2012_TTJM_AllPages

JOBS 

MAGAZINE 

JOB Resources: 

Carrier 

Culture 

These 7 questions can 

help determine a potential 

employer’s values 

along for the ride: 

fOR THE BIRDS 

Feathery friends make 

time on the road fly by 

owning the wheel: 

Consider carefully 

before signing a contract 

PRECIOUS 

CARGO 

Longtime truckers get assignment of a lifetime 

with hauling U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

PROUD 

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to build your business! 

2 the trucker jobs magazine | DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 www.TheTruckerjobs.com

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www.TheTruckerJOBS.com the trucker jobs magazine | DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 3

What’s Inside 

6 

Job Resources 

Carrier culture 

These 7 questions can help 

determine a potential 

employer’s values 

18 

Along for 

the Ride 

For the birds 



EDITORIAL 

Managing Editor 

Wendy Miller 

10 

14 

Boyle Transportation 23 

East-West Express, Inc. 16-17 

Foodliner/Quest Liner 32 

Kennesaw Transportation Inc. 9 

K.L. Harring Transportation 5 

Marten Transport 13 

M.C. Tank Transport 27 

Merit Trucking Inc. 15 

New Waverly Transportation 22 

Trucker 

talk 

Behind the Wheel 

Precious cargo 

Truckers get assignment of 

a lifetime with hauling U.S. 

Capitol Christmas Tree 

On the Road 

Ken Armstrong answers 

a few questions about 

his trucking career 

“ 

Yes. [It’s the] 

No. 1 one safety 

device for truckers. 

It gives you traffic 

updates faster than 

a GPS — especially 

in snowstorms.” 

— David Mcdonel Jr. 

What’s your 

New Year’s Resolution? 

24 

28 

Featured Employers 

Do you still use a CB radio? 

“ 

Absolutely you need 

a CB! If you run into stop 

traffic you need to grab the 

mic and let people behind 

you know! If you see a wreck 

on the other side you need 

to let the other drivers know.” 

P.I.&I. Motor Express 7, 29 

Reliable Carriers 26 

Sherwin Williams 19 

Star Freight 30-31 

TMC Transportation 14 

TranStewart Trucking 21 

UPS Freight 2-3 

U.S. Xpress 25 

— Andy Keller 

Rig of the Month 

William McPherson 

shows off his 

customized 2019 

Peterbilt 389 

Owning the Wheel 


before signing 

a contract 

“[A CB] is a 

must, just like, 

duck tape, a 

cooler, an inverter, 

straps, bungee 

cords, gloves and 

sunglasses.” 

— Edgardo Rivera 

Tell us yours by sending an email 

to editor@thetruckermedia.com. 

Who knows? Your input may be featured in the 

January/February issue of The Trucker Jobs Magazine. 

Staff Writer 

Linda Garner-Bunch 

Production Manager 

Rob Nelson 

Graphic Artists 

Leanne Hunter 

Christie McCluer 

Contributing Writers 

Cliff Abbott 

Sarah DeClerk 

Lyndon Finney 

Dwain Hebda 

Sam Pierce 

Kris Rutherford 

Cover Photographer 

James Edward Mills 

ADVERTISING & Leadership 

Chief Executive Officer 

Bobby Ralston 

General Manager 

Megan Hicks 

Director of Technology 

Jose Ortiz 

The Trucker Jobs Magazine is published 

monthly by The Trucker Media Group. 

For advertising opportunities, 

contact Meg Larcinese at 

megl@thetruckermedia.com. 

For editorial inquiries, 

contact Wendy Miller at 

editor@thetruckermedia.com. 

All advertising, including artwork and photographs, 

becomes the property of the publisher once published 

and may be reproduced in any media only 

by publisher. Publisher reserves the right to refuse 

or edit any ad without notice and does not 

screen or endorse advertisers. Publisher is not 

liable for any damages resulting from publication 

or failure to publish all or any part of any ad 

or any errors in ads. Adjustments are limited to 

the cost of space for the ad, or at publisher’s option, 

republication for one insertion with notice 

received within three days of first publication. 

© 2020 of Wilshire Classifieds, LLC. Subject also 

to ad and privacy policy at www.recycler.com. 


JOB 

resources 

carrier 

culture 

These 7 questions can help 

determine a potential employer’s values 

One of the most important — and most often 

overlooked — factors in choosing a carrier 

to work for is the “culture” you’ll find when 

you get there. You’ll find tons of advertisements 

containing statements like, “You’re not 

just a number” and, “We treat you like family,” 

but those words are often slogans written by 

advertising agencies to attract drivers like you. 

In addition to pay, equipment, running areas 

and other details of the job, you’ll want some 

idea of how you’ll be treated if you decide to 

work for that carrier. Unfortunately, recruiters 

are often so isolated from the operations 

part of the business that they truly don’t know 

much about how drivers are treated, except for 

the occasional complaint received from someone 

they recruited in the past. 

Still, there are questions you can ask — and 

the recruiter isn’t the only person you should 

be asking. Current drivers can be a great resource. 

After all, they can tell you how THEY 

are treated by that carrier. Even then, however, 

it’s best to have some specific questions rather 

than simply asking, “How do you like Carrier 

ABC?” 

The internet can be a good resource, too, 

but be wary. Trucker complaint sites usually 

don’t present all sides of the story, and drivers 

generally don’t post about good experiences 

they’ve had. You can also access information 

through the Department of Transportation 

(DOT) Safety and Fitness Electronic Records 

(SAFER) system. Entering the carrier’s DOT 

BY cliff abbott / Contributing WRITER 

or MC number or the legal name on the 

“Company Snapshot” page (safer.fmcsa.dot. 

gov/CompanySnapshot.aspx) brings up an 

information page that provides the number 

of trucks and drivers reported, commodities 

hauled and headquarters information for the 

carrier. On the same page are links to safety 

and accident information and a licensing and 

insurance history page. 

No website, however, can tell you what it’s 

like to actually work for the carrier. Whether 

you ask a recruiter, a driver or even someone 

in orientation, you’ll find out more by asking 

questions. Here are a few key questions to ask: 

Can I refuse a dispatch if I feel it can’t be 

completed in the allotted time or there are 

other safety factors? 

Many carriers talk a good safety game, 

but some can get downright ugly when you 

need to make a decision for safety reasons. 

What happens when conditions prevent 

you from making delivery on time? What 

about inclement weather, illness or delays? 

How much authority will you have to make 

decisions? If the carrier is more concerned 

about its on-time delivery percentage than 

your safety, it might not be a good fit. 

What is the carrier’s policy for 

accessorial pay?” 

Pay for activities such as detention, 

layover, breakdown, weather and so on can 

be important. Detention pay, for example, 

can differ greatly between carriers. One 

carrier might pay $15 an hour after the first 

hour of waiting, while another might pay 

$10 per hour, but only after you’ve waited 

four hours or more. Some detention policies 

require you to wait until the customer has 

paid — IF they pay — before you receive 

anything. 

Layover is another issue you’ll face 

from time to time. Layover occurs when 

the carrier doesn’t have a load for you for 

24 hours or more. You’ll need to know 

how often layovers occur, how much the 

carrier pays and the circumstances. Some 

carriers pay a reasonable amount for the 

first 24 hours you sit. Others pay a small 

percentage of the day’s pay you could have 

made if you were running, and don’t pay 

anything for the first 24 hours. Some don’t 

pay for layover at all. 

Does the carrier use video cameras? 

Many carriers use video recording 

systems to collect evidence used in 

training, discipline and, when necessary, 

in litigation. What the systems record 

and how the data is used can differ 

widely. You’ll want to know if the system 

includes an inward-facing camera, one 

that records YOU as you operate the 

vehicle. If you’re being recorded and you 

aren’t comfortable with that, move on. 

Things can only get worse. 


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JOB 

resources 

How does the carrier handle family 

emergencies? How do I get home, 

and when? 

This can be a sensitive topic for many 

drivers. Most carriers won’t allow you 

to simply drive the truck home, unless 

home is close by and the truck is usually 

parked there when you’re off duty. Many 

carriers will try to find a load going in the 

right direction, but some situations might 

call for you to get home more quickly. 

Will the carrier understand if you need 

to park the truck and get to the nearest 

airport? Will it offer financial assistance 

for purchasing a last-minute ticket? Or, 

will it be more concerned about the truck 

than about you? 

How are breakdowns and 

repairs handled on the road? 

At many carriers, the policy is to pay 

for all safety-related repairs at the nearest 

facility, but it doesn’t always work that 

way. The “nearest facility” might mean 

a shop that offers a better rate or is in a 

network that the carrier uses, or it could 

mean the nearest company terminal. Stories 

abound of drivers limping a truck along, 

hoping to avoid a DOT inspection, until 

JOB TIP 

Current drivers can can be be a great a great resource resource . After . 

all, After they all, can they tell can you how tell you THEY how are THEY treated are by 

treated that carrier, by that which carrier, can give which you can insight give into you 

insight the into company’s the company’s culture. culture. 

they arrive at a terminal. Air-conditioning 

What’s the most common reason given for 

repair is expensive on the road; more than 

leaving your company? 

one driver has experienced a week or more 

If large numbers of drivers leave 

in a hot truck waiting for a dispatch to a 

because of poor equipment, disputes over 

company shop where it can be repaired 

pay or unpaid waiting time, there’s a good 

more cheaply. 

chance you’ll experience these things, too. 

What is the carrier’s turnover rate? 

There are other questions to ask, and 

Every carrier tracks driver turnover. Don’t 

you may feel strongly about issues that 

settle for guesses, estimates and averages. If a 

aren’t mentioned here. Asking about a 

carrier has a turnover rate below the industry 

carrier’s culture before you commit to 

average, they’re usually happy to talk about 

working there can help you make a better 

it. Along with this question, ask: 

decision. 

Visit thetruckerjobs.com 

to search for 

career opportunities 

by state, driver type and more! 

Plus, you’ll find 

job resources and news 

all in one place! 

8 THE the TRUCKER trucker JOBS jobs MAGAZINE magazine | DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 WWW.THETRUCKERJOBS.COM 

www.TheTruckerjobs.com

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Behind 

the wheel 

Precious 

Longtime truckers get assignment of a lifetime with hauling U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree 

By Dwain Hebda / contributing WRITER 

In more than four decades on the road, Theron Schmalzried has seen a little bit of everything and 

dealt with situations where quick wits and a cool head saved the day. So, when Walt Schattinger, 

president of Colorado-based Apex Transportation called him recently, he was all ears. 

Nothing, however, could have prepared Schmalzried for what the boss had to tell him: He was 

going to be part of a team that would deliver the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree — aka “The People’s 

Christmas Tree” — to Washington, D.C. 

“When Walt called me, I could tell by his tone of voice it wasn’t a prank,” Schmalzried said. “Walt 

was pretty excited, and it is an exciting opportunity. It’s kind of neat.” 

Schmalzried and fellow trucking lifer William “Butch” Hanna were tapped for the honor based 

in part on their experience. Schmalzried has 42 years of truck-driving experience, 23 of them with Apex, 

while Hanna has been behind the wheel for 41 years and driving with Apex for 17. Along the way, both 

have been recognized by the industry with numerous driver and safety awards. 

“It means a lot to me because there’s just a handful of guys that get a chance to do this. It’s just an 

honor,” Hanna said. “My grandkids are all excited.” 

Every year, a different national forest is selected to provide a tree to display on the grounds of the 

U.S. Capitol building for the holiday season. The 2020 tree, a 55-foot Engelmann Spruce, was harvested 

Nov. 6 in Colorado’s Uncompahgre National Forest. From there, it embarked on a tour within the state 

beginning Nov. 10. The tour, themed Experience Your Nature, was a joint partnership between Grand 

Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests, the nonprofit Choose Outdoors and 

Colorado Tourism. 

Hanna handled the driving for the Colorado portion of the journey; then he switched off with 

Schmalzried, who took the load the bulk of the way east. The duo then met up for the final leg of the 

run into Washington D.C. Hanna said his portion of the route and scheduled stops went smoothly, even 

though COVID-19 forced at least one event’s cancellation and turned the rest into either drive-by viewing 

opportunities or designated zones where the public could view the motorcade as it passed through. 

“The disappointing part is … this COVID stuff,” Hanna said. “Instead of people coming up to the 

trailer, they just got to drive by and look at it. That’s kind of disappointing. But as far the route itself, 

everything went really good.” 


Photos courtesy of James Edward Mills 

The 2020 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree was carried by a 

Kenworth T680. This is the seventh year Kenworth has 

provided the tractor to deliver “The People’s Christmas Tree.” 

Theron Schmalzried, right, and William “Butch” Hanna, drivers 

with Colorado-based Apex Transportation, were tapped to 

drive the tree to Washington, D.C. Every year, a different 

national forest is selected to provide a tree to display on the 

grounds of the U.S. Capitol building. The 2020 tree, a 55-foot 

Engelmann Spruce, was harvested Nov. 6 in Colorado’s 

Uncompahgre National Forest. Before arriving in Washington 

D.C., the tree made several stops throughout Colorado, 

including a Nov. 11 visit to the Ouray County Courthouse.

Behind 

the wheel 

“It means a lot to me because there’s 

just a handful of guys that get a 

chance to do this. It’s just an honor. 

My grandkids are all excited.” 

— William “Butch” Hanna 

The run ultimately covered almost 2,000 miles. Transporting 

the tree from the harvest site in Colorado to D.C. was a Kenworth 

T680 featuring the PACCAR Powertrain of a 455-hp PACCAR 

MX-13 engine and 12-speed automated transmission. Equipped 

with a 76-inch sleeper, the rig also boasts PACCAR 40K tandem 

rear axles. 

Inside, the truck is spec’d with Kenworth’s “Driver’s Studio,” 

with a 180-degree passenger swivel seat and a 90-degree rotating 

table; a Kenworth Diamond VIT interior; premium Kenworth 

GT703 seats; predictive cruise control; Kenworth Nav+HD 

system; a liftable lower bunk and a stowable upper bunk; and 

Kenworth TruckTech+ Remote Diagnostics. 

“It is an honor for Kenworth to participate in this important annual 

American tradition and provide a Kenworth truck to deliver the ‘The 

People’s Tree’ for the seventh consecutive year,” said Laura Bloch, 

Kenworth assistant general manager for sales and marketing. 

Those interested in the trek were able to track the progress of 

the run online. Using FleetLocate by Spireon’s advanced trailer 

management technology, capitoltreetracker.com provided realtime 

GPS location tracking of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree as it 

made its way from the GMUG National Forests in Colorado to the 

West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. 

Cross-country runs aren’t new to either driver. Schmalzried, 68, 

started driving to earn extra money while attending college in Texas. 

“I was hauling fuel for a friend of mine. As a hungry college kid, 

I didn’t have any money. I had to make as much money as I could 

to go to school,” said the Kansas native. “Well, if you needed some 

money back then, there was always an old truck you could go get 

in and make a little. A lot of times, I’d go to college in the day and 

I’d haul fuel for him at night.” 

Colorado-born Hanna, 62, started driving at age 21, following in 

the tracks of his father and grandfather. 

“My grandpa and my dad were truck drivers, and both retired 

from the Union Pacific Railroad driving trucks,” he said. “I started 

for a little freight outfit called Evergreen Freight, then just kept 

driving, kept moving up, more money, different companies over 

the years.” 

Both men say they’ve seen a lot come and go during their 

careers, starting with an emphasis on safety. Both drivers have 

taken this part of the job very seriously, as evidenced by their many 

awards and commendations. 

“Safety is a huge thing anymore,” said Schmalzried. “If you 

don’t drive safely, it can bankrupt you in a second.” 

Photo courtesy of James Edward Mills 

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree ultimately traveled nearly 

2,000 miles. Hanna, right, handled the driving for the 

Colorado portion of the journey, then Schmalzried took the 

load the bulk of the way east. The duo then met up for the 

final leg of the run into Washington, D.C. 

Hanna holds three Driver of the Year awards from the Colorado 

Motor Carrier Association (CMCA). Schmalzried holds a longhaul 

Driver of the Year award (“Don’t ask me what year,” he said, 

“I can’t remember”) plus multiple Driver of the Month awards at 

both the company and association levels. 

“Then also, some insurance thingamajig safety certificates,” 

Schmalzried said with a chuckle. 

The tree made one final promotional stop in North Carolina 

before being delivered to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol 

Nov. 20. Upon arrival, it was decorated with handmade ornaments 

specially created by Coloradans. The tree was scheduled to be lit 

during ceremonies in early December. 

On the last jaunt into D.C., Schmalzried was joined not only 

by Hanna, but by company president Walt Schattinger as well. 

Schmalzried said that, as honored as he was to drive the truck, he 

felt equally proud to see his boss get to enjoy the moment. 

“This is something that don’t happen to very many people, 

to get that chance to do it, or for a trucking outfit to do it,” 

Schmalzried said. “Walt’s a great guy and he deserves it. He’s 

worked hard and he stuck his neck out real far over the years. It’s 

deserving for him. I’m as happy about that as I am for myself. 

Hanna agreed, calling the tree assignment a fitting cap to a 

rewarding career. 

“I didn’t hesitate [to accept the assignment] at all, because I 

thought I’m probably only going to work another two or three 

years and then I’m going to try and retire,” Hanna said. “I thought 

this would just sum up my career really nice, you know? I felt 

pretty honored.” 


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ON THE 

ROAD 

with Ken Armstrong 

Photo courtesy of Ken Armstrong 

Interview by Sarah DeClerk 

Q. How long have you been a truck driver? 

A. Almost 20 years 

Q. What do you like most about your career? 

A. You’re not micromanaged; you don’t have a manager looking at 

you every day. They get up, and they see that you’re rolling to your 

destination, or you’re at a shipper, getting loaded. You’re doing what 

is asked. That’s one thing I really like about this job. There are very 

few jobs left in America where you don’t have a manager overseeing 

you day in, day out. 

Q. What do you haul and where? 

A. We specialize in handling sensitive, high-security loads from 

a broad range of customers. [We go] all across the U.S. and into 

Canada. 

Q. Why did you seek a career as a truck driver? 

A. I was looking for a second career after I retired, so I had to learn 

how to drive a truck — and that I did. It’s the best office window in the 

world, really, and the industry needs people that are motivated and 

self-starting. They don’t need to be told that they need to go to work 

every day. I get up and I go to work. That’s part of the job out here, 

and there’s an expectation of doing it safely and being on time — and 

that’s what we do. 

Q. What’s your advice to anyone looking to become a driver? 

A. Be patient. Learn something every day. When you stop learning 

out here, that’s when you need to hang it up. Generally, consider 

yourself to be a lifelong student of the transportation industry. 

Q. As a driver, what do you look for in a company? 

A. I look for equipment more than anything. I look for their management 

culture. I look for what they want to do as far as business. … 

Tri-State is all about driver support, and they show it from start to 

finish every day. Weekends, nights, days — there’s always somebody 

here to help you. 


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along for 

the ride 

Photos courtesy of Sarah Giles 

Sarah Giles, an over-the-road truck driver with All Freight 

Carriers, keeps four parakeets in the cab of her truck. The 

birds have a custom cage and a play area filled with toys. 

Giles has also traveled with chicks and ducklings so she 

could provide the young birds with round-the-clock care 

before delivering them to her ranch in Texas. 

For the 

birds 



Drivers might not be surprised to see a 

pair of dogs in a trucker’s cab, but there 

is more than meets the eye in the cab of 

Sarah Giles, an over-the-road truck driver 

with All Freight Carriers. Nestled in the TV 

niche of the sleeper is a custom cage filled 

with four parakeets. 

“They actually like the truck,” Giles said. 

“They like the music. They like to travel, so 

they sing most of the day.” 

The birds, who are all three to four 

months old, have ridden with Giles for 

about two months. They are named Sam, 

Dean, Castiel and Bobby after characters 

on the TV show, “Supernatural,” and 

Giles said their personalities match their 

namesakes. 

“Castiel is definitely my little angel. 

BY Sarah DeClerk / contributing WRITER 

He’s always the one that sings — always 

singing, always very sweet, always very 

lovable,” Giles said. “Bobby is definitely 

my smartest, and always up to something, 

and Sam and Dean are inseparable. Dean’s 

definitely the sweetheart that’s always after 

food, and Sam just kind of hangs out and 

lays back.” 

The birds have a fitting home in the 2019 

T680 Kenworth. In addition to the custom 

cage, their play area includes ladders, rings 

and other toys. The parakeets’ wings are 

clipped so they cannot fly around the cab, 

and Giles has secured any items that could 

shift and hurt the birds when the truck 

moves. 

To ensure their well-being, Giles provides 

a heater, an air filter and an emergency kit 

stocked with medical items such as bloodstopping 

powder, anti-stress supplements, 

antibiotics and vitamins. 

Also traveling in Giles’ cab are two dogs. 

Kermit, a 13-pound miniature Australian 

Shepherd, has been on the road with her for 

five years, and Grizzly, a Rottweiler/pit bull 

mix of about 100 pounds, has been on the 

truck for four years. 

“They’re trained ranch dogs. They’re 

used to dealing with small animals and 

small birds, so they don’t bother them,” she 

said. “The birds are not in any of the dogs’ 

space. The birds don’t take up any of the 

dogs’ attention, so it all works.” 

She added that she plans to keep the 

parakeets with her for the long haul. 

“They do have a nice big cage set up for 



along for 

the ride 

them at home, just in case I had to leave them there, but they 

really just like the truck a lot better,” she added. 

Giles’ Texas ranch is home to a herd of goats, two donkeys, 

two livestock dogs, a flock of Ancona and mini call ducks, 

countless chickens and a couple of cats — and she plans to 

continue expanding her menagerie. Her mother watches the 

ranch while Giles is on the road in the northeastern U.S. for 

a month at a time. 

“I could give you a long list of weird chicken breeds [I 

want] that you’d never hear of again, and I would love to get 

back into doing cattle eventually, but that’s probably in about 

20 years,” Giles said. “I love them all, and eventually I’ll 

probably have them all.” 

Her interest in quality breeds of chickens and ducks, many 

of which cannot be shipped, has led her to use her truck as a 

nursery for chicks and ducklings. Pet policy is a top priority 

when it comes to choosing an employer, she said, adding that 

even her two dogs are not permitted at many companies. All 

Freight’s pet policy allowed her to procure the parakeets. 

“I’ve always wanted some but obviously never even 

thought about it because I’ve been driving a truck, but since 

I’ve been with this company, they know I have a ranch,” she 

said. “So, I was in the store one day and was watching these 

two little parakeets and thought, ‘Let’s give this a shot.’” 

She said she enjoys the birds’ “funny little habits,” such 

playing king of the hill by fighting over the highest spot in 

the play area. 

“It’s like having toddlers with feathers,” she added. “They 

really are just happy little bundles of feathers.” 

The birds sing and chirp throughout the day. Like true 

Texas birds, they enjoy country music, especially bouncy 

tunes by Trace Adkins and Toby Keith, Giles said. When 

she is having a bad day, she added, she plays their favorite 

song, “We’re from the Country” by Tracy Byrd. She 

needs the mood boost provided by the birds, she added, 

because she got them near the two-year anniversary of her 

husband’s death. 

“Depression and loneliness is something every single 

trucker fights with, no matter who they are or how long 

they’ve been out here,” she said. “It’s all just a mind game 

to keep yourself going and keep yourself sane, and cute little 

fluffy birds that tear apart all their toys and throw fits if you 

give them the wrong seeds are pretty good at it.” 

The dogs are also a comfort on stressful days, she said, and 

they provide security, as well. Giles added that she would 

recommend pets to any trucker. 

“I know I couldn’t do it without them,” she said. “When 

you’re just so frustrated and having such a bad day, sometimes 

it’s just really nice to look at something that’s cute and loves 

you, and to just take care of [someone] besides yourself.” 

Photos courtesy of Sarah Giles 

Sarah Giles’ parakeets’ wings are clipped so they cannot 

fly around the cab, and Giles has secured any items that 

could shift and hurt the birds when the truck moves. In addition 

to birds, Giles travels with two dogs, which provide 

both comfort and security while she is on the road. 


EARN UP TO 

$1.61 CPM! 

As an owner operator with Tran Stewart, you enjoy industry-leading pay as well 

as a host of additional benefits that OOs need to succeed. 

OWNER OPERATOR 

PAY & BENEFITS 

Industry-leading rate: $1.61 per mile 

Paid Deadhead Miles 

Minimum M-F commitment required 

OWNER OPERATORS ENJOY: 

Sign-On Bonus 

Great Fuel Discounts at the pump 

100% Cargo and Liability Insurance paid 

No Touch Freight 

Free Trailers 

Passengers and Pets Welcomed 

And More! Ask a recruiter for details 

855.869.3430 // www.ThETRUCkER.COM/TRANsTEwART 



TEAM DRIVERS 

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TO TEAMS WITH 

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AMAZING BENEFITS • PAID HOLIDAYS, PERSONAL DAYS & VACATION 

2020 #1 Best Fleet to Drive For, Among Small Carriers 

APPLY ONLINE OR SPEAK TO A RECRUITER TODAY: 866-982-5051 

DRIVEBOYLE.COM

RIG of the 

month 

Interview by Wendy Miller 

Photos provided by William McPherson 

William McPherson was eager to customize his 2019 Peterbilt 

389, equipped with a Cummins engine and an 18-speed 

transmission. He first added a drop visor, along with a new 

light bar, bumper and steering wheel. The truck is still a work 

in progress. Most recently he has added a painted dash, new 

door-panel pieces, wood floors, new rear fenders, headlights 

and stacks. McPherson has been driving on his own for 32 

years, after starting out as a team driver with his dad. He now 

owns his trailer and primarily hauls steel and aluminum. His 

dad is not here to see his son’s progress, but McPherson said 

he hopes he would be proud of how far he has come as a 

driver — and with spec’ing his rig. 


Now HiriNg 

HigHly Qualified SoloS aNd TeamS for dedicaTed & oTr ruNS 

u Enjoy Top Pay & Top Bonuses from one of the Top Trucking Companies in the Country. 

t 

u 

Also offering Lease Purchase Opportunities with no money down, no credit check and no maintenance expenses. t 

cdl driverS, call Today To diScuSS THe moST lucraTive opporTuNiTy for you: 

844.888.5277 


Our company drivers 

earn approximately 

$90,000 

per year! 

Reliable Carriers Inc. is the country’s leading 

Specialized Automotive Transport Company. 

Owner Operators/ 

Lease Operators: 

• Weekly Settlements 

• Paid Permits 

• Fuel and Tire Discount Programs 

• Paid Orientation 

• Sign-on Bonus - $2,500 solos 

/$5k teams 

INDUSTRY 

LEADING 

PAY PACKAGE 

Company 

Drivers: 

• Paid Holidays, Personal Days/Vacation pay 

• Flexible home time 

• Profit sharing 

• Health, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance 

• Paid Orientation 

• Sign-on Bonus - $2,500 solos/$5k teams 

Now Hiring for 

• Local 

• Eastern Regional 

• Western Regional 

ALL Divisions 

Family owned and operated for over 60 years. 

855-874-7030 

WWW.RELIABLECARRIERS.COM 


Owning 

the wheel 


before signing a 

contract 

BY cliff abbott / Contributing WRITER 

Owning your own truck can be a rewarding 

experience, but it can also be an exercise in 

frustration. Like any business, there are tasks 

involved outside of the main focus of trucking. 

Managing a business includes finding and 

serving customers, billing and debt collection, 

taxes, maintenance, compliance, accounting, 

record-keeping and more. 

Some drivers are excellent businesspeople and 

are able to handle all of these tasks themselves. 

Some have a friend or family member that 

handles the business side, allowing them to 

concentrate on the job of moving freight. Others 

are willing to pay professional services to handle 

the business details. 

Another option chosen by many truck owners, 

is to lease their equipment to an existing carrier. 

Most carriers have staff that handles the business 

details. When you lease on, the carrier’s staff 

works for you, too. 

The term “lease” can seem confusing, but it 

really isn’t. Under a lease, you allow a carrier 

the use of your equipment, just as if they were 

renting the truck from you. The carrier uses your 

equipment and, in return, you get a portion of the 

money they make with it. The difference usually 

is that you are required to provide a driver for the 

truck, even if it’s yourself. 

While leasing your equipment to a carrier 

can reduce your workload, it also reduces the 

compensation you’ll receive. After all, adding 

your truck to their fleet helps the carrier increase 

revenue. It’s important to fully understand how 

you’ll be compensated as well as your obligations 

under the lease contract you’ll be signing. 

Compensation 

Some carriers pay a flat percentage of the load 

revenue, while others pay a set per-mile rate. 

A set rate per mile means your compensation 

won’t be affected by current freight rates paid 

to the carrier. Percentage compensation means 

the rate you receive will fluctuate with freight 

rates paid to the carrier. If you’re compensated 

by percentage, it’s important to understand the 

complete picture. Will you receive a percentage 

of the total revenue, or the revenue that’s left 

after the carrier makes various deductions? Will 

the carrier show you the amount received from 

the shipper? 

Assessorial pay should be clearly spelled out, 

too. How much will you be paid when you and 

your truck are held up at a shipper or receiver? 

How much time must you contribute before the 

rate kicks in? What about layovers? What other 

activities will you be compensated for? 

Chargebacks 

When your equipment is leased, it is usually (but 

not always) covered under the carrier’s liability 

insurance policy. Some carriers charge you for 

liability, cargo and other insurance coverage. 

Some charge a rental fee for pulling their trailers, 

or other fees for administrative tasks and so forth. 

Those charges should be clearly spelled out in the 

lease agreement, either in the body of the text or 

by an addendum to the contract. 

Escrow Accounts 

Nearly every carrier will require you to keep 

money in at least one escrow account. An escrow 

account is a special savings account that carriers 

can access to pay insurance deductibles, freight 

claims or other expenses determined to be your 

responsibility. Some require an escrow deposit 

to begin the lease, but most will allow you to 

build the escrow through settlement deductions 

over a period of time. It’s important for you to 

know how much the carrier will hold, what it 

will be used for, and when and how you will 

have access to your money. 

Another type of escrow is sometimes kept 

for maintenance purposes. The carrier will 

keep a percentage of each settlement amount 

until a predetermined threshold is reached, out 

of which it will pay for repairs and maintenance 

to your truck. This arrangement can allow the 

carrier to pay for discounted maintenance 

services through its network, saving you from 

having to come up with cash when you break 

down. Like any escrow, however, you should 

know the limitations including how to access 

your money. 

Maintenance and tire discounts 

Some carriers will allow you to participate 

in networks from which it receives discounted 

pricing for parts and labor. Some will even 

perform repair and maintenance functions 

in their own shops for a discounted fee. It’s 

important to understand what services are 

available and what they cost. 

Independence 

As an independent contractor, you have the 

right to decide when to work and which loads to 

accept — and you can take loads for other carriers, 

too. Many carriers, however, will dispatch your 

truck just like its own and claim exclusive use 

of your equipment. You should understand how 

you’ll be dispatched and the carrier’s exclusivity 

rules before you sign a lease agreement. 

Leasing your truck to a carrier can be a 

successful strategy for a profitable business, but 

it’s important to fully understand the terms and 

conditions of the lease agreement before signing. 

Do your research, and choose wisely. 


HIRING FLATBED 

OWNER OPERATORS 

• Local, Regional & OTR 

• Great Home Time 

• Percentage Paid Weekly – 78% 

+ 100% FSC 

• Health Benefit packages available 

• Trailer rental 

• Plate program 

• EFS Fuel Program 

APPLY ONLINE NOW 

www.piimx.com 

855.894.5939


Is the largest Bulk Food Grade carrier in 

the country and a Transport Topic Top 100 

carrier. Our customized transportation 

system utilizes the latest technology and 

provides individualized service throughout 

North America. We have an outstanding ontime 

performance record and a reputation 

for being a professional organization with a 

commitment to operating safely. 

Targets the chemical and bio-fuels 

markets, specializing in total transportation 

management. With locations in the Gulf 

Coast, Southeast, Midwest, and Mexico, we 

provide bulk transportation services to all 

of North America. Quest Liner has received 

numerous carrier awards, and is a Transport 

Topics Top 100 carrier. 

Join our team! 

INSURANCE 

Blue Cross-Blue Shield, dental, 

vision, short and long term disability 

Earning top pay and benefits in the industry! 

PAID TIME OFF 

80 hours in the first year 

HOME TIME 

70% home nightly 

30% sleeper time 

DRIVER INCOME 

$65,000 – $85,000 or 

more, yearly 

LONGEVITY BONUS 

up to $2,750 

QUARTERLY 

BONUS INCENTIVE 

up to 5.5% of gross earnings 

safety and performance based 

401k 

with employer match 

WEEKEND 

DELIVERY INCENTIVE 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 855-863-9124 

Visit us online and apply at foodliner.com or questliner.com 

Foodliner, Inc. and Quest Liner, subsidiaries of the McCoy Group and are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Corporate office is located in Dubuque, IA.

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