Arkansas Trucking Association

Old Dominion Freight Line Named Safest Trucking Fleet

Old Dominion Freight Line was honored at Arkansas Trucking Association (ATA) Awards Luncheon at the organization’s annual business conference this week in Rogers, Ark.

The association recognized winners in six different categories, as well as an overall grand champion celebrating the safest fleets among the Arkansas Trucking Association member companies.

Read more: Old Dominion Freight Line Named Safest Trucking Fleet

Trucking Conference Looks to the Horizon

2020 conference horizon email blast

Trucking execs, industry and political leaders gather in Rogers for Annual Conference

The Arkansas Trucking Association will host its annual business conference and vendor showcase in Rogers next week. The educational forums will be held Monday, August 17th and Tuesday August 18th at the John Q. Hammons Convention Center. The event’s forum topics will help attendees answer the question, what’s “on the horizon” for the state, nation, and trucking? A lineup of expert speakers will discuss industry research and the legal climate for trucking business, economic concerns including global trade, public health and safety, and tort reform in Arkansas. Featured speaker former White House Press Secretary and Arkansan Sarah Huckabee Sanders will also take the stage to share stories from her time at the White House.

Read more: Trucking Conference Looks to the Horizon

Arkansas Trucking Association announces technician scholarship recipient

The Arkansas Trucking Association is pleased to announce the 2020 recipient of the Carl Tapp Memorial Scholarship Fund. Hugh “Mac” McConnell IV, a recent graduate of Central Arkansas Christian School will receive $7,500 to pursue training for a career in medium/heavy duty truck technology.

“Truck drivers and diesel technicians are essential to the Arkansas economy and way of life. The success of our industry and state depends on a professional, smart, capable, problem-solving workforce,” says Shannon Newton, president of the Arkansas Trucking Association. “We congratulate this year’s scholarship recipient and join in his excitement about the future of technology, trucking and keeping the equipment safe on the roads we all share.”

Read more: Arkansas Trucking Association announces technician scholarship recipient

Higher speed limits coming to Arkansas

The Arkansas Department of Transportation is raising the speed limit on highways and interstates. State highway limits will be raised five miles per hour. Interstates inside the city will be 65 MPH and outside, 75 MPH.

Opponents of the increase cited safety concerns, and the Highway Commission has committed to monitor the safety of the motoring public as the speed limits go up.

Read more: Higher speed limits coming to Arkansas

ATRI invites carriers to participate in operational costs research

The American Transportation Research Institute has issued a call for motor carriers to participate in ATRI’s annual update to its Operational Costs of Trucking report.

Now in its 12th year, ATRI’s annual Operational Costs of Trucking collects cost information derived directly from trucking fleets and owner-operators, and is among the most requested ATRI research studies. ATRI’s annual analysis is used as a key benchmarking tool by motor carriers of all sizes. Public sector agencies also utilize ATRI’s real-world data analysis to make better-informed transportation planning and infrastructure investment decisions.

Read more: ATRI invites carriers to participate in operational costs research

Cancelled technician competition, TMC meeting goes virtual and a brand new appreciation event

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and financial crisis, American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council announced the cancellation of its 2020 national technician championships, SuperTech and FutureTech, which were scheduled to be held this fall.

The annual competitions for trailer and truck technicians as well as technician students are normally held in conjunction with TMC’s fall meeting. The meeting for shop supervisors, maintenance executives, and engineering professionals will now be completely virtual this year on the originally scheduled dates, Sept. 14-17.

Read more: Cancelled technician competition, TMC meeting goes virtual and a brand new appreciation event

Huckabee Sanders launched 30-day nonprofit for Arkansas businesses

On May 18, Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her husband, Bryan Sanders, launched a month-long nonprofit program to help struggling state businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.

The Arkansas 30 Day Fund was started to provide forgivable loans for Arkansas-based small businesses so they can meet payroll, preserve healthcare coverage for employees, and save jobs without a lot of red tape, while waiting on federal and state funding.

Qualifying businesses are owned and operated by an Arkansas resident, based in the state and have been operating at lease one year, and employ three to 30 people.

Read more: Huckabee Sanders launched 30-day nonprofit for Arkansas businesses

Driver shortage on pause

A dearth of professional truck drivers to haul America’s freight has been a perennial concern for over a decade. However, the coronavirus has reduced demand for drivers so much that the driver shortage is no longer the top concern right now.

National industry publication Transport Topics, recently reported, “The often discussed driver shortage is over — at least for the time being — as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the deepening U.S. recession and a falloff in the amount of freight being hauled by many sectors of trucking.”

Read more: Driver shortage on pause

A dream, a crime, a punishment, a reward

In early May, Utah police reported pulling over a five-year-old boy who was driving his family’s car to California to buy a Lamborghini. A few days later, he was offered a ride in a real Lamborghini and was grounded.

Adrian Zamarripa made headlines after he had an argument with his mom when she told him that she wouldn't buy him a Lamborghini. Not willing to take no for an answer, he decided to go buy the car himself with $3 in his pocket and feet that barely reached the pedals.

Read more: A dream, a crime, a punishment, a reward

ATA applauds Governor's executive orders to protect businesses, health care workers and employees

The Arkansas Trucking Association today commended Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson for three Executive Orders that will provide business liability protection for Arkansas employers, medical immunity for health care workers, and workers’ compensation coverage for employees during the COVID-19 emergency.

The business liability executive order will allow businesses and their employees to be immune from civil lawsuits as a result of exposure to COVID-19. Immunity does not apply to willful, reckless or intentional, which means business owners will need to substantially comply with public health directives in order to be eligible for the liability protection.

Read more: ATA applauds Governor's executive orders to protect businesses, health care workers and employees

Arkansas Trucking Legend Pass Away

Guy Campbell, of Arkansas Trailer Manufacturing Co. in Little Rock, Ark. passed away on Thursday, June 4. Campbell played an active role in Arkansas Trucking Association's history of advocating for trucking. In 1968, he was elected as the youngest chairman of the Board of Directors of Arkansas Motor Carriers Association (later named Arkansas Trucking Association).  

Campbell was a passionate champion of the industry in the political sphere for decades, educating policy makers on behalf of trucking.

Read more: Arkansas Trucking Legend Pass Away

New Research Reveals Impact of Nuclear Verdicts in Trucking Industry

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) today released comprehensive research that confirms that large verdicts against trucking fleets are increasing dramatically, both in number and in size of awards. ATRI’s research is partially based on a newly created trucking litigation database that provides detailed information on 600 cases between 2006 and 2019. In the first five years of the data, there were 26 cases over $1 million, and in the last five years of the data, there were nearly 300 cases. 

In response to arguments that nuclear verdicts reflect real-world cost increases, the research documents that from 2010 to 2018, the size of verdict awards grew 51.7% annually at the same time that standard inflation grew 1.7% and healthcare costs grew 2.9%.

Read more: New Research Reveals Impact of Nuclear Verdicts in Trucking Industry

Contact Us

Arkansas Trucking Association
PO Box 3476 (72203)
1401 West Capitol Ave.
Suite 185
Little Rock, AR 72201

(501) 372-3462 | Phone
(501) 376-1810 | Fax

Our Mission

  • PROTECT the collective interests of trucking companies in the political and regulatory arenas.
  • PROMOTE the dynamics of trucking so that people have a better understanding of the link between America's primary freight delivery system and the standard of living they enjoy.
  • SERVE our members to help them to grow their business and their profits
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