Archive for November, 2013

Lone Mountain Truck Leasing recently signed over the title for a Freightliner Columbia to Lance Hairrell, a Landstar BCO. This is the 1000th title signed over to an owner-operator completing Lone Mountain’s lease-purchase program.

Lone Mountain Truck Leasing Signs Over 1000th Title to Independent Owner-Operator

Omaha, NE (PRWEB) November 25, 2013

Lone Mountain Truck Leasing announced that they recently signed over their 1000th truck title to independent owner-operator, Lance Hairrell. Lance made the trip to Pacific Junction, IA in early 2011 where he then drove away with his Freightliner Columbia. Today, he holds the title to that truck free of any liens. “Lone Mountain Truck Leasing was an easy and affordable way to get started in my own truck. I quickly leased onto Landstar Inc., and after two years of worry free service, my truck is now paid for, and I have my title in hand,” Hairrell said.

It’s exciting that even during uncertain times, we have played a part in 1000 owner-operators reaching the goal of owning their own truck. ~Joe Hoovestol

Lone Mountain provides financing for customers through its in-house finance company, Cresco Capital, Inc. The two companies have been operating together for about 7 years and currently have over 3000 trucks in their portfolio, all leased to owner-operators. Over 50 titles were signed over to customers in the last 30 days and that number continues to grow every month.

“We are extremely proud that our program has a high success rate. It’s exciting that even during uncertain times, we have played a part in 1000 owner-operators reaching the goal of owning their own truck,” said General Manager Joe Hoovestol. “In a lot of the lease purchase programs out there today, no one ever ends up actually owning their truck,” Hoovestol added. In contrast, the majority of Lone Mountain customers end up owning their truck.

About Lone Mountain Truck Leasing:

Lone Mountain Truck Leasing, LLC has a leading class 8 truck lease-purchase program. Lone Mountain operates independently from truck manufactures and offers a wide selection of makes and models. The trucks are typically three to five years old and range from 300k to 600k miles. Using their knowledge of the trucking industry to identify non-financial indicators for individual success, Lone Mountain is able to finance owner-operators when other forms of financing may not be an option when evaluated on credit score alone. Since the program is not sponsored by a fleet, customers are able take their truck to the carrier of their choice or run independently with their own authority.

Note from Allen ( known supporter in educating drivers about unethical Truck Lease scams.)
Lone Mountain Truck Leasing has the most HONEST Truck Lease program in the industry. ~Allen Smith~

For the original version on PRWeb visit:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/truckleasing/201311/prweb11367894.htm

© 2013, Allen Smith. All rights reserved.

Technorati Tags: Cresco Capital, Joe Hoovestol, Lance Hairrell, Lone Mountain Truck, Lone Mountain Trucking Leasing, owner operators, Trucking

United States Department of Labor

In a decision issued on Friday, November 15, 2013, U. S. Department of Labor Judge Daniel Solomon ordered UPS to reinstate and pay in excess of $247,000 in damages to truck driver Tim Bishop.  Judge Solomon found that UPS fired Mr. Bishop because he accurately recorded waiting time as “on duty” time on his electronic DOT log.  UPS claimed that this time should have been recorded as “meal” on Bishop’s electronic log.

Judge Solomon found that UPS fired Bishop in violation of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act which protects drivers from retaliation for accurately recording on duty time as well as protecting them from retaliation for filing complaints alleging violations of DOT safety regulations, or for refusing to drive in violation of a DOT safety regulation.     Link to Judge Solomon’s decision and order

Paul Taylor of Truckers Justice Center

© 2013, Allen Smith. All rights reserved.

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Obamacare and Truckers

For many owner operators and uninsured drivers, the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare), presents a new opportunity to finally get health insurance without being scrutinized for having a medical condition.

Beginning on October 1, 2013, health insurance marketplaces opened throughout the U.S. designed to provide an online insurance shopping “experience”, much like Amazon and Expedia. Consumers would go online and shop, compare and purchase medical plans.

To say the “experience” has not gone well is an understatement. The marketplaces opened in October to a resounding THUD ! Some out there want to see the law fail. However, for many drivers, this will be the first time major medical insurance has ever been available and we believe it’s important for drivers to know what the law means to them.

There are two real game-changers at work here, guaranteed issue medical insurance and the potential for tax subsidies to reduce the monthly cost:

1. All coverage starting in 2014 will be issued regardless of an individual’s health history. It’s no secret that due to the nature of the job, many drivers suffer from medical conditions that have prevented them from getting health insurance in the past.
2. Tax subsidies will be available to help make coverage more affordable. These subsidies are based on a drivers modified adjusted gross income and NOT their gross income. A drivers MAGI is typically their taxable income plus any interest income from pensions or annuities. The good news is many drivers(especially owner operators) would qualify for tax subsidies making coverage surprisingly affordable.

SUBSIDIES:

Subsidies are available to people to help make coverage more affordable. These subsidies are based on a persons Modified Adjusted Gross Income. They are applied when the premium is paid. If your premium is $500 a month and your subsidy is 80%, you would be responsible for paying $100 a month for coverage. Here are two more things to know about subsidies:

• The subsidy percentage that a person receives is factored by age and income. A 40 year old with a MAGI of $30,000 may receive a 40% subsidy where a 60 year old with the same income will receive a subsidy of over 70%. The older you are, the greater the subsidy.
• Subsidy percentages increase quite a bit when dependents are being covered. Two 40 year old adults with two children and MAGI of $40,000 will receive a subsidy that exceeds 70%. This means that family coverage may actually be affordable for some people.

Most commercial drivers will qualify for subsidies of some amount. Income, family status, and age will determine the subsidy received.

The bad news is from polling data showing that many professional truck drivers are unaware that they are even eligible for these subsidies. The administration has done a poor job communicating this very important part of the law.

On Oct 1st, the Healthy Truckers Association (HTAA) launched the TruckerMarketplace for truck drivers in all 50 states. The new HTAA Marketplace provides 24/7 call center support by offering an initial education on Obamacare and its impact to the driver personally:

• subsidy eligibility
• decision support
• help in selecting the “right” plan and
• providing enrollment assistance

In addition, a special toll-free number has been established for CDL drivers to contact the Marketplace for assistance with their healthcare plans: 877-670-6299.

Politics aside, the trucker MarketPlace has established the goal to help truck drivers understand Obamacare and therefore make informed decisions on how to proceed in 2014 and beyond.

Marc Ballard is President of Ballard Insurance Agency and has partnered with Tom Smith, Director of Insurance Services at Healthy Trucking Association of America. Marc and Tom will be our special guests on Truth About Trucking “LIVE”, Thursday, November 21, 2013 at 7 PM ET.

Discussion will include full understanding of the Affordable Care Act as it relates to the professional truck driver, explanation of “on-exchange” and “off-exchange” and how the subsidies will work. For example, you can find the best possible insurance plan WITHOUT being a part of ObamaCare (“”on-exchange”) , instead have your own private ( “off-exchange) insurance. The call center will help you determine if this is the best choice for you. With either choice, your preexisting conditions will no longer play a role in obtaining insurance.

To learn more about your options for the right healthcare plan for you and/or your family, contact the trucker MarketPlace through their special toll-free line: 877-670-6299 and tune-in “LIVE” for our special broadcast: Truck Driver Solutions to Obamacare.

© 2013, Allen Smith. All rights reserved.

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Technorati Tags: affordable care act, healthy trucking association of america, obamacare, tax subsidies, truck drivers, trucking, truth about trucking live