Over the Road November 2022

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Robert D. Scheper

Making Your Miles Count PODCAST

Beginning in January 2023 and in association with Over the Road Magazine, Making Your Miles Count will be producing a PODCAST to serve Canadian Truck Drivers and Operators. I have been researching topics and formats parttime for over two years. So far, I have discussed/ outlined two topics in my September article, and two in my October article. Below are two more topics on my list.

5. DAVE RAMSEY IN CANADA

Dave Ramsey is one of the most influential talk show hosts in North America and he has touted debt-free living for over three decades. Heard on over 600 radio stations and listed in the top five most watched You-tube channels in the world (18+ million viewers a week), Dave Ramsey is a loud and sobering voice of financial reason. Notwithstanding his personal bankruptcy in 1988, his estimated worth today is somewhere between $200 and $300 million dollars which exemplifies his meteoric successful philosophy.

Having a PODCAST about financial growth, success, and independence without at least mentioning Ramsey Solutions would be more than a little naive. The Ramsey way is the benchmark for debt-free living. However, despite his great literary, radio, seminar, and publishing success, why does he not have an official presence in Canada? Why, is it actually “ILLEGAL” to purchase some of his material in our great and vast country? What diabolic message or “anti-Canadian” voice does he hold? Simply put, his trademark course on debt-free living is called “Financial Peace University” and according to our Canadian government he is not registered or accredited to use the name/word “University”. Apparently, this word is managed by our government officials. It is one of the most

outrageous (and even hilarious) examples of governmental inefficiencies that our country displays.

Even though the program is technically illegal to purchase or utilize in Canada, there are literally thousands who have gone through the nineweek course and have emerged debt free and are now travelling on a new financial path. The smugglers and underground network are alive and well, though often hard to find. However, I shall leave the topic alone for now because if I draw too much attention to this illegal program, our government may resurrect the Emergencies Act and send out the police to people’s homes to seek out and shut down this great process of getting out of debt.

A PODCAST focused on building financial success requires a lot of research. The internet is loaded with personalities and experts selling their ideas, their philosophy, and wares for success. There are hundreds of “experts” in numerous areas of financial counsel. Personally, I have gained knowledge from many great people and programs. In my research, I have learned one primary requirement… Interpolation which is: the act of inserting something foreign into the original message. In other words, taking a truth from the message and applying it in your own life without the context originally presented. Dave Ramsey is an Evangelical Christian and does not shy away from placing his teaching in that context. It must also be noted that many other “experts” have their own philosophies and religions. Whenever we look to gain wisdom, we must learn to interpolate as may be needed; to take the truth only and apply it independently of its original context. Dave Ramsey is a prime example. Not everyone is an Evangelical Christian, and some may even be hostile to

this type of belief. In seeking personal wisdom, many/most teachers must be interpolated in some form, large or small. If we only gain wisdom from those who believe exactly as we do, we will draw from a very shallow pool.

There are other things about Ramsey that requires interpolation. He talks about 401 Ks and IRAs, something foreign to Canadian financial terminology. We have RRSPs and TFSAs and very little need for health insurance. The Ramsey plan needs to be adapted to the Canadian market.

6. BUILDING WEALTH AS A DRIVER OR OPERATOR ISN’T WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

I have two clients that have been with me for well over ten years. They both started with little to no net worth. After well over a decade their current circumstances display a staggering difference; one has less than $150,000 of net worth while the other has in excess of $550,000. Allow me to tell you the circumstances and then you decide which set of choices produced which result.

One client made $150 K pre-tax while the other never made more than $40 K (no other family income). One client had exotic and unique vacations, the other… well I never heard of anything special (though I am sure there was something informal). One client was divorced and the other is married with at least 4 kids at home. One has built at least two homes and has a high mortgage and the other paid off their mortgage about two years ago. One operates on a very tight cash flow and the other gives regularly to charity. One has a boat and hot tub payments and the other does not. One purchases a new vehicle every few years and the other has a 10-15-year-old minivan (paid for). One is on their third new truck and the other is on their second (the first got written off).

Just by looking at their behaviour you can see they have dramatically different lifestyles. It is not a reflection of their morals but their values. It is just their regular accumulated choices, year over year. Hollywood and advertisers would imply the high earner would be the high-networth client, but is it so?

In the end we use common sense to evaluate other people’s choices, but can we use common sense to guide our own? Is our goal to LOOK successful or BE successful? Do we make choices because of what we need or because of what others have? Building wealth long term requires a cumulative set of focused decisions. It’s hard to ignore or hide the net effect after ten plus years.

Being an accountant to Independent Operators has its advantages. Over time we can see the results an accumulated string of choices can bring. One thing I can confirm; there is a good living to be made in this industry if discipline and restraint are practiced.

The PODCAST is designed for industry information and educational purposes. It is not designed to make me popular or a social influencer. I seek to assist Drivers in building long-term financial wealth and stability, outside any dependence on government “cradle to grave” standards. Building wealth as a truck driver and/operator is not difficult if the right formula is followed. In fact, it is probably one of the easiest industries to succeed in. I know plenty of very wealthy Drivers and Operators who are well prepared for retirement. You can be too.

About the Author:

Robert D. Scheper is a leading Accountant and Consultant to the Lease/Owner operator industry in Canada. His first book in the Making Your Miles Count series “taxes, taxes, taxes” was released in 2007. His firm exclusively serves Lease/Owner Operators across Canada. His second book “Choosing a Trucking company” is the most indepth analysis of the operator industry available today. He has a Master’s degree (MBA) in financial management and has been serving the industry since he and his wife came off the road in 1993. His dedication, commitment and strong opinions can be read and heard in many articles and seminars.

You can find him at www.makingyourmilescount.com or 1-877-987-9787.

SAFETY DAWG

Chris Harris

ATRI’s Latest Crash Predictor Model

Recently, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released a new study. I think that you will find the results of the study incredibly interesting. You can read the study at: https://truckingresearch. org/2022/10/11/atris-latest-crash-predictormodel-corroborates-strong-role-of-driverbehaviors-to-future-truck-crashes/

The reason that I am sharing this study is that the study was very large and complete, and I believe that the results are quite reliable. Note that the data/study is all based on American statistics. They studied 583,805 drivers (well over half a million truck drivers) and two years of data was used (2017 and 2018). Interestingly, 6.6% of the drivers had “at least one conviction.”

For me, studying more than a half million drivers and relating their convictions and crashes together is hugely valuable. This study is what trucking companies and their insurers use to determine if you are a good fit to drive for their company. The study takes all of a driver’s information, previous violations, previous convictions and prior crashes and puts it together in an easy-tounderstand format.

As I am a trucking safety geek, if I was hiring drivers, this would be the guide that I would use. So, I think each and every one of you truck drivers that are perhaps looking for a new job, should be aware of this study. You could even reference the study in your job interview and say that you don’t have any of these types of violations, as statistically, this makes you a safe driver.

So, what are some of the predictors of a future crash? Please remember that when we are talking about “predictors of future crashes”, this doesn’t mean that you WILL be involved in a crash. It is an indication that you are more LIKELY to be involved in a collision.

According to this study:

• If you have a violation for “failure to yield the right of way” you are 141% more likely to be involved in a crash

• If you have a violation for “failure to use/ improper signal conviction” you are 116% more likely to be involved in a crash

• If you have either of these two previous violations, you are statistically more likely to have a crash than those drivers with a past crash on their record

• If you are one of the drivers who have a “past crash” on your record, you are 113% more likely to have a future accident

• A “reckless driving violation” puts you at 104% more likely to have a crash

According to this study, the above convictions all indicate that you are more likely to have a crash than if you have a previous speeding conviction. A speeding conviction (1 to 15 mph over) or violation only puts you at 48%. I think that many drivers have had a speeding violation and yet, on the list of what predicts a future crash, there are 12 items that are deemed worse than speeding.

If you are a driver with a speeding violation, you can explain this in your interview for a new position. Tell the recruiter that you made a mistake, that you are very remorseful for the mistake, but at least it is not one of the other violations that this study shows are greater than 50% to likely have a crash.

A conviction puts you at 46% more likely to have a future crash.

If you have wondered about “why do all recruiters want to see an up-to-date abstract”, now you know. They and their insurance companies want to know what your past driving record is like, as your past predicts the future. Oh, I hear some of you telling me that “I can change, that speeding ticket I received has slowed me down and now I don’t rush”. That may be true for some of you, but for most of us, change is not that easy. We might make the change in the short term, but a year from

when we received that ticket, have we really changed?

We all know that changing a habit is very difficult. I have some habits that I have been trying to change for 40 years and I have not yet been successful. I can change for a short period of time, but permanent change for some of my bad habits still eludes me after many years of trying.

As mentioned previously, another geeky stat is that 6.6% of truck drivers will have a crash. Wow! That says to me that almost 7 out of 100 drivers will be involved in a crash. And the crash does not have to be your fault.

The ATRI study, basically says that if you have a violation, conviction, or a past crash, you are more likely to be involved in a future crash. How much more likely? Well, that depends on past events. No wonder recruiters and insurance companies want to see your Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) or Abstract. It is a predictor of the future. Hooray for “clean abstracts!” If you have some time I encourage each of you to read this study, I think it’s important information for everyone to have.

Stay safe.

Chris Harris

Top Dawg, Safety Dawg Inc. 905-973-7056 chris@safetydawg.com @safety_dawg (twitter)

Meet WITney!

The Mission of Women In Trucking includes the goal to, “encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry.” Our idea of a mobile unit in a semi-trailer was realized in 2019 when Walmart agreed to donate a trailer to be fitted as a moving educational center.

The goal was realized when the Driver Ambassador Program was launched. The construction began and the trailer was fitted with touch screen monitors, videos, a timeline and a clothing display with boots, clothing and safety gear all made for women in trucking by woman-owned companies.

Graphic designs were considered, and a superhero theme was the winner. A contest to name the trailer resulted in the name WITney!

Donations started arriving, such as tires from Michelin, a donation from FedEx Freight, an automated dolly from Patriot Lift and so much more. Eventually, we received donations of fuel from Pilot

WOMEN IN TRUCKING

Ellen Voie

Flying J, truck washes from Blue Beacon, and numerous discounts from vendors.

The work was done by Bolt Custom Trucks and Manufacturing, where doors were added in the back and on the side, as well as inside the trailer. The mobile screens were placed on the walls, cabinets added, and interior graphics applied.

The highlight of the unit is a simulator donated by Advanced Training Systems (ATS) located in the front of the trailer. People stand in line to test their skills and get a little feel for maneuvering a tractor through traffic with a state-of-the-art simulator.

A trailer needs a tractor to pull it and Schneider offered to provide a driver with a branded truck to work for Women In Trucking Association one week per month and KellyLynn McLaughlin was hired. She continued to drive as a training engineer at Schneider for two weeks each month, working around her duties as the driver ambassador.

It took two years to get the trailer fully wrapped with graphics and filled with the simulator, kiosks, monitors, cabinets and doors and stairs. It is stunning. We had a front row parking spot at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky in March this year. Over the three-day event there were hundreds of visitors through the trailer. A noted attendee was (then) Deputy Administrator, Robin Hutcheson, who spent time behind the wheel of the simulator.

Earlier this year Andrea Adeyanju was hired as our Director of Driver Engagement, and she is now in charge of the Driver Ambassador Program. KellyLynn moved on and a new Driver Ambassador was hired.

KayLeigh McCall is a professional driver and training engineer for Schneider. She has already attended numerous events as our driver ambassador, including the opportunity to speak at a program for Driver Appreciation Week at the Department of Transportation.

The WITney trailer (and KayLeigh) will be at the Accelerate! Conference and Expo in Dallas, Texas from November 13 to 15. We anticipate 1,500 attendees who will be able to walk through the display and learn more about careers in trucking, focusing on the professional driver role.

If you would like to make a donation (cash or products/services) we would include your name in our traveling display and on our website. If you would like to schedule WITney to attend your event, you can complete a form on our website (www.womenintrucking.org) under the Driver Ambassador tab.

You can take a virtual tour of the trailer to get a small feel for the magnificence of this program and there is also a link on our website. The trailer is a rolling billboard for the Women In Trucking Association and we could not have made this a reality without the passionate supporters who provide cash, items and discounts on services.

The Driver Ambassador Program helps us further our mission to encourage women (and men) to consider careers in the trucking industry.

Ellen Voie President/CEO/Founder of Women In Trucking, Inc. ellen@womenintrucking.org www.womenintrucking.org

Mission: Women In Trucking was established to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the trucking industry.

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