CDLjobs.com Trucking Jobs Blog

The December issue of the CDLjobs.com Online Magazine has arrived!

Happy Holidays from the staff at CDLjobs.com!

Decker Names December 2009 Drivers Of The Month

Fort Dodge, Iowa - Decker Truck Line, Inc. recently announced the company’s December 2009 Drivers of the Month.  Flatbed Driver of the Month is Ray Albright.  Married with nine children, Albright enjoys his sailboat, motorcycle and is a member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. Jerry Chapman, Albright’s dispatcher stated, “Ray does a great job, will run anywhere and will run weekends if needed.”
  
Driver of the Month for the Reefer-Van Division is Robert Peterson.  Peterson and his wife reside in Beaman, Iowa. They have two daughters and three grandchildren.  A driver for 20 years, Peterson joined Decker 3 years ago.  His hobbies are working and do it yourself repairs and improvements on his home. Gary Northrop, Peterson’s dispatcher stated, “He is a very good driver and a great asset to Decker. He is always willing to do anything and go anywhere.”

Drivers and owner-operators are nominated monthly by their dispatcher.  They are selected based on overall performance within all areas of the company, including operational productivity, safety record, maintenance/care of equipment (including idle time), payroll, billing and customer service.  All drivers and owner-operators selected as a Driver of the Month are eligible to be chosen as Driver/Owner-operator of the Year.

Founded in 1931, Decker Truck Line, Inc. is a diversified carrier, transporting flatbed, refrigerated and dry van freight to the 48 contiguous states and seven Canadian provinces.  Under the sole ownership of Don Decker, Decker’s corporate office is located in Fort Dodge, Iowa.  Additional terminals are in Davenport, Iowa; Mediapolis, Iowa; Mason City, Iowa; Hammond, Indiana; Masury, Ohio; Birmingham, Alabama and Hutchins, Texas.

Decker Recognizes 2009 Million Mile Team

Fort Dodge, Iowa - Decker Truck Line, Inc. recently recognized two drivers on the company’s Million Mile Team for achieving an additional million miles on their safety records.

• Benjamin McIntyre of Oquawka, IA was recognized for achieving 2 Million Miles.
• John Pallos of Fort Dodge, IA was recognized for achieving 3 Million Miles.

The company’s Million Mile Team currently has 99 active members which includes 63 one million mile members, 27 two million mile members, 6 three million mile members and 3 four million mile members.

To be eligible for the Million Mile Team, drivers must have one year’s seniority, one million or more verifiable miles, had no preventable accidents, had no lost-time injuries and satisfied the company’s annual safety meeting requirements. All Million Mile Team members receive a personalized Million Mile decal on their truck, a commemorative logo leather jacket, a Million Mile pin and plaque, plus recognition on the company’s Million Mile Team plaque displayed at the corporate offices.

Decker Truck Line, Inc., has been in business since 1931, is under sold ownership of Don Decker, with corporate offices in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Additional terminals are located in Davenport, Iowa; Mediapolis, Iowa; Mason City, Iowa; Hammond, Indiana; and Birmingham, Alabama. Decker is a diversified carrier transporting flatbed, refrigerated and dry van freight to the 48 contiguous states and seven Canadian provinces.

ATA Announces National Truck Driver Appreciation Week Video Contest Winner

ARLINGTON, Va., -- National Truck Driver Appreciation Week 2009 recently concluded with great events taking place across the nation. The big finale also saw the NTDAW video contest come to a close. ATA is proud to announce that NATSO won the inaugural National Truck Driver Appreciation Week Video contest.

NATSO, a national trade association representing travel plaza and truckstop owners and operators, explained the importance of our nation's 3.5 million professional truck drivers in a creative and memorable way. The video, which can be seen here, will be featured on ATA's Truckline.com webpage. For more information on the NTDAW video contest, click here.

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week 2009 was extremely successful, with events ranging from celebrations at trucking companies, suppliers and state trucking association facilities to events at truck stops and travel plazas. Proclamations were issued from governors and mayors across the United States and Senators and Representatives have congratulated the professional drivers both in state legislatures and in the U.S. Congress.

The dates for upcoming National Truck Driver Appreciation Week 2010 will be September 19-25, 2010.

There are 3.5 million professional truck drivers nationwide -- delivering the goods U.S. consumers need every day of the year. Logging over 432 billion miles per year, trucks delivered 10.7 billion tons of freight in 2007, or 69 percent of total U.S. freight tonnage. Professional truck drivers are more essential to the national economy than ever before, and they're delivering their loads safely and professionally. To learn more about how essential the trucking industry is, visit www.ntdaw.org.

The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other trucking groups, industry-related conferences and its 50 affiliated state trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States. www.truckline.com

ATA's Technology & Maintenance Council to Hold Annual Meeting, Transportation Technology Exhibit

ARLINGTON, Va., -- The Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of American Trucking Associations will hold its 2010 Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition, Feb. 9-12 at the Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, Fla., providing a full slate of educational sessions and the first truck technology show of the year.

The meeting theme "Maintenance in Transition" is emphasized in educational sessions that include full technical sessions, Implementing Kaizen to Improve Profitability and Fostering Effective Fleet/Service Provider Communication, along with 10 mini-technical sessions.

Mini-technical sessions will include:

• Electrical Requirements for On-highway Vehicles - 2010 and Beyond;
• What's Wrong with This Picture - Common Mistakes Related to Tire and Wheel Maintenance;
• Fleet Experiences with EPA 2007 Compliant Diesel Engines - A 300,000-Mile Assessment;
• In-Cab Safety Devices and Their Implications for Data Retention, Liability and Legal Responsibilities;
• New Stopping Distance Regulations and the Effect on Vehicle Specifications;
• Installation and Repair of Trailer Aerodynamic Devices;
• Sustainability Strategies for Fleet Operations;
• A Comprehensive Look at Vehicle Electronic Control Systems - Present and Future;
• The Great Antifreeze Debate - Universal vs. Proprietary Engine Coolants; and
• Energy Storage Systems for Hybrid Chassis.

TMC's Transportation Technology Exhibition, Feb. 9-11, is expected to include more than 300 exhibitors featuring the latest technology to help fleets improve safety and efficiency. The exhibit opening will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Trucking's complete technology trade show will include the latest models of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, specialty and alternative-fueled vehicles, components, safety and information technology and services.

Full technical sessions, Fleet Talk and the Town Meeting will be held on Tuesday and Shop Talk on Wednesday. More than 100 task forces will meet on Wednesday and mini-technical sessions will be held on Thursday and Friday.

Jim Hebe, Navistar senior vice president for North American sales operations, will be the featured speaker for Tuesday's Kickoff Luncheon. Mr. Hebe, former president and CEO of Freightliner, has four decades of experience in truck manufacturing, sales and acquisitions.

A schedule of meeting activities, registration, online registration and hotel reservation forms, exhibit prospectus and related forms are available at TMC's website, http://tmc.truckline.com.

For additional meeting or exhibit information, contact TMC at 703-838-1763. Full meeting registration on or before Jan. 22 is $450 for TMC members, $550 for nonmembers. Registration after Jan. 22 is $550 for members and $650 for nonmembers. A spouse's package is available for $275.

TMC, a technical council of American Trucking Associations, is North America's premier technical society for truck equipment technology and maintenance professionals. TMC features a diverse membership of equipment managers, service-dealers, owner-operators, industry suppliers and manufacturers, educators, academia and others that support the trucking industry. TMC member fleets represent the broad range of industry vocations, including truckload, less-than-truckload, municipal, private, on/off-highway, construction and other operations. Find out more about TMC online at http://tmc.truckline.com.

American Trucking Associations, the national trade association for the trucking industry, is a federation of affiliated state trucking associations, conferences and organizations that includes more than 37,000 motor carrier members representing every type and class of motor carrier in the country. ATA serves the interests of more than nine million people and 420,000 companies involved in trucking before Congress, the courts and regulatory agencies. http://www.truckline.com.

Willie Nelson and Billy Bob Thornton's Band, The Boxmasters to Perform at the Willie's Place at Carl's Corner Truck Stop

Evolution Fuels, Inc. (PKS. EVFL) will be having Willie Nelson perform at the Willie's Place at Carl's Corner Truck Stop on December 16th. Carl's Corner Truck Stop is partly owned by the company's subsidiary, Legends Travel Centers LLC. The truck stop opened last December and since then has increased sales of blended biodiesel fuels and merchandise. The truck stop is home to 12 diesel/biodiesel fueling lanes for tractor-trailers and contains a wide load island.

Willie Nelson and Family will be performing in the "Night Life" theater which is adjoined to the truck stop. Willie will also be joined with performances by Ray Price and The Boxmasters. The Boxmasters are Billy Bob Thornton and his band. The concert will be broadcast over SIRIUS XM on the "Willie's Place" show. The show can be found on XM channel 13 and SIRIUS channel 64.

In addition to the fueling facilities "Willie's Place at Carl's Corner" features two restaurants, a convenience store, saloon, gift shop and the "Night Life" theater that features live music performances.

Evolution Fuels, Inc. develops retail renewable fuel stations in the United States. The company establishes a chain of retail fuel station/convenience stores and truck stops that offer various blends of renewable fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel.

PACCAR Parts Names Fleetline/Nu-Line Its 2008 Supplier of the Year

RENTON, Wash., — PACCAR Parts recently named Fleetline and Nu-Line as its 2008 supplier of the year for providing quality fenders, excellent service to customers and dealers and timely delivery of parts.

Each year, PACCAR Parts recognizes one of its suppliers based on specific performance criteria: availability of parts, quality of materials, operation efficiency, level of support provided to customers and level of support provided to PACCAR Parts employees and dealers to name a few.

Fleetline Products is a leading supplier of quarter fenders, tandem fenders and mud flap hanger brackets to the North American commercial vehicle industry. Nu-Line Products Inc. is Canada’s leading supplier of aftermarket heavy-duty truck fenders. Fleetline and Nu-Line partnered with PACCAR Parts in 2004 to develop a complete private labeled MIRREX fender program for all-makes of trucks.

“Fleetline and Nu-Line not only supply our dealers with the quality parts customers have come to expect from PACCAR Parts, but they also work hard to keep our distribution centers and dealers well stocked with high-demand items,” said Rick Gorman, PACCAR Parts general manager and PACCAR vice president. “That’s particularly important when we need to have enough inventory on hand so that customers can take full advantage of special promotional offers and discounts through our loyalty program. That helps their parts budgets go a little further.

“We’re pleased to award a company that supports our dealers, stands behind their products and shows such a commitment to operational excellence,” Gorman added.

Fleetline and Nu-Line, along with Hogebuilt Inc., make up Fontaine Spray Suppression Company, which is part of the Commercial Truck Group within Marmon Highway Technologies. Fontaine Spray Suppression Company is the largest manufacturer in North America of spray suppression products including fenders, mud flaps, and mud flap hanger brackets and related products.

Doug Henson, president of Fontaine Spray Suppression Company, said earning the supplier award from PACCAR Parts has been quite an achievement for his company.

“Our team worked very hard over the years to achieve the PACCAR Parts supplier of the year award,” Henson said. “In our opinion, this is one of the highest honors any supplier can receive in the trucking industry because of the high standards PACCAR Parts sets.”

To meet those standards, Fleetline and NuLine use state-of-the-art equipment and process controls at every step of the manufacturing process to guarantee delivery of the highest and most consistent quality products in the industry, Henson said.

“Everyone involved at PACCAR Parts, from the PACCAR sales team to the Fleetline and Nu-Line account managers, and the dealers’ sales force, are knowledgeable,” he said. “This helps make the PACCAR Parts promotion and retail program to be one of the most successful programs of its kind in the industry.”

Decker Truck Line, Inc. Receives Iowa Freedom Award

Fort Dodge, Iowa - Decker Truck Line, Inc. was the recipient of the 2009 Iowa Freedom Award for large employers.  Governor Chet Culver along with Dick Rue, chairman of the Iowa Committee of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), presented Tony Russell, chief operating officer of Decker Truck Line, Inc. with the award during a ceremony recently.

Nominations to receive ESGR awards come from a Guard or Reserve member who is employed by the organization they are nominating, or from a family member.  SFC Troy Rubel, a member of Iowa National Guard and employee at Decker Truck Line, Inc. nominated the company for the award. “Decker Truck Line held a send-off for me with food, treats, care packages and many well wishes from my co-workers.  In August 2007, my town of Dakota City received a record amount of rain.  The storm sewer to my house backed up into our finished basement and caused a lot of damage.  When hearing about this from my wife, Decker Truck Line sent up several shop employees to clean up and remove the damaged goods.  I can’t thank Don Decker and the company enough for the support given to my family while I was performing military duty.” 

In May of 2009 Decker Truck Line, Inc. also received the Pro Patria award, the highest recognition given in Iowa by ESGR to employers for their support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

Decker Truck Line, Inc., a family-owned business since 1931, is a diversified carrier with capabilities to transport flatbed freight, refrigerated freight and van freight to 48 states and 7 Canadian Provinces.

Horse Race Named After the Truckload Carriers Association

Rexdale, Ontario – Yesterday, the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) received some unusual attention at a Canadian racetrack after a horse race was temporarily named The Truckload Carriers Association Race and a special trophy was presented to the winner.

The event was arranged by Kim Richardson, publisher of The Rear View Mirror, a Canadian-based trucking trade publication. Richardson knew that Kevin Burch, president of Jet Express, Inc., of Dayton, Ohio, and chairman of the Truckload Carriers Association, and Jeff Davis, vice president of safety and human resources for Jet Express, would be in Toronto on November 3, 2009. Davis was scheduled to make a presentation at a seminar on CSA 2010, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s latest initiative to develop more efficient and effective ways to reduce commercial motor vehicle crashes, fatalities and injuries.

Last night, Richardson hosted an evening of horse racing at the Woodbine Raceway in Toronto. He asked Burch, an avid horse race fan who even owns a few race horses, and several Canadian trucking professionals from current and prospective TCA member companies to join him for dinner.  At the track, Richardson arranged to have one of the Standard-bred races temporarily re-named in honor of TCA. Burch was then allowed to enter the winner’s circle and present the owner of Caviar’s Dream, the winning horse, a special trophy declaring him the “Winner of the Truckload Carriers Association Race.” The presentation was viewed by everyone at the Woodbine track, partner tracks, and simulcast locations across North America.

“We’re always looking for new ways to expose the general public to the trucking industry, and this was an unusual and positive way to do it,” said Burch. “My thanks go out to Kim Richardson and his people for arranging such a terrific evening.”

TCA is the only national trade association whose collective sole focus is the truckload segment of the motor carrier industry.  The association represents dry van, refrigerated, flatbed, and intermodal container carriers operating in the 48 contiguous states, as well as Alaska, Mexico, and Canada.  Representing operators of more than 200,000 trucks, which collectively produce annual revenue of more than $20 billion, TCA is an organization tailored to specific truckload carrier needs.

TCA Honors ABF Driver Stanley Gorczak as a Highway Angel

Driver helped a hotel clerk through a medical emergency

Alexandria, Virginia – The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) is honoring truck driver Stanley P. Gorczak as a Highway Angel for helping someone pull through a medical emergency.

It was August 8, 2009, and Gorczak had checked into the Carlisle Hotel in Omaha, Nebraska, where he planned to spend the night before continuing on his route the next day.  A seasoned traveler, Gorczak had come down to the hotel lobby to fill his thermos with coffee before heading back upstairs to his room for the night.

Suddenly, a hotel clerk came running toward Gorczak screaming that Ashley, another hotel employee, had collapsed.  Thinking quickly, Gorczak handed his cell phone to the clerk and told her to call 911.  He then rushed to help Ashley, who was lying prone on the floor.

Gorczak’s first instinct was to carefully roll Ashley onto her back and check her vital signs.  He checked for a heartbeat and looked at her eyes to see if the pupils were dilated.  He spoke to Ashley, trying to get her to respond, but she was incoherent.  Her eyes were moving left to right underneath her eyelids, but she couldn’t open them.  Noticing she was shivering, he sat her up in a chair and covered her with towels.  Then, he held her head up to prevent her from choking in case of a seizure.  Gorczak patiently waited with Ashley until the paramedics arrived.

“I was just being myself, and I only did what I hope someone would do for me,” said Gorczak modestly.  “I was in the right place at the right time to help somebody.”

Actually, this is the second time that Gorczak has helped someone while on duty for ABF.  Earlier this year, he was eating at an Illinois truck stop when a customer began choking on a hamburger and fell to the floor.  The man was too heavy to pick up, so Gorczak turned him on his side and managed to get him to cough the hamburger out.

Now that Gorczak has been accepted as a TCA Highway Angel, he will receive a Highway Angel lapel pin, certificate, and patch for the kindness he showed to Ashley.  ABF Freight System, Inc., will also receive a certificate acknowledging that one of its drivers is a Highway Angel. 

Since its inception in August 1997, the Highway Angels program has recognized hundreds of drivers for the unusual kindness, courtesy, and courage they have shown others while on the job.  TCA has received letters and e-mails from people across North America nominating truck drivers for the program.

To view archival copies of past Highway Angel press releases, visit www.truckload.org/pressroom.  To learn more about the program or to nominate a driver, go to www.truckload.org/highwayangels.  For additional information, contact TCA at (703) 838-1950 or angel@truckload.org.