Overdrive

VOICES CHANNEL 19 6 | Overdrive | July 2017 Visit Senior Editor Todd Dills' CHANNEL 19 BLOG at OverdriveOnline.com/channel19 Write him at tdills@randallreilly.com. For the language on the image here, a tip of the hat to the folks from the #TruckThat social media campaign aimed at giving drivers a way to vent frus- trations with the industry. Likewise to the mem- ber of the Rate Per Mile Masters Facebook group who shared it, and anoth- er member for a question he posed to the group, one that foregrounds the complicated nature of freight logistics in general and yet another one of those quandary-type situations: When you book the load at noon, get to the pickup at 1 p.m., shipper says, "You're late, you were supposed to be here at 10 a.m.!" What is your response? Or what is your would-be response if you just said what you felt like saying? What might in my mind be the best response under the discussion at the RPMM group: "You might not have this problem, Mr. Shipper, if you'd dealt with me direct." Readers re- sponded in numbers when I asked the same question. Respond yourself and see more via the May 22 post on the blog. Reader Warren Wylds expressed amazement after it was reported that this old rig was back up and running. It's a 1977 Kenworth recently re- stored by the Indiana-based DeKock family, including owner-operator Bryan DeKock. "The truck has history," says Jennifer DeKock, Bryan's mother. She's been searching for a picture of a famous old truck mural that was painted with the unit as its basis – on the old Monteagle Truck Stop in Monteagle, Tennessee, along I-24. The DeKocks were painting the rig at the time of this photo, prep- ping the unit for its fi rst big run to Des Moines, Iowa, for the American Truck Historical Society's national convention in May. "I just want to do it justice," Jenni- fer DeKock says. "Yes, I know it's just a truck. Our son got it running and drove it to our house Sunday — fi rst run in 29 years! He has worked so hard to bring this girl back to life. "I have exhausted all leads, I have searched every old truck stop site available to fi nd a photo, calls, e-mails, etc." Have a tip for her? Get in touch via the May 25 post on the blog. As for Wylds, he cracked wise on Overdrive's Facebook page: "No ELD, no ABS, no EGR, no SCR, no DEF? Hell, he probably don't have steer axle brakes, either. How does this truck operate without killing people?" Wylds, of course, knew the answer — "Oh, that's right. It had a pro in the seat." Hey, Mr. Shipper! Another reason for dealing direct Mural's truck model revived " Tell the shipper he really needs to hire a good quality carrier that will take care of his needs and give him the service he expects. Eliminate freight brokers. Shippers should be posting their own loads on the load board or dealing with a carrier they trust. Brokers are just a bunch of lying, cheating thieves that don't care about the work that goes into moving their underbid freight. " — Old School Rigger Courtesy of the DeKock family ARRIVE EARLY: YOU'RE WRONG ARRIVE LATE: YOU'RE WRONG ARRIVE ON TIME: YOU WAIT " What really needs to be said … 'Thank you, I'll be leaving now, without your freight.' Simple. " — Greg B. " Just Friday, I deadheaded over 100 miles to Ball Corp. in Indiana and wound up leaving empty as I came. Landstar agent neglected or didn't know to inform me 'no wooden sides on trailer.' Shouldn't truck-ordered-not- used apply? " — Glenn

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• COVER STORY: Jump start The electrified truck concept has taken on a real life, with players large and small vying for future shares of the Class 8 market. It’s not only large fleets that are placing orders.
• Presenting logs at roadside Running with an e-logs device is one thing. Communicating e-log data to an inspector is quite another. With five months to go, states’ data transfer plans vary widely, and an ambitious federal program remains untested.
• Broker ratings Not only have the internet and mobile technology made finding loads quicker and easier than ever, those same resources also can provide more in-depth, current information on broker performance.
• Drive Test: Best of both worlds Volvo’s regional workhorse tractor, the VNM, having been on the market for more than two decades, was overdue for a refresh. But Volvo designers did much more than modernize its body lines in producing th
• Options few after ELD challenge stalls.
• Pulse: “The real problem” with ELDs.
• Another reason shippers should deal direct.
• Reader majority opposes hair-sample testing.
• Obama-era contractor status memo rescinded.
• Trucker Talent Search finalists headed for Dallas.
• FMCSA study to assess split sleeper options.
• GATS to showcase free music and famous trucks.
• “Service and sacrifice” ’88 Freightliner COE.
• Owner-operator’s self-built “RisslerBilt” 379.
• “88 Mike” Morgan earns first Bandit Series win.
• Reader Rigs: ’13 T800 a stainless dream; ’90 K100 a farming COE; salute “The General” ’17 W900L Icon; ’96 W900L pretty in pink; respect “Big Tex” ’15 122SD; ’02 W900L goes by “Black Betty.”
• BUSINESS Log data might not cover IFTA, IRP.
• Gear Guide All-position tire, mudflap, locks, more.
• FLEET NEWS Decker’s Driver of the Year gets Harley.
• 5 APPS FOR THAT Podcast players for on-the-road listening.
• TWO-BUCK TRUCKERS Wendy Parker backs a driver’s plan to highlight trucking issues and show the general public how much the industry contributes to the economy.