On the road this Thanksgiving?

For some truck drivers, the Thanksgiving season is a busy time. So if you’re spending Thanksgiving on the road, we have some options for you for finding a place to enjoy a warm Thanksgiving meal.

TA Petro All-you-can Eat Thanksgiving Feast

Select TA Petro Country Pride and Iron Skillet restaurants will offer a Thanksgiving feast on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 24 from 11 a.m. until close. The special all-you-can eat buffet will be available for $24.99 and includes turkey, ham, dressing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, salad, pumpkin pie and a beverage.

View more info here.

Pilot Flying J New Thanksgiving Dinner

This November, truck drivers can try an all-new Thanksgiving dinner at participating Pilot Flying J truck stops.

According to Pilot, the new Thanksgiving entree will be available at more than 150 participating Pilot and Flying J travel centers from November 1 through December, while supplies last.

The Thanksgiving meal will consist of brown sugar-glazed ham, mashed sweet potatoes, and cornbread stuffing.

Not only that, Pilot Flying J will offer a 25% off deal on this meal through the myRewards Plus app at participating locations from November 21 – 27 during Thanksgiving week.

In addition to the Thanksgiving meal, Pilot Flying J is also rolling out several new flavors to its seasonal beverage menu, including a White Chocolate Candy Cane Hot Chocolate and Peppermint Mocha Creamer.

These limited time hot beverages, along with a full line-up of premium coffees, will bring guests extra cheer in Pilot’s specially designed holiday cups.

The IRS announced last week that the Per Diem rate for all of the 2022 tax year will be $69 for each full day you’re away from home as a driver (owner-operator) and a ride-along that assists in business functions. Additionally, 2022 will be the last year the IRS will allow a 100% deduction on Per Diem rather than the normal 80%. This means you can deduct the full amount of $69 for each full day and $51.75 for each partial day.

In order to qualify for these deductions, IRS publication 463 states that you are traveling from home if:

1. Your duties require you to be away from the general area of your tax home substantially longer than an ordinary day’s work, AND
2. You need to sleep or rest to meet the demands of your work while away from home.

It further states that taking a nap does not satisfy the requirement. However, “you do not need to be away from home for a whole day, as long as your relief from duty is long enough to get necessary sleep or rest.

What does this mean to a driver? If you are an owner-operator, the rule is simple, you get to claim the tax deduction for each day that you are away from your “tax home”. On the days that you depart and the days that you arrive at home, you must claim a partial day allowance instead of a full day allowance. That is ¾ of the standard allowance.

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Pilot Flying J is taking proactive steps to prepare its travel centers and team members for Hurricane Ian. They’ve initiated Pilot’s Emergency Response Team and are having daily calls to track the storm and guide operations.

The following locations will be temporarily closed due to mandatory evacuations and safety protocols:

• #94 Pilot, Punta Gorda, FL
• #89 One9, Ellenton, FL
• #352 Pilot, Fort Myers, FL
• #625 Flying J, Seffner, FL
• #1128 Pilot, Bartow, FL
• #471 Pilot, Haines City, FL

Currently, Hurricane Ian has hit Florida and knocked out power to about 2.6 million. 
Supply Conditions:
Pilot’s logistics team has been working to build up inventory levels in these markets and its fleet of drivers are positioned to help prevent any service interruptions. At this point, they believe to have ample supply in the impacted areas to keep drivers and fleet fueled.

Important Information:
Pilot Flying J Severe Weather Updates: https://pilotflyingj.com/operational-updates· 
Pilot Flying J Store Locator: https://locations.pilotflyingj.com/search
National NOAA storm track:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at4+shtml/024746.shtml?tswind120 
US Power outages: https://poweroutage.us/
Florida Emergency Management (Evacuation Orders/Curfews/Emergency Preparedness): https://www.floridadisaster.org/
Florida Governor’s Office: https://www.flgov.com/
Florida Road Conditions/Closures/Contraflow: https://fl511.com/

Please reach out to a Pilot Flying J sales representative with any questions.

NHH Services and sister company, Medallion Transport & Logistics are showing their appreciation for professional truck drivers during this year’s National Truck Driver Appreciation (NTDAW) Week, Sept. 11 – 17, 2022.

NHH and Medallion are giving all drivers in their network a free meal during this period, showing their appreciation for their owner-operators and all their hard work, especially the last few years. Simply put, “when the world stopped, we kept moving.” NHH and its affiliate companies recognize the dedication of all drivers.

Here is a list of how other companies are thanking, recognizing and rewarding drivers during NTDAW 2022.

Pilot Flying J

Pilot Flying J is celebrating the hard work and commitment of professional drivers with exclusive offers and more points.

Their promotion says “Your drivers go further for America, so we’re going further for them” The following are available for a limited time:

• Three free drinks every week! Drivers can choose between a free Pilot fountain drink or coffee, and free cooler category beverages like sodas, energy drinks, and waters from the top brands they love. Drinks are redeemable Monday-Sunday each week.
• New in-app challenges where your drivers can earn 500 bonus points by completing tasks like mobile fueling, shower reservation and activating PushForPoints™ up to 2.5 points​​​​​​​
• Discounts on various deli food items all September using the myRewards Plus^TM app, including a 50% discount during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week* (Sept. 11 – 17, 2022)
• Free Safe and Road Ready Checks in September by Southern Tire Mart at Pilot Flying J.  With every check completed, drivers will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win one of three sets of Bridgestone premium steer tires
• One bonus point automatically applied to Canadian professional drivers when fueling with their myRewards® card at participating Shell Flying J travel centers throughout September

Drivers can get these deals and more in the myRewards Plus^TM app by simply saving the offer and stopping at any participating travel centers.

More details about these offers can be accessed at Pilot Flying J’s Driver Appreciation page.

Love’s Travel Stops

The company is giving away a record breaking 23.5 million My Love Rewards (MLR) points (worth more than $230,000) to professional truck drivers during the month, including hundreds of daily and weekly winners and a 1-million-point winner at the end of the month. The company is also celebrating the launch of Amarillo Supply Co., a brand focused on keeping drivers safe while on the road, with discounts and giveaways.

Each time drivers swipe their My Love Rewards card during the month of September, they will be entered for a chance to instantly win 1,000 or 2,000 My Love Rewards points. Thousands of instant winners will be selected daily. They will also be entered for a chance to win weekly My Love Rewards points and a grand prize of1 million My Love Rewards pointsat the end of the month. Winners will be notified by email.

My Love Rewards Points weekly giveaway:

• Sept. 9 one customer will win 250,000 MLR points ($2,500 retail value).
• Sept. 16 one customer will win 500,000 MLR points ($5,000 retail value).
• Sept. 23 one customer will win 750,000 MLR points ($7,500 retail value).
• Sept. 30 one customer will receive a grand prize of 1,000,000 MLR points ($10,000 retail value).

“We look forward to National Truck Driver Appreciation Week each year because it’s one way we say, ‘thank you,’ to professional truck drivers who are essential to the country’s success,” said Jon Archard, Love’s vice president of fleet sales. “This year is special because it’s our biggest points giveaway ever and we’ve launched a brand focused on keeping drivers and their trucks safe on the road.” 

Amarillo Supply Co. includes key items that professional truck drivers need to maintain their trucks while delivering essential goods across the country. The brand will initially feature a variety of air hoses and a blow gun kit and be sold at all travel stop locations across the country. In spring 2023, the brand will grow to include around 40 additional items.

Additional Driver Appreciation Month deals include:

• Fresh food and drink deals Sept. 12-16.
• Free hot sandwich or fresh salad with an oil change Sept. 12-16.
• Discounts on Amarillo Supply Co. products throughout September and October.
• Free Amarillo Supply Co. hat with the purchase of a 3-pack of gloves for $9.99, or any of the six Amarillo Supply Co. safety items promoted at 15% off, throughout the month and through October.

As always, only My Love Rewards provides drivers with free drinks and showers all 12 months of the year. Click here for more information on the My Love Rewards program. For a full list of promotions and deals, which can be redeemed by swiping a My Love Rewards card or by scanning the barcode on the Love’s Connect app, clickhere.

TA Petro

TA Petro is celebrating drivers with “A Week of Winning” which takes place Sept. 12 – 17. Prizes can be won throughout the six-day period. More info will be available on Sept. 12.

Medallion Transport & Logistics, along with sister company NHH Services, are headed to Carlisle, PA for a pair of events, including one of the industry’s largest shows and an informative safety meeting.

The team will hit the Carlisle Truck Nationals at the Carlisle Fairgrounds, one of the largest and most action-packed truck events in the world, August 5th – 7th. Both of the company’s show trucks, a 1980 Kenworth W900A and a Peterbilt 379, will be displayed during the Show & Shine for all to check out. Come meet the team and pick up some free swag and enter for a chance to win a free set of steer tires.

That same weekend, on Saturday, August 6th, the companies will hold a Safety Meeting, hosted by Medallion’s VP of Safety, Kenny Gingerich at the Holiday Inn Express Carlisle I-81. The meeting will take place from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., and will feature a guest speaker from Best One Tire, informative safety info, new safety ideas, and more. All attendees will receive a pre-paid truck, trailer and engine wash up to $115, plus the chance to win more prizes. Refreshments and lunch will be provided. To RSVP for the safety meeting or request more info contact Kenny at 765.650.4164, ext. 1040.

More Show Info

The Carlisle Truck Nationals take place Friday, August 5th and Saturday, August 6th from 7 a.m. to dusk and on Sunday, August 7th from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is $15 on Friday and Saturday, and $7 on Sunday. The show takes place at the Carlisle Fair Grounds located at 1000 Bryn Mawr Rd, Carlisle, PA, 17013. Advance tickets can be purchased online.

The 43rd Walcott Truckers Jamboree kicks off July 14th at Iowa 80, and Medallion Transport & Logistics and NHH Services will be a part of it.

Medallion and NHH will hit the road for the show which runs July 14th – 16th, and includes fun for the whole family.

The 2022 Walcott Truckers Jamboree will feature a Super Truck Beauty Contest, Antique Truck Display; Iowa pork chop cookout; over 150 exhibits, Trucker Olympics; two firework shows, Trucker’s Best Friend Pet Contest, a 100^th birthday party for a 1922 Walter Snow-Fighter at the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum and more!

Located at the Iowa 80 Truck Stop in Walcott,  Iowa, the show was where NHH’s 1980 Kenworth W900A made its truck show debut in 2021. Medallion COO, Jesse Merrell, purchased the truck in 1979 and has worked hard to restore and transform. The truck has undergone updates to the lights, bumper, sleeper, seats, sound system, stacks and more.

Medallion and NHH staff will be ready to connect with truck drivers and owner-operators. A pair of brand new steel tires will be at stake for all to vie for, plus an abundance of free swag and giveaways.

Show Info & Features

Show Features:

• Antique Truck Display
• Super Trucks Beauty Contest
• Over 175 exhibits
• Iowa Pork Chop Cookout
• Live Country Music
• Trucker Olympics
• Light Show
• Fireworks
• FREE Admission
• FREE Parking

Iowa 80 Truckstop is located at I-80, Exit 284 in Walcott, IA 52773-8571.

Click here for more show info, including a full schedule of events.

The 2022 Operation Safe Driver Week is set for July 10-16 and this year’s emphasis is again on speeding.

During Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement personnel will be on the lookout for commercial motor vehicle drivers and passenger vehicle drivers engaging in risky driving behaviors. Identified unsafe drivers will be pulled over and issued a citation or warning.

CVSA selected speeding again as its focus this year because despite a drop in roadway travel in recent years due to the pandemic, nationally, traffic fatalities increased. According to the CVSA, speeding of any kind was the most frequent driver-related crash factor for drivers of commercial motor vehicles and passenger vehicles.

In addition to speeding, law enforcement personnel will be tracking other dangerous driver behaviors throughout Operation Safe Driver Week, such as reckless or aggressive driving, distracted driving, following too closely, improper lane change, failure to obey traffic control devices, failure to use a seat belt, evidence of drunk or drugged driving, etc.

Learn More About Safe Driver Week

CVSA’s Operation Safe Driver Program was created to help reduce the number of crashes, deaths and injuries involving large trucks, buses and passenger vehicles due to unsafe driving behaviors. Operation Safe Driver week, which begins Sunday, July 10 and ends on Saturday, July 16, is sponsored by CVSA, in partnership with FMCSA. This initiative aims to improve the behavior of all drivers operating in an unsafe manner – either in or around commercial motor vehicles – through educational and traffic enforcement strategies.

Questions? Contact Medallion Transport & Logistics

Medallion Transport & Logistics is committed to driver support and safety, especially when it comes to maintenance including regular inspections. We offer our freight agents and owner operators a national tire purchase program and emergency road service, although preventative maintenance for safety and to avoid any down time is always encouraged. For questions about driver safety, give us a call at 765-650-4164.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has announced Aug. 21-27 as the dates for this year’s Brake Safety Week.

Brake Safety Week is an annual commercial motor vehicle brake-safety inspection, enforcement and education initiative conducted by law enforcement jurisdictions in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.

During Brake Safety Week, inspectors will conduct their usual North American Standard Level I and V Inspections and capture and report brake-related data to CVSA, specifically inspectors will also capture and provide data on brake hose/tubing chafing violations – the focus area for this year’s brake safety campaign.

The results will be released in the fall.

Commercial motor vehicle inspectors in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. inspected 35,764 commercial motor vehicles during last year’s event.

Combined, for a North American total, 35,764 commercial motor vehicles were inspected last year. Twelve percent of those vehicles were restricted from travel because inspectors found brake-related critical vehicle inspection item conditions and placed those vehicles out of service, using CVSA’s North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria.

Brake-related violations comprise the largest percentage of all out-of-service violations cited during roadside inspections. Improperly installed or poorly maintained brake systems can reduce the braking capacity and stopping distance of trucks and buses, which poses a serious risk to driver and public safety.

What Will Inspectors Focus On?

A CVSA news release cited the following regarding what inspectors will focus on during the brake portion of a vehicle inspection.

“During the brake portion of a vehicle inspection, inspectors will look for missing, non-functioning, loose, contaminated or cracked parts on the brake system, and non-manufactured holes (such as rust holes and holes created by rubbing or friction) and broken springs in the spring brake housing section of the parking brake.”

“They will listen for audible air leaks around brake components and lines, and ensure the air system maintains air pressure between 90-100 psi (620-690 kPa). Inspectors will also check for S-cam flip-over and measure pushrod travel. They will check that slack adjusters are the same length (from center of S-cam to center of clevis pin) and the air chambers on each axle are the same size. They will also inspect required brake-system warning devices, such as ABS malfunction lamp(s) and low air-pressure warning devices. In addition, inspectors will ensure the breakaway system is operable on the trailer, and inspect the tractor protection system, including the bleed-back system on the trailer.”

In addition to reporting total inspections and brake-related out-of-service violations, inspectors will also capture and provide data on brake hose/tubing chafing violations – the focus area for this year’s Brake Safety Week.

“Poorly maintained brake systems can reduce the braking capacity and stopping distance of large trucks and motorcoaches, which poses a serious risk to driver and public safety,” said CVSA President Captain John Broers with the South Dakota Highway Patrol. “In those split-second emergency situations, the proper functionality of the brake systems on large commercial motor vehicles is crucial.”

More About Brake Safety Campaigns

Outreach and educational efforts by inspectors, participating motor carriers and others in the industry also take place during CVSA’s brake safety campaigns and are integral to the success of the campaign.

Operation Airbrake is a CVSA program in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

More than 3.4 million brakes have been inspected since the program’s inception in 1998.

The Medallion Transport team and the Kenworth company truck will arrive in Springfield, IL in June for the next truck show on the schedule.

The National Convention & Truck Show put on by the American Truck Historical Society (ATHS) will take place June 10 -11 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. This year, show producers are expecting over 1,000 trucks and that includes Medallion and sister company NHH Services’ 1980 Kenworth W900A.

Truck showtimes are Friday, June 10th from 8am-5pm, and Saturday, June 11th from 8am-4pm.

To view a full schedule of events, including a show map, click HERE.

Show registration is required whether you are registering a truck or not. Ticket pricing and packages can be viewed online.

More Truck Shows in 2022

Here’s a full list of all shows Medallion Transport and NHH Services will attend in 2022. More information will become available for each as the show dates get closer.

June 25-26 – Texas Trucking Show – Houston, TX

July 29-31 – Top Gun Large Car Shootout – Rantoul, IL

Aug. 12-13 – Waupun Truck-n-Show – Waupun, WI

Sept. 8-10 – Big Iron Classic Truck Show & Pull – Kasson, MN

Oct. 21 -22 – Draggin & Pullin in the Pines – Lufkin, TX

Saturday, May 14, officially marks the the Minnesota Fishing Opener, and as a result there will be some oversize load travel restrictions in effect throughout the state over the weekend.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is advising all to plan ahead as half-a-million Minnesotans take to the lakes and streams to kick off the state’s walleye, sauger and northern pike opener.

MnDOT released a statement advising all that oversize/overweight travel will be restricted from 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 13 until 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, and from 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 15 until 2:00 a.m. Monday, May 16.

Questions? Contact Medallion Transport

Medallion Transport is ready to assist with driver education and training to ensure the company’s fleet is safe on the road and compliant with the latest laws, travel restrictions and more. For questions about driver safety, contact us now.