Mesa Legend - News - Need a ride? Cab firm offers safe way to make it home

August 21, 2006
Need a ride? Cab firm offers safe way to make it home

Brittany McKee
Mesa Legend

Every night there are people driving to and from Valley bars risking their own lives and the lives of others, now these have options.

Walking is the most inexpensive way home, and there is no risk of a DUI. However, in light of recent shootings as well as the Baseline Killer on the loose some people may feel uncomfortable at two in the morning alone on an empty street.

MCC student Kat Furman, said “I go out after work on the weekends, and I will not walk home, it is not safe.” Furman has had a DUI in the past year.

“A DUI affects every part of your life. You have to rely on friends,” Furman said.
“I use taxi cabs, which can get very expensive if you are going more than a few blocks. When I can drive again my insurance will be more than twice what it was before. There are classes you have to take and pay for, court fines and a day in tent city, even though a cab may cost a lot sometimes, it is not more expensive than this in the long run.” added Furman.

Furman received her DUI while waiting for a cab. She worried about leaving her car in a bar parking lot all night. She got into her car and left. It has now been months since she has been behind the wheel.

Thanks to Greg Murray and his “piggyback” trucks, Valley drinkers may never be faced with the decision of leaving a car overnight again.

Murray’s company, Desi-the designated driver, offers both car and driver a safe ride home for about $40.

Unlike a tow truck, Murray’s specially designed fleet of trucks allows vehicles to simply be driven on and off the truck.

Murray explained “We actually provide a piggyback service. There are two ramps on the back of the truck that simply fold down and allow us to drive the vehicle on to the specially designed bed of the truck. We secure the car with straps, fold the ramps back up and go.

Murray added, “I didn’t want to have a tow truck. No one likes to have their cars winched on and winched off and doing that takes a lot of time.”

The fares, which can be paid with cash or credit card, vary.

“If you call us and tell us where you are and where you’re going we’ll quote you a flat rate,” Murray explained, “We don’t charge per mile, we just charge depending on the area we have to go to.”

“We always have specials going on,” Murray added, “Just ask when you call.”
Desi offers pick up and drop offs anywhere in Tempe, Scottsdale and west Mesa and is open seven days a week from approximately 5 p.m. to 3:30 a.m.

Murray noted “We will stay open late if someone makes an appointment for a later time.”

Because Desi currently consists of two drivers, a dispatcher and two trucks, Murray suggested anyone interested in the service make an appointment.

“We are going to expand the business this summer and plan on having one or two drivers per truck and we plan on putting on three or four new trucks, but until then the average wait will probably be an hour,” stated Murray.

Unlike a tow truck or taxi, Desi can accommodate several passengers. “The people that don’t fit in the cab, we let them go in the car that is being towed, so most of the time it is not an issue,” Murray said.

“It’s legal to ride in the car, but we don’t always promote it. We take it case by case. If they look like they are going to behave themselves we will let them ride in the car..”

In addition to adding more trucks and drivers, Murray has several other plans for the expansion, including adding more sponsors.

“Any time someone sponsors us the money that they donate goes 100 percent toward lowering the fares for the customers. Our goal is to get the price back around $30 a ride to practically anywhere in the Metro Valley.” Murray explained.
The company is currently sponsored by Hensley and Anheuser Busch, the brewers and distributors of Budweiser beer.

The premise behind Desi is to ultimately get people home in a safe manner and to precent avoidable tragedies.

According to MADD, 30 percent of all fatal crashes during the week were alcohol-related, compared to 51 percent on weekends. For all crashes, the alcohol involvement rate was 5 percent during the week and 12 percent during the weekend.

In addition, 31 percent of all traffic related deaths in Arizona in 2005 were alcohol related deaths.

Brooke Kent, a former customer of Desi said, “It is such a smart idea when you think about the possible cost of a DUI or an accident. Compared to that, the fare seems so minimal.”

As the company motto says, “the more you drink, the better we look”.
To contact Desi, call 480-586-6586 or visit www.desidd.com.