Overdrive

CONTENTS ® overdriveonline.com February 2013 | Vol. 53 | No. 2 / OverdriveTrucking ® /OverdriveUpdate ® ® DESIGN & PRODUCTION Art Director: Kenneth Stubbs Production Designer: David Watson Quality Assurance: Timothy Smith Advertising Production Manager: Anne Marie Horton production@overdriveonline.com TRUCKING MEDIA Vice President of Sales, Trucking Media: Brad Holthaus sales@truckingmedia.com The death rate for truckers in accidents rose dramatically in 2011. Readers share their theories for why. See page 4. 18 22 COVER STORY: Easing into ownership 3200 Rice Mine Rd NE Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 800-633-5953 randallreilly.com CORPORATE Chairman/CEO: Mike Reilly President: Brent Reilly Chief Process Officer: Shane Elmore Chief Administration Officer: David Wright Senior Vice President, Sales: Scott Miller Senior Vice President, Editorial and Research: Linda Longton Senior Vice President, Acquisitions & Business Development: Robert Lake Vice President of Events: Alan Sims Vice President, Audience Development: Stacy McCants Vice President, Digital Services: Nick Reid Director of Marketing: Julie Arsenault Try our 9 tips to help turn a leasepurchase in your favor. Who's keeping score Carriers are using privately produced driver rankings and a federal screening program to weed out drivers. 36 How to maximize your custom rig's forward lighting with retro-style headlights and high-output bulbs. For change of address and other subscription inquiries, please contact: overdrive@halldata.com EDITORIAL HONORS Only trucking magazine to win five Editorial Excellence Awards Four-time Magazine of the Year finalist plus 56 other awards. Jesse H. Neal winner and 5 Certificates of Merit Subscription inquiries: For subscripton info call 800-517-4979 in the U.S., or 847-763-9610 outside the U.S. Rates for non-qualified subscriptions: US & possessions $34.97; Canada/Mexico & foreign $65.00, payable in U.S. dollars. Single copies are available for $6 US, $9 Canada/Mexico, and $12 foreign. Overdrive (ISSN 0030-7394) is published monthly and is a registered trademark of its publisher, Randall-Reilly Publishing Company, LLC., 3200 Rice Mine Road N.E., Tuscaloosa, AL 35406. Periodicals postage-paid at Tuscaloosa, AL, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 707.4.12.5); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: send address corrections to Overdrive, 3200 Rice Mine Rd NE, Tuscaloosa, AL 35406. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Copyright (c) 2013 Randall-Reilly Publishing Company, LLC. Bright and classy 42 Equipment spotlight: 12-volt appliances All the comforts of home can be added to your bunk, thanks to these plug-ins. DEPARTMENTS 16 BUSINESS Rates dive in December, but flatbed proves sturdier. 45 GEAR GUIDE Oil management system, differential service kits, LEDs. 17 DOLLARS & SENSE To save fuel costs, learn to drive better. 58 FLEET NEWS Erb Transport, PGT executive win TCA's weight loss contest. Cover photo: Max Heine Max Heine EDITORIAL Editorial Director: Max Heine Editor: Randy Grider Equipment Editor: Jack Roberts Senior Editor: Todd Dills Managing Editor: Dean Smallwood Online Managing Editor: Kathleen Buccleugh News Editor: James Jaillet Contributing Editors: Jill Dunn, Paul Hartley, Carolyn Magner, Bruce Smith, Steve Sturgess Editorial Assistants: Elizabeth Manning, Sean Randall truckingeditorial@gmail.com VOICES 4 Why are truck-occupant crash deaths rising? 6 Pulse: Two flavors of "taxpayer relief." 8 Don't pay for the privilege to haul. 10 Readers: More gun restrictions won't help. LOGBOOK 12 Overdrive and TCA name Driver of the Year finalists. 14 Court case against CSA continues. 63 Legal battle over emissions regs looms. 64 Landstar moving toward electronic logs. CUSTOM RIGS 34 Legends & Heroes, a 1999 Freightliner Classic, rises to the occasion. 40 Reader Rigs: '96 Freightliner cabover a '70s throwback; heavenly '05 Classic XL; winning '84 Mack Magnum. 41 Pro Tips: Slamming a Kenworth and upgrading its springs; extending engine life with three affordable items. February 2013 | Overdrive | 1

• Cover Page
• Cover Story: Easing into ownership - Try our 9 tips to help turn a lease-purchase in your favor.
• Whos keeping score - Carriers are using privately produced driver rankings and a federal screening program to weed out drivers.
• Bright and classy - How to maximize your custom rigs forward lighting with retro-style headlights and high-output bulbs.
• Equipment spotlight: 12-volt appliance - All the comforts of home can be added to your bunk, thanks to these plug-ins.
• Business - Rates dive in December, but flatbed proves sturdier.
• Dollars & Sense - To save fuel costs, learn to drive better.
• Gear Guide - Oil management system, differential service kits, LEDs.
• Fleet News - Erb Transport, PGT executive win TCAs weight loss contest.
• Why are truck-occupant crash deaths rising?
• Pulse: Two flavors of taxpayer relief.
• Dont pay for the privilege to haul.
• Readers: More gun restrictions wont help.
• Overdrive and TCA name Driver of the Year finalists.
• Court case against CSA continues.
• Legal battle over emissions regs loom.
• Landstar moving toward electronic logs.
• Legends & Heroes, a 1999 Freightliner Classic, rises to the occasion.
• Reader Rig: 96 Freightliner cabover a 70s throwback; heavenly 05 Classic XL; winning '84 Mack Magnum
• Pro Tips: Slamming a Kenworth and upgrading its springs; extending engine life with three affordable items.