Cover Story

Brad Chapdelaine— Dart Transit Company

Professional truck drivers are among the most generous, kind-hearted people on earth. If you want proof, look at Brad Chapdelaine, a man with a heart of solid gold. A seven-year contractor with Dart Transit Company, Brad is a big booster for the “World’s Largest Convoy,” which raises money for the Special Olympics. In 2005 he is driving in his third convoy, and his enthusiasm is contagious. Many of his friends at Dart plan to participate, too.

The Special Olympics allows people with physical and mental handicaps to compete in Olympic-style events. “When you watch them, you can see how much it means to them,” says Brad.

The convoys are held at several cities during late summer. Trucks queue up for miles to participate in the events. Each convoy ends with a barbecue and an award ceremony. Many of the Special Olympians are on-hand for the convoy—some ride along in the trucks, and some cheer from the sidelines. “It warms your heart to see how these kids respond to the convoy,” Brad says, dabbing a tear from his eye.

This year, Dart is a $5,000 sponsor at the Dallas, TX convoy—with up to 50 Dart contractors participating. Chap-delaine plans to run in the September Dallas convoy and Minnesota’s October convoy.

The trucking business is a people business, and Brad is a good example of that. “Building relationships is an important part of being successful,” he says. “The way you deal with people pays off in the end.” Chapdelaine’s customers love him, and his dispatchers know that they can depend on him completely. Earlier this year he was selected as a Dart Contractor of the Month. And his solid performance landed him a dedicated run that is perfect for him. It takes him on a round trip between Minnesota and his home in Virginia, delivering shelving to new Target stores. The run produces 2,600 to 2,900 miles a week.

Over the years, Brad has earned a great reputation for himself. Likewise, he connected with Dart because of the company’s reputation on the road. He was a company driver at the time and was interested in becoming an owner-operator. “I heard that Dart was a good company that would help you get your own truck,” he says, recalling the recommendation he got from a neighbor, Dart contractor Elmer Blankenship. He applied and was approved for a lease truck from Highway Sales, Inc., a truck vendor to Dart.

Since then Brad has upgraded his truck twice, using a lease each time, even though conventional bank financing is available from several participating Dart vendors. “I prefer leases, because I can write off the entire payment,” he says.

And it’s getting even better for Brad. His 2001 Freightliner will be paid off in a few months, and he plans to use the truck payment to accelerate the payments on his house. “I should be debt-free in four years,” he predicts. And that’s a golden reward for a good guy with a heart of gold.

The staff of Over the Road and Pro Trucker magazines wish Brad continued success with Dart Transit Company. For more information on the many opportunities at Dart for independent owner owners, see their ads on pages 91, 93, 95 and 97 of this issue.