Fleet Insider

DTI Driver Logs 3 Million Miles
Dot Transportation Inc. recently announced that driver Monti Estes has eclipsed the 3-million-mile mark, the fourth driver in the company’s history to do so. Estes soon will celebrate 27 years driving for DTI, based in Mt. Sterling, Ill.


Landstar Announces Roadstar Awards
Landstar System Inc. has recognized 18 business capacity owners (BCOs) as Landstar Roadstars. This lifetime achievement award is the highest level of recognition an owner-operator can receive at Landstar.

Only a select few owner-operators are honored each year. These 18 men were chosen out of 8,000 current Landstar BCOs. The addition of this year’s class raises the total number of Roadstars to 303.

Roadstars are honored for their consistently high levels of safety, productivity and excellent customer service. Each has also been previously recognized as a Landstar Million Mile Safe Driver.

The Roadstar class of 2007: James Basham, Livingston, Texas; Wayne Bennett, Hanson, Ky.; Lynn Cabaniss, Meridianville, Ala.; Earl Cooper, Arnett, W.V.; Gilbert Dancy, Millbrook, Ala.; Raymond Daniels, Cookeville, Tenn.; Will Gilland, Sacred Heart, Minn.; Gerald Henry, Benson, Ariz.; Charles Holtcamp, Clovis, N.M.; Richard Peine, Irrigon, Ore.; Gene Roth, New Effington, S.D.; Ronnie Sellars, Mayfield, Ky.; Al Sidell, Monroe, Mich.; Steve Smith, Orlando, Fla.; Stu Smith, Gaylord, Mich.; Walter Thompson, Evergreen, Va.; Louis Toth, Egg Harbor Township, N.J.; Kenneth Walsh, South Attleboro, Mass.


1938 Ford Wins Trick Truck Award
NAPA auto parts, the Official Auto Parts Store of the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association, awarded Yorba Linda, Calif., resident Randy McDaniel a NAPA Trick Truck award at the 8th Del Mar Rod & Custom Nationals in Del Mar, Calif., for his unique 1938 Ford COE.

McDaniel’s COE took two years to build and has been completely redone, including changing the size and shape of the front grill and adding stacks on both sides of the extended cab. This uniquely “tricked out” vehicle is a double hauler with upper and lower decks, and a completely hydraulic-based bed for unloading and reloading.

Partner Insights
Information to advance your business from industry suppliers

He also equipped this ride with two televisions in the cab, as well as three cameras for security purposes. Candy tangerine paint with a pearl base shows off the sparkles embedded in the paint to truly set off the exterior.

The truck had previously won awards from The Grand National Roadster tour in 2006, followed by being picked as one of the Top Five Pros Picks by the National Street Rod Association in 2007.

McDaniel earned a $100 NAPA gift certificate for tools from the on-site NAPA Tool & Equipment tent. He also received a NAPA hat, T-shirt and grease towel.


Packerland Transport Honors Safe Driver
Packerland Transport recently honored more than 130 of its drivers at Driver Safety Awards events held at four locations across the country.

Among those honored were Oscar Hubbard, Robert Lamothe, David Lemens and Donald Mouford, who each accumulated 1 million safe miles. In addition, Timothy Hall and Jose Ortiz were recognized for accumulating 10 safe years, as well as Timothy Moyer for 30 safe years. Each driver received awards from Packerland and the National Safety Council.

Special recognition was given to Milton Schwahn, who has accumulated 4 million safe miles during his 35 years with Packerland. He will receive a special ring, which he helped design, to commemorate this outstanding achievement. Milt was also named the Packerland Transport Safe Driver of the Year for 2007.


Bay & Bay Gets SmartWay Status
Bay & Bay Transportation, a national transportation and logistics company, was inducted into the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership program in February 2008. Bay & Bay applied for, and earned, the SmartWay partner mark of distinction for the company’s use of emissions-reducing technology within its truck fleet.

Bay & Bay’s SmartWay Shipper Index Factor score of 1.25 in 2007 is the highest level recognized by the EPA. The SIF score is a function of fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions.

Bay & Bay saved an estimated 1,435,039 gallons of diesel fuel in 2007 by using several fuel-saving technologies, including:

  • Implementing various trailer strategies for smarter fuel use (765,355 gallons).
  • Installing aerodynamic elements on combination trucks to streamline airflow (383,547 gallons).
  • Installing 140 auxiliary power units on trucks, so drivers can turn their engines off yet maintain a comfortable cab (131,400 gallons).
  • Using low-friction drivetrain lubricants and tire technology to improve fuel mileage (56,264 gallons).
  • Setting 68 mph cruise control road speeds on company trucks (53,877 gallon savings).

LinkAmerica Buys G.H. Miller & Sons
LinkAmerica Corp. recently announced the acquisition of G.H. Miller & Sons, a truckload carrier based in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. LinkAmerica says that with the acquisition – terms of which were not announced – it now has strategically located eight service centers to provide service in high-volume lanes.


Con-way February Drivers of the Month
Con-way Truckload, a full-truckload carrier and subsidiary of Con-way Inc., has announced its monthly driver award recipients for February 2008:

  • Company Driver of the Month: Paul Hampton, who lives in Cleveland, began driving professionally four years ago and joined Con-way Truckload in 2005.
  • Company Team of the Month: Doug Morgan and Cathy Dufrene began driving together in 1996 and joined the company in 2005. They reside in Charlotte, N.C.
  • Contractor Driver of the Month: Leroy Ames began his professional driving career in 1967. He joined Con-way Truckload in 1997 and since then has driven more than 1 million miles. He lives in Laredo, Texas.
  • Contractor Team of the Month: Fred and Shirley Rehkow began driving professionally for Con-way Truckload in 1985. Together, they have driven nearly 3 million miles. The Rehkows reside in Nevada, Mo.