Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/769491
14 | Overdrive | January 2017 LOGBOOK Trucker in Morgan crash avoids jail time Kevin Roper, the truck operator involved in the high-profi le 2014 New Jersey Turnpike crash that killed comedian James McNair and severely injured actor-come- dian Tracy Morgan, last month agreed to a deal with the state of New Jersey to avoid jail time. Roper faced up to 10 years of jail time if convicted of the charges brought against him. Roper's attorney, David Jay Glassman, said Roper agreed to enter a pre-trial intervention program. If Roper completes 300 hours of community service in the next three years and "stays out of trouble," the state will drop his indictment, and his record will be expunged. Roper had to change his plea to guilty to enter the program. Investigators claim Roper fell asleep at the wheel of the Walmart fl eet tractor-trailer he was driving on June 7, 2014. The National Transportation Safety Board alleges Roper had been awake for 28 hours prior to the crash, having commuted in his personal car from Georgia to New Jersey the previous night before beginning work. – James Jaillet Why do I have to top-off oil in my engine? Most of you probably check your oil level each day or when you fill your fuel tank. Low oil level can lead to faster degradation (oxidation) of the oil, faster consumption of the oil additives and potentially shorter engine life. When discussing the issue of oil consumption, we must keep in mind that there are only two ways oil is consumed in a diesel engine: oil is either burned in the combustion chamber or it leaks through seals or gaskets. There are also a number of factors or conditions that can affect the amount of oil an engine consumes. Some of the factors that affect oil consumption include engine idle time, driving conditions, load, terrain, engine operating temperature, oil volatility, fuel dilution, and miles on the engine. Another important point to remember is that no two engines are alike. You may have noticed that engine oil consumption has been reduced with late model trucks. New oils help control piston deposits which results in better oil consumption control. Newer piston and piston ring designs, along with changes in engine operating conditions, are also factors. Oil formulation can help provide the best oil consumption control. Premium motor oils are formulated to exceed the most current requirements of all North American truck engine manufacturers, as well as those of the American Petroleum Institute. Shell Rotella ® engine oils are formulated with a careful balance of detergent, dispersant, anti-oxidant and anti-wear chemistry designed to maximize engine protection. Adding a gallon of oil every few thousand miles was once common. We now see late model engines that will go an entire drain interval without requiring that any additional oil be added. However, we still recommend you check your oil daily and top-off as required. To further help monitor conditions in your engine, we recommend having an oil analysis program. It is one of the most effective ways to monitor the condition of your engine. A regular oil analysis program helps you build a historic database and watch for trends in a variety of areas. Ideally, you want to analyze a sample of used engine oil after every oil change. By Dan Arcy Shell Lubricants The term "Shell Lubricants" refers to the various Shell Group companies engaged in the lubricants business. This monthly column is brought to you by Shell Lubricants. Got a question? Visit ROTELLA.com, call 1-800-BEST-OIL or write to The ANSWER COLuMN, 1001 Fannin, Ste. 500, Houston, TX 77002. Truck drivers who received medi- cal certifi cation from Dr. Anthony Lefteris, who operated out of an Atlanta-area Petro, will need to be re-examined and issued a fresh medical certifi cation by another examiner, the U.S. Department of Transportation said last month. Lefteris was arrested Dec. 1 and charged with fraudulent activity. Federal investigators say Lefteris issued certifi cations without per- forming full exams. DOT estimates 6,600 truckers are aff ected. Truckers who received medical clearance from Lefteris will be notifi ed by mail by the Federal Mo- tor Carrier Safety Administration, said Duane DeBruyne, FMCSA spokesperson. Drivers have 30 days from the date posted in the letter to see an examiner and receive a new certifi cation. The examiner must be listed in FMCSA's National Registry of Certifi ed Medical Examiners. DOT has added a note to Lefter- is' listing in the registry saying that he's no longer certifi ed. Lefteris also has been charged for entering those false certifi ca- tions, with false medical informa- tion, for DOT recordkeeping. He issued about 360 medical cards a month, DOT investigators allege in an affi davit fi led with a U.S. District Court in north Georgia. Most examiners perform only 13 to 14 a month, the affi davit says. – James Jaillet Alleged medical card fraud affects thousands of truckers THE TEXAS DOT launched Phase 2 of its Truck Toll Discount program intended to help ease Interstate 35 gridlock through Austin. Trucks with a valid TxTag that travel on State Route 130/45SE from the I-35 exit in Georgetown to the U.S. 183 exit in Buda will pay the standard two-axle rate and realize a savings of 67 percent, from $24.12 to $8.04. Drivers who switch from Pay By Mail to TxTag could realize a savings of 75 percent, from $32.07 to $8.04. The discount runs through Aug. 31.