Dave Carter ... on NPR
Make that two posts we never thought we'd write on Ricochet.
That's right, our very own road warrior was interviewed by WKNO, an NPR station in the mid-south, for a profile on "The Ride of Pride," his veteran-themed rig (seen at right), and the broader issue of veterans in the trucking industry:
After Dave Carter retired from the Air Force, he started driving an 18-wheeler. When Carter is on the road (which is most of the time now) he sleeps behind the steering wheel on a twin bed in the small cab of the truck, and it reminds him of his time in the military, “A lot of veterans are attracted to this line of work, because the living conditions, sometimes are austere, Spartan in some degree, and for vets, it’s like being deployed,” Carter said.
Carter drives a distinctive big-rig emblazoned with symbols of patriotism for one of the largest trucking companies in the country, Schneider National. Carter pointed to a spot on his fender where the words ‘In Memoriam to Deceased Veterans’ were printed, “It’s called the ‘Ride of Pride.’ There are four of them in the U.S., one in Canada,” Carter said, “They are commemorating active duty folks and veterans.”
The mobile-memorial is also a rolling-advertisement geared to make former military members aware of jobs at Schneider National. Despite the fact that millions of Americans are looking for work, ninety percent of trucking companies say they can’t find enough drivers. Long hours and many nights spent away from home make the driver’s seat difficult to fill, so trucking companies are targeting a group they believe has the skill-set to handle a tough job—veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Read the full piece -- and hear the interview -- here.
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May '10
Re: Dave Carter ... on NPR
Didn't know they had NPR affiliates in the "mid South." it's a good story though. Good for NPR, good for Schneider's PR people, and of course, good for Dave!
Jul '11
Re: Dave Carter ... on NPR
Awesome!
Apr '11
Re: Dave Carter ... on NPR
“They’re fit, drug-free, well-experienced, typically very emotionally mature, wake up on time and work their tails off to do a great job,” Hinz said.
. . .one of whom, can write, and spin narratives from his observations, that leave his readers clamoring for more . .
Edited on December 21, 2012 at 3:47amMay '10
Re: Dave Carter ... on NPR
Cool ... but Dave, you forgot to ask to be cited as "Ricochet Contributor" Dave Carter. 8^)
Apr '11
Re: Dave Carter ... on NPR
God Bless you Dave for helping the Vets.
Re: Dave Carter ... on NPR
Actually, Dave made clear to me that he made a Ricochet plug. You'll be shocked --SHOCKED! -- to hear that it didn't make it past editing at NPR.
Mar '11
Re: Dave Carter ... on NPR
Great piece, Dave.
It's a pity though that you couldn't give them the full Dave Carter Experience.
Jun '10
Re: Dave Carter ... on NPR
Let's see...Ricochet...cash crisis...NPR.......It's inevitable
"Hello, this is Peter Robinson. Welcome to the Ricochet Spring Pledge Drive. For a pledge at the $100 level, you will receive an attractive, durable Ricochet tote bag...For a pledge at the $250 level, a wonderful tee-shirt, emblazoned with a touching picture of Rob Long and his dog...At the $500 level, receive the Dave Carter Ride-of-Pride mug...At the $1000 level......"
Re: Dave Carter ... on NPR
Troy Senik, Ed.
Actually, Dave made clear to me that he made a Ricochet plug. You'll be shocked --SHOCKED! -- to hear that it didn't make it past editing at NPR. · 56 minutes ago
The actual interview lasted the better part of an hour. Of that,...they used just a smidgeon of my comments though, thankfully, they used the segments where I sounded sober. But believe me,...I talked up Ricochet big time.
Edited on December 21, 2012 at 12:21amNov '11
Re: Dave Carter ... on NPR
Well done, Dave!
Feb '12
Re: Dave Carter ... on NPR
Brilliant!, We wouldn't expect anything less from the 1st Ricochetti
Feb '12
Re: Dave Carter ... on NPR
Eeyore: Let's see...Ricochet...cash crisis...NPR.......It's inevitable
"Hello, this is Peter Robinson. Welcome to the Ricochet Spring Pledge Drive. For a pledge at the $100 level, you will receive an attractive, durable Ricochet tote bag...For a pledge at the $250 level, a wonderful tee-shirt, emblazoned with a touching picture of Rob Long and his dog...At the $500 level, receive the Dave Carter Ride-of-Pride mug...At the $1000 level......" · 2 hours ago
How much do you have to pony up for a cross country trip with Dave? ..... the definition of Priceless
Feb '12
Re: Dave Carter ... on NPR
NPR does some good "human interest" articles and this counts as one of them. Hope you recover from the shock Dave.
May '10
Re: Dave Carter ... on NPR
Yea! I know him! I know him!
Mar '11
Re: Dave Carter ... on NPR
I am not sure if this would be praise for the "mid-South" for not being leftist enough to support an NPR station? Or criticism that NPR had settled itself even in the conservative stronghold of the Mid-South?
Nevertheless, this Mid-Southerner is delighted that our Dave made an appearance on the station and I will be looking that much more diligently for his beautiful rig.
Edited on December 21, 2012 at 3:33pmSep '11
Re: Dave Carter ... on NPR
If I remember correctly I joined Ricochet just so I could comment on one of Dave's beautiful posts.
Eeyore: Let's see...Ricochet...cash crisis...NPR.......It's inevitable
"Hello, this is Peter Robinson. Welcome to the Ricochet Spring Pledge Drive. For a pledge at the $100 level, you will receive an attractive, durable Ricochet tote bag...For a pledge at the $250 level, a wonderful tee-shirt, emblazoned with a touching picture of Rob Long and his dog...At the $500 level, receive the Dave Carter Ride-of-Pride mug...At the $1000 level......" · 16 hours ago
Jun '10
Re: Dave Carter ... on NPR
Dave,
I admit I'm going by my All-Of-NPR-Despises-The-Military prejudice, but I'm wondering about your impressions of the interviewer. Was she actually curious about her interviewee and the subject, or was she just being pro-forma? Not that it would be obvious, but...just curious.
Edited on December 22, 2012 at 1:54amOct '10
Re: Dave Carter ... on NPR
So do you feel tainted or violated? I hear lots of hot showers do wonders for your state of mind after these encounters.
Seriously though, I'll bet they were astonished a right-wing, southern-reared truck driver was "articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy" and miles ahead of them on every issue. This is exactly what we have to do to win the country back.
Jun '10
Re: Dave Carter ... on NPR
And with no Cajun dialect, unless he wanted to have one...
Re: Dave Carter ... on NPR
Actually, the reporter was just a courteous as you please, and seemed genuinely interested not only in my story, but in regard to how the trucking lifestyle is a natural fit for so many vets. We got along wonderfully. Then again, how could I not get along with someone whose last name is Boudreau? Mai's dats a good name yeah! And when I made a back handed dig at government work by saying how much I enjoyed leaving govt employment for work in the "productive sector," she simply smiled. It was an enjoyable chat all around.