Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/805422
Logbook 12 | Overdrive | April 2017 Leased and independent owner-op- erators saw their incomes dip in 2016 compared to the previous year, ac- cording to ATBS, the nation's largest owner-operator business services firm. Leased operators netted on average $59,699, and independent operators earned $60,577. In 2015, indepen- dents earned $63,375, and leased owner-operators averaged $61,167. Owner-operators' miles driven rose slightly in 2016 to an average of 99,318 for independents and 110,740 for leased operators. That means they "worked harder to make almost as much money," said Todd Amen, ATBS president and chief executive officer. Because rates were softer, own- er-operators had to drive more miles to earn what they did in 2016. Op- erators spent less on fuel per mile in 2016, which helped net income, but those savings were offset by cheaper rates, Amen said. Flatbedders fared the best in 2016, averaging $63,959 in net income. However, that figure is well below 2015's $70,464. Reefer haulers fared the worst, averaging $52,274 in 2016, while van haulers earned $60,424. In 2015, reefer haulers took home $52,782, and van haulers netted $60,557. Gross revenue fell to $140,697 for independents and $142,545 for leased owner-operators. Revenue in 2015 was $145,109 for independents and $147,666 for leased owner-operators. – James Jaillet A weak 2016: Miles up, income down TENNESSEE GOV. BILL HASLAM'S proposed 12-cents-per-gallon diesel tax hike cleared committee votes in both chambers of the State Legislature as a 10-cent hike, phased in over a few years and maxing out at 29 cents in 2019-20. AMERICAN DRIVERS traveled more than 3.2 trillion miles on public roads in 2016, the most ever in a year, according to Federal Highway Administration estimates. It was the fifth straight year of increased mileage on public roads. PREPASS EXPANDED its tolling services for PrePass Plus and PrePass Tolls Only customers to Texas tolling facilities operated by the Texas Department of Transportation, North Texas Tollway Authority and Harris County Toll Road Authority. Landstar Systems' Gary Buchs was named 2016 Owner-Operator of the Year by the Truckload Carriers Association and Overdrive last month, winning $25,000. The announcement was made March 28 at TCA's annual meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, where Murray Manuliak of Bison Transport was named 2016 Company Driver of the Year, also winning $25,000. The contests are sponsored by Cummins and Love's Travel Stops. The other owner-operator finalists were Philip Keith, leased to WEL Companies, and Kevin Kocmich, leased to Diamond Transportation System. The other company driver finalists were William Poteet of Saddle Creek Transportation and David Mc- Gowan of WEL Companies. The four runners-up will receive $2,500 each. The awards recognize the winner's safety record, efforts to enhance the industry's image and contributions to the community. To be eligible for the contest, applicants had to have one million consecutive accident-free miles and meet other standards. Buchs, 62, of Colfax, Illinois, has driven 2.3 million accident-free miles in his 27-year driving career. He has been leased to Landstar since 2003. Buchs will be featured in the May Overdrive. – Overdrive Staff Landstar contractor named year's top owner-operator Gary Buchs, who learned to drive a truck on a farm where he grew up, won $25,000 with the award.