The Nation

GERMS 101: AN INTRODUCTION FOR TRUCK DRIVERS Robert Dudley, M.D., a physician in New Britain, Connecticut, told The Trucker, “Protecting yourself and others from the coronavirus is a matter of following the same recommendations to avoid any illness. Wash your hands. Use hand sanitizer. And, in the case of the coronavirus, avoid large crowds. Also, keep up with the latest from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).” You’re probably thinking, that’s all a doctor can say? He doesn’t have access to inside information or recommendations not yet official, but something the CDC might soon release? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Little information exists about specific measures one can take to prevent contracting or spreading the coronavirus. As of this writing, the best health officials have to offer is to follow the same guidelines recommended to avoid catching a cold or seasonal flu virus. But while most people recognize cold and flu viruses as illnesses everyone will occasionally have to fend off, the coronavirus is a new opponent. With the coronavirus lingering and the germs spreading it — in effect, under orders to infect as many living organisms as possible — increasing your deep-cleaning efforts is a wise move. After all, despite the advice we receive either from doctors or the media, as stated on ScienceAlert.com, “the coronavirus isn’t just like the flu.” The coronavirus versus the flu: How they differ According to ScienceAlert, while the coronavirus symptoms include the same aches and pains, sore throat, and fever that accompany the seasonal flu, the illnesses are quite different. First, while the flu is a widespread illness affecting tens of millions of Americans each year, only 0.01% of flu cases result in death. To date, worldwide statistics suggest the coronavirus mortality rate is as high as 3.5%. Some public-health officials suggest this rate is inflated, but they generally agree the coronavirus mortality rate will probably settle at approximately 1.0%. That means the odds of dying after contracting the coronavirus are 1 in 100 — as opposed to 1 in 1,000 with the flu. The age and health of people who test positive for the disease both play huge roles in mortality rates. In China, where the coronavirus pandemic began, a sample of 45,000 confirmed cases of the disease indicated death rates far higher among elderly individuals than the rest of the group studied. Officials reported that 14.8% of people age 80 and older who tested positive for the virus died as a direct result of virus-related conditions. In terms of serious but not necessarily fatal cases, 27% occurred in people over age 65, while 41% of victims were under age 50. Surprisingly few children have tested positive for the disease, and none have died to date, a statistical anomaly being studied in hopes that children have some sort of immunity that will help researchers develop a vaccination against the virus. While the public usually focuses on the death toll associated with any disease or illness, health officials say the danger of the coronavirus is more a matter of health systems becoming overwhelmed by cases requiring hospitalization and ventilators to support breathing. Hospitals in any city have a limited number of beds — and far fewer ventilators at their disposal. When discussing the level of contagiousness of the coronavirus as opposed to the flu, researchers estimate that each person testing positive for the flu interacts with numerous people, 1.3 of which will also contract the flu virus. To date, statistics for the coronavirus indicate that for every positive case, two to three additional people will likely test positive. In other words, the coronavirus is approximately twice as contagious as the flu. Of course, each year many Americans are vaccinated against the flu, but the vaccination is not guaranteed to be effective. Of those vaccinated, a sizable number come down with the flu despite their proactive steps. No vaccination is available to prevent the coronavirus, and depending on who you find credible, researchers suggest no effective vaccine will be available for at least 12 to 18 months. In the meantime, research trials have indicated that antiretroviral drugs may reduce the severity of some cases. Other experimental therapies are being studied, but the sample sizes are too small for researchers to draw conclusions. While some trials have shown promise, delivering antiretroviral drugs to serious cases, as well as some experimental therapies, their sample sizes are too small to roll out to the general population. Even if researchers suddenly announced a vaccine against the coronavirus, conducting widespread vaccinations would be a challenge. One researcher stated that the widely available seasonal flu vaccine is not provided to enough people to ensure what he refers to as “herd immunity.” Although the coronavirus is an entirely different microscopic animal than the flu virus, the two do share some similarities. As Dudley advised, the best way to protect yourself against either virus, at least at this time, is to practice good personal hygiene and limit interaction with other people. Frequent hand-washing, avoidance of shaking hands and making a conscious effort to avoid touching your face with what may be contaminated hands are all steps people can take to reduce their risk of contracting most contagious illnesses, including stomach viruses, more serious respiratory or gastro illnesses, and many others. Check back tomorrow for Part 3 of this series, “Information: an overweight load destined for anxiety,” click here.

PLOVER, Wis. — Women In Trucking has announced the finalists for its sixth annual Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award (DWLA). Sponsored by the Transportation Intermediaries Association and Truckstop.com, the award promotes the achievements of women employed in the North American transportation industry. Finalists for the 2020 DWLA award have demonstrated superior leadership within their company as well as with other professional, educational or philanthropic organizations. This year’s finalists are Monique DeVoe, RFX Inc.; Sue Spero, Carrier Services of Tennessee Inc.; and Tamara Stryker, CFI Logistics. DeVoe is the director of education and development at RFX, a third-party logistics company based in Quincy, Massachusetts. She began working at RFX in 2010 and has held positions ranging from receptionist to risk management. She now oversees recruiting, training, human resources and employee development. DeVoe is a TIA-Certified Transportation Broker and was part of the inaugural class of the TIA MBA in Supply Chain Logistics at William Loveland College from 2014 to 2016. She is honored to be able to help guide others into and within the industry. With a philanthropic heart, DeVoe also sets aside time and funds every September and December to help women who have struggled with homelessness to provide school supplies and holiday gifts for their children. By maintaining a balance between her work at RFX and her family life, with her husband and 2-year-old daughter, she also provides an excellent role model for women in the industry. Spero is the president of Carrier Services of Tennessee, a third-party logistics firm and has more than 46 years of experience in the full-truckload sector of the transportation industry. Under her direction, Carrier Services has been distinguished as one of the top 25 Women-Owned Businesses by the Nashville Business Journal every year since 2006. A Certified Transportation Broker through TIA, Spero is involved with the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), Delta Nu Alpha Transportation Fraternity (DNA), Volunteer Chapter 135 and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) with the Tennessee DOT. She has been an adjunct professor of International Business at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. Spero serves on the TIA Board of Directors as Political Actions Committee (PAC) chair, as well as vice chair of the TIA Foundation Board, promoting education in the third-party logistics arena. Stryker is the director of sales and marketing at CFI Logistics. A 28-year veteran in the logistics and transportation space, she is a trailblazer who has shaped the future of the industry and the professionals she mentors. She is an award-winning sales professional, entrepreneur and educator within her industry and is highly regarded by the customers she supports. Upon joining CFI Logistics, Stryker established the Dallas, Texas, branch office. Today, she develops CFI Logistics’ sales strategy and trains sales staff to exceed their goals — while at the same time being responsible for over $20 million in revenue during 2019. Stryker’s commitment to her team and servant-leadership has allowed her to build a team of logistics professionals who can attain success much like her own. Finalists for the DWLA were selected from a group of high-performing women representing third-party logistics, supply chain management and related functional disciplines. Members of the judging panel include Brent Hutto, chief relationship officer, Truckstop.com; Dr. Stephanie S. Ivey, associate dean for research and professor, Herff College of Engineering; Ellen Voie, president and CEO, WIT; and a TIA representative. The award highlights the crucial roles of leading women in the dynamic and influential field of commercial transportation and logistics, which encompasses logistics service providers as well as motor carriers. The winner of the 2020 award will be announced April 3 during the opening session of the TIA Capital Ideas Conference & Exhibition in Austin, Texas.

BOISE, Idaho — Companies that are responsible for checking the quality of Idaho’s road materials have altered the results of their asphalt tests thousands of times, government documents show. Those changes may have allowed contractors that repair and build Idaho’s highway infrastructure to get bonus payments when they should have been penalized for substandard work — or even forced to tear up the asphalt and replace it. For decades, Idaho has paid private contractors to repair and build the state’s vast system of highways, roads and bridges, the Idaho Statesman reported. They are trusted to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars and to ensure the state’s infrastructure is built to last and is safe for drivers. While roads are under construction, Idaho and other states require contractors to take samples of the asphalt they’re using and run it through a series of tests. Those tests determine whether the asphalt is high quality and the right kind of material for that road. Can it withstand the winter snow and ice in northern Idaho? Can it withstand all the drivers and truckers who travel Interstate 84 in southern Idaho? Front-line workers for several companies involved in road construction throughout Idaho were recorded in 2018 changing their test results before submitting the results to the state for payment, a Statesman analysis of government records found. A Statesman analysis of four highway projects completed in 2018 found that Idaho paid contractors about $8 million, including about $190,000 in bonuses, for asphalt whose test results were altered dozens or even hundreds of times. Internal documents from the Idaho Transportation Department said such changes may have allowed construction companies to receive more money than the asphalt was worth. For Idaho taxpayers, that would mean that more funds went to private contracting firms and less went to other projects, such as fixing potholes, strengthening highways and improving the state’s crumbling transportation network. Putting Idaho’s roads in private hands Since the late 1990s Idaho has relied on asphalt testing to help determine how much it pays highway construction firms. The state has largely trusted the private sector to run those asphalt tests — the contractors building the roads, and subcontractors who are allowed to work for the same companies they’re expected to keep honest. One retired state-transportation employee said he has long warned that conflicts of interest and Idaho’s shift to privatizing its road work is harmful, but that he hasn’t been taken seriously. A former private-sector employee raised alarm about the integrity of Idaho’s road construction nearly 20 years ago, and a subsequent investigation in 2002 found other employees with similar concerns. Idaho transportation officials have boasted that Idaho is a national leader in shifting to a system that has the private sector largely overseeing itself when it comes to road construction, allowing the state to cut back on its own transportation workforce. About 30 other states use a system like Idaho’s, according to ITD. Concerns about the system’s integrity are now the subject of a federal investigation. The investigation by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General and the FBI comes at a time when Idaho, like many other states, is struggling to pay for an increasing backlog of road-construction projects. The state is facing a projected $3.6 billion shortfall over the next 20 years. The Idaho Transportation Department on Jan. 31 asked the Idaho Legislature’s budget committee to approve a budget that includes $488 million for road construction. The concerns also come as Gov. Brad Little seeks to reduce government regulation in a state that has long touted itself as “business-friendly” when it comes to oversight. “When we reduce the friction on entrepreneurs and businesses, good-paying jobs follow,” Little said in December, announcing that Idaho had become the least-regulated state in the U.S. ‘Suspicious alterations’ in asphalt tests The Idaho Statesman, which began investigating this issue in December, obtained copies of emails, Excel workbooks, PowerPoint presentations and handwritten records through public-record requests to the Idaho Transportation Department. By cross-referencing records and analyzing the data, the Statesman found that several lab technicians changed their asphalt-test results, making multiple changes to a single result. Those changes can affect contractor pay. Affected projects include road construction along Interstate 84 in southern Idaho, along U.S. Route 12 in North Idaho, and on a busy stretch of Meridian Road. The Statesman found cases of disciplinary action taken against workers, employed to run complicated lab tests to determine the quality of pieces of asphalt, who altered test results. This isn’t a case of just one lab technician being recorded changing test results — or even several lab technicians at one company. Several employees at different companies submitted test results that contained “suspicious alterations,” according to government documents and analysis by the Idaho Statesman. The term “suspicious alterations” is used by researchers at Boise State University who are studying Idaho’s asphalt-testing data for ITD and refers to test results that have changed or cases in which changes can’t be explained as “plausible corrections.” There are legitimate or innocent reasons to change a test result, such as making a typo, entering a number in the wrong place or running a test a second time but using the same form. After excluding likely data-entry errors from their early tally last year, researchers still found nearly 2,000 “suspicious alterations.” These alterations don’t necessarily correspond with higher payment for contractors. In one set of asphalt tests that had many “suspicious alterations,” the contractor’s pay was docked for lower-than-desirable test results. Records obtained by the Statesman suggest that altered test results in 2018 weren’t isolated to the labs hired by contractors building the roads; they also bled into the state’s own oversight territory. The state is responsible for spot-checking road contractors’ work to make sure it meets quality standards. ITD often hires those “quality assurance” tests out to private labs — whose tests also had suspicious alterations. It is fairly common for state transportation departments in the U.S. to outsource quality-assurance tests, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Most of Idaho’s tests are performed by private contractors because the state cut back on resources it needed to run those tests in-house, said Bill Fogg, a senior technician who retired from ITD in 2016. “In my opinion, especially towards the end (of my career) there, and I flat told management there … ‘You guys have given the keys of the hen house right into the fox’s hands, because you privatized too much of this,’” Fogg told the Statesman in an interview in January. “I think there are good companies out there — don’t get me wrong — good private companies,” he said. “But I also think there’s (a culture of) ‘You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.’” Internal document: Idaho may have allowed ‘reject-level’ road work An internal Idaho Transportation Department document from fall 2018 explained how the test results were altered. Its title: “Impact of Changing Numbers.” The document shows that a private company — hired to test asphalt on a 2018 highway project in southern Idaho — had submitted test results with several changes. The document estimated how much the changes might have cost the state. Records obtained by the Statesman show that a lab technician on that project entered a test result for asphalt weight; then changed that result five times. Each change was time-stamped, without the technician’s knowledge. What began as 2,289.1 grams was reported as 2,291.2 grams about seven minutes later. The asphalt from that test went down on a stretch of Interstate 84 near Twin Falls. The altered numbers affected how much the state paid, according to the “Impact of Changing Numbers” document. Instead of docking the contractor $80,364 for subpar materials, the state gave the contractor a bonus of $11,320. The Statesman reached out to the company that did the test, Horrocks Engineers, to see if it could explain what happened. The Statesman also reached out to three other companies with altered test results, but they did not return calls. John Stone, an Idaho principal for Horrocks, said ITD had accused two of its technicians of submitting improper test results. He said Horrocks took the accusations seriously. “It’s a question about our integrity as a company,” he said in an interview. Stone said a dozen samples in question have since been retested with “reasonably” similar results to what was submitted to the state. He suggested the changes were due to technicians updating results tests were run — and the state giving them no guidance otherwise. “You may be weighing stuff, and that weight might be bouncing around a bit, and you might look at that scale and … 30 seconds later it might read within a couple grams difference, “Stone said. “There were times … our testers would look at the scale and they would determine, ‘Oh, that changed,’ and they would look at the computer and change the numbers they had entered previously.” The Statesman found differences between the paper records Horrocks kept for that test and the results it submitted to the state. “There were inconsistencies; there’s no doubt about it,” Stone said. But, he said, “the reporting procedure was never really defined; never has been.” The lab technician who ran those tests has since been suspended by the state from doing asphalt tests. He will get his certification back soon, Stone said. “We made a business decision not to challenge the suspension,” Stone said. He said a second technician was also temporarily suspended due to similar allegations. Asked whether he thinks there are problems with Idaho’s system, Stone said he could only speak on behalf of Horrocks, but, “I have no doubt that the tests that we reported were accurate.” ‘Impact of Changing Numbers’ The Idaho Transportation Department told the Statesman this month that the “Impact of Changing Numbers” document, based on the Horrocks test of I-84 asphalt, was a “draft” and “only for internal staff discussion and never presented outside the department.” The Statesman reviewed test records to independently confirm some of the information in the document. One important piece of data could not be confirmed. IDT at first agreed to arrange an interview between the Statesman and a department expert who could answer highly technical questions about this document and others, and about records they relied upon. But the department later changed its mind, declining multiple requests for a fact-checking interview. “The department is determined not to interfere with (the federal) investigation and believes that any additional discussion of the documents provided in the public records request could result in unintended consequences to the OIG investigation,” ITD said in a statement. “The department remains willing to discuss its ongoing efforts to strengthen and improve its quality-assurance/quality-control process for highway asphalt testing and acceptance. ITD will wait for the OIG to conclude its investigation before making any further statements related to the investigation.” Questions from the Statesman about the “Impact of Changing Numbers” document prompted ITD to review its findings, spokesman Vincent Trimboli said in an email, and that the review found “the draft document overstates the magnitude of difference” caused by altered test results. “While the document demonstrates that inconsistencies could have an impact, it should not be relied upon for quantifying the inconsistencies,” Trimboli said. The document suggested that altered test results would have increased the payment to the contractor by $91,684, for one piece of that project. Trimboli didn’t say how much of an overstatement that was. The batch analyzed in the document was one of 50 batches in that project. ITD ultimately paid the contractor about $9.4 million for the asphalt in that project, including a quality bonus of about $140,000, state records show. The document also warns that the state was paying bonuses to contractors for “quality material” but receiving “failing or near-failing material,” and that “reject-level material is being left on public roads.” Dave Kuisti, head of ITD’s division of engineering products and plans, cautioned against drawing that conclusion about the quality of the asphalt. The Statesman requested an interview with ITD Director Brian Ness. A spokesman instead provided a statement from Ness. “It is the core mission of Idaho Transportation Department to provide the safest roads, ensure mobility and support economic opportunity.” Ness said in the emailed statement. Ness said 91% of Idaho’s pavements are in good or fair condition, exceeding the state’s goal of 80%. “Idaho benefits from the highly skilled private contractors who build our highways in a competitive environment that promotes cost effectiveness and efficiency,” he said. “This innovative spirit and the willingness to continuously improve is reflected in the high quality, nationally recognized and award-winning services we provide to every user of Idaho’s transportation system.”

ATLANTA — Fit to Pass, a new fitness-coaching program developed by Espyr to support health and wellness for CDL drivers, is slated to sponsor The Fittest Driver strength competition at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky, later this month. Drivers will compete for prizes and the title of “Fittest Driver” by showing how many times they can “bench press” one end of a Michelin truck tire. Separate winners will be named for men and women drivers. There is no charge to enter the contest, which will begin at 1 p.m. March 26 and end at 2 p.m. March 28. Drivers can compete as many times as they like during the contest period. To learn about the competition and preregister, visit fittopass.com/fittest-driver-contest. The first 200 drivers to preregister will receive a Fit to Pass custom hat; all preregistrants will receive an e-book on conditioning by Bob Perry, “The Trucker Trainer.” Perry worked with Espyr to create the Fit to Pass coaching program, which is designed to help CDL drivers pass DOT recertification physical examinations. The year-round program intensifies during the 90-day period leading up to a driver’s recertification exam. “The CDL-driver lifestyle can be hard on drivers’ health, and if a driver is in jeopardy of losing his or her card, that can be devastating to them and their families,” said Rick Taweel, CEO at Espyr. “Fit to pass was created by drivers for drivers, and was designed to improve driver health and wellness while protecting their livelihoods by passing the DOT re-cert exam.”

OKLAHOMA CITY — Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores is now serving customers in Schuyler, Nebraska, thanks to a travel stop that opened Monday. The store, located off U.S. Highway 30, adds 60 jobs and 59 truck and 21 car parking spaces to Colfax County. “We’re excited to join the Schuyler community with the opening our seventh location in Nebraska,” said Tom Love, founder and executive chairman of Love’s. “Customers have another safe, clean and well-maintained location they can stop at to help get them back on the road quickly.” The location is open 24/7 and offer many amenities, including: More than 9,300 square feet Chester’s Chicken and Subway 59 truck parking spaces 21 car parking spaces Six diesel bays Six showers Laundry facilities Bean to cup gourmet coffee Brand-name snacks Fresh Kitchen concept Mobile to Go Zone with the latest electronics CAT scale Dog park In honor of the grand opening, Love’s will host a ribbon cutting ceremony and donate $2,000 to the Schuyler Enrichment Foundation.

WASHINGTON — A solution could be in sight for the nation’s truck-parking crisis. In a bipartisan effort today, U.S. Reps. Mike Bost, R-Ill., and Angie Craig, D-Minn., both members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, legislation to increase truck-parking capacity. H.R. 6104, the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, would dedicate $755 million to projects designed to increase truck-parking spaces so truck drivers can safely comply with hours-of-service regulations. The legislation proposes constructing new truck-parking facilities and converting existing weigh stations and rest areas to include functional parking spaces for truck drivers. Funding would be awarded on a competitive basis, and applicants would be required to submit detailed proposals to the U.S. Department of Transportation. “Right now, there is a lack of places for truck drivers to safely stop, forcing them to pull over to the side of the road, or continue driving, both of which are risky,” said Rep. Angie Craig. “That’s why I am proud to be working my colleague, Rep. Mike Bost from Illinois to increase truck parking spaces, increasing safety for folks transporting goods to and from Minnesota’s Second Congressional District.” Bost, who said he “grew up” in a family trucking business, is no stranger to the rewards and pitfalls of the industry. “I learned at early age what a rewarding career [trucking] could be,” said Bost. “However, I also understood that trucking can be a tough, demanding and even dangerous job. One concern for truck drivers is the lack of enough safe parking spots where they can get the rest they need without risking collisions on the shoulder of the highway or being forced to push their limits to find the next rest stop. This puts the truckers and other motorists as significant risk. That’s why I’m proud to lead this effort to create sufficient rest parking options for long-haul truckers.” H.R. 6104 is supported by numerous trucking-industry organizations, including American Trucking Associations (ATA), the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), the National Association of Small Trucking Companies and the National Motorists Association. “America’s truck drivers work every day to deliver goods to keep our economy moving safely and efficiently,” said Chris Spear, president and CEO of American Trucking Associations (ATA). “The government mandates drivers pull over and rest to comply with the hours-of-service rules; the least our government can do is work to ensure [the drivers] have a safe place to park to get the rest they need. “Reps. Bost and Craig recognize that in order to do their jobs, truck drivers need paces where they can safely park and rest … and we applaud them for their leadership in introducing this important legislation,” Spear continued. Congress and the Federal Highway Administration have tried to address the issue of commercial-truck parking with the enactment of Jason’s Law and the launching of the National Coalition of Truck Parking. Even so, nearly half of all truck drivers report being forced to park on the shoulders of highways or other unofficial, unsafe locations due to lack of parking. On average, the cost of looking for parking amounts to $5,500 in lost wages each year. “One of the persistent complaints our drivers have is that they struggle to find safe parking,” said Randy Guillot, ATA chairman and president of Triple G Express Inc., New Orleans. “This bill will provide the means to help address that concern.” The truck-parking shortage has garnered national media attention in recent days, with the shooting of a truck driver by a security guard at a travel stop in Oklahoma City during a dispute about a reserved parking spot. “After decades of ignoring the problem, Congress is finally getting serious about fixing the severe lack of truck parking across the country. Finding a safe place to park is something most people take for granted, but it’s a daily struggle for hundreds of thousands of truckers,” said Todd Spencer, president and CEO of OOIDA. “Congressman Bost and Congresswoman Craig have shown they not only understand truckers are experiencing a crisis, but have the mettle to address it through groundbreaking, bipartisan legislation.” David Heller, vice president of government affairs for TCA, said, “Truck parking consistently ranks as one of the most important issues for the Truckload Carriers Association and trucking stakeholders across the country. On a daily basis, our companies’ drivers face dangerous conditions due to the lack of safe and convenient parking options. TCA applauds Reps. Bost and Craig for their dedication to resolving this critical safety obstacle through this legislation, which will devote significant funding toward the development of suitable parking on our nation’s highways.” David Owen, president of the National Association of Small Trucking Companies, said, “The availability of truck parking has become so scarce that, in many parts of the country, it’s reached crisis levels. The scope of the problem is such that the solution must be multifaceted. The legislation sponsored by Reps. Bost and Craig represents an important part of the solution — grants dedicated to putting truck parking along federal roads.”

ALBANY, N.Y — Bestpass, a company that provides a comprehensive payment platform with a focus on toll management for commercial fleets, announced March 2 that it has launched a toll-by-plate solution as a supplement to its nationwide transponder-based toll coverage. “The rise of all-electronic tolling across the United States has led to an increase in unplanned toll-by-plate for commercial fleets,” said John Andrews, president and CEO of Bestpass. “By combining our traditional transponder-based coverage with this new toll-by-plate solution, we are able to provide an even more comprehensive toll-management program for our customers.” Bestpass toll-by-plate coverage includes both power unit and trailer license plates. It helps commercial fleets by consolidating nationwide coverage with tolling authorities and minimizing the impact of toll-by-plate transactions, which includes administrative fees and complications from delayed billing. In addition to administrative fees and delayed billing, each tolling authority has different business rules, and toll-by-plate can introduce significant complexity for fleets, including challenges related to trailer plates and leased equipment. Toll-by-plate also adds expense and increases processing time for tolling authorities. “Our toll-by-plate solution facilitates greater efficiency and less cost for both our customers and the toll-facility operators, creating a winning situation for all parties,” said Andrews.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has named Don Lewis and Kevin Kocmich as winners of its 2019 Driver of the Year contests. Lewis, who lives in Republic, Missouri, and drives for Wilson Logistics of Springfield, Missouri, was named Company Driver of the Year. Kocmich, who lives in Litchfield, Minnesota, and is leased to Diamond Transportation System of Racine, Wisconsin, was named Owner-Operator of the Year. Both drivers received a $25,000 cash prize. The winners were honored Tuesday night at the closing banquet of TCA’s annual convention. The annual contests, sponsored by Love’s Travel Stops of Oklahoma City and Cummins Inc. of Columbus, Indiana, recognize the top owner-operators and company drivers in the U.S. and Canada who provide reliable and safe truck transportation in moving the nation’s goods. In 1976, Lewis started his career as a professional truck driver and today has nearly 6 million accident-free miles, 2.6 million of those with Wilson Logistics. He has received numerous accolades and recognition, and gives back to not only his community, but takes pride in helping other drivers while out on the road, TCA officials said. “He has dedicated his life to the trucking industry over his four decades of service by remaining safe through 5.7 million miles, training new professional drivers and sacrificing his personal life to remain dedicated to trucking,” said Wilson Logistics’ President and CEO Darrel Wilson. “The simplest word to summarize who Don is as a professional driver and his career is ‘remarkable.’  Don’s personality, professionalism and commitment to safety is to be remarked upon as a true professional company driver.” Kocmich has been behind the wheel of a truck for more than three decades and has amassed more than 3 million accident-free miles. Aside from his list of accomplishments, he takes pride in being a mentor to new and potential owner-operators at the company, TCA said. “Kevin is always safe and courteous on the road; he takes the extra time to secure his loads properly, recheck the points of contact and properly measures and scales his loads,” said Diamond Transportation System President Jon Coca. “Not only is he both safe and provides the best service, he’s a great representative. We truly wish we could have 100 owner-operators just like Kevin.” “To be on this stage tonight, each driver has shown an unwavering focus on safety, professionalism, and leadership both on the road and in their local communities,” said Love’s Travel Stops Vice President of Sales Jon Archard. “These individuals are all intelligent small business owners, and they also help to keep our roads safe and environment clean. Our communities are all better due to their time and engagement,” said Cummins Vice President of Sales Amy Boerger said of the owner operator finalists. Each of the runners-up in both categories received checks for $2,500. Those include company drivers Robie Jensen of Fremont Contract Carriers and Randy Kuryk of Bison Transport, and owner-operators Jesse Dennis, leased to Prime Inc., and Robert and Tracy Roth, leased to Erb International Inc. To learn more about the contests or to nominate a deserving driver, visit www.truckload.org/DOY.                  

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — It was a lucky 13 for Bison Transport, which was named grand prize winner of the large carrier division of the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) Fleet Safety Award contest during the association’s 82 annual convention here. Bison Transport, which competed in the more than 25 million mile division, is located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The contest was a clean sweep for Canadian carriers as Erb International of New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada, was named grand prize winner in the less than 25 million mile division. Both carriers demonstrated that they had unrivaled safety programs and impeccable records over the last year. Erb International, Inc. is a two-time winner of the grand prize. Bison Transport is a 13-time grand prize winner and is receiving this award for the 10th consecutive year. Both companies, as well as all carriers which placed in the top three of their mileage-based divisions, will be recognized again during TCA’s Annual Safety & Security Meeting June 7-9, 2020, at the Louisville Marriott Downtown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. “TCA is honored to recognize Erb International and Bison Transport for their incredible safety achievements,” said TCA President John Lyboldt. “This year’s competition was full of great entries, showing that TCA’s members are truly industry leaders when it comes to safety. Erb and Bison are very deserving of the grand prize due to their commitment to spreading the safety message with their employees, the wider industry, and those with whom they share the roadways.” The application process for the awards began with fleets submitting their accident frequency ratio per million miles driven. The three carriers with the lowest ratios were identified as the winners for each of six mileage-based divisions. These carriers then underwent an audit by independent experts to ensure the accuracy of their results. TCA announced the names of the 18 division winners in January and invited them to submit further documentation about their overall safety programs, both on and off the highway, to be eligible for the Grand Prize. After review by a diverse industry panel of judges, the winning companies were deemed to have best demonstrated their commitment to improving safety on North America’s highways. For more information on the program, visit www.truckload.org/Fleet-Safety.

WASHINGTON — A bill has been proposed to name the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) headquarters, at 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, after William T. Coleman Jr. (1920-1917). Coleman, who was DOT Secretary from 1975 to 1977, was the first African-American to serve in the position. The William T. Coleman Jr. Department of Transportation Headquarters Act was introduced in late January by U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., chairman and ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, along with Sens. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Tom Carper, D-Del., chairman and ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Tim Scott, R-S.C., Kamala Harris, D-Calif., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa. “As an accomplished legal scholar, World War II veteran and civil rights leader, Mr. Coleman had already made his mark on history before being selected to serve as Secretary of Transportation,” said Wicker. “While at DOT, he provided a forward-looking vision for the future of transportation, spearheading the first comprehensive national transportation policy study and several important reform efforts,” continued Wicker. “Naming the DOT headquarters after Secretary Coleman would be a fitting tribute for this distinguished public servant.” Coleman, born in 1920 in Philadelphia, graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1946. He was an active supporter of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s, working with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund to foster racial equality. According to a tribute on the DOT website written by Richard F. Weingroff, Coleman, worked closely with attorney Thurgood Marshall — who later became the nation’s first African-American Supreme Court justice — on the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case, which proved racial segregation in schools to be unconstitutional. “William T. Coleman Jr. was one of Pennsylvania’s most distinguished sons, and his lifelong work promoting equality and fairness had a profound impact on our country,” said Toomey. Serving as the first African-American law clerk on the Supreme Court, the first African-American Secretary of Transportation and having co-authored the legal brief in Brown v. Board of Education to help desegregate public schools,  Coleman was a trailblazer,” continued Toomey. “His legacy is so impressive that former President Clinton rightly saw fit to award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It is entirely appropriate that the U.S. DOT headquarters be named after this great Philadelphian, said Toomey. Coleman died March 31, 2017 at the age of 96. “The work and service of the civil rights leader and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, William Thaddeus Coleman, is unknown to far too many Americans,” said Carper. “This measure will commemorate a man that Americans will now remember and honor for generations to come.”

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, one or more tornadoes ripped through central Tennessee, touching down in Nashville and damaging homes and businesses in at least eight counties. The Tennessee Department of Health has confirmed 22 deaths, and more than 200 people were hospitalized because of injuries sustained during the storm, according to a report on Weather.com. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has declared a state of emergency, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, and about 43,000 customers were still without power late Tuesday afternoon, according to Nashville Electric Service. The tragedy struck close to home for area truckers, as Nashville-based Western Express sustained heavy damage. A message posted on the company’s website, www.westernexp.com, asks that customers and drivers “be patient as we work through various communications, operating and administrative responses.” Western Express chairman and CEO Paul Wieck issued the following statement: “I’m extremely proud of our driving and nondriving associates for their proactive and positive responses to this event, and we are blessed that none of our people were injured.  My heart goes out to those affected in greater Nashville.  Our disaster-recovery plan is in effect.  Backup servers are operational, trucks are on the road delivering freight, our fuel network is functioning properly, our payroll is taken care of, and we have personnel at our outlying locations managing planning and dispatch.  We are extremely grateful for the expressions of support from colleagues, customers and key vendors, who have offered us freight, locations for shop and operations, and other support.  We are determined to serve our customers, our team, and the families who were affected.  Some buildings may be down, but Western Express is not.” Numerous local and national organizations are organizing relief efforts for those affected by the storms.