Overdrive

Fleet News 78 | Overdrive | November 2017 AVERITT EXPRESS was awarded a Flag of Freedom as part of the Missouri Division of Workforce Development's Show-Me Heroes program, which works with state businesses to hire more military veterans. More than 20 percent of the Cookeville, Tennessee- based company's current employees have served in the military. Averitt also donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund to help provide By Dean SmallwooD AVERITT HONORED FOR MILITARY EFFORTS, AIDS HARVEY VICTIMS food and shelter for Hurricane Harvey victims. The money was donated by the less-than- truckload fleet's associates through its Averitt Cares for Kids program. PAY BOYD BROS. TRANSPORTATION announced a $14,000 sign-on bonus for flatbed haulers who join the Clayton, Alabama- based fleet as company drivers by Dec. 31. The bonus com- bines a $10,000 payout and a $4,000 stock grant. Drivers will be paid a portion on the check that includes their first dispatch; the rest will be paid quarterly in six payments. Owner-operators and lease-purchase drivers are eligible for the $10,000 payout without the stock grant. EPES TRANSPORT SYSTEM announced new compensation plans for both company driv- ers and independent contrac- tors. For company drivers, the Greensboro, North Carolina- based company raised its per- mile pay an additional 2 cents, while all independent contrac- tors now receive percentage- based pay. A&R LOGISTICS increased pay for company drivers, who now can earn up to an additional 10 percent per loaded mile. The Louisville, Kentucky-based dry bulk carrier also adjusted its driver vacation policy to pro- vide for more home time. Averitt Express has pledged to hire an additional 1,200 veterans by 2020.

• ELD protests make point in D.C., elsewhere.
• Pulse: Fatigue monitoring tech and hours of service.
• STILL WINNING Joe Regalado’s “Blue” custom 2000 Peterbilt 379 and 2018 Armor Lite end dump continued their winning ways at this year’s Overdrive Pride & Polish. Page 6.
• Wendy Parker breaks down broad ELD statements.
• The value of mechanical expertise before ownership.
• Trump: Lower taxes will help truckers, fleets.
• Obamacare enrollment ends Dec. 15.
• Phone-based ELD users can change status away from truck.
• OOIDA coalition seeks ELD mandate delay.
• Business Shippers fear percentage rate increases above 10 percent as trucking capacity continues to tighten. Spot market rates have soared in recent months, and the contract market could be next.
• Beyond hours Technologies old and new can monitor driver fatigue. While FMCSA is years away from an hours of service revision that could incorporate them, fleet adoption is beginning to change the industry’s approach to fatigue.
• COVER STORY: Family first Richard Woods, winner of the 2017 Overdrive-Red Eye Radio’s Trucker Talent Search, stays true to his roots and says there’s nothing more important to him than God and family.
• NACV highlights News from the first North American Commercial Vehicle Show, held in September in Atlanta.
• Viper-red Kenworth built for heavy-haul and winning.
• Ricky Proffitt all but clinches Bandit Big Rig Series title.
• Reader Rigs: ’17 579 living in luxury; ’15 T660 makes beer runs; 2000 379 is sparkling blue.
• Gear Guide Electric APU, safety monitor, more.
• FLEET NEWS Averitt honored for military efforts.
• 5 APPS FOR THAT Music streaming.
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• ELD Buyers’ Guide Since we published the previous version of the ELD Buyers’ Guide in the April Overdrive, electronic logging device options have continued to proliferate. Find prices and specs on 64 ELDs.
• Tweetstorm proclaims “Hey Trump, it’s ELD or me!”
• EPA plans to nix standards that threaten gliders.