Overdrive

48 | Overdrive | April 2017 Fleet News By Dean SmallwooD SCHNEIDER GIVING TANKER OWNER-OPERATORS A CHOICE SCHNEIDER debuted its Tanker Choice Program designed to provide own- er-operators with more flexibility when selecting their loads. Modeled after the Green Bay, Wisconsin- based company's Van Choice Program, Tanker Choice provides owner- operators with tankers access to more shipments, visibility to per-load rev- enue, weekly settlements and a load board designed for their business needs. PAY CELADON GROUP increased owner-operator and com- pany driver pay as part of the Indianapolis-based fleet's "Driver First" initiative. In 15 states, the pay for flatbed and reefer owner-operators was increased to 75 percent of gross revenue and dry van owner- operators to 70 percent. All other owner-operators now receive 67 percent of the gross. Dry van company drivers in North Premium Markets now earn between 38 and 50 cents a mile depending on experience, and in the South Premium Markets, they earn between 36 and 50 cents per mile. Reefer company drivers make 3 cents per mile more in the same regions. RECOGNITION Joe Nesslerodt, an over-the-road driver for D.M. BOWMAN INC., was named Maryland's 2016 Driver of the Year. Nesslerodt has driven for nearly 41 years and has more than 4.7 million accident-free miles. He has served on D.M. Bowman's Road Team and was inducted into the Williamsport, Maryland-based com- pany's Hall of Fame. CHARITY AVERITT EXPRESS raised $500,000 in 2016 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The Cookeville, Tennessee-based less-than-truckload fleet also donat- ed $10,000 to the American Red Cross to help relief efforts in East Tennessee following several wildfires and tornadoes. Both donations came from the com- pany's charitable organization, Averitt Cares for Kids. More than 86 percent of Averitt employees donate $1 every week to the program. ArkansasEquip_OVD0316_PG.indd 1 2/23/16 2:28 PM The Tanker Choice Program provides owner-operators with more flexibility, including access to more shipments.

• Cover
• DON’T PLAY WITH KNIVES: Wendy Parker’s trucker husband, George, says cutting bread while rolling isn’t a sharp move. Page 6.
• COVER STORY: ELD Buyers’ Guide
• 26 Niche hauling: Traveling events
• 31 Overdrive’s Most Beautiful: The Top 10
• 36 Drive Test: ‘Better and smarter’: Volvo SuperTruck achievements in weight, aerodynamics and visibility pave the way for tomorrow’s design.
• 4 A full-court press over ELDs, hours.
• 5 Pulse: A buyers’ market for used trucks.
• 8 Novel honors the community of travelers.
• 10 Saying no to first-come first-served abuse.
• 11 “Arbitrary” training time better than none.
• 12 A weak 2016: Miles up, income down.
• 12 Landstar contractor named year’s top owner-operator.
• 13 Restart study affirms status quo on hours regs.
• 16 Safety fitness rule pulled after industry pushback.
• 18 Jim Palmer trucker named Goodyear Highway Hero.
• 38 Couple’s ’17 W900 Icon designed to honor military.
• 40 Reader Rigs: ’05 VNL 780 has a far-out paint job; ’90 379 a custom heavy hauler; ’16 Lonestar a forklift hauler; resurrected ’95 379.
• 24 BUSINESS Autonomous truck race heats up.
• 42 Gear Guide Engine, alternators, LED lights, more.
• 48 FLEET NEWS Schneider giving tanker O-O’s a choice.
• 60 5 APPS FOR THAT Finding the best fuel stop near you.