Medallion Transport Holdings and companies will again be supporting the Ronald McDonald House this holiday season to help the families of children receiving medical treatment in central Indiana area medical facilities.

There are more than 375 Ronald McDonald Houses throughout the US in 64 countries and regions. The two Indianapolis locations provide hospitality to as many as 5,000 families each year and offer all comforts of the home, such as places to sleep, spacious kitchens and dining rooms, play areas, laundry facilities and more!

It’s been a fun and meaningful part of the holiday tradition at our Indiana office to donate our time and money each year for a charitable cause that has a huge impact on the community. Our employees and agents give back by sharing part of their hard-earned money to provide food and shelter to those in need.

All of Medallion Transport Holdings companies will collect donations for distribution to the Ronald McDonald House through the company’s heavy haul division, NHH Services’ corporate office in Kokomo, Indiana.  Medallion Transport Holdings is also the parent company to Medallion Transport & Logistics, Medallion Hospitality and ACE Heavy Haul.

Each location will be be collecting items in the following categories: food and pantry needs, cleaning items, family and house items and special items which fall under  “Christmas Wish List,” and includes board games, puzzles and Legos.

Items collected from all offices will be shipped to the NHH Services’ office by the second week of December. At that time company officials will deliver the goods to the Ronald McDonald House. The company is also allowing a monetary deduction in lieu of donations. The amount raised will also be matched up to $500 by the company, and will be used to purchased supplies and items needed.

Medallion Transport Holdings has been known for giving back to the local communities surrounding its corporate offices.

This month, with the efforts of the company’s COO, VP of Operations and more staff at the Kokomo, IN office, the company donated boxes of canned and packaged goods to the Kokomo Rescue Mission. The donations helped feed hundreds of families this Thanksgiving.

For the past two years, the company has partnered with the Ronald McDonald House during the holidays, including the location in Charlotte, NC.

This year’s involvement with the Ronald McDonald House will mean helping families who have to travel far and for long periods of time while a young family member receives treatment. The expenses families incur to sleep, eat and live day-to-day lives are all out of pocket. With Medallion’s partnership with the Ronald McDonald House, some of the families may have a better holiday season.

More About the Ronald McDonald House

The Ronald McDonald House provides a safe, affordable and caring “home-away-from-home” for as many as 5,000 families of children receiving treatment in medical facilities each year. Families are stronger when they are together, and this is never more important than when a child is sick or injured. By offering families a haven less than one mile from our partner hospitals, we increase their ability to spend more time with their child, interact with their clinical care team and participate in critical medical decisions.

It’s that time of year again. The midwest, northeast, mountain areas in the west and more are already experiencing winter weather, including snow, sleet and hail which make driving conditions challenging, especially for truck drivers.

Medallion Transport & Logistics put together some tips to help keep truck drivers and owner-operators prepared and safe on the road.

Pre Trip Inspections are Crucial

It is always important to do a proper pre trip inspection, especially tire inflation due to constant changing temperatures during wintry conditions. Slow down and give yourself plenty of space.

Brake and accelerate slowly, most equipment is outfitted with ABS brakes but in the event you have equipment that does not have ABS- pump and release brakes lightly until you slow to a manageable speed.

Black ice can be one of the most dangerous winter conditions you may encounter.

Things you may notice when encountering black ice:

• Ice build-up on mirrors, antennas, or windshield wipers
• The spray from tires on others will stop

If the road conditions get too bad sometimes the best thing to do is to get off the road and take a break.

Don’t Leave Without These

When traveling in colder climates you never know what you may encounter.
Here are some things to remember/bring:

• Carry and wear proper clothing
• Bring an extra flashlight (or two)
• Extra food and water
• A bag of salt or sand
• Jumper cables
• Tire chains (especially if running in the northwest)
• Try to keep your fuel tanks full

More Tips

Here are more winter trucking tips from our COO, Jesse.

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 704-235-0460 or send us an email to info@medalliontrans.com.

For the first time in three years, the allowable driver per diem is going up.  The Internal Revenue Service said the per diem for transportation workers in the 2021-22 period will be rising to $69 for travel in the continental U.S. and up to $74 for travel outside the continental U.S. Both figures represent an increase of $3.

The new rate goes into effect Oct. 1, the start of the federal budget year. The earlier rate had been in effect since 2018-19.

The increase may seem small. But if it is taken for 200 days on the road by an independent owner-operator, that works out to $600 of tax-free compensation because the per diem is viewed by the IRS as expense reimbursement. That type of compensation is not taxable. Depending on a driver’s tax rate, $600 could be seen as equaling $900 to $1,000 of taxable compensation.

Great question, we’re not sure we have all the answers, but we’ve spent a lot of time trying to understand. Here’s a brief outline of why the industry can not get enough trailers to satisfy the demand and what Medallion Transport Holdings is doing to help.

1. Labor shortage in manufacturing and driver shortage
   1. US trailer manufacturers are producing less than 50% of capacity because they can not find/hire enough people to build the trailers.
   2. Many suppliers such as steel mills and tire manufacturers are experiencing the same labor shortage creating supply chain gluts of input supplies needed to build trailers
   3. Many of the parts being used to build trailers are manufactured overseas and due to delays with ship lines and ports (both domestic and abroad) the parts are not available to build enough trailers
   4. Because fleets are not able to find drivers many fleets are using considerably more dropped trailers to increase efficiency as well as help their customers get product of manufacturing facilities while waiting for transport
2. Changes in consumer purchasing habits
   1. Pre-pandemic approximately 1 billion people worldwide made on-line purchases, through August of 2021 more than 2.1 billion people have made on-line purchases. Many of the purchases are also utilizing door-to-door delivery methods. The increased demand for local couriers is drawing more OTR drivers out of industry creating more need for drop and hook units.
3. Increased demand and decreased availability of new trailers is affecting the rental and used markets
   1. Large fleets typically “turn-over” 20% of their fleet annually because they are not able to acquire new trailers, they are keeping the old trailers longer and in addition many large fleets have started purchasing used trailers and running a larger percentage of rental trailers

There are many more in-depth reasons for the shortage, this is just a few of the larger items. At MTH we are working everyday looking for more equipment to satisfy your needs. We have brought on new vendors as well as committed to purchasing trailers for our fleet to offset the demand of our rental vendors.

This Sunday, August 22, Brake Safety Week begins. The week-long (Aug. 22 – 28) inspection period will focus on brake systems and components.

There are 15 states where enforcement is more prioritized, according to data in an article published by ccjdigital.com. Some states put more focus on braking systems in general than do others during inspections.

Those states are noted in the map below or read the full article here.

More About Brake Safety Week 2021

Throughout the week, inspectors will conduct North American Standard Inspections of commercial motor vehicles, focusing on the vehicle’s brake systems and components. In addition, inspectors will compile data on brake hoses/tubing, the focus area for this year’s Brake Safety Week, to submit to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). CVSA will report its findings later this year.

Jurisdictions devote a week to conducting commercial motor vehicle inspections, identifying brake violations and removing vehicles with out-of-service brake violations because:

Brake system and brake adjustment violations accounted for more vehicle violations than any other vehicle violation category, accounting for 38.6% of all vehicle out-of-service conditions, during last year’s three-day

International Roadcheck inspection and enforcement initiative.

“Brake system” was the third most cited vehicle-related factor in fatal commercial motor vehicle and passenger vehicle crashes, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) latest “Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts”

Brake-related violations accounted for eight out of the top 20 vehicle violations in 2020, according to FMCSA’s Motor Carrier Management Information System.

During last year’s Brake Safety Week, 12% of the 43,565 commercial motor vehicles inspected were placed out of service for brake-related violations.

Owner-Operator, Cliff Richard, delivered his final load last week in Ft. Detrick, MD after being in the trucking industry for 35 years and with NHH Services the final five years of his career.  

He’s ready for retirement and everyone he’s worked with, from other truck drivers to his dispatcher, are acknowledging his exemplary career, while wishing him a happy retirement and saying their good-byes.

“Cliff is a special breed. He’s a businessman and a truck driver. He’s like part of my family,” said Alice Turner, Cliff’s longtime friend and NHH dispatcher.

Alice and Cliff worked together since 2000 and Alice continued as his dispatcher until his retirement. He was an owner-operator for NHH Services since 2017.

During his career, Cliff rose before dawn, sacrificed home and family time, trucked all over the country and logged over 2.6 million miles.

It began in 1986 when Cliff had to make a career change to avoid relocating his family, while working in the oil and gas industry. He got in the truck and got on the road, initially driving locally near his home in Raceland, Louisiana.  

After his trucking career continued, Cliff met Alice and eventually made the transition to NHH with her.

“This last move [to NHH] has been one of the better ones and I’ve enjoyed working there. I go through Alice and Shelley, and if I go through them everything was always fine. I’ve never had to get anyone else involved,” said Cliff. “It’s been a great working family.”

Cliff says the best thing about driving is all the memories and friends made.

“You know the industry, a lot of good, some bad, a lot of friends. Some of them moved on, some are no longer with us. I’m the old man on the block, but young enough to enjoy the rest of my life,” he said.

There was a time when Cliff and other drivers who trucked the same lane, formed a club they called the I-10 club. Only two drivers from the club remain in the business now.

Alice remembers Cliff for his professionalism, easy-going demeanor, loyalty, and most importantly, friendship.

“He’s a professional type; always clean and well-dressed when he went into a customer to load or unload. He was always on time and kept his equipment up to par,” she said. “When on the road, he called me every day at 8 a.m. exactly to tell me where he was and what he was doing, like clockwork. I’m going to really miss him.”

Before Cliff began his career in the trucking industry, he served in the Army from 1969-1971. Now he is looking forward to spending time with his wife and grandkids during his retirement.

He says he’ll miss it, but he’ll clean out the truck and put his 1996 Peterbilt for sale.

“I plan to sit back and relax, and work around the house. I have enough stuff to do around the house that’s neglected; projects I’ve started and now it’s time to finish them up. I also plan to go fishing and enjoy the Gulf of Mexico as I did when I was a kid.”

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) notifies motorists of asphalt rehab on I-69 in Caldwell County.

The contractor will make repairs between KY 293 (mile point 82.93) and Longbreak Road/KY 2613 (mile point 86.34).

Outside lane closures will begin August 5 on both southbound and northbound lanes. The maximum lane width will be 14 ft. 

The work is scheduled for completion this fall.

KYTC ask motorists to be aware of the work zone, expect delays, and to utilize safe driving habits when traveling through the area.

The start and duration of work may be adjusted for inclement weather or other unforeseeable delays. Drivers should expect delays and are encouraged to allow extra time in reaching their destination. 

Timely traffic advisories for the 11 counties of KYTC Highway District 2 are available by going to www.facebook.com/kytcdistrict2. You do not have to be a Facebook member to access this page.

CVSA has set August 22-28, 2021 as Brake Safety Week. The week-long inspection period will focus on brake systems and components. As always, proactively check and service your vehicle to ensure you are mechanically fit, compliant, and SAFE!

During Brake Safety Week, commercial motor vehicle inspectors emphasize the importance of brake systems by conducting inspections and removing commercial motor vehicles found to have brake-related out-of-service violations from our roadways. At the same time, many motor carriers work to educate their drivers and maintenance service providers on the importance of brake system safety.

Throughout the week, inspectors will conduct North American Standard Inspections of commercial motor vehicles, focusing on the vehicle’s brake systems and components. In addition, inspectors will compile data on brake hoses/tubing, the focus area for this year’s Brake Safety Week, to submit to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). CVSA will report its findings later this year.

Jurisdictions devote a week to conducting commercial motor vehicle inspections, identifying brake violations and removing vehicles with out-of-service brake violations because:

Brake system and brake adjustment violations accounted for more vehicle violations than any other vehicle violation category, accounting for 38.6% of all vehicle out-of-service conditions, during last year’s three-day 

International Roadcheck inspection and enforcement initiative.

“Brake system” was the third most cited vehicle-related factor in fatal commercial motor vehicle and passenger vehicle crashes, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) latest “Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts” 

Brake-related violations accounted for eight out of the top 20 vehicle violations in 2020, according to FMCSA’s 
Motor Carrier Management Information System.

During last year’s Brake Safety Week, 12% of the 43,565 commercial motor vehicles inspected were placed out of service for brake-related violations.

Questions? Contact Medallion Transport & Logistics

Medallion Transport & Logistics is committed to driver support and safety, especially when it comes to maintenance including regular and blitz inspections. We offer our freight agents and owner operators a national maintenance program and emergency road service. For questions about driver safety, give us a call at 704-235-0460 or send us an email to info@medalliontrans.com.

CargoNet is extending warnings about significant theft risk to freight for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday. Cargo thieves will seek to exploit extended business closures this upcoming holiday to steal more cargo.

In order to help supply chain professionals craft strategies to mitigate theft, CargoNet reviewed theft data between July 1 and July 7 for the previous five years. There were a total of 127 theft events reported in this analysis period or an average of 25 per year. The average stolen shipment was worth $145,699 per event. Activity for the Fourth of July weekend in 2020 was at its highest since 2016 and increased by 123% over the previous year. Forty-two percent of theft events occurred on a Friday or Saturday in this analysis.

In previous years, household goods and food and beverage items were the most commonly targeted commodities. This would include items like appliances, toys, alcoholic beverages, and seafood. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused shortages and price inflation of specific goods and we think the items most affected – like computer electronics – are the items most at-risk this holiday.

California, Texas, Florida, and Illinois recorded the most thefts in this analysis period. Our analysts believe these states are also most at-risk this upcoming holiday, but supply chain professionals should increase security across the Midwest and Southeastern United States in response to recent theft activity.

Extreme Risk of Theft
There are two crime trends that every supply chain professional should be concerned about this upcoming holiday.

• Computer Electronics Departing Warehouses in California – CargoNet is tracking an ongoing theft risk to shipments of computer electronics departing warehouses in California. CargoNet has recorded over 50 thefts of electronics shipments in the state since September 2020 and thefts have increased 89 percent when compared to the previous year. On average, each full truckload theft event was worth $595,928 and each partial truckload $197,157.
• Full Truckload Cargo Theft Activity in Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Texas – CargoNet has noticed a recent spike in full truckload cargo thefts in Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Texas. Preliminary investigations indicate that one or more sophisticated cargo theft groups may be stalking truck stops along major interstates and surveilling shipper’s warehouses with the intent to follow and steal once the shipment is left unattended.

Supply chain professionals can step up security by arranging for same-day delivery of short-haul shipments, embedding covert tracking devices, and by using high-security locks to prevent trailer burglaries. Drivers should adhere to the “red-zone” rule and avoid stopping within 250 miles of pickup. Drivers should also be on the lookout for any vehicles that appear to be following them and avoid leaving trucks and trailers unattended for long periods of time. Report any suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately and contact CargoNet at 888-595-2638 only after law enforcement has been notified and there are no immediate threats to life or property.

Noteworthy thefts from previous July 4^th holidays

• $2,000,000 of perfume from Hillsborough Township, New Jersey
• $444,000 of copper cables from Long Beach, California
• $439,895 in medical supplies from Davenport, Florida
• $352,000 of computer electronics from San Francisco, CA
• $328,321 of toys from Trevor, Wisconsin

The 2021 Operation Safe Driver Week is set for July 11-17 and this year’s emphasis is 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 in or around a commercial motor vehicle. Identified unsafe drivers will be pulled over and issued a citation or warning.

CVSA selected speeding as its focus this year because despite a drop in roadway travel last year due to the pandemic, nationally, traffic fatalities increased. According to the National Safety Council’s (NSC) preliminary estimates, the estimated rate of death on roads last year increased 24% over the previous 12-month period, despite miles driven dropping 13%. The increase in the rate of death is the highest estimated year-over-year jump NSC has calculated in 96 years.

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 11 and ends on Saturday, July 17, 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 704-235-0460 or send us an email to info@medalliontrans.com.