Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Sept. 10, 2021:
Top 250 carrier rebrands as Quantix
A&R Logistics (CCJ Top 250, No. 78) announced Wednesday, Sept. 8 it has rebranded to Quantix.
The name unites the A&R Logistics family of companies into a single brand, the company says. The combination leads to the retirement of all existing names including A&R Logistics, Blue Water Plastic Transport, Plantgistix, First Choice Logistics, L.T. Harnett Trucking, Inc., Luckey Trucking and RJ's Transportation.
Since being acquired by private equity firm Wind Point Partners in May 2019, Quantix has more than doubled in size and now stands as one of the largest specialized supply chain platforms in North America with annual revenue over half a billion dollars.
"The rebrand to Quantix will continue to pay homage to A&R's 50-year history during which we became a leader in this industry," said Quantix President and CEO, Chris Ball. "It's that very legacy that propels us forward as we look to continue growing our capabilities and our footprint in service to our customers. We're combining some of the industry's most specialized and in-demand service offerings into one unified business, and it will make our company stronger and more scalable while simplifying operations for our customers."
TCA seeks ‘Best Fleets’ nominations
The Truckload Carriers Association are seeking nominations for its annual “Best Fleets to Drive For” contest. Through Oct. 31, company drivers and independent contractors can nominate their companies that provide exceptional workplace environments.
By nominating a fleet, a truck driver is recognizing the things about the company’s culture that they like, such as compensation, safety practices, benefits, equipment, training and more. If the company accepts the nomination and agrees to participate, the survey then digs deeper into its policies and practices, bringing to light the areas that are innovative and/or successful.
To be eligible, a fleet must operate 10 or more trucks in the U.S. or Canada. TCA membership is not required.
The top 20 finishers will be identified as Best Fleets to Drive For and will be announced in January 2022. From this pool, companies will then be divided into both “small” and “large” categories, and two overall winners will be selected.
Man sentenced for issuing fraudulent military documents for CDL waivers
Philip Mungin, of Maryland, was sentenced last month after pleading guilty in April to forgery of military discharge certificates and identity theft in order to help people obtain CDLs through the Department of Transportation’s Military Skills Test Waiver Program.
Mungin, under the false identity of a military transition specialist, manufactured and sold fraudulent military discharge certificates (DD-214s), which falsely claimed the bearer was trained and qualified to operate commercial vehicles, according to DOT’s Office of Inspector General.
According to DOT OIG, the fraudulent DD-214s allowed at least 30 individuals to obtain a CDL through the waiver program, which waives the CDL testing and education requirements for individuals with equivalent military training.
Truck driver convicted, sentenced for obtaining false disability benefits
A Pennsylvania-based truck driver was sentenced on Aug. 23 to five years of probation and five months of home confinement and was ordered to pay $80,361 in restitution and a $700 special assessment.
In April, Peter Albanese pleaded guilty to wire fraud, Social Security fraud and false statement charges.
According to the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, from 2017 through October 2020, Albanese collected over $80,000 in disability benefits while concealing work and income as a commercial truck driver. He also reportedly presented a false Medical Examiner’s Certificate during a roadside inspection to conceal that he didn’t undergo a medical exam or hold the federally required certification.