IC_02-18_OnlinEdition

CONTENTS 

FEBRUARY 2018 • VOLUME 21 • ISSUE 2 

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS 

Interesting things 

to know: 

Password 

Protection - Tips 

IC NEWS 

Page 12 

Economy Adds 

148K Jobs, Trucking 

Loses 600 

Page 22 

PRODUCT PROFILE 

UPS Orders 125 Of 

Tesla’sElectric 

Tractors; Said To Be 

Largest Order So Far 

Page 36 

s t a f f 

General Manager Megan Hicks 

Sales Manager Jerry Critser 

Creative Director Chad Singleton 

Administrative Staff Tammy Borrelli 

Charlene Abernathy 

Editor Sean O'Connell 

Advertising Account Executives 

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 

Carol Trujillo 

1.213.221.9993 

CarolT@targetmediapartners.com 

Wilshire Classifieds, LLC 

P.O. Box 2685 

Anniston, AL 36202 

(256) 237-2801 • (256) 237-2802 Fax 

COPYRIGHT: Copyright 2018 Wilshir e Classifieds, LLC. Publisher 

as sumes no r esponsibility for unsolicited material. Repr oduction in 

whole or in part without written permis sion is prohibited. All advertise - 

ments, and/or editorials ar e accepted and published by Publisher on 

the representation that the advertiser, its advertising agency, and/or the 

supplier of the contents are authorized to publish the entire contents and 

subject matter thereof. The advertiser, its advertising agency and/or the 

supplier of the contents will defend, indemnify and hold Publisher harm - 

less from and against any loss, expense or other liability , resulting from 

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

trademark infringement and any other claims or suits that may rise out of 

publication of such contents. Press releases are expressly covered within 

the definition of contents. 

Member of NATSO, Inc.

Have your own truck 

and looking for a 

partnership? 

Carrier Logistics is looking to bring on 

Independent Contractors to haul our freight! 

• Paid $1.27/mile plus FSC - loaded and empty miles 

• No Fees - No schedule fees, no standard fees, no trailer fees 

• Assistance with home time 

• Carrier paid lumpers 

• iPass and fuel card provided 

• Fuel discount, tire discount, and 

maintenance discounts 

• Weekly settlements – direct deposit 

We are here to help you 

succeed!! 

Call or email today 

866.508.5061 

info@carrier-logisticsonline.com

BUSINESS 

SOLUTIONS 

INTERESTING 

THINGS TO KNOW 

By Shasta 

D. May 

• Longer passwords are safer and more difficult 

to guess. A strong password should be 

a minimum of eight characters. It should 

include a combination of letters, numbers, 

symbols and special characters. 

• A password should include at least one 

uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one 

number, and one symbol or character. 

• Taxpayers should not include personal 

information in passwords. A criminal can 

find names of siblings, friends, children 

and pets on social media sites. This makes 

it easier for cybercriminals to figure out 

a person’s password that includes these 

names. 

IRS - Get Ready to File Taxes 

The Internal Revenue Service expects more 

than 90 percent of all 2017 individual tax 

returns to be prepared using tax software. The 

majority of those will be electronically filed (efile). 

Since 1986 when the IRS started accepting 

electronically filed tax returns, more than 1.8 

billion have been securely processed. 

IRS Password Advice - Strong Passwords 

Help Keep Tax Data Safe 

Passwords are often the key to guarding 

access to personal information and data stored 

on computers or sent over email. Because most 

taxpayers file their returns electronically and access 

account information online, it is critical for 

taxpayers to not only create strong passwords 

for all tax-related accounts, but to do everything 

in their power to protect those passwords. 

Here are seven things taxpayers should consider 

when creating and protecting passwords: 

• Avoid using the same password for all information 

systems, accounts and devices. 

If someone does guess one password, 

they will not have access to all the other 

accounts. 

• Taxpayers can substitute numbers and 

symbols for letters in words or phrases to 

make it more difficult for a thief to guess a 

12 INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR 2018 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com

BUSINESS 

SOLUTIONS 

password. 

• People should never share passwords. 

• Taxpayers should be careful of attempts to 

trick you into revealing your password. 

Password Protection - Tips 

A strong password is key to protecting your 

personal and business information. Use a different 

password for every website, account and 

device. Online password generators can be very 

helpful however you should not use any online 

service to generate passwords for highly sensitive 

things, such as your online bank accounts 

and other online financial information. 

All tax returns should be password protected 

by your tax preparer. Never email a copy of your 

tax return without password protection to open/ 

view. 

USEFUL APPS & 

WEBSITES FOR 

PASSWORD 

MANAGEMENT 

PCmag.com – For article “The Best Password 

Managers of 2018” for detailed list. 

According to csoonline.com – List of Top 6 

Password Managers - 1Password, Dashlane, 

KeePass, LastPass, RoboForm and SplashID 

Safe. 

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 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. 

14 INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR 2018 www.TruckDriverMagazines.com

16 INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR 2018 HUNDREDS OF JOBS www.TruckJobSeekers.com

NEWS 

Independent Contractor 

February 2018 

Economy Adds 148K Jobs, 

Trucking Loses 600 

U.S. employers added 148,000 jobs in 

December, a modest gain but still enough to 

suggest that the economy entered the new 

year with solid momentum. 

The unemployment rate remained 4.1 

percent for a third straight month, the lowest 

level since 2000, the Labor Department said. 

For all of 2017, employers added 

nearly 2.1 million jobs, enough to lower the 

unemployment rate from 4.7 percent a year 

ago. Still, average job gains have slowed to 

171,000 this year from a peak of 250,000 in 

2014. That typically happens when the unemployment 

falls to ultra-low levels and fewer 

people are available to be hired. 

Trucking lost 600 jobs after gaining 700 

in November. 

Both long distance truckload and long 

distance LTL lost jobs in November, the latest 

reporting period for that segment of the 

industry. 

While modest, the job gains underscore 

the economy’s continued health in its ninth 

year of recovery. The unemployment rate for 

African-Americans dropped to a record low 

of 6.8 percent. 

Solid economic growth in both the 

United States and major countries overseas 

is supporting more hiring. Factory managers 

received the most new orders in December 

than in any month since 2004. Retailers have 

reported strong holiday sales. Builders are 

ramping up home construction to meet growing 

demand. 

Most economists expect the Trump administration’s 

tax cuts to help speed the economy’s 

already decent pace of growth. Some 

envision the unemployment rate dropping as 

low as 3.5 percent by the end of 2018. A rate 

that low would mark the lowest such level 

in nearly a half-century, and it would likely 

force businesses to accelerate pay raises to 

attract and retain employees. Pay raises have 

remained puzzlingly sluggish for many U.S. 

workers despite the robust job market. 

Gregg Softy Of Stevens 

Transport Awarded 

Kenworth T680 

Advantage As Top Military 

Veteran Rookie Driver 

A highly decorated retired U.S. Army 

lieutenant colonel was awarded the “Transition 

Trucking: Driving for Excellence” honor 

at a ceremony held at the U.S. Chamber of 

Commerce Foundation in Washington, D.C. 

Kenworth presented Stevens Transport 

driver Gregg Softy with a Kenworth T680 

Advantage 

equipped with 

a fuel-efficient 

455-hp PACCAR 

MX-13 engine, 

and a 76-inch 

sleeper with the 

Kenworth Driver 

Studio package 

of premium features. 

The West Point graduate received the 

Kenworth T680 as part of the U.S. Chamber 

of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our 

Heroes Program, which was conducted in 

partnership with the FASTPORT Trucking 

Track Mentoring Program. Wayne Roy, a 



NEWS 

Driver Gregg Softy of Stevens Transport 

driver with U.S. Express and U.S. Marine 

Corps veteran, and Daniel Shonebarger, a 

driver with Melton Truck Lines and U.S. 

Navy veteran, were runners-up and presented 

with $10,000 checks. 

Kurt Swihart, Kenworth marketing 

director, represented Kenworth in presenting 

the T680 keys to Softy, a former U.S. Army 

lieutenant colonel, at a ceremony held by the 

Foundation in the Hall of Flags at the U.S. 

Chamber of Commerce building in Washington, 

D.C. 

“I had an opportunity to meet Gregg 

Softy and the other finalists at GATS (Great 

American Trucking Show), and every one of 

them possessed qualities any company would 

be fortunate to have,” Bentley said. “While 

all of the finalists demonstrated dependability, 

hard-working ethics and discipline, Gregg 

clearly showed himself to be a leader among 

leaders. Not only were his experiences and 

recognitions impressive, but also so was how 

he treated everyone he met with dignity and 

respect.” 

After retirement from his military career, 

Softy said becoming a truck driver was a 

logical choice because it fulfilled a lifelong 

dream and offered new opportunities. 



NEWS 

Trucking Journalist 

Veteran Avery Vise 

Named VP, Trucking 

Research, At FTR 

Veteran trucking journalist Avery Vise 

has joined FTR as vice president, trucking 

research. 

He will be responsible for the 

content of all trucking-oriented 

reports, publications and analyses 

and will also work to further 

develop ongoing relationships 

with customers, carriers, OEMs, publications, 

suppliers and financial groups. 

Vise is a well-known figure in the transportation 

industry. He has closely studied 

transportation for more than 30 years as 

an editor, analyst and researcher, including 

nearly 20 years dedicated to the trucking 

industry. 

“We are excited to have Avery join the 

FTR team,” said Eric Starks, chairman and 

CEO of FTR. “We have been looking to 

grow our internal research capabilities, and to 

focus on communicating this research more 

effectively to our customers and the industry. 

Avery’s experience as a transportation 

analyst and journalist 

makes him well qualified to lead 

this initiative. Avery also brings 

a winning attitude and exceptional 

leadership skills that will continue to 

fuel FTR’s growth in the marketplace.” 

For more information about the work 

of FTR, visit www.FTRintel.com, follow 

on Twitter @ftrintel, or call (888) 988-1699 

Ext. 1. 


PRODUCT 

PROFILE 

UPS Orders 125 Of Tesla’s 

Electric Tractors; Said To Be 

Largest Order So Far 

United Parcel Service Inc. said it is buying 

125 Tesla Inc. all-electric tractors, which 

media reports said was the largest order thus 

far. 

UPS has said it wants to expand its fleet of 

alternative-fuel vehicles. 

Tesla is trying to convince the trucking 

community it can build an affordable electric 

big rig with the range and cargo capacity to 

compete with relatively low-cost, time-tested 

diesel trucks. This is the largest public order 

of the big rig so far, Tesla said. 

The Tesla trucks will cost around $200,000 

each for a total order of about $25 million, 

Automotive News reported. UPS expects 

the trucks to have a lower total cost 

of ownership than diesel-fueled 

vehicles, which run about $120,000. 

Tesla has received pre-orders from such 

major companies as Walmart, J.B. Hunt 

Transport Services Inc., food service distributor 

Sysco Corp. DHL, Titanium Transportation 

Group and Fortigo Freight Services. 

Prior to UPS, the largest single pre-order 

came from PepsiCo Inc., for 100 trucks. 

UPS said it has provided Tesla with realworld 

routing information as part of its evaluation 

of the vehicle’s expected performance. 

“As with any introductory technology 

for our fleet, we want to make sure it’s in a 

position to succeed,” Scott Phillippi, UPS 

senior director for automotive 

maintenance and engineering 

for international 

operations, told 

Reuters. 

Tesla also 


PRODUCT 

PROFILE 

boasts that the truck’s built-in connectivity 

integrates directly with a fleet’s management 

system while other trucks “require several 

third-party devices for similar functionality.” 

It will have Tesla’s autopilot system, which 

can maintain a set speed and slow down automatically 

in traffic. It also has a system that 

automatically keeps the vehicle in its lane. 

Musk said several Tesla trucks will be able to 

travel in a convoy, autonomously following 

each other. 

Without a trailer, the company said, the 

Tesla tractor goes from zero to 60 mph in 

5 seconds, compared with 15 seconds in a 

comparable diesel truck. 

It does zero to 60 mph in 20 seconds with a 

full 80,000-pound load, and climbs 5 percent 

grades at 65 mph. Four separate motors drive 

the four back wheels of the cab, giving it 

“sports car-like” handling, according to Tesla 

Motors. 

Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk said 

November 16 when the vehicle was unveiled 

that Tesla plans a worldwide network of solarpowered 

“megachargers” that could get the 

trucks up to 400 miles of range after charging 

“for only 30 minutes,” The Associated Press 

reported. 



Have your own truck 

and looking for a 

partnership? 

Carrier Logistics is looking to bring on 

Independent Contractors to haul our freight! 

• Paid $1.27/mile plus FSC - loaded and empty miles 

• No Fees - No schedule fees, no standard fees, no trailer fees 

• Assistance with home time 

• Carrier paid lumpers 

• iPass and fuel card provided 

• Fuel discount, tire discount, and 

maintenance discounts 

• Weekly settlements – direct deposit 

We are here to help you 

succeed!! 

Call or email today 

866.508.5061 

info@carrier-logisticsonline.com

ADVERTISER 

INDEX 

COMPANY PAGE COMPANY PAGE 

Admiral Merchants Motor Freight, Inc . . .15 

Baggett Transportation............... 13, 30 

Baylor Trucking .......................19 

BCT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 

Cargill Logistics .......................23 

Carrier Logistics, LLC................. 8, 45 

EM Way Inc.. ...................... 16, 46 

Fed EX Custom Critical ............... 5, 48 

Landstar . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 

Mercer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 

Mid America Truck Show ............. 18, 32 

McCollister's . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 31 

Miller Truck Lines . . . . . . . . . 16, 26 

New Waverly . . . . . . . . . 6-7, 42-43 

Page Trucking . . . . . . . . . . . .29 

Red Eye Radio . . . . . . . . . . . .39 

Robert Heath Trucking . . . . . . . . .17 

RTI..................... Cover, 2-3, 34-35 

Skyview Transportation ............... 9, 41 

Stageline Express . . . . . . . . . 11, 33 

Star Freight . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 

The Trucker . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 

Tran Stewart .........................27 

Truck Job Seekers .....................37 

Turquoise Trucking . . . . . . . . . 24, 38 

UPS Freight . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

IC_02-18_OnlinEdition

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?