T2K_02-16_ONLINEDITION

FEBRUARY 2016
GENERAL MANAGER
Megan Cullingford-Hicks
SALES MANAGER
Jerry Critser
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Tammy Borrelli
Charlene Abernathy
ON THE COVER
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Chad Singleton
ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Meg Larcinese
1.678.325.1025
megl@targetmediapartners.com
John Hicks
1.770.418.9789
johnh@targetmediapartners.com
Greg McClendon
1.678.325.1023
gregmc@targetmediapartners.com
Roger Fair
1.256.676.3688
rogerf@targetmediapartners.com
Jennifer Magouirk
1.256.676.3689
jennifer.magouirk@TargetMediaPartners.com
Jeff Mealor
1.770.225.5866
jeff.mealor@targetmediapartners.com
TRUCKING 2016 is published monthly and is
circulated to truck stops, truck show attendees,
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editorials, and/or press releases.
TRUCKING 2016 • (256) 835-7610
COLUMNS
Bulletin Board ..........................16
Highway Angel .........................20
Bottomline ..............................24
On The Road Entertainment ......28
Advertiser’s Index ....................32
4 TRUCKING 2016

Mercer
Mentor Program
Being an Owner Operator can be
tough and sometimes frustrating. In an
effort to assist their Owner Operators,
Mercer Transportation is introducing
the Mercer Mentor Program. Through
this program, new contractors have
24/7 access to Mercer Owner Operators
who have volunteered to become a
Mercer Mentor.
“We are very excited about the new
Mercer Mentor Program and feel like
it will be a huge benefit to our Owner
Operators,” said Gerald Garrison, Mercer
Contractor Relations Team Leader.
“The program was created after receiving
feedback from our drivers about
the Mercer experience and what we
could do to make driving for Mercer
even better.”
Thirteen current Mercer Owner Operators
have been selected to become
Mercer Mentors in the pilot program.
These drivers were selected based on
their success at Mercer and their willingness
to work with other drivers. A
Mentor Summit was held in October to
bring this group together and discuss
the challenges faced by Mercer drivers
and how they could use their expertise
to assist them.
Among the group of Mentors are
drivers that have become experts in
different aspects of trucking and running
their business profitably. From
assistance with mechanical issues to
financial and budgetary questions, the
Mercer Mentors are ready to lend their
assistance.
From all indications the pilot
program is already proving successful.
Brad Book leased on with Mercer
in October, 2015 and is very happy
with the help he has received from the
Mercer Mentors. “I hadn’t been leased
to a company before and for the past
six years had my own authority,” said
Brad. “Having the ability to talk with
another driver who was willing to help
me learn the ropes has been awesome.
I was pretty skeptical when I first
started here but am quickly finding out
that all the great things I heard about
Mercer were true.”
“We want to give our Owner Operators
the tools that will not only make
them successful at Mercer but will
help them improve their profitability,”
Garrison said. “Trucking is a tough
business and we want our drivers to
understand that Mercer and the Mercer
Mentors are behind them every mile
they drive.”

Schneider Driver Named Dedicated
Driver of the Year by Georgia-
KBX Logistics, an agent for Georgia-
Pacific (which is the world’s leading maker
of tissue, pulp, paper, packaging, building
products and related chemicals), evaluated
nominees from a pool of more than 1,900
drivers from trucking companies that provide
dedicated services to the company. It found its
superhero in Greg Swift, a Schneider driver
with 23 years’ experience and over three million
accident-free miles under his belt. He was
named the 2015 Dedicated Driver of the Year,
an award that honors characteristics such as
safety, fuel conservation, number of Georgia-
Pacific miles driven and overall service. Swift
went above and beyond in all categories to
earn Georgia-Pacific’s top spot.
Swift has been on Schneider’s Georgia-
Pacific Dedicated account for two and a half
years, logging 358,920 miles during this time.
With 100 percent on-time service and a reputation
built on never missing a day of work,
Swift ensures that cargo always gets where it
needs to be.
Another area of performance management
that Georgia-Pacific/KBX Logistics values is
fuel efficiency. Swift maintained little to no
idle, and he drove under the miles planned for
his route. At the time of the award evaluations,
he was 756 miles under plan and used Schneider’s
fuel optimizer 100 percent of the time.
“Greg is a driver who always goes above and
beyond,” offered Mark Rourke, EVP, chief
operating officer for Schneider. “He shares
his ideas and observations on a regular basis
because he is always trying to help Schneider
and Georgia-Pacific improve our service and
safety performance. Having his hard work recognized
by a customer is the ultimate honor.”
“We are very pleased to recognize the excellent
performance of Greg Swift,” said Ken Weber,
transportation manager at KBX Logistics. “It
was a very tough competition among so many
great drivers, but in the end we believed Greg
was the most outstanding.”
Schneider also received Georgia-Pacific’s
Intermodal Carrier of the Year Award for the
second consecutive year.
Professional, safety-conscious drivers
who want to learn more about joining an
award-winning team can visit www.schneiderjobs.com.
16 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKING 2016

Peterson Unveils ‘Bigger And
Brighter’ Single-Diode LED
Trailer Lights
Peterson Manufacturing has introduced
a bigger and brighter
single-diode LED clearance/marker/mid-turn
lighting for heavy-duty
trailers.
The new model, USAmade
and called the Dot
Light XL, is designed to
solve a complaint by drivers of rigs equipped
with popular compact LED marker lights:
poor visibility due to the build-up of diesel
soot, road grime and/or snow pack, according
to Tim Gilbert, Peterson’s
director of OEM and heavyduty
feet sales.
All current compact models
feature ¾-inch singlediode
LED lights sized to
mount in the ¾-inch holes of
many OEM trailers.
18 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKING 2016

Con-Way Freight Driving Champ Dennis Day
Celebrates 3M Safe Mile Mark
Con-way Freight Driver Sales
Representative Dennis Day has become
the company’s ninth driver in its 33-year
history to surpass the 3 million consecutive,
accident-free mile mark.
Day, who is based in Lawrenceville, was
honored at a special ceremony recently
at the company’s Norcross Service
Center. Day previously
earned recognition
for surpassing 1 and 2
million safe-driving
miles. He is a former
Georgia Truck Driver of
the Year and a Captain of
the American Trucking
Associations’ Road Team.
“Dennis is an incredible
ambassador for Con-way Dennis Day
Freight and truckers as
a whole,” said Tom Clark, senior vice
president of operations for Con-way
Freight. “Our top priority is safety, and he
exemplifies that in every aspect of his job.
Whether a driver is new or has been on
the road for 20 years, Dennis is someone
he or she can look to as an inspiration of
excellence and commitment to safety.”
To put this 3 million mile safe-driving
accomplishment into perspective, consider
that it equates to circumnavigating the
Earth at the equator 120.5 times, traversing
the length of 52.8 million football fields,
traveling the distance of the Appalachian
Trail from Georgia to Maine 1,360 times
or driving round-trip from Atlanta to Los
Angeles 690 times.
“There’s nothing more important than
safety,” Day said. “When you’re driving a
truck of this size, it takes precision, focus
and constant attentiveness
to ensure your safety,
as well as the safety of
the other motorists and
pedestrians. It’s an honor
to be recognized for
this achievement, and I
hope this motivates other
drivers to be as safe as
possible on the road.”
“Dennis Day is one
of the best professional
drivers I have ever known,” said Guy
Young, vice president of the Georgia Motor
Trucking Association. “He has successfully
combined a 3-million-mile highway safety
record with exceptional company and
customer service. Dennis is detail oriented
and takes pride in doing things right while
always remembering to do what is right by
his high ethical and moral standards.
“He has dedicated his life to his family,
to his friends and to giving his very best to
his employer and to the trucking industry.
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I have known Dennis and his family for
more than 20 years and no one is more
deserving of this special honor. Dennis,
congratulations. GMTA is proud of you and
your outstanding record of achievements.”
Day joined Con-way Freight in 1987
and has been a professional truck driver
for more than 34 years. He is a nine-time
Georgia State Trucking Class Champion
and was the Champion of the Twin Truck
Class at the 2007 National Truck Driving
Championships. He has received Conway’s
Quarterly Leadership Award four
times and has served as a mentor for Conway
Freight drivers, while also being a
member of Operation Lifesaver, Highway
Watch and Trucker Buddy International.
He resides in Lawrenceville with his wife,
Maryann.
22 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKING 2016

The
Bottom Line
By Shasta D. May
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET MY BUSINESS
EXPENSES READY TO DO MY TAXES?
Separate all your business expenses by
category for the year, such as fuel, maintenance,
repairs, tires, insurance, telephone, tools,
supplies, etc. Your expenses will come from
your settlements, bank account statement,
cash receipts and credit card charges in 2015.
Since most of you use the per diem meal
allowance, you will need an accurate count
of your days away from home working and
documentation to substantiate the total for
the year. This total will be used to calculate
your meal deduction. The per diem rate for
transportation workers increased to $63 per
day as of October 1, 2015 and forward.
What are some of the most common
forgotten deductions?
Typically all expenses in connection with
creating your income and operating your
truck are usually deductible. Here is a list of
commonly forgotten deductions:
1. Access Fees: Internet Service,
Qualcomm, Satellite
2. Administrative Fees: Bank Account
Charges, ATM fees
3. Annual Business Credit Card Fees
4. Association Dues
5. Comdata/ComCheck Fees
6. Computer Software/Software Support
7. Cab Cleaning Supplies: Windex, Paper
Towels
8. Interest (equipment loans/business
loans and lines of credit/business
credit cards)
9. Office Supplies: Pens, Pencils,
Paperclips, Envelopes, Folders,
Rubber Bands
10. Postage and Delivery Fees (this
includes fax charges)
11. Safety Gear
12. Security Costs
13. Sleeper Bedding
14. Trucking/Business Related Subscriptions
15. Weather Gear
16. XM Radio
I am a company driver and was told
I may get a bigger refund if I filed an
itemized return. How do I know if I can file
an itemized return?
Many of you are company drivers and you
may be missing out on larger refunds because
you aren’t itemizing. Most people think they
can’t itemize unless they own a house, but
this is not always the case. For example,
if you don’t itemize and you are Single
your Standard Deduction is $6,300 and your
refund is based on that amount. What this
means is that the IRS allows you $6,300 in
deductions with no receipts, no questions. But
if you have more than $6,300 in deductions
you can itemize and prove (with receipts and/
24 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKING 2016

or backup documentation) that you have over
$6,300 in legitimate deductions.
A good example of someone who should
itemize would be the single company driver
with non reimbursed expenses, such as
meals. Let’s say you are away from home
working and are not reimbursed for your
meals (per diem) and you’re out 260 days on
the road working. 260 x $59. (per diem/meal
allowance) = $15,340. The deduction allowed
is 80% which equals $12,272 that’s $5,972
more in deduction if you itemize and over
$895 more refund if you’re in the 15% tax
bracket (more if your tax bracket is higher).
Please note if you receive reimbursement for
your per diem/meal allowance you are unable
to take the deduction. In addition to meals
you can deduct other non reimbursed business
expenses such as, work boots, gloves, weather/
safety gear, cell phone (business use only),
motels, union and professional dues. Do some
research and make sure you are getting the
best results possible for your situation.
The example above uses the $59 per day
per diem rate for the full year and results may
be greater when calculated with the increased
per diem rate as of October 1, 2015.
I bought a new truck a few months ago.
What do you need for my taxes?
You will need the contracts for the purchase
of new equipment as well as records reflecting
the sale and/or trade value of old equipment.
If you have sold or traded equipment you will
need a copy of your detailed depreciation
schedule from your prior year’s tax return.
What other deductions should I look for
not necessarily trucking?
You should be aware of the following
items; mortgage interest, property taxes,
interest and dividend income, income from
sales of stock and rental property information.
Remember, if you sold stock, you will need
to know date originally purchased, how much
you paid, and the date and amount of the
sale. If you sold a property, you will need to
know date and cost when originally acquired
and the cost of any improvements over
the years.
Bottom Line
This article has been presented by MBA
Tax & Bookkeeping Service, a company proud
to provide 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.
The
26 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKING 2016

ABC Travel Guides for Kids Names Top 7
US Family Travel Destinations for 2016
P
hilly takes the top spot, while three Florida
cities are featured in this year’s list of the
top places to visit with your family. Let’s look
at the rankings:
1. Philadelphia: It’s time for an authentic
Philly cheesesteak and a visit to the City
of Brotherly Love as Franklin Square
turns 10 and the National Constitution
Center hosts “Headed to the White
House” this election year. Kimpton,
Omni and Loews Hotels love families.
Best ice cream parlor is The Franklin
Fountain.
2. Chicago, IL: The Cubs are going to win
the World Series in 2016 and Chicago’s
Museums, Lincoln Park Zoo and the Art
Institute all remain among our nation’s
best. Stay at Residence Inn’s 700th hotel
or the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel.
3. Orlando, FL: More than just the theme
park capital of the world, Disney Springs
and nearby Kennedy Space Center’s
Heroes and Legends attraction features
the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Stay at
The Hard Rock Hotel.
4. St. Petersburg, FL: Take a “Bird Quest”
through the areas museums, parks and
hotels and let your senses go wild at the
hands-on exhibits at Great Explorations,
Sunken Gardens and Clearwater Marine
Aquarium. The Vinoy Renaissance
Resort & Golf Club is a great choice for
families.
5. Detroit, MI: Only in Motor City can you
visit the largest penguin facility in the
world; stop at a LEGOLAND Discovery
Center and enjoy an afternoon of Beatles
at The Magical History Tour at The Henry
Ford. For dinner, kids will love the iconic
Buddy’s Pizza. Hyatt Place Detroit/
Auburn Hills or Hyatt Place Detroit/Utica
are great options for families.
6. Miami, FL: A Miami Culinary Tour
in Little Havana is life changing and
GameTime Miami, Jungle Island, Coral
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Gables Venetian Pool and Lincoln Road
provide unique experiences for everyone.
The Pizza Bar and Bodega are fun. The
Palms Hotel & Spa is incredible for
families.
7. Hilton Head, SC: Beaches, bike trails,
kayaking and water sports, horseback
riding and we’re just getting warmed
up. Families will think they are in
the Caribbean at Omni’s Hilton Head
Oceanfront Resort.
ABC Travel Guides for Kids is the premier
producer and publisher of all-in-one alphabet,
activity and souvenir guides specifically
designed for kids.
30 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKING 2016

ADVERTISERS INDEX
Alabama Motor Express ................. 22
Beacon Transport ........................... 23
Big M Transportation ..................... 18
Boyd Bros ...................................... 36
Butler Transport ............................... 5
CalArk ....................................... Insert
Celadon ..............................Insert, 2-3
Central Hauling ......................... Insert
CRST-Van Expedited ..................... 29
Dynamic Transit ..............................21
Gordon Trucking ............................ 13
Harris Quality ................................ 32
JK Hackl ......................................... 12
Johnsrud Transport ......................... 30
K & B Transportation ............... 34-35
Koch Trucking ..............................8-9
Marten ........................................10-11
Melton Truck Lines ................... 14-15
Mercer ................................Cover, 6-7
Mid America Truck Show ...............31
Prime Inc. .................................. Insert
Smith Trucking ...............................17
Super Service ................................. 19
Trans Am .........................................27
US Xpress ...................................... 33
USA Truck ..................................... 25
32 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com TRUCKING 2016