Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/893962
24 | Overdrive | October 2017 LOGBOOK The IRS usually has three years to challenge deductions or income stated on your return by requesting an audit, so keep your records for at least three years. The IRS randomly selects some returns to determine compliance with its tax rules. Only a Certifi ed Public Accountant can represent you in an audit. The Partners in Business program is produced by Overdrive and the consultants at business services fi rm ATBS. It is sponsored by Ryder and Truckstop.com. PARTNERS IN BUSINESS TIP: KEEP YOUR RECORDS A recent survey shows that 61 percent of U.S. adults feel less safe passing large commercial trucks than driving past passenger cars. About one in four say adding safety technology to large trucks would help them feel better about sharing the highway. In 2015, heavy trucks were involved in more than 400,000 crashes, result- ing in more than 4,000 deaths and 116,000 injuries – up 4 percent from 2014. "Leveraging Large Truck Tech- nology and Engineering to Realize Safety Gains," a report highlighting research from the AAA Foundation for Traffi c Safety, says equipping large trucks with advanced safety technolo- gies could prevent upwards of 63,000 truck-related crashes each year. The report examines the safety benefi ts and costs of installing lane departure warning systems, automat- ic emergency braking, air disc brakes and video-based onboard safety monitoring systems. Researchers found that lane departure warning systems could prevent up to 6,372 crashes, 1,342 injuries and 115 deaths each year. Video-based onboard safety monitor- ing systems could prevent as many as 63,000 crashes, 17,733 injuries and 293 deaths annually. Automatic emergency braking, the report says, could prevent up to 5,294 crashes, 2,753 injuries and 55 deaths each year, while air disc brakes could prevent up to 2,411 crashes, 1,447 injuries and 37 fatalities. About 28 percent of survey re- spondents said the truck's length and size made them feel less safe versus a passenger car. A truck's blind spot and visibility challenges were cited by 18 percent, while 14 percent noted that trucks can drift or swerve in and out of their lanes. – Jason Cannon Report: Truck safety tech could prevent 63,000 crashes annually FMCSA PROPOSED reducing Unifi ed Carrier Registra- tion fees for the next two years. For the 2018 registra- tion year that began Oct. 1, fees would be reduced by about 9.1 percent due to total UCR revenues exceeding the statutory maximum for the 2016 registration year by $5.13 million or about 4.55 percent. For the 2019 registration year, fees would be reduced by about 4.55 percent. The reduction would range from about $7 to $6,700 per entity in 2018 and $3 to $3,400 in 2019 de- pending on the number of vehicles owned by carriers. ELLIOTT CAMPBELL, co-owner of several trucking companies operating under Catts Auto Sales in Chavies, Kentucky, was sentenced to 56 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to defraud shipping brokers. Be- tween 2010 and 2012, Campbell conspired with his wife, co-owner Melinda Campbell, and dispatcher Bryan Na- pier to defraud brokers by agreeing to haul freight for a certain price, then demanding additional payments before delivery. When brokers fi led complaints, the Campbells and Napier formed new trucking companies and used aliases to continue the scheme. Three rookie truck drivers who are military veterans were named fi nalists in the "Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence" program at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas. The winner will receive a Kenworth T680 Advantage with a 76-inch sleeper and a Paccar MX-13 engine. The fi nalists are Wayne Roy, a Marine Corps veteran driving for U.S. Xpress; Daniel Shonebarger, a Navy veteran driving for Melton Truck Lines; and Gregg Softy, an Army veteran driving for Stevens Transport. Shonebarger also was named the 2017 Trucking's Top Rookie at GATS by Truckers News. The winner will be announced Dec. 15. The program is conducted through a partnership between Kenworth, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hiring Our Heroes pro- gram and Fastport, which helps facilitate hiring veterans. – Overdrive Staff Finalists named for top rookie veteran driver From left, Gregg Softy, Army, Stevens Transport; Wayne Roy, Marine Corps, U.S. Xpress; and Daniel Shonebarger, Navy, Melton Truck Lines.