Daily dispatch, Feb. 4: TCA names 20 ‘Best Fleets to Drive For’; New York eyes steeper fines for oversized trucks

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Updated Feb 5, 2020

Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020: 

TCA names 20 ‘Best Fleets to Drive For’

The Truckload Carriers Association, in partnership with CarriersEdge, has announced the 2020 Best Fleets to Drive For.

The Best Fleets contest is based on driver surveys and interviews conducted by CarriersEdge and seeks to recognize for-hire trucking companies that provide the best workplace experience for drivers. To be considered for the program, fleets must operate at least 10 trucks and be nominated by one of their company drivers or owner-operators. The carriers were then evaluated on various categories, including compensation, benefits, performance management, professional development, advancement opportunities and more.

Two overall winners — in small and large fleet categories — will be named during TCA’s annual convention March 1-3 in Orlando, Florida. The 2019 winners were Nussbaum and Prime Inc.

The 20 Best Fleets to Drive For for 2020 are:

  • American Central Transport — Kansas City, Missouri (No. 247 on the CCJ Top 250)
  • America’s Service Line — Green Bay, Wisconsin
  • Bison Transport — Winnipeg, Manitoba (No. 56)
  • Boyle Transportation — Billerica, Massachusetts
  • Central Oregon Truck Company — Redmond, Oregon
  • Challenger — Cambridge, Ontario (No. 79)
  • Fortigo Freight Services — Etobicoke, Ontario
  • Fremont Contract Carriers — Fremont, Nebraska (No. 220)
  • FTC Transportation — Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  • Garner Trucking — Findlay, Ohio
  • Grand Island Express — Grand Island, Nebraska
  • Halvor Lines — Superior, Wisconsin (No. 186)
  • Load One Transportation & Logistics — Taylor, Michigan (No. 215)
  • Motor Carrier Service — Northwood, Ohio
  • Nussbaum Transportation Services — Hudson, Illinois (No. 216)
  • Prime Inc. — Springfield, Missouri (No. 13)
  • Thomas E. Keller Trucking — Defiance, Ohio
  • TLD Logistics Services — Knoxville, Tennessee (No. 210)
  • Transpro Freight Systems Limited — Milton, Ontario
  • Wellington Motor Freight — Aberfoyle, Ontario

In addition to the Top 20, TCA and CarriersEdge identified five Fleets to Watch (honorable mentions). The Top 5 Fleets to Watch are:

  • Averitt Express — Cookeville, Tennessee (No. 27)
  • Brenny Specialized — Saint Joseph, Minnesota
  • Leonard’s Express — Farmington, New York (No. 214)
  • Melton Truck Lines — Tulsa, Oklahoma (No. 85)
  • Wilson Logistics — Springfield, Missouri (No. 109)

New York considers increasing fines for oversize/overweight violations
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo introduced as part of his 2021 budget proposal a measure that increases the penalties on truckers entering restricted parkways near New York City. The proposed fines/penalties by weight class include:

  • Less than 10,000 pounds 
    • First violation – $250 and/or 15 days in jail
    • Second violation within 18 months – $500 and/or 45 days in jail
    • Third violation within 18 months – $750 and/or 90 days in jail
  • Between 10,000 and 26,000 pounds 
    • First violation – $1000 and/or 15 days in jail
    • Second violation within 18 months – $1500 and/or 45 days in jail
    • Third violation within 18 months – $2500 and/or 90 days
  • Over 26,000 pounds 
    • First violation – $5000 and/or 15 days in jail
    • Second violation within 18 months – $7500 and/or 45 days in jail
    • Third violation within 18 months – $10,000 and/or 90 days in jail
  • New fines/penalties for overheight vehicles:
    • First offense – $5000 and/or 30 days in jail
    • Second offense – $7500 and/or 60 days in jail

Additionally, violations by vehicles exceeding 26,000 pounds could include a one-year registration suspension.

Trucking Association of New York President Kenda Hems said she hopes that between now and April 1 when a final state budget is due, the organization can work the governor and legislators to create what she called “a more reasonable fine structure.”

Hems said TANY has long been part of the state’s bridge strike task force trying to inform truckers about restrictions on New York’s parkways. She said the state has added improved signage to keep trucks off the old narrow parkways that are crossed by low bridges.

Hems also said much of the problem of trucks on the restricted and aged parkways can be traced to two issues — out-of-state drivers unfamiliar with the parkways and their truck restrictions, and drivers using GPS units or apps that don’t show trucking-related information and not paying attention to parkway signs. –David Hollis, Truckers News