EAGAN, Minn. — Dart Transit Co., in its 85th year as a nationwide transportation service provider, has appointment of Dave Ables as the company’s new president and CEO. Chosen through an extensive national search process that was overseen by Dart Chairman Donald G. Oren, Ables will be responsible for directing the day-to-day operations of Dart. He will lead Dart’s management team, and report directly to Oren, who will continue his daily involvement in the overall operation of the company that the Oren family has owned since its founding in 1934.
Ables brings 25 years of transportation experience to his new position at Dart, serving in executive leadership positions for the past six years with truckload carrier PAM Transport. Prior to his appointment with Dart, Ables was vice president of operations & marketing for all 13 operating divisions at PAM Transport.
“We focused our search on finding an executive leader with the right depth and breadth of experience within all of Dart’s markets and facets,” Oren said. “In Dave Ables, we found the right person who possesses the full range of skills and values needed to continue to move our organization forward. Over his career in transportation, Dave has established an impressive track record of success, and I am confident that Dave will bring valuable insights and innovative approaches that will benefit our entire organization and all our customers. In reviewing his experience and during the interview process, we were particularly impressed with the leadership Dave has exhibited within the truckload market, and his ability to work well with employees, owner-operators, customers and the community alike. In our view, he has the right mix of experience working with all aspects of operations, customer service and sales, and he will be a high-quality leader for Dart.”
In addition to his time with PAM, Ables held truckload leadership positions with other major carriers including Barr-Nunn, CRST and Stevens Transport. Oren and the Dart management team also took note of Ables’ prior experience in other key areas of business currently offered through the Dart Network. In serving as the Retail Supply Chain Practice Leader for Ohio’s Global Executive Solutions, Ables oversaw strategic sourcing, global purchasing, network optimization and a variety of logistics functions. Outside of trucking, Ables has been the managing member of his family-owned hardware store as well as other small businesses.
“Dave’s expertise in logistics and supply chain solutions, along with his experience as a business owner and entrepreneur, will serve him well as the president and CEO of our company,” Oren said “Between his wide range of career experience and the insights he shared with us, we found that Dave is an ideal fit for Dart and its variety of services, including logistics and intermodal services.
“My wife Bev and I, along with our children, David, Daniel, Bradley and Angela, are very proud of what we’ve built together at Dart, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring Dave Ables in to be Dart Transit’s president and CEO and next successful leader,” Oren said. “We are looking forward to working with Dave in the years ahead as our entire organization stays focused on being the best service provider in the business for drivers, owner-operators, employees, technicians and customers alike.”
Ables and his wife, Lori, both have family ties to the Midwest, growing up in Iowa where Ables attended the University of Northern Iowa. They are the parents of three sons, David, Samuel and Nicholas.
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
hello my name is michael sullivan 84038. i was with your company 2 times. I drove close to a million miles with your company with very few problems. i last left this summer for medical reasons. i was in orientation this last monday. I completed all that was required until theroad rest. past two road tests in orientation, you can check their were no issues. iwas just going to leave quietly but it would not be right to not let you know that in the future someone may get hurt due to this individual i will now speak about. When i was to be roadtested this time it was not a test but a lecture for the next hr. this guy continually talked to my while i was driveing. telling me do and donts. i thought this was to be a road test? first he had merge into of ramp in texas were drivera have right if way and then accused me of cutting a driver off. then when we entered freeway he kept telling me to turn my signal on when people were around me and this is not a good idea. you should waite for a safe place to merge then turn on signal. we went back and forth on this. he then did not tell me to get off next ranp until we were right up on it. merge fron second lane to exit? then he said i was going to fast on off ranp? was he setting me up? maybe. on the way back he told me to merge into right lane were there was a oversized vehicle parked and men outside the truck. it was a concrete beem. then when i corrected that merge and resumed the middle lane he said oh i did not see that? spose to look ahead for hazards? was he setting me up again or did he really not see the vehicle there? when we finnally got back to the yard and backing up he asked me are you not forgetting something? i said what? the horn? i said what horn truck had no air horn to sound backing. he then preceaded to instruck me on proper hooking and unhooking a trl. were is that in driving test? plus he said i should drop trl five fingers of the ground? were he come up with that? last but not least he drove out of parking spot and saw what he said was a truck not suppose to be parked their and blew the dash horn to wake him up i guess and then laughed about it. whats wrong with this guy i wonder. we got back to class and instructor in class asked me how it went and i preceded too tell him. the tester was also in back of the room. he passed me and placed the paper on the desk but when he heard me tell the instructor about the oversized vehicle this must of angered him for he took the test back and began to write. what i dont know. but obviously things that did not happen to cover his tracts i guess. well i the class instuctor and this guy who suppose to test me went into another room. then tester began to lecture me even more. well after listening to this guy for over and hr i was done. he said unless i promise him(did not let him finnsh) he would fail me? my only concern and reason i am writting you is this guy will cause someone to get hurt eventually and i cant have that on my conscience. you might seek medical help for this guy. he definayly has issues. i already have another job for its not to hard with 20 years experience and no accidents. sad it did not work out i liked dart and was with you guys 8 1/2 years total. wish you well
sincerly
michael p sullivan