Fleet insider

Driver reaches 4 million miles
Boyd Bros. driver Nathaniel Blue, who has been driving with the Clayton, Ala.-based company for 30 years, recently achieved 4 million consecutive safe miles with no accidents, negative incidents or tickets.

In honor of Blue’s achievement, Boyd Bros. will be holding a formal celebration. Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, numerous individuals among the transportation industry, Department of Transportation officials, customers, vendors and other guests will be invited to join Boyd Bros. and Blue’s family to recognize his achievement. Festivities are planned for Feb. 2 at the company’s facility in Birmingham, Ala.

Blue’s goal is to reach 5 million safe miles before retiring to spend more time with his wife of 29 years, Amanda. They have five children and three grandchildren.


Contractor Receives International Tractor
Henry Shriver, winner of the 19th Annual Independent Contractor of the Year award, received his grand prize of an International 9900ix tractor in December at an award ceremony in Eagle Grove, Iowa.

Shriver is contracted to Smithway Motor Xpress Inc. of Fort Dodge, Iowa. The Independent Contractor of the Year award is sponsored by the Truckload Carriers Association, International Truck and Engine Corp. and Overdrive magazine.

The 72-inch high-rise sleeper truck’s specs include a 530-horsepower Cummins ISX engine with an Eaton 18-speed transmission, 10 Goodyear G300 series radial truck tires and a pair of National premium cloth seats. It also features a power inverter with shore power, refrigerator and full gauge package.


Pay Raise
Maverick Specialized has announced a pay raise for current and potential drivers.

Effective last month, Maverick Specialized offers starting pay of 40 to 41 cents per mile for company drivers with experience and starting pay of 37 cents to 40 cents per mile in both its student and trainee programs.

This constitutes a 1- to 2-cent per-mile increase across the board for Maverick Specialized, a division of Maverick Transportation LLC. Along with the pay increase, Maverick Specialized will offer a pay package including fuel bonus opportunities, detention pay, referral bonus and complete medical benefits.


Bull Dog Award Winner
CTL Transportation has chosen Homer Roach, a professional tractor technician based at the company’s Mulberry General Office, as the winner of the December 2006 Bull Dog Award.

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Roach, who has been with CTL since May 1983, earned the Bull Dog Award because of his reliability and expert knowledge and his help in training new coworkers.

The Bull Dog Award, which is presented to acknowledge an employee’s character, integrity, performance or improvement in performance, is the most prestigious honor recognized at CTL.


Trucker Buddy of the Month
The ACS MultiMedia Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month is Chris Jones of Ottawa, Kan.

Jones, who has been driving for Wal-Mart for the past 11 years, joined the Trucker Buddy program in 2002. For the past two years, he has worked with Janet Blackwell’s second-grade class in Simsboro, La.

In addition to sending regular correspondence and pictures as part of the Trucker Buddy program, Jones has visited Blackwell’s class each year and has provided classroom supplies.

As a member of the Highway Watch program and OOIDA and a 2006 Captain of the Kansas Motor Carriers Association Road Team, Jones has had the opportunity to speak to numerous people about the trucking industry and the driving profession.

In 18 years on the road, he has never had an accident. And in 2006, he won first place in the five-axle tank truck class at KMCA’s State Driving Championships.

Drivers and teachers can find out more about the Trucker Buddy program by visiting this site or by calling 1-800-MY BUDDY.