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SEPTEMBER 20<strong>14</strong><br />
GENERAL MANAGER<br />
Megan Cullingford-Hicks<br />
SALES MANAGER<br />
Jerry Critser<br />
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF<br />
Tammy Borrelli<br />
Paula Shaddix<br />
ON THE COVER<br />
CREATIVE DIRECTOR<br />
Chad Singleton<br />
NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES<br />
Mitzi Wright - mitziw@trucking2000.com<br />
(256) 676-3<strong>09</strong>3<br />
Jerry Critser - jerryc@targetmediapartners.com<br />
(256) 676-3<strong>09</strong>4<br />
DISTRIBUTION<br />
Target Distribution Partners<br />
FOUNDER<br />
Keith Pollard<br />
COLUMNS<br />
TRUCKING 20<strong>14</strong> is published monthly and is<br />
circulated to truck stops, truck show attendees,<br />
and purchasers of trucking equipment. Advertising<br />
and subscription rates are furnished upon request.<br />
No portion of this publication may be reproduced<br />
or copied in whole or in part without the express<br />
written permission from the publisher.<br />
All advertisements, editorials, and/or press<br />
releases are accepted and published by Pollard<br />
Publishing Group, d/b/a/ TRUCKING 20<strong>14</strong> on the<br />
representation that the advertising company, the<br />
supplier of the editorials and/or press releases<br />
are authorized to publish the entire contents<br />
and subject matter thereof. The advertiser, its<br />
advertising company, the supplier of editorials and/<br />
or press releases will defend, indemnify and hold<br />
Pollard Publishing Group, d/b/a/ TRUCKING 20<strong>14</strong>,<br />
harmless from and against and loss, expense or<br />
other liability resulting from any claims or suits for<br />
violation of privacy, plagiarism, libel, copyright or<br />
trademark infringement and any other claims or<br />
suits that may arise out of such advertisements,<br />
editorials, and/or press releases.<br />
TRUCKING 20<strong>14</strong> • (256) 835-7610<br />
Work Smarter .............................. 18<br />
18 Wheel Angels ......................... 24<br />
Bulletin Board .............................. 38<br />
Protect Yourself ........................... 42<br />
Safety Tips ................................... 46<br />
Highway Angel ............................. 48<br />
On The Road Entertainment ........ 52<br />
Bottomline .................................... 60<br />
Advertiser’s Index ........................ 66<br />
6 TRUCKING 20<strong>14</strong>
Document Imaging<br />
Document Imaging in the transportation<br />
industry is a business necessity.<br />
With the cost of finding and managing every<br />
piece of paper being so high, it is becoming<br />
a liability to a business if they do not image<br />
information and paper.<br />
There are many software solutions out there that<br />
offer document imaging, document management,<br />
document work-flow and Internet accessibility.<br />
Transportation companies nationwide are using<br />
these systems more and more to streamline<br />
business processes, improve cash flow and<br />
access and share information with employees,<br />
customers, and business partners.<br />
One of the benefits of document imaging is<br />
improved cash flow. It is estimated that a typical<br />
transportation company can realize up to a<br />
50% efficiency savings with filing, retrieval,<br />
collections and billing departments.<br />
A typical imaging product will allow you to print<br />
your freight bills along with specific supporting<br />
documents each of your customers require.<br />
These systems usually interface with your billing<br />
system so that you can automatically fax and<br />
e-mail invoices with the supporting documents<br />
directly to the customer. In addition, a copy<br />
18 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKING 20<strong>14</strong>
of the freight bill can then be automatically<br />
transferred into the Imaging system and inserted<br />
into the proper folder.<br />
Imaged documents are then available to route<br />
throughout your organization. Managers<br />
can monitor the document flow within their<br />
departments, eliminating lost and delayed<br />
documents.<br />
More and more, transportation companies are<br />
realizing the amount of wasted effort that goes<br />
into managing all of the paperwork required to<br />
run their business.<br />
In addition to the careful attention to detail<br />
required to make sure documents are categorized<br />
and filed correctly, a lot of time and legwork<br />
goes into tracking down files when they’re<br />
needed, moving storage boxes, making<br />
photocopies and destroying documents whose<br />
retention period has expired. With huge amounts<br />
of documents, and a limited staff, it’s easy for<br />
your business to be overburdened.<br />
Document imaging solutions help alleviate<br />
this burden by allowing many of these tasks to<br />
be done easily and quickly while sitting at a<br />
computer.<br />
It is hard to say how much time is wasted in<br />
retrieving documents, but some studies show<br />
that professionals spend up to two hours a day<br />
retrieving files. When many documents are<br />
needed, it’s easy to get overloaded. Reducing<br />
the time wasted searching for documents is one<br />
of the main reasons companies are installing<br />
document imaging solutions.<br />
20 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKING 20<strong>14</strong>
18 Angels<br />
Wheel<br />
Sharon Ivy Jones<br />
Date of Birth: October 17, 1968<br />
Date Missing: September 22, 2002<br />
From City/State: Norfolk, VA<br />
Age at Time of Disapperance: 33<br />
Gender: Female<br />
Race: Black<br />
Height: 64 inches<br />
Weight: 130 pounds<br />
Hair Color: Brown<br />
Hair (Other): Widow’s peak.<br />
Eye Color: Brown<br />
Complexion: Medium<br />
More Missing Persons at<br />
www.thetrucker.com<br />
Identifying Characteristics: Tatoo of “Tweety Bird” on right<br />
shoulder, round vaccination mark on upper left arm.<br />
Clothing: Black spaghetti strap top with a silver emblem in the<br />
center, black pants.<br />
Circumstances of Disappearance: Unknown. Sharon disappeared<br />
under suspicious circumstances. She left her vehicle and<br />
personal belongings behind.<br />
Investigative Agency: Norfolk Police Department<br />
Phone: (757) 664-7291<br />
For Case Updates: http://projectjason.org/forums/topic/85-<br />
missing-woman-sharon-ivy-jones-va-<strong>09</strong>222002/<br />
Sharon is Project Jason’s 18 Wheel Angel Poster Campaign for<br />
September 20<strong>14</strong>, Campaign 4. Please visit our website, and<br />
download and distribute her poster, located at http://www.<br />
projectjason.org/aan/AAN_SharonJones.pdf<br />
If you have seen any of our missing persons, please call the law enforcement agency listed. All missing persons are loved<br />
by someone, and their families deserve to find the answers they seek in regard to their disappearance.<br />
24 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKING 20<strong>14</strong>
18 Angels<br />
Wheel<br />
Clinton Devon Nelson<br />
More Missing Persons at<br />
www.thetrucker.com<br />
Alias / Nickname: Clint, Clinton Nelson-Johnson<br />
Date of Birth: 1985-08-<strong>09</strong><br />
Date Missing: 2006-<strong>09</strong>-01<br />
From City/State: Princeton, LA<br />
Missing From (Country): USA<br />
Age at Time of Disappearance: 21<br />
Gender: Male<br />
Race: White<br />
Height: 73 inches<br />
Weight: 160 pounds<br />
Hair Color: Blonde<br />
Eye Color: Blue<br />
Complexion: Light<br />
Glasses/Contacts Description: Glasses with round silver wire frames.<br />
Identifying Characteristics: Faint scars from dog bite over right eyebrow<br />
onto eye lid, corner of right eye, right temple, and lower jaw line,<br />
scar from recent stitches on left collarbone, recently fractured three left<br />
ribs and right arm, facial hair on chin and lip, previously fractured legs.<br />
Clothing: Black “ECKO” brand T-shirt, blue jeans, black knit cap, new<br />
white “DC” athletic shoes with red trim, new black leather belt, white<br />
anklet socks with gray bottoms.<br />
Circumstances of Disappearance: Unknown. Clinton was last seen<br />
at approximately 8:30pm leaving a friend’s residence in the vicinity of<br />
Ward Ln. and Hwy 80 in Princeton, LA. Clinton has a medical condition.<br />
Investigative Agency: Bossier Sheriff’s Office<br />
Phone: (318) 965-2203<br />
Updates on the case: http://projectjason.org/forums/topic/435-missing-man-clinton-nelson-la-<strong>09</strong>012006/<br />
Clinton is Project Jason’s 18 Wheel Angel Poster Campaign for<br />
September 20<strong>14</strong>, Campaign 1. Please visit our website, and download<br />
and distribute his poster, located at http://www.projectjason.org/aan/<br />
AAN_ClintonNelson.pdf<br />
If you have seen any of our missing persons, please call the law enforcement agency listed. All missing persons are loved<br />
by someone, and their families deserve to find the answers they seek in regard to their disappearance.<br />
26 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKING 20<strong>14</strong>
32 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKING 20<strong>14</strong>
Profit sharing<br />
$1,500/year<br />
Practical mile = 47.4¢<br />
Assessorial pay = 1¢<br />
Vacation/Bonus/ Training = 1.8 ¢<br />
Short route<br />
comparison<br />
based upon 2013 averages<br />
52.3¢<br />
877.665.5981 | CreteCarrierJobs.com
877.665.5981 | CreteCarrierJobs.com
It’s tIme to change lanes.<br />
Crete Carrier increased pay 2¢ per practical mile for all national OTR drivers<br />
and 4¢ for owner operators. We pay our drivers the best because they truly<br />
are the best in the industry.<br />
Do you deserve a pay raise?<br />
Join the haul of fame at CreteCarrierJobs.com or call 877.665.5981.
877.665.5981<br />
CreteCarrierJobs.com<br />
/CreteCarrierCorporation<br />
@CreteCarrier<br />
@CreteCarrier<br />
/CreteCarrierCorp
ATRI Releases Study on Effects of<br />
CMV Enforcement Disparities<br />
on Carrier Safety Performance<br />
The American Transportation Research Institute<br />
(ATRI) released its newest study, Evaluating<br />
the Impact of Commercial Motor Vehicle<br />
Enforcement Disparities on Carrier Safety<br />
Performance. According to Steve Niswander,<br />
vice president, safety policy & regulatory<br />
relations of Groendyke Transportation and<br />
ATRI Research Advisory Committee (RAC)<br />
chairman, “This assessment was ranked as the<br />
number one research issue for the industry<br />
during our annual RAC meeting in 2013 and its<br />
impact on the industry should be significant.”<br />
This analysis documents the necessity for some<br />
flexibility in developing enforcement strategies<br />
specific to a state’s needs, but also confirms<br />
that state enforcement disparities create<br />
uneven safety playing fields for carriers that<br />
have different operating patterns and mileage<br />
exposure in the lower 48 states, ATRI officials<br />
said.<br />
Furthermore, the different priorities and<br />
violation issuance rates across states<br />
dramatically undermine the uniformity of<br />
CSA — a supposedly standardized safety<br />
assessment program. By simply crossing into<br />
an adjoining state, carrier BASIC scores can<br />
change markedly.<br />
For example, ATRI’s model calculated one<br />
carrier’s Hours of Service percentile decreasing<br />
by 4.2 points, but their Vehicle Maintenance<br />
percentile increasing by 12.2 points if state<br />
violation rates were normalized. Finally, based<br />
on two nationally recognized violation lists<br />
most closely associated with future crash<br />
risk, ATRI’s research documents considerable<br />
variability in state emphasis on those violations<br />
that generate the greatest safety benefit.<br />
ATRI’s research findings generate from four<br />
specific tasks:<br />
• State Data Metrics Compendium which<br />
compares and contrasts several dozen safety<br />
and operational metrics for the lower 48 states.<br />
• Relating Violations to Crash Risk Analysis<br />
reveals that while certain violations have<br />
a stronger relationship to crash risk, these<br />
violations may not be equitably emphasized<br />
across states.<br />
• State Enforcement Objective Case Studies<br />
evaluate the impact of six specific state<br />
enforcement priorities on actual safety<br />
outcomes.<br />
• Carrier Case Studies quantify the impact of<br />
state enforcement disparities on specific motor<br />
carrier safety measures within the Safety<br />
Measurement System (SMS), based on an<br />
ATRI-developed model that assesses the impact<br />
that standardizing state enforcement activities<br />
would have on SMS scores across seven<br />
carriers.<br />
“ATRI’s study unequivocally quantifies what<br />
we know is a serious defect in the CSA scoring<br />
system – that carrier safety performance<br />
as represented by BASIC scores can be<br />
dramatically impacted by the states in which<br />
a carrier operates based on nothing more than<br />
the states’ varying enforcement priorities.<br />
Until these disparities are rectified, peer-based<br />
comparisons within CSA’s scoring system will<br />
continue to be flawed and of little value as a<br />
tool for monitoring carrier and driver safety<br />
performance unless accounted for properly,”<br />
said Brett Sant, Knight Transportation’s vice<br />
president of safety and risk management<br />
38 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKING 20<strong>14</strong>
and a member of ATRI’s Research Advisory<br />
Committee.<br />
Landstar Reveals Newest Million<br />
Mile Safe Drivers<br />
Landstar System paid tribute to the best and<br />
safest of Landstar’s owner-operators at the 3rd<br />
Annual Landstar BCO All-Star Celebration<br />
event. The event featured an awards program<br />
during which Landstar inducted 11 business<br />
capacity owners (BCOs) as Landstar Roadstars<br />
and honored 126 BCOs for driving one million<br />
consecutive miles without a preventable<br />
accident, 18 BCOs as new Two Million Mile<br />
Safe Drivers and one BCO as a new Three<br />
Million Mile Safe Driver.<br />
To top off the celebration, Landstar presented<br />
its second truck giveaway of 20<strong>14</strong>. The truck<br />
in this giveaway, sponsored by Comdata, was<br />
exclusively reserved for a Landstar Roadstar or<br />
Million Miler.<br />
BCO is Landstar’s term for the independent<br />
contractors who provide the company with<br />
transportation capacity under exclusive lease<br />
arrangements. Collectively, these <strong>14</strong>5 BCOs<br />
who make up the Million Miler Class of 2013<br />
have safely driven a total of 165 million miles –<br />
a distance that would cover the 4 million miles<br />
of public roads in the United States more than<br />
41 times. On average, it takes a truck operator<br />
10 years to travel a million miles. This distance<br />
would take the typical driver of a passenger<br />
vehicle 67 years – around the time of their 83rd<br />
birthday – to complete.<br />
“Landstar is proud to showcase this latest class<br />
of Landstar Million Mile Safe Drivers as<br />
among the industry’s best. Their talent, hard<br />
work and dedication to safety is truly worthy of<br />
celebration. They make the roads safer for all<br />
of us,” said Landstar Chairman and CEO Henry<br />
Gerkens. “We are especially proud to recognize<br />
the company’s new Three Million Mile Safe<br />
Driver, Ray Price.”<br />
Bruce Oakley Obtains Oklahoma’s<br />
Port 33<br />
Arkansas’ Bruce Oakley Inc. has purchased<br />
Johnston’s Port 33 in Inola, OK, which owned<br />
and managed four ports along the Arkansas<br />
River and the lower Mississippi River. The deal<br />
allows Bruce Oakley Inc., a diversified bulk<br />
commodity sales and transportation company in<br />
North Little Rock, AR, to expand its operations.<br />
Oakley operates ports along the Arkansas,<br />
Mississippi and Red rivers.<br />
The purchase of Johnston’s is a good fit<br />
for Oakley because of the similarities in<br />
the services both companies provide. Both<br />
companies provide transportation and storage<br />
of the products handled, but Oakley also owns<br />
the product. Oakley’s purchase of Johnston’s<br />
will open new markets for its fertilizer and<br />
grain. Oakley was founded in 1968 in El Paso,<br />
AR, by Bruce Oakley. It is operated today<br />
by Dennis Oakley and his family, who have<br />
“grown the company” to become “a diversified<br />
bulk commodity sales and transportation<br />
company” that serves customers both here and<br />
abroad.<br />
Oakley also has a diversified trucking division<br />
capable of transporting bulk commodities,<br />
through the use of end dump, pneumatic, and<br />
hopper bottom trailers. Oakley has ports in<br />
Arkansas, Louisiana and Missouri, where<br />
it provides storage, loading, unloading and<br />
transportation services. This port will also<br />
provide a new terminal to house independent<br />
contractors in the area for a variety of different<br />
load options as well as local, regional, home<br />
weekly type of freight.<br />
40 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKING 20<strong>14</strong>
PROTECT<br />
By Victor Zimmerman<br />
Did you<br />
Know…<br />
here are several changes in 20<strong>14</strong> regarding<br />
T the Fed Med Card-the popular name for<br />
the medical examiner’s certificate every CDL<br />
driver who operates vehicles with maximum<br />
gross vehicle weight of over 10,000 pounds<br />
must obtain.<br />
• By January 30, 20<strong>14</strong>, CDL drivers were<br />
required to be in full compliance to self<br />
certify to their State Driver’s License<br />
Agency (SDLA) regarding the type of<br />
commercial motor vehicle they drive or<br />
expect to drive. CDL drivers should have<br />
also provided a current Fed Med Card<br />
to their SDLA to be identified with a<br />
“certified” medical status on their driving<br />
record. Failure to maintain a “certified”<br />
status may result in loss of their CDL.<br />
• The CDL holder is responsible for<br />
transmitting their medical exam<br />
information to their SDLA according<br />
to that specific State’s requirements.<br />
Information on how a State is handling<br />
the Medical Certification requirements<br />
and to determine who to contact for<br />
additional information, is available on<br />
the FMCSA website at the following link:<br />
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registrationlicensing/cdl/MedicalCertificate_<br />
StateByStateSubmission Instructions.pdf<br />
• Beginning May 21, 20<strong>14</strong>, only those<br />
medical examiners on the FMCSA<br />
national registry may be used to obtain the<br />
required medical certificate<br />
for interstate CDL holders.<br />
Medical examiners must<br />
complete certain training<br />
concerning FMCSA’s<br />
physical qualification<br />
standards, pass a test to<br />
verify an understanding<br />
of those standards, and<br />
maintain and demonstrate<br />
competence through periodic<br />
training and testing. Medical<br />
examiners must complete<br />
periodic training every 5<br />
years and re-certify every 10<br />
years. Drivers may locate<br />
a medical examiner near<br />
them by using the website.<br />
The list includes physicians,<br />
nurse practitioners, physician assistants<br />
and chiropractors, and is available at<br />
https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov/<br />
42 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKING 20<strong>14</strong>
PROTECT<br />
Did you<br />
Know…<br />
NRPublicUI/home.seam.<br />
• The CDL holder is still required to provide<br />
the information to their SDLA (see<br />
paragraph above) after full implementation<br />
of the requirement to use medical<br />
examiners on the National Registry.<br />
state commercial motor vehicle inspectors.<br />
This is being done to protect commercial<br />
• If the CDL holder looses their medical<br />
exam they must contact the medical<br />
examiner directly for a replacement. The<br />
medical exam reports are not held in the<br />
National Registry database.<br />
• If the medical examiner is later found<br />
to be unqualified or participated in<br />
fraudulent certifications, the certificate is<br />
still considered valid. However, FMCSA<br />
may conduct an individual review of the<br />
certificate, which may be voided based<br />
upon FMCSA’s review.<br />
• The FMCSA extended the deadline<br />
until January 30, 2015, for CDL holders<br />
to retain paper copies of their medical<br />
examiner’s certificate and to make the<br />
document available for review upon<br />
request at the roadside by federal and<br />
drivers from being cited for violations<br />
because some states are not yet in full<br />
compliance with the new system.<br />
The bottom line is to get your medical examination information to your SDLA and<br />
hold on to that paper!<br />
Phone: 800-494-7517<br />
Website:<br />
www.dacfix.com www.CSA2010fix.com<br />
Mailing address:<br />
4516 Lovers Lane<br />
Suite 399 Dallas, TX 75225<br />
44 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKING 20<strong>14</strong>
SAF<br />
AFETY<br />
TIPS<br />
By Bob Hataway<br />
Have you<br />
ever<br />
had a set of your<br />
wheels run off while you<br />
are going down the highway?<br />
A driver in Fort Worth, TX was<br />
east bound on the way to his delivery<br />
destination early one morning. To his<br />
amazement, he saw a set of driver<br />
wheels going past him. He noticed the<br />
difference in the operation of his tractor<br />
and immediately pulled over to inspect the<br />
damage.<br />
The back axle had dropped down;<br />
however, it was not touching the road.<br />
Inspection of the axle revealed that the<br />
Faulty Wheel<br />
Bearings<br />
wheel bearings had failed causing them<br />
to overheat and lock up. They had broken<br />
away from the axle.<br />
The driver wheels rolled into the center<br />
median; across the west-bound traffic; up<br />
an embankment; through an intersection;<br />
and crashed into a local policeman’s<br />
passenger side. The local smokey, who was<br />
sitting at the red light, was not injured but<br />
he got a wake-up call early that morning.<br />
As funny as it was, it could have been very<br />
serious.<br />
Mechanical components that require<br />
oil and grease for lubrication are going<br />
to wear out over a period of time. A daily<br />
inspection of these items is necessary.<br />
Some points to observe are as follows:<br />
1. The maintenance shop should keep accurate records concerning the last time a<br />
replacement was made for the wheel bearings and be periodically scheduled for<br />
replacement. Anytime the wheels are jacked up, they should be rocked back and<br />
forth to determine if slack is in the bearings.<br />
2. Drivers must maintain a proper oil level for the bearings as recommended by the<br />
manufacturer. The level of oil can be monitored through the sight glass on the hub.<br />
The glass should be checked daily and notations made on the inspection report.<br />
3. Further the driver can check periodically throughout the day for the amount of heat<br />
being generated by placing his hand on the hub. If the hub is giving off excessive<br />
heat or is too hot to touch, it should be broken down immediately.<br />
That’s the way I see it - Bob Hataway<br />
- TransAlive.<br />
Bob Hataway heads up TransAlive<br />
USA, Inc., an organization dedicated to<br />
helping truckers when they have accidents<br />
away from home. More information is<br />
available by calling 800-USA-HURT.<br />
www.transalive.com<br />
46 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKING 20<strong>14</strong>
Profit sharing<br />
$1,500/year<br />
Practical mile = 48.6¢<br />
Assessorial pay = 1.3¢<br />
Vacation/Bonus/ Training = 1.6¢<br />
Short route<br />
comparison<br />
based upon 2013 averages<br />
53.6¢<br />
53.6¢<br />
Do you deserve a pay raise?<br />
Join the haul of fame at ShafferJobs.com or call 877.670.0234.<br />
877.670.0234<br />
Shaffer<br />
Jobs.com<br />
/Shaffer<br />
Trucking<br />
@CreteCarrier<br />
@Shaffer<br />
Trucking<br />
/Shaffer<br />
TruckJobs
Henry Albert Awarded the 20<strong>14</strong><br />
Gary King Memorial Award<br />
Trucker Buddy International and<br />
the Iowa 80 Group, Walcott, IA, has<br />
awarded Henry Albert, a fleet owner and<br />
professional driver, with the annual ‘Gary<br />
King Memorial Trophy’<br />
for his outstanding<br />
representation of<br />
the Trucker Buddy<br />
International program.<br />
“Henry is a stellar example<br />
of the superior and caring<br />
drivers who make the<br />
time to visit, to teach<br />
and to correspond with<br />
thousands of students<br />
throughout the year,” said<br />
Randy Schwartzenburg,<br />
executive director<br />
of Trucker Buddy<br />
International.<br />
Albert has helped<br />
schoolteacher Rachael<br />
Tann and her secondgrade<br />
students in<br />
Manheim, PA, to better<br />
Henry Albert<br />
understand the trucking industry and how<br />
trucking impacts all of their lives while<br />
encouraging them to be excellent students<br />
and valuable community members.<br />
The award was presented by Paul<br />
Abelson, an industry veteran, past board<br />
member, and highly-revered writer and<br />
editor for numerous trucking publications at<br />
the Super Truck Beauty Contest, part of the<br />
Iowa 80’s Truckers Jamboree held annually<br />
in Walcott.<br />
The late Gary King was the founder<br />
of Trucker Buddy International and the<br />
visionary who established<br />
the nonprofit 501(c)(3)<br />
organization in 1992 and<br />
dedicated the program<br />
to helping educate and<br />
mentor schoolchildren<br />
via a pen-pal relationship<br />
between professional<br />
truck drivers and children<br />
in grades K-8. Trucker<br />
Buddy matches classes of<br />
students with professional<br />
truck drivers. Every week<br />
drivers share news about<br />
their travels with their<br />
class.<br />
Albert is the owner<br />
of Albert Transportation<br />
of Statesville, NC and a<br />
current Trucker Buddy<br />
Ambassador and a<br />
member of the Freightliner Run Smart team.<br />
He has been an industry-leading contributor<br />
to help improve aerodynamics and fuel<br />
efficiency for the trucking industry.<br />
The Gary King Memorial Trophy is<br />
given to a Trucker Buddy participant of<br />
the Walcott Truckers Jamboree who shows<br />
dedication and passion for young students<br />
and the industry.<br />
48 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKING 20<strong>14</strong>
The Band Perry Helps Teens<br />
Celebrate Safe Driving<br />
Teens who commit to safe driving have the<br />
chance to bring award-winning superstar<br />
sibling sensation The Band Perry to their<br />
hometown for a private concert this coming<br />
members of The Band Perry. “Teen driver<br />
safety continues to be a major issue, and this<br />
program gives us a platform to spread the<br />
word and encourage safe driving in teens’<br />
school year.<br />
As part of the State Farm Celebrate My<br />
Drive program, the company is teaming up<br />
with<br />
The Band Perry to encourage safe driving<br />
in high schools across the U.S. and Canada.<br />
Last year more than 6.3 million safe driving<br />
commitments were made through this<br />
program. Celebrate My Drive promotes<br />
responsible driving practices like 2N2: 2<br />
eyes on the road and 2 hands on the wheel.<br />
“We have such great memories of when we<br />
first got our driver’s licenses and we love<br />
that Celebrate My Drive is such a positive<br />
program that supports new teen drivers,” said<br />
first years behind the wheel. It’s a privilege<br />
to partner with State Farm to shed light on<br />
this important issu e and hopefully help save<br />
lives.”<br />
Starting today through Oct. 7,<br />
administrators at U.S. and Canadian high<br />
schools can go to www.celebratemydrive.<br />
com to register to participate in the<br />
celebration. Teens and community members<br />
can commit to safe driving once a day<br />
every day from October 15 24 in support<br />
of their favorite high school. Two grand<br />
prize winning schools will receive a private<br />
concert from The Band Perry. The 100 high<br />
schools with the most online safe driving<br />
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commitments<br />
will win a<br />
grant award<br />
of $25,000 or<br />
$100,000.<br />
“Getting a<br />
driver’s license<br />
is a major<br />
milestone in a<br />
young adult’s<br />
life, and The<br />
Band Perry is<br />
the perfect partner to help celebrate it,” said<br />
Leif Roll, Marketing Vice President for State<br />
Farm. “Teens, in particular, connect with<br />
music in a major way,<br />
so it only makes sense<br />
to partner with one<br />
of the biggest<br />
acts in<br />
music to<br />
celebrate<br />
this new<br />
generation of<br />
teen drivers. As a<br />
leader in auto safety,<br />
we feel Celebrate<br />
My Drive has proved to be a positive way to<br />
help educate teens and their parents about<br />
teen driver safety.”<br />
54 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKING 20<strong>14</strong>
The<br />
Bottom Line<br />
By Shasta D. May<br />
A few important tax tips.<br />
ACCOUNTANTS -<br />
NOT JUST FOR TAX TIME<br />
Your accountant can be a good source<br />
of information throughout the year. In<br />
addition to tax preparation, bookkeeping<br />
and calculating your quarterly estimated tax<br />
payments; your accountant can also help<br />
you plan for major financial purchases and<br />
advise when faced with business decisions.<br />
Through planning and communication with<br />
your accountant you can make informed<br />
business decisions; avoid costly business<br />
mistakes and keep your operation running as<br />
profitably as possible.<br />
REMINDER FOR THOSE ON<br />
EXTENSION<br />
If you are on extension for the 2013 tax<br />
year and have not had your income taxes<br />
prepared, now is the time to get them done.<br />
The October 15 deadline is fast approaching,<br />
TAX TIPS<br />
and you don’t want to wait until the last<br />
minute.<br />
ESTIMATED TAX PAYMENT<br />
COMING UP<br />
September 15 is the due date for the 3rd<br />
quarter estimated tax payment for 20<strong>14</strong>.<br />
There is only one more estimated tax<br />
payment after that on January 15, 2015 for<br />
the 4th quarter. Having a tax projection done<br />
is a good way to determine where you’re at<br />
from a tax-liability standpoint.<br />
GOOD TIME FOR INCOME TAX<br />
PROJECTIONS<br />
You have eight full months of operation for<br />
the year, and it is a perfect time to project<br />
your profit and loss for the rest of the year.<br />
As a self-employed person, you need to<br />
know where you stand before the end of the<br />
year in order to make financial decisions.<br />
Having a projection done will help answer<br />
some important questions. How much should<br />
be paid in to the IRS to cover your 20<strong>14</strong><br />
tax liability? Is there anything you can do<br />
before year-end to reduce your tax liability?<br />
Will it help to buy some tires or make a<br />
contribution to a retirement account before<br />
the end of the year?<br />
Being able to answer those questions will<br />
enable you to plan for the remainder of the<br />
year. You may be planning to purchase a new<br />
truck, take some time off, do a major truck<br />
overhaul, fix up your home, or add to your<br />
savings. Done now, the projection will go<br />
a long way in indicating your tax position<br />
before the end of the year so you can do<br />
60 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKING 20<strong>14</strong>
some informed planning.<br />
Getting advice from a trucking tax specialist<br />
can keep you and the business out of trouble<br />
by making sure you get the business and<br />
financial information needed to make<br />
informed decisions, while allowing you to<br />
focus on running the business.<br />
EQUIPMENT – BUY, SELL,<br />
TRADE<br />
We get a tremendous number of calls<br />
regarding the tax ramifications of buying,<br />
selling and/or trading equipment. So here<br />
is a quick rundown of the consequences<br />
of purchasing verses trade-in. With a<br />
strong recommendation to consult with<br />
your tax advisor before you buy, sell or<br />
trade equipment. There are several tax<br />
consequences you may not be aware of. Like<br />
a taxable gain or reduction of depreciation<br />
on your new equipment.<br />
Example: Let’s assume you acquired a new<br />
tractor several years ago for $100,000, and<br />
that you have depreciated $80,000 over<br />
the last few years. Your tax<br />
basis in that property is now<br />
$20,000 (that’s the $100,000<br />
original cost less $80,000<br />
depreciation taken).<br />
If you were to sell that<br />
equipment for $50,000, you<br />
would have a gain of $30,000<br />
(that’s the sales price less the<br />
basis) and that gain is taxable.<br />
The gain is ordinary income, not capital gain.<br />
If you traded in this same equipment<br />
instead of selling, there would be no<br />
taxable gain to report on your tax return,<br />
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ut the depreciation available on your new<br />
equipment would be reduced by $30,000.<br />
The trade reduces your depreciation by the<br />
gain amount instead of creating a taxable<br />
gain.<br />
Remember, that what you owe on the<br />
equipment has nothing to do with the tax<br />
calculation or “basis”. You could sell your<br />
truck for $50,000, then turn around and pay<br />
off the $50,000 you owe on the loan and you<br />
will still have a $30,000 taxable gain to pay.<br />
Be sure you know the tax ramifications<br />
before you proceed with any equipment<br />
transactions. Your tax advisor can calculate<br />
the current basis and thereby giving you<br />
information that will help you make the<br />
most informed business decision possible.<br />
This article has been presented by MBA<br />
Tax & Bookkeeping Service, a company proud<br />
to provide Corporate/LLC filings, income tax,<br />
bookkeeping and IRS problem resolution services<br />
to truckers in all states. If you would like<br />
additional information or have questions, calls<br />
are always welcome. Contact us at 888-407-1669<br />
or visit our website at www.mbataxhelp.com.<br />
This article is provided for informational<br />
purposes only and is not intended as legal or<br />
tax advice. Each individual business situation is<br />
different and the information contained herein<br />
is meant for general information purposes only.<br />
Specific tax and legal recommendations can only<br />
be made after an individual has consulted his or<br />
her qualified tax or legal professional.<br />
64 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKING 20<strong>14</strong>
ADVERTISERS INDEX<br />
Anderson Trucking Service ........................ 8-9<br />
Arnold Transportation .................................. 51<br />
Bennett Motor Express ................................27<br />
Boyd Brothers ..............................................35<br />
BTC ..............................................................70<br />
Butler Transport ......................................43,69<br />
CalArk .....................................................Insert<br />
Celadon ............................................ Insert,2-4<br />
Central Hauling Company ......................Insert<br />
Central Refrigerated Service ...................Insert<br />
Covenant Transport .................................30,53<br />
Crete Carrier Corporation .......................Insert<br />
CRST-TCTS ..............................................5,57<br />
CRST-Van Expedited ...................................45<br />
Crystal Flash ................................................16<br />
Decker Truck Line Inc. ................................25<br />
Dynamic Transit ...........................................29<br />
E.W. Wylie ................................................... 61<br />
Gordon Trucking .....................................<strong>14</strong>-15<br />
Harris Quality ..............................................32<br />
Hunt ........................................................36,65<br />
JK Hackl.......................................................37<br />
KLLM Transport Services ......................Insert<br />
Knight Refrigerated Transportation .............33<br />
Landstar Transportation ...............................64<br />
Marten ....................................cover, 10-11,13<br />
MCT/Comcar ..........................................Insert<br />
Mercer Transportation..................................23<br />
National Van Lines.......................................62<br />
OrTran .....................................................31,63<br />
PAM Transport & PAM Cartage .............17,49<br />
Prime Inc .................................................Insert<br />
RTI ..........................................................Insert<br />
Shaffer ..........................................................47<br />
Super Service ...............................................55<br />
Swift Transportation ....................................19<br />
TA/Petro .............................................12,34,58<br />
Tango Transport ......................................28,59<br />
TMC Transportation .......................................7<br />
Trans AM ..................................................... 41<br />
Transport America ........................................ 21<br />
Transport Designs ........................................32<br />
United Road ............................................22,67<br />
USA Truck ...................................................39<br />
JRRW ...........................................................54<br />
66 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKING 20<strong>14</strong>