Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/59415
logbook Paramount rated top carrier for owner-operators Paramount Freight Systems of Ft. Myers, Fla., was named, for the second year in a row, Best Fleet for Owner-Operators in a contest managed by the Truckload Carriers Association and CarriersEdge. Motor Carrier Service Inc. of Northwood, Ohio, was selected as the Best Fleet for Company Drivers. All-owner-operator Paramount maintains a committee of drivers who provide input on policies and procedures. It also uses a "buddy program" to pair experienced contractors with those just starting out. Both programs are somewhat unusual for an owner-operator fleet. — Staff reports motion technology. The station uses a reader that records license plate infor- mation that can be run against state and federal databases to check truck compliance with federal safety regula- tions. Cameras also snap an image of each truck passing through the weigh-in- motion facility. SOUTH DAKOTA. The state is implement- ing fees to finance an electronic system to run the state's IFTA program. The state will charge a $10 license fee and a $10 renewal fee for carriers licensing under the International Fuel Tax Agreement. The fees will begin July 1. Administrative money covers the current program. Decals will cost $1.50, up from 50 cents, and $1 will be charged to mail the decals. VIRGINIA. The commonwealth recently installed automated license plate readers that check trucks crossing the scales at Carson, Stephens City and Dumfries weigh stations for compliance with federal and state regulations, including outstanding taxes or penalties. If a truck is flagged by the system, the driver is asked to pull into the weigh station to correct any compliance issues. WASHINGTON. Gov. Chris Gregoire is expected to sign a bill that would enable law enforcement to confiscate truck and tractor license plates of carriers that operate with a revoked, suspended or canceled registration. Law enforcement would recycle or destroy plates on all vehicles in the identified fleet. WEST VIRGINIA. A bill would extend temperature exemptions for idling trucks. Trucks are limited to no more than 15 minutes of idling per hour unless tem- peratures are lower than 40 degrees or higher than 75 degrees. The bill would extend the sunset provision for the exemption to May 1, 2017, from the current May 1. Operators idling their trucks are exempt from the regulation while sleep- ing or resting. APRIL 2012 OVERDRIVE 69 TRUCKING OPPORTUNITIES Circle 192 on Reader Service Card or visit overdrive.hotims.com HIGHW A Y HAPPENING S