Bribery scheme costs fleet owner more than $8 million

Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024:

Fleet owner sentenced for bribery

A trucking company owner in Utah involved in a bribery scheme pleaded guilty and was sentenced Oct. 1.

Alexsander Vasiliyevich Barsukov, along with others, owned Salt Lake Trucking Group (SLTG), which is comprised of several trucking companies that contract to carry packages for FedEx Ground (FXG).

An investigation found that SLTG paid bribes to FedEx Ground employees who manipulated FXG’s process governing the awarding of new runs. An employee also helped the co-conspirators grow their business larger than FXG allowed by submitting false information to FXG. During the approximate 10-year conspiracy, SLTG received about $108 million in FXG revenue.

After pleading guilty, Barsukov was sentenced to three years of probation, including six months of home detention; was ordered to pay $1,378,702 in restitution; ordered to forfeit $6,754,845; and pay a $100 special assessment.

In February, two other owners in the SLTG were convicted in the scheme. The case dates back to 2019 when a FedEx Ground manager and nine STLG trucking company owners were charged in a “pay-to-play” scheme. 

The Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation with the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.

[Related: FedEx Ground manager, nine Utah-based trucking company owners charged in ‘pay-to-play’ bribery scheme]

Schneider enhances owner-operator load board

Schneider National expanded how it conducts business with owner-operators with its Schneider FreightPower load board platform.

The newly expanded and updated platform offers owner-operators significantly more access to Schneider’s diverse range of freight options, the company said. It also includes easy-to-use functionality and search features designed to provide flexibility and help supercharge the owner-operator's business operations.

 Schneider said FreightPower offers owner-operators: 

  • Increased access to freight: Owner-operators now have access to more of Schneider’s expansive freight offerings, including traditional owner-operator loads and other freight managed by Schneider.
  • Enhanced features: Accessible on any device -- mobile, desktop or tablet -- the platform offers better functionality and provides detailed load information, favorite searches and reload options for better planning and fewer deadheads.
  • High drop-and-hook rate: More than 95% of the freight opportunities available to owner-operators on the platform are drop-and-hook loads, which can help increase efficiency and productivity.
  • Trip planning: Loads posted will now show road miles for more accurate trip-planning.

“Collaborating with owner-operators is an important component in the success of our business and the reliable service we can provide customers, which is why the network has grown tremendously in the last 25 years,” said Schneider Senior Vice President and General Manager of Truckload and Mexico John Bozec. "We want to invest in tools that support owner-operators in running and growing their businesses. With Schneider FreightPower, they gain access to better load management, increasing their productivity and revenue potential.”

[Related: Growing pains for in-app truckload freight pricing]

'Driver' film: Two screenings in Chicago Oct. 25 and 27

The "Driver" documentary film has two screenings upcoming in Chicago Friday, Oct. 25 (8:15 p.m. local time), and Sunday, Oct. 17 (5:30 p.m.), both part of a film series at the Gene Siskel Center called "Workers of the World, Unite!" Both nights will feature post-film conversations with the director, Nesa Azimi, and others, including truck driver Michelle Kitchin after the Friday screening. 

The film's producers have secured a discount code for $5 off the $13 ticket price: FILMFRIEND (tickets available via that link). 

"Driver" features part of the story of Real Women in Trucking founder Desiree Wood, as well as a cast of other truckers, some of whom may be familiar to readers, including Jess Graham and Idella Hansen. Run time is 90 minutes for what is the first feature documentary directed by Azimi, whose career has included long-from broadcast production and other work for PBS's Frontline program, Fault Lines on Al Jazeera, National Geographic, and the Ciné Institute of Haiti, among others.  

[Related: Teamsters rule out Trump v. Harris endorsement | New 'Driver' film premiering]  

New Pilot opens in Laredo

Pilot recently announced the opening of a new travel center in Laredo, Texas.

The new location, at 14070 Mines Road, is now open, offering parking, fuel and more.

The Laredo stop features 53 truck parking spaces; 10 diesel lanes; brand-new showers, restrooms and laundry facilities; and more.