You see their adds all over but is it true? A Dart testimonial

In 2007 I left the road of being a company driver behind. I took that leap and signed up for a lease with DART. It was nerve wracking but exciting as well. I had seen their adds all over the place. Yet when I started doing research online the cries of doom and woe on leasing a truck were all over the place. Yet almost every dart driver I spoke to made them seem legit. Maybe they just wanted a bonus, or maybe they were being honest.

Well in October of 2007 I signed on. During the process I told the recruiter I wanted a Volvo, and a newer one at that. I ended up getting an 07 Volvo with 72k miles on it. My payment wasn't bad, it was a 4 year lease with a balloon at the end. I could refinance the balloon and keep the truck if I wanted to. And what was better is, it was a walk away lease if things didnt go well.

For 2 years in drove that truck, and I made a decent living doing it. I was averaging 6.7 to 6.8 MPG. And with the fuel prices that were sky rocketing back then my good fuel economy was paying dividends. For all of those saying leases don't work I am consider my story proof that they can. IF you work hard, and have a good business plan. Running down the interstate at 75mph and blowing fuel out your exhaust was never part of mine. I also went in knowing that I would get short loads from time to time or heavy ones. So I took them.. Sure I would turn down loads as well if they were a total money loss or had me sitting for days. But I would laugh when I heard people complaining they were sitting all the time and then turn around and talk about a short or heavy load they would turn down because they didnt do those types of loads. That's ok ill take it and then get a better load somewhere else.

Along came 2009 my truck hit the shop in September and then again in October. While in the shop one time for an extended warrenty issue where the entire top end of my engine was getting replaced. I started browsing the trucks on the lot, and was blown away by the prices. The economy was in the dumps, trucking companies were going under, and no one could buy unless they great credit. (Which i did) in October i utilized that great ability of their walk away lease. I turned my truck in and bought me an 06 Kenworth T2000 that was $25k less than what I owed on my Volvo. My payment went down by about 600 a month. All was good. The money continued to roll in.

Between myself and my fiancée busting our rears we paid the truck off in a year and a half. She's a photographer and a #### good one at that, as in real professional not just a hobbyist that thinks they are professional. Now I a looking at possibly buying another truck..well trading my KW in for a new one. Looking at a 2013 International Lone Star.

Now I have to add something here. In 2012 I got bit by this bug that had me saying the grass would be greener and better if I was picking my own loads and getting paid percentages. So I left DART. And while it was interesting and sure you could have some amazing weeks every now and then that you couldn't touch on a mileage system. I learned something while doing it...CONSISTANCY PAYS.

Back in January of this year I came back to DART. Why? Because as I said before consistency pays. I like having my settlements clearing every day. It keeps me motivated. Their system makes it easy, especially if your willing to work. Not only that i can name a few times they have went the extra mile for me. Like when my daughter was born, and they deadheaded me from Shreveport LA to Fort Walton beach Florida and paid me for it to get me home.

So ya I got to say. For me personally DART is a great company. Even if they are a bit crazy with all their adds. I can't see myself leaving them again. At least not for another driving job. I consider my time with then a success story.

if you want any more specific info about them feel free to PM me.

 

Sorry, I was there in 2011 and was disappointed. They have 32 different pay scales for owner ops. Yes, I probably could have worked harder, but the reason I went to Dart was so I could see the house weekly. I ran legal on paper logs and when I left, took their *&^&^%$%^ computer peoplenet out myself and returned it. took my tractor home and it has been sitting since Christmas 2011. I was getting 7.5 mpg but the miles just weren't there. I spent too much time fixing their trailers, 2 of 3 yes 67% needed repairs. Very good people in dispatch and I never heard a four letter swear word, but it just wasn't there. the straw that broke the #####'s back for me was when I delivered in Glencoe mn on a Fri, took a reload from Alexandria mn on mon, I live half way in between but because I went home, they would not pay the mty miles. Congratulations to you if you are happy there, but not for me at this time.

 

I will admit they do have some old trailers. However they have been doing alot of selling off of their old trailers, and buying a bunch of new ones. They have also tightened down on their trailer maint. Which seems to be helping alot.

As for computer logs. Well that's just going to be a mainstay almost anywhere now unless your truly independent or running for a mom and pop small company. Good luck in finding a good one of those as well. I've got a friend who has bounced from small company to small company because he keeps getting ripped off or scammed. In the time I've been at DART. I think he has changed companies at least 5 times.

 

With a paid for truck and the ability to earn rates twice as much or better, than what they pay on their flat mileage program, you could work half as much in a year and clear the same money. I left a company with a payscale similar to Dart's and had been there 11 years. Went to a percentage company and have been there ever since. When capacity is tight and rates are good you bust it for as long as it lasts. When they are down you park at home. I'll take better hometime and rates over working more for less any time. Not really on point here but Dart cracks me up when they call up asking me a price in a tight market, last minute, late afternoon pick multi-stop. You're spot on about never turning down any load in a program such as Dart's, and you will never be complaining about a lack of miles. I never did that either and used to hear guys crying about short hauls they refused all the time. I always got something better the next load, or possibly a couple of loads later because I took them all and never looked back. That's how you work a mileage system but most guys never figure that out.

 

While I realize you have the possibility of making more money on percentages over the coarse of a week or month it usually starts to even or equal out. Usually it's more of a roller coaster.

On a good mileage system like dart has. Not only does consistency pay, but also being paid Empty miles, having tolls paid, lumbers paid, detention paid and having a good fuel discount all adds up. Speaking of fuel discounts right now I'm sitting in OH. List price for Fuel is $4.09/gal. My price is $3.76 when using our fuel card. That type of discount pays dividends over the coarse of a week or month.

If I wasn't putting $2k a month back for maintenance, which is my choice, I would be netting between $8-9k a month. That's after all my expenses. So I could have a truck payment and still be making good money here. I know I have done it in the past.

Overall both systems many time average out. Unless your a specialized hauler, in which case many times the rates are much higher.

Ive ran both systems, percentage and mileage. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. One thing for sure is I've never had to wait on pay at DART or wait for a broker. I've never been ripped off either and not been paid for the work I've done while working here.

Ive done the whole grass is greener on the other side of the fence. And found it was patches of green and brown that really all equalled out. However company wise DART was miles ahead a better company in the end. Which is why I returned to to their mileage program.

 

Does Dart pay practical route miles or shortest route miles?

 

If I had one complaint it would be they pay household movers. Practical miles would be much better.

 

I get paid every week. I run in the same manner as an independent. I even front my own money for fuel. But I am leased to a company. I get a settlement check every week and have never been burned by a broker. The company did get burned once, but I still got my check.

Now obviously there are normal ups and downs in any market. I have several weeks streaks at a time where I sit at home because rates are weak. In fact I only worked 7 months last year and spent the rest of that time at home. During the time I was working I was home just about every weekend. I cleared the same money in running 76,000 miles on percentage pay as I did on a flat rate mileage lease (practical miles $1.40 loaded, .95 empty) working every 45 weeks out of 52 (lucky if I got 1 day of per weekend) turning 140,000 miles.

So my point here is, why would anyone work week in and week out for peanuts every week?.. ...when they could play the market and only work a little over half the year for the same money. This is where many who work percentage or their own authority ultimately fail. They think if those wheels aren't turning they aren't earning. There is a time when you go home (rates in the toilet) and park then there is a time to hustle.

Wearing a truck out running 2500-3000 miles a week for peanuts 45-50 weeks a year.. never getting home to enjoy family.. I can't believe anyone puts up with that... simply not worth it.

 

That's great, more power to ya. You found something where you can work a few months out of the year and net $70k+ a year. Please feel free to share the secret of your success.

however for those interested in DART. You can do well over here. I know I have.

 

Go back and read my posts. Only thing I never talk about are specifics of my lanes. Anyone can do it if they can manage money. If one's finances are in shambles forget it, because you will work for nothing and they can hear it in your voice. It takes patience and you have to be able to read people - negotiate. You have to leverage yourself and walk away from a lot of bad deals every day before you get a good one. Some days there is no deal. Some days there are good deals ringing the phone off the hook. You have to get away from the "miles = money" wrong-think. It ain't for everyone.