Overdrive

February 2018 | Overdrive | 25 www.texastrucktuning.com • 817.526.5770 ECM tuning for all engines and makes. Professional tuning options for EGR, DPF and DEF (Urea) deletes for o highway use and exempt vehicles. Nation wide network and fi rst class customer service. If you want to become a dealer, call us today. Mack and Volvo tuning available. * for o Highway, exempt and closed circuit applications only. Not allowed for use on public roads or emission controlled states. Not legal for sale in the state of California. Call us for pricing and appointments Legendary Consulting_OVD1217_PG.indd 1 10/17/17 3:47 PM The first week of 2018 "broke all the records we set when we ended the old year," said DAT's Matt Sullivan, referring to spot market activity. "Load-to-truck ratios and national average rates spiked big time." Much of the tightness, Sullivan says, can be attributed to weather, on top of capacity constraints in the wake of the electronic logging device mandate. That load-to-truck imbalance spurred more rate increases in December, according to monthly data from Truckstop.com. Dry van rates saw the biggest leap, climb- ing 9 cents a mile from November to $2.40. That's a 43-cent increase from December 2016 and vans' highest per-mile monthly average since August 2014. Reefer rates climbed 8 cents from November to $2.51 a mile — a 49-cent increase from December 2016. It's also the highest monthly reefer average since December 2014. Flatbed rates rose 2 cents in the month, to $2.41 a mile. That's a 39-cent increase from December 2016. Flatbed crested multiyear highs in September and October, but those two months aside, December's average was flatbed's highest mark since September 2014. 2018 picks up 2017's hot rates trend $2.55 $2.50 $2.45 $2.40 $2.35 $2.30 $2.25 $2.20 $2.15 $2.10 $2.05 $2.00 $1.95 $1.90 $1.85 $1.80 July - 2015 Aug. - 2016 Dec. - 2017 Flatbed Reefer Dry Van Source: Truckstop.com

• Cover
• ELD shutdowns: Protests and practicality.
• Pulse: Tax reform yields owner-operator tax cut.
• Wendy Parker wants some things to go away in 2018.
• TRUCKING LEADER’S LEGACY | Readers pay tribute to Jim Johnston, left, OOIDA’s president, CEO and founding member, who died last month at 78.
• “Wes Memphis” gets past paper logs’ phantom limb.
• Two drivers persist in PSP report challenge.
• Swift IT worker pleads guilty to theft.
• “Highway Justice” pair tackles human trafficking.
• Fleet to pay driver $54,000 to settle lawsuit.
• Business: Expanded bonus depreciation Under the tax overhaul enacted in late December, owner-operators will be able to claim bonus depreciation on purchases of used trucks and trailers. Prior tax law allowed bonus depreciation only for new equipment purc
• ELD mandate meets reality Questions swirl as e-logging magnifies problems with strict hours enforcement. Uniform answers are harder to come by.
• Cover story: Into the limelight Though there are tens of thousands of Sikhs in trucking, traditional American truckers have little information and a lot of misconceptions about them. But their strong ELD activism has helped build bridges with their n
• $25,000 awaits top owner-operator Philip Keith, Kevin Kocmich and Bryan Smith are finalists for the 2017 Owner-Operator of the Year award, produced by the Truckload Carriers Association and Overdrive.
• Equipment Spotlight: Coolants Learn about formulations and specifications for a wide variety of cooling system products from 13 manufacturers.
• Cabover still a work in progress.
• Trucker’s antique W9 restoration project.
• “Mistress” demands owner’s downtime.
• Reader Rigs: Two ’96 Western Stars, “Ol’ Blackie” and Down Under hauler.
• Gear Guide Cable wrap, floor mat, air disc brakes, more.
• FLEET NEWS Maverick raises pay for flatbed, glass haulers.
• BETTER HEALTH Trucking lifestyle can lead to headaches.
• Poll respondents split on 2018 outlook.
• Pot remains off limits to truck drivers.