Uncle Sam wants a closer look at your 1099

Your status as an independent contractor will face greater scrunity in the coming years if the federal government has its way.

Several states are already strengthening their classification laws for workers. Now the Obama Adminstration would like give the movement more firepower. In his proposed 2011 budget is a $25 million “Misclassification Initiative.” It would allow the Department of Labor to hire more personnel to investigate classification cases, as well as seed grants for states to address the issue.

Already in Congress are committee bills (both the House and Senate) that would kill Section 530 of the Revenue Act of 1978 or the “safe harbor” provision of the tax law and offer stricter regulations for employers when hiring independent contractors.

Most recent was Sen. John Kerry’s (D-Mass) introduction of the Taxpayer Responsibility Accountability and Consistency Act of 2009  or S.2882 in December. This past summer Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.)  introduced H.R. 3408.

As a senator Obama introduced a similar bill, which died when the congressional slate was wiped clean. We could see elements of his bill and similar bills from the past, along with the current propopals, for a comprehensive overhaul of the independent contractor classification regulations.

For additional background information on the independent contractor debate, see our April 2009 cover story. And watch for more updates in Truckers News magazine and at www.truckersnews.com

Join us for sleep apnea webinar

Don’t get caught asleep at the wheel when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration moves forward with new health regulations, which will  include screening and/or testing for sleep apnea.

To bring you up to speed on sleep apnea, Truckers News will host a free one-hour webinar on Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. (CST) featuring Dr. Mark Berger.  The president and chief medical officer of Precision Pulmonary Diagnostics, will discuss how the disorder affects your health and how it could impact your CDL.

Berger has worked as consultant to large trucking fleets in developing sleep apnea programs. He has overseen the screening of nearly 15,000 commercial drivers and the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea in nearly 2,000 CDL holders.

Schneider National is sponsoring the webinar.

To register and see future webinars brought to you by the editors of Truckers News and Overdrive, click here.

CSA 2010: The new sheriff in town

This month’s cover story “Maximum Exposure” in Truckers News deals with CSA 2010 — the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s new safety compliance program set to roll out this summer.

While it’s a total new way of doing business, CSA 2010 looks to work in favor of good drivers. I made this argument in my monthly “Editor’s Journal” column in the same issue.

While I expect to get letters from drivers who disagree with me, (and yes I know many feel they always get the short end of the stick when it comes to employer and/or more government regulations), I believe CSA 2010 will put more pressure on fleets to hire better drivers, train them better and offer more incentives to retain them. Bad actors will be forced out, but isn’t that what so many of you have been wanting?

It’s going to be a long and confusing process at times, but in the long run, it will give newer respect and credibility to professional drivers who have been asking for a better system. Agree or disagree, CSA 2010 is new sheriff in town. Stay tuned in the coming months for regular reports on the program and learn how to use it to your benefit.

Blind Spot: Keeping one eye on the road just doesn’t cut it

A little reminder that trucking in the United States, despite the daily stresses brought on by dispatchers, traffic, shippers and law enforcement, is just not that bad when compared to some parts of the word.

Take this story, for example. According to the published report, a truck driver in China had his one of his eyes frozen shut after driving approximately 500 miles with his head sticking out the driver’s window. Why? Because he had replaced his shattered windshield with cardboard.

“I didn’t want to fall behind in my delivery schedule and I couldn’t afford a repair,” Sing Li, 24, reportedly told a court following his arrest in eastern China.

It’s hard to imagine that an American driver would have attempted such an unsafe delivery. Even if a U.S. trucker did, it’s highly unlikely he or she would have made it more than a few miles without being pulled over.

Trucking in other parts of the world is often far different than here. This month, Truckers News’ cover story “Trucking Around the World” looks at transportation in various areas of the globe.

It may leave you feeling a little more thankful for your daily grind.

‘Trusted’ label puts target on backs of some NAFTA carriers

Apparently being a trusted carrier and a secure carrier may not always be the same thing. At least not when it comes to crossing the U.S.-Mexican border.

A recent Associated Press story revealed that drug dealers are targeting Mexican trucking companies that use a Free and Secure Trade Lane, or FAST Lane, crossing into the United States. 

Some drivers for companies that are a part of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, or C-TPAT, have allegedly felt pressured by drug gangs to help smuggle contraband. Drug dealers offer plata-or-plomo, which is Spanish for silver or lead. In other words, accept a bribe or take a bullet.

Part of the problem is while participants in the program are kept secret by the authorities, carriers often advertise their participation in the program in the interest of generating more business.

Trade between the United States and Mexico is vital to both countries’ economies. So is security. Both countries must do everything necessary to address this issue immediately.

TN health hero featured in Runner’s World

 Truckers News 2008 Health Hero of the Year Jeff Clark is receiving international recognition with a profile on him in the December issue of Runner’s World magazine.

Clark, an avid runner and marathoner, was first featured in our March 2008 issue as part of the Fit for the Road series. He was named the 2008 Health Hero of the Year for his dedication to helping other truckers get fit as well as his personal achievements.

The Runner’s World article quotes Truckers News contributing editor Carolyn Magner (Mason) and references Truckers News’ continuing program to help drivers live healthier lifestyles.

According to Runner’s World editors, Clark is the first trucker ever be profiled in the magazine.

In 2008, American Business Media named  the 2007 Fit for the Road series as a Jesse H. Neal finalist in its annual editorial awards.

Truckers News will  expand its Fit for the Road program in 2010 with both print articles and a new, regularly updated website. In addition we will have health-related webinars, tradeshow events and other offerings for driver looking to get fit. Be sure to check us out and follow us to better health.

The HOS shuffle needs to end

Looks like the feds plan to rewrite the hours-of-service rule for what seems like the 10th time this decade.

Of course, that’s not exactly the case, but between all the lawsuits and all the tweaking, it is getting old.

This reconsideration looks to have a major impact on trucking with the possibile elimination of the 11th hour of driving and the possible end of the 34-hour reset period.

Regardless of what the new rule turns out to be, it needs to be settled once and for all. Truckers deserve better than the constant uncertainity that has become the norm in the past few years.

How low can you go

I ran across a story today about a trucker who tried to go through a tunnel in Mobile, Ala., that was only 12 feet high. Of course, that didn’t work and traffic was backed up for several hours while the crews removed the damaged trailers.

The driver blamed his GPS . Police say the driver failed to heed warnings from flashing lights that his rig was too high.

While this was an unfortunate costly mistake for the driver, it reminded me of a joke I read years ago in Readers Digest.

A trucker became lost, took a wrong turn and got stuck in a covered bridge that was too low for the tractor-trailer. Finally a policeman made his way through the traffic backup and  approached the trucker.

“Stuck? asked the policeman.

“No, I was trying to deliver this damn bridge when I got lost,” the truck shot back.

Making sense of 2010

The cover story for the September issue of Truckers News concerns 2010 engines. There are two technologies being deployed by engine manufacturers.

The most common, used by all but one of the heavy-duty engine makers, is selective catalytic reduction or SCR.  This requires the addition of diesel exhaust fluid.

Navistor is the exception. The company is using advanced exhaust gas recirculation in its MaxxForce engines. The in-cylinder technology will require no additives to meet 2010 requirements.

Several of the engines makers took part in two panel discussions recently at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas.

To learn more about the federally mandated lower-emissions engines check out out the latest issue of Truckers News, as well the GATS coverage.

2010 engine seminars

Want the latest information on 2010 engines? The place to be is the Great American Truck Show in Dallas on August 20.

The 2010 Engines Super Sessions will feature three educational seminars followed by a ride and drive of trucks with 2010 engines.

For more information, click here or visit www.gatsonline.com