Fleet insider

XL Insurance Awards Top Driver
XL Insurance recently honored Edwin Hibbard of Linden Bulk Transportation Co. Inc. as its Driver of the Year.

Hibbard has driven more than 3 million miles with one non-preventable accident to his record, and has worked with the Linden family of motor carriers for more than 20 years of his 30-year commercial driving career.

At a luncheon in Hibbard’s honor, XL Insurance awarded him with a commemorative pin, a U.S. savings bond and a certificate citing his career accomplishments.


Sitton Announces ‘Pick Your Pay’
Sitton Motor Lines recently announced its new “Pick Your Pay” plan for owner-operators.

The Plan A option: Pay Per Mile + Benefits features a base rate of 79.5 cents per mile plus a weekly adjusted fuel surcharge. This option includes a variety of free benefits, such as license and permits, liability and cargo insurance, worker’s compensation insurance, payroll tax withholding, paid vacation, paid tolls, paid holidays, Prepass, TripPak, a 401(k) plan, layover pay, stop pay, drop pay, life insurance and more.

Health, dental and vision insurance are available to owner-operators at group rates. The total package is valued at $1.07 per mile plus a weekly adjusted fuel surcharge when all of the benefits are factored in.

Plan B option: Pay Per Mile features a higher base rate per mile but does not have some of the perks of Pay Per Mile + Benefits. However, many benefits are included at no charge to Sitton owner-operators, such as license and permits, tolls, Prepass, TripPak, layover pay, stop pay, detention pay, fuel taxes, liability and cargo insurance, orientation expenses, orientation pay, physical and drug screening.

Sitton says many owner-operators who have their own authority prefer this pay package because it simplifies the transition, everything is processed into one check, and they are already accustomed to the expenses.


CalArk Driver Wins Truck
CalArk International driver Jewel Porter of Copperas Cove, Texas, won the company’s bi-yearly referral contest. Porter surpassed all other drivers in recruiting and for her efforts was awarded her own truck.

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CalArk and sister company Central Hauling Co., both truckload carriers, come together to offer this referral contest to drivers twice a year; the driver with the highest number of hired referrals at the end of each six-month period is presented with a truck.

This is the 12th truck the sister companies have awarded to drivers. Porter, who is the first female to win the contest, has been at CalArk for more than a year now, and her husband also drives for the company.


Decker Drivers
Decker Truck Line has named its September Drivers of the Month: Dean Zeisneiss was selected from the flatbed division, and Jerry Sonsalla received the award for the reefer/van division.

Zeisneiss joined the flatbed division in April 2007 and has trained several drivers since then.

Sonsalla has been with Decker for 16 years and has received previous driver-of-the-month nominations. In 2005, Sonsalla was recognized as a 3 million mile safe driver. For the last eight years, Sonsalla has participated in the Trucker Buddy program, through which he keeps a fourth-grade class in Webster City, Iowa, updated on his travels around the country.


Transport America Recognizes Drivers
Minnesota-based truckload carrier Transport America recently announced its July and August Drivers of the Month for 2007. Each driver is recognized for his or her outstanding service to Transport America and the company’s customers.

Company drivers selected for the month of July were Troy Kasprowicz, who has been with Transport America for eight years, received this honor previously and was also chosen as the 2006 Driver of the Year; Michael Brown, with the company for 10 years; and Marcie Hamlett, with the company for 17 years.

Contractors honored for the month of July were Justice Bilson, who has been with Transport America for nine years; Nancy Woodward, with the company for five years; and Paul Kelley, with the company for 18 months.

Company drivers selected for the month of August were Daren Conaway, who has been with Transport America for two years and was previously chosen as driver of the month for May 2006; Michael Nye, with the company 18 months; and Warren Hodges, with the company 10 months.

Contractors honored for the month of August were Leonard Sanger, who has been with Transport America for 10 years; Donald Freude, with the company four years; and Paul Kelley, with the company for 18 months.


Third-Quarter Driver Honorees
Maverick Transportation announced its third-quarter recipients of Driver of the Month honors for 2007. These include July Driver of the Month Andy Robinson of Nortonville, Ky., August Driver of the Month Jeremy Dollahan of Robinson, Ill., and September Driver of the Month Tony Whatley of Joplin, Mo.

Each driver has received numerous safety awards and company honors from the Arkansas-based flatbed carrier.


Con-way Wins CTA Safety Awards
Con-way Freight recently won several California Trucking Association Fleet Safety Awards. The company took the top honor – the Fleet Safety Award/Board of Directors Grand Trophy – in addition to first place in LTL/General Commodities-Line Haul, second place in LTL/General Commodities-Local/Short Haul and a Certificate of Recognition from the California State Assembly.


CFI Drivers of the Month
CFI, a truckload carrier based in Joplin, Mo., recently announced its monthly driver award recipients for August 2007:

  • Company Driver of the Month: Andy Sipple started driving for CFI in 1991 and has driven more than 1.9 million miles. He lives in Carrollton, Texas.
  • Company Team of the Month: Ronnie and Brenda Maxwell both began driving for CFI in 2006. They live in Neosho, Mo.
  • Contractor Driver of the Month: Santos Rangel began his career with CFI in 2001. He resides in Mesquite, Texas.
  • Contractor Team of the Month: Gordon Brandon and Idona Bailey began their careers at CFI in 1990 and 1995, respectively. They reside in Monticello, N.M.
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