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FORMER TRUCKER 

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FOR A CAUSE 

PAGE 24 

VOL. 34, NO. 19 | OCTOBER 1-14, 2021 | WWW.THETRUCKER.COM 

iStock Photo 

ATRI asks for 

feedback 

The American Transportation 

Research Institute needs inputs 

from people at all levels of trucking 

to provide input about the 

most critical issues facing the 

industry. 

PAGE 3 

FMCSA funds CMV safety.......4 

The Trucker Trainer.................. 6 

Free ride frenzy...................... 10 

Ask the Attorney.................... 12 

Rhythm of the Road............... 13 

Courtesy: Jeron Whittmore 

At the Truck Stop 

This Arkansas trucking family 

reclaimed and restored its patriarch’s 

beloved 1991 Peterbilt. 

PAGE 14 

Chaplain’s Corner.................... 16 

Safety Series........................... 18 

Hino Class 8 electric truck..........21 

TAT inducted into hall of fame...24 

No room for drivers? 

AS NATION TACKLES INFRASTRUCTURE, TRUCKERS LEFT CIRCLING THE LOT 

JOHN WORTHEN | TRUCKER NEWS STAFF 

The U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on 

Sept. 15 advanced transportation and climate legislation that would invest 

nearly $60 billion in America’s infrastructure. As of this writing, a date had 

not been set for the full House to vote on the measure. 

Meanwhile, Democratic leaders are praising the bill as a means for reducing 

carbon emissions, rebuilding America and creating new jobs. 

The transportation bill will be included as part of the Democrats’ $3.5 

trillion budget reconciliation bill, which President Joe Biden has said is one 

of his top priorities and key to his Build Back Better plan. Biden has said the 

United States must rebuild its infrastructure to withstand the nation’s new 

era of ever-strengthening natural disasters. 

Building back as it was before won’t be good enough, the president has 

stated. 

But what’s in it for America’s truckers? Not nearly enough, according to 

several trucking industry groups. 

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) said 

in a statement that the bill doesn’t address what it calls America’s truckparking 

crisis. 

“Despite the long history of broad, bipartisan support, numerous government 

studies and repeated pleas from truck drivers, Democrats on the 

(House Transportation and Infrastructure) Committee opposed efforts to 

address trucking’s No. 1 safety concern, the lack of safe parking,” OOIDA 

President and CEO Todd Spencer wrote. “Truckers likely face another five 

years of a worsening crisis that jeopardizes their safety on a daily basis.” 

David Heller, vice president of government affairs for the Truckload Carriers 

Association, said TCA isn’t pleased with the bill, either. 

“Trucker parking is priority No. 1 for most truckers out there,” 

Heller said, adding that passing a bill that would make parking easier 

for big rigs “would go a long way toward making the life of a trucker 

iStock Photo 

Many in the trucking industry are upset because the recent infrastructure bill that’s making 

its way through Congress has not addressed the need for better parking for our nation’s 

big-rig drivers. 

better. We will continue talking about this issue. Our day will come.” 

Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.) introduced an amended piece of legislation to the 

House that would have addressed trucker parking, but it failed. 

In a statement to The Trucker, Bost blamed Democrats. 

“Growing up in a family trucking business, I am all too familiar with the 

shortage of safe truck parking options along our nation’s highways,” Bost wrote. 

Nuclear verdict: Florida jury 

renders $1 billion ruling 

JOHN WORTHEN | STAFF WRITER 

SEE PARKING ON PAGE 8 

Courtesy: Dave Dein 

Shaping the future 

California high school teacher 

Dave Dein works to instill a love 

of the trucking industry as well 

teach his students a few trucking 

basics. 

PAGE 23 

Courtesy: Curry Pajcic 

This rig, driven by Kahkashan Carrier Inc.’s Yadwinder 

Sangha, slammed into a line of cars, including Connor 

Dzion’s, on Labor Day 2007, resulting in Dzion’s 

death. On Aug. 27, 2021, a Florida jury ruled that 

Kahkashan Carriers, along with another motor carrier, 

were complicit in Dzion’s death. Dzion’s family was 

awarded a total of $1 billion in damages. 

A Florida jury ruled on Aug. 27 that two trucking 

companies were complicit in the 2017 death of 

an 18-year-old honor student, awarding the family 

of the late Connor Dzion a total of $1 billion in 

damages. 

And the jury’s message, according to Dzion 

family defense attorney Curry Pajcic, was this: 

“Companies that don’t follow the law will pay the 

price.” 

Not everyone in the trucking industry agrees 

with the price set in this particular case, however. 

“Such a verdict is so detached from reality that 

one can only conclude that it’s more about the 

message from the most lucrative niche of the legal 

profession that the sky is the limit when pursuing 

the trucking industry,” said Todd Spencer, president 

of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers 

Association. “Unpredictable and out-of-line 

awards will cause insurers to stop writing policies 

for truckers.” 

In the nine-year period between 2010 and 2018, 

the most recent statistics available, jury verdict 

awards against trucking companies grew at a 

rate of 51.7% per year. Using data collected from 

a trucking-litigation database, the Americana 

Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) studied 

detailed information about 600 cases between 

2006 and 2019. In the first five years of the study, 

SEE VERDICT ON PAGE 8

2 • OCTOBER 1-14, 2021 

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THETRUCKER.COM NATION 

OCTOBER 1-14, 2021 • 3 

Oregon Transportation Commission 

grants conditional approval to I-5 proposal 

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Transportation 

Commission has granted conditional 

approval to a plan to expand Interstate 

5 through Portland’s Rose Quarter as well 

as build a cap over the freeway to allow for 

the redevelopment of a Black community destroyed 

when the interstate was first built. 

Oregon Public Broadcasting reported that 

the commission’s unanimous decision on 

Sept. 9 followed the recommendation of Gov. 

Kate Brown that the Oregon Department of 

Transportation (ODOT) pursue “hybrid option 

3.” 

That plan would essentially tunnel the 

freeway and provide economic opportunity 

for the region’s Black community in an effort 

to reclaim the Albina district. Supporters say 

the idea is to remediate historic harm caused 

by the freeway’s original construction and 

displacement of community members. 

Approval of the hybrid 3 model is contingent 

upon ODOT providing a thorough analysis 

of the project’s cost structure and funding 

sources by December. It also requires ODOT 

and its contractors to update its diversity 

and subcontracting plans, and reevaluate the 

project’s initial environmental impact study. 

The project’s cost has risen significantly 

from its initial price tag of between $715 and 

$795 million to upwards of $1.18 billion. The 

project could top $1.4 billion if a more robust 

cap over the freeway is pursued to allow 

heavier development. 

Questions remain about where the state 

will find money to close the funding gap created 

by this iteration of the project. 8 

iStock Photo 

A plan to expand I-5 through Portland’s Rose Quarter and build a cap over the freeway has been granted conditional 

approval by Oregon’s Transportation Commission. 

MCCOLLISTER’S AUTO TRANSPORT 

Fleet expansion 

iStock Photo 

The American Transportation Research Institute needs people at all levels of trucking to provide input about the 

most critical issues facing the industry. 

ATRI asks members of trucking 

industry to rank top concerns 

ARLINGTON, Va. — The American 

Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) is 

seeking input from drivers, motor carriers, 

equipment/tech suppliers, fuel suppliers, 

driver trainers, law enforcement and many 

others involved in the trucking industry. 

ATRI’s annual Top Industry Issues Survey 

asks trucking industry stakeholders to 

rank the top issues of concern for the industry, 

along with potential ways to address 

each issue. 

In addition to ranking the trucking 

industry’s overall issues, the survey 

provides details about critical topics that 

are ranked differently by motor carriers and 

drivers. The report also allows stakeholders 

to monitor issues over time to better 


understand which issues are rising, or 

falling, in criticality. 

“Completing this survey only takes a few 

minutes, but its impact can be immeasurable. 

The data ATRI provides will chart the 

course for the industry by providing a clear 

picture of the landscape we face,” said Sherri 

Garner Brumbaugh, chair of the American 

Trucking Associations (ATA) and president 

and CEO of Garner Transportation Group. 

The results of the 2021 survey will be released 

Oct. 24 as part of ATA’s Management 

Conference & Exhibition to be held in Nashville, 

Tennessee. 

To complete the survey, visit trucking 

research.org. The survey will remain open 

through Oct. 15. 8 

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4 • OCTOBER 1-14, 2021 NATION 


Federal funds for safety 

FMCSA GRANTS MORE THAN $76 MILLION TO IMPROVE CMV SAFETY 

THE TRUCKER NEWS STAFF 

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of 

Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Motor Carrier 

Safety Administration (FMSCA) has awarded 

more than $76 million in grants to states and 

educational institutions to increase commercial 

motor vehicle safety. In a Sept. 8 statement, 

FMCSA announced that all 50 states, along 

with the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories 

of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern 

Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin 

Islands are slated to receive federal funds. 

The FMCSA grants include: 

• $45.2 million in high priority (HP) grants 

to enhance states’ commercial motor vehicle 

safety efforts and advance technological capabilities 

within states. 

The HP grant program consists of HP- 

Commercial Motor Vehicle (HP-CMV) grants 

and HP-Innovative Technology Deployment 

(HP-ITD) grants. HP-CMV grants are designed 

to provide financial assistance for states’ commercial 

vehicle safety efforts, while HP-ITD 

grants provide financial assistance to advance 

the technological capability and promote the 

deployment of intelligent transportation system 

applications for CMV operations. 

• $29 million in commercial driver’s license 

program implementation (CDLPI) grants to enhance 

efforts by states to improve the national 

commercial driver’s license (CDL) program. 

The CDLPI grant program provides financial 

assistance to states to help them achieve 

compliance with FMCSA regulations concerning 

driver’s license standards and programs. 

In addition, the program provides financial 

assistance to other entities that are capable 

of executing national projects to aid states in 

their compliance efforts, which will improve 

the national CDL program. 

• $2 million in commercial motor vehicle 

operator safety training (CMV-OST) grants to 21 

educational institutions to help train U.S. military 

veterans for jobs as commercial drivers. 

The CMV-OST grant program awards 

grants to a variety of educational institutions 

that provide commercial truck- and bus-driving 

training, including accredited public or 

private colleges, universities, vocational-technical 

schools, post-secondary educational 

institutions, truck-driver training schools, associations, 

and state and local governments, 

including federally recognized Native American 

tribal governments. 

In addition to the grants noted above, in 

May/April 2021, FMCSA awarded more than 

$304 million in motor carrier safety assistance 

program (MCSAP) grants. These funds will 

help state and local law enforcement agencies 

to use about 12,000 enforcement personnel to 

Audit shows North Carolina DOT spent 

less than planned, but risks remain 


iStock Photo 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has awarded nearly $76 million in grant monies to state governments 

and educational institutions to help in their efforts to improve commercial motor vehicle safety. 

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s Department 

of Transportation (DOT) spent 

less than predicted in the second half of 

2020, a state performance audit showed. 

However, the report’s authors said the 

agency hadn’t carried out key recommendations 

from an audit last year that found 

several hundred million dollars in overspending. 

The audit, announced Sept. 14 by State 

Auditor Beth Wood, showed that DOT 

spent $2.52 billion for the six months ending 

last Dec. 31, or $325 million less than its 

baseline spending forecast. 

But the improved financial result didn’t 

happen due to efforts by DOT management 

to spend for roads and other projects based 

on realistic expectations, the report contends. 

“Consequently, the fact that the department 

had not yet exceeded its spending 

plan was largely due to chance,” the auditors 

wrote. 

The agency remains at risk for spending 

overages because it hadn’t carried out 2020 

recommendations by Wood’s office, the audit 

said. They include basing the spending 

plan on specific projects and operations, 

and monitoring activities at DOT’s 14 regional 

highway construction and maintenance 

offices. 

In an attached response, DOT Secretary 

Eric Boyette wrote that the agency agrees 

with the findings and is now working to 

carry out the 2020 recommendations. 

For example, DOT said, regional highway 

office engineers receive biweekly maintenance 

spending reports, and regional 

help reduce the number and severity of crashes 

and hazardous materials incidents involving 

commercial motor vehicles. 

In total, nearly 60% of FMCSA’s funding 

is provided to states and local communities 

through grant funding; all funding is intended 

to enhance commercial vehicle safety. 

“At FMCSA and USDOT our mission is to 

ensure that all road users, from the Pacific 

to the Atlantic, reach their destination safely,” 

said FMCSA Deputy Administrator Meera 

Joshi. “Together these grants represent the 

administration’s commitment to supporting 

strong state and local partnerships to reach 

our national goal of reducing commercial vehicle-involved 

crashes and saving lives.” 

The USDOT is also working through 

the White House Supply Chain Disruptions 

Task Force to address truck driver retention 

issues. 8 

iStock Photo 

According to a state audit, North Carolina’s 

Department of Transportation spent less than 

predicted in the second half of 2020, but auditors say 

the agency didn’t carry out key recommendations 

from an audit last year that found several hundred 

million dollars in overspending. 

staff meet with higher-ups when spending 

goes outside recommended ranges. 

And purchases above $500 are reviewed 

for approval by the regional engineer or 

SEE AUDIT ON PAGE 19 

USPS 972 

VOLUME 34, NUMBER 19 

OCTOBER 1-14, 2021 

The Trucker is a semi-monthly, national newspaper for the 

trucking industry, published by The Trucker Media Group at 

1123 S. University, Suite 325 

Little Rock, AR 72204-1610 

EDITORIAL 

Managing Editor 

Linda Garner-Bunch 

Staff Writer 

John Worthen 

Production Coordinator 

Christie McCluer 

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Cliff Abbott 

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Sarah DeClerk 

Lyndon Finney 

Dwain Hebda 

Gina Hoffman 

Kris Rutherford 

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Jose Ortiz 

For editorial inquiries, 

contact Linda Garner-Bunch at 

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please contact Meg Larcinese at 

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Telephone: (501) 666-0500 

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Single-copy mail subscription available at 

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THETRUCKER.COM OCTOBER 1-14, 2021 • 5 

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Preparing for DOT re-cert 

exam could save your job — 

and improve your life 

THE TRUCKER 

TRAINER 

BOB PERRY 

Let’s face it: Being a professional truck or 

bus driver is not always the healthiest job. 

The combination of too much sitting, too 

little exercise and an unhealthy diet can lead 

to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, 

type 2 diabetes, heart conditions and 

more. That can make passing the DOT recertification 

exam daunting. 

How to get into shape and learning how 

to eat healthy on the road so a driver is fit 

to pass the Department of Transportation’s 

(DOT) physical requirements is a challenge. 

Unfortunately, driver health is not always a 

top priority. 

In addition, with driver turnover soaring 

as high as 90% per year, commercial drivers 

must do whatever they can to protect their 

livelihoods. 

As a driver, you need to make sure you 

are fit to pass. You may be one of the best 

CDL drivers, with great driving skills and 

a perfect record, but lack the knowledge or 

support, health-wise, to maintain your DOT 

qualification. 

Don’t be afraid to reach out for support. 

There are resources that can help you; ask 

your carrier for help. Remember, after all, a 

carrier would rather “keep the drivers they 

know today before hiring the unknown drivers 

of tomorrow.” 

There are year-round coaching programs 

designed to improve the health of professional 

drivers. 

Look for one that provides help during 

the 90 days leading up to your DOT re-cert 

exam. This will help you kick into high gear, 

placing you in the best position to pass 

Also, look for resources that have your 

best interest in mind. Look for licensed, professional 

coaches that can create customized 

behavioral plans to keep you on the road. Licensed 

coaches are trained in the behavioral 

change and motivation techniques necessary 

to help you overcome the barriers and 

challenges to developing sound health habits 

— and pass the DOT re-certification exam. 

Here’s one last tip: Make sure the 

education you are receiving is extended to 

your family too. Feel free to reach out to me, 

Bob Perry, if you need some direction and 

support. 

Known as The Trucker Trainer, Bob Perry 

has played a critical role in the paradigm shift 

of regulatory agencies, private and public sector 

entities, and consumers to understand the 

driver health challenge. Perry can be reached 

at truckertrainer@icloud.com. 8 

TANKER SPILL SNARLS I-10 ON WEST COAST 

COURTESY: CALTRANS 

BANNING, Calif. — A gasoline tanker truck overturned in Banning, California, Tuesday Sept. 1, spilling 9,000 

gallons and closing all of Interstate 10 for several hours, according to the California Transportation Department 

(CALTRANS). 

Courtesy: DriveOhio 

DriveOhio, a collaboration between government, research and private industry partners, is working to pave the way for 

the transition to electric commercial fleets. 

Plugged in 

DRIVEOHIO RELEASES FREIGHT ELECTRIFICATION STUDY 

COLUMBUS, Ohio — As the automotive 

and trucking industries begin to shift toward 

alternative fuels, DriveOhio — a collaboration 

between government, research 

and private industry partners — is touting 

a plan for commercial fleet electrification 

that it says will help make the transition 

smoother for all involved. 

Building on the Ohio electric vehicle 

(EV) charging strategy released last year, 

a study released by DriveOhio Sept. 14 details 

how to move the freight and logistics 

industries into the use of EVs. 

“Ohio is the crossroads of America. We 

rank second in intermodal logistics facilities 

and sixth in volume of freight moving 

in and out of our state,” said Howard Wood, 

executive director of DriveOhio. 

“As the auto industry continues to make 

major investments in electric vehicles 

and the infrastructure that powers them, 

we must be ready to pivot and adapt to a 

changing domestic and global economy,” he 

continued. “Working with the freight and 

logistics industry, this study adds important 

data to the electrification conversation 

as this ecosystem continues to mature 

in Ohio and across the nation.” 

In the study, commercial vehicles were 

grouped into categories — terminal and 

off-road, last-mile delivery, local freight 

and drayage, and regional and long-haul — 

and feedback was collected from those in 

the industry who have already begun to use 

EVs as part of their fleets. 


Collectively, UPS, FedEx, DHL, Bimbo 

Bakeries, PITT Ohio, Firefly Transportation 

Services (now Lazer Spot Inc., and 

R&L Carriers cite increased safety, reduced 

carbon emissions, driver preference, and a 

competitive edge and job creation as reasons 

to electrify their fleet operations, according 

to DriveOhio. 

“Ohio is focused on maintaining its position 

as a manufacturing leader,” said Jack 

Marchbanks, director of the Ohio Department 

of Transportation. “The viability, 

pace, and ultimate success of transitioning 

the freight sector to electric vehicles will 

require collaboration across all levels of 

government and private industry. Ohio has 

an opportunity to help lead the shift to a 

21st century transportation economy.” 

Looking to the future, DriveOhio’s 

Freight Electrification Study suggests that 

government and industry leaders work together 

to ensure that there is reliable charging 

infrastructure, timely utility coordination 

and standard electricity prices. 

“The opportunities in Ohio for employment 

as an electrician are unparalleled,” 

said Dan Spurgeon, vice president for service 

and special projects at The Superior 

Group, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. 

“EV infrastructure, beneficial electrification, 

data warehousing, and utility-scale 

solar projects currently being constructed 

represent a massive quantity of labor 

hours.” 8

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PARKING cont. from Page 1 

“This is not only a safety concern for truckers, 

but also for the commuters who share the 

road with them. I have offered commonsense 

amendments three times in the House to provide 

funding to address this problem, and the 

Democrat majority has blocked them each 

time,” he continued. 

“They have paid lip service to America’s 

trucking community and claimed to understand 

their concerns, yet this $3.5 trillion bill 

includes zero funding for truck parking. Not a 

penny. It just goes to show that they don’t care 

about this problem at all.” 

The House Committee on Transportation 

and Infrastructure’s chair, Peter DeFazio (D- 

Ore.) praised the infrastructure bill, saying 

in a statement that it tackles climate change, 

racial and environmental injustices and will 

work to “build back better after the COVID-19 

pandemic.” 

“With this legislation, we can reduce carbon 

pollution from the transportation sector 

that’s driving the climate crisis and make communities 

more resilient to extreme weather 

events,” DeFazio said. 

“(We can) connect people with good-paying 

jobs and affordable housing; address the 

planning mistakes of the past by reconnecting 

communities; make meaningful investments 

to plan for and develop high-speed rail projects; 

provide more people access to clean water; 

and make our aviation and maritime sectors 

greener,” he continued. 

“I look forward to seeing Congress pass 

this once-in-a-generation legislation because 

we can’t afford to squander this opportunity.” 

The reconciliation bill proposes: 

• $10 billion to support access to affordable 

housing and enhance mobility for lowincome 

individuals and residents of disadvantaged 

or persistent poverty communities. 

• $4 billion for reduction of carbon pollution 

in the surface transportation sector—addressing 

the largest source of transportation 

greenhouse gas emissions. 

• $4 billion to support neighborhood equity, 

safety, and affordable transportation access, 

including reconnecting communities 

divided by existing infrastructure barriers. 

• $6 billion to advance local surface transportation 

projects. 

• $1 billion to the Department of Transportation 

to support projects that develop, 

demonstrate, or apply low-emission technologies 

or produce, transport, blend, or store sustainable 

aviation fuels. 

• $500 million to the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency’s (FEMA) hazard mitigation 

revolving loan fund program. 

• $425 million for grants for the construction, 

retrofit, technological enhancement, and 

updated planning requirements of state, local, 

Tribal, and territorial emergency operation 

centers. 

• $9.5 billion to the Economic Development 

Administration to provide investments 

in persistently distressed communities, provide 

assistance to energy and industrial transition 

communities, invest in public works 

projects, and create regional hubs. 

• $1 billion to the General Services Administration 

to invest in high-performance green 

buildings. 

It takes semi drivers an average of more than 45 minutes to find a safe spot, industry officials say. 

• $1 billion for climate resilient Coast 

Guard infrastructure. 

• $2.5 billion to the Maritime Administration 

to support more sustainable port infrastructure 

and supply chain resilience. 

• $2 billion to invest in sewer overflow and 

stormwater reuse projects, as well as a greater 

federal coast share for projects that serve financially 

distressed communities. 

• $500 million in grant assistance to invest 

in the backlog of wastewater projects on Tribal 

lands. 

Biden, during a stop in Arvada, Colo., on 

Sept. 14, said the infrastructure bill is vital toward 

helping to reduce global warming. 

He used the wildfires in California and 

Hurricane Ida as examples of changing weather 

patterns affecting the United States. Biden 

said that reducing carbon emissions is key, 

iStock Photo 

adding that he is working with America’s car 

manufacturers to build more electric vehicles. 

Nothing specific to 18-wheelers was mentioned 

during Biden’s Sept. 14 remarks, however. 

Back at OOIDA, Spencer, in his statement 

about trucker parking, wrote that “addressing 

the parking shortage would also have supported 

efforts to reduce carbon emission from 

the transportation sector. Truck drivers waste 

approximately 56 minutes per day looking for 

parking, all the while needlessly burning fuel, 

emitting carbon and contributing to congestion. 

“It’s tough to swallow the fact that in a year 

when Congress is authorizing hundreds-ofbillions 

of dollars for infrastructure projects 

and highway safety programs, not a single 

penny was set aside for truck parking.” 8 

VERDICT cont. from Page 1 

2006-2010, there were 26 cases in which jury awards totaled 

over $1 million. In the most recent five years (2015-2019), 

there were 300 such awards. 

Pajcic described the Dzion family’s experience as a “nightmare” 

that began about 9 p.m. on Labor Day 2017, while Dzion 

was stopped on Interstate 95 near Jacksonville, Florida. An 

18-wheeler driven by Russell Rogatenko of AJD Business Services 

Inc. had crashed into another vehicle and caught fire, 

halting traffic. 

While Connor Dzion sat in his car waiting for the wreck to 

be cleared, a rig driven by Kahkashan Carrier Inc.’s Yadwinder 

Sangha of Canada slammed into a parked line of cars behind 

the initial wreck, pancaking Dzion’s sedan and causing his 

head to be crushed between Sangha’s grill and the car in front 

of him. 

Pajcic said Sangha was traveling with the cruise control at 

70 mph, and the truck’s on-board data recorder showed he did 

not attempt to brake until one second before the fatal crash. 

Pajcic said Sangha was looking at his phone instead of the 

road when he “steamrolled” into Dzion’s car. 

Sangha also reportedly could not read English, so the 

flashing electronic signs that were put up miles before the 

standstill, warning drivers to be prepared to stop, were not 

understood. 

Pajcic said the drivers of both of the rigs involved in the 

crash, and their companies, didn’t “play by the rules” and were 

dangerous. He also asserted that the companies the drivers 

worked for were cutting corners in order to make more profit. 

Pajcic told The Trucker that Rogatenko didn’t have a valid 

CDL at the time of the crash, and alleged that he had a habit of 

watching porn on his cell phone while operating his rig. 

“Both of these guys were really bad,” he said, adding that 

both Sangha and Rogatenko had previous hours-of-service 

violations. 

Additionally, Pajcic said Rogatenko had been involved in 

Courtesy: Curry Pajcic 

Connor Dzion’s car was pancaked in an Interstate 95 crash on Labor Day 

2007 that was caused by an 18-wheeler. He was killed instantly. 

several other crashes on I-95 before the one that caused the 

traffic jam and ultimately resulted in Dzion’s death. 

The Nassau County Circuit Court ruled that Sangha’s negligence 

caused Dzion’s death, and the jury set a monetary 

amount they felt the young man’s family was entitled to. 

The jury also found that AJD owed Connor’s mother, Melissa 

Dzion, $16 million for negligent infliction of emotional 

destress. 

The jury further ruled that Melissa Dzion was owed $49 

million in wrongful death damages from both companies, 

and that Connor’s father, David Dzion, was due $37 million in 

wrongful death damages from the two carriers. 

The jury ruled that Kahkashan Carrier is liable for 90% of 

the wrongful death damages, leaving 10 percent against AJD. 

The biggest chunk of money awarded in the case, however, 

came in the form of punitive damages against AJD. The jury 

ruled that the company must pay $900 million for its role in 

Connor’s death. 

Attempts to reach attorneys for either carrier or the defendants 

were unsuccessful. A man, who refused to identify 

himself, answered a phone number listed for AJD, 

and said only that the company “is no longer in business.” 

A message left for Sean McDonough, the attorney listed in 

court documents as the legal representative for Kahkashan 

Carrier, was not returned. AJD was not represented in court, 

according to court documents. 

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 

both Kahkashan and AJD are listed as inactive and out 

of service. 

Pajcic said that, while the family is unlikely to ever see a 

substantial amount of money from the case, “we will work as 

hard as we can to get what we can. I may never see any money 

from it, but we are going to keep trying.” 

In a court filing after the verdict, attorneys for AJD wrote 

that the punitive damage award is “clearly excessive because 

it would bankrupt some of the defendants” and that the most 

the “plaintiff should be entitled to (is) a nominal award.” 

Court documents show that AJD’s insurance carrier, Falls 

Lake National Insurance Co., “tendered its policy limits of 

$1 million to Melissa Dzion in exchange for a release of the 

wrongful death claim against AJD and its driver.” 

AJD’s defense team has also filed a motion for a new trial. 

In their motion for a new trial, Kahkashan’s attorneys 

wrote that “a verdict that awards almost a billion dollars in 

damages against two defendant trucking companies by itself 

reflects a verdict that should shock to conscience of the Court 

and demonstrates that the jury was unduly influenced by passion 

or prejudice or other factors besides the evidence and law 

presented to them.” 

Pajcic said that, above all, the Dzion family “just wants to 

make sure no one ever has to go through anything like this 

again.” 

“Most trucking companies are good,” he said. “They hire 

safe drivers; they play by the rules that protect us all. We need 

truckers because they bring us the things we need and use. 

There is a reason you never hear about these kinds of cases 

against major companies like JB Hunt or CR England. They 

play by the rules, spend the money to do it right. These regulations 

that they follow protect us all.” 8

THETRUCKER.COM OCTOBER 1-14, 2021 • 9



Free ride frenzy 

UNPAID TOLLS ON PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE RESULT IN REVENUE BLEED FOR STATE 


CARLISLE, Pa. — More than $104 million 

in Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls went uncollected 

last year as the agency fully converted 

to all-electronic tolling, with the millions of 

motorists who don’t use E-ZPass having a 

nearly 1 in 2 chance of riding without paying 

under the “toll-by-plate” license plate camera 

system. 

An internal turnpike report, issued in 

July and obtained by The Associated Press 

through a Right-to-Know Law request, 

showed nearly 11 million out of the total of 

about 170 million turnpike rides generated 

no revenue for the agency in the year that 

ended May 31. 

“We take this issue very seriously. It is a 

big number, there’s no question,” turnpike 

Chief Executive Mark Compton said. “But 

we, as an organization, are leaving no stone 

unturned in the way in which we’re going after 

that leakage.” 

Toll revenue “leakage” — an industry 

euphemism for uncollected tolls — has become 

the focus of turnpike agencies across 

the country as the use of E-ZPass transponders 

and license plate cameras continues to 

spread. 

It is a particular problem for the debtstrapped 

Pennsylvania Turnpike, where 

more than half of its total revenue goes to 

pay borrowing costs and tolls have more 

than quadrupled in 12 years for the minority 

of motorists who don’t have E-ZPass to pay 

for rides. 

At the gas pumps of a busy truck stop 

along the turnpike in Carlisle last week, 

driver Corin Bryant said he’s noticed tolls 

have become much more expensive in recent 

years and doesn’t much like the idea of free 

riders. 

“We should all pay for it or all not,” said 

Bryant, of Picayune, Mississippi. “One or the 

other.” 

The turnpike, touted as the nation’s first 

superhighway when a mostly four-lane segment 

opened in 1940, is a key part of the 

interstate highway system. The turnpike 

runs more than 500 miles (805 kilometers), 

including several sections that connect with 

a main stem linking the Philadelphia and 

Pittsburgh regions. 

Last year, license plates could not be 

identified in 1.8 million Pennsylvania Turnpike 

rides, bills were undeliverable in just 

over 1 million instances, and motor vehicle 

agencies failed to provide vehicle owner addresses 

more than 1.5 million times. An additional 

6.7 million transactions were marked 

as “not paid.” 

“I’m kind of shocked at that,” said Rebecca 

Oyler with the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association, 

representing truckers who mostly 

use E-ZPass. “If you think about it, they control 

the driver. Theoretically they could stop 

the driver from exiting before paying; that’s 

within their ability to do.” 

After tolls and fees go uncollected for about 

three years, the turnpike writes them off. 

I’m sorry, when 

you have a debt, 

and the tolls are as 

high as they are on the 

Pennsylvania Turnpike, 

then you need to be more 

efficient.” 

— STATE REP. STAN SAYLOR 

State House Appropriations Chairman 

Stan Saylor, a York County Republican, said 

the revenue bleed has been a concern of his 

for years and thinks the new figures show 

a need for action. He said the Legislature 

should do more to pressure the agency to 

fix it and that the money could fund a lot of 

work. 

“That kind of loss is amazing,” Saylor said. 

“I’m sorry, when you have a debt, and the 

tolls are as high as they are on the Pennsylvania 

Turnpike, then you need to be more 

efficient.” 

There are several reasons state turnpike 

agencies experience revenue leakage, said 

Mark Muriello with the International Bridge, 

Toll and Tunnel Association, a trade group. 

It can result from faulty equipment, such 

as a dead battery in an E-ZPass transponder; 

from failure of the camera systems to capture 

a plate number properly; or from an inability 

to pursue out-of-state drivers, he said. 

The turnpike’s sprawling 552-mile system 

had 169 million transactions last year, with 

the lion’s share, about 145 million, going 

through E-ZPass. The E-ZPass system helped 

the turnpike collect tolls on about 93% of all 

trips. 

Toll-by-plate was successful 13.3 million 

times last year, bringing in more than $127 

million in fees. Law-abiding drivers have 

seen cash or toll-by-plate costs for a crossstate 

turnpike ride climb from about $28 in 

2009 to $95 this year. E-ZPass is far cheaper, 

currently $47 for a cross-state trip. 

After a pandemic-driven decision to lay 

off hundreds of toll collectors and auditors 

last year and end cash collections, the turnpike 

issued a 45% rate increase this year for 

drivers who do not have E-ZPass and instead 

must be billed. 

In place of the toll collectors are license 

plate cameras and employees of contractors 

who have to examine photos of vehicles 

when the system has not automatically generated 

an owner’s name and address for a paper 

bill to be mailed out. 

The turnpike’s July report said that in 

nearly half the instances in which license 

plate camera images were not usable, the 

reason was the plate was not in the frame of 

the photo. Examples provided in the report 

included lack of front license plates, which 

AP Photo/Keith Srakocic 

Traffic going eastbound on the Pennsylvania Turnpike proceeds through the electronic toll booths in 

Cranberry Township, Pa., on Monday, Aug. 30, 2021. More than $104 million in Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls 

went uncollected last year as the agency fully converted to all-electronic tolling. Turnpike records show the 

millions of motorists who don’t use E-ZPass have a nearly 1 in 2 chance of riding without paying under the 

“toll-by-plate” license plate reader system. 

are not issued in Pennsylvania. 

About 41% of the image failures were 

blamed on an obstruction such as a bike 

rack. In about 1.1% of manually voided images, 

the problem was attributed to intentional 

obstruction of the license plate. 

The International Bridge, Toll and Tunnel 

Association, in establishing a task force on 

the topic earlier this year, said lost revenue 

can result from camera problems, equipment 

failure, unreliable information from state 

motor vehicle agencies, inefficient collection 

practices and “customer behavior.” 

Toll evaders around the country have 

been creative, using grease to obscure plate 

numbers and installing devices that deploy 

to cover up plates when drivers go past plate 

cameras. Weather conditions and camera 

malfunctions can also make plates impossible 

to read. 

Under a 2017 state law, the Pennsylvania 

Turnpike Commission has gone through 

PennDOT to suspend Pennsylvania vehicle 

registrations, and as a result, about 10,000 

are currently suspended. Those drivers had 

six or more unpaid toll violations, or at least 

$500 in toll violations, or defaulted on a payment 

plan for unpaid turnpike tolls or fees. 

The turnpike also asks county district attorneys 

to pursue theft-of-services charges 

for those who owe at least $2,000, and since 

2002 has been referring overdue payments to 

debt collectors for drivers in Pennsylvania 

and beyond. 

Out-of-state drivers are a particular problem. 

The turnpike gets vehicle registration 

addresses from Pennsylvania and 48 other 

states — only Iowa does not provide them — 

but so far does not have agreements in place 

letting them currently suspend out-of-state 

registrations for unpaid toll bills. 

The Pennsylvania Turnpike is finalizing 

such an agreement with Delaware and is in 

talks with New York. 

State Transportation Secretary Yassmin 

Gramian, who chairs the turnpike board, 

said the state’s overall toll collection rates 

are consistent with those in other states and 

slightly better than the national average. 

Gramian said the turnpike commission 

wants more power to go after out-of-state 

toll scofflaws, but that requires legislation 

in those states. The variation among states 

about the penalties and fees they assess on 

turnpike drivers is another issue, said Compton, 

the turnpike’s chief executive. 

“Uniformity at the federal level would certainly 

be helpful in this area, and reciprocity 

between states is an ongoing conversation 

among tolling agencies nationwide,” Gramian 

said. 

Backers of all-electronic tolling say it improves 

traffic flow, curbs pollution and requires 

less maintenance than manned, cashaccepting 

toll booths. The 2020 layoffs cut 

the turnpike’s workforce from nearly 1,900 

to more than 1,300 currently. Total toll revenues 

were about $1.3 billion last year, with 

E-ZPass accounting for more than $1 billion. 

The Pennsylvania Turnpike approved a 

$45 million contract in 2014 to develop and 

implement all-electronic tolling, and it currently 

pays vendor TransCore about $10 million 

annually to operate the toll-by-plate system. 

It is also spending $129 million to relocate 

tolling points to overhead gantry structures 

on the interstate rather than the brick-andmortar 

facilities currently at interchanges, 

a project currently being designed and engineered. 

8

THETRUCKER.COM NATION 

OCTOBER 1-14, 2021 • 11 

Find the 

truck-driving 

jobs 

as well as the latest news, 

videos and job resources ... 

all in one place! 

Find info about driving jobs 

that’s specific to your state. 

There’s also a new way to search 

for jobs using multiple criteria. 

Aim your camera 

at the code to 

find jobs.

12 • OCTOBER 1-14, 2021 

FROM THE EDITOR: 

Parking 

problems 

BETWEEN 

THE LINES 

LINDA GARNER-BUNCH 

editor@thetruckermedia.com 

As the Oct. 1 edition of The Trucker goes 

to press, we are waiting for a House vote on 

the Biden administration’s bipartisan infrastructure 

bill, which passed the Senate back 

in August. 

With a price tag of $3.5 trillion (which 

includes $6 billion dedicated to advancing 

“surface transportation” projects) you’d think 

truck parking — an issue nearly every trucking 

association agrees is one of the biggest 

challenges facing drivers — would be addressed. 

Well, as it turns out, you’d think wrong. If 

you haven’t taken a look at this edition’s cover 

story, written by The Trucker’s own John 

Worthen, I highly recommend checking it 

out. Our team is working to keep up with the 

latest on this legislation, as well as other issues 

that are important to drivers and others 

in the trucking industry. 

Speaking of issues, the American Transportation 

Research Institute, better known 

as ATRI, is asking for input from drivers, motor 

carriers and many other folks involved in 

trucking about the top problems they face — 

and they’re also asking for ideas on how to 

solve those problems. 

You have until Oct. 15 to head over to 

truckingresearch.org and participate. 

“Why bother?” you might say. “They’re not 

going to listen anyway.” 

Well, I can tell you right now that if you 

DON’T speak up, there’s no chance in heck 

that your voice will be heard. In my opinion, 

for whatever that’s worth, we should never 

stop trying. As they say, “The squeaky wheel 

gets the grease.” 

I’ll climb down from my soapbox now (it’s 

actually a two-drawer filing cabinet in the 

corner of my office) and move on to happier 

thoughts. 

Throughout September, the industry celebrated 

the people who serve as the backbone 

of the supply chain — you, the truck drivers. 

Drivers were treated to special discounts 

at travel stops, and many trucking companies 

and associations hosted special events. I 

hope each of you had a chance to take a break 

and bask in the appreciation — even it was 

something as simple as a free cup of coffee. 

The team here at The Trucker is grateful 

for everything you do, and our goal is to provide 

you with important information as well 

as stories about life on the road. 

We welcome your feedback, as well as 

ideas for topics to cover. Reach out to us via 

email at editor@thetruckermedia.com. 

Early in the pandemic I wrote an article 

on federal v. state COVID-19 authority. I don’t 

remember the exact date I wrote it, but it was 

early in the pandemic. I am going to say maybe 

the fall of 1987 or so. (It seems we’ve been 

dealing with the pandemic for decades.) 

The article discussed the federal government’s 

ability to intervene in the health crisis 

through the Commerce Clause of the Constitution 

as opposed to the ability to control 

the spread of COVID-19 within their borders 

through the 10th Amendment. As you recall, 

the article was brilliantly written. (I say that 

only because I am sure nobody remembers it.) 

Well, now the fine folks in the government 

have kicked it up a notch. 

As you are no doubt aware, using executive 

orders and agency directives, President Joe 

Biden mandated the full vaccination of federal 

employees, federal contractors, and Medicaid- 

and Medicare-funded health care facility 

workers. Not too terribly surprising, really. 

However, he also directed the Labor Department 

to prepare an emergency rule requiring 

private companies with 100 or more 

employees to ensure that their workers are 

PERSPECTIVE 

either fully vaccinated or tested weekly for 

COVID-19. 

This, as they say, is a different animal all 

together. 

Of course, the words were no sooner out 

of Biden’s mouth that folks started to threaten 

to sue. (I’m looking at you, Gov. Doug Ducey 

(Arizona), Gov. Kristi Noem (South Dakota), 

and entire the Republican National Committee.) 

Other folks just characterized the rules 

for private business as unconstitutional. 

From a jaded, cynical lawyer’s perspective, 

the threats of litigation and claims that 

the rules violated the constitution are a bit 

premature. As of the mid-September day I am 

writing this column, the Labor Department 

has yet to write the rules. 

But let’s forget all that, and instead ask this 

important question: Based on Biden’s statements, 

would it appear the mandate plan is 

constitutional? The short answer is that it certainly 

appears so. 

Of course, the wheels could fall off once 

they actually start drafting the rules. However, 

with some care, it seems like Biden’s rules for 

private business could pass muster. 

Quite simply, the federal courts have rejected 

constitutional challenges to vaccine 

mandates in the past, provided those mandates 

do not single out one demographic 

group in a discriminatory manner. 

In Jacobson v. Massachusetts, way back in 

1905, the Supreme Court found that “Americans 

do not have a constitutional right to 

harm their fellow citizens by refusing a vaccine 

and, thereby serving as a disease vector.” 

WORTH REPEATING 

In this section, The Trucker news staff selects quotes from stories 

throughout this issue that are just too good to only publish once. 

In case you missed it, you should check out the stories that 

include these perspectives. 

If you have an opinion you would like to share, email 

editor@thetruckermedia.com. 

It’s tough to swallow the fact that in a year when 

Congress is authorizing hundreds-of-billions of 

dollars for infrastructure projects and highway safety 

programs, not a single penny was set aside for truck 

parking.” 

— OOIDA President Todd Spencer, on the House revisions to the 

infrastructure bill 

Full story on Pages 1 and 8. 


Does a vaccine mandate violate 

employees’ constitutional rights? 

ASK THE 

ATTORNEY 

BRAD KLEPPER 

The facts of this case may sound somewhat 

familiar. At the time, a smallpox pandemic 

was working its way through Massachusetts. 

To help stop the spread, the Board of Health 

of Cambridge, Massachusetts, passed an ordinance 

that imposed a $5 fine on anyone over 

21 years of age who refused to be vaccinated. 

Jacobson, a Lutheran pastor, refused to 

take the smallpox vaccine on the grounds that 

he had gotten sick from a childhood vaccination. 

He also argued that the vaccine mandate 

amounted to the imposition of paganism 

upon the public — a matter I am not even going 

to discuss. 

As expected, Johnson was criminally prosecuted. 

On appeal, he argued that the vaccine 

violated his due process rights to bodily integrity. 

In other words, he said the vaccine deprived 

him of his constitutional right to make 

decisions regarding his own body. 

In a 7-2 decision, the court disagreed with 

Mr. Jacobson. Moreover, in the opinion, Justice 

Harlan noted the social compact theory. This 

basically means that a society covenants with 

each citizen, and each citizen with society to 

be governed by laws for the common good. 

Another reason this century-old decision 

is still relevant is because Justice Harlan recognized 

that the government’s power to mandate 

vaccines does not include the ability to 

compel a person to take a vaccine that will 

harm their health. 

It is also interesting that arguments 

supporting vaccination laws have withstood 

SEE ATTORNEY ON PAGE 16 

It saved me. I 

took that class, 

got my CDL 

and now I am driving 

a truck. Trucking 

really has changed 

my life.” 

— CDL holder Javier 

Diaz, sharing how taking 

a high school trucking 

class taught by Dave Dein 

changed his life 

Full story on Pages 23 

and 25.

THETRUCKER.COM PERSPECTIVE 

OCTOBER 1-14, 2021 • 13 

Former mortician scores big 

hit with ‘old school’ song that 

transcends genres 

RHYTHM OF 

THE ROAD 

KRIS RUTHERFORD 

krisr@thetruckermedia.com 

Years ago, I recall a local country radio 

poll asking listeners to pick from one of two 

newly released songs. Which would be the 

bigger hit? 

I don’t recall either of the songs (something 

that probably tells you about the fate 

of both), but I do remember listening to one 

and thinking, “Just because the lyrics include 

‘NASCAR,’ it doesn’t mean you have a 

country song.” 

The same can be said of trucking songs. 

Just because a song mentions a truck, 

it’s not necessarily a trucking song. And by 

no means does that mention make it a good 

trucking song — or a good song at all. It’s a 

rare feat for an artist to take a songwriter’s 

lyrics that allude to trucking and turn them 

into a good hit song. 

But in 1985, John Conlee pulled off the 

feat with his single, “Old School.” 

Born in Kentucky to tobacco farmers in 

1946, Conlee is an unlikely performer. He 

did take up the guitar early in life, but following 

high school, he worked as a mortician. 

Now, a lot of country songs talk about 

death and dying, and no doubt somewhere 

there’s a lyric or two about “preparing the 

dead.” But Conlee didn’t try to parlay his experiences 

into a singing career. 

After landing a job as a disc jockey, on 

the other hand, his aspirations changed. 

Conlee became one of many disc jockeys 

who attempted to parlay their contacts in 

the music world into successful singing 

careers. 

In 1971, the music bug bit John Conlee 

enough to send him on a one-way trip to 

Nashville. He hoped to land something — 

anything — that he could make into a career 

of in the music business. It took time, 

but in 1976, he signed a contract with ABC 

Records. 

Two years later, he charted his first single, 

“Rose Colored Glasses.” 

Although the song fell short of No. 1, 

topping out at No. 5 on the Billboard Country 

Charts, the notoriety it brought Conlee 

turned it into his signature song and provided 

a gimmick for his act that he continues 

today — he always wears a pair of rosecolored 

sunglasses when on stage. 

While those rose-colored glasses may 

have become a stage gimmick, the same 

cannot be said of Conlee’s voice. 

Few have ever sung with a voice as 

unique as Conlee’s baritone, one that could 

just as easily be featured in a bluegrass tune 

as it could the “Nashville Sound” of the early 

1980s. 

In fact, Conlee recently performed a 

bluegrass version of “Common Man” with 

Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road. While 

the lyrics to “Common Man” are a bit more 

modern than those typically associated 

with bluegrass music, it easily blends with 

the instrumentation. 

Throughout his career, Conlee, like Merle 

Haggard before him, focused on songs 

about the working man. 

Conlee’s “Back Side of Thirty,” “Friday 

Night Blues,” “I Don’t Remember Loving 

You” and “Domestic Life” all reached Top 5 

status on the charts, while 1983’s “Common 

Man” became the first in a string of four 

consecutive chart toppers. 

Like “Rose-Colored Glasses,” “Old 

School” didn’t reach No. 1, but it was a solid 

Top 5 single for Conlee. “Old School” followed 

Conlee’s pure trucking song, “Blue 

Highway.” 

But “Blue Highway” only managed to 

reach No. 15 on the charts — one of Conlee’s 

lowest-charting records while at the height 

of his career. 

Still, the theme of “Blue Highway” — a 

hard-working truck driver who yearns for 

the wife he left behind for another crosscountry 

trip — serves as an excellent segue 

into the “Old School.” 

In fact, “Old School” could easily be considered 

a continuation of “Blue Highway,” 

telling the story of what happened when 

that lonely driver came home. 

As its name suggests, “Old School” is 

the story of a man with deep family values. 

He works hard for his family “driving 18 

wheels,” and the choice of career became 

one that cost him his high school love. 

The love remains in his memory while 

he is on the road over the years, but he realizes 

he and his former girlfriend “came from 

different sides of the track.” 

Regardless the two swore that they’d be 

together forever; after all, that’s the way it 

worked for couples from (or who were) “old 

school.” 

Later in the song, Conlee recalls the 

day he read about his former love getting 

married to a guy who “was a big deal.” And 

despite the very public wedding that was 

flaunted in the singer’s face, he took it all in 

stride and simply “went for a ride down by 

the old school.” 

While the newlyweds lived the high life 

and his ex-girlfriend’s husband made it big 

(interpreted to mean in the business world) 

Conlee married a “sweet young girl and kept 

driving for the line.” 

And while he lived the domestic life, he 

watched from afar as his old girlfriend’s 

husband left her with the kids. But seemingly 

she had all she ever wanted in a “big 

house with a swimming pool.” 

In the closing stanzas of “Old 

School,” Conlee takes his wife to 

his high school reunion where he 

is reunited with his love long past. 

He agrees to a dance, and while on the 

SEE RHYTHM ON PAGE 26 

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14 • OCTOBER 1-14, 2021 


at the TRUCK STOP 

PRESENTED 

BY CAT SCALE. 

VISIT WEIGHMYTRUCK.COM 


Arkansas trucker Jeron Whittmore found and restored the 1991 Peterbilt his father, Jerry Whittmore, purchased and leased to National Carriers three decades ago. At 21, Jerry was the company’s youngest driver. 

Hard workin’ man 

Family is at heart of success for Arkansas driver 

CLIFF ABBOTT | SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT 

Jeron Whittmore is a hard workin’ man, and he’s got 

the trophy to prove it. In the 2020 Shell Rotella Super- 

Rigs competition, held virtually last summer because of 

COVID-19 restrictions, Whittmore was recognized as the 

Hardest Working Trucker. 

Despite his young age of 22, Whittmore has been 

working in the family business for much of his life. The 

Whittmores currently run 16 trucks from their base in 

Huntsville, Arkansas. Most of those trucks support the 

family’s hardwood logging operation — the family buys 

and cuts standing timber to supply the mill. 

“We produce lumber, crossties and six-by-eights (specialized 

sizes used for pallet construction),” Whittmore 

said. “It might be 90% oak; there ain’t a whole lot of pine.” 

After the lumber is cut, the sawdust, bark and byproducts 

are used, too. 

“We ship mostly around Arkansas — Arkansas City, 

Springfield, Hatfield,” Whittmore said. “They just got everything 

jumped around.” 

Working around trucks so often, it was only a matter 

of time until Whittmore earned his CDL and started driving. 

His father and grandfather both helped teach him to 

drive, and he was moving trucks around the woods long 

before he was able to legally drive within state lines at 

18. When Whittmore turned 21, he was allowed to drive 

interstate. 

“I used to go and help my dad and grandpa in the 

woods,” he related. 

“I’d pull the truck up to the loader. I’d have to let the 

seat down to reach the gas. Once I got it in gear and got 

moving, I’d let the seat back up so I could see over the 

dash,” he said with a laugh. “I’d have to let it back down if 

I needed to stop.” 

The family maintained their own equipment, and 

Whittmore gained experience in working on and rebuilding 

trucks. 

His love of both trucks and the family business led to 

one very special project. 

In 2014, while still in his early teens, Whittmore found 

some tax paperwork with information about a 1991 

SEE WHITTMORE ON PAGE 16

CATTheTrucker081821 fullpage.qxp_Layout 1 8/18/21 7:35 AM Page 1 


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16 • OCTOBER 1-14, 2021 PERSPECTIVE 


God removes ‘seeds’ of sin so we 

can shine with the light of his love 

CHAPLAIN’S 

CORNER 

REV. MARILOU COINS 

Fall colors are looking so bright now. We 

feel the change of seasons happening and are 

preparing for winter to set in soon. 

But for now, it’s time for a hay ride and to 

carve a pumpkin. 

Do you remember the fun of carving a 

pumpkin? You had to cut off the top and remove 

all those seeds inside. Then you carved a 

smiling face. Finally, you placed a candle inside 

the hollowed-out pumpkin and lit it to glow in 

the dark, showing off that awesome carved face. 

Oh, how you smiled when you saw displayed 

that artwork for all to see! 

That reminds me of what someone told me 

years ago about how God feels about you once 

you accept him into your life. I was told that God 

opens us up and removes the seeds of sin; then 

he replaces those seeds with the light of his love 

and salvation. 

We glow with the light of salvation, showing 

the world what has been done in our new life 

through Christ. God can smile and claim you as 

a perfect reflection of him here on Earth. 

Just think of this as you go through your life: 

Our time here on Earth is only short time, but 

eternity is just that — it’s eternal. 

Always reflect the love of God so you have a 

reason to smile, no matter what your day may be 

like. Once you are gone from this Earth, let those 

who left behind reflect on your life as something 

good. 

A tombstone tells the dates of a person’s 

birth and death — but it says nothing of what 

they did in the years between. Leave a legacy for 

that will be remembered. 

I wrote once before that “RIP” stands for 

“rest in peace” —but it could also stand for “repo 

in progress.” Will you rest in peace with God for 

ATTORNEY cont. from Page 12 

challenges based on the free exercise clause of 

the First Amendment freedom guaranteeing 

the freedom of religion. 

Though it was not a vaccine case, in 1990 

the Supreme Court ruled that the clause does 

not relieve a person from complying with a law 

that applies to everyone and does not single 

out a particular group. Based on what we have 

heard, it does not appear that Biden’s rule for 

private companies violates this rule. 

At the end of the day, the key thing to remember 

about Biden’s mandate is that it 

does not criminalize a refusal or require anyone 

to submit to the vaccine. You are given 

the choice. Get vaccinated or take a weekly 

COVID test. Moreover, it does not appear to 

single out a particular group. Rest assured, 

this is not by accident. I am sure Biden had 

eternity? Or will you be an eternal repo in progress 

in hell? 

It’s your choice. Only you can determine 

where you will spend eternity. 

If you want to “rest in peace,” then remove 

the seeds of sin out of your life and replace them 

with the glow of Christ as the reflection of your 

daily life. 

Let the world know you have been “carved” 

by the grace of God’s love, and that your eternal 

life will be one of resting in peace with him. 

To use another seasonal symbol, your life 

here on Earth is like a “hay ride,” preparing you 

to rest in peace in the next life. It may seem you 

are having a bumpy ride, but can you imagine 

how rough it will be if you spend all of eternity 

lost and in hell!? 

Life is just too short to waste it and not share 

the glow of your inner candle. Only you can accept 

the “carving” of God’s love, cleansing you of 

sin and placing the glow of peace and joy into 

your life. 

No one is perfect. Sometimes we let our candle 

burn, out but God can relight it — once we 

ask for it to be lit again. 

We all were created in God’s image, and only 

he can remove the seeds of sin and “carve” our 

lives to reflect his love. 

Don’t let Satan fool you into thinking you’re 

not worth being carved — no one is rejected by 

God. Instead, he removes our sin and fills us with 

a light that defeats the darkness of this world. 

Do you remember the song, “This little light 

of mine, I’m gonna let it shine”? Well, let your 

light shine, and prepare to rest in peace with the 

love of God. 

Satan doesn’t like this light, and will do everything 

he can to blow out your candle. Reject 

becoming a repo in progress, and Satan will flee 

from you. 

Get on board the “hay ride” to heaven, and 

let your candle shine in the darkness, reflecting 

the love of God to all you meet along life’s path. 

Happy October, and happy Halloween! And, 

as always, best of the roads and all gears forward 

in Jesus, 

Rev. Marilou Coins 8 

several lawyers much smarter than me help 

him work this out. 

Of course, that does not mean the whole 

thing can’t head south and the actual language 

of the rule, once written, prove problematic. It 

also does not mean that folks won’t sue or argue 

that the rule is unconstitutional on other 

grounds. There are several clever lawyers out 

there, and they may be successful. 

I guess the point that I am trying to make 

is that the president and his lawyers appear to 

have done their homework — and they were 

already thinking about playing defense before 

Biden’s announcement. 

Brad Klepper is president of Interstate 

Trucker Ltd. and is also president of Driver’s 

Legal Plan, which allows member drivers access 

to services at discounted rates. For more 

information, contact him at 800-333-DRIVE 

(3748) or interstatetrucker.com and 

driverslegalplan.com. 8 


This undated photo shows a young Jerry Whittmore with his then-new 1991 Peterbilt 379. Jerry, who describes the 

Pete as “top of the line” for its day, even had his name engraved on the African rosewood dash. 

WHITTMORE cont. from Page 14 

Peterbilt 379 his father, Jerry Whittmore, had 

purchased and leased to National Carriers. 

Jerry was only 21 when he purchased the Pete, 

and at the time, he was the youngest driver in 

the National fleet. 

Jerry loved the ’91 Pete, which he described 

as “top of the line” for its day. He even had his 

name engraved on the African rosewood dash. 

Unfortunately, Jerry developed a foodborne 

illness that prevented him from working for 

months. He was forced to leave the road, and 

the truck was eventually sold. 

More than two decades later, Jeron’s paperwork 

discovery led to an exhaustive search to 

track down the truck. 

“I just always thought it’d be pretty cool to 

find one of my dad’s old trucks,” Jeron said. “It 

meant something to him because it was his 

first truck.” 

When the truck was finally found in Olton, 

Texas, the old Peterbilt had 2.6 million miles on 

the odometer and was in poor repair. The original 

blue paint had been partially covered with 

white and red paint in an American flag pattern. 

The original interior was all but gone, and 

the rosewood dash panel with Whittmore’s 

name had been bleached white from the sun. 

The Pete’s condition was so bad that Jerry 

tried to convince his son to leave it there, but 

Jeron wasn’t backing down. The truck was 

driven to the Whittmores’ home, and the restoration 

process began. 

“We did everything but the paint and the 

engine rebuild,” Jeron said. “The whole family 

was involved.” 

The engine was removed and sent out for 

a complete rebuild at TLG Peterbilt in Lowell, 

Arkansas. Retired parts specialist Leroy Mc- 

Cart visited to help list the parts needed. 

The prep work for the paint took many 

hours. 

“It was that real thick, shelly paint. We 

peeled and stripped it off,” Jeron said. 

Nearly all of the truck’s components were 

original, as confirmed by comparing serial 

numbers, and many hours were spent sandblasting 

corroded parts and restoring them 

to like-new levels. Because the truck’s original 

interior had been replaced, the Whittmores 

completely rebuilt it. 

Jeron installed a new wiring harness himself, 

working in the shop for hours after long 

days spent working in the woods to harvest 

timber. 

“It was me and my dad mostly, and my 

other two brothers; they helped a lot, and my 

mom and sister,” he said. “The whole family involved 

in that one. It took us a year and two 

days to rebuild.” 

Once restored, the truck was sent off to Peterbilt 

for the final touches, including charging 

the air conditioning. Unfortunately, one 

of the lines blew out when pressurized, and 

a new one had to be ordered, delaying the 

truck’s maiden voyage. 

Jeron has entered the truck in a few shows, including 

the virtual Shell Rotella SuperRigs event 

in 2020. He plans to enter more shows, but says 

he will concentrate on those closest to home to 

minimize interference with the business. 

“When we got the truck, we intended to 

drive it,” Whittmore explained. “We drive 

it, but no one else gets that seat.” The Whittmores 

use the truck to pull van, chip and 

walking-floor trailers. “The walking-floor trailers 

work well for hauling the mulch produced 

at the mill.” 

When the family isn’t minding the business, 

they can be found racing go-karts. The 

Whittmores own four of them, including the 

one Jeron drives at tracks in Butterfield and 

Blue Island, Missouri, and at a local track near 

their home. 

Jeron’s latest “project” might just result in a 

fourth generation of Whittmore truckers. 

“I actually just found out I’m fixing to have 

a little boy,” he explained. “I’m pretty excited. 

I was nervous at first, but pretty excited now.” 

Jeron and an older brother are teaming up to 

build miniature versions of their trucks for their 

sons. Jeron was inspired by online videos of the 

“Wee Pete,” a miniaturized copy of a Peterbilt 379 

built by Brandon Davis for his son, Rooster. 

“We’re going to take them to truck shows 

so the kids can drive them like we drive ours,” 

Jeron said. 

Whether he’s restoring memories from a 

past generation, helping plan for the next one 

or just pitching in to keep the family business 

running, Jeron Whittmore plans to continue 

working hard. 

Disclaimer: The writer of this article was one 

of the judges for the SuperRigs competition. 8

BUSINESS 


Parts shortages continue 

AUGUST DATA SHOWS TRUCK PRODUCTION 

STILL CONSTRAINED BY PARTS SHORTAGES 


U.S. sales of Class 8 trucks remain subdued 

in August with sales of 18,176 reported 

by manufacturers, according to data received 

from Wards Intelligence. 

The August result was 8% higher than July 

sales of 16,824 and 2.8% better than August 

2020 sales, both well below normal production 

levels. In August 2020, only 17,685 Class 8 

trucks were sold as the industry was returning 

to normal after COVID-19 shutdowns and restrictions. 

For comparison, in 2019, an average of 

23,032 Class 8 trucks were sold each month, 

with 23,466 sold in August of that year — 5,290 

more than this year for a 2021 decline of 22.5%. 

There isn’t a direct correlation between 

sales and production, of course. When assembly 

lines are running at full capacity and sales 

aren’t keeping up, excess inventory builds up 

at dealers and factories. For months, the opposite 

occurred in the U.S. as truck sales exceeded 

production, relying on existing inventories 

to make up the difference. 

Currently, there isn’t much inventory left to 

draw from, and what’s left is often designed for 

unique applications, such as off-road. 

In the meantime, the backlog of orders extends 

well into next year, and build slots for 

2021 models are filling fast. 

“The order average, breaking through 

35,000 per month in July, is currently pointing 

to monthly build volumes that should be 

approaching 30,000 units per month. Instead, 

production through July has failed to crack 

the March build rate, and July build totaled 

just 14,920 units, or 710 units per day, as the 

OEMs resorted to down days and weeks,” said 

Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst at 

ACT Research, regarding the Sept. 10 release 

of ACT’s latest “North American Commercial 

Vehicle OUTLOOK.” 

An earlier ACT release, on Sept. 2, reported 

31,900 North American orders in August, more 

than double the July build rate of 14,920 trucks. 

Shortages of parts and materials has been 

the biggest culprit. Semiconductors are in 

short supply around the world. Consumer 

electronics sales during the COVID-19 pandemic 

depleted existing supplies while plants 

were shut down due to the pandemic. Once 

the plants reopened, the demand far exceeded 

production abilities, and competition for chips 

became fierce. 

“In the current period of near-record demand 

for commercial vehicles of all stripes, 

the story the past few months has shifted from 

one of abundance to one of constraint,” Vieth 

said, noting that semiconductors are only one 

of many holdups in the supply chain. 

“In actuality there are scores of parts that 

continue to be impacted by the pandemic, by 

the lingering impact of steel tariffs, and even by 

iStock Photo 

Volvo sales jumped by 305 trucks from July to August, an increase of 34.3%. Compared to August 2020, 

however, results were down by 678 trucks (36.2%). 

the February storm that incapacitated Texas 

and shutdown swathes of the U.S. plastics 

industry for two-plus quarters,” he said. 

Manufacturers responded by partially 

manufacturing vehicles, omitting certain components 

with plans to add the missing parts, 

once they became available, to complete the 

build. 

Manufacturers of trucks in classes 5, 6 and 

7 had the option of diverting chips to Class 8 

models. This appears to have happened in August. 

For the year to date, Class 8 trucks have 

represented 70.2% of the Classes 5-8 market. 

In August, that percentage increased to 72.8%. 

Freightliner had the largest change, with 

sales of Class 8 trucks in August representing 

72.4% of monthly sales, compared to 64.7% for 

the year to date. 

Truck builders aren’t the only manufacturers 

dealing with slowed production. Their suppliers 

also depend on deliveries of the parts 

and materials they need, including those pesky 

semiconductors. 

Another reason for shortages of vehicle 

components is the rapidly increasing cost of 

container shipping. Parts and materials from 

Europe or China — including everything from 

SEE PARTS ON PAGE 19 

Drivers Legal Plan celebrates 

30 years of serving truckers 

Courtesy: Drivers Legal Plan 

Drivers Legal Plan is celebrating 30 years of providing legal services to truckers. Brad Klepper, 

son of company founder Jim Klepper, serves as president of the company. 


OKLAHOMA CITY — Drivers Legal Plan, a national 

law firm that defends truck drivers exclusively, celebrated 

more than a quarter-century of operation in 

September. 

Jim Klepper founded the company in 1991 with input 

from trucking industry executives who were concerned 

that the advent of CDLs could lead to unnecessary 

traffic convictions and have detrimental effects on 

driver safety profiles and retention records. 

“It gives me enormous pride to celebrate our 30th 

year in business,” said Brad Klepper, who is president of 

Drivers Legal Plan as well as Jim Klepper’s son. 

“We have been sincerely blessed to have longstanding 

relationships with trucking companies and a 

highly skilled, dedicated team of employees. Over the 

years, we have established ourselves as America’s most 

experienced CDL defense law firm,” he continued. 

According to the Drivers Legal Plan website, the 

company “comprises the only law firm in the country 

entirely dedicated to CDL defense. The driver gets a 

‘trucker’s attorney,’ whose livelihood depends solely on 

how well he represents truck drivers.” 

Drivers Legal Plan maintains a comprehensive 

database of more than 350,000 CDL legal cases, in essentially 

every court in the United States, the website 

continues. This database, coupled with access to current 

CDL requirements in each state, allows the firm to 

make “an immediate and accurate assessment of each 

legal situation. This often puts the odds of success in 

our driver/client’s favor,” the website touts. 

Drivers Legal Plan defends carriers and drivers in 

both CDL citations and CSA violations, including both 

moving and non-moving, throughout the 48 contiguous 

United States. 

“We know the courts well,” Brad Klepper said. “We 

excel at securing the best possible outcomes for our 

clients due to our extensive legal experience across 

the U.S., and we are continuously learning. Particularly 

during the pandemic, we have adapted to the changing 

rules and regulations while remaining vigilantly 

focused on representing our clients’ interests.” 

Brad Klepper’s column “Ask the Attorney” appears 

in the bi-monthly print edition of The Trucker (read it 

on Page 13). 8

18 • OCTOBER 1-14, 2021 BUSINESS 


SAFETY SERIES 

Seasonal tips 

PREPARATION AND SKILL NEEDED FOR 

WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS 


The leaves are turning, and in some areas 

summer heat is giving way to crisp fall nights. 

The changing scenery is a welcome sight to 

many — but it’s also a warning that winter is 

rapidly approaching. In fact, in some parts of 

North America, it’s already here. 

Experienced drivers know winter presents 

its own set of driving rules. Unfortunately, even 

experienced drivers can be surprised by that 

first snowstorm. Even worse, winter isn’t always 

heralded by falling snow; sometimes, it’s sleet or 

freezing rain. 

DRIVE 

WITH PRIDE 

JOIN OUR DRIVING TEAM 

At Penske, success behind the wheel is kind of 

in our DNA. Our professional truck drivers are 

the best in the business. 

If you want to work at an industry-leading 

company and move freight for some of the 

world’s biggest brands, we want you to join 

our team of safe, professional drivers. 

It’s a good idea to review winter driving practices 

before encountering that first cold-weather 

hazard. 

At the first hint that your truck’s road traction 

might be compromised, slow down. When 

you see vehicles that have run off the road or 

spun out, it’s a good indication there are patches 

of ice or snow on the road. The appearance of 

brake lights or emergency flashers on the road 

ahead could indicate a problem area, so be prepared 

to slow down or stop. 

The pavement can appear dry and clear — 

Call now: 855-CDL-PENSKE 

Apply online at driver.penske.jobs 

Penske is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

MORE THAN YOU REALIZE ® 

iStock Photo 

Altitude changes mean temperature changes. More than a few drivers have discovered that raindrops at the bottom of a 

hill can turn into snowflakes near the top. If you’re driving in the mountains, be prepared for conditions to change quickly. 

until you round the next curve. In fall and early 

winter, the ground underneath the road surface 

still may still hold some heat from the summer 

sun, keeping the road surface warm enough to 

melt a light snow. 

On the other hand, bridges and overpasses, 

without that warm ground underneath and with 

the wind blowing, are usually the first to freeze. 

Be prepared when approaching bridges and 

overpasses. If you’re suspicious about the road 

surface, hold the wheel steady, without braking 

or accelerating, as you cross. 

Altitude changes mean temperature changes. 

More than a few drivers have discovered 

that raindrops at the bottom of a hill can turn 

into snowflakes near the top. If you’re driving 

in the mountains, be prepared for conditions to 

change quickly. 

Changes can also occur as the sun sets. A 

day that’s been warm enough to keep the snow 

melted can quickly turn into a night cold enough 

to freeze that snowmelt into a treacherous sheet 

of ice. 

Adding more distance between your front 

bumper and the vehicle ahead is always a good 

idea. During inclement weather, leaving a bit of 

extra following distance can give you more time 

to react to hazards ahead. 

When roads are wet, and especially when the 

temperature is near freezing, test your brakes 

periodically. A gentle application while on a 

straight stretch of road will give you an idea of 

how your truck is reacting. 

If you do have to stop on a slippery surface, 

remember that modern vehicles are equipped 

with anti-lock brakes. You shouldn’t need to 

pump the brakes, as the braking system does 

this for you at a rate much faster than you could 

ever achieve. If, however, your vehicle begins to 

skid, you may have to release the brakes and reapply 

pressure. 

Some of the features of your vehicle that are 

designed to make life easier can become deadly 

when roads are slippery. Cruise control can’t 

sense that there is ice ahead and will do what it’s 

designed to do — maintain the speed it is set for. 

Unfortunately, that speed may be totally wrong 

for the road ahead. 

Likewise, engine brakes can cause drive tires 

to break traction and skid, possibly causing a 

jackknife. Depending on the conditions, you 

may be able to set progressive engine brakes at a 

lower level if you’re descending a grade and need 

the braking power. If they aren’t needed, turn the 

engine brakes off. 

It can be hard to tell when rain starts freezing. 

One of the easiest ways to tell is by looking 

for road spray from the tires of other vehicles. 

Wet roads create road spray. If there isn’t any 

spray, that “wet” road could be iced over. 

Sometimes ice buildup on mirrors and 

brackets is visible. Obviously, if you see ice 

forming, you should assume it is also forming 

on the road surface. Keep an eye on the radio 

or CB antennas of other vehicles, too. Normally 

they will move with the wind stream, being 

pushed straight back. If they start moving wildly 

or in a circular motion, they may be coated 

with ice. 

Visibility can also be an issue in winter. 

Blowing snow, road spray and windshields covered 

in dried ice-melting compounds that were 

applied to the road surface can make it more 

difficult to see. Keep windows and mirrors as 

clean as possible, and don’t forget to stock up 

on washer fluid. 

On winter days when the sun is shining, the 

glare coming off snow-covered fields can be 

blinding. Because of the angle of the earth to 

the sun, the sun appears lower on the horizon, 

and sun visors are limited in how they can be 

positioned. A pair of quality sunglasses can improve 

your vision, increasing your safety while 

providing comfort for your eyes. 

It’s a good idea to stay up to date on weather 

reports for the areas you’ll be driving into. 

There are a number of phone apps that provide 

this information, and some provide alerts 

when bad weather is expected. Online and 

phone resources can provide time-lapse video 

that projects the trajectory of storms, providing 

a better understanding of what’s ahead. 

Some AM-FM radios or CB radios have 

weather “bands” that pick up weather reporting 

from the closest airport. 

When possible, a review of expected weather 

should be part of your consideration before 

accepting a load. Weather will certainly impact 

travel time and may determine if you get there 

at all. 

Finally, park your truck when conditions are 

unsafe. Driving on icy roads is always dangerous. 

Snow-covered roads aren’t quite as slippery and 

may be traveled safely at reduced speeds, but 

consider your trip plan. You may find it beneficial 

to take a break while you wait out the storm; 

it may be possible to travel at normal road 

speeds once you get back on the road. 

Regardless of any time crunch you’re under, 

when it isn’t safe, park it. No load, no customer 

and no job are worth your life. 

Careful trip planning, followed by following 

safe driving practices, will help you survive winter 

weather. 8

THETRUCKER.COM BUSINESS 

OCTOBER 1-14, 2021 • 19 

Circle Logistics launches drayage 

division at Port of Detroit 

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Circle Logistics announced 

in mid-September that it has launched 

a drayage division to provide support at the Port 

of Detroit, the largest seaport in Michigan. Circle 

Logistics, a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, 

provides coverage across all modes of transportation 

in the continental United States and 

Mexico. 

According to a company statement, the 

drayage initiative was developed to help alleviate 

pressure created by global shortages 

in equipment and labor that have caused extended 

turnaround times and delays within the 

drayage process. Circle will now provide drayage 

offerings for its customers, servicing the 

U.S. and Canada. 

Intense backlog at shipping ports has become 

a prevalent issue affecting every facet of 

global freight, the statement continued. In addition, 

the culmination of driver, rubber, truck and 

chassis shortages has produced a trickle-down 

effect, making drayage operations increasingly 

difficult to execute. 


“When analyzing the current state of the 

supply chain, we identified an opportunity to 

apply our most successful end-to-end logistics 

service philosophies to the drayage industry,” 

said William Costello, terminal manager for 

Circle. “For the past decade, Circle’s operations 

have committed to providing no-fail service that 

establishes visibility and reliability, even in the 

most complex market conditions.” 

As part of its drayage division services, Circle 

will connect customers to its private pool of chassis 

to help alleviate the chassis shortage that has 

been limiting drayage processes at ports around 

the world for the past year. Circle’s private pool 

of chassis will be available to haul inbound loads 

and facilitate necessary processes. 

Circle’s drayage division will also move 20-, 

40-, 45- and 48-foot intermodal containers and 

service 53-foot domestic lanes. The division will 

offer truck-to-port service, pre-pull, storage, 

same-day expedited shipment, and tracking of 

containers, as well as optimized refrigerated 

monitoring. 8 

Courtesy: Port of Detroit 

Indiana-based Circle Logistics has launched a drayage division to provide support at the Port of Detroit, the largest 

seaport in Michigan. 

PARTS cont. from Page 17 

electronic control units to floor mats and 

mattresses — are used in new Class 8 truck 

production. COVID-19 closures, weather incidents 

other issues have resulted in huge backlogs 

at ports around the world. The resulting 

delays have caused a capacity imbalance, with 

more demand for containers than for the ships 

to haul them. 

Just as in trucking, when demand exceeds 

capacity, shipping rates rise. According to the 

Drewry World Container Index (drewry.co.uk), 

the composite cost of shipping one 40-foot 

container topped the $10,000 mark Sept. 9, increasing 

a whopping 309% over the price during 

the same week of 2020. 

According to Drewry, the cost of shipping 

a 40-foot container from Shanghai to Los Angeles 

rose to $11,569 in the past week, nearly 

eight times higher than pre-COVID levels. 

Those looking to the used truck market to 

find equipment are likely to find similar issues 

with available inventory. 

“At the heart of the issue is used truck inventory, 

which continues to lose traction,” said 

Steve Tam, vice president of ACT, in a late- 

August release. “Underscoring the point, sales 

were also down year over year.” 

Used truck prices for units sold in July 

lagged only a few dollars behind those sold 

in June, but they showed a significant 46% increase 

from the average price in July 2020. That 

doesn’t necessarily mean the price of all used 

trucks rose 46%, but it could indicate that a 

different mix of trucks, including newer models, 

left the market this year. 

On an individual OEM basis, only Kenworth 

and Peterbilt saw declines in sales for 

August from July numbers. Kenworth’s 2,861 

trucks sold in the month were 5.6% lower 

than July sales of 3,031 but 20% better than 

Courtesy: Port of Detroit 

According to the Drewry World Container Index, the cost 

of shipping one 40-foot container topped the $10,000 

mark Sept. 9, increasing a whopping 309% over the 

price during the same week of 2020. 

August 2020 sales of 2,385. Peterbilt’s 2,605 

sold declined by 130 trucks (4.8%) from July 

but bested August 2020 sales of 2,428 by 7.3% 

International sales of 2,867 represented an 

improvement of 244 trucks for a 9.3% increase. 

Compared to August 2020, sales increased by 

588 (25.8%). 

Volvo sales jumped by 305 trucks from July 

to August, an increase of 34.3%. Compared to 

August 2020, however, results were down by 

678 trucks (36.2%). 

Mack’s 1,495 trucks sold in August topped 

July sales of 1,252 by 19.4% and bested August 

2020 sales by 46.4%. 

Freightliner sold 6,646 trucks in August, 

13.7% better than July but 8.5% worse than August 

2020. 

Market shares for the year to date are as 

follows: Freightliner, 38.2%; Peterbilt, 15.3%; 

Kenworth, 14.7%; International, 12.6%; Volvo, 

8.7%; Mack, 7.9%; and Western Star, 2.6%. 

Both production and sales of over-the-road 

Class 8 trucks are expected to remain constrained 

for the next few months. 8 

Fleetmaster Express and Englander 

Transportation begin transition from 

diesel to electric trucks 

ROANOKE, Va. — Fleetmaster Express 

and Englander Transportation have partnered 

with Volvo Trucks North America to begin 

the process of transitioning from a dieselpowered 

fleet to an electric one. 

The company has ordered 10 commercial 

electric trucks from Volvo and expects to receive 

the first two in late November or early 

December. According to a company statement, 

these will be the first Class 8 electric 

trucks in operation outside of the west coast. 

“Our goal is to create a better environment 

as we deploy these trucks” said Travis Smith, 

COO of Fleetmaster Express and Englander 

Transportation. The new Volvo electric trucks 

will operate out of Fleetmaster Express’s Fort 

AUDIT cont. from Page 4 

chief engineer, depending on the amount. 

“While full implementation is not complete, 

progress has been made and is continuing,” 

Boyette wrote. 

A state law, approved following the 

2020 audit and as COVID-19-related revenues 

for road-building declined, gave 

legislative leaders the authority to pick 

six Board of Transportation members. 

DOT performance audits are now required 

annually. And a new position was 

created within Gov. Roy Cooper’s budget 

office to scrutinize DOT, which is one 


Worth, Texas, terminal. 

Fleetmaster Express has a goal of creating 

a sustainable, energy-efficient fleet through 

the use of the electric trucks, which are estimated 

to offer about a 40% increase in efficiency 

of diesel-fueled trucks. In addition, the 

company statement continues, the electric 

trucks are significantly quieter and reduce gas 

emissions by about 50%. 

Fleetmaster Express and Volvo’s engineering 

teams have tracked the performance and 

efficiency of the electric trucks through studies, 

and will continue to perform more evaluations 

along the way. Fleetmaster Express’s 

goal is to have a total of 18 units deployed by 

the end of 2022. 8 

of the governor’s Cabinet departments. 

DOT finances are in significantly better 

shape compared to three years ago, when 

widespread storm repairs required outsized 

spending that led to a 2019 cash bailout of 

the agency. 2020 revenue declines related 

to COVID-19 delayed construction and led 

to department-wide furloughs. 

The department’s unreserved cash balance 

was $1.1 billion at the end of 2020, 

compared to just $214 million six months 

earlier, according to DOT data. The balance 

has now soared to just over $2 billion. 

By Gary D. Robertson, The Associated 

Press 8

20 • OCTOBER 1-14, 2021 


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EQUIPMENT & TECH 


Hyundai introduces 

new ‘smart’ trailer 


SAN DIEGO — Hyundai Translead has 

announced plans to create a smart trailer 

that can give drivers and companies more 

information about their loads. 

According to a news release from Hyundai 

Translead, the HT LinkSense trailer is an 

open-platform design that provides “universal 

connectivity between sensor packages 

and existing telematic systems.” 

“HT LinkSense gives fleets the flexibility 

to choose sensors and telematics providers 

that meet their needs, while simultaneously 

eliminating compatibility issues,” the news 

release said. 

“HT LinkSense is a scalable, open platform 

that expands what’s possible for fleet 

connectivity,” said Sean Kenney, chief sales 

officer at Hyundai Translead. “An open system 

provides a fully integrated solution to 

track and monitor real-time trailer performance 

data, empowering customers with 

greater fleet productivity and operational 

efficiency.” 

The new trailer’s features include: 

Cargo volume sensors that use ultrasonic 

technology to provide estimated 

cargo volume, dividing the trailer into five 

different zones to report overall volume and 

help improve utilization; 

Weigh scale sensors that can report 

weight on both air and spring suspensions; 

Sensors that detect the opening and 

closing of doors, offering real-time and 

time-logged monitoring; 

Continuous wear sensors (CWS) that 

monitor the amount of remaining brake pad 

in real-time; 

A smart brake chamber that monitors 

the air pressure in the parking and service 

brake line on each brake chamber, analyzing 

patterns for problems such as dragging; 

Light out detection sensors; 

Wheel end temperature sensors (WETS) 

that detect temperatures higher than the 

set limit, sending a warning to the driver 

and fleet service manager; and 

A tire pressure monitoring system that 

measures the tire pressure and temperature 

on each wheel, preventing sudden failures 

and maintaining equipment in optimal operating 

condition. 

Continuous operation for the trailer will 

be supported by an optional solar and battery 

power system, the news release said. 

Courtesy: Hyundai Translead 

The new Hyundai Translead LinkSense trailer is set to include a host of new sensors, giving drivers and fleet 

managers access to critical information about their equipment. 

“Hyundai Translead designed this solution 

to allow flexibility for those seeking to 

add additional sensor data to their overall 

fleet data strategy,” the news release noted. 

“The HT LinkSense solution also benefits 

from OEM factory installation, leveraging 

Hyundai Translead’s state-of-the-art manufacturing 

to ensure quality control as well as 

superior warranty coverage and customer 

care.” 

Initially, the HT LinkSense solution will 

be available for Hyundai Translead dry van 

trailers, but the manufacture plans to expand 

the system into refrigerated, flatbed, 

chassis and aftermarket products. 

“HT LinkSense marks the next evolution 

in fleet data strategy. It is truly the future 

of connectivity,” said Bongjae Lee, CEO of 

Hyundai Translead. “We’re thrilled to make 

this system available to our customers and 

proud to offer it with the full support of all 

our partners.” 8 

Rolling out the future 

SHELL SHOWS OFF FUEL-SIPPING RIG 

COURTESY: SHELL 

HINO UNVEILS CLASS 8 HYDROGEN 

FUEL CELL ELECTRIC TRUCK 


LONG BEACH, Calif. — In 2020, Hino 

Trucks announced plans to build a Class 8 

hydrogen fuel cell electric truck. At the 2021 

ACT Expo in Long Beach, California, Hino 

revealed its first Class 8 Hino XL8 prototype, 

powered by a hydrogen fuel cell electric 

drivetrain. 

“It’s amazing what our team has been 

able to accomplish in a relative short period 

of time. I know our customers are going to be 

extremely impressed with this fuel cell electric 

truck,” said Glenn Ellis, senior vice president 

of customer experience for Hino Trucks. 

“We are looking forward to validating the 

performance, reliability and efficiency of our 

hydrogen fuel cell electric system in the XL 

Series chassis.” 

Hino Trucks, part of the Toyota Group of 

Companies, manufactures, sells and services 

a lineup of Class 4-8 commercial trucks. The 

Novi-Michigan-based company has a network 

of more than 230 dealers in the U.S. 

Courtesy: Hino Trucks 

Michigan-based Hino Trucks revealed a prototype of 

its Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell electric truck at the 2021 

ACT Expo in Long Beach, Calif.. 

“From our Project Z announcement last 

October, we have received significant interest 

from customers, and now we have something 

tangible to show them in our prototype FCEV 

( fuel cell electric vehicle),” said Bob Petz, senior 

vice president of vehicle and parts sales 

for Hino Trucks. 8 

The Shell Starship 2.0 doesn’t aim to boldly go where no trucker has gone before, but the truck IS designed 

to offer better fuel mileage across America’s interstates. Shell Starship 2.0 features a fuel-efficient upgrades 

and a new chassis and drivetrain. During this year’s cross-country drive from San Diego, California, to 

Jacksonville, Florida, the truck achieved 254 ton-miles per gallon for freight ton efficiency — a 3.5 times 

improvement over the North America average freight ton efficiency.

22 • OCTOBER 1-14, 2021 EQUIPMENT & TECH 


New tech streamlines Love’s Truck Care 

and Speedco maintenance for fleets 


OKLAHOMA CITY — Carriers using 

Love’s Truck Care and Speedco for vehicle 

maintenance now have access to new technology 

that integrates data between the 

shops and fleets, allowing customers to easily 

manage their maintenance needs. 

Shop Connect VIEW (vehicle insights, estimates, 

work orders), powered by Fleetrock, 

is a cloud-based system available on the web 

or through a convenient mobile app. 

According to a statement from Loves, 

Shop Connect VIEW offers fleets an integrated, 

intuitive repair and maintenance 

process, a simplified parts and inventory 

management method, an easier way to use 

warranties, and customized analytics for 

visibility and workflow. 

“You can’t improve what you can’t measure,” 

said Gary Price, executive vice president 

of Truck Care for Love’s. “Shop Connect 

VIEW equips our customers with tools 

to reduce costs, improve uptime, streamline 

operations and make better data-driven decisions. 

Fleets are getting a frictionless experience 

and lowering their cost-per-mile 

expenses.” 

Using the tool’s dashboard, fleet managers 

can schedule service, keep real-time tabs 

on maintenance, receive service reminders 

to prevent breakdowns, and track the real 

cost of ownership for each vehicle. 

Love’s now uses the system to save time 

and money on its own fleet, Gemini Motor 

Transport. Since adopting Shop Connect 

VIEW, Gemini has achieved a more than 50% 

reduction in repair order data entry, according 

to a company statement. Additionally, 

Gemini has gained improvements in scheduled 

maintenance compliance, warranty recovery, 

downtime reduction through better 

maintenance scheduling and productivity 

improvements. 

“Fleetrock is proud to partner with 

Love’s because both companies share a focus 

on making customers successful,” said 

Joe King, president of Fleetrock. “Shop Connect 

VIEW, powered by Fleetrock, gives 

fleets a modern and intuitive platform to 

manage maintenance, lower cost and drive 

organizational efficiency.” 8 

Courtesy: Love’s 

Love’s new Shop Connect VIEW offers fleets an integrated, intuitive repair and maintenance process, a simplified 

parts and inventory management method, an easier way to use warranties, and customized analytics for visibility 

and workflow. 

DOE project to feature 

Kenworth next-gen battery 

Courtesy: All Roads 

Delmarva Kenworth of Dover, Delaware, is now the fourth Kenworth Mid Atlantic dealership in the region. 

All Roads adds fourth Kenworth Mid 

Atlantic dealership in Dover, Delaware 

DOVER, Del. — All Roads recently announced 

a partnership with Delmarva Kenworth, 

a commercial truck dealership in Dover, 

Delaware. Delmarva Kenworth, which 

has been owned by the Weyandt family 

since 1964, will be rebranded as Kenworth 

Mid Atlantic, bringing the number of Kenworth 

Mid Atlantic dealerships in the region 

to four. 

“We are thrilled to add the Delmarva 

team to Kenworth Mid Atlantic and the All 

Roads family,” said Wendy Nieberlein, chief 

financial officer for All Roads. “This acquisition 

allows us to expand our reach and 

provide premium products and service to 

premium customers in the market.” 


The new Kenworth Mid Atlantic dealership 

is conveniently located near Routes 1 

and 13 in Dover, and is the only Kenworth 

dealer in the state. The other Kenworth Mid 

Atlantic locations are in Baltimore, Westminster 

and Bel Air, Maryland. 

“We are excited to join All Roads and are 

committed to continuing to provide the outstanding 

service our customers have come 

to expect,” said Matt Weyandt, who will continue 

as a partner at the location. “Joining 

All Roads gives us access to new inventory, 

parts, financing sources and product lines 

that will ultimately have a positive impact 

on our customers’ businesses.” 8 

KIRKLAND Wash. — Kenworth is participating 

in a research project that will 

add wireless fast charging to Class 8 battery 

electric vehicles (EVs), according to a company 

news release. 

Wireless charging at a 1-megawatt rate 

will allow electric vehicle batteries to fully 

charge in 30 minutes or less. The company 

said the batteries will be designed specifically 

for regional-haul routes. 

The program is funded through an 

$8 million cost-share project by the Vehicle 

Technologies Office of the U.S. Department 

of Energy (DOE). The project includes Kenworth, 

Wireless Advanced Vehicle Electrification 

(WAVE) and Utah State University. 

Kenworth will provide a T680 Next Generation 

battery-electric vehicle with a traction 

motor rated at 420 kW and 560 hp, a 

battery capacity of 660 kWh and a target 

range of at least 170 miles before requiring 

a recharge. 

The T680 Next Gen will operate in a 

two-shift haul to and from Seattle and 

Portland, Oregon, with regional deliveries 

en route combined with local in-city 


Courtesy: Kenworth 

This Kenworth T680 features a next generation battery 

and has a traction motor rated at 560 hp and a range 

of 170 miles. 

deliveries to exceed 400 miles daily. 

“This project offers an excellent opportunity 

to team with the participants to foster 

important advancements that extend 

Class 8 battery electric vehicle range and 

reduce recharge times,” said Kevin Baney, 

SEE BATTERY ON PAGE 26

FEATURES 


Shaping the future 

HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER WORKS TO PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF TRUCK DRIVERS 

JOHN WORTHEN | STAFF WRITER 

Javier Diaz went down the wrong path early in life. He used 

drugs, was involved in gang activity and got into trouble at 

school — he fit all the cliches that could be used to describe a 

textbook “bad boy.” 

Then, one day, things changed. Diaz decided to browse 

through his high school’s course list of electives and found 

Dave Dein’s name listed as the instructor of a truck-driving 

course. Diaz shrugged, but signed up for the class anyway. 

After all, what did he have to lose? 

“It saved me,” said Diaz, now 21. “I took that class, got my 

CDL and now I am driving a truck. Trucking really has changed 

my life.” 

Dein, 57, says students like Diaz are the reason he became 

a teacher, and why he created the truck-driving program at 

Patterson High School in Patterson, California, in 2017. 

He guides through the basics of trucking, industry news, 

regulations and even real-world scenarios using a simulator. He 

also has a real rig that students use for pre-trip checklist practice. 

“We aren’t a traditional trucking school,” Dein said. “I want 

my students to keep a pulse on the industry — where is it going? 

We also work to reduce workplace injuries through exercises. 

We do golf cart training, where we practice backing up with a 

utility trailer. It’s the same concept, just on a smaller scale.” 

Students can’t earn a CDL while in high school, but Dein 

has partnered with a local truck driving school to provide 

graduating seniors with that part of their training through the 

adult education program. The schooling comes at no cost to 

the students. 

“Usually, when they graduate here in May, by mid-summer, 

they can have their CDL,” Dein said. “We also have industry 

partners so they can get jobs.” 


Dave Dein, a truck driving instructor at Patterson High School in California, 

spent this past summer driving loads and loads of tomatoes for Morning 

Star Farms. Instead of keeping his earnings, he donated them to an 

organization that helps students find a future in trucking. 

Dein said that, above all, he is training his students to be 

well-educated, professional drivers. 

“There is not just a need for people in our industry; we need 

well-trained, younger people,” he said. 

Dein said he decided early in his teaching career to make a 

point of helping students like Diaz. He calls them “possibility 

kids.” 

“I began substitute teaching after a friend suggested it,” said 

Dein, who began his professional career as a race car driver; 

then became a trucker and teacher. 

“I saw a consistent theme on how the teachers were labeling 

kids, and it really pissed me off,” he recalled. “Their (substitute 

teaching) plans always had a list at the bottom that said ‘problem 

kids.’ I crossed that out with a red pen and wrote ‘possibility kids.’ 

When I was their age, I was probably on that ‘problem’ list, too.” 

Diego Estalera, 17, is one of Dein’s current students. A 

senior at Patterson High School, Estalera said he hopes to soon 

follow in his dad’s footsteps and become a trucker. 

But there are challenges along the way. 

“Backing up is hard,” he said. “But I feel like I can train 

enough to progress. My dad is happy about me wanting to 

follow in his footsteps.” 

Estalera said he doesn’t want to be a long-haul driver. 

Rather, he sees himself in the food delivery business, working 

in the Patterson area. 

“I am really excited about it,” Estalera said. 

Outside the classroom, Dein still drives big rigs from time 

to time. 

In fact, this summer he took a job with one of his former 

SEE FUTURE ON PAGE 26 

Melissa Bencivengo named WIT’s 

September member of the month 


PLOVER, Wis. — The Women In Trucking Association 

(WIT) has named Melissa Bencivengo, a professional driver for 

Carbon Express, as its September 2021 Member of the Month. 

Bencivengo says her love for trucking began early. At age 6, 

she was introduced to trucking by her uncle, who drove a big 

truck. Whenever he’d stop by the house to visit, he would take 

her out to look at his truck. She was so small she had to stand 

up on the seat to pull the air horn. 

“Uncle Rebel” and his truck captured Bencivengo’s heart 

and set her on a path to a career as a driver. 

That path wasn’t always an easy one. While growing up, she 

was consistently told that jobs in trucking and heavy machinery 

weren’t suitable for women — but those comments only made 

her more determined to pursue her dream. Today, Bencivengo’s 

enthusiasm is front and center when she talks about trucking. 

Her career began in 1999, driving dump trucks and operating 

big equipment such as well rigs and pile drivers. Ultimately, 

she earned a Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL). She 

joined Carbon Express in 2019. 

While she loves being a truck driver, Bencivengo, a mother 

to six children, puts her family first. In addition to being a professional 

trucker, she is a tree arborist and a certified nurse’s 

aide in the state of New Jersey. 

She is one of only a handful of women in the trucking industry 

driving liquid bulk trucks, and customers often express 

surprise when they see a woman getting out of a tanker. 

“Control the tanker, don’t fear it,” she advises. “Driving a liquid 

tanker is like driving with a dance partner, only you have 

to be the dance lead and control the movement of the product 

in the tank.” 

Bencivengo says she loves driving for Carbon Express, and 

feels she has found her “forever home” as a driver. Because the 

company only operates tractors with day cabs, overnight drivers 

stay in hotels rather than in the truck, she noted. 

Being a female in a male-dominated industry — and in the 

liquid bulk business in particular — sets Bencivengo apart, but 

she says she enjoys being part of the team at Carbon Express. In 

fact, she added, many of the company’s male drivers have gone 

out of their way to support, encourage and provide her the information 

to make her successful. 8 

Courtesy: WIT 

Melissa Bencivengo, a driver for bulk liquid hauler Carbon Express, has 

been named Women In Trucking’s September member of the month..

24 • OCTOBER 1-14, 2021 FEATURES 


Taking a stand 

TRUCKERS AGAINST TRAFFICKING INDUCTED 

INTO HOWE’S HALL OF FAME 

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. — Truckers 

Against Trafficking (TAT) is the first inductee 

to the Howes Hall of Fame’s class of 2021, 

Howes announced Sept. 15. 

TAT, a 501c3 organization, is working to 

build a mobile army of transportation professionals, 

who are uniquely positioned to spot 

the signs of human trafficking on the road, to 

fight against the practice. 

“We are truly honored and inspired by our 

induction into the Howes Hall of Fame,” said 

Kendis Paris, executive director of TAT. “With 

more and more truckers getting involved each 


day, we genuinely appreciate the recognition 

by Howes as it shines a light that will serve to 

draw in even more drivers, growing our network 

of eyes and ears even further, in pursuit 

of our goal to eradicate human trafficking.” 

According to TAT’s website (truckersagainsttrafficking.org), 

human trafficking is a 

form of modern-day slavery in which people 

are bought and sold for forced labor or commercial 

sex. Human trafficking has been reported 

in all 50 United States, with the total 

number of victims in the country estimated 

to be in the hundreds of thousands. Globally, 

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Courtesy: Howes Hall of Fame 

On Sept. 15, Truckers Against Trafficking was announced 

as the first inductee of the class of 2021 for the Howes 

Hall of Fame. 

more than 40 million people are believed to be 

victims of human trafficking. 

While illegal, human trafficking has become 

a booming business. Traffickers recruit 

out of schools, online and in shopping malls, 

as well as on the streets and other locations. 

Many of the people being trafficked are women 

and children, and many are used in the sex 

industry. According to TAT, these victims are 

“the prostituted people on the street and in 

private homes, and in legitimate businesses 

such as restaurants, truck stops and motels. 

They need to be identified and recovered.” 

“We are in awe of the incredible work being 

done by Truckers Against Trafficking and are 

truly honored to induct them into our Howes 

Hall of Fame,” commented Erika Howes, vice 

president of Business Development at Howes 

Products. “With around 3,000 hotline calls 

having been made and over 1,300 victims having 

been identified so far, it is easy to see the 


real impact Truckers Against Trafficking is 

making. We invite everyone in the trucking 

and related industries to take action, get certified, 

and become an everyday hero.” 

TAT believes truck drivers are the “eyes 

and ears” of the nation’s highways, and has 

developed a certification program to provide 

drivers with the tools to recognize the signs of 

trafficking and how to safely report it via an 

anonymous hotline. The hotline, operated by 

the nonprofit Polaris, is accessible 24/7, allowing 

witnesses to report crimes quickly, often 

right as they’re happening. 

This training can and has changed the fate 

of victims desperately in need. Having educated 

over 1.2 million truckers, TAT also works 

to build coalitions between managers of truck 

stops/travel plazas and the law enforcement 

that investigate trafficking cases on their lots. 

“While TAT has received numerous awards 

over the years, the recognition and honors 

that come from within the industry itself are 

truly the ones that mean the most,” said Kylla 

Lanier, deputy director of TAT. 

“We’ve been partners with Howes for a 

number of years, and the passion that they 

have to combat human trafficking by raising 

awareness within their sphere of influence 

has been exciting to see,” she continued. “We 

hope, alongside Howes’ leadership, that with 

our induction into the Howes Hall of Fame, 

more drivers and industry members may become 

aware of the problem of human trafficking 

and also their critical role in combating it.” 

To find out more about TAT’s mission and 

training, visit education.truckersagainst 

trafficking.org. 8 

Former trucker tackles 10,000-mile 

motorcycle ride as part of MS fundraiser 

TAMPA, Fla. — Transflo and Geotab is sponsoring 

Shawn Kitchen in this year’s MS 5000 

fundraiser. Kitchen, an endurance motorcyclist 

and former truck driver, is attempting to ride 

more than 10,000 miles across the continental 

U.S. in a 16-day period. 

Proceeds from MS 5000 benefit MS Views 

and News, a nonprofit and 501(c)(3) dedicated 

to providing information and resources to those 

who’ve been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 

(MS), a degenerative neurological disorder affecting 

more than 1 million people in the U.S. 

The MS 5000 fundraiser is organized each 

year by Paul Pelland, an endurance motorcyclist 

who was diagnosed with MS in 2003. Since 

then, he has been trying to ride 1 million miles 

on his motorcycle to raise awareness and funds 

for MS support. As part of the MS 5000, riders 

individually compete for and earn points by 

driving long distances on their bikes, and raising 

donations, between Sept. 1 and Oct. 20. 

Kitchen, with his 2016 Honda Goldwing, 

won the competition last year, earning the most 

points and raising the most money. Transflo’s 

title sponsorship, in conjunction with Geotab, 

of Kitchen’s 2021 ride will fund expenses such as 

fuel and lodging for Kitchen’s 16-day trip. Individual 

donations raised by Kitchen will be given 

directly to MS 5000. 

“I owe a huge amount of thanks to Transflo 

Courtesy: Transflo 

Shawn Kitchen, an endurance motorcyclist and former 

truck driver, is attempting to ride more than 10,000 

miles in a lap around the continental U.S. in a 16-day 

period to raise funds for MS News and Views. 

and Geotab,” Kitchen said. “Without their 

involvement, I wouldn’t even be able to attempt 

this endurance ride and the fundraising 

opportunity it presents for MS 5000 and MS 

Views and News. 

“The older I get, the more I’ve come to 

SEE RIDE ON PAGE 26

with elaborate backstories 

as a strategy for engaging 

schoolchildren through the 

Trucker Buddy Program. 

See Buttigieg on p9 m 

THETRUCKER.COM FEATURES 

OCTOBER 1-14, 2021 • 25 

To subscribe: 

Visit thetrucker.com/subscribe, or 

22 • January 1-14, 2021 EquipmEnt THETRUCKER.COM 

Email your name, address, phone number and 

driver type to publisher@thetrucker.com. 

The live streaming feature allows safety 

managers to view real-time video — roadfacing, 

inward-facing or both — for coaching 

and training that would normally be done in 

person. As a privacy feature, in-cab alerts notify 

drivers when a live stream starts and ends. 

Driver video share 

Safety managers can share event videos 

directly with drivers, enabling remote and 

self-guided coaching. 

When a video is sent, drivers will receive 

a text alert with a link to the event details 

and video; the driver can then follow the link 

when he or she is safely stopped. This allows 

evidence-based, self-guided coaching. 8 

Aim your 

cAmerA 

At the 

code for 

more news! 

Survey shows truck parking 

remains top concern 

The FHWA has released an 

updated version of its Jason’s 

Law truck parking survey that 

revealed new statistics but no 

real solutions. 

Page 4 

Navigating the news 

Truckers kidnapped, killed ..........3 

Oregon’s transportation plan .....6 

The Trucker Trainer ................8 

Rhythm of the Road.............12 

Ask the Attorney ..................13 

At the Truck Stop .................14 

Chaplain’s Corner ................... 16 

Truck sales end on high note ....17 

Safety Series ..............................18 

Charitable giving ...................... 23 

Dash cams for ‘new normal’ ....21 

iStock Photo 

Dwain HebDa 

SPECIAL TO THE TRUCKER 

Features 

January 1-14, 2021 • 23 

A true zoo story: Driver keeps Trucker Buddy classrooms engaged 

by sharing the fun adventures of his ‘menagerie’ of ‘mascots’ 

In three decades on the road, Bill McNamee 

has piled up enough adventures to fill several 

volumes — but he hasn’t done it alone. For the 

past 27 years he’s brought along a “menagerie” 

of companions including mice, a lizard, a 

hedgehog, a duck and the occasional bulldog, 

all of whom have come along for the ride. 

Along the way, his “mascots,” as he calls 

them have accumulated their own share of experiences 

and gotten into the occasional mischief, 

notwithstanding the fact that each is stuffed. 

“I started out with a mouse called Seatbelt 

Sam in ’99. I saw this mouse at Cracker Barrel 

and I thought, ‘You know, this would be a good 

mascot,’” he said. “I got another mouse; that was 

Mario, Mario Provolone. And then, I found this 

girl mouse and I named her Cheddar Mouse. 

“Cheddar married Seatbelt Sam,” McNamee 

continued his story. “Two years later, we 

went out and got three little mice — three little 

catnip toys — named Colby and Pepper and 

Jack. So, they had three kids.” 

Told out of context, this backstory about 

McNamee’s collection of stuffed animals with 

elaborate backstories might suggest a guy 

who’s been out on the road just a little bit too 

long. In fact, however, his furry pals are all part 

of McNamee’s strategy for engaging schoolchildren 

through the Trucker Buddy Program, McNamee said he is also able to share lessons 

about seatbelt safety and distracted drivrooms 

of Christopher Elementary second-grad- 

how important the trucking industry is,” he said. 

Currently he’s currently assigned to three class- 

and while we’re doing that, we teach them about 

and it’s an effective strategy. 

“The concept of that program is to show ing that children can share with their parents. ers in Christopher, Illinois. That’s 62 kids in “This thing just grows and grows. It seems 

kids what we have in our beautiful country. “We throw in anti-bullying messages, sharing 

the road messages, how to be good friends postcard or send a photo of the mascots; while at 

all. While on the road, he’ll drop the classes a like every couple of months, I can think of a new 

It’s also to show the necessity of the trucking 

lesson for them about something,” he continued. 

industry in everybody’s life,” he said. “We to their classmates. We’re doing all of that and home, he’ll pay the students an in-person visit. 

promote a positive image and show them that making it all fun,” he said. 

“You know, a lot of kids never leave their 

In fact, the stories have become elaborate 

(truckers are) normal people, just like their McNamee, who drives for Carbon Express, hometown. Some kids never go coast to coast. enough to qualify as their own daytime dramas. 

McNamee staged a wedding for Seatbelt 

moms and dads. We just don’t get to come has been assigned to various classrooms during 

his time in the Trucker Buddy program. see New York City. So, we share that with them 

See MaScotS on p24 

They’ll never see the Rocky Mountains; never 

home every day.” m 

Courtesy: Bi l McNamee 

Bill McNamee uses a collection of stuffed animals with elaborate backstories as a strategy for engaging schoolchildren through the Trucker 

Buddy Program. His “menagerie” includes Seatbelt Sam and a mouse named Mario Provolone, among others. 

Courtesy: Trucking Moves America Forward 

Left: Rachel Lewis, who organized the Apex Capital office gift drive, is pictured with 

some of the gifts donated by employees. Right: CRST partnered with Central Furniture 

Rescue to help deliver furniture donations to the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, area after 

a straight-line wind storm devastated the community. Kendal George, left, and Chris 

Landwehr picked up the donated furniture. 

THE TRUCKER NEWS SERVICES 

WASHINGTON — Trucking Moves America 

Forward (TMAF), an industry-wide education and 

image movement, shared stories of the unique ways 

that the trucking industry has continued to give 

back to their communities over the holiday season. 

Trucking companies and organizations submitted 

their stories of charitable works to TMAF after a 

call for submissions through email and social media. 

“During one of the most difficult years in our nation’s 

history, the trucking industry not only stepped 

up to deliver the essential goods we have relied on 

throughout the pandemic; but also gave back to their 

community through charitable acts and giving,” said 

Kevin Burch, co-chairman of TMAF and president 

of Jet Express Inc. “Trucking companies and organizations 

of all sizes and from states across the 

country stepped up once again year to help make 

the holidays a little brighter for those in need. From 

donating food, toys and transportation, to delivering 

food, medicine and supplies on the frontlines of the 

pandemic, trucking has helped keep our communities 

strong all year.” 

The following are a few of the trucking companies 

and organizations that gave back to their communities 

during the 2020 holiday season. 

Advantage Truck Group (ATG), based in 

Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, hosted its annual Haulin’ 

4 Hunger initiative to provide meals to those in 

need. With an increased need for food assistance because 

of the COVID-19 pandemic, ATG increased 

its efforts this year and provided 6,000 meals and 

support to 12 local food pantries. 

Employees of Fort Worth, Texas-based Apex 

Capital hosted a Virtual Walk for Breast Cancer 

Charitable works: Organizations continue to give back during year of unprecedented challenges 

‘No greater honor’: Truckers play vital role in 

distribution of long-awaited COVID-19 vaccines 

Linda Garner-Bunch 

For most of the world’s population, 2020 

brought never-before-seen challenges, beginning 

with a global pandemic caused by a new 

coronavirus first discovered in China in late 

2019. As 2020 came to a close, the number of 

COVID-19 cases — along with deaths related to 

the disease — continued to climb. 

The year also brought the trucking industry 

into the international spotlight, as professional 

drivers put in countless hours on the road, working 

to provide hospitals and pharmacies with 

medical supplies, and grocery stores stocked 

with essentials (who could ever forget the great 

toilet-paper shortage?). 

For most truck drivers, those hours spent on 

the road were “all in a day’s work.” Many were 

surprised when they were greeted with cheers 

as they made their deliveries. As the year progressed, 

some of that appreciation faded — but 

drivers continued to work behind the scenes, 

making sure vital supplies, as well as little luxuries, 

reached their destinations in a safe and 

timely manner. 

On Sunday, Dec. 13, truck drivers and other 

members of the transportation industry once 

again found themselves in the spotlight as the 

first shipments of COVID-19 vaccine approved 

for emergency use in the U.S. by the Food and 

Drug Administration (FDA) departed Pfizer’s 

Portage, Michigan, facility. The day was the 

lindag@thetruckermedia.com 

history, an effort that health officials are encouraging 

the public to embrace, even as many 

people expressed skepticism or worry about the 

Vol. 34, No. 1 | JaNuary 1-14, 2021 | www.thetrucker.com 

A truck loaded with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine leaves the Pfizer Global Supply Kalamazoo 

manufacturing plant in Portage, Michigan on Dec. 13, 2020. In addition to FedEx and UPS, 

Massachusetts-based Boyle Transportation was part of the Dec. 13 vaccine rollout, with two teams of 

drivers participating in the first convoy to leave Pfizer’s Michigan facility. 

AP Photo/Morry Gash 

a new milestone of 300,000 with those numbers 

expected to skyrocket during the following weeks. 

See GivinG on p25 m 

drug’s safety and effectiveness. 

start of the biggest vaccination effort in U.S. See VaccineS on p10 m 

As the first of many freezer-packed COVID-19 

vaccine vials made their way to distribution sites 

that day, the nation’s pandemic deaths approached 

Because Pfizer’s vaccine must be stored at an 

extremely low temperature — about minus 94 

degrees Fahrenheit — quick transport is vital to 

the success of the immunization effort. On the 

Buttigieg officially announced as Biden’s 

Courtesy: Bi l McNamee 

A true zoo story 

Bill McNamee uses a 

“menagerie” of stuffed animals 

THE TRUCKER NEWS SERVICES 

nomination for secretary of transportation 

WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden 

post, was virtually unknown nationally when 

on Dec. 15 formally announced Pete Buttigieg as 

his pick for the secretary of transportation. Buttigieg, 

38, served as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, 

from 2012 to 2020. 

he launched a longshot bid for president, but he 

became a formidable political force in the early 

primary states, finishing well ahead of Biden in 

Kevin Lamarque via AP 

During a Dec. 16 event in Delaware, Biden introduced 

Buttigieg, hailing him as “a new voice with 

new ideas determined to move past old politics.” 

Iowa and New Hampshire. Buttigieg eventually 

endorsed Biden’s presidential bid. 

Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, 

President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee to 

Page 23 

be transportation secretary reacts to his nomination 

during a news conference at The Queen 

“We need someone who knows how to work 

with state, local and federal agencies,” Biden said, 

Beyond standard transportation fixes, which are 

easier to promise than for administrations to get 

theater in Wilmington, Delaware, Dec. 16, 2020. 

noting that the nation’s highways are in disrepair 

through Congress, Biden says he wants to rejuvenate 

and that some bridges “are on the verge of collapse.” 

Buttigieg, who would be the first openly gay 

the post-coronavirus pandemic economy and create 

thousands of green jobs by making environmentally 

friendly retrofits and public works improvements. 

person confirmed by the Senate to a Cabinet 

“At its best, transportation makes the American 

dream possible, getting people and goods to

26 • OCTOBER 1-14, 2021 

RIDE cont. from Page 24 

realize that our lives are best lived in service 

of other people. Riding my motorcycle 

reached a new level of enjoyment when I 

started doing it to benefit others.” 

Meeting Paul Pelland gave Kitchen a 

first-hand look at how MS affects the human 

body. 

“I saw the things that people have to give 

up in their lives because MS strips them of 

their physical ability to do it,” Kitchen noted. 

BATTERY cont. from Page 22 

Kenworth general manager and PACCAR vice president. 

WAVE’s high-power wireless chargers have been used in 

mass transit applications since 2017. The company is working 

with power electronics researchers at Utah State University to 

design a 1-megawatt, wireless inductive charging solution for 

designated facilities in both Seattle and Portland, Oregon. 

Seattle City Light and Portland General Electric will be involved 

in the respective site installation in their cities; installations 

are expected to be completed in 2022. 

“At the megawatt power levels required by Class 8 EVs, 

there are significant advantages to eliminating mechanical 

movement and human contact associated with current charging 

technologies,” said WAVE CEO Michael Masquelier. 

“The work we are doing with Kenworth and Utah State 

University will help enable fleet operators to extend the range 

of heavy-duty EVs, making the industry’s zero emission goals 

more attainable.” 8 

** FILLER ** FILLER ** 

\\ttnas01\layout\display\0.EPS 

No Image 


“But I’ve watched Paul ride, and I’ve seen 

how it’s been a form of therapy for him. He’s 

trying to do something big for the cause of 

MS, and he inspired me to do something big, 

too, and to become an advocate for him.” 

Kitchen drove a truck professionally for 

16 years, operating across various segments 

— long-haul and regional dry van, tanker, 

flatbed, and local pickup and delivery. He 

then transitioned to various other roles, including 

driver trainer, recruiter and safety 

manager, at multiple fleets. He’s now director 

of operations True Load Tim, a startup 

RHYTHM cont. from Page 13 

that aims to document and reduce time 

drivers spend detained at shipper and receiver 

facilities. 

“Transflo is proud to sponsor Shawn’s attempt 

to visit the four corners of the United 

States as part of his fundraising ride for MS,” 

said Don Mitchell, director of marketing for 

Transflo. “MS Views and News provides direct 

service and support for those who have 

been diagnosed with MS, with a special emphasis 

on those in rural parts of the country. 

We wish Shawn a safe, fun, and successful 

journey.” 8 

old gym floor, she makes a pass at him. The singer is taken 

aback. After being told that “everyone” has affairs, Conlee responds 

with a bit of a surprise ending, yet one that any John 

Conlee fan knew was coming: 

I don’t care if they do. 

I’m from the old school, 

Where hearts stay true. 

I’m from the old school, 

I thought you were too. 

With “Old School,” Conlee didn’t take the path of a stereotypical 

truck driver, landing in a different place with a different 

fling every night. Instead, he took the route that’s true to 

most people in the truck driving profession — the route of the 

old school, where truckers miss those they leave behind on 

their long runs and can’t wait to reunite with them. 

Until next time, remember what you have at home. Chances 

are, she (or he) will be with you for the long haul. 8 

MARKETPLACE 



In addition to using a simulator to help prepare students for the 

realities of driving a big rig, high school instructor Dave Dein 

guides students through the basics of trucking, industry news 

and important regulations. 

FUTURE cont. from Page 23 

employers, Morning Star Farms, to help out during a 

shortage of agriculture drivers in California. 

Instead of keeping his hard-earned money, 

however, Dein invested in the future of the trucking 

industry. He gave the proceeds to a nonprofit, the 

Next Generation in Trucking Association (www. 

nextgentrucking.org/), that he serves as vice 

chairman. The association is designed to promote 

trucking as a positive career field for a new 

generation of drivers. 

“I had a blast out there driving, and it made some 

money for a good cause, too,” Dein said. “It is something 

great to be back on the road. I also got to drive newer 

trucks with new technology on board. Those are some 

things I can bring back and share with my students. 

We are always learning something new.” 8 

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