Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024:
Army veteran wins new Kenworth in Transition Trucking program
U.S. Army veteran Cory Troxell of Stevens Transport was awarded a new Kenworth T680 in the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award program.Jonathan Ernst, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Cory Troxell, a U.S. Army veteran truck driver for Stevens Transport, was named the winner of this year’s Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award, receiving the keys to a new Kenworth T680.
For the ninth consecutive year, Kenworth teamed with Fastport and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program to find America’s top rookie military veteran who made the successful transition into a civilian truck driving career.
Troxell was born into service with his grandfather, father and uncle serving with distinguished careers in the Army. Motivated by a strong sense of family pride, service and patriotism following 9/11, Troxell enlisted in the Army in 2004. In 2009, he was severely wounded in an enemy IED attack, eventually earning him the Purple Heart. He continued to serve until his retirement in 2024. Drawing similarities to his decision to join the Army, he chose to drive trucks, a career path already cut by his family.
New
Overdrive’s Load Profit Analyzer
Know your costs? Compute the potential profit in any truckload, analyze per-day and per-mile breakouts, and compare real offers on multiple loads or game out hypothetical rate/lane scenarios. Enter your trucking business’s fixed and variable costs, and load information, to get started.
To help him continue in the trucking profession, Troxell was awarded the Kenworth T680, equipped with a 76-inch sleeper and the Paccar Powertrain featuring the Paccar MX-13 engine, Paccar TX-12 automated transmission and Paccar DX-40 tandem rear axles.
“I honestly thought after coming out of the military that you fade away,” Troxell said. “No one thinks about you anymore; you’re done. But this is proof that’s not true. Thank you for giving me this opportunity and for actually doing something for veterans that I didn’t think was possible.”
The rig features a Diamond VIT interior in slate gray with madrona accents and includes the latest in driver amenities. Both the driver and passenger seats are GT703 leather seats that are fully heated and cooled. The sleeper includes space for a microwave and TV, a factory-installed fridge, and a rotating work table. The truck also features Kenworth’s Digital Mirrors, Bendix Fusion Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Stop and Auto Go, and Lane Keeping Assist with Torque Assisted Steering.
Troxell was presented the keys to the T680 at a recent event in Washington, D.C. Shown from left are: Brianna Potthast, Kenworth on-highway marketing manager; Cory Troxell, Transition Trucking winner; and Cara Howes, Kenworth assistant director of marketing.Jonathan Ernst, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
“It was a privilege to hand over the keys to the Kenworth T680 to a veteran who exemplifies commitment and courage,” said Cara Howes, Kenworth assistant director of marketing. “On behalf of Kenworth and our dedicated employees, we extend our gratitude for his service to our nation and our best wishes for a prosperous future in the trucking industry.”
Under the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence program, all finalists participated in an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., where their military service was honored. The first runner-up, Douglas Couch/U.S. Navy/Roehl Transport, was awarded a $10,000 prize, and finalists Billy Taylor/U.S. Coast Guard/Werner Enterprises and Shawn Haley/U.S. Marine Corps/Veriha Trucking received $5,000 each.
Trucker Tools functionality coming to DAT load boards after DAT acquires company
DAT Freight & Analytics has acquired the operations of Trucker Tools LLC, a provider of load visibility, automated booking, digital freight matching, and carrier engagement services.
The acquisition will expand DAT’s ability to provide real-time GPS tracking and load optimization on the DAT One load board platform, the company said.
“Real-time load tracking and digital freight matching are among the most dynamic technologies in our industry today and part of an important evolution in how truckload freight transactions are conducted,” said Jeff Clementz, Chief Executive Officer, DAT. “Tracking and visibility have become critical needs for all of our customers, and we couldn’t be more excited to deliver best-in-class solutions to them with Trucker Tools’ capabilities.”
Trucker Tools provides real-time visibility for more than 750 freight brokers and accelerates load tendering, rate negotiation, load booking, and digital document management through its Smart Load Board. Its popular Trucker Tools app helps 350,000 owner-operators, carriers, and drivers find and book loads on the spot market and manage replies to their offers and bids.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for Trucker Tools to grow and benefit from the resources, expertise, and market reach of DAT,” said Kary Jablonski, CEO of Trucker Tools. “By joining DAT, we’re better positioned to shape the future of our industry while unlocking new opportunities for customers, employees, and partners.”
DAT acquired Trucker Tools from ASG, a portfolio company of Alpine Investors. Trucker Tools will operate under its current leadership, with Jablonski joining the DAT executive team.
[Related: Freight fraud, double brokering skyrocket: What are the load boards doing about it?]
Heniff continues expansion with acquisition of European company
Heniff has acquired the Combo Group, which is based in Born, Netherlands. Combo provides transport and logistics, food-grade tank cleaning, and maintenance and repair for its European customers. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“We’re very pleased to welcome our new teammates from the Combo Group,” said Bob Heniff, founder and CEO of Heniff. “Combo shares our customer-focused approach and brings immediate scale to our growing bulk services operations in Europe.”
Combo is headquartered in the southern region of the Netherlands near the Belgian and German borders, one of the busiest transport connections in Europe. The company also operates a state-of-the-art maintenance location in nearby Geleen, Netherlands, and an additional office in Straelen, Germany.
“Teaming up with Heniff marks a significant milestone for Combo,” said Jan Van Erp, founder and owner of the Combo Group. “Heniff is an inspiring organization that shares our cultural values and strong commitment to service and safety. By joining forces, we continue to provide our customers, professional workforce, and other key stakeholders with a solid foundation to consistently deliver high-quality solutions.”
Heniff has been in growth mode this year via acquisition. Combo Group is Heniff’s second deal in the European bulk transportation services market this year, and just last month Heniff acquired 30-truck Janesville, Wisconsin-based food grade tanker carrier Hagen Johnson Trucking.
[Related: Heniff purchases 30-truck Hagen Johnson]
Good Samaritan action earns Highway Angel honor for trucker
Daljit Sohi, a truck driver for Triple Eight Transport Inc. out of Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, has been named a Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association for noticing that a woman dropped her purse at a rest stop, then driving for three hours to return it to her.
Daljit Sohi
“I was not aware,” James said.
Triple Eight Transport driver Sohi witnessed the event and followed James in his truck in order to return the purse.
“I followed the lady for three hours,” Sohi said.
While driving, James noticed a truck driver following her, which caused some concern. When she stopped to refuel at a gas station in Sicamous, Sohi approached James and informed her that he had found her lost purse. To her relief, everything in the handbag was accounted for and nothing was missing.
“I was so happy that, thank God, he found it,” James said. “Then I tried to give him $500 as a reward, but he didn’t take it.”
She plans to send a thank-you gift to Sohi at his company office.