Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/778830
18 | Overdrive | February 2017 LOGBOOK Owner- operators Gary Buchs, Philip Keith and Kevin Kocmich were named fi nalists for the Owner- Operator of the Year award, which carries a $25,000 cash prize. The winner will be announced March 28 at the annual meeting of the Truckload Carriers Association in Nashville, Tennessee. TCA and Overdrive produce the contest. TCA and Overdrive sister brand Truckers News produce the Company Driver of the Year contest, which also has a $25,000 prize. The three fi nalists for that award are Murray Manuliak (Bi- son Transport), David McGowan (WEL Companies) and William Poteet (Saddle Creek Logistics). The six Driver of the Year fi nalists will receive a trip to TCA's Nashville meeting. The four run- ner-up fi nalists will receive $2,500 each. The contests are sponsored by Cummins and Love's Travel Stops. "Our nation's economy depends on the health and strength of the trucking industry, and at the heart of it is the driver," said Amy Boerger, vice president of sales for Cummins. "We sponsor this award because Cummins wants to shine a broader light on this great and important profession." Too often, drivers' "hard work and dedication to safety and pro- fessionalism goes unnoticed," said Jon Archard, vice president of sales for Love's. "We know that to sus- tain growth, we need the continued support of our trucking customers and professional drivers." Buchs, 62, of Colfax, Illinois, is leased to Landstar. Keith, 58, of Long Beach, Mis- sissippi, is leased to WEL Compa- nies of De Pere, Wisconsin. Kocmich, 55, of Litchfi eld, Minnesota, is leased to Diamond Transportation System of Racine, Wisconsin. Overdrive will profi le the own- er-operator fi nalists next month. The contest recognizes winners for safety and their contributions to their communities and trucking's image. The owner-operator contest also weighs business skills. To be eligible for the contest, driver applicants had to have one million consecutive accident-free miles and meet other standards. – Overdrive Staff 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. Owner-Operator of the Year fi nalists named AN OWNER-OPERATOR was shut down after an accident investigation showed he was medically disqualifi ed. John Kamau, owner of Kamway Ser- vices, a Lowell, Massachusetts-based single-truck fl eet, was driving along Interstate 95 in York County, Maine, on Nov. 18 when he struck the rear of a passenger vehicle, killing both of its occupants. Gary Buchs Philip Keith Kevin Kocmich