Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE MARYLAND MOTOR TRUCK ASSOCIATION 2023 Maryland General Assembly Report Drivers of the Month/Year Mounting Pressure on the Use of OwnerOperators INSIDE: Dennis Morgan Cowan Systems MMTA's Person of the Year
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Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 MDTRUCKING.ORG BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 3 CONTENTS 16 MMTA’s Person of the Year: Dennis Morgan, Cowan Systems for Morgan, Cowan Systems has become a second family BY DAN CALABRESE FEATURES 9 2023 Maryland General Assembly Report BY LOUIS CAMPION 13 More Than Plastic Introducing the newest MMTA member benefit – a member’s only credit card partnership BY DAVID MONTEITH 24 Mounting Pressure on the Use of Owner-Operators BY ALBERT B. RANDALL, JR. & STEPHANIE M. BROZNOWICZ GUEST WRITERS 30 Maryland on the Move Drivers of the Month/Year and Fleet Safety Award winners BY MMTA STAFF DEPARTMENTS 5 Chairman’s Message by Eric Baumgart 34 Welcome New Members 34 Advertising Resource Index COVER STORY Images of Dennis Morgan on cover and this page Courtesy of Cowan Systems.
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MDTRUCKING.ORG BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 5 The Official Magazine of the Maryland Motor Truck Association Behind the Wheel is owned by the Maryland Motor Truck Association and is published by Matthews Publishing Group. To request additional copies, order reprints of individual articles or to become a subscriber to Behind The Wheel, please contact Selena Griffin at (410) 644-4600. To inquire about advertising, please contact the publisher at (501) 690-9393. Publisher Jennifer Matthews-Drake Matthews Publishing Group [email protected] Executive Editor Louis Campion [email protected] Creative Director Fran Sherman [email protected] Graphic Designer Barbara Negron Photographer David Sinclair Contributing Writers Maryland Motor Truck Association Louis Campion President & CEO [email protected] Armand Patella Executive Vice President [email protected] Brenda Tharp Director of Safety [email protected] Selena L. Griffin Controller [email protected] Kathy Norris Administrative Assistant [email protected] Maryland Motor Truck Association is an affiliate of the American Trucking Associations. MMTA is a Maryland corporation of trucking companies, private carrier fleets and businesses which serve or supply the trucking industry. MMTA serves these companies as a governmental affairs representative before legislative, regulatory and executive branches of government on issues that affect the trucking industry. The organization also provides public relations services, education services, operational services and serves as a forum for industry meetings and membership relations. For more information, contact MMTA at: Maryland Motor Truck Association, Inc. 9256 Bendix Road, Suite 203 - Columbia, Md. 21045 Phone 410-644-4600 | Fax 410-644-2537 mdtrucking.org CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE MDTRUCKING.ORG Steve Brawner Dan Calabrese Andrew Dunn Eric J. Francis Kevin Jones Johnny Kampis Renee Miller David Monteith Jennifer Barnett Reed Jack Roberts John D. Schulz Lacey C. Thacker Todd Traub CONTINUED The Maryland General Assembly concluded on April 10, 2023. One of the most hotly debated items was Maryland’s decision to join at least seven other states in adopting California’s Advance Clean Trucks Rule. This rule will require an increasing percentage of medium and heavy-duty truck sales in Maryland to be zero emission vehicles (e.g., electric or hydrogen fuel). Manufacturers who do not meet the percentages will be fined. Despite the passage of this new law, reports of the death of the diesel truck are greatly exaggerated to say the least. Why is CA leading the way in this effort? California is the only state under Federal law that has been granted the authority to adopt its own vehicle emissions standards. Under Section 177 of the Clean Air Act states can piggyback on California’s rules by either adopting them or following federal requirements, but a state cannot adopt its own unique standards. While the trucking industry understands the need to continue to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, there are major hurdles that have to be overcome before widespread adoption of ZEV trucks. It’s for that reason that Maryland became the first state that has adopted the Advance Clean Trucks Rule to require a needs assessment and plan by key agencies before implementation. We are where the car industry was 10 to 15 years ago, but the hurdles are bigger. Among the items the state must consider are grid capacity, charging infrastructure, cost, battery range, battery weight, financial incentives, and more. While several paragraphs could be written about each of these challenges, I am going to focus this article on the single issue of truck parking. In 2006 the Baltimore Metropolitan Council completed its “Truck Parking Partnership Study.” Among the findings were: “The Baltimore metropolitan region, and specifically the Northeast Corridor, has seen unparalleled growth in truck traffic over the past 20 years—and truck traffic is expected to keep growing. In the next 25 years, the BMC travel model forecasts a more than 30 percent increase in truck vehicle trips. This increase in commercial traffic and the restrictions on driver operation time create a growing demand for truck parking facilities throughout the country, and particularly in densely populated areas such as the Baltimore region.” These findings were released 17 years ago, before ZEV vehicle mandates were considered. We have 300,000 spaces for over 3.5 million truck drivers across the country. In a 2022 report, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) found that current battery technology for ZEV trucks will necessitate more chargers than there are truck parking spaces in the U.S. How do we expect to charge these trucks if we cannot even give them a place to park? Space is at a premium and no one wants a truck stop in their backyard. Maryland has over 1,200 electric vehicle public charging stations, but none of them are equipped for medium or heavy-duty trucks. It’s for this reason that virtually every study of the transition to ZEV trucks recognizes that early adopters will be regional or local deliveries that are back to the same terminal location with on-site charging each day. Yet, in
6 BEHIND THE WHEEL BEHIND THE WHEEL | | Q4 WINTER 2022 Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 MDTRUCKING.ORG MDTRUCKING.ORG READERS STRONG 8,000 Each edition of MMTA’s Behind the Wheel and MMTA’s annual Membership Directory & Buyers’ Guide reaches more than 8,000 leaders in transportation throughout Maryland and beyond.That makes advertising in Behind the Wheel an excellent business decision. If you want to reach this highly targeted and influential group of industry decision-makers and ask them to consider purchasing your products or services, then you’ll want to place an ad in every edition of Behind the Wheel. Please contact our publisher, Jennifer Matthews, at [email protected] or call (501) 690-9393 – if she doesn’t call you first! INSIDE: Highway Legend Myth Maryland's Driver of the Year is John Nash DISCOUNT TIRE PROGRAM NOW INCLUDES BFGOODRICH MMTA–MICHELIN Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2020 THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE MARYLAND MOTOR TRUCK ASSOCIATION 2020 MMTA Legislative Update 8/6/2019 Behind the Wheel Q3 Fall 2018 online.anyflip.com/ejlw/dngx/mobile/index.html 1/36 Big Data/Telematics in Trucking INSIDE: Wayne Gaumer Person of the Year Lightning Transportation MMTA Driver of the Year Spotlight on KELLY Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2019 THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE MARYLAND MOTOR TRUCK ASSOCIATION spite of this, the need for more truck parking is going to explode across this country as we attempt to transition to ZEVs. Without a dramatic improvement in battery technology (or widespread availability of hydrogen fuel vehicles), additional trucks will be needed to deliver the same amount of freight. According to ATRI’s calculations, the lost payload of an electric tractor is 13,800 pounds because of the weight of the battery. This means that it will require one additional truck on the road for about every four truck shipments today to deliver the same amount of cargo on our already congested roadways. Beyond the additional number of vehicles anticipated, other parking challenges will be caused because: • Charge time is several hours and battery ranges are currently 200 to 300 miles. A traditional diesel-powered tractor can travel 2,000 miles on a single tank and takes less than 15 minutes to fill up. • Installation costs at the nation’s existing truck parking locations for charging equipment will exceed $35 billion. • ATRI quantified the truck charging needs at a single rural rest area. It would require enough daily electricity to power more than 5,000 U.S. households. As an operator of convenience stores, I know those locations are designed for car charging. Money is made from the turnover of vehicles in those parking spots. There is simply no space to accommodate commercial vehicles that occupy a large footprint for a long period of time. Commercial trucks tend to be replaced when new models offer lower long-term costs than older ones. Given the long lifespan of a diesel engine, coupled with the uncertainties noted above, the replacement timeline of the conversion to ZEV trucks is optimistic at best and unrealistic for many industry segments. These vehicles are coming, but not in accordance with the timeline California and adopting states have laid out. Already, California is having to grapple with reality as it looks to scale back some of its timelines based on charging and equipment shortages. The truth is consumers can expect that their goods will continue to be delivered overwhelmingly by diesel trucks for many years to come. Eric Baumgart Carroll Motor Fuels 2022-2023 Chairman of the Board
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MDTRUCKING.ORG BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 9 CONTINUED The Maryland General Assembly concluded its 90-day session on April 10, 2023. Here’s a summary of the key issues that impact MMTA members. Most bills take effect October 1, 2023. BILLS THAT PASSED Rate Setting for Towing of Commercial Motor Vehicles Last year MMTA successfully pursued legislation that provides basic consumer protections for motor carriers, truck drivers, and insurers against excessive towing bills when the tow company is dispatched by the MD State Police (MSP). Under legislation that passed this year, the MSP will now have to establish a rate setting committee that includes an equal number of trucking companies and tow companies, along with some government agencies. The MSP must publish the maximum allowable tow rates that may be charged when they dispatch a tower by January 1, 2024. Once the rates are set, the provision in current law that requires a tow company to release a trucking company’s equipment with payment of a 20% deposit goes away; however, towers still will not be allowed to hold cargo. Zero Emission Truck Sales Mandate With the passage of Senate Bill 224, Maryland will join at least seven other states in adopting California’s Advance Clean Trucks Rule (ACT). This rule will require an increasing percentage of medium and heavy-duty truck sales in Maryland to be zero emission vehicles (e.g., electric or hydrogen fuel) beginning with the 2027 model year. Manufacturers who do not meet the percentages may be fined. Despite the passage of this new law, with heavy lobbying from the trucking industry, Maryland became the first state to impose restrictions on the ACT by requiring a needs assessment from five different agencies prior to implementation. The assessment must look at: 1.The additional electrical capacity, transmission distribution demands, and hydrogen fueling demands that will result from implementation of the regulations, and the ability of the state’s electric utilities, grid, and hydrogen infrastructure to meet those demands. 2.The number of zero–emission medium– and heavy–duty vehicle recharging and refueling stations recommended for implementation of the regulations, and the costs, permitting processes, and timelines for installing those stations. 3.The purchase incentives and other mechanisms recommended for successful implementation of the regulations, including incentives for recharging and refueling stations and related infrastructure, and the existing and potential sources of funding for those incentives and mechanisms. 4.The timeline, economic feasibility, and models available for transitioning medium– and heavy–duty vehicles in the state vehicle fleet to zero–emission trucks. It then authorizes the Department of the Environment to delay implementation of the regulations if the needs assessment determines that the transition goals are not yet feasible. With these amendments Maryland elected officials made the wise decision not to simply adopt an artificial and unachievable mandate without proper planning. Funding for ZEV Trucks In an effort to further incentivize the adoption of zero emission trucks, Governor Moore successfully pushed legislation that authorizes grants for up to 75% of the incremental cost difference between an internal combustion engine and zero emission truck. He also increased total available grant funding for the program from $1 million to $10 million per year. 2023 Maryland General Assembly Report BY LOUIS CAMPION MMTA PRESIDENT & CEO
10 BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 MDTRUCKING.ORG SALES: We build medium duty trucks to fi t your needs • Authorized dealer for International Truck and Engine Corporation • International programs to analyze truck effi ciency, performance and cost • Authorized distributor for Miller Industries Towing and Equipment Inc. which off ers rollback and wrecker equipment and car trailers • Financing available PARTS: Qualifi ed parts sales personnel • Large parts stock inventory available • Dependable delivery service • Towing parts and accessories SERVICE: Repairs for all makes and models • Buses, trucks and diesel engines • Maryland state inspection facility • Towing and road service available • Front end / 4 Wheel alignment HOURS OF OPERATION Mon-Fri: 7am-5pm (Administration, Sales and Service) • Mon-Fri: 7am-7pm • Sat: 8am-1pm (Parts Department Only) Serving Our Customers Since 1928 8600 Frederick Road, Ellicott City, MD 21043 410-465-4455 / 800-425-4455 www.westendservice.com WEST END SERVICE, INC. SALES, PARTS & SERVICE Basic electrical and hydraulic repairs – HOURS OF OPERATION – Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm (Administration, Parts, Sales and Service) CAPITOL TRUCK EQUIPMENT 3824 West Street, Landover, MD 20785 • 301-459-9560 / 888-863-8785 • www.capitoltruckequip.com Commercial Learner’s Permit Length & CDL Vision Screening The trucking industry’s current and future drivers should benefit from the passage of Senate Bill 709. This new law: 1.Extends the expiration date of a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) from 180 days to one year. 2.Removes duplicative state vision screening procedures for CDL holders who have a valid medical qualification. Those drivers will not have to take the vision screening test when renewing their CDLs as long as their medical qualifications are up to date. Family & Medical Leave Program Last year the General Assembly overrode former-Governor Hogan’s veto and established a mandatory paid medical leave program, which will provide up to 12 weeks of partially paid leave to employees in the state. Under legislation that passed this year, implementation of the program is delayed and modified as follows: • All employees, including selfemployed individuals, will be required to contribute to the fund. • Employers with 15 or more employees must also contribute. • The contribution amount will be split 50/50 between employees and employers. • The amount of contribution will not exceed 1.2% of an employee’s salary; however, the exact contribution amount will be set by the Department of Labor by October 1, 2023. • Contributions will start on October 1, 2024. • Employees will be able to use the fund to receive partial wages (ranging from 50% to 90%) beginning January 1, 2026. Minimum Wage Increase Maryland was previously scheduled to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by January 1, 2025 (for large employers) and January 1, 2026 (for small employers with less than 15 employees). However, Maryland’s hourly minimum wage will now rise to $15 for all employers effective January 1, 2024 with the passage of Senate Bill 555. Originally the legislation also tied future minimum wage increases to the Consumer Price Index, but that was stricken from the final bill. Cannabis Legalization Many discussions took place over the implementation of legalized recreational cannabis, which was approved by the voters last November. The General Assembly ultimately passed a licensing bill that governs how dispensaries will be set up. Employers will still be able to enforce their own policies against employment-related drug use.
MDTRUCKING.ORG BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 11 NAVY BLUE: PMS 2965 www.BPtruckcenters.com Now oering full-service leasing and rental! BALTIMORE POTOMAC TRUCK CENTERS, INC. Baltimore Truck Center, Inc. 610 Nursery Road Linthicum, MD 21090 410-636-6200 Baltimore Truck Center, Inc. 803 Central Avenue Linthicum, MD 21090 410-636-9330 Baltimore Truck Center, Inc. 11715 Greencastle Pike Hagerstown, MD 21740 301-733-1707 Potomac Truck Center, Inc. 3371 Kenilworth Avenue Bladensburg, MD 20710 301-864-2000 Potomac Truck Center, Inc. 7750 Progress Court Gainesville, VA 20155 703-753-6444 Windshield Glass Repair Windshield glass repair facilities will be required to inform customers if recalibration of a windshield is needed when it is equipped with an advanced driver assistance system before repairing or replacing the glass. They also must certify in a written statement that the work will meet or exceed original equipment manufacturer specifications and inform the customer if the recalibration was not performed or successfully completed. Sharpsburg CMV Parking Commercial motor vehicles will be prohibited from parking on any street or highway in the town of Sharpsburg, Maryland unless parking is essential to the immediate use of the vehicle (e.g., a delivery being made). BILLS THAT FAILED Rail Authority Established Efforts to establish a new MD Rail Authority with funding from tolls charged to motor vehicles died. MMTA opposed this because it would have resulted in substantial increases in tolls, the loss of discounts for high-volume toll spenders, and the redistribution of funds currently used for operations and maintenance of heavily-use trucking corridors. Noneconomic Damages Cap Legislation failed that would have eliminated Maryland’s noneconomic damages cap in civil cases. MMTA opposed this legislation on the grounds that removing the cap would make Maryland a laboratory for nuclear verdicts and staged accidents that have plagued the trucking industry in recent years. Salt Applicator Certification Legislation was introduced to require all businesses who apply salt to their sidewalks, parking lots, or roads to participate in a new salt applicator certification program. This program would have mandated the payment of an unspecified fee, keeping records of every salt application for three years, and submission of an annual report to the Department of the Environment. The bill died in committee. For questions, please contact Louis Campion at MMTA, 410-644-4600, [email protected].
12 BEHIND THE WHEEL Governor Lar | r Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 y Hogan MDOT Secretary Gregory Slater MDOT MPA Executive Director William P. DoyleMDTRUCKING.ORG marylandports.com | 1.800.638.7519 | BaltiMORE On-dock rail Robust real estate growth Less than two miles to Interstate 95 Access to 2/3 of the U.S. population within 24 hours WELCOME to the Port of Baltimore Governor Wes Moore MDOT Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld MDOT MPA Executive Director William P. Doyle
MDTRUCKING.ORG BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 13 CONTINUED CASH NO MORE Once upon a time, cash was king. Those that could do business in cash, preferred it. Then checks came along, providing a better system for tracking and accounting. Credit cards followed and were slowly gaining in popularity for corporate spending, but many companies in the U.S. were, until recently, reluctant to shift to credit cards. Three years ago, a tiny virus entered the picture and overnight changed the way business was done. Among the many impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic is the hastening of the demise of cash and checks. Credit cards, both plastic and virtual, have usurped the throne. Rather than bemoan the past, Maryland Motor Truck Association explored a way to turn the shift in corporate spending into an asset for MMTA members. “We’re always looking to add additional benefits for our members, whether that be a new product or service discount on top of other benefits like the less tangible networking opportunities, compliance assistance or lobbying,” said Louis Campion, president & CEO of MMTA. Traditional plastic credit cards that give money back for purchases are an established technology, first introduced in the 1970s. The rebate feature is one component, but not the most notable component, of the newest member benefit. Campion and the MMTA board wanted something that would do more than just give a good rate on cash returned based on purchases. After consulting with WEX, a global leader in financial services technology and B2B payments, already known to many in the MMTA through fuel card programs under the EFS name, a new program for members was born. Eric Hoffman, director of corporate payments sales at WEX, said WEX wanted to “put together a program to help benefit all companies, no matter the size, in the Maryland market.” He said, “This program allows any company that is a member of MMTA to get the same buying privileges (in the form of competitive rebate incentives) typically only available to very large corporations.” MORE THAN A PIECE OF PLASTIC Campion said when the association considered the various options, it became obvious that many other credit card programs came with a lot of fine print More Than Plastic Introducing the Newest MMTA Member Benefit BY DAVID MONTEITH CONTRIBUTING WRITER
14 BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 MDTRUCKING.ORG (410) 213-5600 /deeleyinsurance Maryland’s Transportation Insurance Specialists • Dry van • Refrigerator carriers • Flat bed operations • Auto haulers • Steel haulers • Intermodal/container haulers • Freight brokers • Transportation brokers • Recyclers • Specialty haulers Deeley Insurance Group will tailor a transportation insurance program to address your company’s specific risks. Our award-winning team has extensive experience in commercial trucking, safety management, and all aspects of the transportation business. Visit deeleyinsurance.com. We’ll help protect your fleet, your employees, and everything that matters most, so you can Be Sure. about great rates that only lasted for a limited time, or only applied to certain types of purchases, or mandated a minimum spending threshold before the rates went into effect. “Ours comes with no strings. There is no annual fee per card. There’s no limitation on what qualifies for the rebate,” Campion said. “This is just as clean as you can have it.” Yes, members of MMTA will have access to a branded corporate credit card that will help spread awareness of the organization. Yes, it will give companies cash back on their purchases, but this program also aims to make virtual credit cards accessible and advantageous for members. The newest MMTA member benefit includes more than a branded plastic card with a competitive rebate rate; it also includes the option for virtual cards that allow for greater protection against fraud and easier tracking of internal spending. Instead of using the same 16-digit number printed on a credit card for every purchase, a virtual card is a one-time use number making it far more secure. WEX generates, provides, and tracks a unique number for every purchase made with a virtual card. Those purchases also qualify for the rebate being offered to members. Hoffman gave an example common to every trucking company—a truck breaks down on the road. “On-road repairs used to be paid with a static 16-digit credit card number over the phone. That static number can be written down and used by anyone, so it puts that company and individual at risk,” said Hoffman. If, on the other hand, a virtual card was used, the driver would call dispatch with the exact amount on the invoice from the towing or repair service. WEX would issue a unique number specifically for that purchase amount, and once it’s used, the card number could not be used again. In addition to being convenient and more secure, using a virtual card also allows a company to collect detailed information on
MDTRUCKING.ORG BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 15 SALES • PARTS • SERVICE 800-832-7278 2723 Annapolis Road • Baltimore, MD 21230 • 410-685-4474 • www.BaltimoreFreightliner.com the transaction that can be used for easy reporting and reconciliation. Along with the standard details—amount of purchase, vendor, date, etc.—the name of the person who requested and issued the card is tracked, which is useful during audits. THE CARD IS VIRTUAL. THE CASH BACK IS REAL. Virtual cards may sound like new technology, but WEX has been delivering virtual card solutions for over 20 years. And the demand for virtual cards has risen since the onset of the pandemic. Suddenly, the standard process of requiring a physical signature on a payroll or reimbursement check became more challenging as people began working from home. Hoffman said, “We’re seeing about a 34 percent increase in supplier adoption to accept card payments versus a check among our existing customer base. Previously the suppliers would be hesitant to take a credit card because of the fees associated with it. The pandemic has accelerated the adoption to accept card payments because that merchant is going to get their money immediately.” The willingness of more companies in all industries to accept credit cards has the potential to become a significant revenue stream for MMTA members. Hoffman said the trending movement toward fully electronic payments is “going to help these trucking and transportation companies to be able to pay suppliers with a virtual credit card, and in turn earn revenue on those transactions.” With the rates negotiated for this member benefit, if a member company spends $6 million annually using the new physical and virtual cards, it would receive $102,000 cash back, enough to fund a new salary, raise driver pay, or make needed repairs. Campion pointed out that savings is compounded when some other benefits enter the equation. For example, the MMTA has agreements with Michelin and BFGoodrich Tires for discounts on their products if the purchase is made with a credit card. Using the new MMTA/WEX card as payment would trigger both the discount and the rebate. MORE DETAILS ON THE WAY Hoffman said WEX plans to host a series of quarterly webinars to answer questions from MMTA members regarding the new program. For those already using WEX payment systems, transitioning to the new program will be seamless. For those currently using other credit cards, WEX representatives and the webinars will help companies understand how to make the switch to virtual cards and what switching could mean for their bottom line. Interested in learning more? Contact Eric Hoffman at WEX, (615) 777-4888, [email protected].
MMTA’s Person of the Year: Dennis Morgan, Cowan Systems BY STEVE BRAWNER CONTRIBUTING WRITER For Morgan, Cowan Systems has become a second family PHOTO COURTESY COWAN SYSTEMS 16 BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 MDTRUCKING.ORG
Maryland Motor Truck Association 2023 Person of the Year Dennis Morgan wasn’t born into the Cowan Systems family, but after 45 years, he’s become a part of it. The Baltimore native has been working with the company or its predecessors in one capacity or another since 1978. He became CEO in January 2022, taking the place of Joe Cowan, the son of the company’s founder. Before that, he served as president. CONTINUED MDTRUCKING.ORG BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 17
18 BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 MDTRUCKING.ORG FREDERICK: 301-695-9652 GAITHERSBURG: 301-330-8473 HAGERSTOWN: 240-420-0009 Virginia Locations: Ashland, Brandy Station, Harrisonburg, Manassas, Verona, Winchester BALTIMORE: 410-737-8010 CUMBERLAND: 301-777-0400 DISTRICT HEIGHTS: 301-736-8797 MARYLAND LOCATIONS WWW.RICETIRE.COM RICE TIRE EXPERTS IN TIRE SOLUTIONS TM FLEET MAINTENANCE HEADQUARTERS WE ARE YOUR He now leads Maryland’s largest domiciled motor carrier and the number 63 carrier on the latest Transport Topics list of the Top 100 For-Hire Carriers in North America. Cowan Systems operates close to 2,500 trucks counting its 600 owner-operators and has about 7,500 dry van trailers. Between trucking, brokerage and warehousing, Morgan estimated that Cowan Systems generated $725 million in revenues this past year. The company reached its current size because of “A lot of dedicated, hard-working people,” Morgan said. “It’s truly a family here, particularly for the guys that have been here a long time. We provided a quality service. We did it at a competitive price. And it’s a people business, so people seem to like us. We do what we say. And we’ve been blessed to align ourselves with some good customers who allowed us to grow. We’ve done some acquisitions over the last 15 years, but most of the growth has been organic.” The company has grown every year except during the Great Recession years of 2008- 09. Starting originally in the mid-Atlantic, it now serves New England, the Southeast, and the Midwest. Major customers include B.J.’s Wholesale Club, the independent regional bottling companies serving Coca-Cola, the coffee/beverage company Keurig Dr. Pepper, HVAC distribution company R.E. Michel, rolled paper manufacturer Greif, and a
MDTRUCKING.ORG BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 19 flooring company Floor and Décor. “That’s a Joe Cowan thing: Never stop growing,” Morgan said. “Scale is everything in this business, and right now you can see what’s going on in our industry: The smaller carriers are really being hurt because the equipment prices have gone crazy in the last two or three years because of COVID. The availability of the equipment has gotten really challenging. You can’t buy what you need right now. The OEMs can’t produce based on lack of parts and demand. The cost of insurance, technology, safety, all of those things are really hurting the smaller carriers. So, again, Joe Cowan had the foresight that he needed scale, because if you don’t have scale, you can’t make a difference.” The company’s roots stretch back to 1924, when William T. Cowan started W.T. Cowan, Inc. with one truck hauling ice cream from Baltimore to Washington, D.C. Joe Cowan told the Baltimore Sun in 1990 that his dad would wear a business suit under his coveralls so he would be ready to meet with other shippers to get a backhaul. The business grew to provide LTL services throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. The company made its mark not only on the trucking industry, but on American history by hauling the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial depicting the Iwo Jima flag raising from its Brooklyn foundry to Arlington, Virginia, in 1954. Seven trucks hauled pieces of the 100- ton statue. Nine years later, W.T. Cowan transported 10 Peal bells and 53 carillon bells, to the Washington National Cathedral. The company transformed itself as deregulation began changing the industry. It created an irregular route truckload carrier, Key Way Transport, and started Key Warehouse Services, a warehouse and distribution company. Then in February 1994, Joe Cowan transformed it again. He sold Key Way and Key Warehouse and started Cowan Systems as a specialized, short-haul dedicated truckload carrier with four office employees and 35 drivers. Morgan said Cowan saw that a regional carrier would be more successful and easier to manage. It was too hard to recruit drivers for irregular, long-haul routes. The company does some regional long-haul work, but it’s a small portion of the business. The average length of haul per order is about 200 miles, with operations primarily in the East Coast and Midwest. The company operates mostly day cabs, and even drivers using sleepers typically get home at least twice each week. Morgan said that at the time, the term “dedicated carrier” wasn’t commonly used, but that’s the company Cowan was creating. Another early innovation was Cowan Systems’ emphasis on reducing weight in its tractor-trailer specification, allowing it to haul more product. The company worked with its manufacturers to reduce weight. It replaced its dual tires with super singles, CONTINUED
20 BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 MDTRUCKING.ORG and steel was replaced with aluminum. The company’s trailer manufacturer changed the design of its sidewall to make it thinner but stronger. Trailers went from 16,500 pounds to 12,000. Morgan came to the company in 1978. After growing up in Baltimore, he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Baltimore and later earned a master’s degree in finance from Loyola University. After graduating from college, he went to work at Maryland National Bank as an internal auditor while also working nights at the local Pantry Pride supermarket chain in the deli and seafood departments. For more than two years, he worked two jobs and more than 70 hours a week. He then took a job as an internal auditor with Sun Life Insurance Company of America. Within 60 days of his taking the job, however, the company announced it was leaving its longtime home in Baltimore and moving to Atlanta. He did not want to go with it. Fortunately, a friend of his recommended him to work for a small steamship container repair company, Chesapeake Container Repair, of which Joe Cowan owned half. Morgan first was involved with the company’s financial, administrative and information technology concerns. In 1985, Morgan was transferred to Key Way as vice president of administration. At the time it was doing about $50 million in sales. The company was all manually operated when he started there, so he researched software, learned to use it, installed it, and then trained the staff. “I have an undergrad degree in accounting, and I had a minor in IT, and then I have a master’s in finance,” he said. “So, I kid around that I was a nerd and a geek, so I’m a ‘neek.’” When the company became Cowan Systems, he became chief financial officer. As it grew, his job changed. The company hired an external accountant to take his place as CFO, and he became chief operating officer. He remained in that role until 2015, when he became president. He’s now in his second year as CEO. While Joe Cowan is no longer is involved in the company’s day-to-day operations, he still provides guidance and direction, and he and Morgan talk every day. Morgan said the two leaders have very different styles. While Cowan has a mentoring mindset with high expectations of his employees, Morgan is more laidback and detail-oriented, a reflection of his accounting and information technology background. Morgan jokes that Cowan is “77 going on 37.” “We’re very different,” Morgan said. “He always compliments me on the differences. It’s kind of funny, but I’ve learned so much from him. I know when to be tough and when not to be. We just have different personalities, different styles, and because I’ve been here for so long, I feel like I am part of the family even though my last name’s not Cowan. He’s always made me
MDTRUCKING.ORG BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 21 feel that way. So, it’s a unique place. I’ve been very fortunate that I found this place, and I’ve created a career here, and I’ve made so many friends.” Morgan has been an active member of the MMTA. He joined the board of directors in 2007, served until 2021, and was chairman from 2015 to 2016. He also served two terms on the executive committee. He’s participated in the Call on Washington and helped President and CEO Louis Campion with other lobbying and education efforts. Morgan was particularly active in MMTA’s efforts to extend Maryland’s intervals for preventive maintenance (PM) inspections from every 25,000 miles to every 35,000 miles for newer equipment. The state has one of the nation’s most stringent requirements in the country. Maryland’s tight window mean that some trucks were getting inspected four to five times a year, creating a bureaucratic headache and an unnecessary expense by taking a truck off the road for a day while it’s being inspected. Morgan was a leader in MMTA’s two-year effort to open that window farther. The legislative sponsor was persuaded by the environmental argument that the intervals would only apply to newer, cleaner trucks under five years old. “That was really driven by Dennis, who reached out to me to say, what do you think about this? Is there even an option for us to move something forward?” Campion said. “He was really the driver behind that. He has had a number of legislators visit Cowan Systems to the industry’s advantage because once elected officials see what a professional operation they have, it changes their entire perspective of the trucking industry.” Morgan has also spoken before legislators on industry-specific panels. He testified with Campion before the entire House Republican caucus in 2016 in Annapolis on the state of the trucking industry. Under his leadership, the company has hosted key legislative committees, and officials with the Department of the Environment. Cowan is also a strong supporter of MMTA’s Driver of the Year award and Maryland State Truck Driving Championships. Dennis was presented with the Chairman’s Award in 2021 by outgoing chair Jack Saum, CEO of Beltway Companies, the International dealership that has been Cowan’s primary truck supplier for many years. Saum said he CONTINUED
22 BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 MDTRUCKING.ORG presented the award to Morgan “Because of his leadership, his dedication to the association, and his being a huge presence in the industry for such a significant period of time.” “Dennis is a perfect gentleman. We have collaborative conversations,” Saum said. “We lay issues out on the table, and we work through them with the resources we have as best as possible. Dennis always makes it very clear that everybody’s got to have a win. [His philosophy is], ‘If I ask you to do it for nothing, I doubt I can come back and ask again, so I want to make sure everybody’s winning.’” It’s for all of these reasons that Dennis was an easy choice for MMTA’s Person of the Year award, says Campion. While Cowan Systems has been Morgan’s livelihood these past 45 years, it’s not his whole life. Morgan and his wife, Judy, have been married 47 years after first becoming a couple as ninth graders. They raised three children including two daughters, and a son who passed away three years ago. They have seven grandchildren, five of whom live nearby and whom they see often. They call him “Papa.” He and Judy like to travel domestically and own two condominiums on or near a beach – one in Ocean City, and one in Vero Beach, Richard B. Rudy, Inc. = Food-Grade Transportation 1 Bernard Street, Frederick, MD 21701 | 800-272-RUDY | www.rbrudy.com • Food-grade transportation of sugars, liquid sweeteners, vinegars, other liquid food-grade items • Full tank wash and sanitization facility • Short- and long-term leasing programs for tank and van trailers • Dry storage and cold storage warehousing available short- and long-term lease • Build-to-suit land available Committed to quality food-grade service since 1938. Congratulations Dennis Morgan! Kosher certified. Orthodox Union member. Transportation & Warehousing
MDTRUCKING.ORG BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 23 THE POWERTRAIN THAT’S SHIFTING WHAT’S POSSIBLE LEARN MORE AT INTERNATIONALTRUCKS.COM/S13 48158_Navistar S13_7.75x5_Non-Bleed.indd 2 8158_Navistar S13_7.75x5_Non-Bleed.indd 2 4/22/23 12:45 PM /22/23 12:45 PM Florida. He also likes to play golf and is an avid duckpin bowler, which is a Baltimore tradition. He came to his love of the sport as a young person when his mother worked in a bowling alley. His high score is 246 in a game where it’s harder to throw strikes compared to traditional bowling. He was an undefeated six-week champion on the WBAL-TV show “Pin Busters” in the 1960s. Dennis also served on the board of directors for Baltimorebased Jobs, Housing and Recovery, a nonprofit agency serving homeless men with histories of chronic substance abuse, and recently joined the Truist Bank Baltimore Advisory Board. Now 68, Morgan said he often is asked when he might retire. “I’ve been working here since 1978 so it’s part of who I am, and I’m part of a family. It’s a hard decision when you want to hang it up,” he said. “But I am getting older, and I sure can’t work forever. I am letting go of some things day by day, because there are some really talented people behind me that are going to take my place and do a better job” In the meantime, he’ll remain CEO of the company he’s called home – and family – for 45 years. And Cowan Systems, MMTA, and the trucking industry overall will benefit.
24 BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 MDTRUCKING.ORG Motor carriers have faced more than their fair share of challenges in recent years, including driver shortages, increasing fuel prices, and a myriad of other issues spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, one of the most significant threats to the trucking industry is the issue of employee misclassification involving owner-operators. Should an owner-operator be found to have been misclassified as an independent contractor instead of an employee, the motor carrier can be subject to a wide range of legal claims. Class action attorneys have targeted motor carriers on these types of issues given the potential for significant attorney fee awards should they prevail on misclassification claims. Increasing scrutiny of the misclassification issue is occurring at the state and federal level and is involving both legislative and regulatory initiatives. Two of the most noteworthy efforts, California Assembly Bill 5 (“AB5”), passed in 2019, and the U.S. Department of Labor’s (“DOL”) recent push to redefine the term “independent contractor.” Motor carriers that utilize owner-operators are wise to stay abreast of these legal developments and prepare for potential changes by evaluating the ways in which they classify and utilize owner-operators. Key State Legislative Developments: California’s Assembly Bill 5 State legislatures are increasing their focus on owner-operator relationships. Laws such as AB5, make it more difficult for companies to use owner-operators. Mounting Pressure on the Use of Owner-Operators BY ALBERT B. RANDALL, JR. & STEPHANIE M. BROZNOWICZ GUEST WRITERS
MDTRUCKING.ORG BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 25 BBEESSTT IINN CCLLAASSSS DDEEAALLEERR GGRROOUUPP MMEEDDIIUUMM DDUUTTYY DDEEAALLEERR OOFF 22002222 33 PPLLAATTIINNUUMM OOVVAALL AAWWAARRDDSS 1111 PPLLAATTIINNUUMM SSEERRVVIICCEE AAWWAARRDDSS WWW.HUNTERTRUCK.COM 22002222 PPEETTEERRBBIILLTT AACCHHIIEEVVEEMMEENNTTSS:: Under AB5, the relationship between truckers and their carriers, brokers, and even shippers will now be governed by the “ABC” test in California to determine whether the trucker is an employee or an independent contractor. The California Supreme Court first recognized the test in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court (2018) 4 Cal.5th 903. The Dynamex ruling established a presumption that all workers are employees unless the employer can prove otherwise. Now, in order to be considered an independent contractor under the law, the below three prongs must be satisfied: A. The worker is free from the control and direction of the hiring entity; B. The worker performs work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entity’s business; AND C. The worker is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business of the same nature as the work performed. AB5 and similar legislation can fundamentally change the way trucking companies do business across the country. Carriers may have to reclassify their formerly independent drivers to employees, or they will have to drastically change the way the two parties do business in order to avoid claims of misclassification. Independent drivers will have less flexibility in choosing their work, and companies will be required to provide benefits and certain wages to their newly-recognized employees. Many experts believe the legislation will increase labor costs, thereby creating additional costs for consumers. It is important to recognize that AB5 does not directly ban owner-operators, but the legislation does make it much more difficult for trucking companies to utilize them without incurring sizable legal risk to use them. Other states, such as Illinois, New Jersey, Washington, and New York, have considered similar legislation, and there CONTINUED Charlie Kelchner Sales Professional [email protected] (609) 377-4510 greatdane.com C M Y CM MY CY CMY K
26 BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 MDTRUCKING.ORG Kelly Benefits is pleased to be endorsed by the Maryland Motor Truck Association (MMTA) is fear that many other jurisdictions will attempt to implement these types of changes. The Biden Administration’s Efforts Additionally, the Biden administration has identified employee misclassification as a key objective. President Joe Biden has vowed to be “the most pro-union president you’ve ever seen.” Shortly after President Biden took office, the Department of Labor attempted to reverse a new definition of “independent contractor” that the Labor Department published in January 2021, the final days of the Trump Administration; however, courts held that the Biden administration did not allow for enough time for public comment. The DOL is again working on rewriting the definition. Most recently, a DOL proposed rule would make it more difficult for companies to classify workers as independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), a change that is expected to shake up many industries that rely on gig workers or owner-operators, including the trucking industry. The proposal would require that workers be considered employees when they are “economically dependent” on a company. This will ensure that the employees are entitled to more benefits and legal protections than if the workers were identified as independent contractors, such as minimum wage and workers’ compensation benefits. Worker dependency would be determined by the “economic realities test,” which is made up of six factors: the extent to which the work performed is an integral part of the hiring entity’s business; the worker’s opportunity for profit or for loss; the nature and extent of the worker’s investment in his or her business; whether the work performed requires special skills or education; the permanency of the relationship between both parties; and the degree of control exercised by the employer. While several of the factors could potentially present problems to employers, BALTIMORE, MD | 410.675.9555 A.B.C. Radiator & A/C SALES - SERVICE - INSTALLATION Family Owned & Operated Since 1970 • New Radiators in stock • CAC’s, EGR coolers and DPF filters available • Pickup and Delivery • A/C hoses made • Fuel tank repair and cleaning • Mobile A/C service
MDTRUCKING.ORG BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 27 We were great before - look at us now! TRUCK ENTERPRISES We are here to support you with 32 locations in 10 states servicing the mid-Atlantic and the intermountain West. We are your preferred Kenworth dealer. www.TruckEnterprises.com 13510 Volvo Way Hagerstown, MD 21742 301-739-5577 Virginia Locations: Manassas, Brandy Station, Harrisonburg, Winchester someone will be contacting him or her, just like is done currently. MyTH: We will lose driving time and money ‘hand over fist’ if we implement elDs First off, you need to ask yourself: Why do you believe this? Is it that you know you have drivers operating past the hours-ofservice limits to generate extra revenue? Are you overbooking loads, making promises your drivers can’t keep, having drivers lose too much time to unnecessary sitting, or suffering from a workload distribution problem? The truth is that if you have drivers that are operating over the hours-of-service limits to generate more revenue, you are at high risk for a significant financial and credibility loss due to an auditing penalty or to post-crash litigation — whether you are using paper logs or ELDs. Possible solutions to this dilemma include effecting a change in the operational tempo and revenue expectations, reducing sitting time within the fleet (time spent waiting to load or unload, breakdowns, etc.), better distributing of the workload, • Fleet P.M. Program • D.O.T. Indpections • MD State Inspections “Trailers” • Road Service • DuPont Certified Paint Facility / 60ft. Paint Booth • R.V. Body Repairs • Maxon Liftgate Distributor • Interlift Liftgate Distributor • Morgan Parts Distributor / Warranty • Great Dane / Utility Warranty Facility Maryland Mobile Trailer Service, Inc. • Since 1983 • 6735 DORSEY ROAD, ELKRIDGE, MD 21075 410-761-4884 PHONE 410-379-6090 FAX COMPLETE TRAILER & TRUCK MAINTENANCE FACILITY www.mmtanet.com BEHind tHE WHEEl ~ Q3 Fall 2016 19 ➥ 27 the test appears to be less restrictive than the ABC test mentioned above. Independent Contractors in Maryland Under general Maryland law, courts determine whether a worker is an independent contractor or employee based upon several criteria, including: (1) who has the right to control and direct the work; (2) who has the right to select and/or discharge the worker that will perform the work; (3) how wages are paid; (4) whether the work is part of the employer’s regular business; and (6) the intention of the parties when entering into the relationship. Two specific areas of law, involving workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance, have their own statutes and corresponding regulations that more clearly CONTINUED SHORTLY AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN TOOK OFFICE, THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE A NEW DEFINITION OF “INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR” THAT THE LABOR DEPARTMENT PUBLISHED IN JANUARY 2021, THE FINAL DAYS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION; HOWEVER, COURTS HELD THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DID NOT ALLOW FOR ENOUGH TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. THE DOL IS AGAIN WORKING ON REWRITING THE DEFINITION.
28 BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 MDTRUCKING.ORG delineate the factors that the respective agencies will rely upon when determining whether an owner-operator is an employee for purposes of their respective benefits. Motor carriers are strongly encouraged to ensure that their equipment leases and/ or transportation service agreements comply with those specific statutes in order to lessen their exposure to workers’ compensation and unemployment benefits. Practical Considerations Motor carriers must keep a keen eye on these legal developments while continuing to evaluate their use of owner-operators. Below are some of the ways that some motor carriers are preparing for changes to the legal landscape: 1. Updating Owner-Operator Agreements While the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act (“FMCSA”) imposes many requirements on motor carriers wishing to utilize owneroperators as part of their business models, the FMCSA still allows some flexibility in the use of owner-operators. As a result, motor carriers have choices in how they can draft these types of agreements. By carefully exercising their discretion in what optional provisions to include or exclude, motor carriers can help limit their exposure in misclassification claims. 2. Initiating a Brokerage Arm A second option that some motor carriers are gravitating towards is to open a brokerage entity to govern their relationships with their owner-operators. This brokerage-type relationship will likely pass the “B” prong of the above test because brokers are technically outside of the course of the hiring entity’s and independent driver’s business. There are additional costs in establishing a broker arm, but this is may be a viable option for some. Many carriers now see the broker model as an option to avoid hiring full-time employee drivers if legislative measures chip away at, or eliminate altogether, the traditional owneroperator model. Two events must occur in order to make the brokerage model sufficient: a. The licensed motor carrier must establish a brokerage operation. b. Owner-operators must secure operating licenses as Licensed Motor Carriers (LMCs). Many owner-operator drivers, especially in California, are already beginning to establish themselves as limited liability companies. The drivers can then receive loads from the trucking companies’ brokerage divisions. However, it can be a lot of work and money for an independent driver to file as a business entity such as a limited liability company and may not be a feasible option for every owner-operator. 3. Two check system Another potential solution to stricter legislation surrounding owner-operators is for carriers to pay their drivers using a two-check system. Two-check systems have been around for years, although they’re not commonly used. Under this system, the driver is not classified as an independent contractor, but, rather, is an actual employee of the motor carrier; however, the driver also has an agreement to rent his or her equipment to the motor carrier. The first check is for the employee’s wages and the second is for the equipment rental. There are potential areas of concern with this system if implemented improperly. For example, some motor carriers believe that they can pay the driver minimum wage and put the rest of the money toward the truck’s rental. The Internal Revenue Service may view this as shielding income, which can lead to legal ramifications. Another issue is that a two-check system does not usually provide the flexibility that MANY OWNER-OPERATOR DRIVERS, ESPECIALLY IN CALIFORNIA, ARE ALREADY BEGINNING TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES AS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES. THE DRIVERS CAN THEN RECEIVE LOADS FROM THE TRUCKING COMPANIES’ BROKERAGE DIVISIONS.
MDTRUCKING.ORG BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 29 both motor carriers and owneroperators seek. Certainly, there is no fail-safe method to eliminate legal risk altogether when utilizing any independent contractors, much less owner-operators which pose different legal challenges. Having said that, motor carriers that pay attention to these legal developments and act quickly can dramatically reduce their legal exposure and help avoid being targeted by class-action lawyers and governmental auditors. Bert Randall is a principal with Franklin & Prokopik and serves as general counsel to Maryland Motor Truck Association. He can be reached at [email protected], (410) 230-3622. Stephanie Broznowicz is an associate with Franklin & Prokopik. Her practice focuses on workers compensation issues. She can be reached at sbroznowicz@ fandpnet.com, (410) 230-3968. Start the conversation Nichole Johnson, [email protected] business.bofa.com See what’s next How can you gain a strategic advantage? Through data-driven insights, cutting-edge digital tools and industry-leading security designed to drive your business. What would you like the power to do?® “Bank of America” and “BofA Securities” are the marketing names used by the Global Banking and Global Markets divisions of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, other commercial banking activities, and trading in certain financial instruments are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Trading in securities and financial instruments, and strategic advisory, and other investment banking activities, are performed globally by investment banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (“Investment Banking Affiliates”), including, in the United States, BofA Securities, Inc. and Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corp., both of which are registered broker-dealers and Members of SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, by locally registered entities. BofA Securities, Inc. and Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corp. are registered as futures commission merchants with the CFTC and are members of the NFA. Investment products offered by Investment Banking Affiliates: Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not Bank Guaranteed May Lose Value ©2023 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved. GBGM-571-AD 5405733
30 BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 MDTRUCKING.ORG ON THE Pitt Ohio’s Kahl Named Maryland’s Driver of the Year Maryland's 2022 Drivers of the Month Maryland Driver of the Year Ricky Kahl (center) with Eric Bumgart (L) and Russell Brehm (R) Pitt Ohio Receives the Chairman's Safety Award from Great West The combined records of the Drivers of the Month equal 287 years of experience and over 18 million miles of safe driving. Congratulations to all of our winners for their incredible safety records! On January 26, 2023, Ricky Kahl of Pitt Ohio was named Maryland’s truck driver of the year by the Maryland State Police. Kahl was one of 12 drivers recognized by Maryland Motor Truck Association as the 2022 Drivers of the Month, with the State Police choosing him from among the 12 winners as the Driver of the Year. Kahl has driven for 33 years, traveling over 3 million safe miles. Also at the Safety Awards Banquet, the winners were announced of MMTA’s fleet safety contest. They were: 0 - 250,000 Miles Division DIGGING & RIGGING II 250,001 – 500,000 Miles Division COMER CONSTRUCTION 500,001 – 1,000,000 Miles Division TOWN & COUNTRY MOVERS Over 1,000,000 Miles Division PITT OHIO Pitt Ohio received the grand trophy for having the lowest accident frequency rate among all winners. Congratulations to all of our drivers and companies for their outstanding safety records! Maryland's 2022 Drivers of the Month
MDTRUCKING.ORG BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 31 January 2022 Matthew Davis Lee Transport February 2022 Dave Tregoning Richard B Rudy March 2022 Felix Guinto UPS April 2022 Richard Casey Carroll Motor Fuels May 2022 Ricky Kahl Pitt Ohio June 2022 Gregory Hunt D M Bowman July 2022 Shawn Gibson Gaines and Company August 2022 William Menjivar-Diaz Town and Country Movers September 2022 Barry Perkins Cowan Systems October 2022 Rodney Goldinger William N Mason November 2022 Thomas Maleski FedEx Express December 2022 Kevin Smith Hansen and Adkins Fleet Safety Winners 0 – 250,000 Miles ____________________ Digging & Rigging II 250,001 – 500,000 Miles_______________ Town and Country Movers 500,001 – 1,000,000 Miles _____________ Comer Construction Over 1,000,000 Miles _________________ Pitt Ohio Ricky Kahl Pitt Ohio Driver of the Year Maryland 2022 Drivers of the Month
2 BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 MDTRUCKING.ORG C M Y CM MY CY CMY K MMTA PDF.pdf 1 11/18/2022 10:29:50 AM Partners Baltimore Recycling Center Shipley Transport Standard Petroleum Logistics Contributors RPK, Safety Consultant Karl Lehmann Donald Long Thank you for your generosity! 2023 Person of the Year Sponsors Benefactors Mentors
HDHWE|2PNSM 2MRKGRfifffflffiflfifffflffiflfflfflfifflffiflfflffl flflfffflfflflfflfffffflfflfffflffifffflfflfffflffflffffl ffl ffi fflffffl fffflfflfl fflffffl flfl fiffifflfflfifffflffifffl C M Y CM MY CY CMY K MMTA PDF.pdf 1 11/18/2022 10:29:50 AM Partners Baltimore Recycling Center Shipley Transport Standard Petroleum Logistics Contributors RPK, Safety Consultant Karl Lehmann Donald Long Thank you for your generosity! 2023 Person of the Year Sponsors Benefactors Mentors
ADVERTISER RESOURCE INDEX Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 This publication was made possible with the support of these corporate advertisers. They support the trucking industry by enabling MMTA to provide this publication to its members, prospective members, elected officials and the business community at large. They deserve your consideration and patronage when making your corporate purchasing decisions. Please visit mdtrucking.org to see the digital version of Behind the Wheel with live links to advertisers’ websites. ABC Radiator ............................................................26 Baltimore Auto Supply................................................ 8 Behind the Wheel....................................................... 6 Beltway Companies..................................................29 Baltimore Freightliner...............................................15 Baltimore Potomac Truck Centers.............................11 Bank of America........................................................29 BF Goodrich Michelin .................. INSIDE BACK COVER Brad’s Fuel Filtering .................................................... 7 C.J. Miller..................................................................25 Carroll Motor Fuels....................................................33 Cottingham & Butler.................................................20 Deeley Insurance ......................................................14 Duralene/The United Oil Company............................ 4 Great Dane Trailers....................................................25 Great West Casualty Company ................ BACK COVER Griffith Energy Services ............. INSIDE FRONT COVER Hunter Truck..............................................................25 Kelly Benefits............................................................26 Maryland Mobile Trailer Service, Inc.........................27 Maryland Ports..........................................................12 Navistar/International...............................................23 Rice Tire .....................................................................18 Richard B. Rudy.........................................................22 Scott B. Taylor Retirement Services...........................34 Trimble Transportation..............................................25 Truck Enterprises Hagerstown ..................................27 West End Service.......................................................10 MMTA NEW MEMBERS 34 BEHIND THE WHEEL | Q2 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 MDTRUCKING.ORG Accion Opportunity Fund Ace Relocation Systems Advantage Landscape & Construction, Inc. AnA General Contractors, LLC Associated Utility Contractors of MD., Inc. Brown Insurance Group Brown, Schultz, Sheridan & Fritz Capital Logistics, LLC Carey Distributors, Inc. CEM Rolloffs Clearview Auto Glass & Repair CPE, Inc. Eastern Moving & Storage Co., Inc. ECBM Insurance Brokers & Consultants Enterprise Database Corporation First National Bank Gabe's Services, Inc. Gerner Energy LLC Glenelg Construction, Inc. Gradeline Construction Iacoboni Site Specialists Legends Limited Monel & Sons Trucking, Inc. Orrstown Bank Penske Truck Leasing Jessup Positive Psyche.Biz Ruan Transportation Southern Maryland Moving The Fraley Group Touton Logistics, Inc. United CDL Training School
ROUTE CONTROL® S ROUTE CONTROL® D © 2020 MNA, Inc. All rights reserved. BFGoodrichTruckTires.com Right now, fleets and drivers across North America are working harder than ever to keep the economy running. And we couldn’t be more grateful. There’ll be time to relax with friends and family soon enough. Until then, thank you for driving and delivering—no matter what. WITHOUT TODAY’S FLEETS AND DRIVERS, THERE WOULD BE NO SUPPLY CHAIN.
Values Drive Performance 800.228.8602 gwccnet.com Shared Values Can Lead to Organizational Excellence We understand you are in business to make a profit. Our Value-Driven® Company modules can help you reduce losses and increase profits by focusing on influencing employee behavior, changing culture, improving communication, and managing risk successfully. We believe it is everyone’s job to do what they can to prevent losses. We have developed a variety of training tools to help get all employees involved in safety. From seminars and webinars to Self-Service e-Tools and FAQs, we have solutions to fit your operations. We see “Critical Crashes” as a risk to your company. Our Value-Driven® Driving program focuses on helping drivers do what they can to prevent these types of accidents: rear-end, loss of control, lane change, and run under. All of our driver training programs are FREE to our insureds and can be accessed 24/7 on Great West’s Online Learning Library. GREAT WEST CASUALTY COMPANY – No matter where the road takes you, you will discover that at Great West, The Difference is Service®.