In 2009 the US Army Corps of Engineers responsible for Beaver Lake, AR and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 56 had booths at the North West Arkansas Boat Show. The show is an annual event featuring displays from boating dealers, outdoor equipment companies, safety agencies and others.
Ranger Alan Bland approached National Elite Transportation, LLC employee, Mickey Boyce, who was a member of the USCG Auxiliary. Mickey had volunteered to man the USCG booth. Alan mentioned that the Corps of Engineers had a desire to have a boating and water safety decal displayed on tractor trailers crossing the country and reminding families of water safety. Ranger Bland asked if inquiries could be made to NCI about their willingness to participate in such a project.
Both parties kept in contact throughout 2009 and 2010. The possibility of the project slowly moved forward. In 2011 Ranger Bland received notification from headquarters in Washington, DC stating the decals had been included in their budget. A final proposal was presented to NCI and approved. The US Army, the Corps of Engineers, the USCG and USCG Auxiliary were then notified and the order for the decals was placed.
In 2012 the decals arrived at the Corps of Engineers office in Rogers, AR, and shipped to NCI. The official placement of the first decal on an NCI trailer was made by Jim Franck, NCI President, Johnny Branstine, NCI Director of Maintenance, and Brigadier General Luka of the U.S. Army, at National Carrier’s Irving, TX facility.
