Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024:
Landstar owner-op gifted new truck
Landstar BCO Stacie Simmons (right) is shown here receiving the keys to her brand-new 2025 Kenworth T680 from Landstar President and CEO Frank Lonegro.Landstar
Landstar System last week gave away its 50th truck to a deserving independent business capacity owner (BCO), the company’s term for leased owner-operators.
Stacie Simmons won a bright blue 2025 Kenworth T680 last week at the 2024 Landstar BCO Appreciation Days event in Durant, Oklahoma.
Simmons, from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was one of five finalists randomly selected from the contest’s pool of nearly 9,000 eligible BCOs. The truck giveaway is traditionally the highlight of Landstar’s BCO Appreciation Days, a two-day event held annually to thank the owner-operators for their commitment to safety and customer service excellence.
This 2025 Kenworth T680 was the 50th truck Landstar has given away since 1994.Landstar
“Landstar truck giveaways are an important way to illustrate our gratitude to all of the Landstar BCOs who support the Landstar network by operating safely and delivering for our customers every time they get behind the wheel,” said Landstar President and CEO Frank Lonegro. “We are delighted to celebrate this life-changing event with Stacie and look forward to helping her achieve continued success as a Landstar BCO.”
After she won, Simmons stood in front of the new truck explaining why the giveaway was indeed about to be a life-changing event for her and Markus, her husband and team driver. “We have a 2016 Volvo and she’s in the shop right now, so getting this is pretty spectacular,” she said.
Eligible Landstar owner-operators automatically earned entries to the giveaway throughout the year by safely delivering loads during the giveaway period. They were eligible to earn more entries for the giveaway by attending safety meetings and participating in Landstar’s nationwide Safety Thursday Conference Call held each month throughout the year. After the entry period closed, all entries were pooled, and a computerized random number generator selected the finalists. Finalists are required to be present at the giveaway.
Landstar purchases and gives away a brand-new truck twice a year to eligible BCOs. The very first truck giveaway was in 1994. This marks the 50th truck giveaway in the company’s history and is the second giveaway this year. Landstar Two Million Mile Safe Driver and Roadstar honoree John Fuller won the Landstar BCO All-Star Truck Giveaway in July. In both giveaways, Landstar pays for the truck’s tag, tax and title.
[Related: After engine failure, owner-op John Fuller's lucky lease on his business' life]
Oregon receives waiver allowing CDLs for certain non-citizens
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has granted a waiver to allow the Oregon Department of Transportation to issue CDLs to certain non-citizens.
The Oregon DOT in June requested a waiver from the proof of citizenship CDL requirements to be allowed to issue standard commercial learner permits (CLPs) and CDLs, rather than issuing non-domiciled CLPs and CDLs, to citizens of Freely Associated States (FAS) who now reside in Oregon and wish to obtain a CDL. The FAS are the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
Under agreements between the U.S. and the FAS, citizens of the FAS may enter the United States as nonimmigrants, and, without obtaining a visa, they may remain in and work in the country indefinitely.
The exemption allows Oregon to accept a valid, unexpired passport issued by an FAS and an Arrival/Departure Record, meaning an I-94 or I-94A form, to prove that the individual has entered the United States lawfully, and issue standard CLPs and CDLs to these individuals.
In making this determination, FMCSA noted that the Department of Homeland Security allows states to issue full-term REAL ID licenses and ID cards to citizens of FAS. DHS provides requirements for citizens of FAS to present proof of lawful permanent residency such that these individuals may receive REAL ID credentials, and the exemption pertains only to proof of lawful permanent residency.
FMCSA decided to grant the exemption to Oregon for a five-year period. Hawaii also recently requested the same waiver.
[Related: Hawaii requests limited waiver from proof of citizenship rules]
Wreaths Across America looking for more carriers
Wreaths Across America (WAA) has kicked off the 2024 wreath season, and already has more than 20 new loads that will need carriers’ support to deliver this December.
WAA is seeking carriers and truck drivers to join the mission to “Remember, Honor and Teach.” As the program continues to grow, with over 4,500 participating locations nationwide this year, there are several opportunities to find a lane and make a meaningful impact.
Open lanes for 2024 can be seen here.
“Wreaths Across America relies on the transportation industry to move the mission. The Honor Fleet, composed of dedicated carriers, professional drivers, and other transportation partners, guarantees the delivery of millions of sponsored veterans’ wreaths to their final destination each year,” said Courtney George, Director of Trucking and Industry Relations, WAA. “Transportation partners benefit from driver retention and recruitment, employee engagement, positive brand exposure, and the opportunity to give back to their community’s veterans and military families.”
[Related: Remember, Honor, Teach: What Wreaths Across America means to trucking, and all of us]
