Overdrive

16 | Overdrive | March 2017 LOGBOOK 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. Landstar truck giveaway Landstar own- er-operator Ralph Hall won a new Peterbilt 579 in the company's Deliver to Win Truck Giveaway. Hall was one of fi ve fi nalists for the truck randomly selected from 170,000 entries. Landstar owner-operators had a variety of incentives to earn entries to the drawing. A federal court was slated to hear arguments March 15 against a 2014 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Admin- istration policy allowing Mexican car- riers to apply for long-haul operating authority in the United States. U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) on Feb. 16 introduced "Blueprint for America's New Trade Policy," which he described as principles for renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement. The resolution stipu- lates that a NAFTA replacement "should require all foreign service providers' vehicles and drivers en- tering the United States to meet all United States highway safety and environmental standards." Such language bucks a U.S. De- partment of Transportation policy, announced in 2016, to accept Mexico's inspection standards for carriers that have obtained U.S. operating authority from FMCSA. The Owner-Operator Indepen- dent Drivers Association and labor organizations supported HR 132, which also asks President Trump to initiate a renegotiation of NAFTA no later than June 1 or withdraw from the 1994 agreement. Trump had campaigned that he would begin renegotiating NAFTA during his fi rst 100 days as president. DOT has faced an upward fi ght to implement NAFTA's trucking provisions. Congress defunded its fi rst pilot program in 2009, but DOT began a second one after Mexico imposed more than $2 billion in retaliatory tariff s. Nearly two years ago, DOT opened the border following its fi nal report to Congress on Mexi- can carriers' safety. The Teamsters union is challenging that decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit, and OOIDA is participat- ing as an intervenor. The union argues DOT's fi nal report makes a conclusion based on a pilot program that yielded inadequate data. OOIDA stated that DOT has provided little of the evidence it used to decide to open the border. – Jill Dunn Court to review border policy

• Cover
• Readers: Behind-the-wheel training minimum critical.
• Pulse: FMCSA backpedals on safety proposal.
• The ELD mandate and the “House Freedom Caucus.”
• Dry bulk for the long haul.
• “Build the wall”: Majority favors Trump plan.
• Lawsuit opposes Trump order to reduce regs.
• Industry united against safety rating change.
• Court to review border policy.
• C.R. England plans to appeal fraud ruling.
• Lag growing between CDL training, skills test.
• Big-rig race series returns in new format.
• Rare 96-year-old White 5-ton finds new home.
• Reader Rigs: ’07 W900L an ice cream truck; ’14 389 a “Green Monster”; ’09 W900L a million-miler.
• BUSINESS: Make the most of your tax deductions.
• Gear Guide: Trailer brake drum, wheels, clutches, more.
• FLEET NEWS: Averitt expands in Northeast, hiring drivers.
• 5 APPS FOR THAT: Matching book lovers with recordings.
• RESPECT THE DINOSAURS: Diverse drivers united for a common goal is what it’s all about, Wendy Parker writes. Page 8.
• COVER STORY: Sleight of truck | Imagine arriving at a gate and presenting papers to pick up a load. The man in the guard shack looks confused and says you’ve already been there and that the load is gone. Heists involving false identity and other fraud ar
• Dodging the middleman: While no one service will be “Uber for all” in the fragmented brokerage market, on-demand load-matching services are seeing some success at circumventing traditional brokers and promising gains for owner-operators in rates, freight
• $25,000 awaits top owner-operator: Three owner-operators – Gary Buchs, Philip Keith and Kevin Kocmich – are finalists for the 2016 Owner-Operator of the Year award, produced by the Truckload Carriers Association and Overdrive.
• Maintaining your wheels: A pre-trip inspection for cracks and rust is usually sufficient for maintenance of aluminum and steel wheels. A few other best practices, though, can almost ensure that wheels last as long as your truck.