Trucking Life

DALLAS — In Southern Recipe‘s Annual Truck Driver Appreciation Week campaign, the brand will support St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (SCF) with a $7,500 donation. “Bringing awareness to the often-under-celebrated truck driving community has been a passion of Southern Recipe’s for more than a decade,” a news release stated. “Further amplifying SCF’s work and advocacy for truck drivers, from August 1st through September 18th, consumers are invited to enter to win weekly prize packs across the social space @SouthernRecipe and at SouthernRecipe.com.” Through this year’s cause campaign, Southern Recipe will honor the more than 3.5 million truck drivers in the U.S. “On average, these dedicated unsung heroes of the industry travel nearly 400 billion miles each year,” according to the news release. Mark Singleton, vice president of sales and marketing at Southern Recipe and Rudolph Foods, thanked truck drivers for their service. “There’s not a day that goes by that we take our truck drivers for granted,” he said. “In the midst of a challenging time for many industries, they’re still moving forward and keeping our grocery stores stocked. We’ve been celebrating these important road heroes for more than a decade now, with the help of our incredible charity partner: St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund. These men and women literally help fuel our families with food and comfort.” Shannon Currier, director of philanthropy and development at St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund, said one of the main goals is to let truck drivers know that they are not alone when they’re out on the road, calling them “road warriors.” “We love partnering with brands like Southern Recipe who help us educate consumers about this important segment of the workforce,” Currier said. “This year’s cause campaign is a great way to help everyone know just a little more about truckers’ daily struggles and passion for the profession, too.” Members of the trucking community and consumers across America are encouraged to celebrate Truck Driver Appreciation Week with Southern Recipe and SCF across the social space at SouthernRecipe.com and @SouthernRecipe.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Corey Parker of Kenansville, North Carolina, and Robert Coats of Stow, Ohio, have been honored as Highway Angels by the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) because of their acts of bravery while on the road. Since its inception in 1997, the Highway Angels program has recognized nearly 1,300 professional truck drivers for the exemplary kindness, courtesy and courage they have displayed while on the job. COREY PARKER Early in the evening on June 21, Parker was driving on a busy highway south of Ashland, Virginia, when he noticed a Lexus sedan traveling recklessly from lane to lane. “They smacked the barrier and then went out to the middle of the road, and then (went) in and smacked the barrier again,” Parker said. “I thought, ‘Something’s definitely going on.’” Parker followed the car from Ashland onto the Chippenham Parkway in Chesterfield, blasting his horn and attempting to slow down traffic to alert travelers to the erratic driver. “I didn’t want to pull up right next to it since they were just smacking the barrier, going in and out, so I just started going in and out of all the lanes and made sure no cars got on the side,” he said. Fearing the driver would crash into a car full of innocent people, Parker used his truck to guide the vehicle to a stop against a concrete barrier. “The car slowed down to about 10, 15 (mph) and smacked the barrier,” he said. “I knew that was the time to get in front of them.” Once the car was stopped, Parker approached the driver’s side, opened the door and spotted a Narcan pen in the driver’s lap. Naloxone, or Narcan, is used to reverse the effects of a drug overdose. The driver was unconscious. Moments later, police arrived. Virginia State Police (VSP) said they responded to the scene on Chippenham Highway near Strathmore Road around 8 p.m. “A green 2006 Lexus GS 300, driven by Antonio Hawkins, 32, of Richmond, had been seen all over the road by witnesses before running off the road to the left and striking a guard rail,” according to an email from Sgt. Jessica Shehan, reported CBS News 6 in Richmond. Troopers on the scene noted that both the driver and the passenger, a 28-year-old man from Richmond, were unconscious and unresponsive. According to news reports, law enforcement and first responders administered Narcan at the scene, and the two regained consciousness. The driver was checked out by paramedics on scene and refused further medical treatment. The passenger was transported to Chippenham Hospital and was discharged, VSP told media outlets. The crash is still under investigation. “All I could think of was that car hitting kids or something,” Parker said, explaining why he went to such extraordinary lengths to stop the car. Parker says he knows firsthand how drugs can impact and take over a person’s life for the worse; he was incarcerated for six years because of decisions he made while addicted. He has since recovered, is married and owns a trucking business, a property and a home. The driver of the Lexus later contacted Parker to thank him for saving his life. “I’m in the process of helping him get into rehab,” Parker said. ROBERT COATS On March 24, Coats was traveling southbound on Interstate 65 in Kentucky when he approached an accident involving two commercial motor vehicles and a car, all three of which were on fire. “I saw a big plume of smoke, and then flames,” he said. “Something just said, ‘pull over.’” Upon reaching the accident scene, he found a woman trapped in her car, which was on fire. The driver’s side door was engulfed in 4-foot-high flames. Coats climbed into the back seat of the car on the driver’s side to help. “As she was stuck in there, I reached in. I said, ‘Ma’am! Ma’am! we’ve gotta get out! We’ve gotta get out!’” Coats said. Without a moment to spare, Coats coaxed the woman to climb over the seat of the burning car into the back seat; then he proceed to pull her out of the rear door window to safety. Seconds later, the car exploded. The woman suffered multiple injuries and was airlifted to receive medical attention. Three weeks later, the woman contacted Coats to thank him. Since then, he has met with the woman and her family, who expressed gratitude for his help at the scene. “Mr. Coats used his fire extinguisher to stave off the fire that had ignited the victim’s car,” said Kentucky State Police Officer Kelly Anderson. “He entered into a funnel of two CMVs that were on fire, as well as the surrounding area. Witnesses stated he was holding back the fire until he was able to remove her and pull her to safety moments before the car exploded.” Coats said it was a miracle neither he nor the crash victim suffered any burns, despite being in a car engulfed in flames. Many have asked Coats: Why would you jump into a burning car? “There wasn’t a second thought about it. I just did it — I saw, and I went — that was it. Everything worked out in God’s favor; that’s how he wanted it,” is his response. “Mr. Coats went above and beyond and saved this lady’s life. He is a tribute to his profession,” said a report from the Kentucky State Police.

“Family” is a word that is heard frequently heard at the Iowa 80 Truckstop. After all, the “World’s Largest Truckstop” has been a part of the trucking family since it was founded by Bill Moon back in 1964. In fact, the Moon family still owns and operates the facility. But it’s not just the Moon family that carries on the tradition of taking care of travelers. When the truck stop opened, the restaurant, known as the Iowa 80 Kitchen, was operated by William and Ruth Peel. Their son, Bill Peel, also made a career at the restaurant — and the Peel family has been feeding visitors ever since. Today the Kitchen is run by William and Ruth’s grandson, Jeff Peel. Other members of the Peel family work in the full-service restaurant or manage one of the fast food franchises located in the truck stop. “We now have several family members involved,” Jeff said, adding that his cousin, Jim Peel, manages the Taco Bell and Pizza Hut Express concessions. Another cousin, Christina Hahn Peel, works at the Iowa 80 Kitchen. The food offerings at the Iowa 80 Truckstop rival the food courts in malls anywhere. Drivers can choose from their favorite fast-food brands including Dairy Queen & Orange Julius, Pizza Hut Express, Taco Bell and Wendy’s. Coffee connoisseurs can get their fix at Caribou Coffee, which shares a location with Einstein Bagels. Both the Iowa 80 Kitchen and the Wendy’s are 24-hour operations. The Peels aren’t the only family serving at the Iowa 80 Kitchen. “We have generations of family employees that have been here,” Jeff said. “Today, on our wait staff, we have a mother-and-daughter team working side by side. We might even have grandkids of somebody that worked with my grandfather.” There are families among the customers, too. “We’ve heard stories from local people who came to the restaurant with grandparents, or drivers who told us their dad brought them here on a trip,” Jeff said. Holidays are big days at the Iowa 80 Kitchen. “Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day, Easter, Christmas — we usually put on a special buffet that has a lot of the holiday fixings on it,” said Rick Denny, the Iowa 80 Kitchen’s general manager. “They happen to be some of our busiest days of the year. We’re the only place in town that’s open, and more people are eating out on the holidays so they come out and enjoy the same food they would cook at home,” Denny continued. “Drivers are very appreciative of us being open on those days and having the traditional foods available to them.” One event that brings a holiday atmosphere to the Kitchen is the annual Walcott Truckers Jamboree. The three-day event brings thousands of visitors to participate in the many scheduled events — and those visitors are hungry. Since Iowa is the No. 1 pork producing state in the nation, the event includes a Pork Chop Cookout that serves more than 5,500 chops, nearly 6,000 chicken sandwiches and 1,000 hot dogs each year. The restaurants are busy during the Jamboree, too, serving those who prefer a fast-food or a sit-down experience. The grills operate from 11 a.m. until 8:30 p.m., so many visitors to the Jamboree are fed multiple times during the three days of the festival. “We do the grilling with our own staff, plus a lot of volunteers from the community,” Denny said. “We have to staff the restaurants during that time as well, so it’s a very busy weekend.” One of the volunteer groups is a local Boy Scout troop. The Scouts can work towards earning merit badges for their work, and the Iowa 80 makes a donation to the troop in return. The Jamboree also provides an opportunity for the team to meet the drivers they serve all year at the restaurants. “At the Jamboree, getting out there and seeing a different side of everything gets you excited about what you’re doing. It helps us relate more to our customers,” Jeff said. “We’re out in the open, and anybody can walk up and give us their thoughts or share a story.” Keeping the grills going during the Jamboree has led to some interesting experiences for the team. “Weather is usually the determining factor on how the day is going to go,” Jeff said. “One year it was so hot, and the parking lot had been recently coated, and a guy’s tennis shoes actually melted. The rubber sole of the shoe came off and stuck to the pavement.” Another year brought torrential rain to the Jamboree. “We were standing in more than a foot of water, standing on pallets trying to finish the pork chops,” Jeff said. “We were trying to figure out what to do. We were wondering if we should cancel the day. Luckily, the crew unclogged a drain and the water was soon gone. We were back up and running.” When visitors arrive for the Jamboree, a holiday dinner or just for a routine stop, the Iowa 80 Kitchen family — and the Peel family — will be here to make sure they are well fed.

WALCOTT, Iowa — More than 45,000 people — including truck drivers and their families from 27 states and two Canadian provinces as well as area residents and other travelers — attended this year’s Walcott Truckers Jamboree, held July 14-16 at the Iowa 80 Truckstop. Next year’s Jamboree is set for July 13-15, 2023. “The Walcott Truckers Jamboree celebrates professional drivers and the important work they do”, said Heather DeBaillie, vice president of marketing for the Iowa 80 Group. “We thoroughly enjoy hosting this event each year and love seeing everyone come together, make new friends and join in the fun. The trucking community is amazing. From truckers to our vendor and sponsor partners to our staff who help execute this event; we are grateful for everyone who makes this big parking lot party possible.” In addition to the Super Truck Beauty Contest with nearly 100 entries, the event featured truck light shows and fireworks, the Trucker Olympics, the Trucker’s Best Friend pet contest, a 100th birthday party for a century-old truck, a pork chop cookout, free live concerts and more than 150 exhibitors. Marcel Pontbriand of Pahrump, Nevada, took home Trucker’s Choice and Best Overall Theme honors with his 1989 Peterbilt 379 and 2015 Great Dane trailer, dubbed “Cowboy of the Road.” This is the second year the Cowboy of the Road won the Trucker’s Choice category. The rig also took first place in the Working Truck category for Company Truck-Combination. For a complete list of events and winners, see below. To see additional photos and highlights from the event, visit iowa80truckstop.com. TRUCKER’S BEST FRIEND PET CONTEST WINNERS Owner Look-A-Like 1st: “Otis” and Carmen Anderson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota 2nd: “Wrangler” and Eric Goswick of Wisner, Nevada 3rd: “Firefly” and Robert Wall of Richland, Missouri Best Dressed 1st: “Gater,” owned by Amber Petty 2nd: “Otis,” owned by Carmen Anderson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota 3rd: “Firefly,” owned by Robert Wall of Richland, Missouri Best Trick 1st: “Gater,” owned by Amber Petty 2nd: “Otis,” owned by Carmen Anderson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota 3rd: “Tinsley,” owned by Al & Kym Hemerson of Ankeny, Iowa TRUCKER OLYMPICS WINNERS THURSDAY, JULY 14 Strong Pull-Men: 1st: Jeff Vargas 2nd: Travis Veurick 3rd: James Walin Strong Pull-Women 1st: Angela Niemann 2nd: Sheilah Sinon 3rd: Christina Bustos Coffee Relay 1st: Sheilah Sinon & Jeff Vargas 2nd: Tory Noggle & Angela Niemann 3rd: Kyle Weaver & Kendall Weaver Tire Roll 1st: Chad Miller 2nd: Leon Hochstetler 3rd: Jeff Vargas Strap Winding 1st: Angela Niemann 2nd: Kendall Weaver 3rd: Dave Schlabach Water Balloon Toss 1st: Angela Niemann & Tory Noggle 2nd: Kendall Weaver & Kyle Weaver 3rd: Eli (Peanut) Weaver & Leon Hochstetler FRIDAY, JULY 15 Tire Flip 1st: Kyle Weaver 2nd: Eli (Peanut) Weaver 3rd: Kendall Weaver Coffee Relay 1st: Eli (Peanut) Weaver & Leon Hochstetler 2nd: Joey Erb & Dave Schlabach 3rd: Kyle Weaver & Kendall Weaver Tire Roll 1st: Terry Reddy 2nd: Joey Erb 3rd: Chad Miller Strap Winding 1st: Eli (Peanut) Weaver 2nd: Kyle Weaver 3rd: Leon Hochstetler Water Balloon Toss 1st: Eli (Peanut) Weaver & Leon Hochstetler 2nd: Terry Reddy & Lenard Dockter 3rd: Allen Hoslette & Kevin Eush SATURDAY, JULY 17 Strong Pull-Men 1st: Dave Schlabach 2nd: Eli (Peanut) Weaver 3rd: Mark Winnicki Strong Pull-Women 1st: Jane Good 2nd: Angela Niemann 3rd: Sheilah Sinon Coffee Relay 1st: Chad Miller & Leon Hochstetler 2nd: Joey Erb & Dave Schlabach 3rd: Mark Hecter & Mark Winnicki Tire Roll 1st: Sean Pitts 2nd: Jimmy Miller 3rd: Eli (Peanut) Weaver Strap Winding 1st: Eli (Peanut) Weaver 2nd: Kenny Graber 3rd: Eli Weaver SUPER TRUCK BEAUTY CONTEST WINNERS Working Truck-Cabover: 1st: Dylan Bladders of Parowan, Utah, with “Cliff,” a 1994 Freightliner 2nd: Matt Schleuger of Wesley, Iowa, with “Not Daddy’s Money,” a 1993 Kenworth K100E Working Truck/Company Truck-Bobtail: 1st: Eva Knelsen of Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada, with “Ken Worth Jr.,” a 2021 Kenworth W900L 2nd: Kelly Richardson of Tallahassee, Florida, with “Jokes on You,” a 2022 Peterbilt 3rd: Everett Ford of Holland, Michigan, with a 2018 Peterbilt 389 Rat Rod: Winner: Tim Feidt of Maplewood, Minnesota, with a 1980 Mack Army Truck Working Truck/Company Truck-Combination: 1st: Marcel Pontbriand of Pahrump, Nevada, with “Cowboy of the Road, with a 1989 Peterbilt 379 and 2015 Great Dane 2nd: Buzzie Harris of Galena, Illinois, with a 2021 Peterbilt 567 and 2022 tanker 3rd: Lyman Fisher of Cortland, Ohio, with “Bad Decisions, a 2015 Peterbilt 389 and 2017 Eby Bull Rack Working Truck/2022-2019 Bobtail Conventional: 1st: Kurtlin Thuet of Joplin, Missouri, with “Noggie,” a 2019 Peterbilt 567 2nd: Sean Roe of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, with “Mrs. Paradise on Earth,” a 2021 Kenworth T680 3rd: Ron Brubaker of Sigourney, Iowa, with “Night Moves,” a 2020 Peterbilt 389 Working Truck/2018-2012 Bobtail Conventional: 1st: Bret Chastain of Flora, Indiana, with “Voodoo Ranger,” a 2017 Volvo VNL 730 2nd: Terry Young Jr. of Joplin, Missouri, with “Truly Blessed,” a 2015 Peterbilt 389 3rd: Sean Kinney of DeWitt, Iowa, with “Purple Crush,” a 2017 Peterbilt 389 Working Truck/2011-2004 Bobtail Conventional: 1st: Christina Busto of Bernalillo, Minnesota with “Baby Blue,” a 2008 Freightliner Century 2nd: Jerry Turner of Caldwell, Ohio, with a 2006 Peterbilt 379 Working Truck/2003-1998 Bobtail Conventional: Winner: Terry Littlefield of Rapid City, South Dakota, with a 2001 Kenworth W900L Working Truck/1997 & Older Bobtail Conventional 1st: Justin Congdon of Davenport, Iowa, with a 1974 Kenworth A model 2nd: Kenneth Liddle of Camanche, Iowa, with a 1985 Peterbilt 359 3rd: Raiko Graveran of Orlando, Florida, with a 1995 Freightliner FLD 120 Working Truck/2022-2017 Combination 1st: Richard Rukstalis of Morton, Illinois, with “Snoopy, a 2018 Kenworth T680 & 2013 Great Dane 2nd: Tim Alambar of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, with “Night Train,” a 2019 Peterbilt 389 & 2023 Timpte hopper 3rd: Dylan McCrabb of Williamsburg, Iowa, with a 2022 Peterbilt 389 & 2023 Wilson Working Truck/2016-2008 Combination 1st: Eddie Telles of La Puente, California, with “Couples Therapy,” a 2015 Peterbilt 389 & 2023 Great Dane 2nd: Nicholas Strehlow of Milledgeville, Illinois, with “It’s Always Something,” a 2014 Peterbilt 389 & 2020 Wilson hopper 3rd: Dru Dickey of Hedrick, Iowa, with “Steady Hustle, a 2012 Peterbilt 389 & 2022 Wilson livestock trailer Working Truck/2007 & Older Combination 1st: Michael & Jackie Wallace of Ashville, Alabama, with “Semper Fi,” a 2007 Freightliner Coronado & 2014 Great Dane 2nd: Daniel & Phyllis Snow of Harrison, Arkansas, with “The Goose,” a 1996 Freightliner Classic XL & 2019 Utility 3rd: Kendall Weaver of Wooster, Ohio, with a 1996 Kenworth W900L & 2022 XL Specialized trailer Show Class 1st: Dan Brubaker of Sigourney, Iowa, with “Low Life,” a 1996 Peterbilt 379 2nd: Conrad Shada of Anamosa, Iowa, with “Class of the Past,” a 2020 Peterbilt 389 3rd: Kate Whiting of Chetek, Wisconsin, with “Cherry Pie,” a 1973 Kenworth W900A Custom Paint/Bobtail 1st: Dan Brubaker of Sigourney, Iowa, with “Low Life,” a 1996 Peterbilt 379 2nd: Conrad Shada of Anamosa, Iowa, with “Class of the Past,” a 2020 Peterbilt 389 3rd: Ron Brubaker of Sigourney, Iowa, with “Night Moves,” a 2020 Peterbilt 389 Custom Paint/Combination 1st: Logan Shaw of Dyersville, Iowa, with a 2022 Kenworth W900 & 2022 Wilson 2nd: Dylan McCrabb of Williamsburg, Iowa, with a 2022 Peterbilt 389 & 2023 Wilson 3rd: Tim Alambar of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, with “Night Train,” a2019 Peterbilt 389 & 2023 Timpte hopper Custom Graphics/Bobtail 1st: James Nalin of Marana, Arizona, with “American Patriot,” a 2022 Freightliner Cascadia 2nd: Eva Knelsen of Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada, with “Ken Worth Jr.”, a 2021 Kenworth W900L 3rd: Dawson Taylor of Cameron, North Carolina, with “Roll of the Dice,” a 2020 Freightliner Cascadia Custom Graphics/Combination 1st: Jonathan Alley of Raphine, Virginia, with “Wicked Sensation,” a 2017 International Lonestar & 2019 Great Dane 2nd: Michael & Jackie Wallace of Ashville, Alabama, with “Semper Fi,” a 2007 Freightliner Coronado & 2014 Great Dane 3rd: Buzzie Harris of Galena, Illinois, with a 2021 Peterbilt 567 & 2022 Tanker Polish & Detail/Bobtail 1st: Conrad Shada of Anamosa, Iowa, with “Class of the Past,” a 2020 Peterbilt 389 2nd: Dan Brubaker of Sigourney, Iowa, with “Low Life,” a 1996 Peterbilt 379 3rd: Kate Whiting of Chetek, Wisconsin, with “Cherry Pie,” a 1973 Kenworth W900A Polish & Detail/Combination 1st: Daniel & Phyllis Snow of Harrison, Arkansas, with “The Goose,” a 1996 Freightliner Classic XL & 2019 Utility 2nd: Wesley Ward of Maynardville, Tennessee, with “Prayerbilt,” a 2004 Peterbilt 379 & 2014 MAC Flatbed 3rd: Luke Oligschlaeger of Iberia, Missouri, with a 2020 Kenworth W900 & 2020 Great Dane Interior/OEM Sleeper-Bobtail 1st: Kelly Richardson of Tallahassee, Florida, with “Jokes on You,” a 2022 Peterbilt 389 2nd: Scott Anderson of Clarden, Iowa, with a 1985 Peterbilt 359 3rd: Dawson Taylor of Cameron, North Carolina, with “Roll of the Dice,” a 2020 Freightliner Cascadia Interior/OEM Sleeper-Combination 1st: Kendall Weaver of Wooster, Ohio, with a 1996 Kenworth W900L & 2022 XL Specialized trailer 2nd: Chad Miller of New Columbia, Pennsylvania, with “Regan,” a 2000 Kenworth W900L & 2020 Great Dane 3rd: Dylan McCrabb of Williamsburg, Iowa, with a 2022 Peterbilt 389 & 2023 Wilson Interior/OEM Conversion Sleeper 1st: Dan Brubaker of Sigourney, Iowa, with “Low Life,” a 1996 Peterbilt 379 2nd: Ron Brubaker of Sigourney, Iowa, with “One of a Kind,” a 1993 Peterbilt 379 3rd: Marcel Pontbriand of Pahrump, Nevada, with “Cowboy of the Road,” a 1989 Peterbilt 379 & 2015 Great Dane Interior/Custom Sleeper 1st: Daniel & Phyllis Snow of Harrison, Arkansas, with “The Goose,” a 1996 Freightliner Classic XL & 2019 Utility 2nd: Michael & Jackie Wallace of Ashville, Alabama, with “Semper Fi,” a 2007 Freightliner Coronado & 2014 Great Dane 3rd: Richard Rukstalis of Morton, Illinois, with “Snoopy,” a 2018 Kenworth T680 & 2013 Great Dane Lights at Night/Bobtail-Theme 1st: Eva Knelsen of Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada, with “Ken Worth Jr.,” a 2021 Kenworth W900L 2nd: Kate Whiting of Chetek, Wisconsin, with “Cherry Pie, a 1973 Kenworth W900A 3rd: Kenny Graber of Partridge, Kansas, with “Low Stress,” a 1996 Kenworth W900L Lights at Night/Bobtail-Most Unique 1st: Conrad Shada of Anamosa, Iowa, with “Class of the Past,” a 2020 Peterbilt 389 2nd: Kelly Richardson of Tallahassee, Florida, with “Jokes on You,” a 2022 Peterbilt 3rd: Gary Walters of Defiance, Ohio, with a 1995 Kenworth W900L Lights at Night/Bobtail-Overall Presentation 1st: Dan Brubaker of Sigourney, Iowa, with “Low Life,” a 1996 Peterbilt 379 2nd: Everett Ford of Holland, Michigan, with a 2018 Peterbilt 389 3rd: Dawson Taylor of Cameron, North Carolina, with “Roll of the Dice,” a 2020 Freightliner Cascadia Lights at Night/Combination-Theme 1st: Daniel & Phyllis Snow of Harrison, Arkansas, with “The Goose,” a 1996 Freightliner Classic XL & 2019 Utility 2nd: Michael & Jackie Wallace of Ashville, Alabama, with “Semper Fi,” a 2007 Freightliner Coronado & 2014 Great Dane 3rd: Marcel Pontbriand of Pahrump, Nevada, with “Cowboy of the Road,” a 1989 Peterbilt 379 & 2015 Great Dane Lights at Night/Combination-Most Unique 1st: Douglas Prier of Dyersville, Iowa, with a 2022 Kenworth W900L 2nd: Nichlaus Strehlow of Milledgeville, Illinois, with “It’s Always Something,” a 2014 Peterbilt & 2020 Wilson Hopper 3rd: Marcel Pontbriand of Pahrump, Nevada, with “Cowboy of the Road,” a 1989 Peterbilt 379 & 2015 Great Dane Lights at Night/Combination-Overall Presentation 1st: Michael & Jackie Wallace of Ashville, Alabama, with “Semper Fi,” a 2007 Freightliner Coronado & 2014 Great Dane 2nd: Logan Shaw of Dyersville, Iowa, with a 2022 Kenworth W900 & 2022 Wilson 3rd: Tim Alambar of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, with “Night Train,” a 2019 Peterbilt 389 & 2023 Timpte hopper Best Overall Theme Winner: Marcel Pontbriand of Pahrump, Nevada, with “Cowboy of the Road,” a 1989 Peterbilt 379 & 2015 Great Dane Trucker’s Choice Winner: Marcel Pontbriand of Pahrump, Nevada, with “Cowboy of the Road,” a 1989 Peterbilt 379 & 2015 Great Dane

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – At the Arkansas Technician Championship in Rogers in June, the Arkansas Trucking Association (ATA) announced the winner of a new award: the Maintenance Professional of the Year Award. The inaugural recipient, Ryan Womack, fleet maintenance superintendent for McKee Foods Transportation, LLC, was named at the awards banquet on June 24. “We have long recognized the top driver and safety professional at our annual conference, so we are thrilled to add this award and recognize the men and women who keep our equipment safely on the road,” Shannon Newton, ATA president, said. “We could not have given this inaugural award to a more deserving candidate than Ryan. He is a dynamic leader within his company, our association and our industry.” Womack’s credentials include being a NATMI certified supervisor of maintenance/equipment and automotive service excellence medium-duty/heavy-duty truck technician. Within his community, he has worked with local schools to recruit students into trucking. Womack sits on the Northwest Technical Institute’s medium- and heavy-duty truck advisory board. Within the ATA, he serves on the Carl Tapp Technician Scholarship Committee and Technician Curriculum Advisory Committee, is a member of the 40 Under 40 Council and was recently appointed chair of the Maintenance & Technology Council. Womack holds an associate degree in business management and is currently working toward a bachelor’s in supply chain management. Nominees for the Maintenance Professional of the Year Award were evaluated based on their noteworthy contributions to their company’s maintenance program as well as professional certifications and credentials. All member companies of the ATA are eligible to nominate maintenance professionals for this award.

BALTIMORE — The Top Tech competition was held at the Maryland Motor Truck Association, and HDA Truck Pride sent six of their representatives to participate in the competition. Of the six to participate, Luke Noyes from Blaine Brothers in Clearwater, Minnesota, and Brian Judy from RT&T Repair in East Dubuque, Illinois, successfully completed and passed the competitions’ exams and hands on skill challenges, according to a news release. They will be heading to the TMC SuperTech competition this September located in Cleveland. This will be Noyes’ first time and Judy’s fourth time advancing to the finals. During the finals, these two will be challenged with a new set of exam questions as well as skill-based material that will be more stringent than the previous competition. “Although the competition will be intense,” Tina Hubbard, president of HDA Truck Pride, said. “We believe Luke Noyes and Brian Judy are ready to showcase the best skill and talent HDA Truck Pride technicians have to offer and one of which, will come out in the end as a SuperTech winner.” 

Candace Hunter was running a successful tax business in 2019 when love intervened. She met Rickie Braden, who was interested in starting a business of his own. Working together to consider the type of business that would provide the greatest chance for success, the couple decided on trucking. While Braden went to CDL school to learn the ropes, Hunter immersed herself in researching the trucking field. Then she climbed into the cab and rode with Braden to gain first-hand knowledge. “I just went on the road with him,” she said. “I was just teaching myself about everything, on how to start a trucking company, what we would need to do as far as budgeting, startup, and so on. As we were going he was teaching me about things, how his day is set up and what he needs to do with the trucking job. We did that for a whole year.” During those early days, the couple saved as much money as they could, preparing to buy a truck and start a business of their own. A year ago, they bought their truck, a 2016 Volvo VNL 670, and began running under their own authority as Prolific Transport Corp. “Everything has been going great since then,” Hunter said. Today, Braden still does the driving while Hunter handles dispatching, broker relations, accounting and more. While managing her own business keeps Hunter busy, she says she also wants to help others start trucking their own businesses. To that end, their company website, prolifictransport.net, features the trucking operation as well as Hunter’s educational materials. She offers courses and consultation in dispatching, understanding business credit, building an email list and more. She has also published an eBook, “Beginner’s Guide to Successful Dispatching,” that covers topics such as how to set up and market your own dispatch company, negotiating rates, bookkeeping and more. While traveling, she has continued her college studies and recently earned a Master of Business Administration degree in business. She plans to continue her studies. “I’m going for my doctorate now,” she said. “I plan to major in psychology and open a practice.” The couple chose their Volvo tractor because of its ride comfort and fuel efficiency. “We have a refrigerator, TV and an air fryer,” Hunter said. “I can cook ribs or anything.” When they need to take a little time off, Hunter works to books loads going near their vacation destination. “We went to Colorado last year for Valentine’s Day,” she remarked. “It was my favorite vacation.” It’s not surprising that Hunter is concerned about rising fuel prices, but she says they haven’t suffered yet from some of the low spot rates being offered. “Honestly, we’ve been consistent on what our target goal is,” she said. “Sometimes, it’s how you book the load. Your negotiation skills definitely play a part, and I teach that in my book, on just using the things that are going on in our economy to kind of navigate that price index.” One of her techniques is to book loads that allow for early delivery, allowing the driver to move on to another load and keep the cash flowing. Another is to make sure the rates cover the higher cost of fuel. “Some of the brokers work with us giving us fuel surcharge. If they don’t give us that, we try to calculate it into our pricing and try to get it on the back end,” she explained. Hunter also considers the time frame of each load, rejecting those that tie up the equipment longer than necessary. “Often, they’ll try to give us a load over the weekend — they want us to pick up something on Friday and hold on to it until Monday. So, I’m going to ask for what I want for those three days.” She is meticulous about her bookkeeping. “I do it on a weekly basis, what we’re making cost per mile and what we’re spending on fuel,” she explained. She and Braden go over the numbers every month, evaluating what went right and identifying areas for improvement. The source of the loads Hunter books plays a role as well. She prefers the DAT load boards, if time permits. “They give you more time for negotiating back and forth,” she said. “If I need a load more quickly, I go directly to one of the carriers we deal with. If I have more time, I’ll go on a dashboard, since I can be more successful there.” Hunter credits the couples’ success to their attitude and approach. “We always try to keep a positive mind,” she stressed. “I visualized this day, with us starting this company, us going in and out of town, and I kept speaking it into existence. And even when we have hard times, we always try to stay positive with it.” She regularly engages in one-sided conversations with the couple’s Volvo tractor, which they’ve affectionately named M&M. Hunter says the name stands for “More Millions. “I tell it how much I appreciate her taking us where we needed to go,” she said with a laugh, adding that the practice has rubbed off on Braden, who now also talks to the truck. Hunter says she has plans to grow the company, including buying a second truck soon. “The next four years, if we do one truck a year, we’ll be where we really want to be,” she said. The goal is for both her and Braden to come out of the truck, taking on training and administrative roles in the company and hiring drivers. For now, they are content to travel together, along with Yorkshire Terrier “Cocoa.” In the meantime, Hunter wants to share her experience with others. “You can work together with a significant other in harmony,” she said. “You can grow a business from nothing, make money together and just live a happy life.”

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Nine professional truck drivers and two technicians have qualified to compete for national titles after taking top prizes in the 2022 Arkansas Trucking Championship this weekend. The written and hands-on competitions brought together 108 of the best drivers and 50 of the top technicians in the state for a demonstration of safety knowledge and skill. Hosted by the Arkansas Trucking Association, the championship was held June 24-25 at the Rogers Convention Center in Rogers. “Through pandemics, heat waves and holidays, truck drivers and technicians are always working to keep trucks safely on the road so we can enjoy the things we want and need, from medicine to swing sets and everything in between,” Shannon Newton, president of Arkansas Trucking Association, said. “All of the men and women who competed at the Arkansas Trucking Championship deserve to be congratulated not only for their professional achievements, but for their commitment to safety and for supporting our communities.” Over the course of the two-day event, drivers tested their skills in a pre-trip inspection competition, written exam and hands-on obstacle course. June 25’s driving skills portion was the biggest event, attracting hundreds of cheering friends, family, colleagues and spectators. To qualify for the truck driving championship, contestants must be accident free for the past year. The following professional truck drivers will represent Arkansas in their respective classes at the National Truck Driving Competition, to be held Aug. 16-19 in Indianapolis. 2022 Arkansas Truck Driving Championship Grand Champion and Sleeper Class Winner: Dennis Hall of Tyson Foods, Inc. 3 Axle: Chaunce Umfleet (Lonoke) of FedEx Express 4 Axle: Rick Dean (Searcy) of Walmart Transportation 5 Axle: Brent France of Maverick Transportation Flatbed: Marcus Rush (Greenbriar) of Walmart Transportation Step Van: Chris James (Springdale) of FedEx Ground Straight Truck: Eric Clark (Jonesboro) of FedEx Freight Tank: Bret McBain (Bella Vista) of Walmart Transportation Twins: Aaron Frisby (Little Rock) of Walmart Transportation Technicians competed in two tracks: truck and trailer. Jesse Elmore of Doggett Freightliner was crowned the Truck Technician Grand Champion. Elmore, a Van Buren, Arkansas. resident, took home trophies in four of 14 stations. On the trailer technician track, Kade Bring of Tyson Foods, Inc. was named Grand Champion. Bring, a Russellville, Arkansas. resident, was a top-two finisher in six of nine stations. In September, Elmore and Bring will represent Arkansas in the National Technician Skills Competition, SuperTech 2022, in Cleveland, Ohio. “The Arkansas Trucking Championship provides an opportunity for drivers and technicians to demonstrate how much they know and do to keep commercial vehicles safe for the communities they visit every day,” Newton said. “All the competitors represented their companies and our industry well at the state-level, and I am excited to cheer on Dennis, Jesse, Kade and the rest of the Arkansas Team at nationals.” The following companies have made substantial financial contributions in support of our industry’s technicians and drivers: ABF Freight; Arkansas Trucking Academy; CalArk International; Doggett Freightliner of Arkansas; FedEx Freight; FedEx Ground; J.B. Hunt Transport; Maverick Transportation; MHC; PAM Transport; Rush Truck Centers; Stallion Transportation Group; Tyson Foods; Utility Tri-State, Inc.; Walmart Transportation LLC and Visit Rogers. Their support allows for a top-notch competition to celebrate highway safety. For a list of all the 2022 Arkansas Trucking Championship winners, visit arkansastrucking.com.