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The Inception of TripaDex...

You may be asking yourself... Where did TripaDex come from? Why haven’t I heard of this program before since a program like this is what the industry has needed for a very long time?

I guess I would have to say that it all began about 16 years ago while talking with a couple of Drivers about a spreadsheet that I had created for myself for keeping track of my financial information. I was an Owner Operator at the time and needed, just like you, to always know my... Bottom Line. I have always loved numbers and statistics, and seeing the bottom line on a constant basis has and continues to help in making decisions on when or if I should spend the money; not to mention, it helps in cutting costs in specific areas of operations so that you may have it when you need it the most, in other more important areas.

The two Drivers that I was talking to had asked me if they could have a copy for their own personal use, and I said, "Sure," but as it turned out, they could not use the spreadsheet because they needed another program in order to make it work, so they asked me... “Have you ever thought of creating a software program for keeping this type of information always at hand?” That is when the thought process began, but at the time, I had no idea how to get started writing a program because I simply had only played around with programing in the past, and didn’t have the patience to do anything serious with it. At the same time, I knew that such an endeavor would take a great deal of time - which I did not have being a truck driver, patience which I lacked, not to mention money which I also lacked. Well, I continued on my way in the trucking industry using my trusty spreadsheet and my own design of a trip sheet (which I implemented into TripaDex) for keeping this type of all important information neatly organized and “up-to-date.” Actually, at the end of the year, I would make a printout of my financial information to give to my C.P.A. for doing my taxes. I thought she was going to give me a hug the first time I called upon her to do my taxes as she said, "Most Drivers bring a box of receipts and hand them to me with nothing organized, and it takes forever going through and organizing the different types of expenses for categorizing (itemizing) expenses." She said after completing my taxes for the first time that I had saved her about 2 hours of work not having to count, categorize or total receipts. She was so grateful that she gave me a 30% discount on doing my taxes as she had finished in under an hour.

I continued driving over the road for the next 10 years, and about 5 years ago from now (2011), I became clinically blind in my right eye, and being no longer able to pass a physical, I knew that my driving career was about to end as it was only a few months before my next physical was due. I was driving down the road one summer day, and it suddenly came to me out of the blue. I out-loud stated... "Why not?" What I was answering was a question posed to me from somewhere deep inside, and that question was... "Why not develop a program like those two Drivers asked you about 10 years back?" I knew that I had a long road ahead of me if I were to venture into something as complex as I knew it was going to be since I had no idea how to program (well, I had an idea of what programing was but didn’t have the first clue how to do it), I also knew I would have to work on my self-patience skills as well :) Suddenly out of the blue, another feeling from somewhere deep inside came to me that said... “The ability, you already have... You just don’t know it yet, and don’t worry or despair about how, for I will put obstacles in your path that will lead you through and guide you along your way, and I will also supply you the patience you’ll need...”

Now it was time to get serious about what the “Drivers” from so long ago had talked to me about, and immediately, I began searching the Internet for a way to get started. I knew since I wouldn’t pass my next physical, I must find a way very soon to get set up so that I could start this endeavor once off the road. I started to find information on programming over the Internet, but it was all “Greek” to me. I was thinking... “How am I ever going to be able to write all of this what looked like “chicken scratch” and make it into something that will possibly resemble a program?” Anyhow, I began reading and trying to learn, but driving was getting in the way as the learning curve was so much higher than I had anticipated, so I decided, instead of learning right now, I would design the program in my head while driving (making recordings of all my ideas, etc.). This way, once I was off the road, I would already have a part of the intense amount of work that I knew that lay ahead of me already complete.

I continued making my recordings and also started designing the interface of the program with my computer that I carried with me in the truck while waiting at Shippers, Consignees or at Truck stops on my time off. I then realized something else... I was going to have to have a place to live while completing this project as the time involved would not allow for having a job, because I knew that it would take many hours, weeks and months of working around the clock to see this through. I didn’t need the added worry of having to pay rent and thought that I could look into getting an RV and live in that while working on this program. The other advantage I thought about having an RV was that (like someone writing a book) I would be able to have complete isolation as I knew that I couldn’t have any kind of distractions in order to complete this by the end of the year. As a matter of fact, when I had gotten set up in a campground, some of the other campers would stop by literally every two to three days and knock on my door to make sure that I was still alive.

I began to save my money and had gotten back on the Internet to try and find an RV. Well, there were plenty of them for the picking, but the Prices... I did, however, find one on eBay, and it was a 1973 Dodge. I really wasn’t concerned with the year as I wasn’t buying it to look pretty or be up-to-date, I was buying it to have a place to live and work on my dream , and as long as it was sound and not falling apart, then that was all I needed.

The next couple of months were very hectic, creating TripaDex in my head while driving and also trying to find an RV that I would be able to acquire. It wasn’t easy as my address was in northwest PA and my home terminal was in Altoona, PA. I knew that I would have to somehow find an RV that wasn’t too far away, and I guess you could say that I did. I mean it wasn’t close, but at least it was in the same state. I found an RV just outside of Pittsburgh and purchased it on eBay. I called my company and made arrangements with my dispatcher to get me through Pittsburgh so that I could pay for the RV and put it into storage until such time that I could get back to get it after getting off the road. About a month or so later, I knew that it was time, so I had dispatch bring me to the terminal in Altoona where I cleaned my truck out, rented a car and took off for Pittsburgh to drive away - my new home. I was so hoping that the RV would be OK as I really didn’t have the time to check it out before buying it, and if I remember correctly, the first thing when I arrived to unload my rental into my “new home,” the battery was dead, which I guess was just from sitting and had nothing to do with the fortune or misfortune of the good deal that I had gotten on the RV. It started just fine once the battery was charged, and so the journey began from Pittsburgh to Warren, PA, where I would set up camp and begin building my dream. The trip was going just fine, and along the way, I came into this small town about 50 miles from Warren when it happened... I was driving down main street when all of the sudden it just died, “konked out,” “it’s over,” “you're outta here, bub,” “uh-oh.” I thought to myself, "What am I going to do now?" as I was right smack dab in the middle of downtown, and the two lanes were so small that it was hard for two pickup trucks to pass, let alone an RV and a car. I picked up my cell phone and was calling my insurance company from the kitchen... “wink”... for that all important “roadside assistance” for which I had been paying. Just as I got through to the insurance agent, what would you suppose drove up behind me? Yooooou’re right, it was... “them” and not the roadside assistance “them” either. Well, actually, they were the two nicest police officers I do believe that I have ever met. They were going to try and “push” it out of the way of traffic (if memory serves) but soon discovered... I DON’T THINK SO! Anyhow, while we waited for help to arrive, I had one of the nicest conversations with the two officers that I have ever had with anyone, as we talked about everything from why I was bringing this dinosaur into their little town to talking about TripaDex, and wouldn’t you know, the conversation about TripaDex is the topic that took us all the way through until help arrived. The one officer in particular was extremely excited about my plans, for he knew several Drivers in the industry that had been looking for a program just like the one in my plans/ideas. The one thing about the whole conversation that sticks in my head even now was when the Officer looked at me, shook my hand and said something that I will never forget, and that was... “Steven, you are a Godsend, and I mean that. This TripaDex that you are talking about is exactly what the trucking industry has needed for a very long time, and I can’t tell you what it means that we met.” Well, it came to me just the other day as I sat on my sofa staring at the picture I designed of the TripaDex Response Vehicle. You see, I look at the picture whenever I start to get discouraged, and it reminds me of just how important it is to get this program out there to you... The ones who keep America going. I also realized something very profound as well as I sat there contemplating why things happen in life the way they do... I didn’t break down in that little town that day by mistake as I started thinking back when this all began as just a thought now 16 years ago, and remembered the reassurance given to me on that warm summer day... “The ability, you already have... You just don’t know it yet, and don’t worry or despair about how, for I will put obstacles in your path that will lead you through and guide you along your way.” I knew the “obstacle” this time was designed to reassure that I was doing the right thing. I then started getting all kinds of insight on how things have happened that brought me to this place and time, and I can’t tell you the peace I felt just knowing that it was already happening. I am ready to build TripaDex Foundation to be a company like no other... The plans I have for TripaDex Foundation are without end. I am so excited about getting on the road with my T.R.V. and finding a Driver broken down to offer assistance, and this is just the beginning. There are so many ways that this company is going to help and aid Drivers, but it is all up to you as I can’t do this alone. I need your help in building a company that is now and will always be... For You. God has given me the strength and ability to come this far, and I truly believe that God is now waiting for you to take it to the next level.

...Seeing the great need for a program to aid drivers in keeping track of their daily tasks, I began on a journey to bring something to the Trucking Industry that would be the very first of its kind, and it took everything that I had to see it through with everyone telling me (other than the Police Officer) in so many words that it was just another one of my "Pipe Dreams." Well, I didn't want to believe them because I knew then even as I know now what I was and am currently doing will help so many drivers in so many ways not only with keeping their daily tasks and financial information constantly together and “up-to-date” but also being able to come to their aid in an emergency situation etc. I have to date invested close to $350,000.00 in time and money since the inception of TripaDex in June, 2006. The time that it had taken to complete the first version of TripaDex exceeded 4,000 hours in just under 6 months, and once I sat down with a calculator to figure that one out, I realized for the first time just how much sleep I did not! get through it all, and I thank God for the incredible patience that he gave me to be able to endure those very long hours. The total number of hours devoted to TripaDex since June, 2006 has exceeded 8,000 to date. The last update was in April, 2011.

I had only attempted programming in the past, and not having the patience always gave up because it was too involved, so programming was definitely not one of my strong suits. I definitely did not consider myself a programmer (in any sense of the word) before starting this project, so I designed and developed 2 smaller programs for a friend so that I could learn programming skills before starting TripaDex, because I knew that I had to be very familiar with programming because of the complexity of TripaDex. I would work literally 12, 16, and 24 hour shifts with only a couple of hours of sleep in the middle. There were even a few times that I worked nearly 46 hours nonstop (my mother would tell me that I was going to kill myself if I didn't slow down), but I had set a goal for myself to have this complete by the end of 2006. There were several times that frustrations and, I guess a lack of sleep, caused me to nearly give up on TripaDex and call it quits. At one point, I was so frustrated that I took an entire week off from the computer, but wouldn’t you know it... the whole week I kept building TripaDex in my mind and in my sleep. Something kept me going through it all, and I have no doubt of what that was... or should I say... Who? I could not stop or quit building TripaDex because I not only believed with all of my heart and soul that what I was doing was right but more than that... “Meant to be.”

When the day came (January 2, 2007) that the first version of TripaDex was finally complete, I literally sat down and cried, and not from disappointment or despair, but from an incredible, and profound feeling of accomplishment, and a satisfaction that only comes from a a job... Well done. I was so very proud of what I had just completed, and also for what I had endured to get there. I finally realized at that very moment that not only was TripaDex the program “Not” going to be a failure but that TripaDex Foundation itself was going to be all and so much more than I could ever have imagined. I knew then as I know now... TripaDex the program Will be an incredible success, not just because of what it is and what it does but simply because I believe in what I am doing for Drivers Everywhere, and because more importantly, I am doing what God himself has laid before me to do. That belief has been and continues to be my saving grace, and also what has kept me going through it all, so when I say that TripaDex Foundation is for you, I have not ever been more sure or confident of anything in all of my life.

After completing TripaDex version 1.0 in January of 2007, I was eager to get started, so I placed an ad on eBay to get the first copies out there to you. About a week later, I had gotten an e-mail from a “dot com” company who wanted me to call them. I was immediately excited and picked up the phone and made the call. The voice on the other end sounded incredibly excited about TripaDex as he told me that a company had contacted him to create a program for keeping this type of information for use in their company, and after seeing TripaDex said that it was everything and more than they were looking for. It sounded as though he was ready to buy TripaDex lock, stock, and barrel right then and there. I started talking about how it had taken all the money that I had to develop TripaDex, and being not financially able to properly advertise, I decided to get started on eBay. His attitude suddenly changed from excitement about TripaDex to discouragement to me, and by that I mean, he began telling me that I could not really do anything with TripaDex because I didn’t have the money to go any further with it. He then said something else... He said, “Since you don’t have any money to continue this, it is rather pointless to waste any more of your time. The best thing that you can do at this point is to just “give” TripaDex to someone who has the money to do something with it and let them take it over.” He asked me to send him a couple copies for his review. He then ended the conversation by saying... "Take care and God Bless." I wasn’t quite sure if he was trying to talk me out of it and get me to just give up by giving it to him or not until about 2 days later. As I was still thinking about our conversation, it suddenly came to me to write him the following E-mail... “...and as per our conversation the other day, I have been talking with some people about this, and it was suggested to me to do nothing without a “letter of intent,” and since no such letter has been offered to me, I should deem this as an unsafe venture, (as this company wanted me to send them a “couple” of copies of TripaDex for their “review”)." He then wrote back an angry letter implying that I was trying to accuse him of something, and I thought to myself... I am not accusing him of anything, so why would he be so angry? I thought, if anything, he should have been apologizing for not offering such a letter and possibly offer it then. That is when it came to me... Just maybe he was trying to cover up his true intentions with the “copies” that he wanted from me. I then remembered again... “The ability, you already have... You just don’t know it yet, and don’t worry or despair about how, for I will put obstacles in your path that...” Hmmm... I then realized that this company was just another “obstacle” that had been put in my way, and the obstacle this time was to give me even more strength and belief than ever in what I was doing, and more importantly... Not to give up on my dream, for giving up on this dream would also be giving up on you, the driver, and that I cannot and will not do.

Knowing more than ever that TripaDex Foundation Was meant to be and realizing that the time for it to start (very possibly) wasn’t meant to be just yet, I went to work for a retail chain in my hometown in January of 2007 and stayed for 1 year and 7 months. I left the company in August 2008, when I finally realized that “checking my values” in at the door everyday just wasn’t worth it any longer as it wasn’t who I am. You see, I am one that will Stand and let themselves be heard when something is wrong no matter the cost to me, and I quickly found that a “stand up" individual wasn’t what they wanted. They wanted followers, not leaders, and I just couldn’t bring myself to say, “Yes, Sir,” “Right away, Sir,” “Anything you say, Sir,” especially when I knew it was wrong and not for the good of the company or (and especially) for those who worked so hard to make it what it was. I believe in people and Not for what they can do for me, but rather, what they can do for themselves and each other, which ultimately makes things better not just for one... but for All. That is why I am so incredibly excited about what I am doing, because TripaDex Foundation is about being there... TripaDex Foundation is about offering help to those who need it the most and When they need it the most (the Truck Drivers who keep America on its feet). I am so very proud to be named among those men and women who keep this Great Country of ours running smoothly and running strong, and even though I have been given this disability, causing me to no longer be able to drive the big rigs, I still and will always consider myself a Truck Driver through and through. I have recently realized that this disability was given to me not because of anything that I did wrong, but rather to create and bring to the Trucking Industry a company that you can be proud of and a company that you can believe in. I am so looking forward to getting out on the road with my T.R.V. (TripaDex Response Vehicle), not only to promote TripaDex Foundation and the program itself, and meeting with the Drivers who will benefit from this incredible program and company, but I will also be looking for those “special” individuals that will help me to build TripaDex Foundation to be all and More of what I know it can and Will be now and in the future.

After leaving the retail chain, it gave me an absolutely incredible opportunity to get back to TripaDex, and get back to it I did, tweaking and fine tuning it, which ultimately became version 2.0. Working in retail gave me an incredible opportunity to hone and polish my customer relations skills, which will help me to build a better and more successful and exciting company for Truck Drivers everywhere.

It was within the last couple of years that I have realized how one thing then another happens in life to get us to where we are supposed to be and some may call it... “Our purpose in life,” and actually that is what I call it as well, as I don’t think I ever really knew where my place in life was until this all began in 2006. I now know that TripaDex Foundation has always been my calling, but I just wasn’t ready to know it until now. Funny how life works, isn’t it? I am now 44 years old and just realized my calling at the age of 42. Some get their call at an early age, some even later than me, but as long as we keep believing and keep listening... We Will hear, but only when we are truly ready to not only answer the call, but ready to step up and accept the challenge that has been put before us...

I would like to take this opportunity to thank God for being my guide and my mentor through it all, for without His undying love, His understanding heart and His spiritual and emotional support, TripaDex the program would not be. Please help me to bring TripaDex Foundation to places only imagined, in not only my dreams, but hopefully yours as well. If you are still unsure that TripaDex is for you, please visit the TripaDex “Virtual Tour,” where you will be able to navigate screen shots of TripaDex, and see first hand what this incredible program has to offer.

I would like to thank you for reading about how TripaDex Foundation got started. I also hope that this may have inspired you in some small way to know that absolutely anything at all is possible, if only you have faith and if only you... Believe.

I would like to say just one more thing in closing, and that is this. I would like to ask that anyone who will, please pray along with me that this disability given to me was for just a short time in order to build and bring TripaDex the program to you, because I have also designed a TripaDex Response Semi that (once a reality) I will be honored to drive across America to be once again... Among the many men and women who have and continue to work so very hard to keep our Country Strong... Thank You!

Sincerely,

Steven Jarrell

"May He be riding alongside you, guiding and protecting you as you travel the long and lonesome highways of this great Country."

"We take a stand today, we make a difference... Forever."