Arkansas Trucking Association

Wayne Smith, founder of Wayne Smith Trucking in Morrillton, Ark., passed away Friday after a long battle with cancer. Smith served on the board of directors for over two decades and was a founding trustee of ATA's Self-Insurers' Fund, which provides workers compensation to dozens of small trucking companies across the state. 

"The world has lost a great man, and many of us have lost a good friend," said Arkansas Trucking Association President Shannon Newton. "Wayne has had a reputation for being honest, hard working and truly passionate about trucking for as long as I've known him. He was the kind of man who gave trucking a good name."

Smith drove his first truck at 14 years old on an orchard in Bakersfield, Calif. Smith's family moved West from Arkansas during the Dust Bowl, and he hauled produce through the produce camps in 1960. Sixteen years later, he began his own trucking company. The venture began in 1976 with two trucks, and today the company has grown to over 100 trucks, not to mention over 500 trailers. The company celebrated its 40th anniversary last year after moving headquarters to Morrilton's growing industrial park.

The American Transportation Research Institute, the trucking industry's not-for-profit research organization, released the results of its Truck Parking Diary research, where commercial drivers provided detailed documentation of their challenges in looking for safe, available truck parking.  Participating drivers recorded their parking experiences and issues over 14 days of driving, representing over 4,700 unique parking stops documented in the diaries.

Arkansas Trucking Association is celebrating its 85th anniversary in 2017. In the new year, the association announced its bi-monthly magazine, Arkansas Trucking Report, would be transitioning publishing operations in-house and naming Amanda Lamb to the business development role to take over the advertising and publishing of the trade periodical. Lamb will also be educating members about ATA's newest opportunity to support the association and its goals.

Lamb comes to ATA with over 10 years of retail and office management experience. As the new business development coordinator, she will manage advertising and sponsorship sales for the association's publications and events as well as inviting members to join The Founders Club, a new program that allows loyal supporters to bundle advertising and sponsorships with exclusive perks.

Amazon is considering delivering goods via a network of subterranean tunnels.

The Seattle-based company filed a 33-page patent for a system of conveyor belts and vacuum tubes that move parcels and containers underground achieving increased efficiency, more reliable deliveries and less traffic on the roads as less delivery vehicles would be needed.

The American Transportation Research Institute and Mayo Clinic launched a set of surveys designed to solicit motor carrier and commercial driver input on the impact that the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners has had on the driver medical exam process.  The NRCME was deployed in 2014 and since then, medical examiners performing DOT physicals are required to take an approved course, pass an exam and be listed in the registry before issuing medical certificates.

On September 27, the Arkansas Trucking Association Board of Directors approved four transportation and logistics students to join the 40 Under 40 Council after the students attended the group’s quarterly meeting on September 8 in Fort Smith, Ark.

The Council was established in 2009 to identify and cultivate new, young executives in member companies and acclimate them to the intricacies of the trucking world as well as the dynamics of the association.