Editor Pick Archives

Finding freedom on the open road: Jimmy Reddell named Top Military Rookie Driver for 2021

Dwain Hebda - January 6, 2022

Growing up in Bullfrog Valley, Arkansas, Jimmy Reddell would sit around with his uncle, Clayton Reddell, and talk about trucks. “My uncle was a truck driver. He started driving in the ’60s — about ’64, I think,” Jimmy Reddell said. “He said, ‘About the only thing I ever made any money at was driving them old trucks. And it was work back then.’ He talked about no air conditioning, being in the little cigarette pack in the back bouncing around. He said, ‘Them old trucks would beat you to death.’” Reddell recalled. “I said, ‘How’d you find stuff?’” he continued. “He said, ‘Well, we had rolls of dimes, and we spent most of the time lost, running around in circles, getting directions from people.’” Such conversations were a big part of how Reddell eventually wound up behind the wheel himself. It would take a while — Reddell hired on with Texas-based Stevens Transport in 2020 following a military career that ran almost uninterrupted from 1983 to 2019 — but once there, 55-year-old Reddell wasted no time making a name for himself. “I like driving, like seeing the country. Your boss is never around,” he said with a chuckle. “There’s just a lot of pluses to driving. I enjoy it so far. I just stayed behind the wheel, kept the greasy side down, shiny side up.’” On Dec. 20, Reddell received the “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” award, denoting the nation’s top rookie military veteran. The annual award, presented in Washington, D.C., recognizes the military veteran who most successfully transitioned from active duty to driving for a commercial fleet. Reddell topped an elite field of drivers for the award, which included a brand-new Kenworth T680 as the grand prize. Equipped with a 76-inch sleeper, the rig features the complete PACCAR powertrain with a PACCAR MX-13 engine, PACCAR TX-12 automated transmission and PACCAR DX-40 tandem rear axles. “This is certainly a special moment for me. I’m very honored to receive the 2021 Transition Trucking award out of all the deserving veterans nominated,” said Reddell in a press release announcing his win. “Thanks to Stevens Transport and Angela Horowitz [Stevens’ vice president of administration and driver resources] for nominating me. “Also, special thanks to Hiring Our Heroes, FASTPORT and Kenworth for their support of veterans making the transition into the trucking industry,” he continued. “I can’t wait to get the Kenworth T680 out on the road.” Reddell entered the Army Reserve just 33 days after his 17th birthday, serving a six-year hitch that was largely classified as “inactive.” He left the armed forces between 1989 and 1993, but then returned to active duty and served in the Army from 1993 to 2002. Then, from 2002 until 2019, he spent time in the Army National Guard and Army Reserve. While in the service, Reddell held several different jobs, including truck driver, field artillery, air defense artillery, computer training, civil affairs, recruiting and logistics. When he got out for good, Uncle Clayton’s stories still rang in his head. “I was at a place in my life where I’d just come back from Qatar from a civilian contract with the military and COVID had hit, so everything was in a slump,” he said. “I had been taking it easy for a few months; then I was thinking, ‘What am I going to do next?’ “Truck driving was something I always wanted to do,” he shared. “I like the freedom of it. I don’t have a wife or kids or a house or anything, so I was in a position in my life to where I had the opportunity to do it with no strings attached. It was kind of a no-brainer.” Reddell racked up an estimated 110,000 to 120,000 miles during his rookie campaign, hauling for Stevens to destinations all over the country. When asked about the biggest “learning curve” he discovered out on the road, he said the constant problem-solving was a challenge from the very start. “The freedom of the open road and seeing new places, that was exactly as I had imagined,” he said. “What I didn’t grasp was (that during) the first 30 days it was like, there was a problem, then there was another problem, then there was another problem. To me, they were big problems that I really couldn’t solve. “Then, after that month, I realized that trucking was just problem-solving, and I accepted the fact that there’s going to be problem after problem after problem,” he continued. “It was little stuff, you know, just crazy stuff. You’ve got a big piece of equipment that you can’t park just anywhere. You can’t stop and eat just anywhere. You can’t take off fast and you can’t stop fast.” “Once I settled into that, they started not really being problems,” he said. “It’s just another day at work. That was really the big eye-opener.” It should be noted that Reddell overcame all obstacles he encountered with flying colors. He recently became an independent contractor through Stevens Transport Contractor Division. He had been leasing a truck — something he now no longer has to do, thanks to the Transition Trucking award. “I go all over, although now as a business owner, I’m starting to stay away from the Northeast,” he said. “I just think there’s more unknown business costs associated with the Northeast, it seems like. And there’s more to driving out west for me anyway.” As for Reddell’s childhood hero, he and Uncle Clayton still talk nearly every day when the younger Reddell is out on the road. This time, it’s the 88-year-old elder Reddell who’s living through the experiences of another. “He really, really wants to be out here driving,” Jimmy Reddell said. “He calls me almost every day when I’m driving. He’ll see where I’m at and talk to me and ask me what happened. He might not talk very long, but he wants to know where I’m at, what I’ve done, what kind of problems I’ve had. He’s like, ‘Yeah, they need to fix that. Yeah, it’s been that way for 50 years. You’d think they’d do something about that.’” When asked about his plans for the future, Reddell said he’s content doing what he’s doing, even if he did get a later start than most. “I had an old man tell me, ‘Get out of it now, because once it gets in your blood, you’ll never be happy unless you’re driving,’” he said. Reddell says that’s fine with him.

Checking blood pressure comparable to reading truck’s gauges

Bob Perry - January 1, 2022

Now that I’m back presenting at on site driver ordinations, one question that still comes up from new drivers is not understanding how elevated blood pressure readings can take you out of service. Think of your blood pressure like reading your truck’s engine gauges — it tells you if something abnormal is happening or is about to happen. So, you ask: What exactly does blood pressure measure? The top number, known as “systolic pressure,” refers to the pressure inside the artery when the heart squeezes to pump blood through the body. The lower number, called “diastolic pressure,” refers to the pressure inside the artery when the heart is relaxed and filling with blood. Both the systolic and diastolic numbers are important when identifying potential issues as elevated pressure readings. Thanks to advancements in technology, there are several portable travel blood-pressure monitoring units that are reliable. Much like maintaining your trucking equipment, PM is best. (In this case, PM means “personal maintenance.” A good rule to follow is occasionally check your blood pressure against a manual reading. What are the benefits of lowering blood pressure? Elevated blood pressure can cause hypertension. In turn, long-term, uncontrolled hypertension can increase your risk for stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney disease by increasing the workload on your heart and blood vessels. Having other risk factors for cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) disease adds to your overall risk. The three major controllable risk factors for cardiovascular disease are: High blood pressure; High blood cholesterol; and Smoking. The presence of any one of these factors increases your risk of cardiovascular disease by about 30%. If you have two of these factors, your risk for cardiovascular disease is three times as great. If you have all three risk factors, you have seven times the risk. Other risk factors for cardiovascular disease include age, diabetes, family history of early heart disease, obesity, physical inactivity, insulin resistance, elevated lipids and your individual health history. High blood pressure requires serious attention and treatment to keep under control. You can prevent future problems by understanding your condition, making lifestyle changes, taking medication as prescribed and having your blood pressure checked regularly. Always consult your doctor for support. In addition, engaging the help of a professional CDL health coach is always recommended. Known as The Trucker Trainer, Bob Perry has played a critical role in the paradigm shift of regulatory agencies, private and public sector entities, and consumers to understand the driver health challenge. Perry can be reached at [email protected].

Q&A session: FMCSA’s DataQ system

Brad Klepper - January 1, 2022

Between online shopping and pretending to work, I was busy surfing the internet last month. Let’s be honest: Nobody (except truck drivers) really works that hard in December. With that said, one thing I have noticed is that a lot of sites have their “year in review” type articles. As you all know, I am fundamentally lazy and not above jumping on a current trend! Accordingly, I thought I would do a list of the most often asked DataQ questions I have received over the past year. Because I am a giver, I am also including the answer! So, without further ado, here are the top questions I received about DataQ challenges. Q. How long are the points from an inspection record on the safety score for a driver as opposed to a carrier? A. For a driver, the points resulting from an inspection report show on the record for three years. The points resulting from the inspections of any drivers operating under a carrier’s USDOT number is two years. Q. Why are DataQ challenges such a long and drawn-out process? A. While this can be true, a lot comes down to the reviewing agency. Once a challenge is filed it can take anywhere from a few days to a few months for a decision to be made, depending on how many challenges are needing to be reviewed. Q. I received a citation but didn’t receive an inspection. Will there be points on my safety record? A. If you did not receive an inspection, there would not be any points on your safety score from the citation. You can always ensure that there was not an inspection by pulling a copy of your PSP report. We have seen inspections not given to the driver at the time of the stop — rarely, but it does happen. Q. What does a DataQ challenge do, exactly, and why do I need to do one? A. DataQ challenges help keep as many points as possible off your safety score. The lower your score, the better. Your safety record helps you with employability, training opportunities and keeping your insurance rates lower. Q. Will the points on my safety score be there for the rest of my time as a CMV driver? A. No, the points on your safety score are only there for three years. Q. Why is my company saying I have 21 points for my seven-point violation? A. The points on the safety score are multiplied by three for the first year from the date of the inspection, so the total would be 21. The second year from the date of inspection, they would drop to 14 points. The final year, they are at three points. After three full years, the points are no longer on your safety score. Q. If the truck I’m driving and the cargo I’m hauling at the time of an inspection are less than 26,001 pounds, it shouldn’t count against myself or my carrier since I’m not at the weight of a CMV, right? A. The combined weight at the time of an inspection is not what determines whether a truck and trailer are considered a CMV. It is the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) that determines whether a vehicle is considered a CMV. Anything with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or higher is considered a CMV, regardless of the weight at the time of the inspection. Q. I received a citation associated with a violation on my inspection report that I received at the time of the inspection, which was dismissed or amended. These points are adjusted on my safety score automatically, right? A. Unfortunately, they do not automatically adjust. Reviewing agencies vary from state to state and typically are not part of the court system. To ensure the appropriate change is made, a DataQ challenge must be done, and a copy of the court records submitted to the state agency in charge of making the changes. Q. I received a dismissal or amendment on my citation that is associated with my inspection report, but the reviewing agency would not offer relief. Can they do this? A. Yes, an agency can choose to not offer relief for dismissals or amendments that are made in court. Typically, these fall under very specific situations and will vary from state to state, if it happens. The most common reason given is a fine being paid or a diversion period being granted in exchange for a dismissal. Q. My carrier uses a third-party safety score reporting program and it’s shows points on my score that were removed by a DataQ challenge or points are not only counted once per the stacking rule. Can they use these? A. Yes, the company you work for can use a third-party safety score reporting program. They should already be aware that these may not reflect the correct points. If they have any questions regarding your score, a PSP report from the FMCSA can be pulled for $10 which will reflect the most recent status of your safety score. Q. There are violations on my inspection report that are not mine; they are my co-driver’s violations. How can I be sure they are not on my safety score? A. The best way to ensure that the violations are not reporting to you is to pull your PSP report. There will be a notation on the violations that are not counting against your record stating as much. If there is not a notation, it is best to do a DataQ challenge to ensure that these violations are reported correctly. Q. What is the best kind of documentation I can submit with a DataQ challenge for an inspection with no associated citations? A. Documentation that has proved helpful in formulating strong challenges includes, but is not limited to copies of logbook pages for violations relating to record of duty status violations; speed readouts for speeding violations; call records for cellphone violations; proof of valid periodic inspection at the time of the stop for violations relating to periodic inspections; and copies of the CDL and medical cards for license violations. Q. Can I submit photos or videos with my DataQ challenge? A. Absolutely! Keep in mind that this kind of documentation must be time- and date-stamped. Photos and videos can be an excellent way of showing that violations were not present at the time of an inspection. Q. I was involved in a crash incident and don’t feel this should count against my record. What can I do? A. The good news is that a DataQ challenge can be done for these incidents — as long as they occurred on or after Aug. 1, 2019. Crashes prior to this are not eligible to be challenged at this time. For a review, you must submit a copy of the original crash report be alongside the challenges. Time- and date-stamped videos have proven to be helpful in these challenges. Q. I was just informed that the reviewing agency has offered relief on my safety score regarding my inspection report. Why aren’t the changes showing? A. The FMCSA refreshes its database to show changes once a month. Because of this, depending on the time of the month the results are received, it could take a month for these changes to show. If you need a verification that the change has been made, the reviewing agency does send emails with the results of the challenge that can be presented as verification. Q. My DataQ challenge was denied. Can it be filed a second time? What about another time after that? A. Yes, it can be filed a second time. However, it is best to submit stronger evidence with the second challenge, or add documentation you may not have had access to before the first challenge. Rules concerning any challenges after a second challenge vary from state to state. Some states have an appeal process, and others do not. Be sure to check with the reviewing agency if you want to continue further than a second challenge. Q. Can I challenge all the inspections that are on my PSP report? A. Absolutely! You can challenge any inspections that are showing on your inspection report. We recommend filing DataQ challenges for any inspections that you feel were issued with incorrect violations as this gives you a greater chance at lowering the points on your safety score. You never know if the reviewing agency will offer relief if you don’t file a challenge and we have seen violations with no citations removed in the past. Brad Klepper is president of Interstate Trucker Ltd. and is also president of Driver’s Legal Plan, which allows member drivers access to services at discounted rates. For more information, contact him at 800-333-DRIVE (3748) or interstatetrucker.com and driverslegalplan.com.

Changing jobs? Know what a background check will show before you apply

Cliff Abbott - December 28, 2021

If you’re paying attention to the trucking industry, you already know the trucking industry is suffering a driver shortage, according to many sources. In fact, the most recent survey published by the American Trucking Research Institute (ATRI) listed “Driver Shortage” as the biggest current industry concern, followed by “Driver Retention” and “Driver Compensation.” Carriers are revising their pay rates and bonus structures to address at least the first two on the list. Many carriers are raising compensation rates, and many are offering hefty “sign-on” bonuses to help attract and retain drivers. If you’re considering making a change in your career, whether you plan to apply as a company driver or an independent contractor, keep in mind that any carrier you apply to will conduct background checks in accordance with federal regulations. It’s important that you know what they will find in that check — BEFORE they find it. One very large reason for this is your credibility. If you listed three prior jobs on your application and your record turns up nine, the safety professional at the carrier you applied to won’t be impressed with your honesty. This is especially true if the jobs you didn’t list report derogatory information. Even if you only attended orientation and never went to work for the company, list it. Driving records are another area of scrutiny. If moving violations show up on your record that you didn’t report, it could keep you from getting hired. There are sometimes legitimate reasons for not reporting a citation, such as tickets you thought were old enough to have fallen off the record, or violations that were set aside through a court-sponsored adjudication program, such as defensive driving school. By making sure you know what will be reported, you can avoid embarrassing explanations later. If you’ve moved to a different state in the past few years, you should have a driver’s license number for each state. If you’re still driving on a CDL from your old state, get it changed. The law gives you 90 days to do so. Some carriers won’t make a hire unless the state on your application and your CDL match. Situations such as these are all too common among trucking applicants. There simply isn’t a good reason for the information on your application to be different from that in your record. The good news is that you have access to most of the same reporting information that prospective carriers do. However, that only helps if you take the initiative to order the reports and read through them, before you apply. Always order your Motor Vehicle Report, sometimes called a driver’s abstract, from the agency that issued your CDL. It can be hard to remember how long ago you received a citation or whether it remains on your record. Don’t guess — this is info you should know. If a violation falls within the period requested on the application, be sure to list it. The “DAC Report” is used by many carriers to obtain drivers’ employment history. There are other services that provide similar information, but the DAC Employment History issued by HireRight is currently the most popular. Carriers that order this report usually also report your information once you leave the company. The report can list accidents or incidents that occurred while a company vehicle was in your possession, even if they were not reported to the police. Some carriers report accidents, and some report every instance where money was spent, such as a broken mirror or needing a tow truck to get unstuck. In this report, carriers can report if your performance was satisfactory — or not — without leaving details. They can also report the circumstances of your leaving the carrier, noting such things as “truck left in unauthorized location” if you didn’t return their truck to a specified terminal, or “fraudulent use of funds” if you advanced cash on your fuel card before quitting. Some carriers are meticulous about what goes in your report. Unfortunately, some may leave the task to a disgruntled safety clerk who may have an ax to grind. Regulations give you the option to contest anything in your report or to have your rebuttal statement included with the information provided. Rebut with facts, however, not emotional outbursts. For example, you could contest an “unauthorized equipment location” with something like “instructed by dispatcher John Doe to leave truck at…” In any case, it’s best to review your record and make your case before you start applying for another job. You can get one for free by calling 866-521-6995, or online at hireright.com/applicant-assistance/answers/requesting-a-copy-of-your-background-report-file. There are two reports from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that you’ll need. The Pre-Employment Screening (PSP) report is important because it contains information that can catch you unawares. For example, if you were issued a citation in conjunction with an inspection, that citation may still be listed on your record — even if you were found to be not guilty or the charge was dismissed. Some carriers use a point system for PSP violations to determine how much risk there might be in hiring you. Further, if you worked for a carrier briefly — so briefly that you didn’t include it on your job application — any inspections done will result in that carrier showing up on your PSP report. The PSP report is easy to obtain. Simply go to psp.fmcsa.dot.gov/psp/public to order a copy of yours. There is a small fee, but it’s worth it. Since January 2020, carriers are required to check with the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse for all new hires. Carriers, MROs and others are required to report any positive testing results, refusals to test and other information to the Clearinghouse. Before January 2020, carriers usually had to contact each of an applicant’s former employers individually to get this information. That’s still the way it’s done for any drug or alcohol testing done prior to the effective date. To obtain information from your Clearinghouse file, you must give your consent. That consent must be given electronically, online at clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov. By making sure you know what your record says about you, it’s easier to navigate the sometimes complex hiring process at the carrier you want to work for.

Trucking industry shines in Christmas giving campaign

The Trucker News Staff - December 24, 2021

WASHINGTON — Many trucking companies and organizations associated with the trucking industry gave back to their communities in a big way this Christmas season. Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF) has compiled a list of some of those good deeds. “Over the past year, our industry and nation have all faced extraordinary challenges as we recover from economic hardships from the global pandemic and work around the clock to prevent supply chain disruptions,” said Kevin Burch, co-chairman of TMAF and vice president of government affairs and sales at MTS. “Despite these challenges, our front-line workers in the trucking industry have shown consistency and resilience by keeping a steady hand on the wheel to keep our nation moving forward,” he continued. “We are proud to help our communities stay healthy and safe by ensuring the delivery of food, medicine, and other essential supplies.” Following is a list of trucking companies and organizations that gave back to their communities during the 2021 holiday season. Advantage Truck Group (ATG) in Central Massachusetts participated in its annual charitable initiative — Haulin’ 4 Hunger — to help families in need this holiday season. The program supplies families within the local communities of ATG dealerships with fresh meals. Since the beginning of the program, ATG has provided 23,000 fresh meals to families in need. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) continued its annual participation in the Wreaths Across America convoy from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery, along with many ATA members. ATA continues to donate goods and transportation to disaster relief. America’s Road Team and Workforce Heroes programs partnered with Interstate Moving Relocation Logistics to deliver donations for Afghan refugees housed at different military bases across the country. The LEAD ATA Class built and donated bikes for the local Boys and Girls Club of San Antonio during its Mid-Year Management Session, and ATA awarded The Trucking Cares Foundation’s Premier Achievement Award to professional driver John Lex. This award is bestowed annually to an individual or company that exemplifies trucking’s spirit of giving. Brenny Transportation Inc. once again participated in the local WinterWalk that takes place every year in St. Joseph, Minnesota. This year, the company drove out to the local arboretum and loaded up a 50-foot-tall blue spruce tree to haul to the Church of St. Joseph. Upon arrival, the tree was placed for all to see and then decorated with lights. Brenny Transportation’s team also raised over $8,000 to donate to families in need this holiday season. In 2021, C.H. Robinson, a multimodal transportation services and third-party logistics provider in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, launched a thank-you campaign and sweepstakes designed show the nation’s appreciation for the truck drivers who never left the road and never stopped delivering, even during the most challenging of times. Two thousand thank-you letters were submitted. As part of the campaign, the company gave away $100,000 in cash sweepstakes to truck drivers and carriers during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (Sept. 12-18). The company also supported families, organizations and causes through grants and scholarship programs, and the C.H. Robinson Foundation donated $100,000 over two years to the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund. Estes Express Lines, based in Richmond, Virginia, participated in the “Bikes for Kids” bike drive by delivering 415 bikes from New Jersey to River City to be assembled by volunteers from the Richmond Area Bicycle Association, an organization that raised more than $35,000 to buy the bikes for kids in need this holiday season. From Augusta, Georgia, F&W Transportation, in partnership with E-Z-GO/Textron Specialized Vehicles, donated and delivered 1,200 cases of bottled water to Texas to benefit relief efforts following the devastation of Winter Storm Uri. Garner Trucking Inc. in Findlay, Ohio, provided food transportation for a local food drive, collected and donated coats for a local drive, sponsored a local child, and collected holiday gifts for a local family. The company also participated in Wreaths Across America, donating over 1,000 wreaths to honor the fallen veterans. Other contributions include providing transportation for food donations from the University of Findlay to Chopin Hall, a partnership with The City Mission of Findlay to help the homeless; the delivery of coats for those in need; and a partnership with Keeping Our Kids Safe, a local community organization that allows individuals to sponsor a child for the holidays. Keller Logistics, headquartered in Defiance, Ohio, and its in-house philanthropy team raised over $48,000 for Operation K.A.V.I.C. (Keller Assists Veterans in Crisis), which helps local veterans when there are financial gaps in their veterans’ benefits. The company hosted a free dinner in November for all local veterans and their families. Keller also supported Wreaths Across America by delivering wreaths to Ohio cemeteries and sponsored a series of events to encourage families to shop locally this holiday season. Kentucky Truck Sales Inc., based in Jeffersonville, Indiana, partnered with its sister company, Century NationaLease, to donate to a local facility that fosters and counsels youth in the area in July. The donations came from 75 employees from both companies, who took the donations directly to the center. Landstar System Inc. employees donated gifts to benefit children at the Child Guidance Center’s Angel Tree program in Jacksonville, Florida. Landstar’s Rockford-based employees supported the Winnebago/Boone Foster Care Alliance, a collaboration of child welfare agencies in the Winnebago and Boone counties in Illinois. Landstar employees also donated 50 $25 gift cards that can be used to purchase gifts or necessities at Walmart, Target, Visa or Amazon. Old Dominion Freight Line, based in Thomasville, North Carolina, made a $100,000 donation to Toys for Tots in 2021. The company hosts over 80 Toys for Tots toy drives annually at the corporate office and across the company’s vast network of service centers. They also donated over 200,000 canned foods to the salvation army. In addition, Old Dominion partnered with the Salvation Army to hold a food drive, where they donated over 4,000 canned food items. Pilot Co., based in Knoxville, Tennessee, raised a record-breaking $1.75 million from a three-week in-store round-up campaign to benefit the Call of Duty Endowment, a nonprofit organization committed to placing veterans into high-quality jobs after their service. This amount triples the original 2021 goal of $500,000 and will assist more than 3,000 service members in their search for employment. Pilot also donated $30,000 to Wreaths Across America and gave a $150,000 donation to feature TMAF on the No.1 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet at the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at the Michigan International Speedway in August. The TMAF-branded car promoted the importance of trucking and raised awareness on how the trucking industry continues to keep the country moving forward. The Rhode Island Trucking Association hosted its Annual Torch Run Truck Convoy for Special Olympics. In 2021, association members raised over $8,000. All the money was donated to the Rhode Island Special Olympics athletes. From Central Texas, SH 130 Concession Co. partnered with the Caldwell County Sheriff Department’s Brown Santa program to donated 150 toys, games and books for local families in need. The company also donated $5,000 to the Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation, which supports health care workers and hospitals in the region. Smith Trucking, located in Worthington, Minnesota, participated once again in a donation drive for families in need in its local community this holiday season. This year, the donations amounted to $2,850. Each year, the Trucking Association of New York holds two golf outings, one in the western region of the state and one in the metro region of the state. Both golf outings raise money for local nonprofits. This year, the Western Region Golf Outing raised over $3,000 for a Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit that provides beds for children. The metro region raised over $14,000 for Tunnel 2 Towers. Truckers Christmas Group, a nonprofit organization based in Wichita, Kansas, that raises funds to help professional CDL drivers and their families in the U.S. and Canada, hosted its 14th Annual Holiday Fundraising Campaign. A major part of the campaign was the Winter Virtual Concert. The donations of goods and funds help ensure that every truck driver in need can support their family during the holiday season. Other charitable contributions included donating grants of $650 each to 35 different families, raffling off two pairs of boots valued at over $1,000, and partnering with RoadPro to donate a selection of goods valued at over $500. System Transport, based in Cheney, Washington, which is a member of the Truckload Carriers Association, was selected to drive the truck that delivered the 2021 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from Six Rivers National Forest in California to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Additionally, TCA and its member companies were instrumental in the delivery of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s The Wall That Heals mobile education center and Wreaths Across America remembrance wreaths.

Hey, Santa! During the holidays, Ohio trucker embraces resemblance to St. Nick

Dwain Hebda - December 23, 2021

Todd Daum didn’t go looking for Santa Claus — Santa found him. For 10 months out of the year, Daum, a driver for Cliffside Transportation, is affiliated with the jolly old elf only by resemblance and his CB handle of “Santa.” But come the holiday season, he can’t go anywhere without the spirit of St. Nick preceding him. “When people call me ‘Santa,’ I just go with it,” said the Ohio native, who’s been driving for five years. “At the truck stops, one of the TAs that we go to on a pretty regular basis, the third-shift clerk doesn’t call me anything but Santa. He knows my real name, but he calls me Santa every time I walk in the door.” Daum isn’t shy about sharing his Santa persona, either. “If I see somebody when I’m dressed as Santa Claus and they’ve got their nose in their phone, I walk up and put my arm around them — complete strangers, I don’t know who the heck they are. I’ll put my arm around them and say, ‘Get your phone set up. Let’s take an elfie!’” he shared with a jolly chuckle. “I have taken so many pictures like that, and the smiles on their faces are always genuine. Even though they’re not a kid anymore, they’re still having fun with it,” he continued. “In today’s society, with everybody hating on everybody else, if I can make somebody smile for five minutes it’s worth every second of it.” There was a time when such recognition would have brought out the “Grinch” in Daum. For years, he says, he fought the fact that with his flowing white beard and stout build, he was a dead ringer for Kris Kringle. That, teamed with the 52-year-old’s overnights shifts, completed the picture of Santa making his midnight deliveries. “At first, people were calling me Santa because I look like Santa — and I actually took offense to it,” he said. “It really started pissing me off, because I didn’t think I was that old, you know? ‘Quit calling me Santa. I’m not old enough to be Santa!’” It took the eyes of a child to change Daum’s heart. “Then, my youngest daughter, who at the time was 12 years old, said, ‘But Dad, you really do look like Santa,’” he said. “When she told me that, I did a complete 180 and fully embraced it.” Daum started his career driving fire trucks, a job he’d pined for from an early age. At that time there was no sign of his Santa persona — other than the fact he got to drive a red “sleigh” for a living. Firemen were prohibited from wearing beards, he said, because they interfered with the masks firefighters wore when entering burning buildings. When he left the fire department, however, Daum let his hair and beard grow — and his jolly alter ego stepped to the forefront. People started offering him holiday gigs almost immediately. “When I started to let my beard grow out, it started growing out completely gray, which was not a big surprise because my hair was gray. I just let it go. And, I had the physique for (being Santa). In other words, I’m fat,” he said with a laugh. “I had a couple people ask me to play Santa Claus, and they got me the real cheap ‘dollar-store’ Santa Claus suits,” he said, adding that his Christmasy career expanded to playing Santa Claus for company gatherings. “It just developed from there.” The more he embraced the concept, the more seriously Daum took the role. He bought a higher-quality Santa suit from a thrift store and began to hone his chops, especially when it came to interacting with children. “The thing with being Santa: You’ve got to be very, very observant to catch little nuances and little things here and there,” he said. “I had one little girl walk up to me at one of the truck stops. I was just sitting down to eat my lunch, behaving myself, and this little girl walked up and said, ‘How you doing, Santa?’ “I started talking to her, and her brother called her name. So, I was able to call her by her name and call her brother by his name, and (their) mom was just standing there with her mouth agape, watching the whole interaction,” he recalled. “I picked up other little clues — the little boy had a choir shirt on, so I asked him how he was doing in the choir. His mouth hit the floor.” Because he still makes his living as a driver and has to stick to a schedule, Daum says he is selective about the Santa appearances he makes. If he were able to be a full-time Santa, he could easily handle three or four times as many gigs in November and December than he does. His favorite events, naturally, are those that involve children. “I don’t have a problem with kids, and never have. Kids don’t bother me a bit. Other people’s children, you spoil them rotten (and then) send them home to their parents. No big deal,” he said, with a few more chuckles. “It’s one of those things that kids will always remember,” he explained. “Does it hurt me to sit there two minutes longer than I wanted to, just to make their day? No. Doesn’t hurt me in the slightest to spend a few minutes of my time to make a kid feel good.” Even with the number of “Santa sightings” Daum experiences, both in costume as an official Santa and in the course of his job as a driver, there are some that stand out in his memory. Daum keeps a photo in his phone, showing him in full costume and holding a laughing baby girl. A year after the photo was taken, the child’s mother shared the photo with Daum, along with the sad news that the little girl had passed away. While this particular memory is bittersweet, Daum lights up when talking about being able to grant special wishes for the children of military personnel. “Have I done, ‘I want to bring Daddy home for Christmas’ or, ‘I want to bring Mommy home for Christmas’? Yeah, I’ve done three or four of those,” he said. “(The parents) work it out with me beforehand, and that’s always fun. But that’s also when I take a back seat. I might be Santa Claus, but as soon as mom or dad steps out, I’m gone. I disappear because I don’t want to be there, I want to let the kid be totally enthralled with their parent at that point in time,” he explained. “So, I completely and totally disappear; change out of my costume and leave, and the parents know that,” he continued. “How I explain it to them is this: It’s not that I don’t want to stick around and witness it, but the kid’s going to look around and say, ‘Where did Santa go?’ and the parents say, ‘Well, he must have gone back to the North Pole.’ That’s part of the magic.” Daum is accompanied on his adventures by a friendly feline named Vincent. Click here to read more!

Music for the long haul: Take along a little George Strait for those holidays on the road

Kris Rutherford - December 15, 2021

This Christmas Eve, whether you’re bedding down in your sleeper, dropping in on relatives, headed home or traveling on another long haul … well, there’s not much anywhere better to be than Texas. Chances are, you’ll find the weather to your liking, but the traffic jams around Dallas, Houston and San Antonio may drive you down a different highway altogether. Traffic aside, you never know what Christmas in Texas (particularly South Texas) is going to offer. Heck, a few years back a few inches of snow fell on the beaches of Galveston on Christmas Day! But for the most part, when Santa makes his way to the Lone Star State, you’re more likely find him pulling a trailer than driving a sleigh. And when he does visit Texas, Santa may well be playing a Christmas tune by none other than the King of Country Music, George Strait, on his radio. In 1986, George Strait was just five years into a Hall of Fame career when he recorded his first Christmas album, “Merry Christmas Strait to You.” The album’s title followed a pattern in Strait’s earliest recordings, including his debut album, “Strait Country,” and his follow-up, “Strait from the Heart.” While the Christmas album didn’t exactly offer any classic songs that would become mainstays of country radio during the Christmas seasons to come, Strait did record a couple of regional Christmas hits that still receive airplay in his home state and surrounding areas. “When it’s Christmas Time in Texas” is one of the singer’s most memorable holiday songs, and it provided Strait an opportunity to introduce his fan base to a different kind of Christmas than most envision when dreams of sugarplums dance in their heads. Strait starts out “When it’s Christmas Time in Texas” by letting the listener know he’s telling a personal story; in fact, he points out, “It’s a very special time for me.” Rather than singing a Christmas carol like “Old Christmas Tree,” Strait points out that in Texas, people swing around the Christmas tree while “dancin’ to a Christmas melody.” And even though Christmas may look like a summer day to the rest of the country, just because there’s no snow in San Antonio doesn’t take away that special feeling reserved for this time of year. So, what does Santa do when he crosses the Texas border on Christmas Eve (other than possibly trade in his reindeer for a Peterbilt)? Well, when he arrives in Texas, those Christmas carols take on a different sound. Twin fiddles provide a melody, along with a good dose of steel guitar and everything else needed for a “western swing” hit. But don’t get Strait wrong. He admits that he loves to hear carolers sing and watch the people on the go — traveling or shopping — while the kids’ faces are aglow in anticipation of the big day. Throw in an amusing moment when Grandpa chases Grandma, trying to get her under the mistletoe, and in Strait’s words, “Everything is right; the lone star’s shining bright.” Before he ends “When it’s Christmas Time in Texas,” George Strait even throws in a round of “Frosty the Snowman,” in particular the lines most appropriate in Texas — Frosty knew the “sun was hot that day, so he said, ‘Let’s run and have some fun before I melt away.’” In closing, not only does Strait offer listeners a Merry Christmas, but he also makes sure to speak on behalf of all Texans. If “When it’s Christmas Time in Texas” doesn’t get your toe tapping, you don’t have to look far to find another George Strait song to get you in the mood for the holiday. The title track of the album, “Merry Christmas Strait to You,” is performed in Strait’s favorite style — western swing, and he offers plenty of references to his first five years of hits to take you back to the days when he arguably produced his finest music. Snippets of the lyrics to “Merry Christmas Strait to You” and the references to hit songs include (just to name a few): I hope it cheers you up when you are down and feeling blue (“Am I Blue?”); Right or wrong, I’ll sing my song … (“Right or Wrong”); Without a doubt, the fire’s not out … (“The Fireman”); and You’ve been so kind; you’ve crossed my mind, and nothing less will do … (“Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind?”). For good measure, the then-still-young Strait takes a line to do some marketing and offers an invitation to the millions of fans who had yet to jump aboard his tour bus in 1986. “Here comes a Merry Christmas, and to all who might have missed us, a very Merry Christmas Strait to You.” While most any country singer with even a bit of staying power eventually records a Christmas album, Strait stands a cut above most. Then again, what would you expect from a singer whose commercial career is entering its fifth decade? Of Strait’s 52 albums, seven are devoted to Christmas music. If you’re cipherin’, that’s over 13% of one singer’s albums focusing on the holiday. Even for the man who has had more No. 1 hits than any performer in any genre (yes, more than Elvis or The Beatles), Strait’s focus on Christmas music shows a holiday spirit few others have exceeded. So, until next time, wherever your traveling, I hope you find the roads as clear that those around San Antone. If not, pull up some George Strait Christmas music. That western swing will generate enough heat to thaw even the coldest highway.

Efforts to clear debris from Kentucky roads underway

The Trucker News Staff - December 14, 2021

MADISONVILLE, Ky. — Several roadways in tornado-hit western Kentucky are still being cleared. According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), crews are working to clear highways across 11 counties. Roads that are still impassable include: In Hopkins County, US 41 between Mortons Gap and Earlington In Caldwell County, KY 293 and KY 278 near the UK Agriculture Research Center east of Princeton In Christian County, US 41 inside Pembroke city limits All other routes are passable but may still be covered in debris–possibly including fallen power lines. KYTC recommends that motorists avoid these areas due to potential hazards and the need for relief efforts to have access. Meanwhile, workers, volunteers and members of the National Guard fanned out in areas of Kentucky slammed by a series of tornadoes to begin the long process of recovery, including replacing thousands of damaged utility poles, delivering bottles of drinking water and continuing to search for the dead. The tornado outbreak Friday that killed at least 88 people in five states — 74 of them in Kentucky — cut a path of devastation that stretched from Arkansas, where a nursing home was destroyed, to Illinois, where an Amazon distribution center was heavily damaged. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said the death toll could grow as authorities continued to work around debris that slowed recovery efforts. Nearly 450 National Guard members have been mobilized in the state, and 95 of them are searching for those presumed dead. “With this amount of damage and rubble, it may be a week or even more before we have a final count on the number of lost lives,” the governor said. According to the Associated Press, Kentucky authorities said the sheer level of destruction was hindering their ability to tally the damage. Still, efforts turned to repairing the power grid, sheltering those whose homes were destroyed and delivering supplies. Across the state, nearly 25,000 homes and businesses were without electricity on Tuesday, down slightly from the day before, according to poweroutage.us. More than 10,000 homes and businesses had no water as of Monday, and another 17,000 are under boil-water advisories, Kentucky Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett told reporters. A fund set up by the state collected $6 million in donations, according to the governor. Kentucky First Lady Britainy Beshear launched a Christmas toy drive for children affected by the storm. She is asking for unwrapped toys, books, and gift cards of $25 that will be distributed to families in need. State and local officials said it could take years for some of the hardest-hit areas to fully recover. “This again is not going to be a week or a month operation, folks. This will go on for years to come. This is a massive event,” Dossett said. Five twisters hit Kentucky in all, including one with an extraordinarily long path of about 200 miles (320 kilometers), authorities said. In addition to the deaths in Kentucky, the tornadoes also killed at least six people in Illinois, where the Amazon distribution center in Edwardsville was hit; four in Tennessee; two in Arkansas, where the nursing home was destroyed and the governor said workers shielded residents with their own bodies; and two in Missouri. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Monday that it has opened an investigation into the collapse of the Amazon warehouse in Illinois. Mayfield, home to 10,000, suffered some of the worst damage. Debris from destroyed buildings and shredded trees covered the ground in the city. Twisted sheet metal, downed power lines and wrecked vehicles lined the streets. Windows were blown out and roofs torn off the buildings that were still standing. Not far from Mayfield, a church serving as a shelter in Wingo said it expected to host more than 100 people Monday night. Glynda Glover, 82, said she had no idea how long she would stay at the Wingo shelter: Her apartment is uninhabitable since the wind blew out the windows and covered her bed in glass and asphalt. “I’ll stay here until we get back to whatever normal is,” she said, “and I don’t know what normal is anymore.” On the outskirts of Dawson Springs, another town devastated by the storms, homes were reduced to rubble and trees toppled, littering the landscape for a span of at least a mile. Jack Whitfield Jr., the Hopkins County judge-executive, estimated that more than 60% of the town, including hundreds of homes, was “beyond repair.” “A full recovering is going to take years,” he said. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Truckers helping those in need after devastating storms

The Trucker News Staff - December 13, 2021

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Indiana owner-operator Daniel Koors, along with a group of other truckers, is set up at the Lexington Walmart with a dry van trailer taking donations for those affected by the weekend tornadoes, which destroyed many communities, including Mayfield, Kentucky. Koors said that the outpouring of support has been overwhelming. He said he and others will deliver the truck, along with cash donations, to the hardest-hit areas in Kentucky. To keep track of their progress, visit the Disrespected Truckers Facebook page by clicking here. The donation truck will be at the Lexington Walmart at 2350 Grey Lag Way until late Monday, Koors said. To those who wish to give a monetary donation, the group accepts funds through Venmo (@tornadoreleif), CashApp ($brownsfan2022) or Zelle ([email protected]). Additionally, anyone who wants to buy items, such as water, coats, shoes, clothing, blankets, baby wipes, diapers, feminine products, underwear, socks, deodorant and non-perishable foods, on the Walmart website can set the pickup person as James Toller at the Lexington Walmart located at the above address. Koors said that cash will most likely go toward helping those affected by the storms pay for hotel rooms.

Commercial driver restrictions temporarily lifted as part of tornado relief

The Trucker News Staff - December 13, 2021

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Transportation Secretary Jim Gray has signed an official order temporarily suspending certain restrictions on motor carriers engaged in restoring power, clearing debris and delivering fuel to areas stricken by tornados and other severe weather that began Dec. 10. “Our cabinet is ready to help ensure that needed relief gets quickly to areas that have lost electric power and otherwise are experiencing hardships due to the outbreak of tornados, high winds and flash flooding cited in the emergency declared by Gov. Andy Beshear,” Gray said. The order is effective through 12:01 a.m. Eastern on Jan. 14, 2022, and may be extended, if needed. It temporarily relieves commercial drivers from maximum driving times and weigh station stops if providing response to affected areas. In addition, the order authorizes the Transportation Cabinet’s Department of Vehicle Regulation to waive permit fees for overweight/over-dimensional vehicles. To ensure the safety of the traveling public, carriers must comply with safety requirements and have a copy of the order in the truck cab if operating under the authority of the official order.

Certain Diamler trucks being recalled over tire/rim issues

The Trucker News Staff - December 10, 2021

WASHINGTON — Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is recalling several tractor models due to tire and rim noncompliance. According to a news release from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the tractors involved are: 2011-22 Freightliner SD 108; Freightliner SD 114; 2016 Freightliner Coronado; 2011-22; Western Star 4900; Western Star 6900; 2013-22 Western Star 4700; and 2022 49X vehicles. The tires and rims are not approved and rated for these vehicles from the Tire and Rim Association or tire manufacturer, the news release states. “As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard,” according to the news release. “Unapproved tires that are not rated for the vehicle can cause tire performance issues, increasing the risk of a crash.” The remedy is currently under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Jan. 15, 2022. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at (800) 547-0712. DTNA’s number for this recall FL-908.

CAT Scale Rig of the Week | Darren Stafford

Cody Graves - December 9, 2021

This week’s CAT Scale Rig of the Week is a fully customized ride that looks sweet and delivers tasty treats all around the East Coast. This 2001 Peterbilt 379 was purchased by Darren “Pac-Man” Stafford in 2016. Since then, he’s added almost everything new. He started off by changing the bunker to a blind mount with 35.75 dual revolution lights. He has also put on a big hood conversion to take the slope out of the hood, and a full 7-inch Lincoln exhaust. On the inside, he made everything black and red to match his Pac-Man name and logo. This includes the dash panels, steering wheel, shift knob and custom speaker covers. He also added subwoofers and a powerful speaker system. The truck is powered by a crate 6NZ Caterpillar engine that produces 750 hp that is paired with a 13-speed Eaton transmission. Darren primarily hauls liquid sugar through contract, and occasionally watermelons and potatoes between Maryland and North Carolina. Darren grew up around trucking but only got his CDL about five years ago. Do you use the CAT Scale app and have a rig you’d like us to feature as the CAT Scale Rig of the Week? Send photos to [email protected].

Auburn hopes to set standard in transportation research

The Trucker News Staff - December 7, 2021

AUBURN, Ala. — Mentioning the words Auburn University might conjure up visions of a football powerhouse and the school’s former all-star quarterback, Cam Newton. But what about transportation research? That’s what many at the Alabama university are working on in hopes of making the nation’s infrastructure more sound in the decades to come. In early 2021, Auburn University established the Transportation Research Institute (AUTRI) to meld together transportation-related research and educational programs at the school. “Thanks to the reputation of the units under AUTRI’s umbrella, extramural funding for transportation is greater than any other single area within Auburn’s research footprint and totaled more than $24 million in fiscal year 2020,” a university news release states. These units include the National Center for Asphalt Technology and its affiliated asphalt test track, the Highway Research Center, the Alabama Transportation Assistance Program and the GPS and Vehicle Dynamics Laboratory, just to name a few. “Auburn’s transportation programs need to remain in the forefront of innovation and competitiveness through the 21st century,” said Jim Weyhenmeyer, Auburn’s vice president for research and economic development. “This institute will be the vehicle to do that.” Behind the wheel is Larry Rilett, one of the nation’s foremost transportation thought leaders, who previously served as a distinguished professor of civil engineering and the Keith W. Klaasmeyer Chair in Engineering and Technology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, as well as director of the Mid-America Transportation Center and the Nebraska Transportation Center. Rilett, who serves as AUTRI director and also holds the Ginn Distinguished Professorship in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, has been a principal investigator or co-principal investigator on more than 50 research projects pertaining to intelligent transportation systems applications and large-scale transportation system modeling. He has authored or co-authored more than 250 journal articles, conference papers and technical reports. Rilett is the current president of the Council of University Transportation Centers. “I am a big believer in multidisciplinary research,” Rilett said. “Bringing all of Auburn University’s transportation and infrastructure-related research teams under one roof will position us to solve the complex challenges facing our nation’s multimodal transportation system and to educate the next generation of transportation professionals.” Auburn has hosted the annual Alabama Transportation Conference every year since 1958, but its research and education in transportation engineering dates back nearly 150 years to the inception of Auburn’s Department of Civil Engineering. In 1985, the university launched the Highway Research Center, which has saved Alabama taxpayers countless millions in road and bridge construction and maintenance costs through development of and guidance for the application of high-performance concrete in bridges, new designs for upgrading the structural capacity of steel girder bridges, new bridge load rating methods, new bridge foundation designs and construction guidelines, new sonic testing methods and scour screening tools for bridge foundations and new procedures to apply fiber-reinforced polymers in repairs of Alabama bridges. In 1986, in partnership with the National Asphalt Pavement Association Research and Education Foundation, Auburn created the National Center for Asphalt Technology, or NCAT, which provides the most comprehensive asphalt pavement research in the United States. Attracting millions of dollars in annual research funding across the country, NCAT is home to the nation’s premier, full-scale asphalt testing center and a 1.7-mile oval test track that has seen nearly 10 million miles of heavy traffic. The Alabama Transportation Assistance Program combines the resources of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Alabama Department of Transportation and Auburn University to bring the newest technological developments to state and local public works agencies in Alabama. In 2001, Auburn’s Department of Mechanical Engineering created the GPS and Vehicle Dynamics Laboratory, which has earned an international reputation for research into vehicle dynamics and transportation, as well as autonomous and unmanned vehicles. The lab consistently secures funding of approximately $5 million per year, and its research sponsors include manufacturers of automotive, industrial, agricultural, forest and construction equipment. A significant portion of its research is sponsored by the Department of Defense and provides a variety of engineering solutions for positioning, navigation and timing across all branches of the military. From advanced roadway design and aviation systems to next-generation vehicles and transportation-related logistics, all aspects of Auburn University’s rich history of excellence in transportation and infrastructure research will be strengthened through AUTRI. “Our nation faces a grand challenge in the design and implementation of the next-generation transportation infrastructure,” said Auburn Engineering Dean Christopher B. Roberts. “While Auburn engineers are already well known for their contributions to our nation’s transportation systems and infrastructure, the Auburn University Transportation Research Institute will heighten our stature as a powerful force in transportation research and education, while also strengthening our ability to address this critical national challenge.”

National tree lit in D.C. after haul from California

The Trucker News Staff - December 6, 2021

WASHINGTON — After a cross-country haul by a Kenworth T680 Next Gen from System Transport, the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree was lit on Dec. 1. The 84-foot white fir hails from the Six Rivers National Forest in California. System used six different drivers throughout the 4,000-mile journey. Watch the full ceremony below.

NYC to impose vaccine mandate on trucking, other private employers

The Associated Press - December 6, 2021

NEW YORK — New York City employers will have to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for their workers under new rules announced Monday by Mayor Bill de Blasio. The vaccine mandate for private businesses, including trucking firms, will take effect Dec. 27 and is aimed at preventing a spike in COVID-19 infections during the holiday season and the colder months, the Democratic mayor said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “We in New York City have decided to use a preemptive strike to really do something bold to stop the further growth of COVID and the dangers it’s causing to all of us,” de Blasio said. “All private-sector employers in New York City will be covered by this vaccine mandate as of Dec. 27.” Meanwhile, many in the trucking industry are suing the U.S. government over President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate. Vaccinations are already required for hospital and nursing home workers and city employees including teachers, police officers and firefighters. A vaccination mandate for employees of private and religious schools was announced last week. The city was moving to impose the mandate on private sector businesses even as federal courts have temporarily blocked an attempt by President Joe Biden to do the same nationally for larger companies. De Blasio said he expects the new mandate to survive any legal challenges. A spokesperson for the mayor said the private sector mandate will apply to roughly 184,000 businesses. Current New York City COVID-19 rules also include at least one vaccine dose for indoor restaurant dining, entertainment venues and fitness centers. Under new mandates for indoor dining, entertainment and gyms, two shots will be required for people over 12. One shot will be required for children aged 5 to 11, who are not covered by the current mandate, de Blasio said. De Blasio, who will leave office at the end of the month and has indicated he may seek the Democratic nomination for governor of New York next year, has sought to portray himself as a national leader in the fight against COVID-19. Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin of Long Island, who is seeking the GOP nomination for governor, called the newly announced vaccine requirement a “job killing, small business-suppressing mandate.” “When you dangerously combine a far-left, lame duck politician, who is anti-business, one-dimensional, unaccountable, not bright and has a perpetual ‘I always know best’ attitude,’ you get Bill de Blasio, the Worst Mayor in America,” Zeldin said in a statement.

Annual trucking trends report shows impact of pandemic on industry

The Trucker News Staff - December 3, 2021

ARLINGTON, Va. – The amount of freight truckers moved in 2020 fell to 10.23 billion tons from 11.84 tons in 2019, primarily due to the pandemic. These statistics are from the latest edition of the American Trucking Associations’ American Trucking Trends. “We knew that the pandemic had a significant impact on our industry, but this year’s Trends shows that despite those challenges, the trucking industry remained our nation’s lifeline – delivering the life-saving and life-sustaining essentials our country needed in a time of great need,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “Trends is an indispensable resource for anyone looking to understand the trucking industry.” Among the findings in trends: In 2020, trucks moved 10.23 billion tons of freight – down from 11.84 billion tons the previous year. The industry collected 80.4% of the nation’s freight bill, unchanged from the previous year, while generating $732.3 billion. Trucking employed 7.65 million people in industry-related jobs, including 3.36 million professional truck drivers. Women made up 7.8% of the nation’s drivers – an all-time high – and minorities account for 42.3% of truck drivers. Trucking remains a small business industry: 91.5% of fleets operate six or fewer trucks, and 97.4% operate less than 20. Trucks moved 70.9% of the value of surface trade between the U.S. and Canada and 83.8% of cross-border trade with Mexico, for a total of $695 billion worth of goods. “Having good data is a prerequisite to making good decisions – and year in and year out, Trends provides the kind of up-to-date, accurate data about the industry that decision makers need,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “That data is why Trends is found on the desks of countless elected officials, regulators and industry executives across the country.”

Trucking tunes make Christmas on the road a little merrier

Kris Rutherford - December 1, 2021

If a country music artist has any staying power, chances are that before they record their first “greatest hits” album, they’ve turned out a collection of Christmas songs. Most often, the songs are a blend of traditional and contemporary sounds of the season — and it’s likely an original song or two is included for good measure. On rare occasions, like the Oak Ridge Boys with “Thank God for Kids,” an original recording turns into a bona fide hit, but for the most part, artists tend to rehash the holiday classics that have been enjoyed for generations. When it comes to trucking songs, you won’t find many classics emerging from the early 20th century. Likewise, you won’t find many “trucking song” artists who recorded an entire album of what, for the most part, was original material. Sure, a few artists who sang trucking songs might have recorded some Christmas songs along the way, but an album devoted to truck driving in the holidays is a rarity. It only makes sense. Any such album would be marketed to truckers, and back in the day, most trucks were not equipped with a turntable. Those clunky 8-track tapes that emerged in the early 1970s made music portable for truck drivers, but even then, drivers were better served by radio stations that played traditional Christmas music. When we talk about Christmas albums for the truck driver, the discussion begins and ends with Red Simpson, one of the ’60s and ’70s most prolific trucking music artists. Perhaps best known for his novelty song, “I’m a Truck,” the singer brings a bit of humor to his album filled with trucking songs, most written either by himself or members of his band. And because Simpson was based on the West Coast, a healthy dose of the Bakersfield sound backs the lyrics, some of which are spoken, while others are sung. Simpson’s 1973 album, “Trucking Christmas,” is just what the doctor ordered for drivers who find themselves on the road during the holidays. Despite the album’s age (it’s been nearly 50 years since it was released) the themes Simpson offers in those 10 songs are still felt by drivers today. Likewise, with some upbeat Bakersfield Christmas sound, Simpson stays true to his roots. To kick off the album, Simpson recorded “Trucking Trees for Christmas,” featuring traditional but upbeat Christmas music in the background. Simpson takes the singing route on this song as opposed to his frequent narration, telling about singing “Jingle Bells” on his way as he delivers Christmas trees in a truck decorated for the season — a tradition many drivers started in the heyday of trucking music. Who hasn’t felt a warm glow when seeing a Christmas wreath on the grill of an 18-wheeler? In a song blending the Bakersfield sound with a honkytonk piano, Simpson next serves up “Santa’s Coming in a Big Ol’ Rig.” The song, Simpson tells us, is for all the kids on the West Coast who seldom see snow on Christmas and wonder how Santa’s sleigh will arrive. No worries, Simpson, tells them because Santa is coming in a big ol’ truck pulled by 18 wheels. The reindeer get to rest on this leg of Santa’s trip around the world. In true Santa fashion, we hear him yelling, “On Jimmy, on Kenworth, on Mack, and Peterbilt” as the song fades. “The Old Christmas Truck” is a song of sorrow with a happy ending. With “Silent Night” providing soft background music, Simpson speaks of a year when the road to an orphanage is impassable. A town normally keeps the home stocked with the greatest of Christmas gifts, but the ice means there will be no delivery on this Christmas Eve. But along comes a hobo — fortunately a former truck driver — who agrees to battle the ice to the top of the mountain. After he arrives, he suddenly disappears, leaving the kids to wonder if that hobo may have been a certain jolly old elf in disguise. On the cover of “Trucking Christmas,” Red Simpson is pictured with two blond girls — perhaps his own daughters or granddaughters. And, of course, toy trucks — including a Tonka car carrier trailer — surround them. The picture inspired two instrumental songs written by Simpson and his band members. One, “Little Toy Trucks,” is heavy on the Bakersfield sound, providing a driving trucking beat using the telechord guitar, organ, xylophone and other instruments. The tune, not to be outdone by another instrumental, “Christmas Wheels,” proves the versatility of a sound made famous by Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and other performers from California. Of course, a Christmas album for truckers just wouldn’t be honest if it didn’t address the lonely road ahead of drivers during the holidays. “Blue, Blue Christmas” serves as Simpson’s take on a traditional song, with words rewritten for truck drivers. It tells of the loneliness of a driver who knows his kids are home without him on Christmas Day. “Out on the Road for Christmas” is based on a similar theme. The trucker in the song says he has nowhere better to be during the holidays, and he’ll be singing “Jingle Bells” and “Noel” all day long to the beat of his truck tires on the pavement. Likewise, “Daddy Will Be Here for Christmas” offers a sad theme but ends with lyrics that will bring a smile to the face of the most hardened truckers. Finally, in what Simpson says is the only non-trucking song on the album, he honors the U.S. Marine Corps with “Toys for Tots.” In addition to showcasing the decades-old toy drive, organized by the Marines for needy children, the song also encourages people to donate a toy or two to the cause. “Trucking Christmas” may not be the greatest Christmas album ever recorded — but when it comes to one with a trucking theme, it certainly ranks near the top. Even more impressive is that the album is not merely a compilation of songs by various artists, but original tunes sung by a legend of trucking music. As Christmas approaches, may your days be merry — and make them even merrier by taking some advice from Simpson. Donate a toy to Toys for Tots or a similar program. You’ll be glad you did, and it’ll make Christmas a little merrier for the kids and yourself.

Holiday cargo: Drivers who transported the 2021 US Capitol Christmas Tree describe ‘trip of a lifetime’

The Trucker News Staff - November 30, 2021

WASHINGTON — On Oct. 24, the 2021 Capitol Christmas Tree was harvested from California’s Six Rivers National Forest and began a four-week journey from the West Coast to Washington, D.C. Popularly known as “The People’s Tree,” the stately evergreen displayed on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building is selected from a different national forest. This year’s tree, an 84-foot white fir, made 17 tour stops along a 4,000-mile trek across the nation before arriving in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 19. System Transport, headquartered in Cheney, Washington, was tasked with transporting the tree using a new Kenworth T680 Next Gen. For the six-member team of System Transport drivers selected to ensure the tree arrived safely to its destination, the trip was the experience of a lifetime. Members of the team include Jeremy Bellinger, William (Bill) Brunk, Mike English, Terry Jefferson, Robert E. Lee and John Schnell Jr, a driver for James J. Williams Transport, a sister company of System Transport. “Christmas has always been such a special holiday to me and my family, so to spread the holiday cheer throughout the country was truly an honor,” said Bellinger, who has driven 3 million miles over the course of his 21-year career with System Transport. “I’ve been involved in transporting equipment to British Columbia for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and have hauled utility poles in response to wildfires in California, but being one of the drivers responsible for transporting the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is truly the highlight of my career,” he noted. System Transport selected Jefferson, along with Lee, a yard manager and former company driver, to transport the tree from the harvesting site through U.S. Forest Service roads. The other four drivers divided the remainder of the journey. According to Schnell, who split time driving the Kenworth T680 Next Gen with fellow driver English from Sacramento, California, to Tulsa, Oklahoma, said the holiday spirit was on full display at the tour stops during their leg of the tour. “The turnout at the tour stops, especially in small towns, was really something. To bring the holiday spirit to each of the stops and see so many people come out to participate in the celebrations was special,” Schnell said. “I’ve known about this tour for quite some time but never imagined I’d be one of the drivers involved. To have the opportunity to transport the Capitol Christmas Tree is something I’m proud of and is an experience I’ll always remember.” Transporting “The People’s Tree” was the first time each of the six drivers had a chance to sit behind the wheel of a Kenworth T680 Next Gen. According to English, who drives a Kenworth T680 classic for System Transport, the technology inside the T680 Next Gen is what initially caught his attention when he stepped inside the cab for the first time. “The new electronics, like the (15-inch) digital display, was something I grew fond of once I learned how to adjust the gauge settings to show the ones I wanted to appear on the screen,” he said. “The Next Gen offers a comfortable and enjoyable ride and is a step above the T680 that I drive regularly for System Transport.” With prior experience hauling windmill blades and utility poles for System Transport, the drivers were prepared heading into the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour to handle the challenges of hauling a more than 100-foot long trailer. “It was difficult at times navigating some of the narrow streets along tour stops, but we all have plenty of experience hauling oversized equipment for System (Transport), so we were ready for it,” Schnell said. Bellinger, who drove the last day of the tour and was responsible for delivering the tree to the U.S. Capitol, said he worked out a deal with Brunk for the opportunity. Bellinger and Brunk were responsible for hauling the tree from the tour’s first stop in Crescent City, California, to Sacramento, and again from Tulsa to Washington, D.C. “I have some family in D.C., and planned on flying my family out from Washington (state) to see us deliver the tree to the Capitol, so I wanted to be the one behind the wheel when the tree arrived,” Bellinger explained. “The deal was, if I got to drive the truck to the Capitol, Bill (Brunk) would drive the truck over the Golden Gate Bridge. It was a win-win. It was an incredible experience to be involved in this tour and celebrate the holiday season with my family at the end of it.” A lighting ceremony is planned for Dec. 1 on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington.

Road improvements set to begin in Indianapolis area

The Trucker News Staff - November 30, 2021

INDIANAPOLIS — As part of Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb’s Next Level Roads program, the Clear Path 465 project will improve safety and traffic flow on Interstate 465 and Interstate 69 where they connect on the northeast side of Indianapolis, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT). INDOT has divided the multi-year project into two construction contracts, with work expected to begin in 2022 on the first project to rebuild and add lanes to 4.5 miles of I-465 between the White River, just west of Allisonville Road, and Fall Creek. The Clear Path 465 project will be built in multiple phases to keep I-465 and I-69 open to traffic, and INDOT is coordinating with other state and local projects in the region. Traffic shifts will be used to help maintain the existing number of I-465 lanes during the day. During some construction phases, the left lane of northbound and westbound I-465 will cross the median as an express lane for cars only, with no exits in the work zone. The right lane of eastbound I-465 will also be converted to an exit-only lane at I-69 and Binford Boulevard. Three multi-year ramp closures needed to keep I-465 traffic moving during construction are expected to begin in spring of 2022: The Allisonville Road on-ramp to eastbound I-465; The Shadeland Avenue/56th Street on-ramp to northbound I-465; and The Northbound Binford Boulevard on-ramp (loop ramp) to westbound I-465. Beginning in 2023, INDOT expects to begin work on about 1 mile of I-69 from 86th Street to I-465. This second construction contract will change how I-69 and Binford Boulevard connect with I-465 and 82nd Street. Interstate ramps between I-465 and I-69 will be transformed with high-speed, direct movements that improve safety by reducing traffic weaving and merging. Visit ClearPath465.com to view a virtual fly-through video of the future I-69 and Binford Boulevard interchange movements at I-465 and 82nd Street. INDOT has also announced a refurbishment of its website, ClearPath465.com, and the agency has updated its social media platforms.

West Virginia Turnpike tolls to increase next year

The Associated Press - November 24, 2021

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Tolls for commercial and private vehicle traffic on the West Virginia Turnpike will increase at the beginning of next year, officials said. The rate for big rigs will rise by 5% on Jan. 1, West Virginia Parkways Authority Executive Director Jeffrey Miller told a legislative committee. The E-Z Pass annual program will also see an increase from $25 annually to $26.50, Miller said. The increase will take cash tolls for passenger vehicles from $4.00 to $4.25 per toll plaza. The proposed fee schedule for the turnpike allows up to a 5 percent increase every three years, he said. Voters approved selling up to $1.6 billion in bonds to fund the Roads to Prosperity program in 2017 and the Parkways Authority has returned $595 million from tolls to the state to support projects for the 10 counties affected by the Turnpike, Miller said.