IC_09-15_ONLINEDITION

CONTENTS 

September 2015 • Vol. 18 • Iss. 9 

18 Wheel Angels 

Help Us Find the Missing– 

All missing persons are loved by someone, and 

their families deserve to find the answers they 

seek in regard to their disappearance. 

This month: 

Neli-Cristina Rogers 

& Mateo Fernandez 

Page 14 

s t a f f 

General Manager Megan Cullingford 

Sales Manager Jerry Critser 

Creative Director Chad Singleton 

Administrator Tammy Borrelli 

Account Executives 

Bryan Dempsey 

bryand@targetmediapartners.com 

Roger Fair 

rogerf@targetmediapartners.com 

Sean Hayes 

seanh@targetmediapartners.com 

Big Wheel Justice 

Would You Advise 

Your Child to 

Become a 

Trucker 

Page 30 

Business Solutions ...........20 

IC News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 

Ad Index ..................40 

Target Media Partners 

P.O. Box 2685 

Anniston, AL 36202 

(256) 237-2801 • (256) 237-2802 Fax 

Independent Contractor is published monthly by Target 

Media Partners. Reproduction of this publication without 

written permission is strictly prohibited. All advertisements‐and‐editorials‐are‐accepted‐and 

published‐on‐the 

representation that the advertising company and/or the 

supplier of editorials are authorized to publish the entire 

contents and subject matter thereof. The advertiser, its 

advertising company and the supplier of editorials will 

defend, indemnify and hold Target Media Partners 

DBA/Independent Contractor harmless from and against 

any loss expense or other liability resulting from any 

claims or suits for libel, violation of privacy, plagiarism, 

trademark or copyrights infringement and any other claims 

or suits that may arise out of publication of such advertisements, 

editorials and/or press releases. Press releases are 

expressly covered within the definition of editorials. 

Member of NATSO, Inc. 

4 INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR 2015 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com

18 Angels 

Wheel 

Mateo Fernandez 

More Missing Persons at 

www.thetrucker.com 

Date of Birth: 09/20/1936 

Date Missing: 7/16//2015 

Age at time of disappearance: 78 

City Missing From: Chicago 

State Missing From: IL 

Gender: Male 

Race: Latino 

Height: 5’ 6” 

Weight: 140 lbs 

Hair Color: Grey 

Eye Color: Brown 

Identifying Characteristics: He has a large scar on his chest. 

Clothing: He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, navy blue pants 

and brown sandals. 

Circumstances of Disappearance: Mateo was last seen 2am on July 

17, 2015 in bed watching TV in his West Lawn neighborhood home. 

Medical Conditions: He is diabetic and had a kidney transplant. He is 

in immediate need of medical attention. 

Investigative Agency: Chicago Police Central Area Missing Persons 

Agency Phone: (312) 747-8380 

Updates on the case: 

http://projectjason.org/forums/topic/3943-missing-man-mateo-fernandez-il-7162015/ 

Mateo is Project Jason’s 18 Wheel Angel Poster Campaign for September 

2015, Campaign 1. Please visit our website, and download and 

distribute his poster, located at http://www.projectjason.org/download/ 

Awareness-Angels-Network/AAN_MateoFernandez.pdf 

If you have seen any of our missing persons, please call the law enforcement agency listed. All missing persons are loved 

by someone, and their families deserve to find the answers they seek in regard to their disappearance. 

14 INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR 2015 HUNDREDS OF JOBS www.TruckJobSeekers.com

18 Angels 

Wheel 

Neli-Cristina Rogers 

Date of Birth: 01/11/1988 

Date Missing: 06/19/2015 

Age at time of disappearance: 27 

City Missing From: La Grande 

State Missing From: Oregon 

Gender: Female 

Race: Romanian Gypsy 

Height: 5’ 6” 

Weight: 180 lbs 

Hair Color: Dark 

Eye Color: Dark brown 

Complexion: Dark/olive 

Identifying Characteristics: She has a lip piercing above her upper 

right lip,a small tattoo design on her left right hand near the thumb and 

forefinger, and two large angel wing tattoos on her back. 

Clothing: She was last seen wearing grey pants, and a black mesh 

(football-like) shirt with large silver grey numbers on the front. 

Jewelry: She was wearing a multi-colored crystal necklace 

Circumstances of Disappearance: Neli-Cristina was last seen driving 

away from a friend’s house in her white ‘97 Ford F-250 single cab pickup 

truck, Oregon license plate ZGP-926. She left behind her dog, cat, 

wallet, and ID. Her cell phone last pinged from the downtown La Grande 

area around 2:00 am on Saturday, June 20th. 

Investigative Agency: La Grande Police Department 

Agency Phone: (541) 963-1017 

For Case Updates: http://projectjason.org/forums/topic/3942-missingwoman-neli-cristina-rogers-or-6192015/ 

If you have seen any of our missing persons, please call the law enforcement agency listed. All missing persons are loved 

by someone, and their families deserve to find the answers they seek in regard to their disappearance. 



Business 

Solutions By Shasta D. May 

INTERESTING 

THINGS TO KNOW 

Regulations – Heavy Trucks Face 

Increases to Fuel Economy Rules 

Proposed rules would require steady improvement 

in mileage from truck manufacturers of 

heavy pickups, vans, buses, delivery trucks, 

dump trucks and tractor trailers. The new 

rules would start with 2018 models and progressively 

increase through 2027, including 

more vehicles along the way. 

According to the proposal tractor trailers will 

face less-steep mandates than their counter 

parts, with total efficiency gains set at approximately 

12%, including improvements to both 

engines and trailers - verses eventual mileage 

increases of up to 16% for large pickups and 

medium sized commercial trucks before final 

rules take effect. 

Trucking – New Safety Features for 

Tractor-Trailers 

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) will be 

mandatory on all new trucking starting in 

2017. Purportedly, ESC should prevent nearly 

2,000 crashes per year. 

Another new feature being introduced is driver 

facing cameras to monitor driver alertness. 

However, many drivers see this as intrusive 

and an invasion of privacy. There are other 

driver alertness monitors, such as Co-Pilot 

by Maven Machines, which is a headset the 

driver wears that warns of drowsiness. . 

Technology – Customizable Software 

Many companies use specialized programs to 

manage everything from trucking schedules 

to operator payment settlements. Developing 

software “company specific” can be slow and 

costly. But vendors like Appian, Micropact 

and Bizagi are making the process faster 

and less expensive by providing software 

templates that customers can easily modify to 

fit their needs. A big benefit to customizable 

software is enhanced security. Sellers will 

keep the software updated and that reduces 

the risk from hackers gaining access due to 

an outdated IT system. They will also make it 

simple to install on new devices like phones 

and smart watches. 

Shipping – New Bridges 

Several major new bridge projects are under 

development to speed commerce: 

Detroit, Michigan - $3 billion dollar bridge to 

add an additional route to Windsor, Ontario. 

The existing bridge is the busiest commercial 

crossing on the border. Due in 2020, the new 

bridge will ease congestion and allow faster 

truck traffic into and out of Detroit. 

Across the Ohio River in Indiana and Kentucky 

– Two new bridges costing approximately 

$2.3 billion to improve traffic flow in and 


Business 

Solutions 

around Louisville, KY and expected next year. 

Hudson River, New York – Replacement for 

the Tappan Zee Bridge, costing $4 billion with 

completion in 2018. 

Helpful Apps & 

Websites 

SeeClickFix – See a 

Problem? 

This app is a quick, convenient 

way to report potholes, 

graffiti, and similar 

problems to authorities that 

can address the problem. 

The apps developers say 

that 75 percent of reported issues are resolved. 

Gmail apps 

Activate Undo Send 

To activate, go to Settings under the General 

tab and select Enable. The Undo Send function 

lets you recall any email up to 30 seconds 

after you press “Send”. 

Use Shortcuts 

Option is under Settings to activate various 

keyboard shortcuts. Example, you can type “r” 

to reply to an email, or “#” to delete. 

Enable “Verified Senders” 

Find under Settings, then Labs, this setting 

helps you distinguish legitimate emails from 

those generated by hackers by putting a gold 

key icon next to emails from verified 

sources. 

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. 


NEWS 

Independent ContraCtor 

September 2015 

Rudolph Foods Shows 

Gratitude During 

4th Annual National 

Truck Driver Appreciation 

Week 

Rudolph Foods is celebrating National 

Truck Driver Appreciation Week, September 

13-19, 2015. Commemorating the spirit of 

the American truck driver with a six-week 

campaign that began on July 27, Rudolph 

Foods will pay tribute to truck drivers across 

America by celebrating drivers at Rudolph 

Foods plants country-wide, and also inviting 

consumers and truck drivers alike to play a 

Rudolph Foods truck driver themed game 

online for a chance to win $2,000 and a year’s 

supply of pork rinds. 

From July 27-September 19, Rudolph 

Foods will celebrate the more than 3.1 million 

hard working truck drivers in our country 

who travel nearly 400 billion miles each year. 

The campaign will ask truck drivers and 

consumers across America to enter the contest 

by playing an all-new online game created by 

Rudolph Foods. 

The game will be found at PorkRinds.com 

or TruckDriverAppreciation.com. This game 

of chance will ask players to fill the bed of 

their truck with pork rinds while being careful 

not to overfill or under-fill it. All the while, 

players will be reminded of the important role 

truck drivers play in delivering America’s 

food, coast to coast. For each time a game is 

played, that player is entered to win the grand 

prize at the end of the contest. 

At the conclusion of the contest, one 

Rudolph Foods fan or truck driver will win a 

$2,000 cash prize and a year’s supply of pork 

rinds. Additionally, one runner-up will win a 

year’s supply of pork rinds. 

Members of the community, Facebook 

fans, friends and family of truck drivers 

across America are encouraged to follow 

along with the contest using hashtags #Truck- 

DriverAppreciationWeek and #TruckDriver, 

in addition to entering the contest by playing 

the game. 

Women In Trucking 

Goes To The White 

House 

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation 

(APEC) represents 21 economies joined 

together to promote sustainable economic 

growth and prosperity in the region. The 

United States Department of Transportation 

found the inclusion of women in transportation 

careers in this area to be dismal and in 

need of change. 

In 2012 the Women in Transportation 

(WiT) initiative was launched to enhance 

the participation of women in related careers 

in the region. The purpose is two fold: to 

develop a framework of data to benchmark 

conditions for women in this area and to obtain 

best practices to increase the percentage 



NEWS 

of women in transportation careers. 

Recently, Women In Trucking Association 

(WIT) President/CEO Ellen Voie was invited 

to the White House to serve on a panel and 

share some WIT activities and successes with 

stakeholders from other modes of transportation. 

The panelists were invited to participate 

by Susan Kurland, Assistant Secretary at the 

U.S. Department of Transportation. Voie, 

along with representatives from the World 

Bank, University of Memphis School of Engineering, 

Gulfstream and C12 Aviation, talked 

about initiatives designed to bring more 

women into transportation related careers. 

“I was honored to be a part of this international 

program and to work with so many 

notable women in public and private sector 

leadership roles,” said Voie. “The highlight 

of my day was the round of applause WIT received 

when I told them about the Girl Scout 

Transportation Patch program we created last 

year.” 

Truckers Disappointed 

In Missed Opportunities 

With Senate’s Version Of 

Long-Term Highway Bill 

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers 

Association says that while there are positive 

things about the U.S. Senate’s newly passed 

highway bill, the Developing a Reliable and 

Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) 

Act, there are also shortcomings with regard 

to long-term funding, needed regulatory 

changes and highway safety. 

“It’s a step forward in some ways, but 

there were missed opportunities for relevant, 

needed reforms to the agency that oversees 

commercial motor carriers. We have concerns 

that not only do many regulations fail 

to improve safety, but some may actually be 

undermining it,” said Todd Spencer, OOIDA’s 

Executive Vice President. 

“We originally had high hopes for the 

stronger bill that had come out of the Senate 

Commerce Committee and legislation like 

Senator Deb Fischer’s TRUCK Safety Reform 

Act (S.1669), both of which largely reflected 

the need for significant changes at the 

FMCSA. Unfortunately, what could have been 

a great bill for small-business truckers was 

defeated by internal politics during negotiations 

by Senate Republican and Democratic 

leaders.” 

Highway funding authorization currently 

in place expired on July 31, and in addition to 

the six-year bill passed today by the Senate, 

both chambers of Congress also passed shortterm 

measures to keep the program running 



NEWS 

“We originally had high 

hopes for the stronger bill 

that had come out of the 

Senate Commerce Committee 

and legislation like Senator 

Deb Fischer’s TRUCK 

Safety Reform Act (S.1669). 

Unfortunately, what could 

have been a great bill for 

small-business truckers 

was defeated by 

internal politics 

until late October. Doing so will allow time 

for the both the U.S. House and Senate to get 

to work on a combined, long-term bill after 

they return from an August recess. 

OOIDA recognizes that the DRIVE Act 

does include a number of provisions regarding 

reform of the Compliance, Safety, Accountability 

(CSA) program and does include 

important changes in the way the FMCSA 

develops new regulations moving forward. 

However, the bill misses an opportunity to require 

a comprehensive review of truck safety 

regulations to ensure that those on the books 

have an impact on reducing crashes. Further, 

an important provision ensuring that any effort 

to increase financial responsibility requirements 

for motor carriers was data driven and 

actually considered the negative impacts to 

small-business truckers was removed when 

the bill came to the Senate floor without a 

single vote. 


Big Wheel 

Justice 

Jim C. Klepper 

Attorney at Law 

WOULD YOU ADVISE 

YOUR CHILD TO 

BECOME A TRUCKER 

One of the most common measures of 

how satisfied you are with your job rests 

in one simple question: Would you advise 

your son or daughter to become a trucker? 

I spoke with 10 random truckers at the 

Great American Truck show last August and 

received mixed reviews and in my view it 

appears mostly associated with age. The 

younger drivers overall thought they would 

advise the children to get into trucking but the 

older drivers, some who even had children 

that drove, were more pessimistic and said no. 

The reasons they were against getting into 

trucking were, and I really loved this example, 

‘the FMCSA is like a gang member with a 

machine gun shooting out new regulations and 

not knowing who or where they were going 

to hit.’; more stress on driving as they see 

more and more ‘old’ people driving; texting 

while driving means professional drivers now 


Big Wheel 

Justice 

is a 3% increase over 2011. 

have to watch even closer what 4 wheelers are 

doing; and of course the old ‘no one respects 

truck drivers’. Of course there are more reasons 

but these were the top ones. 

I can understand the FMCSA regulation 

overload reason. We see FMCSA finalizing 

more new rules under this administration than 

ever before in my opinion. Hours of Service, 

Med Cards, and CSA come to mind immediately. 

ATA is now challenging the new Hours 

of Service in court and is petitioning congress 

to take over the writing of a new Hours of 

Service law because the FMCSA made rules 

which disagrees with their own data. 

More ‘old’ people driving hit home with 

me since I just reached the age of Social 

Security availability. However, the administration 

through the National Highway Traffic 

Safety Administration, has announced a new 

five-year plan to improve safety for elderly 

drivers. Even though older drivers are statistically 

the safest drivers on the road, the number 

of older drivers is increasing very fast thanks 

to the Baby Boomers. In 2012 a record 5,560 

of those 65 and over died in car crashes which 

On a personal note, I watched 

my father’s ability to drive deteriorate 

over the years due to diabetes 

and the effect it had on his legs. As 

he grew older he drove less and less 

because he felt he was less safe. 

He lived in a small town of about 

4000 people so I think he would be 

an exception. No one wants more 

obstacles put in their way but at 

some point I would hope my own 

son would let me know when I 

am no longer safe to drive, then of 

course drive me where I want to go 

and when I want to go. That is usually the 

main reason older people keep driving, their 

independence. 

The NHTSA will now focus on; Vehicle 

safety, including a new “Silver” vehicle rating 

system for protection of older occupants; 

Driver behavior such as cognition, flexibility, 

muscular strength and of course vision; Data 

collection that focuses on drivers behavior as 

they age. Good luck everyone as they age. 

Texting while driving will not stop or 

even slow down until 4-wheelers are denied 

texting just as truck driver are denied. Until 

then ALL drivers will have to be extra vigilant 

while driving because the person next to you 

may be texting and all you can do at this time 

is watch out. 

Respect -- No one, not even truck drivers, 

gets respect until they earn it. The way to earn 

respect is to do a professional job every day. 

If you get no respect then look into the mirror, 

that is what needs to change. Respect is easy 

to earn, just do a better job and be a better 


Big Wheel 

Justice 

person than the “other guy” and the next thing 

you know people respect you. Jerks usually 

never get the respect they think they deserve, 

but then again they are Jerks. 

So why would you advise your child to get 

into trucking? The top answers were independence 

and the opportunity to get a job, a good 

paying job. Independence was described as 

the open road, ability to do your own work as 

you see fit as long as you get that load there 

on time and undamaged. 

The opportunity to get 

a job was a big deal. Ever 

since 2008 the job market has 

been horrible for everyone. 

It is a bad job market except 

for truck drivers since there are always ads in 

magazines, on the radio and in newspapers 

from carriers wanting truck drivers. The 

younger drivers I spoke with said availability 

of truck driving jobs was why they are truck 

drivers. American Trucking Association 

statistics project a shortage of truck drivers for 

the next 10 years at least. Shortage of drivers 

equals better pay for all drivers due to the old 

supply and demand rule. 

“the FMCSA is like a gang member 

with a machine gun shooting out new 

regulations and not knowing who or where 

they were going to hit.” 


Big Wheel 

Justice 

The median wage in 2012 was 

$42,498.21 and all the truckers I spoke with 

exceeded that income for 2012. Therefore, I 

believe truck drivers make more money than 

the average Joe. Truck driving is a good job, 

a tough job and one that affords the driver 

the chance to provide a better life for his/her 

family than if they were just average wage 

earners. 

Your life is like a big game and you are 

the Coach. Do you like what you are doing? 

If the answer is no, then what are you going 

to do about it? If the answer is yes, then 

how can you become even better at what 

you do and make even more money? People 

who like what they do are more likely to 

advise their children to do the same thing. 

So what would you advise your child to do 

drive a truck or not? 

Jim C. Klepper is President of Interstate Trucker Ltd., a law firm entirely dedicated to legal defense of the nation’s 

commercial drivers. Interstate Trucker represents truck drivers throughout the forty-eight (48) states on both moving 

and non-moving violations. Jim is also president of Drivers Legal Plan, which allows member drivers access to his 

firm’s services at greatly discounted rates. Jim, a former prosecutor, is also a registered pharmacist, with considerable 

experience in alcohol and drug related cases. He is a lawyer that has focused on transportation law and the 

trucking industry in particular. He works to answer your legal questions about trucking and life over-the-road and has 

his Commercial Drivers License. 800-333-DRIVE (3748) or www.interstatetrucker.com and www.driverslegalplan.com 



Advertiser 

Index 

The Ad Index is provided as a convenience. The publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. 

COMPANY PAGE COMPANY PAGE 

Bennett Motor Express ...............23 

Celadon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Continental Insurance ................36 

Coast to Coast Ticket Referral ..........28 

CRST - Malone .....................17 

Daily Express. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 

E & H Transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 

EM Way Inc.. .......................36 

Fed EX Custom Critical ...............27 

Fed EX Ground. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 

High Country .......................15 

High Country Hopper Division ..........31 

Hirschbach ........................44 

Logistic Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 

MAG Carriers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 

Mercer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 

Miller Truck Lines ...................38 

Pacesetter Trucking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 

Petro/TA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 42 

Prime Inc. .........................25 

Progressive Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 

RTI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21, 41 

Schneider National ................. 2-3 

Swift Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 37 

Tran Stewart Trucking ................19 

Trans Am . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover, 6-7 

Transport America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 

Turquoise Trucking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 

Watkins Shepard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 

XPO Logistics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

IC_09-15_ONLINEDITION

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?