking about the state of the nation’s highway infrastructure and how Dart has been a part of the industry’s efforts to advocate for improvements. Doug Grawe, Dart’s General Counsel, will be our guest. We’ll talk with Doug about what the industry is doing and what Dart is doing address improvements to the nation’s highways. In this episode of the podcast, we’ll also be talking with Doug about what’s happening on the autonomous vehicle front. Listen Up: A Look At Truck Parking & Dart's Efforts To Lobby For Improvements Doug Grawe, the General Counsel at Dart, joins us on the podcast to discuss how Dart is reaching out to state and federal officials to create a greater awareness for the need to address the lack of available truck parking across the country. Doug also addresses how Dart is reaching out to the company's customers to discuss truck parking. He also takes the time to explain the highly overlooked role that local lawmakers play in establishing laws and policies covering truck parking. As Doug shares with us, often times the lack of truck parking in a town or municipality can be traced back to the decisions made by local officials. Listen Up: A Look At Industry Headlines & Challenges To Independent Contractor Status Doug Grawe, the General Counsel at Dart, joins us on the podcast discusses how Dart is responding to the recent challenges to independent contractor status that have been in the news. Doug will talk to us about California’s AB5 law and a U.S. House of Representatives bill. During the interview, Doug details some of the efforts that Dart has taken to help in preserving independent contractor status within the trucking industry. Listen Up: Sharing Stories of Driver Recognition By Dedicated Customers In this edition of the Dart Network Podcast, Dart’s Director of Dedicated Operations Jennifer Hurley shares two stories of ways in which two Dedicated account customers went the extra mile to recognize two members of Dart’s Dedicated fleet for the excellent service they provide each week. Jennifer tells us about the recent experiences that Dart drivers Adam and Marvin enjoyed through the special recognition from the customers they serve. Listen Up: Hear Owner-Operator Bernie Gray Share How He Returned Home To Dart Bernie Gray, who has been an owner-operator in the Dart Network for the past seven years, hit a bit of a crossroads this fall. He decided to take a look at what looked to be greener pastures on the other side of the trucking fence, leaving Dart for a short time. Not long after moving on, Bernie could see that the new opportunity wasn’t as good as it appeared. Plus, he didn’t have the kind of network he had built with Dart. After taking a step back, Bernie reached out to his friends at Dart and he returned to the company in late October. Bernie wanted to share his story and the benefit of his experience with the listeners of the Dart Network Podcast. During this segment, you’ll get some insight on what the experience cost Bernie, and you’ll hear why Bernie considers Dart his home. Listen Up: Veteran Tips On How To Start Off The Year A Path For Success As a new year begins, we wanted to share the perspective from one of the voices of experience in the Dart Network. Mark Boucher is an owner-operator who has logged 11 years as part of the Dart Network. A military veteran who is very determined and highly disciplined in his approach to running his business in the trucking industry, Mark is well respected within the Dart Network and within the trucking industry. Mark shares plenty of wisdom during our discussion on how to get going in a direction of success from the beginning of the year. Listen Up: Meet Owner-Operator Scott McCarter, Highway Sales Program Participant & Part of the Google Dedicated Fleet Scott McCarter, an owner-operator in the Highway Sales Program, talks about his first year with Dart and running in the Google Dedicated fleet. We caught up with Scott in the South Atlanta Operating Center during Driver Appreciation Week. We met Scott while he was having a conversation with John Pinyerd, who is Dart’s Director of Southeast Sales. John was one of people responsible for developing the Google Dedicated account and he was asking Scott about his experience on the account since joining Dart earlier this year. From that conversation, we learned that Scott has logged 28 years of experience in the industry. He had actually been retired from trucking until he started looking back into opportunities and he found a great fit with Dart and Highway Sales. We believe you’ll find the conversation with Scott and John to be very interesting. Listen Up: Owner-Operator Mark Boucher Looks Back On Wreaths Across America 2019 2019 marked the 10th consecutive year that the Dart Network participated in Wreaths Across America. In this podcast, we talk with Mark Boucher, an owner-operator in the Dart Network, on the experience of making his fourth Wreaths Across America run. An Army veteran, A military Mark looks forward to what has become an annual trip to the wreath factory in Maine to carry a special load that will honor the fallen and their families. We caught up with Mark a few days after he had finished up with Wreaths Across America 2019. We also talked with Mark about an honor he recently received from the American Trucking Associations. Mark will be serving as part of a group of owner-operator ambassadors for the ATA in 2020. Listen Up: Meet Owner-Operator Tim Kaufman With One of the Military-Themed Trucks Participating in Wreaths Across America 2019 Earlier this year, we spoke with Dart Owner-Operator Tim Kaufman and his wife, Marilyn. An Army Veteran, Tim had just closed the deal to buy one of the military-decaled trucks in the Dart fleet. Tim and Marilyn discussed what owning the truck means to them. Now, as the calendar turns to mid-December, Tim has the honor of being part of the group representing Dart and participating in Wreaths Across America 2019. Tim is scheduled to be part of the large convoy that will be delivering wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery. Listen Up: Meet Brad Woodruff, Grand Prize Winner of Dart's Driver Appreciation Drawing What does it feel like to be the grand-prize winner of the Driver Appreciation drawing that was a part of Dart's 85th anniversary celebration? The Dart Network Podcast talked with owner-operator Brad Woodruff shortly after he had been announced as the grand-prize winner of the Chevy Silverado pickup truck. You can hear Brad's reaction to winning the 2019 Trail Boss pickup and how he first heard the news. You'll also hear Brad's story on why chose Dart as well as how he referred other independent contractors and drivers to learn more about the opportunities in the Dart Network. Listen Up: Don & Bev Oren Reflect On Dart’s History & The Can-Do Attitude At The Heart of the Company for 85 Years In this segment, the Dart Network Podcast welcomes two very special guests to our Driving Through History Series. We will be joined by Dart Chairman of the Board Don Oren and his wife, Bev. We asked Don to reflect on the history of the company, its impact on the industry and his 66-year career in executive leadership with Dart. Through our discussion with Don, you’ll hear some compelling examples of the can-do attitude and undying perseverance that helped Dart find success and build a sterling reputation in the trucking industry. Also, during this podcast, you’ll hear some great perspective from Bev Oren, who is seen as a pioneer in trucking with her leadership of Dart’s HR Department, beginning in the 1970s and extending well into the 1990s. Listen Up: Part 1 With ATA President & CEO Chris Spear, Discussing Dart's Contributions To The Trucking Industry The Dart Network Podcast welcomes ATA President & CEO Chris Spear as a special guest in our Driving Through History Series. The ATA is the nation’s largest organization representing the trucking industry. Chris spent some time with us by phone, sharing his perspective on this milestone anniversary for Dart. In this wide-ranging interview, we talk about the changes Dart has witnessed and influenced in the trucking industry during the company’s 85 years of operation. Listen Up: Part 2 With Chris Spear, the President & CEO of the American Trucking Associations In Part 2 of our conversation with ATA President & CEO Chris Spear, we get more of his observations on Dart’s ability to sustain and grow its business across all of the changes that the trucking industry has seen during the past 85 years. During this segment, you’ll also hear Chris discuss the important contributions that Don Oren, the Oren family and Dart have taken to help bring positive changes to the trucking industry, like the standardization of the 53-foot trailer. Listen Up: Minnesota Trucking Association Salutes Dart on 85 Years of Leadership John Hausladen, the President of the Minnesota Trucking Association, considers Dart and the Oren family as valued partners in furthering the image of trucking and serving as an example for the membership of the state association. We talked with John about the impact that the Oren family and Dart have made within the state and across the trucking industry over the company’s history. Listen Up: Owner-Operator Larry Severson’s Legend Was Built During His 42 Years In The Dart Fleet As part of our series, we wanted to make sure to represent the perspective of the people behind the wheel within the Dart Network. During his 42 years as an owner-operator in the Dart fleet, Larry Severson became known as “Larry The Legend,” and it’s easy to see how he earned that title. Larry logged more than five million miles of accident-free driving. He Larry was honored as the top person behind the wheel by the Minnesota Trucking Association in 2004. In 2011, Larry Severson was recognized by the Truckload Carriers Association as the organization’s Contractor of Year. In this segment, Larry shares his experience with Dart while looking back at a great career in trucking. Listen Up: Retired Sales & Marketing VP Joyce Jordan Blazed a Trail at Dart & Across the Trucking Industry One of the best parts of producing this series was the opportunity to chat with some of the retired stalwarts at Dart. Looking back at the company's history, Joyce Jordan was one of those difference-makers for Dart. Joyce served as Dart’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing for many years prior to her retirement in 2013. As you’ll hear in this podcast, Joyce was a real trail blazer and pioneer in the trucking industry, becoming one of the first women to lead the sales force for a major carrier. We had an opportunity to catch up with Joyce by phone from her home in Texas. Joyce talked about her days with FleetLine and Dart and how she found her road to success in the trucking industry. Listen Up: Part 1 With Retired Dart Executive Alan Swenson Alan Swenson joined Dart in 1967 and held a variety of executive positions over a 48-year career with the company. In Part 1, we talked with Alan about joining the company and get his observations on how Dart has grown over the years. We also asked Alan to look back at his most lasting memories of his time at Dart and share with us what he’s doing these days in retirement. You’ll hear about his son, Scott, who has been a part of the Dart fleet for more than 40 years. Listen Up: Part 2 With Retired Dart Executive Alan Swenson In Part 2 of our conversation with retired Dart executive Alan Swenson, we asked Alan to take us back to the days before deregulation and working to get hauling authority through the Interstate Commerce Commission. Alan shares the challenges that were faced during the ICC days, and he looks back at how the industry changed following deregulation in 1980. Listen Up: Stephanie Williamson Reflects On Dart’s Approach To Opening New Doors In this segment, we’ll meet Stephanie Williamson, the Vice President of Revenue Management at Dart. Stephanie has been a part of the Dart Network now for 25 years, starting as a fleet manager and serving organization in a number of roles. Stephanie has a long history in the trucking industry. Her parents were both drivers, and, as you’ll hear in this podcast, Stephanie spent some time behind the wheel herself a few years before coming to the Dart Network in 1994. Stephanie shares some valuable insights on the approach the executive leadership at Dart has worked to open doors and allow the company’s people to grow their careers. Listen Up: Gary Randall Looks Back At Operations & Dart’s History Gary Randall joined Dart as a summer intern in 1982. Today, he is Dart’s VP of Operations. In this segment, we asked Gary to look back at Dart’s history and the changes he has witnessed in Operations over the years as the trucking industry continues to evolve. Gary also shares his Mt. Rushmore of leaders who have made left their mark on Dart. Listen Up: John Basill Discusses The Early Days of Highway Sales John Basill, the Executive Vice President of Dart Transit, was asked by the Dart Network Podcast to look back at his beginnings with the Dart Network, and he talked to us about his days with Highway Sales. As you’ll hear, John looks back fondly at those early days, working directly with Highway Sales President John Siebel to create ownership opportunities for professional drivers and establish the roots of a program that remains strong more than 30 years later. Listen Up: Linda Whitaker & The Early Days of Highway Sales In this segment, we look at the very beginnings of Highway Sales, a program that has provided opportunities for truck ownership and growth for owner-operators in the Dart Network. We talked with Linda Whitaker, who has been a key person with Highway Sales for the past 35 years. We asked Linda to look back on her career in trucking and to talk to us about the late John Siebel, who led Highway Sales during its earliest days. Listen Up: Taking A Look At Truck Technology & Maintenance Through The Years In this segment, Dart Network Podcast will examine the evolution of the equipment and maintenance in the Dart fleet. Looking back at Dart’s history, did you know that the first rig in the fleet was a 1934 Ford with an 18-foot trailer. As you’ll hear in this segment, the tractors coming into the company fleet today include seven onboard computing systems and advanced safety technology. You’ll meet Mike Roth, the Senior Service Assistant for the Dart Safety Lane in Eagan. Mike introduces us to Dave Koran, a soft-spoken trailer specialist who has been in the shop with Dart since 1978. Finally, we’ll talk with Dart Vice President of Maintenance Brett Wacker, who’ll give us an inside look at how Dart continues to stay on the cutting edge with equipment. Listen Up: Judy Nelson Reflects On Her Front-Row Seat For 30 Years of Dart's History Judy Nelson has been a fixture in the executive offices at Dart for the past 30 years. She is the Senior Executive Administrative Assistant for the company and she has worked directly with Dart Chairman of the Board Don Oren for her entire tenure with the company. For this Driving Through History segment, the Dart Network Podcast had the opportunity to talk with Judy about her experience of working with the Oren family and what she has seen at Dart during her 30 years with the company. Listen Up: 'Resident Dart Historian' Doug Grawe Looks Back at Dart's First 85 Years As General Counsel for the Dart Network, Doug Grawe is a key member of the company's executive leadership team. With his interest in history and learning about the growth of the company over the years, Doug also holds the unofficial title as the 'Resident Historian' for Dart. We talked with Doug about the company's 85 years of history and some of the people who left an indelible mark on Dart. Listen Up: Dart Shines At White Bear Lake Touch-A-Truck Event The Dart Network Podcast takes the show on the road to a Touch A Truck event in White Bear Lake Minnesota. Touch A Truck is a nationwide program that brings together various trucking and public safety groups together in an effort to get kids involved in learning about trucks and public safety. In this podcast, you can hear the reaction of kids who climbed aboard Dart’s truck. More than 1,000 people attended the event, which was hosted by the White Bear Lake Police Department. Listen Up: Highlights & Interviews From Special ATA Event Hosted By Dart The Dart Network Podcast was on hand for a special American Trucking Associations event hosted by Dart. U.S. Bank organized and facilitated the event, which focused on multi-generational recruiting and outreach within minority communities to address trucking’s workforce needs. In addition to highlights from the event, you’ll hear a special interview with Elisabeth Barna, COO of the ATA. Listen Up: Dart Shines At Breast Cancer Event The Dart Network Podcast goes onsite to US Bank Stadium for the Minneapolis Strides Against Breast Cancer event. Dart's Breast Cancer Awareness Truck, featured in a tractor-trailer pull by breast cancer survivors was the talk of the event. Contact us: info@podwheelsnetwork.com © 2021 Missing Word Solutions, LLC | All Rights Reserved