Curtis Corbins, founder of ridesharing company Cheaperrides.com, is shaking things up in the ridesharing business! Move over Uber and Lyft, here comes Cheaper Ride! Yes, I said Cheaper Ride because that’s the app you download from the app store. The website is cheaperrides.com, for clarity. His parent company, C. Lee Transportation, is an established transportation company now moving people all over the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. The idea of Cheaper Ride came about to reduce the cost of what people are paying now with Uber and couple that with a better customer service experience. We think Curtis is on to something with this and we talked with him about why Cheaper Ride is the only ridesharing app people need to use.
SDM– Curtis tell us a little about yourself. You are from Lake Charles Louisianna, but you have been a resident in Dallas for quite some time.
Curtis– Yes, I moved to the Dallas area in April 1985, and I met an awesome woman, Edna Pemberton, at Concord Church. She got me involved in community work and serving people. I am the proud father of my daughter Brooklin and my son Demarkus. They both work in the business and have been a big part of our success. I have always had a passion for the less fortunate and always looking for opportunities for those that are less fortunate and society has given up on. I love people and love to make people laugh with my witty personality.
SDM– You founded C. Lee Transportation in 2015 with the help of the great Edna Pemberton, right?
Curtis– That would be correct. While homeless, jobless and struggling, I ran into Mrs. Pemberton and started hanging out at her office. I received a call from Dallas Mayor Rawlins about mobility issues for many of the impoverished residents in the southern sector of Dallas, mainly being able to connect them with livable wage jobs. Not having a vehicle of my own, after much prayer and guidance, I borrowed three friend’s vehicles. I got in one vehicle and put my son and daughter in the other two and began picking up men and women in the southern sector from three Dart train stations and began to transport them to great paying jobs, helping them to begin their journey from poverty to prosperity. We later began transporting seniors to the doctor, dialysis and to the grocery store. We expanded our senior medical transporting by securing major contracts with AARP and DART. We also entered into a contract with Methodist hospital to assist with their phlebotomy and medical assistance training program by providing Section 8 recipients and single moms transportation to their training classes and eventually to their new employer upon completion of the classes.
In 2021, we began airport shuttle services and summer day camps for field trips. Over the years, we have continued to identify transportation deserts and gaps and address them. My long term objective is to revolutionize the transportation services in the DFW Metroplex.
SDM– You have an amazing story of faith and fortitude. You had it all and lost it all, but you kept your faith in God at your lowest times. You even faced homelessness at one point and now your company recently made over a million dollars in revenue! I know a lot of this will be in your book one day, but give us a brief synopsis of your faith journey.
Curtis– As mentioned above, I was homeless and feeling hopeless, but I have always felt God has me destined for GREATNESS. I have never stopped believing. I had my days of wanting to give up, but because of great parents and great mentors and cheerleaders like Mrs. P, Dr. Drew, Wendy Burton and Jim Scoogins, I woke up everyday grateful and thanking God for what was about to happen in my life. My test became my testimony. To go from homelessness to a five-million-dollar contract with Dart can only be explained in two words: MY GOD!!!!!
SDM– Fast forward to today with the launch of your ridesharing app Cheaper Ride! Tell us why you wanted to do this and what makes it different from Uber, Lyft and other ridesharing companies out there.
Curtis– As we surveyed the landscape of rideshare services, we felt we could provide great customer service in a more economical and affordable way. We will also cover areas that the other rideshare companies don’t cover. We will be also be different when it comes to having access to a live person when customers call in with questions and concerns and not a chat room or a recording. Riders safety and comfort is a top priority.
SDM– Is the Cheaper Ride app active now so people can download the app today from the app store?
Curtis– The app will go live November 4th, but you can go to the Apple store, type in CHEAPER RIDE and download the App. We will be inviting everyone to the launch party.
SDM– To achieve the level of success you have achieved, what are some business lessons you can pass along to fellow entrepreneurs? What are your do’s and don’ts in business?
Curtis– First of all, I am a big believer in people owning their own and controlling their own earning potential. I would say to find your gift and what you love doing. Trust GOD and the process. Believe in the four P’s: Product, People, Process leads to PROFIT. Networking is so important. It is not so much what you have, but who you know. Stay humble, but assertive and aggressive. Have a healthy balance, work hard so that you can play hard.
SDM– In celebration of the Cheaper Ride app, you are having a launch event that is open to the public! It will be held at the DEC at Redbird Mall on November 16th, from noon to 4:00pm. Do you need to register for this event or simply show up? Your transportation vehicles will also be there for people to see and get an opportunity to have free guest rides! Sounds like it’s going to be a blast!
Curtis– We will be promoting this great event on social media, radio, TV and word of mouth. You can do both. We do need everyone to go to the app store and download the app. We will collect your info from the download and send out invites via text and email. This is going to be a game changer for C. Lee Transportation and I am so happy and excited with what this app is going to do for us and the Metroplex.
SDM– Curtis, I feel the Cheaper Ride app is really going to be a hit with those who use ridesharing services. A great low price with great customer service is a hard combination to beat! Is there anything that you would like to share with our audience about Cheaper Ride that perhaps we have overlooked or any parting words of wisdom? Also, how can people follow your company or reach out to your office for ride sharing information or other services that you offer?
Curtis– I want to share that Cheaper Rides is going to be a different ride in the rideshare industry. We will be much more affordable, reliable and very customer service oriented. We have an exciting service called the $5.00 ride if you are just going up the street or around the corner. We will serve clients from all aspects and we plan to make mobility accessible to all. Our prices will be consistent throughout the day and not change depending on the time of day.
You can check out our website at www.cleetransportation.com, www.cheaperrides.com
You can also reach us at (469) 818-7209 for more information.
SDM– I almost forgot about your non-profit that helps seniors and single moms! How could I forget about something that important! Tell us about that.
Curtis– Southern Dallas Link was created for the sole purpose of being able to receive grants and donations from United Way, foundations and other donors to supplement the cost for those that can’t afford the services. Our nonprofit is a vehicle that allows us to assist those that can’t afford the services, but are in much need of transportation to connect with the resources necessary for their success. With that said Southern Dallas link has launched its GOLDEN RIDERS FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN. We are raising funds to sponsor senior rides to the doctor, dialysis, grocery store and other mobility needs they have. We have a large population of seniors that lack access to much needed doctor appointments and dialysis appointments because they are unable to afford transportation. We hope that you would consider becoming a sponsor by scanning the attached QR Code and choosing a level of sponsorship. Your sponsorship will allow a senior to be transported to all necessary appointments.
