Tag: new entrants

Assessing the ‘hard market’ for liability insurance

Premium increases in the past year have followed increasingly difficult conditions for insurers, watchers note, for a variety of factors. 10 percent might be a good rough average for independents and small fleets. At once, it’s not hard to find contrary examples on either side of that 10 percent among readers.

January 29, 2019

Insurance That Fits

Readers debate New Entrant test

While a majority were positive about FMCSA’s plan to introduce regs testing into the process for obtaining operating authority, questions as to the scope of test questions remained as the second federal listening session on the subject approached.

March 13, 2014

Click through the poll for a larger version. For information of the next New Entrant testing listening session, to be held at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville March 28, read this linked story.

Driver Bettina Cameron ‘Losing It’, New Entrant test backgrounder

Driver Cameron’s new Facebook page is dedicated to sharing her story — she’s lost 75 pounds while driving over-the-road in just a year — to inspire others. Also: More on the New Entrant testing rulemaking under way.

January 18, 2014

Bettina Cameron, before and after her lifestyle change. I’d last spoke with Cameron as part of reporting of the 9/11 10th anniversary story, which you can read via this link.

What kinds of questions should be on the New Entrant test?

This question, answers to which are central to FMCSA’s needs in preparing its New Entrant test rulemaking, saw some debate at the recent listening session on the subject. Weigh in yourself via this poll.

January 14, 2014

New Entrant test debated in initial regulatory session

Call 530-408-6423, 530-40-VOICE, to contribute thoughts on the New Entrant test rulemaking under way to an upcoming Overdrive podcast. Two more federal sessions, in March at MATS and April at CVSA, are planned.

January 14, 2014

Overdrive‘s January cover story charted the particulars of gaining operating authority. The New Entrant test FMCSA is crafting would put yet another step in that process. Find Part 1 of the story via this link.

Rate undercutting getting worse?

Independents are feeling the pinch in certain quarters — some contend rate undercutting by other carriers without the business sense to make a healthy profit are a sizable part of the problem.

September 26, 2013

Recognize this 1978 Mack R-767ST? It’s a replica owner-operator Robert Steele put together of the Rubber Duck 1978 RS700L used in Sam Peckinpah’s class “Convoy” film. The truck, powered by an old 500 Cummins, Steele says, shows but one difference from the 1978 RS700L used in the film — the top of the hood is not quite as tall. Steele had to modify the RS700L grille to fit the 767. Steele uses the rig only sparingly, but says it’d look great at the head of a convoy. Read his letter appealing for greater industry unity in our Voices section here.

Pay trends, part 1: Near-term forecast mixed

While industry analysts say rising owner-operator compensation for both leased drivers and independents is on a slow rise, anecdotal reports and some polls suggest otherwise.

October 15, 2012

2012 Pay chart, owner-operator income

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