Coordinator Tricia Lovec 406-775-8751

Dispatcher cell 406-775-7086

The dispatcher will call the driver, then the driver will call you with the pick up time.

Carter Charter

Providing safe transportation for the elderly, disabled, minority, and the general public

– WITH PRIDE

As soon as you know you need a ride, call the dispatcher.  Do not wait until the day before you need the ride.

If you want to go somewhere and it is not for a medical appointment, we need to have at least 4 passengers. Call around, leave word with the dispatcher, and get together.  It will be cheaper for everyone.

Senior citizens and disabled persons with medical appointments are our top priority.

“No person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal assistance based on race, color, or national origin.”

Suggested donations for Medical Trips:

  • Baker $15

  • Billings $35

  • Bowman $15

  • Dickinson $25

  • Ekalaka $10

  • Glendive $20

  • Miles City $20

  • Rapid City $30

  • Spearfish $20

  • Sturgis $25

When arrangements are made with the dispatcher, and if a driver is available we will give rides to and from Billings and Rapid City’s airports.  We need $100 for a trip.

The Carter Charter is the only transportation entity for Carter County. Currently Carter County has two vehicles in operation. We were awarded an ADA expansion vehicle in the 2023 Grant Cycle, and a replacement 7-passenger van in the 2024 Grant cycle. We hope these vehicles will be added to our fleet soon. Currently our fleet contains a 2018 Toyota Sienna Le 6-passenger van. It is not wheelchair accessible. The mileage on the Sienna is over 186,000. We also have a 2013 Ford Cutway 13-passenger bus with a wheelchair lift. It's odometer currently reads a little over 48,000 miles. It is 11 years old, yet still in good shape. With only 8 miles to the gallon and very rough riding, we try to limit it's use to larger groups, wheelchair bound riders or when the van is headed elsewhere.

The Senior Citizen Coordinator is the manager and bookkeeper for the Carter Charter. We also have three regular drivers, three sub drivers, and a dispatcher. Decisions are made through the (TAC) Transportation Advisory Committee. The TAC has seven members, including a County Commissioner, drivers, CEO of the local medical facility and also Senior Citizens. The manager keeps the TAC informed between meetings.

The three County Commissioners oversee the work of the Transportation Manager.

The elderly and disabled, in our area, receive priority service but the Carter Charter is open to anyone in the community wishing to use the service. Our passengers call the dispatcher to reserve a seat or schedule a new trip. The dispatcher then calls a driver; the driver calls the passenger to arrange times and pickup. Dispatch contact information and planned trips are posted in the local newspaper, listed on the Congregate Meal menu, shared on social media, and posters placed around town.

As we are an On- Demand Service our routes, days and times vary. If a rider needs to make an early appointment, we might leave at 6am. Or a later appointment could mean we return at 8pm. There is usually a list of people that tell the Dispatch they would like to go the next time the Charter is heading somewhere. Our Dispatcher is very good at combining trips and urging riders to schedule trips when others are already going.

The Carter Charter has Cooperative Service Agreements with Dahl Memorial Healthcare

Association and Fallon County Transportation. Each agency participates in the development of Carter County's Coordination Plan. We work together in an effort to be more cost effective.

Our drivers preform safety and maintenance inspections on the vehicles prior to each trip. It is their responsibility to keep the buses clean, inside and out. Also, to inform the Manager of any repairs and/or maintenance issues. A qualified, repair site or dealership preform necessary work as well as routine maintenance.

The Carter County TAC fully accepts guidance from the Montana Department of Transportation.