T2K_03-17_OnlinEdition

MARCH 2017
GENERAL MANAGER
Megan Hicks
SALES MANAGER
Jerry Critser
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Tammy Borrelli
Charlene Abernathy
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Chad Singleton
EDITOR
Sean O’Connell
ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Roger Fair
1.256.676.3688
rogerf@targetmediapartners.com
Sean Hayes
1.256.405.4017
seanh@htwoservices.com
John Hicks
1.770.418.9789
johnh@targetmediapartners.com
Meg Larcinese
1.678.325.1025
megl@targetmediapartners.com
Greg McClendon
1.678.325.1023
gregmc@targetmediapartners.com
COLUMNS
Bulletin Board...........................14
Highway Angel..........................24
Bottom Line..............................36
Advertiser’s Index.....................48
COPYRIGHT: Copyright 2017 Wilshire Classifieds,
LLC. Publisher as sumes no responsibility for
unsolicited material. Reproduction in whole or in
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TRUCKING 2017 • (256) 835-7610
4 TRUCKING 2017

Maverick Transportation to
Sponsor Smart Phone Truckers
Million Dollar Giveaway
Arkansas-based Maverick Transportation LLC
recently announced its sponsorship of the 2017
Smart Phone Truckers Million Dollar Giveaway.
This year, 12
trucker finalists
will have the
opportunity to
win $1 million.
“Maverick Transportation is so excited to
be one of the sponsors of this great contest,”
said Kim Williams, Maverick Transportation’s
Executive Vice President. “It will certainly be
an anticipated, fun event that brings a lot of
attention to the transportation industry.”
The Chance to Win $1 Million Contest is
open to all Class A CDL holders. Drivers
can register through July 20, 2017 at http://
smartphonetrucker.com/maverickmilliondollar/,
on social media or at the Mid-America Trucking
Show in Louisville, Ky., in March. The 12
finalists, chosen on July 21, will be invited to
attend the Great American Trucking Show in
Dallas, Texas.
In addition to the Chance to Win prize, an
extra $100,000 will be donated to veterans
through the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (IFHF).
“One of the reasons we’re proud that
Maverick is sponsoring this contest is because
of the support it offers to veterans through
IFHF,” said Williams. “We strive to give back
to our communities and our industry through
several worthy charitable organizations but our
servicemen and women are especially close to
our hearts.”
On the last day of the Dallas truck show,
August 26, the finalists will be given a 4-digit
number combination. They will then take turns
entering the numbers into a contest kiosk at the
Target Media booth to try to match the winning
code. All 12 finalists will win a prize regardless
of whether or not the million-dollar prize is
awarded.
The contest is free to enter and
no purchase is necessary. To enter
or to learn more about the Smart
Phone Trucker giveaway, visit www.
SmartPhoneTrucker.com.
FMCSA Launches Re-Designed
New Entrant Program Website
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration recently launched its redesigned
New Entrant Program website, updated to help
motor carriers understand their responsibilities
during their first 18 months on the road.
The enhanced website introduces carriers
to federal safety regulations and explains how
FMCSA and state partners monitor carrier
safety compliance during the New Entrant
Program, which they do by conducting a safety
audit on new carriers.
A safety audit is a review of a carrier’s safety
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management controls and a sample of required
records to assess safety compliance.
To help carriers understand what to expect
during a safety audit, FMCSA also launched a
guidebook to help carriers prepare by gathering
documentation that auditors might request to
verify compliance with safety regulations.
Once a carrier successfully completes the
New Entrant Program, they continue to be
monitored through roadside inspections and
state crash reports under FMCSA’s Compliance,
Safety, Accountability (CSA) compliance and
enforcement program.
Through the website, carriers can access
FMCSA resources and programs and an
FMCSA spokesperson said the agency was
encouraging all carriers to visit the New Entrant
Program website to find the tools they need to
perform safely on the nation’s roads.
Roadrunner Freight Announces
Significant Lane Enhancements
Impacting 155 Lanes in 18 Major
Markets & Key Addition to Senior
Leadership Team
Roadrunner Freight recently announced
significant improvements to its service
standards, impacting 155 lanes across 18 major
markets, including San Francisco, Seattle,
Chicago, Atlanta, Houston and Indianapolis, to
name a few.
The new lane enhancements enable
Roadrunner Freight, a Top 20 national LTL
provider, to expedite nearly 30,000 shipments
each month, ensuring delivery one to two
days earlier than previously available. These
enhancements are currently in effect and will
begin benefitting Roadrunner Freight customers
immediately.
Along with the lane enhancements,
Roadrunner Freight also today announced an
expansion to its executive leadership team with
the appointment of Frank Hurst as senior vice
president of sales and marketing.
“As part of our ‘Less-Than-Truckload.
More-Than-Expected’ mission, these service
standards improvements demonstrate that we
are walking the talk,” said Grant Crawford,
President of Roadrunner Freight. “Building
upon our rebranding, which we announced
this past November, these enhancements and
the addition of senior level staff, including the
recent appointment of industry veteran Frank
Hurst, are just the first step in our plan to further
differentiate ourselves as the ideal cost-effective
LTL option in the industry.”
Hurst brings extensive experience within
the industry to his new role with Roadrunner
Freight. Having held multiple leadership
positions, Hurst spent 16 years at FedEx
Freight, was responsible for the turnaround
and transition of the US LTL business at Vitran
Express and most recently served as vice
president/general manager for North American
Corporation.
“This change is a significant initiative
affecting nearly 20 percent of our total
shipments. We’re improving our transport
times by one-day in major markets and in some
markets, we will improve by two days. Best
of all, we’re doing so without increasing costs
for our customers, which support our charge of
providing our customers more than expected in
2017.” Crawford concluded.
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CFI Professional Driver Jerry
Ginter Named Highway Angel For
Helping Stroke Victim
Jerry Ginter, a professional truck driver
for CFI, based in Joplin, Missouri, has been
named a Highway Angel by the Truckload
Carriers Association for helping a man who
suffered a stroke while driving.
On August 24, 2016, at
6:30 p.m., Ginter was driving
eastbound on Interstate 70 outside
of Denver.
As he approached a stretch of
construction on the highway, he
noticed a seemingly distressed
Suburban coming towards him in
the eastbound lane.
Ginter put on his flashers to
warn the drivers behind him.
Just then, the Suburban stopped
in the middle of the highway.
A woman exited the passenger
side of the vehicle, ran to Ginter’s
truck, and explained that the
driver had had a stroke.
Out of the corner of his eye,
Ginter saw the Suburban begin
to move again, heading straight toward his
tractor-trailer.
Knowing he had to take action, Ginter
jumped from his truck and ran to the
Suburban.
Inside the car he saw the driver
unconscious with his foot on the accelerator.
Ginter opened the driver’s door and began
running alongside the vehicle trying to shift
the car into park and to remove the keys.
The situation worsened when the driver
regained consciousness and, still
dazed, thought that Ginter was
trying to harm him.
“I was trying to get the keys
away to prevent him from leaving
and he was trying to drive away,”
said Ginter. Finally, another driver
was able to maneuver into the
passenger side, and together they
were able to stop the vehicle and
remove the keys.
Mark McConachie Ginter quickly moved the
Suburban and his tractor-trailer
to the nearest shoulder to give an
ambulance space to reach them
in the construction zone. An
ambulance that was on its way
back to Kansas from transferring
a patient to Colorado heard chatter
on their radio and stopped to
assist. The victim and was later treated at a
local hospital.
Ginter has been driving for 17 years and
has accrued more than two million accidentfree
miles. When asked about this incident
he said, “It could have turned into a bad
situation, but luckily I realized what was
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going on and was able to back out
of the situation. It was a busy 45
minutes, but I am more than happy
to have helped out.”
For his willingness to help others,
TCA has presented Ginter with a
certificate, patch, lapel pin, and
truck decals. CFI also received a
certificate acknowledging Jerry
Ginter as a Highway Angel.
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The
Bottom Line
By Shasta D. May
TAX TIME
QUESTIONS
Is it true we have until April 18, 2017 to
file our tax returns?
The official deadline to file your federal
income tax return each year can change.
Yes, it's supposed to be April 15 — unless
something interferes with that deadline, such
as because April 15 falls on a holiday. Under
a special rule, whenever a tax deadline falls
on a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday,
it's moved to the next business day. Due to
the weekend and because of Emancipation
Day – the anniversary of President Lincoln
signing the Emancipation Act in 1862. The
due date for filing your 2016 Individual Tax
Return is Tuesday, April 18 in 2017. You
have until October 16, 2017 if you file a
request for an extension on or before that
date. However, first quarter estimated tax
payments for 2017 are due Monday, April 17,
2017.
I am a company driver and was told I
could claim per diem, is that true?
Yes, the same rules apply except
you must be able to file an itemized
return and cannot deduct any overnights/
meal allowance you were reimbursed
(reimbursements are reflected on your
payroll stub and are not taxed). You can
also write off any expenses incurred that are
necessary or required in the performance of
your job and/or operation of the truck but
are not reimbursed by your company, such
as, uniforms, gloves, logbooks, maps, cell
phone, CB, tools, Windex, paper towels,
showers, etc. Remember, as a company
driver these deductions are only available if
you itemize and are not available if you take
the standard deduction. Some individuals
qualify to itemize based on the per diem
deduction alone. If you are not sure if you
can file an itemized return or not contact
your tax preparer.
What is the per diem meal allowance rate
for the 2016 tax
year?
Transportation
worker’s meal
allowance or per
diem amount is
$63 per day for
all of 2016 and is
80% deductible.
This amount
remains the same
for 2017 as well.
How do I qualify for the home office
deduction?
To qualify for the home office deduction,
the home office must be your principle place
of business. You must use the home office
regularly and exclusively for administration
and management of your business. The
deduction is in direct relation to space used,
if you have a 2500 square foot home and
use 250 square feet as office space (10%)
then your deduction will be 10% of your
rent/mortgage and utilities. Be aware that
the home office is a much-abused deduction
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according to the IRS and is considered a
red flag. Make sure you do not overstate
this deduction and have documentation to
substantiate your claim.
There is also the Simplified Method for
computing home office deduction. Under
this simplified method, the deduction equals
$5 multiplied by the home’s square footage
used for qualified business use, up to 300
square feet. Example: 250 square feet of
home office use would equal a $1,250 home
office deduction using the simplified method.
I owed more tax than I thought I would.
How much of my income should I be
setting aside for taxes?
Bottom Line
The
There
are many
different tax
situations
but a good
practice is to
set aside 25
percent to 30
percent of your net income.
Can I deduct the miles I put on my car for
business errands?
Yes, be sure to keep track of all the
business mileage you put on your personal
vehicle, take an odometer reading when you
first start tracking miles, the beginning of the
year is optimum
and then again
at the end of
the year. We
recommend keep
a log/notebook
in the glove box
for noting dates
and miles of all
business usage of your vehicle. Business
mileage would include business banking,
picking up truck parts, office supplies,
postage, etc. The business mileage rate for
2016 tax year is .54 cents per mile.
This article has been presented by MBA
Tax & Bookkeeping Service, a company proud
to provide Corporate/LLC filings, income tax,
bookkeeping and IRS problem resolution
services to truckers in all states. If you would
like additional information or have questions,
calls are always welcome. Contact us at
888-407-1669 or visit our website at www.
mbataxhelp.com.
This article is provided for informational
purposes only and is not intended as legal or
tax advice. Each individual business situation
is different and the information contained
herein is meant for general information
purposes only. Specific tax and legal
recommendations can only be made after an
individual has consulted his or her qualified
tax or legal professional.
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EXCEPTIONAL
BENEFITS
HUGE
SIGN-ON BONUS
PAID
TRAINING
$5,000 Sign On Bonus
Immediate Need for OTR and Local Drivers
(must live near terminals for local work)
GENEROUS BENEFIT PACKAGE:
• Sign on bonus, Up to $5,000 for
Experienced Car Haulers
• Paid Vacation & Personal time
• Paid Holidays
• Employer Paid Medical & Life Ins.
• 401K Matching
• Paid Training
Terminal Locations
•Detroit, MI •San Antonio, TX •Hapeville/Lawrenceville, GA
•Wentzville, MO •Centreveille, IL
SEEKING:
•Experienced car haulers with
minimum 1 year of experience
•Drivers interested in becoming
car haulers, must have 1 year
of CDL experience
Hiring
map
TRANSPORTATION
Equal Opportunity Employer
866-385-4046

ADVERTISERS INDEX
Alabama Motor Express.......................20
ATS.......................................................40
Beacon Transport................................. 17
Bennett.................................................28
Carrier One Inc....................................39
Celadon ........................................... 9, 25
Central Marketing................................ 37
Covenant Transport.............................. 21
Dot Line...............................................49
E W Wylie............................................46
Freedom Transport...............................42
Harris Quality......................................20
Heartland Express................................ 35
Hogan Transports, Inc.......................... 33
Hurricane Express................................ 23
JK Hackl............................................... 11
JMN...................................................... 43
Johnsrud Transport...............................26
K & B Transportation.........................6-7
Lilly Trucking of Virginia, Inc............. 31
Logix....................................................44
Marten Transport.................... Cover, 2-3
MATS...................................................18
Melton Truck Lines........................ 10, 41
Michelin...............................................50
Millis Transfer..................................... 45
Minstar................................................. 27
Reliable Carriers..................................34
RTI....................................................... 13
Schneider National, Inc....................... 47
Schuster................................................29
Smith Transport................................... 51
Trans Am.............................................. 15
Transport Design..................................32
Trans-United........................................42
Turquoise Trucking..............................42
UPS Truckload.....................................19
XPO Logistics......................................52
Koch Trucking.......................................8
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