Trucking Life Archives

Erin Van Zeeland garners WIT’s Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award

The Trucker News Staff - April 20, 2023

ORLANDO, Fla. — The 2023 Women in Trucking Association (WIT) Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award has been given to Schneider’s Erin Van Zeeland. Truckstop and Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) were also award sponsors. Van Zeeland was chosen among three finalists for the award, according to a news release. The other finalists include Katerina Jones, chief marketing officer for Fleet Advantage, and Nanette Malebranche, managing director of the Tri-State District for FedEx Express. The finalists and winner were recognized during the TIA 2023 Capital Ideas Conference and Exhibition. “We’re pleased to recognize Erin with the honor of Distinguished Woman in Logistics,” said Jennifer Hedrick, president and CEO of WIT. “Throughout her career at Schneider, as well as in her volunteer work, she has shown exceptional talent, leadership, and mentorship of others – three of the key characteristics of this award.” Van Zeeland is accountable for the strategy, execution and growth/profitability of Schneider’s fastest growing division, which includes brokerage, supply chain and distribution management, as well as the power-only service offerings. Additionally, Van Zeeland is the company’s chief commercial officer. In this capacity, she is responsible for overall organizational strategy including activities relating to marketing, sales, sales force effectiveness, product development and services that drives business growth and expanded market share. “All three finalists are incredible leaders in the transportation community,” said Anne Reinke, president and CEO of TIA. “Van Zeeland’s dedication to bettering the industry is a true inspiration. She and the other finalists are outstanding role models for other women interested in the trucking sector.” Van Zeeland started her career at Schneider in 1993 and has subsequently held several leadership roles in a variety of positions with increasing responsibility for customer growth and business expansion throughout operations, tech, business transformation, human resources, enterprise/global customer engagement, and logistics. “Erin, Katerina, and Nanette truly embody the leadership qualities that the Distinguished Woman in Logistics recognition celebrates,” said Kendra Tucker, chief executive officer at Truckstop. “We congratulate Erin on this prestigious honor as she continues her commitment to bettering the freight transportation industry and her community.” Van Zeeland holds a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and an MBA from Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. She also received a Corporate Governance certificate from the Harvard Business School and was the recipient of Supply & Demand Chain Executive’s first-ever Women in Supply Chain Award. Van Zeeland currently serves on the board of directors for the United Way – Green Bay and the TIA. She also co-leads the Schneider Women’s Network and various other women in leadership and business programs. Members of the judging panel include Brent Hutto, chief relationship officer for Truckstop, Anne Reinke, president and CEO of TIA, Dr. Stephanie S. Ivey, associate dean for research and professor at Herff College of Engineering, Ellen Voie, founder of WIT, and Jennifer Hedrick, president and CEO of WIT.

Shell Rotella’s SuperRigs rolls into Wyoming for 1st time

The Trucker News Staff - April 10, 2023

GILLETTE, Wyo. — The 41st Shell Rotella SuperRigs competition will be hosted in Wyoming for the first time ever. The truck beauty contest will be held June 8-10 at CAM-PLEX in Gillette, according to a news release. The CAM-PLEX is located off Interstate 90 and encompasses more than 1,000 acres of land, featuring a theatre, a convention/exhibit hall, two multi-purpose pavilions, a racetrack, rodeo grounds, more than 1,700 RV sites and a 21-acre park and picnic area. “There are numerous events and activities being planned that will honor the hardworking spirit of truckers,” the news release stated. “SuperRigs contestants, their families and the community will be able to see some of the best-looking and hardest-working big rigs in North America, all while enjoying some family fun throughout the three-day event.” Shell Rotella SuperRigs competitors will compete for 24 awards, including Best Chrome, Best Lights and Best of Show. Hardworking owner/operator truckers from across the United States and Canada compete annually for more than $25,000 in cash and prizes. Twelve drivers will be selected to have their truck featured in the 2024 Shell Rotella SuperRigs Calendar, which will also feature views from the area surrounding Gillette area. There is no fee to enter SuperRigs, which is billed as a family-friendly weekend event. Highlights include: Contestant dinner. Truck lights competition. Fireworks. Truck parade. Musical entertainment. More information is available by clicking here.

Truck driver wages remain on the upswing

The Trucker News Staff - April 10, 2023

WASHINGTON — According to the National Transportation Institute’s (NTI) National Driver Wage Index, which measures on a quarter-sequential and annual basis the momentum of driver pay changes and tracks wages (mileage and hourly base pay) across segments, fleet type, region and driver job type, the pay scale has seen year-over-year growth for the past 13 years. “Wage momentum has never turned negative since the Great Recession,” the NTI report notes. “Starting in 2010, every year over the past 13 has seen growth in the wages fleets are paying professional drivers. That’s through the mini freight recession in 2016 and 2017, the economic upswing and capacity crunch in 2018, the correction cycle of 2019 and then the oscillating economic cycles of the COVID and post-COVID era.” A 2022 survey conducted by the American Trucking Associations (ATA), which included 185 fleets, more than 135,000 employee drivers and nearly 20,000 independent contractors, with data broken down by for-hire truckload carriers, less-than-load carriers and private fleets, showed that truckload drivers were paid an estimated median annual amount of $69,687 in 2021, including salaries and bonuses but not benefits. This figure reflects an 18% increase in annual compensation from ATA’s 2019 study and emphasizes the increase in demand for drivers in this sector. Independent contractors at Truckload carriers performing non-drayage activities were paid an estimated median annual amount of $235,000 in 2021. More than 90% of truckload respondents raised driver pay in 2021, offering an average increase of 10.9%. A total of 96% truckload carriers offered a referral bonus to employee drivers with a median value of $1,150 — which is $150 higher than the last ATA survey indicated. This was in conjunction with a $750 increase in the median sign-on bonus offered by 54% of truckload carriers. Less-than-truckload drivers who hauled fright over-the-road were paid an estimated median amount of $73,000 in 2021. Less-than-truckload employee drivers on local routes were paid an estimated median amount of $55,000 last year. Private carriers paid their employee drivers an estimated median amount of $85,000 in 2021, the same value reported in our 2019 study. Seventy-six percent of private carriers offered a referral bonus to employee drivers with a median amount of $1,150 — which is $250 higher than the last survey indicated. This was in conjunction with a $4,000 spike in the median sign-on bonus offered by 76% of private carriers.

David & Dana Walden may drive separate routes, but they always share life’s journey

Dwain Hebda - April 10, 2023

Between them, Georgia-based drivers David and Dana Walden have nearly 70 years of trucking experience, a stint that has taught them hundreds of life lessons and given them thousands of stories. Those stories mark important events in their lives — especially the one about the cellphone. In fact, without the cellphone story, many of the others would never have happened. “I had service with AT&T and I had an old Suncom phone,” David said. “I was having trouble with it. I called a friend of mine and I go, ‘Man, this phone of mine sucks. I’m fixin’ to throw it out the window, go get me a megaphone and yell out the window at people.’ He goes, ‘No, no, actually, I know this team couple, and she’s really good with electronics. And they’re close to where you are.’ “So I call them,” David continued. “This guy answers the phone and I go, ‘Hey, my name’s David and my friend told me your girlfriend is really good with electronics.’ He goes, ‘Oh man, she’s fantastic with electronics!’ I go, ‘You don’t know me from nobody, but could she look at my phone?’” That girlfriend turned out to be Dana, an Army veteran who loved trucking as much as David did. Over time, a friendship blossomed until one day Dana, who was now single, made David an offer he couldn’t refuse. “Dana calls me out of the blue one day and goes, ‘Hey, I’m here in Louisiana, fixin’ to go out to California with a load of ice cream. Where you at?’” he said. “I go, ‘Actually, I’m coming through Vicksburg, Mississippi.’ She said, ‘I’ll sit here and wait on you. We’ll go across there together.’ One thing leads to another … and here we are 20 years later.” The couple’s professional story mirrors their personal one in all the ways that are important — a lucky break here, a fortuitous bounce there, and the sheer dogged determination to see things through. David was introduced to trucking by his father, who drove for half a century. While his father is now deceased, his legacy lives on through his son’s love of the industry. “When I was growing up, Dad drove a company truck for one company for like, 30 years,” David said. Dana’s hands-on introduction to trucking didn’t come from a parent. It came from Uncle Sam, through her stint in the U.S. Army. During her hitch, the Iowa native served in Desert Storm and Desert Shield before starting her driving career in the civilian sector. For the past 15 years, she’s driven for Tarkett, based out of Dalton, Georgia, where she has a designated local run. “I got grandfathered in on CDL,” she said. “I never did have to go for that testing. I got home like a week before you had to start; I had one week to get my CDL without testing.” In 2001, David founded Walden Transport. Since then, he has built a successful business through the ups and down of the market and the many challenges that face all entrepreneurs. “When I got my truck in 2001, (Dad) said, ‘You realize you’re making a massive mistake. You always drive for somebody else. That way they’ve got to deal with the problems,’” David said. “I go, ‘Dad, I’ve been driving 14 years. I just want to try.’ “Six months later, he went and bought his own truck,” David continued. “I said, ‘Wait a minute old man. What happened to making a mistake?’ He goes, ‘Well, I’m 62. I might as well make my first mistake in life.’” As much as David enjoys being his own boss, he says that, looking back, he has to admit his father had a point. “That thing Dad put in the back of my head, ‘You’ve got to pay for the repairs,’” he said knowingly. “I had one truck for 10 years, and I put three motors in that truck. First one was $15,000. Next one was $18,000 and the third one was $21,000. “Dealing with repairs is your biggest fear in this business, that and now fuel,” he continued. “Last year, fuel just tore me up. Running to the West Coast or Northwest was costing me $6,000 to $7,000 to go there and back to Georgia. That’s a lot of money.” Dana, who first became captivated with driving as a child after seeing a garbage truck in her neighborhood, said experiencing the freedom of the road is the best thing about her long career. It’s also taught her a lot of life lessons, including one important one concerning team driving with her spouse. “We only drove together for a little bit,” she said with a big laugh. “I would choke him now if I had to ride with him.” David’s latest rig, a 2019 International LoneStar featuring an X15 Cummins engine and Fuller 10-speed transmission, is his pride and joy. “I always had Freightliners. My first was in 2001, my second one was in 2002; got another in 2012 and in 2015,” he said. “I was just ready for something different. I’m not a Peterbilt man at all and Dana goes, ‘Have you seen the [International] LoneStar?’ I go, ‘Yeah, I’ve seen them on the road.’ She goes, ‘It looks like a train.’ I go, ‘To me, it looks like a 1938 Ford in the front end.’” Driving a rig you like, as any driver will tell you, is the key to happiness in your work, especially given the amount of time David spends in his. He estimated he’s averaged 150,000 miles a year going back to his company days, and says he never ran harder than during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We hauled food boxes from Chattanooga all over the country,” he said. “We were running out West, picking up produce, coming right back to Georgia and the Carolinas and Florida. I’d say 2021 — I probably did almost 200,000 miles by myself that year. I was running my butt off.” David has grown older and wiser when it comes to his chosen profession. He’s an owner-operator in the strictest sense, serving as his company’s sole driver, not because the opportunity to expand isn’t there but because of the headaches that come with having to manage it. “I got friends that have four, five, six trucks and I see the crap they’ve got to go through,” he said. “I don’t want that two-in-the-morning, ‘Hey, I’ve run off the road. Hey, I’ve hit somebody. Hey, I need money for this. Hey, the truck’s tore up.’ To me, that would just be too much.” While the Waldens don’t travel as a team — they’re happiest following their own paths as drivers — as a couple, they always share the journey.

New survey shows that majority of owner-operators are satisfied with their jobs

The Trucker News Staff - April 6, 2023

BOISE, Idaho — A new Truckstop commissioned survey of 500 U.S.-based owner-operator truck drivers indicates that trucking professionals are increasingly satisfied with their profession even as they work through many critical, common challenges. Close to two-thirds (65%) of owner-operators surveyed are currently extremely satisfied with their job and more than half (57%) say they are much more satisfied now compared to in 2021, according to the report. In the past year, over three quarters (77%) of owner-operators surveyed have booked shorter routes due to rising costs impacting their business, while 72% have looked for lighter loads and 65% have booked fewer loads. “We recognize that owner-operators face a number of business challenges on a daily basis,” said Kendra Tucker, chief executive officer, Truckstop. “Truckstop is committed to continuing to develop and deliver technology solutions and services that empower freight professionals, so they can easily run their businesses from start to finish.” The survey also revealed that the most common things (from a closed list) owner-operators are doing to help improve their bottom line. These things include: Spending more time looking for more fuel-efficient routes (66%). Using more technology to help lower costs (66%). Doing more truck maintenance to guard against expensive repairs (65%). Joining more reward programs (to get discounts, cash back, free items, etc.) (60%). Using factoring (to improve cash flow) (51%). These were followed by almost half (47%) who say they are spending more time looking for cheaper fuel to help improve their bottom line and 45% who are taking on additional loads.

Down time doesn’t have to be boring if you take advantage of local tourism opportunities

Cliff Abbott - April 5, 2023

There’s a Navy recruiting slogan that’s often quoted with sarcasm: “Join the Navy and see the world.” After all, about 71% of the world is covered in water — and much of what isn’t is covered in ice or desert sand, or is in some other way inhospitable. What the sailor does see is often viewed from a distance, from the deck of a ship. A parallel in trucking is the invitation to become a “paid tourist.” Those who buy in to the hype quickly learn that the pavement and lines on an interstate highway look about the same in any part of the continent. Although the job occasionally provides great scenery or a windshield view of a tourist attraction, it rarely allows the time to explore and enjoy. Trucking does, however, occasionally provide time off for 34-hour restarts, delays for the next load, vehicle repairs and so on. Additionally, drivers can choose to take time off at locations other than their homes. Many carriers have passenger programs that allow drivers to bring along a spouse, other family member or friend at little to no cost. Drivers often prefer to use their time off to rest and catch up on laundry, grocery shopping and other activities. Some, however, choose take advantage of the travel that goes along with the job and use that time off to explore the surrounding area. The fact that lodging, however sparse, is right behind the driver seat and doesn’t cost extra is an added attraction. With a little planning — and some help from technology and the locals folks — drivers can often experience “mini-vacations” anywhere the job takes them. In some cases, they can even request loads that deliver near an area or attraction they’d like to see. Personal transportation is easier to find and arrange than ever before. Car rental companies often offer discounted rates and may even bring the car to the driver. Purchasing fuel for a rental car is much cheaper than for the work truck, and there’s no maintenance involved. Many urban areas have buses and trains that are inexpensive, and companies like Uber and Lyft make it easy to schedule rides using your phone. Drivers aren’t stuck at the truck stop all weekend, as they were in the past. Local newspapers and websites can help you find information about upcoming events in a specific area. You might be able to catch a movie, a concert or even a professional sporting event nearby. Numerous websites allow users to resell tickets they aren’t using, often at considerable discounts. Some communities have orchestras or theater groups that provide live entertainment at a reasonable cost. Many have “community announcement” sections on web pages or digital editions of newspapers. Want to get out of the truck to sleep and shower? Those options have grown as well. There are apps that help locate available rooms, provide information and even arrange payment. These days, however, there are other options, such as “bed and breakfast” offerings and rental of rooms or whole houses through services like Air BnB and Vrbo. Campgrounds are another option. Some will allow drivers to use their truck as a camper; some provide cabins or lodges. Campgrounds can be part of state or national parks or privately owned. Most provide electricity and water, and many have bathhouses and laundry facilities. Some provide rental of boats, bicycles and other items to fill your recreational desires. “Glamping” businesses take camping further, providing tents, cabins, teepees or yurts for a unique lodging experience. If you’re looking for a break from truck stop food (or perhaps your own cooking), there are apps that let you view the restaurants in the area, peruse the menu and even make reservations. Many also provide user reviews so you can consider the experiences of others before making your decision. A common issue among drivers who want to explore an area simply not knowing what’s there. Luckily, technology can help. Simple internet searches can reveal area attractions, and mapping websites often note hotels, restaurants and attractions. Specialized apps for your phone can help, too. Look for tourism apps in the Apple or Google Play stores, and select some that meet your needs. One app, Roadtrippers, shows local attractions and can be used to plan a trip. Also, the Air BnB app offers more than lodging. Users can book local tours or even classes and workshops. An app called Viator lets the user create tours and itineraries. There are many apps that can help you decide what to see, provide information about hours and amenities, and allow you to reserve a space in tours or other activities. Often, employees at local truck stops or restaurants can tell you what’s nearby and where they enjoy spending their own time away from work. Sometimes, just jumping into a rental car and driving around the area can be a relaxing way of discovering attractions on your own. While it’s true that there are many locations you can’t get to in your truck, with a little planning and the help of technology you can make down time a relaxing and rewarding experience.

Bass named Women In Trucking Association’s 2023 Driver of the Year

The Trucker News Staff - April 4, 2023

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Mary “Candy” Bass, a truck driver at Transport Designs Inc., has been named the Women in Trucking (WIT) Association’s fourth annual Driver of the Year. Bass was among three finalists for the award, according to a news release. The announcement was made during the Salute to Women Behind the Wheel ceremony, hosted recently by WIT at the Mid America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky. The event honors female commercial drivers for their efforts and successes in the trucking industry. The other finalists include Ally Cooper, a driver for Penske Logistics, and Ann McFarland, a company driver for Leonard’s Express. Bass has been a long-haul professional driver for 50 years, accumulating 6 million accident-free miles, according to WIT. In 2016, she was awarded the TA Petro Citizen Driver Award. Recipients of this award exhibit citizenship, safety, community involvement, and leadership. A Nashville TA truck stop is named the Candy Bass Travel Center in honor of her. In 2023, she was named a Top Woman to Watch in Transportation by Redefining the Road, WIT’s official magazine. “Candy Bass has given extensively to the trucking profession, not only during her time on the road and commitment to safe driving, but through mentorship and her desire to be a guiding star for women at all stages of their careers,” said Jennifer Hedrick, WIT president and CEO. Bass is a lifetime member of WIT and Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA). She is involved in numerous charities, including St. Christopher Foundation, Hats for Heroes, Special Olympics, Trucker Buddy and Charities for troops. At 78, she is still driving long haul across the United States while encouraging and mentoring other women in the trucking industry. Sponsored by Walmart, the annual Driver of the Year Award was established to promote the achievements of female professional drivers who lead the industry in safety standards while actively enhancing the public image of the trucking industry. “Our North Star is to create a culture where our associates feel like they belong. That means getting to know them for their own unique identities, styles, experiences, abilities and perspectives to support them best,” Erin Bergman, director of talent acquisition at Walmart, said. “That’s why Walmart is proud to sponsor the Women In Trucking Driver Of The Year Award since it was created. It’s important to celebrate the industry’s top women behind the wheel like Mary ‘Candy’ Bass, who has had an incredible 50-year career and is paving the way to show future generations what they can accomplish when they work hard at what they love.” Members of the judging panel were Erin Bergman, director, talent acquisition, Walmart, Tim Ridley, talk radio show host, and WIT founder Ellen Voie.

TravelCenters of America announces 2023 Citizen Driver Award winners

The Trucker News Staff - April 3, 2023

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — TravelCenters of America (TA) has announced the 10th annual Citizen Driver Award honorees: Lamar Buckwalter of Leola, Pennsylvania, and William McNamee of Christopher, Illinois. The travel center network created the award to recognize professional drivers “who demonstrate traits that bring a high level of respect to the truck driving profession, including good citizenship, safety, health and wellness, community involvement and leadership,” according to a news release. The winners were announced in a formal ceremony on Friday, March 31, at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville. As part of the honor, Citizen Driver Award winners may select a TA, Petro Stopping Center or TA Express location to be dedicated in their name, allowing their story to be continuously displayed for all travelers that pass through. In addition, TA makes a $2,500 donation to each winner’s organization of choice. “This year’s winners dedicated their lives to both their careers and serving others,” Barry Richards, president of TA, said. “I am truly humbled for the opportunity to acknowledge the heroic actions of these great citizens and thank them for their service to our country.” According to TA, the Citizen Driver Program is designed to spotlight some of the most extraordinary drivers today and to illustrate the examples of professionalism embedded in the truck driving profession. More than 150 nominations for the Citizen Driver Award were received this year — from fleet owners and executives, professional drivers, trucking organization members and trucking industry suppliers. The following members of the trucking industry served as this year’s judges: Donna Kennedy, Director, St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund. Dave Nemo, On-Air Host, Road Dog Media/Dave Nemo Entertainment. Todd Spencer, President, Owner Operator Independent Driver Association. Ellen Voie, President & CEO of Women in Trucking. TA launched the program in 2013 with the intention of recognizing the professional drivers who keep America moving. To date, 41 citizen drivers have been awarded the honor. This year’s awardees William McNamee With more than than 32 years of driving, McNamee has dedicated his career to educating children and members of the public about trucking safety. He’s been an active member of Trucker Buddy International for 25 years and even served on the Board of Directors. Having sat on the Carbon Express Safety Committee and received numerous safety awards and recognitions — including his selection by the 2019-20 America’s Road Team — McNamee has amassed almost 3.2 million accident-free miles. After serving in the Marines as a Nuclear Projectile Assemblyman and Military Police, McNamee said he is prepared for anything out on the road. He has even assisted with three accidents while driving his truck, administering life-saving medical aid to severely injured motorists. McNamee became a finalist in the NTTC driver of the year program and took second place in the Illinois Truck Driving Championship. Plus, he’s a volunteer firefighter, licensed medical first responder and vessel examiner for the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Aa a member of No Volunteer Dies Alone and Truckers Against Trafficking, he also volunteers at VA hospitals and advocates for positive change throughout the industry. Lamar Buckwalter Buckwalter started going out on the road with his dad at the early age of 13 months old. Now, he has 26 years of professional driving and over 4 million accident-free miles under his belt. Starting out as a junior firefighter, Buckwalter also became a lieutenant, captain and deputy chief. He’s been an EMT for the last 21 years and a rescue technician for 28 years. Most recently, he obtained his water rescue technician and fire instructor qualifications. During the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America, Buckwalter joined the Pennsylvania Rescue Task Force Team and spent two weeks providing invaluable assistance at Ground Zero in New York. In 2003, Buckwalter was awarded the Trauma of the Year award for saving a woman who was trapped in her car after an accident. And in December 2022, he received a Clinical Save Commendation for saving a man who was in active cardiac arrest. For the last five years, Buckwalter sponsored a local Make-A-Wish program for their Mother’s Day truck convoy. He was also part of the Road Pro Family of Brands ProDriver and recently became involved with Four Coles Kids, helping children with special needs. As a sponsor and participant in a local school’s All Pro Dads program, he helped provide once-a-month breakfasts and fellowship time between kids and their fathers.

The Natural: Tank truck driver, trainer Ken Tolliver has racked up 3 million accident-free miles

Dwain Hebda - April 3, 2023

Ken Tolliver had two career aspirations when growing up — becoming a professional athlete and being a truck driver. When that first pick didn’t pan out, he immediately switched gears to focus on his passion for driving. He’s been going strong ever since. “We had a family friend who drove a milk truck,” Tolliver said. “When I was a little boy — 10 or 11 years old — I used to ride with him and ask him various questions about how the truck operates: How do you change gears? What made it do this and do that? He was inspiring to me. “I started driving in 2000, and I now have 3 million miles accident-free,” he continued.” I’m truly blessed to be in this industry accident-free. It’s a great honor to say that.” Once his driving career was rolling, Tolliver decided to specialize in tankers. He’s now been pulling pneumatics for 17 years. “I started out from 2000 to 2005 pulling dry vans,” he said. “I had a dedicated run from Tennessee to Arizona, and I started seeing all these tankers on the road. I started talking to these older guys in the tank truck industry and I’m like, ‘Maybe that’s something I want to do.’” Most drivers would agree that hauling a tanker is an acquired skill, as much art as science, and something many drivers shy away from. Not Tolliver, who says the unique nature of pulling a tank is one of the things that appeals to him. It’s also been a source of job security to master a skill many other drivers are hesitant to take on. “I was in Ontario, California, at a restaurant, and when I walked outside I had an older guy tell me, ‘You need to be a specialized carrier. Tell me how many dry vans you see. And then count how many tanks,’” he said. “That stuck with me,” he continued. “After I did five years in the dry van industry, I started looking into being a specialized carrier. That’s when I started looking at these tanks and how they operate. I really fell in love with them, and I haven’t looked back since.” Tolliver says the attributes of a good tanker driver aren’t that different from those of any other driver. Professionalism, he said, “doesn’t know a dry van from a reefer from a tanker,” but is immediately recognizable to employers and peer drivers alike. “The way I see it as a professional driver in this industry for 22 years, you have to have good focus, have good training and be aware of your surroundings at all times — with as few distractions as possible,” he said. “Those are key things I use in this industry to make myself accident-free. “This industry changes all the time,” he continued. “As drivers, we have to change as the industry grows and changes. We have to adapt. We have to be trained and develop (our skills) all the time.” To that end, Tolliver has been giving back to the driving community as a trainer for several years, first with Bulkmatic and now with his current employer, G&D Trucking/Hoffman Transportation. In addition, he is on G&D/Hoffman’s driver advisory board. Not surprisingly, safety has been a central theme throughout Tolliver’s trucking career, and he strives to be a role model and mentor to newer drivers. “I take that challenge very personally,” he said. “When I first got into the industry, especially the pneumatic side, somebody had to teach me. I was that guy watching the older drivers. ‘How does the tank operate? What made it do this? What made the blower do that?’ “So now the knowledge that I have, I can give it back to the next generation,” he explained. “As these guys get older, we’re going to be looking at them. “I take pride in being a role model in this industry and being the person to help teach the young guys coming in, and sometimes even guys that’s older than me who are just getting into the tanker industry,” he continued. “I like helping to teach and develop all the new drivers into the tanker truck industry. It’s something I take pride in.” A lot has changed during Tolliver’s two-plus decades on the road. In particular, the technology is much more sophisticated. “When I started we didn’t have a GPS; we were getting the map out from California to Miami, Florida,” he said. “We’d be in Spokane, Washington, and we’ve got to go to Gainesville, Florida. We’d draw a string out on the map and just start going I-90, I-94, I-80, I-70, all the way down. That’s the way I was taught (to navigate) from the old-school truck drivers. You used to call the customer and get directions. Now you just can do Google Earth. Our job’s a lot easier now. “The thing that really hasn’t changed is you still have to be a professional in every aspect of this industry,” he added. “I’m still the same guy as I was 22 years ago: ‘Yes sir, no ma’am, good morning sir.’ Those are things that have never changed. And my focus on staying safe; that’s another thing that’s never changed in this 22-year career.” Tolliver’s long tenure and impeccable record have been recognized by the National Tank Truck Carriers. The association has named him as one of eight finalists for the 2022-2023 Driver of the Year; the winner will be announced in May. Just talking about being considered for the honor brings a smile to Tolliver’s face and note of disbelief to his voice. More important than any award, however, he says he’d like his career to represent a goal young people could aspire to and follow in his footsteps. “There is a high demand for truck drivers; we really need new guys coming in,” he said. “What inspires you to want to be a truck driver? For me personally, I really enjoy the freedom of it, getting to meet different people in this world, the equipment we have and the technology we have. “For me, everything is about passion. If I was talking to a group of young people about trucking, I would tell them that to get into this industry and be successful at it, you have to have a passion for it,” he concluded.

Truck drivers play key role in Vietnam Memorial Wall replica’s national tour

The Trucker News Staff - March 28, 2023

HAWAIIAN GARDENS, Calif. — Ashley Pacific Northwest driver Jeff Webert said that hauling a memorial to one of America’s deadliest wars is about more than just doing his job — it’s about honoring his family and country. Webert, who comes from a military family but didn’t serve himself, is one of many truck drivers who will carry The Wall That Heals around the nation throughout the rest of this year. The wall, sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, is a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Since 1996, the wall has been displayed at nearly 700 communities throughout the nation. Just like the original, the replica wall is etched with the names of 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. Along with a mobile education center, the project is designed to teach people about the war and those who fought and died in it. The Trucker caught up with Webert during the wall’s second stop of the year on Saturday, March 25, in Hawaiian Gardens, California. He picked up the wall in San Luis Obispo, California, stopped in Hawaiian Gardens, then will head to Citrus Heights, California, where it will be unpacked and placed on display from Thursday, March 30, through Sunday, April 2. After that, Webert will guide his truck to Menifee, California, before heading out to Texas, where another driver will pick up from there. “It means a lot to me,” Webert said of hauling the memorial. “My aunt served in Vietnam, and so it is my way of giving back and to show my respects to her and everybody that served my country. It means a lot for the little kids seeing the trailer go up and down the road. I just means a lot to me.” 2023 scheduled stops Menifee, California The Wall That Heals Menifee Committee 4/6/23 4/9/23 Edinburg, Texas UT Rio Grande Valley & The City of Edinburg, TX 4/20/23 4/23/23 College Station, Texas Bring The Wall That Heals to Aggieland 4/27/23 4/30/23 Kyle, Texas AMVETS 115 & City of Kyle, TX 5/4/23 5/7/23 Great Bend, Kansas The Wall That Heals Great Bend Committee 5/11/23 5/14/23 Rhinelander, Wisconsin Nicolet College 5/18/23 5/21/23 Mendota Heights, Minnesota Saint Thomas Academy 5/26/23 5/29/23 Crivitz, Wisconsin The Village of Crivitz 6/1/23 6/4/23 Springfield, Missouri Serenity Honors Brings The Wall That Heals 6/8/23 6/11/23 Kalispell, Montana Glacier Park Post 2252 6/22/23 6/25/23 Meridian, Idaho Veterans of Idaho Welcome The Wall That Heals 6/29/23 7/2/23 Eureka, Illinois The Wall That Heals – Eureka 2023 Committee 7/13/23 7/16/23 Monticello, Minnesota “MSV” Monticello Supporting Veterans 7/20/23 7/23/23 Centerville, Ohio Washington-Centerville Public Library 7/27/23 7/30/23 Chillicothe, Missouri The Wall That Heals Comes to Livingston County 8/3/23 8/6/23 Brownstown, Indiana For Veterans of Jackson County Committee 8/10/23 8/13/23 Middletown, Indiana Operation Welcome Home Middletown, IN 8/24/23 8/27/23 Gibsonburg, Ohio Village of Gibsonburg & Sandusky County 8/31/23 9/3/23 Sanford, Maine Sanford Elks 1470 & The City of Sanford 9/7/23 9/10/23 Auburn, New York The Wall That Heals, Auburn-Cayuga County, New York 9/14/23 9/17/23 Kutztown, Pennsylvania Kutztown Vietnam Veterans Breakfast Club 9/21/23 9/24/23 New York NYC Department of Veterans’ Services 9/28/23 10/1/23 Copiague, New York Town of Babylon 10/5/23 10/8/23 Lemont Furnace, Pennsylvania Fayette County, Pennsylvania 2023 10/12/23 10/15/23 Caldwell, Ohio The Wall That Heals – Noble County 10/19/23 10/22/23 Upper Providence Twp, Pennsylvania Upper Providence Township Committee 10/26/23 10/29/23 Havelock, North Carolina The Wall That Heals Havelock Committee 11/2/23 11/5/23 Spartanburg, South Carolina Spartanburg County Veterans’ Affairs 11/9/23 11/12/23 Nags Head, North Carolina The Dare County Veterans Advisory Council 11/16/23 11/19/23 For more information about the wall, click here.

Louisiana Motor Transport Association Foundation honors 2

The Trucker News Staff - March 21, 2023

BATON ROGUE, La. — The Louisiana Motor Transport Association (LMTA) Foundation has named Kenny Stocks of The R Group II as the 2023 Louisiana Safety Professional of the Year and Nelson Landry with South Louisiana Community College as the 2023 Louisiana Truck Driver of the Year. These awards, which were given out at a ceremony on March 4, are part of the LMTA Foundation’s mission to highlight industry safety professionals and professional drivers for improving safety and the image of trucking every day, according to a news release. “LMTA’s Safety Management Council members are nominated as the Safety Professional of the Year for their outstanding contributions to advancing their company’s fleet safety,” the news release stated. “Nominees are selected based on their outstanding commitment to safety, willingness to work with the trucking industry, exceptional work record and personal work ethics.” The Louisiana Truck Driver of the Year award nominees are current commercial driver’s license holders who have established a long record of safe and courteous driving while displaying highway heroism and have made an outstanding contribution to the industry. “Our Safety Professional and Truck Driver of the Year are the heart of our industry’s workforce,” Renee Amar, executive director of the LMTA Foundation, said. “This year’s recipients showcase the best of Louisiana’s trucking industry. We had a group of outstanding applicants for both awards, and it was an extremely competitive year.” Stocks was nominated by the R Group II for his accomplishments as the company’s first-ever dedicated safety officer overseeing a fleet of more than 75 vehicles. “In his two years with the company, Stocks has prioritized education and compliance within the fleet and with drivers, strengthening the company’s safety culture and raising each employee’s safety profile,” the news release stated. Stocks has also created a comprehensive onboarding and training program, reducing the number and severity of citations with the company’s fleet while introducing new programs, such as incentivizing safe drivers and implanting fleet evaluation metrics. Stocks holds more than 30 years of safety and compliance experience within the trucking history and 14 years of military service in the United States Marine Corps. “A testament to Stocks’ impact, D&J Construction, a company under the R Group II, received the LMTA’s Most Improved award this year for significantly reducing the company’s reported incidents,” the news release noted. Meanwhile, Landry has dedicated 31 years to the trucking industry. Nominated by South Louisiana Community College (SLCC), where he serves as the lead examiner, he received his commercial license in 1992. During his career, he has driven more than 3 million miles with a zero-accident record. “While driving professionally, Landry was known to go out of his way to help those in need, once entering Florida during a hurricane to deliver generators for radio stations and hospitals during a mandatory evacuation, riding out the storm in his truck and staying to help in the aftermath,” the news release stated. “Landry’s dedication to helping others has continued into his retirement as for the past seven years. He has worked with SLCC turning his time and talents over to teaching the next generation of drivers, significantly impacting the incoming workforce for the trucking industry.” As the 2023 Louisiana Truck Driver of the Year, Landry will be featured on the cover of Open Road magazine, as well as featured on a select number of billboards across the state during the month of September, celebrating National Truck Driver Appreciation week.

CVSA opens nominations for 2023 International Driver Excellence Award

The Trucker News Staff - March 15, 2023

WASHINGTON — The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is now accepting nominations for its International Driver Excellence Award (IDEA), an annual award that recognizes a professional commercial motor vehicle driver and their commitment to public safety. Additionally, the award’s cash prize has doubled from $2,500 to $5,000, according to a news release. The 2023 IDEA recipient and a guest will also receive complimentary airfare to Grapevine, Texas, along with a two-night, one-room hotel stay at the Gaylord Texan, to attend the CVSA Annual Conference and Exhibition awards luncheon, where they will receive their check and crystal trophy. Nominees must have: At least 25 cumulative years of crash-free driving in a commercial motor vehicle with a clean driving record for the past three years. No felony convictions. No safety-related driving suspensions in the past three years. No driver violations in the past three years, excluding form and manner violations. “Commercial drivers are the backbone of North America’s supply chain, ensuring people and goods reach their destinations safely,” CVSA President Maj. Chris Nordloh, with the Texas Department of Public Safety, said. “IDEA is the perfect way for a motor carrier to honor and recognize drivers for their vital work.” This year’s International Driver Excellence Award is sponsored by PrePass Safety Alliance. All questions about the award should be directed to CVSA Fatigue Management Specialist Rodolfo Giacoman via email at [email protected] or by calling (202) 998-1830.

Wheaton | Bekins names drivers of the year

The Trucker News Staff - March 15, 2023

INDIANAPOLIS — Wheaton | Bekins has named four people drivers of the year. The announcement was made on Thursday, March 2, at the company’s fourth annual Van Line Summit & Awards Gala. To be eligible for these awards, individuals must first earn a Driver of the Month award between January 2022 and December 2022 and consistently provide superior service to Wheaton | Bekins’ customers. “By their excellent records in claims, customer service and safety, these drivers are among the best in the van lines’ fleet,” a news release stated. The drivers are: Marc Bailey, Wheaton Moving & Storage, Indianapolis Bailey earned his second Wheaton | Bekins Driver of the Month award in July 2022 and his first Driver of the Year award in 2022. He has six years’ experience as a professional mover, having started moving furniture in 1998 with a small North American agent after seeing a newspaper ad that stated “Movers needed; must be able to lift 50 pounds.” Bailey is married to his wife Mandy and has two children, Mariah and Mateo. He is also a grandfather to Oliver. Patrick Basham, Boyer-Rosene Moving & Storage, Arlington Heights, Illinois Basham earned his fourth Wheaton | Bekins Driver of the Month award in January 2022 and first Driver of the Year award in 2022. He has more than 33 years’ experience as a professional mover and has relocated families in all 48 states over the years with customer service as his top priority. As a huge fan, Basham loves being the official mover for the Chicago White Sox every Spring Training. He is married to his wife Virginia. Anthony Paluch, Boerman Moving & Storage, Inc., Woodridge, Illinois Paluch earned his eighth Wheaton | Bekins Driver of the Month award in April 2022 and first Driver of the Year award in 2022. He has more than 23 years of experience as a professional mover, with 19 of those years with Wheaton | Bekins. Paluch loves being an over-the-road driver because he gets to be his own boss and feel the freedom of the road. When he is not on the road, he enjoys spending time with his wife Kelly and their two dogs, Huck and Toby. James Winne, Maffucci Storage Corp., Amityville, New York Winne earned his first Wheaton | Bekins Driver of the Month award in July 2022 and first Driver of the Year award in 2022. He has more than 20 years’ experience as a professional mover, starting in the moving business after high school with Kelly Mayflower in 1993. In 2012, Winne became an Owner Operator and drove for North Dallas – United Van Lines. He joined Maffucci Storage Corp and the Wheaton | Bekins network in 2021. Winne is a proud husband to his wife Carolyn and father to Alyssa and Jason. Each winning driver receives a Driver of the Year plaque from Wheaton | Bekins, along with a $2,000 cash award.

TCA recognizes 5 as Professional Drivers of the Year

The Trucker News Staff - March 13, 2023

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) named five truck drivers as winners of the 2023 TCA Professional Drivers of the Year at their annual convention held recently in Orlando, Florida. TCA, along with sponsors Cummins Inc. and Love’s Travel Stops, announced and celebrated the winners during the March 7 ceremony. The drivers were chosen from a pool of drivers and recognized as the best-in-class within the professional driver community, according to a news release. Each driver received $25,000 and a standing ovation during the awards ceremony. The TCA’s 2023 Professional Drivers of the Year Richard Boehrer from Knight Refrigerated. Daniel Clark from Classic Carriers. Emily Plummer from Prime Inc. Rose Rojo from John Christner Trucking. Thomas Sholar from Maverick Transportation. Their stories range from a deaf driver overcoming his disability to become a successful truck driver to another driver who tackled cancer and treatment, not once but twice, and returned to his trucking job. A short video and each driver’s story are available at www.TCAProfessionalDriversoftheYear.com/Stories. “To be selected as the best of the best, each of these professional drivers has displayed an impeccable safety record, a tireless work ethic, and a real devotion to their profession,” said Love’s Travel Stops Vice President of Sales Jon Archard. “But as we learned, these individuals have shown their positive impact not just on the road, but also within their local communities and families.” Cummins Inc. President and General Manager of North America On-Highway Operations José Samperio called the drivers “shining examples of what it means to be great trucking citizens. We are proud to sponsor this competition and highlight these drivers and the impact they have had not only in their workspace but also in the community.” Nominations for next year’s TCA Professional Drivers of the Year will open this fall, and additional information can be found at www.TCAProfessionalDriversoftheYear.com.

Trucker jams: Rapper T-Swin paints picture of life in the transport industry

Dana Guthrie - March 13, 2023

As most truckers know, the road can be a lonely place at times. Many drivers turn to audio books, music and even four-legged friends to help them pass the time. One former company owner is blazing a new path, providing music made specifically for truckers. Houston-based Tony “T-Swin” Swinton, 43, is the former owner of Swin10 Transport, LLC, a van expediting service. “Driving is in my family,” Swinton said. “My dad and my mom were both truck drivers. For me, expediting was one of the quickest ways to get into truck driving. When I started driving, I was still working in the oil industry, and on holidays I would run the van. Once inflation hit and the costs of running the company went up, I had to return to the oil job full-time.” Swinton’s transport company, which moved products ranging from COVID-19 testing kits and oil-producing equipment to car parts, textiles, electronics and a variety of other items, shut down last year because of the economy. He now works as a pipeline operator in the oil industry. “We have a storage facility where we store crude oil,” said Swinton, who is the father of four daughters ranging from 14 to 23 years old. “We transfer it through pipelines to other customers from the shipper to the receiver…you have to work outside in all elements and sometimes you’re hundreds of feet up in the air, but you do what you have to do for your family.” Even though he’s not actively working the logistics business, trucking — and truck drivers — still have a special place in Swinton’s heart. In fact, the talented rapper and musician makes it a point to create and perform music for those in the trucking and freight industry. “I had been doing music for a while, but I initially gave up on it,” Swinton said. “I have a twin brother, Terrell and we used to go by ‘DT’ for ‘Double Trouble.’ We started doing music a while back and signed a couple of record deals. Nothing ever really went anywhere with it, so I kind of gave up on music for a while.” That pause didn’t last long. “When I started expediting, I noticed there wasn’t a lot of music for drivers,” Swinton said. “I noticed there wasn’t really a lot of music — in my opinion — that jammed. There were a couple of songs, but I wanted to create something that, even if you were not in the transportation field, that you would still want to buy it, play it and listen to it.” As fate would have it, Swinton, heard a beat one day that resonated with him and he crafted his first song specifically designed for drivers — “Money in the Van.” “After that one song, I got inspired to create another song called, ‘Make a Run’,” Swinton said. “Then I put out an entire EP called ‘Money in the Van,’ named after that first song.” His catchy tunes soon began to capture the ears of drivers. In 2021, Swinton was invited to perform at the S.H.E Trucking Expo in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he got to introduce his music to drivers from across the country. Because of the extra exposure at the expo and the positive response to his music, Swinton realized that he could fill a gap that was sorely needed in the trucking industry. He set his sights on creating music specifically designed for drivers of all kinds, from big rigs to sprinter vans, vocational trucks and everything in between. “Right now, I have an album that is almost completed called, ‘Transportation Music’,” Swinton said. “It’s a compilation of those early songs and new material that nobody has heard yet.” Swinton says his favorite part of creating music specifically designed for drivers is the word play and being able to tie the lyrics in with jargon used in the industry, while also making it rhyme and making it sound good. “I want it to be music where people who are in the industry and understand the lingo can enjoy it and be like, ‘It’s jamming!’ and feel that I’m telling a whole story,” Swinton said. “It’s a story from beginning to end from where they picked up a load, dropped it off, paid for it, how it is on the road, and the relationships you have with the people worked with along the way. It has to rhyme and sound good too.” While Swinton loves making music for drivers, he says he does miss a few things about driving and owning his own business. “I miss the freedom,” Swinton said. “No question. Freedom changes your life. When you can create your own paycheck and no one has other rules over you, there’s nothing better. You can create your own hours and make sure that you can spend time with your kids. You can be at their recitals and catch all their games. That freedom, there’s nothing like it.” He also misses spending extra time with his father — who’s also named Tony — who frequently joined him on his runs. Between his current job and making music, however, Swinton doesn’t have a lot of free time. In addition to both of those ventures, Swinton hosts a podcast with several friends called, “The Men Can’t Always Be Wrong.” He is also in the process of writing a book about his experiences in the U.S. Navy. Swinton distributes his music in collaboration with several services, including DistroKid and CD Baby, and his music is available on streaming platforms. He says he’s received positive feedback from drivers across the country, and even from some listeners who aren’t in the industry but love hearing what the life of a driver is like. “It’s storytelling, and I am trying to paint a picture of what this life is,” he said. To check out Swinton’s music go to youtube.com/tswin or tswin.hearnow.com. He’s also on Instagram at instagram.com/tswinmusic.

Chief Carriers, C.A.T. Inc. named TCA’s overall Best Fleets to Drive For in 2023

The Trucker News Staff - March 10, 2023

ORLANDO, Fla. – Chief Carriers, Inc. of Grand Island, Nebraska, and C.A.T. Inc. of Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec Canada, were named the overall winners of the 2023 Best Fleets to Drive For by the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) on March 6 at Truckload 2023: Orlando at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center. TCA and CarriersEdge presented the Best Overall Fleet award in the small carrier category to Chief Carriers. Chief Carriers’ general manager, Andrew Winkler, is the first person to win the overall award at two different companies, having previously worked with Hall-of-Famer Grand Island Express, according to a news release. “Seeing Chief Carriers progress in the past few years, it’s not surprising that they won the overall award,” CarriersEdge CEO Jan Jazrawy said. “They clearly have a plan for developing driver support programs, and their scores across all categories show that the plan is working.” The Best Overall Fleet award in the large carrier category was presented to C.A.T. The award was sponsored by TruckRight. C.A.T is the first fleet in more than a decade to winner the overall award in its first year as a Best Fleet, the news release noted. “Most participants need multiple years to progress from Finalist to Top 20 to Overall Winner,” Jazrawy said. “For C.A.T. to make it not just into the Top 20, but to the top of the list, is a remarkable achievement. They’ve put a huge effort into their programs this past year, and that effort was evident throughout the evaluation process.” Now in its 15th year, Best Fleets to Drive For, is an annual survey and contest that recognizes the North American for-hire trucking companies that provide the best workplace experience for their drivers. To be considered, fleets must be nominated by a company driver or independent contractor working with them, after which they are evaluated across a broad range of categories reflecting current best practices in human resources. The highest scoring fleets are identified as Best Fleets to Drive For and then grouped according to size. The highest-scoring fleet in each category is named the overall winner. “Year after year, the overall winners are truly changing the game,” said TCA President Jim Ward. “It’s imperative that fleets establish driver-centric offerings which attract and retain a skilled workforce while establishing programs that improve the work-life balance for their employees. Chief Carriers, Inc. and C.A.T. Inc. have done just that, and their results show that those efforts pay off.” The Best Fleets to Drive For survey and contest is open to any for-hire fleet operating 10 or more trucks, regardless of TCA membership status. Nominated fleets are evaluated in areas such as driver compensation, pension and benefits, professional development, driver and community support, and safety record. The contest accepts nominations from Labor Day to Halloween each year and reveals its Top 20 Best Fleets to Drive For winners each January. The highest-scoring fleet in each category is named an Overall Winner during TCA’s Annual Convention. For additional information on the Best Fleets to Drive For program, follow the hashtag #BestFleets23 on social media, or visit www.bestfleetstodrivefor.com.

CFI driver named 2022 Highway Angel of the Year

The Trucker News Staff - March 9, 2023

ORLANDO, Fla. — Truckload Carriers Association and EpicVue have named CFI driver Zach Yeakley the 2022 Highway Angel of the Year. Yeakley, of Batesville, Arkansas, was recognized on March 7 at the Gaylord Palms Resort during the Truckload Carriers Association’s annual conference. Yeakley won the title through a public vote. Yeakley was driving to West Memphis, Arkansas, on March 17, 2022, and had just crossed the state border into Charleston, Missouri, at around 8:15 a.m. when he heard on his CB radio that there was an accident up ahead. He then noticed smoke and a man wearing a safety vest flagging down drivers to alert them to the accident. The scene was a fire-filled, chain-reaction crash in dense fog that involved more than 45 vehicles. Yeakley immediately pulled over and jumped into action. “I went up there; they already had a couple people out,” he said. “Some people had some broken arms, one had a collapsed lung, a few broken ribs from the impact.” Yeakley, a 15-year member of the Army National Guard, is trained as a combat lifesaver and quickly assessed the severity of the scene. He surveyed the situation so he could tell the paramedics when they arrived. Fire was spreading in the crashed vehicles and tires were exploding all around them. “There was one guy trapped in his truck,” he said. “So me, a sheriff, a state trooper, and a FedEx driver, we did what we could to get him out.” Yeakley and the group were able to pry the dashboard off of another trapped crash victim and rescue him from his vehicle. The flames, he said, were surrounding them. Once the crash victim was rescued from his truck, Yeakley and a sheriff ran back to the scene to try to rescue the driver of a car trapped between a truck and a trailer, also surrounded by flames. In total that day, Yeakley helped rescue six crash victims from several vehicles. Police reported at least six fatalities from the fiery crash. Yeakley, who has been driving a truck for four years, said he wouldn’t hesitate to jump back into the fire again to rescue drivers, crediting his military training for preparing him for the experience. “Thank you for your selfless act of courage that morning,” EpicVue CEO Lance Platt said after presenting Zach with a personalized crystal truck. EpicVue was the presenting sponsor of the event. Yeakley will receive a complimentary EpicVue satellite TV package that includes a 24-inch flatscreen TV, a DVR and a one-year subscription to over 100 channels of DIRECTV programming, including premium channels such as HBO, Cinemax, Showtime and the NFL Sunday Ticket. Since 1997, TCA’s Highway Angel program has recognized professional truck drivers who have selflessly helped others while on the job. From each year’s recipients, one is selected as Highway Angel of the Year because he or she best embodies the spirit of the program. Watch Yeakley recount the story in this video, produced by CFI. Learn more about the Highway Angel program here: www.highwayangel.org.

Living the dream: The road to happiness led to hauling tankers for pro driver Pam Randol

Dwain Hebda - March 6, 2023

Pam Randol knew exactly where she wanted her life to lead at a very early age. “I was 8 years old when I saw a convoy of trucks on Interstate 40 in Oklahoma. I was sitting in the back seat of the car,” she said. “I decided right then I wanted to drive a truck in the Army.” Randol, who is now a professional tank hauler for Knoxville, Tennessee-based Highway Transport, got her wish. As a young adult, she enlisted in the Army and stubbornly held out for an assignment as a truck driver for Uncle Sam. “You remember the old computer-generated paper that had the dots and the little holes in the edge, and it had that pixelated printing?” she said. “When I went to enlist, I had a list probably 10 feet long of jobs that I could have chosen from, from spy, interrogator, linguist, helicopter mechanic. (It was) just a huge range because I scored high in communications, technical and mechanical. “I said, ‘I want to drive a truck,’ and they looked at me like I’d lost my mind. They said, ‘Well, we really need…’” she continued. “I’m like, ‘I don’t care what you need. I want to drive a truck.’ I didn’t get to drive the truck that I wanted to — but I did get to drive a truck. I got to play in the dirt.” Randol says a great by-product of her military service are the mentors she got to learn under and the fellow women she drove alongside. “I was fortunate enough to go through basic training and advanced individual training, and then on to permanent duty station, with several other women,” she said. “It was nice, because we were all new to the same area at the same time and all going through the same experiences. Our chain of command — our squad leaders, our platoon leaders, our patrons, our peers — they all were there to be helpful and guide you as well.” That experience gave Randol the first taste of what she was capable of, and it prepared her for a long and rewarding civilian career behind the wheel. She notes that the job was very different “back in the day.” Like many drivers from the era, Randol shakes her head at the creature comforts of today compared to yesteryear. “When I started, we didn’t have cellphones and GPS and those types of things,” she said. “You had to get a map, and learn how to read a map and manage your fuel. You had a book for fuel, you had a map, you had to stop and call a customer to get an address and directions, all those kinds of things. “Then, you either had a calling card or a 1-800 number, and you would stand in line waiting your turn to get to the phone so you could make your call,” she added. “That might be outside in the wind or the rain, or it might be inside at the truck stop when they had the phones at the tables.” Randol would eventually be introduced to tankers, starting with a stint as a tack truck driver for a road construction company. The experience was brief, but it stuck — and as she racked up experience hauling hazardous materials, the idea of transporting it by the tankload became more and more appealing. “I had to have my tanker endorsement with my job before this company. I drove a dry van, but I hauled the big bulk containers of chemicals,” she said. “Those totes were anywhere from 2,500 to 5,000 pounds, depending on what size tote you had and the weight of the liquid. I could feel those loads whenever I hauled them, and I thought, ‘Driving a tanker probably wouldn’t be that bad. If I can do this, then surely I can drive a tanker.’” At the request of her family, Randol temporarily left the road and went to work in the medical field. But after a decade, she was itching to get back behind the wheel. She made a beeline for the tanker industry. Once more, she’d have to dig in her heels and bide her time to get an opportunity. “I went to one of those Great American Truck Shows, and I remember talking to a tanker company,” she said. “In the early 2000s the companies could be more selective of drivers, because it wasn’t a drivers’ market at the time. They said, ‘Go get two years of experience and call us later.’ “My opportunity finally came a few years ago, when the guy I’m married to now came to work at Highway Transport and I followed him over,” she continued. “I just can’t see myself ever working for another company or ever driving any other type of trailer. I wish I’d have started here when I was young and spry.” Over the past nearly four years of driving a tanker full time, Randol has hauled latex and poly products ranging from paint to cosmetics, vitamins, insecticide and foam seat products — just to name a few. She delivers for a dedicated account that takes her cross-country and back from California and Oregon, passing through the Great Lakes and mid-America down to the Carolinas. In total, she’s covered about 2.5 million miles, touching 47 of the lower 48 states, missing only North Dakota during her 25-year driving career. She says driving a tanker, a job she still holds in common with her husband, Joe McMullin, is the pinnacle of her driving career. “I like the challenge of this (cargo) being volatile, and ‘this is what you have to do’ to make sure you get it to where you’re going safely,” she said. “For me, this is easier to learn than putting my head down in a book. Yeah, obviously you’ve got to read instructions to operate and everything, but I like the challenge. “And then, they’re just so happy to see you when you get there,” she said with a smile. “Even if you’re late, a lot of them are like, ‘We’re just glad you’re here.’” In February, Randol was informed that, because of her consistent dedication, attention to detail and safety, she was a finalist in the National Tank Truck Carriers’ (NTTC) Driver of the Year competition. It’s an award for which she is humbled just to be considered. “I can’t lie and say that I’m not thrilled and flattered, because there’s a lot of times (I’ve thought), ‘Nobody notices me. Nobody knows what I go through. Nobody appreciates what I do,’” she said. “For this award to come up, I’m honored, I’m excited. If I win, I hope I can live up to the expectations and put forth the message that NTTC would want,” she concluded. “I would represent them honestly and professionally. For me, tankers are the way to go.”

Women In Trucking Association announces 2023 Driver of the Year finalists

The Trucker News Staff - March 1, 2023

PLOVER, Wisc. — The three finalists for the Women In Trucking Association’s (WIT) 2023 Driver of the Year award have been revealed. The fourth annual award recognizes outstanding female professional drivers “who lead the industry in safety standards while actively enhancing the public image of the trucking industry,” according to a news release. The judging panel includes: Erin Bergman, senior manager, talent acquisition, Walmart; Tim Ridley, talk radio show host; and Ellen Voie, president and CEO of WIT. The winner will be announced at the Salute to Women Behind the Wheel event hosted by WIT on Friday, March 31, at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville. The finalists are: Mary (Candy) Bass Bass is a company driver for Transport Designs, Inc. based out of Burnsville, Minnesota. Bass has been a long-haul professional driver for 50 years, accumulating 6 million accident-free miles, according to WIT. In 2016, Bass was awarded the TA Petro Citizen Driver award. Recipients of this award exhibit citizenship, safety, community involvement and leadership. A Nashville TA truck stop is named the Candy Bass Travel Center in her honor. In 2023, she was named a Top Woman to Watch in Transportation by Redefining the Road, WIT’s official magazine. Bass is a lifetime member of WIT and Owner/Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA). She is involved in numerous charities, including St. Christopher Foundation, Hats for Heroes, Special Olympics, Trucker Buddy and Charities for troops. At 78, she is still driving long haul across the United States while encouraging and mentoring other women in the trucking industry. Ally Cooper Cooper is a professional driver for Penske Logistics. The daughter of an owner/operator, she enlisted in the military upon graduating high school and served as a lead convoy driver in Iraq and Afghanistan in the mid-2000s. She then ran her own LLC as an owner/operator for six years before transitioning to driver roles with Midwest Logistics and Penske Logistics. Cooper supports her fellow drivers as a ride-along trainer, certified Worklete Champion and role model, according to WIT. “A passionate advocate for working moms, Cooper played a key role in the implementation of nursing policies that improve the experience of new moms behind the wheel,” the WIT news release noted. “Supervisors and colleagues praise Cooper’s positive attitude, dedication to safety and commitment to work-life balance.” Cooper said she “absolutely love(s) trucking and can’t imagine doing anything else in life. I hope to show women that you don’t have to do the normal 9-to-5 job — you can do anything you set your mind to and be proud of it.” Ann McFarland McFarland is a consummate driving professional with an expert knowledge of the transportation industry, according to WIT. “She exudes pride in her profession through her unshakeable dedication to safety and customer service,” according to the news release. Her current position is with Leonard’s Express, but she also honed her talents previously with Holman Transportation and Apex, where she achieved the Hard Work & Dedication Award, Excellent Performance Award (Holman) and the Safe Driver Award twice (Apex). This year, McFarland will be honored with Leonard’s Express Million Mile Award for more than 1 million safe miles with the company. McFarland is an active trainer for women entering the industry and mentors both men and women. She has a passion for helping new women drivers set up for career success, according to WIT. “McFarland takes that same level of work ethic and integrity to her home life as a wife, mother, grandmother and sole provider for her household,” according to the news release. “Through hardship and family illness, she doesn’t falter, balancing family needs with professional reliability and responsibility. She currently lives in Fruitland, Idaho with her husband, Richard.”

Lean on me: Trucker Joan Raby launches social media site to help other drivers

Dwain Hebda - February 28, 2023

Over the course of 14 years and more than a million miles, life on the road has taught Joan Raby a few things — like the importance of building relationships and providing support for others. After years of driving for various carriers, from Iowa to Wyoming to Texas, the Cincinnati native recently signed on with San Antonio-based Guenther and Sons. “Guenther and Sons are milk haulers,” she said. “Prior to that, I’ve done pneumatic, hazardous, reefer, tanker. My first tanker was Jack B. Kelley out of Amarillo (Texas) and that was cryogenics, helium, compressed helium, liquid helium, nitrogen and ethylene — all hazardous.” Raby grew up in a family of construction workers, which eventually led her to a desk job with a Ohio paving company. Then, she says, her husband died unexpectedly, forcing her to take a hard look at her career. “I knew at that point, in my early 40s, that I needed to make more money,” she said. “My check had always been the second check in the house as a construction secretary. When he passed away, the crew started letting me go out on the weekends for asphalt construction and started teaching me the equipment. I even passed the pre-trip for accommodation vehicles.” After relocating to Florida, Raby enrolled with Roadmaster Trucking School in Orlando. She was the only female in the class, but she says her classmates were a friendly lot, and she fit right in. “The school was filled with your bricklayers and electricians and the types of trades I’m used to being around,” she said. “I had an edge from practicing driving a big truck for the paving company. I remember passing a bunch of tests and hearing the instructor saying, ‘Do you all know you just got beat by a girl?’ “It was pretty funny,” she recalled with a laugh. Unfortunately, the next stage of her driving career wasn’t nearly as positive. Raby’s first carrier required 60,000 miles with a trainer, a process that took four months. To add to the frustration, she said, personality conflicts with her trainer caused a low level of teacher-student interaction. “It was the kind of thing you suffered through,” she said. “I really didn’t learn anything.” Never one to shy away from engaging people, however, Raby augmented her on-the-job experience by reaching out to experienced drivers for help. This a strategy she has continued throughout her career. In turn, she went out of her way to help newbies, remembering the frustration she felt at not having her questions answered when starting out. “Your first year is your hardest. I think it has an 80% dropout rate in our industry,” she said. “I noticed that when new drivers would ask for help, it was treated like a joke. They were bullied, and they weren’t learning anything. With what I went through in training, I didn’t want anybody else to feel alone.” Raby quickly discovered there was only so much one person could do. Noticing that many drivers were putting down the CB and turning to social media for communication, she decided to set up online. She founded Ask A Veteran Driver, a Facebook forum and website (askaveterandriver.com) that gives drivers access to experienced truckers who are willing to lend their knowledge. “It’s a private group. We only allow drivers, retired drivers, about-to-be drivers, or you must be a direct family member of a driver,” she said. “The reason is, questions are sensitive, and only another driver is going to get it. “When I built the site, I asked veteran drivers to be on the panel because I only had six years’ experience at that point,” she continued. “The biggest rule is, you’ve got to be polite, like you’re standing there talking to somebody in person that’s asking for your help.” The forum attracted numerous participants, with a wide range of questions. “It was one of those things: If you build it and ask, they show up. It took on a life of its own,” Raby said. Launched in 2014, the group now numbers about 5,000 and is a wellspring of truck-driving knowledge curated from every corner of the industry. “I have a pretty high percentage (of members) who are active,” Raby said. “We cover mountain driving, bridge laws, routing, paperwork, teaming, health and exercise, repairs, tires, safety gear, even our families and relationships. Anything you want to talk about. “We also encourage drivers to step out of their comfort zone after a certain time, because there’s so much our industry has to offer,” she continued. “Look into car hauling, flatbed, pneumatic, oversized. I have mentors for each one of these specialized areas — doubles, triple, tanker — and (participants) can even ask for a personal mentor. I have a livestock hauler who’s got 3 million miles just hauling livestock that will train the right person, and that’s rare because they’re a very closed bunch.” Ask A Veteran Driver has also inspired others to launch their own efforts to address certain aspects of the trade in more detail. “It spun off a bunch of other stuff like Truckers with Tools for people who are not sure how to use tools,” Raby said. “A tow truck operator spun off Ask a Veteran Tow Truck Operator. I spun off CBs for Newbies — usually drivers will have a couple of CBs and we connect them with a way to send off their old one to somebody who can’t afford one right now.” Raby has also engaged the members of the group to support worthwhile causes. She organized a fundraiser that raised $12,000 for the family of a trucker who was murdered on the job. She also spearheaded Truckers Against Bullying, an initiative through which she pairs members with youth to provide mentoring and moral support. “It’s just about knowing that there’s a group of people that care about you,” she said of the effort. “We let these kids know, ‘You’re our family.’” Ask a Veteran Driver has added yet another level of satisfaction that Raby has taken from her career. When speaking about her life behind the wheel, there’s a pronounced note of wonder in her voice for her chosen profession. “Seeing our beautiful country — Mount Shasta, Mount Rainier,” she said. “Arizona down on the I-8; it’s called the Imperial Sand Dunes, and you think you’re in Saudi Arabia. Not to mention the produce farms in the San Joaquin Valley and the San Bernadino Valley with the miles and miles of strawberries and the nut trees that Blue Diamond owns. “And then out East, the mountains of Virginia. I was on this enormous bridge at night climbing over this gorge and the trees were so tall. I was climbing towards these trees and the moon was so bright, it was like daytime at night. I went up through the fog and for a couple seconds there I couldn’t see. It was a spiritual feeling. Just gorgeous.” Wherever her travels take her one thing’s for sure: Raby will always go out of her way to help others.