Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/723417
28 | Overdrive | September 2016 Logbook The U.S. Department of Transpor- tation on Aug. 26 released a pro- posed rule that would require trucks weighing more than 26,000 pounds to be equipped with speed-limiting devices, but the regulatory body did not propose a top speed. DOT appears to be leaning toward 60 mph, 65 mph and 68 mph as the po- tential limited speed, given the analysis on those speeds released within the rule. DOT also is seeking public comment on the rule for 60 days following its official publication in the Federal Register, which was expected soon after Aug. 26. The limited speed for heavy-duty trucks is one aspect of the propos- al where DOT is seeking feedback during the comment period. Another is whether the mandate should apply only to new trucks or to all trucks. DOT will use submitted comments when developing the final rule. Over- driveOnline.com will publish a link to provide feedback to the agency on the rulemaking when the comment period opens. – James Jaillet Speed proposal hints at 60-68 mph limit East Tennessee-based truck driver Jason Lee Wilson was named the winner of the 2016 Overdrive-Red Eye Radio's Trucker Talent Search at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas. After Wilson and finalists Keith Snyder and Will Perry each performed a song, judges picked the winner. Wilson was awarded $1,000 cash and a free stu- dio recording session from AxleOutPro, which also will produce a profession- ally developed music video with Wilson. He'll also be featured in an upcoming issue of Overdrive. Wilson, 37, has been a truck operator for six years and hauls aggregates locally for MDM Transport. He lives in Maryville, Tennes- see, with his wife, Aleksan- dra. "The kind of music I do is rockabilly and traditional country, and that's often dismissed as a novelty," he said. "Trucking music also has received that novelty reputation. Its heyday was in the '70s and '80s. I would like to bring it back." – James Jaillet Three finalists in running to win T680 Three finalists were named Aug. 26 in the "Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence" program that will give a Kenworth T680 to the winner. Brad Bentley, president of the driv- er placement organization Fastport, announced the finalists at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas: • Russell Hardy of Trimac Trans- portation, who served with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army. • Kevin Scott of TMC Transporta- tion, who served with the U.S. Army. • Troy Davidson of Werner Enter- prises, who served with the U.S. Navy. The winner will be announced in December at the Pentagon. The finalists were chosen from 10 finalists who were presented at the ceremony. The other seven are Robyn Hyde, Edward Cavanagh, Steven Cassaday, Christopher Fox, Jonathan Perez, Eli Tollinchi and Brandon Douglas. The Transition Trucking program is a joint effort of the U.S Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hiring Our Heroes Program, Kenworth and Fastport. Its goal is to create immedi- ate jobs for transitioning military per- sonnel and to help curb the trucking industry's driver shortage. Also announced was the signing of an agreement by carriers and other trucking-related companies endorsing Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. The program assists employ- ers in their support of employees who are members of the National Guard or a military reserve branch. With 95 employers signing it, Bent- ley said it was "the largest statement of support signing in the 40-plus-year history of ESGR." – Max Heine One driver with current or prior military service will win this Kenworth T680 76-inch sleeper powered by a Paccar MX-13 engine. The truck was donated by Kenworth to serve as the "Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence" recognition award. For the final competition, Wilson performed an original song, "Truck Stop Betty," a twangy tune dedicat- ed to mom-and-pop truck stops. Tennessee driver wins Trucker Talent Search