Schoonover joins TCA team, Hall earns promotion

The Truckload Carriers Association announced two changes in its workforce—the hiring of James J. Schoonover as the vice president of education and operations and the promotion of Marli Hall to senior director of outreach and engagement.

Schoonover will be joining the team on Monday, July 17. In this new leadership role, he will be responsible for overseeing the continued development of TCA's education initiatives and for managing the operations of TCA's Alexandria office.

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Schneider receives 11th Ride of Pride Truck, selects veteran as its captain

Some feel they can never escape their past, but for many drivers at Schneider, their past is a blessing and a large part of what they now do for a living. For one driver in particular, it's extra special.

“My past has been the fire and the inspiration that has prepared me for this honor,” Schneider driver and U.S. Navy Reserves veteran David Price said days before he picked up the 11th Ride of Pride, a truck series designed as a rolling tribute to members of the United States military.

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Tackling the challenges faced by trucking CFOs

There are all sorts of issues bedeviling motor carriers these days – the ongoing driver shortage, downward pressure on freight rates, a perhaps mythical capacity crunch; go ahead and take your pick – and most bring significant financial challenges along with them.

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McLeod’s Trucking CFO Conference

The first-ever McLeod Software CFO conference for trucking and freight brokerage executives drew 70 participants to the windy city of Chicago to discuss everything from merger & acquisition tactics to lease accounting rule changes and tax strategies. A variety of industry experts, including lawyers, bankers, and accountants, were on hand to share their insights on those and other freight-related topics. (Photos: Sean Kilcarr/Fleet Owner)

Innovation and Networking at the Inaugural Heavy Duty Trucking Exchange

Photo: Kareem Girgis

Sometimes, the next big idea that helps your business comes from an idea sparked by another person. That was the theme of the inaugural Heavy Duty Trucking Exchange, which focused on promoting networking between fleets and suppliers, as well as educational opportunities revolving around the theme of innovation.

Held May 8-10 at the Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona, HDTX brought together a small group of trucking executives and hosting suppliers.

One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of HDT's 2017 Truck Fleet Innovators, sponsored by Phillips Industries, followed by a panel discussion with the Innovators that focused on using data effectively and getting the most from your employees.

When asked about leveraging data effectively, Kirk Altrichter, vice president of fleet services, The Kenan Advantage Group, North Canton, Ohio, said that not all data was “actionable,” and stressed that a first step in using incoming information is to concentrate on relevant data.

Building on that theme, Randy Swart, chief operating officer, A. Duie Pyle, West Chester, Pennsylvania, emphasized identifying the issues you're trying to resolve and then building your data-collection efforts around them to eliminate distractions.

All four honorees felt it is crucial to engage with employees at all levels to encourage active participation and buy-in on procedures and efficiency.

Randy Obermeyer, terminal manager for Batesville Logistics, Batesville, Indiana, said his primary goal is to build an “army of problem solvers” in his shops who can tackle any challenge that comes their way.

Ralph Lo Priore, director of fleet assets and processes, Stoneway Concrete and Gary Merlino Construction, Seattle, Washington, talked about how his spec'ing includes features to make drivers' jobs easier. “It's important to control costs,” he said. “But you can't control costs to your own detriment.”

Kicking off HDTX was an address by Jeff Sass, senior vice president, North ...Read the rest of this story

Sentry Partners With CarriersEdge on Driver Training Program

Photo via CarriersEdge

Sentry Insurance has launched an online driver training program for its trucking customers with content produced by CarriersEdge.

The learning platform is designed for training professional truck drivers, taking into consideration the learning styles of users and providing engaging and interactive learning experiences.

"We're excited to make this important safety training program available to our customers,” said Dan Grant, director of safety services for Sentry's transportation business unit. "CarriersEdge produces content that is easy to use for customers, and provides measurable results in safety improvement."

Sentry offers insurance solutions for transportation businesses as well as safety, risk management, and educational services to help its customers address specific concerns. Sentry works with fleet managers and trucking businesses to improve driver safety and lower operating costs, and its partnership with CarriersEdge is aimed at complementing and expanding Sentry's safety services.

“Sentry is well known for the strength of their safety and risk management programs and we're very pleased to help them expand those offerings,” said Jane Jazrawy, CEO of CarriersEdge. “We're looking forward to working with Sentry customers to enhance their driver training programs.”

To learn more about Sentry and CarriersEdge, visit sentrydrivertraining.com.

Related: CarriersEdge Course Instructs Truck Drivers on Accident Reporting

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U.S. Xpress Launches Lease-Purchase Program for Drivers

Photo: U.S. Xpress

U.S. Xpress has introduced a new lease-purchase program designed to make truck ownership more attainable for truck drivers.

Drivers will be offered the opportunity to lease a low-mileage 2015 Freightliner Cascadia without a credit check, down payment, or balloon payments through the company's walkaway lease-purchase program, according to U.S. Xpress.

Weekly payments can be as low as $493 depending on the truck's specific mileage, and lease owner-operators can earn between $1 and $2 per dispatched mile, plus a fuel surcharge. U.S. Xpress says there are no out-of-pocket penalties for early termination of the lease.

“Between the low-risk features of the program, the late model Freightliner Cascadia, the perks that come from U.S. Xpress' buying power, and the highly competitive pay, this very attractive program will be a great way for any professional driver to start his or her own business,” said Eric Fuller, CEO of U.S. Xpress. “This new lease-purchase program is part of our ongoing commitment to support truck drivers by providing them with an exciting opportunity to start their own business as an independent truck driver.”

Other features of the program include:

The 2015 Freightliner Cascadia being offered through the program comes with an automated transmission, dual air ride seats, and a 72-inch double bunk condo sleeper.

Truck drivers who are at least 21 years old, have a Class A commercial driver's license, an acceptable safety performance history, and a minimum of 12 months of verifiable truck driving experience are eligible to participate in the program.

For more information, click here.

Related: Inside U.S. Xpress' Award-Winning Leadership Development Programs

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