A Few Helping Hands

By Christi Embler

July 1st, 2009

A glimmer of hope … sometimes that is all anyone needs when faced with the hardships or adversity life may bring, but a helping hand doesn’t hurt either. Whether the challenge involves sudden illness, disability, loss of a loved one or financial burden, the stinging effect can change lives. And so can a bit of old-fashioned generosity and benevolence.

Recognizing this, Arrow Truck Sales set out two years ago to spread goodwill to professional drivers who have suffered from an unexpected turn of events. Hoping to give drivers a head start back into a solid career, Arrow revved up the Back On The Road campaign.

Lane Bartrum, marketing manager for Arrow Truck Sales, initially was unsure how others would respond to the campaign but hoped they would share Arrow’s enthusiasm and vision. “At a time when the industry seemed to be getting battered and everyone was looking for a beacon of hope to rally behind, we were able to get huge support. We have some great partners and wanted to work together to form a package that would put a deserving person back on the road, and sponsors just jumped in,” Bartrum says.

Country music star and former truck driver Aaron Tippin stepped in as spokesman for the campaign. With Volvo Trucks North America providing a 2006 Volvo VNL 670 and Heartland Express offering a one-year driver work agreement, along with additional products and services thrown in to sweeten the deal, the competition had all of the elements to offer someone a boost in the right direction. Thus, the search for a deserving candidate began.

“Dennis Lott is a hardworking man of character with a noble military background who is not only respectful of others but reliable; what more could you ask for?” says Bartrum, regarding the winner of the 2009 campaign. Similar descriptions of Lott’s character were echoed by others privy to his work and he seemed to uphold all of the qualities Arrow was seeking in a worthy ambassador for their campaign. Amidst countless applicants who shared their heartbreaking stories of loss and nearly unbearable circumstances, Lott managed to outshine the rest.

After a solid background in the U.S. Air Force that exposed Lott to a variety of equipment while still driving local routes at night for extra cash, tragedy struck in 1999 and changed everything. While participating in parachute training during aircrew survival school, Lott endured a landing gone wrong, which eventually led to a back injury that would cripple his career. “As soon as I landed, I felt my back pop and initially tried to shake it off to continue with training. But, as the pain worsened, I was sent home to get it checked out,” recalls Lott. Lott was able to get back on the road for a bit until realizing the constant beating and bouncing motion from driving was causing further damage. A doctor advised Lott to get out of trucking in order for his back to heal.

“Facing that reality was a hard thing,” Lott shares. “I knew how difficult it would be to come off the road. I’m just not a 9-to-5 kind of guy and love the freedom truck driving offers, not to mention all of the great people I constantly meet on the road or in truck stops.” Despite reservations, Lott listened to his doctor and bid farewell to the road, which proved to be a wise decision. Putting trucking on hold, Lott focused on flying in the Air Force while getting chiropractic back treatments, eventually leading to his remarkable recovery. Unfortunately, before he had a chance to get too comfortable back in the driver’s seat, tragedy struck again, this time impacting more than just Lott.

“When 9/11 happened, I was put back on active-duty orders. I did everything from transporting prisoners to flying medevac missions,” recalls Lott. Despite this difficult time, Lott couldn’t ignore his truck-driving calling. While based in the States, he continued to go out on the road just to stay current and even remembers loading up on trucking magazines for his missions. “That’s how I found out about the [Back on the Road] contest; I read about it,” explains Lott. “I decided to submit my own story. One day, I received an envelope that my wife almost threw away. It was notification that I had been selected to move on to the next stage.”

From there, Lott found his way past the application process, background checks and phone interviews until he received the call that would change his life. According to Lott, “I had just come back from Kansas City, where I was interviewed in person along with about 10 other contestants. The whole time, I had a feeling I might win, but … you just never quite knew where you stood. Then I found out I was selected with just a few others to go to Louisville for the final announcement.”

For Arrow and the panel of judges, picking a winner is a process not to be taken lightly. Just to be a finalist, contestants are put through rigorous screening. “We’re talking about a huge prize and choosing someone who essentially becomes an ambassador not just for our company, but for the industry,” says Bartrum of the strict selection process. Bartrum recalls, “This year it was unanimous. Dennis is the whole package. He not only has a true love of trucking, but also has a background serving his country, making him the obvious choice.” Beyond pure enthusiasm and clear commitment, Bartrum says Lott especially stood out when speaking about his views of the trucking industry. “During the interviews, I remember Dennis getting all shaken up when talking about his career in trucking coming to an end. He discussed the importance of truckers showing the general public that they are professionals and you could tell Dennis really meant what he was saying. We were all blown away as he spoke about presenting yourself well and I particularly recall him saying, ‘You ought to do your job, be on time, think about things like safety, don’t complain and above all be respectful of others.’ When he said that, I knew we had our winner.”

According to Lott, to say that winning was life-changing is an understatement. “It has meant so much to not just me, but also to my family, who has sacrificed so much over the years for me to be away on the road. There’s not just one prize that has meant the most; it’s more about all of the people who were willing to give so much.”

Despite Lott’s humble perspective, he doesn’t deny how nice it has been to receive all of the many prizes. “It’s been great driving for Heartland,” Lott says of the new job. “I put over 11,000 miles on my new truck in less than a month, but the money’s been great so no complaints here.” More than the money, Lott says he has enjoyed his experience largely due to others involved, adding, “The people have been great to work with and are very accommodating.”

As Arrow initially set out to provide a driver with all of the essential tools for ongoing success, Lott has been reaping the benefits firsthand. Just mention the new Volvo he’s been awarded and Lott’s excitement is evident. “It’s such a beautiful truck. People stop me all of the time to check out the paint job. Plus, it’s the easiest handling truck I’ve ever driven.” This is also the first time Lott has driven on single tires from Michelin, and he has been pleasantly surprised with the results. “I wasn’t sure at first how I would like single versus dual tires, but they make for a great ride,” he says.

And with new additions to the prize package, such as the TriPac Auxiliary Power Unit provided by Thermo King, Lott explains he’s able to save some cash by stocking up on leftovers. “All I have to do is plug in my fridge and microwave and take off.” Between the Pilot gift card that allows him to fuel up each month and a tax service courtesy of ATBS that loads receipts up once a month to help him stay organized, Lott is all set.

For Bartrum and Arrow, that’s what matters. “This whole campaign is about the person we’re trying to help. Our ultimate goal is to look a few years from now and see the winner still making it on the road. We have tried our best to give someone a head start and offer ways to help, hoping that when their contract is up in a year, they have learned enough to continue down the road to success.”