Overdrive

16 | Overdrive | February 2018 Logbook A former IT worker at Swift Transpor- tation pleaded guilty to federal felony charges related to alleged scams in which he embezzled $1.65 million from the Phoenix-based carrier over three years, according to court documents. David Dwight Reynolds, a network engineer, made hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal purchases on company credit cards, which he disguised as com- pany purchases, between 2013 and 2016. Between 2014 and 2016, he also created a fake company and used it to bill Swift for hundreds of thousands of dollars in invoices for work performed by real contractors. Each of the schemes cheated Swift out of more than $800,000. Prosecutors say Reynolds used Swift credit cards to buy items such as cell- phones, furniture, TVs, cameras, comput- ers, welding equipment and gun accesso- ries. He then created fraudulent invoices to hide the personal expenses. Reynolds is due in court April 4 to pay Swift $2 million restitution and to pay $560,000 in back taxes, as well as to face sentencing. – James Jaillet Swift IT worker pleads guilty to $1.65M theft The Swift engineer's embezzlement extended over three years. PILOT FLYING J'S myPilot mobile app now shows avail- able real-time truck parking at 30 PFJ locations along the I-5 corridor from San Diego to Seattle, as well as one location in Knoxville, Tennes- see. Drivers also can view and purchase Prime Parking spots through the app. PILOT FLYING J opened its fourth Colorado location in Lamar, which has 34 truck parking spots, three showers, six diesel fuel lanes, a Cat Scale, a driver's lounge, Western Union, Dunkin Donuts, PJ Fresh and fast casual food offerings. The truck stop chain also reopened its location in Remington, Indiana, following a renovation that includes new showers, driv- er's lounge and restrooms. There is a new Taco Bell, a remodeled Subway, PJ Fresh and fast casual food offerings. WESTERN STAR expanded its 50th anniversary "Wings of Awesomeness" limit- ed-edition graphics pack- age. Originally available in gold and silver, the winged pattern can be ordered for any Western Star truck model as a premium option in the customer's choice of colors. The U.S. Department of Transportation is seeking public input on policies to hasten the deployment of self-driving trucks, buses and passenger cars, including vehicles that require no human input to operate. DOT aims to produce a Federal Automated Vehicle Policy 3.0. In three notices to be filed in the Federal Register in the coming weeks by various DOT agencies, regulators intend to glean input from developers of automated driving systems, end users, the public and other stakeholders. One prong of three notices seeks to identify existing vehicle regulations that could impede testing and commercializa- tion of driverless vehicles. On the second point, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's request for comment will seek input on how manufacturers of automated vehicle technology can certify that their systems meet safety thresholds. The last prong of the requests for comment deals exclusively with the auto- mation of public transportation, such as buses and transit systems. – Overdrive Staff DOT acts to pave way for autonomous vehicles March 6-9: The Work Truck Show, Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis March 16-18: American Truck Historical Society Northeast Ohio Chapter 2018 Summit Racing I-X Piston Powered Auto-Rama, I-X Center, Cleveland March 17: Safety Drive for a Cure, Holland Inc., Ellenwood, Georgia March 22-24: Mid-America Trucking Show, Kentucky Exposi- tion Center, Louisville, Kentucky April 27-29: 75 Chrome Shop Truck Show, Wildwood, Florida May 4-5: Midwest Pride In Your Ride Truck and Tractor Show, Tri- State Raceway, Earlville, Iowa May 4-6: American Truck Histor- ical Society Southern California Chapter Truck Show and Swap Meet, Orange Empire Railway Museum, Perris, California May 10-12: Kenly 95 East Coast Truckers Jamboree, Kenly, North Carolina May 13: Mother's Day Convoy for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Lancaster, Pennsylvania May 31-June 3: Wheel Jam Truck Show, South Dakota State Fairgrounds, Huron, South Dakota June 14-16: 36th annual Shell Rotella SuperRigs Truck Beauty Contest, White's Travel Center, Raphine, Va. Aug. 24-26: Great American Trucking Show, Dallas CALENDAR

• Cover
• ELD shutdowns: Protests and practicality.
• Pulse: Tax reform yields owner-operator tax cut.
• Wendy Parker wants some things to go away in 2018.
• TRUCKING LEADER’S LEGACY | Readers pay tribute to Jim Johnston, left, OOIDA’s president, CEO and founding member, who died last month at 78.
• “Wes Memphis” gets past paper logs’ phantom limb.
• Two drivers persist in PSP report challenge.
• Swift IT worker pleads guilty to theft.
• “Highway Justice” pair tackles human trafficking.
• Fleet to pay driver $54,000 to settle lawsuit.
• Business: Expanded bonus depreciation Under the tax overhaul enacted in late December, owner-operators will be able to claim bonus depreciation on purchases of used trucks and trailers. Prior tax law allowed bonus depreciation only for new equipment purc
• ELD mandate meets reality Questions swirl as e-logging magnifies problems with strict hours enforcement. Uniform answers are harder to come by.
• Cover story: Into the limelight Though there are tens of thousands of Sikhs in trucking, traditional American truckers have little information and a lot of misconceptions about them. But their strong ELD activism has helped build bridges with their n
• $25,000 awaits top owner-operator Philip Keith, Kevin Kocmich and Bryan Smith are finalists for the 2017 Owner-Operator of the Year award, produced by the Truckload Carriers Association and Overdrive.
• Equipment Spotlight: Coolants Learn about formulations and specifications for a wide variety of cooling system products from 13 manufacturers.
• Cabover still a work in progress.
• Trucker’s antique W9 restoration project.
• “Mistress” demands owner’s downtime.
• Reader Rigs: Two ’96 Western Stars, “Ol’ Blackie” and Down Under hauler.
• Gear Guide Cable wrap, floor mat, air disc brakes, more.
• FLEET NEWS Maverick raises pay for flatbed, glass haulers.
• BETTER HEALTH Trucking lifestyle can lead to headaches.
• Poll respondents split on 2018 outlook.
• Pot remains off limits to truck drivers.