Arkansas Trucking Association

Arkansas Supreme Court Strikes Ballot Measure on Tort Reform

On Oct. 18 the Arkansas Supreme Court released its ruling that the votes on Issue 1 (“tort reform”) will NOT be counted on the Nov. 6, 2018 general election ballot. By a 6-1 vote, the Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s decision that the legislature improperly referred Issue 1 in violation of Art. 19, Sec. 22’s separate-vote requirement and its three-amendment per election limitation. The Court based that determination on its conclusion that the four sections of Issue 1 are not “reasonably germane” to each other or to a “general subject” under the test established by Forrester v. Martin. The Supreme Court’s ruling means that while Issue 1 will appear on the ballot, the Secretary of State is prohibited from counting the votes.

The Arkansas Trucking Association worked diligently through the Arkansans for Jobs and Justice Coalition and proudly collaborated with a diverse group of individuals and interests – including, but not limited to, the Arkansas State Chamber, the Arkansas Hospital Association, the Arkansas Medical Society, the Arkansas Farm Bureau, the Arkansas Health Care Association and the Poultry Federation – to amend our Constitution to allow Arkansas to grow jobs, improve our healthcare system and stabilize costs of doing business in this litigious environment. This coalition has worked extremely hard and spent nearly $3 million dollars to educate Arkansas voters.

Read more: Arkansas Supreme Court Strikes Ballot Measure on Tort Reform

Trucking’s next step in the fight to preserve the federal pre-emption

In October, Congress passed a negotiated compromise version of the FAA Reauthorization bill.  The trucking industry, led by American Trucking Associations and strongly supported by the Arkansas Trucking Association, had sought to have language included that would solve an interstate commerce preemption issue related to meal and rest breaks through legislative means. However, that language was not included in the final version of the bill.

Pivoting their strategy, the American Trucking Associations filed a petition with the U.S. Department of Transportation seeking preemption of California's redundant meal and rest break requirements.  The petition relies on section 31141, title 49 of the United States Code, under which the Secretary of Transportation has the authority to determine that state laws on commercial vehicle safety that conflict with federal safety standards or burden interstate commerce may not be enforced.

Read more: Trucking’s next step in the fight to preserve the federal pre-emption

Arkansas has highest percentage of trucking industry workers

Arkansas has the highest percentage of private sector employees who work in the trucking industry, according to the American Trucking Trends 2018 report. The report showed one in 12 people, or 3.1%, of the 1.004 million people who work in non-government jobs are employed by the trucking industry.

The American Transportation Research Institute, a nonprofit research organization of American Trucking Associations, recently released the report showing that in 2017, more than 7.6 million people in the United States worked in trucking-related jobs across all sectors of the economy. Arkansas has a total of 30,700 trucking employees.

Read more: Arkansas has highest percentage of trucking industry workers

DriverReach and ATA partner to streamline hiring during driver shortage

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The Arkansas Trucking Association (ATA) is pleased to announce a formal partnership with DriverReach, a mobile-enabled recruiting management system for hiring CDL drivers in order to address the driver shortage and promote innovative solutions to industry problems.

Recruiting, hiring and retaining qualified drivers is a critical problem for the trucking industry. The American Trucking Associations reports that there is a shortage of 50,000 truck drivers to meet the needs of the freight business. If the trend continues, it is estimated the shortage will reach 174,000 unfilled driver positions by 2026.

Read more: DriverReach and ATA partner to streamline hiring during driver shortage

ATA hosts 2nd Annual Safety Symposium

Arkansas Trucking Association Second Annual Safety Symposium

Arkansas Trucking Association held its second annual Safety Symposium at the Embassy Suites in Little Rock on October 2-3. This year's line-up offered attendees from 28 member companies six educational sessions.

The event was sponsored by Coolfire Solutions and DriverReach.

Tuesday morning was dedicated to Litigation Landmines in three sessions led by attorneys from Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP. First Kyle Wilson and Michael Thompson delivered direction about how to react in the critical moments after an accident in their presentation “First Response.” Then Neemah Esmaeilpour discussed drugs and how to ensure you have a drug-free workplace now that Arkansas has legalized medical marijuana. Esmaeilpour answered questions about what to do when your employees qualify for their medical marijuana card and how important it is to identify safety-sensitive positions.

Read more: ATA hosts 2nd Annual Safety Symposium

New ATRI Research Shows Trucking Industry's Operational Costs Continue to Climb

The American Transportation Research Institute released the findings of its 2018 update to An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking. Using financial data provided directly by motor carriers throughout the country, this research documents and analyzes trucking costs from 2008 through 2017 - providing trucking industry stakeholders with a high-level benchmarking tool, and government agencies with a baseline for future transportation infrastructure improvement analyses.

With economic activity strengthening in 2017, the average marginal cost per mile incurred by motor carriers increased six percent to $1.69. Cost increases were broad-based in 2017, with growth in nearly every major line-item over the year. Driver wages increased for the fifth consecutive year and the combined cost of driver wages and benefits represent 43 percent of the overall cost per mile.

Read more: New ATRI Research Shows Trucking Industry's Operational Costs Continue to Climb

Indiana’s $1B infrastructure plan funded by truck tolls

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb announced in Sept. plans to add $1 billion to the infrastructure program across the state that would expand broadband services in rural areas, building a new water port, expand rail projects, create more nonstop international flights, and move up major highway projects. The money for these projects would be raised by increasing tolls on heavy-duty commercial trucks on the Indiana Toll Road.

The governor’s infrastructure plan has been named the “Next Level Connections”. To fund the new plan, Indiana Toll Road Concession Company, the company who operates the toll road, will increase tolls on vehicles with three or more axles 35 percent more and pay the state $1 billion in three installments over the next couple years.

Read more: Indiana’s $1B infrastructure plan funded by truck tolls

Volvo introduces a cabless electric truck

Volvo Trucks' recently announced the release of Vera, the brand’s compact, battery-electric truck with no cab for a human driver. The vehicle is intended to take over short, repetitive routes based around fixed hubs like a shipping port, or any sort of dense industrial facility.

Read more: Volvo introduces a cabless electric truck

A trucker-style tribute to Burt Reynolds

On Sept. 6, Burt Reynolds, star of 1977 trucking blockbuster Smokey and the Bandit, passed away at the age of 82. And on Sept. 30, members of the Small Business in Transportation Coalition organized a tribute to the late actor who portrayed a truck driver in the cult classic.

The tribute included a pilgrimage from Texarkana, Tex. to Atlanta, Ga., the pick up and drop off locations from the movie. Smokey and the Bandit is still one of the most famous portrayals of a truck driver on film.

Read more: A trucker-style tribute to Burt Reynolds

ATA Applauds Common Sense HOS Reform Legislation

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The Arkansas Trucking Association welcomes the introduction today of the HOURS Act – common sense legislation that will deliver much needed technical adjustments to hours of service (HOS) regulations while continuing to ensure safety on our nation’s highways.

Proposed by Arkansas congressman Rick Crawford (R-1), along with Reps. Bruce Westerman (R-3) and Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.), the HOURS Act (Honest Operators Undertaking Road Safety Act) offers narrow and reasonable changes that allow for flexibility as professional drivers face distinct challenges as well as uniformity in certain types of operations. The bill also eliminates record keeping redundancy and provides a framework for efficiency in future regulatory changes.

Read more: ATA Applauds Common Sense HOS Reform Legislation

ATA Announces Technician Scholarship Recipients

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The Arkansas Trucking Association is pleased to announce the first recipients of the Carl Tapp Memorial Scholarship Fund. High school seniors Konner Hodges of Gentry High School Conversion Charter and Colt Dickard of Har-Ber High School will both receive $7,500 to pursue training for a career in medium/heavy duty truck technology.

Read more: ATA Announces Technician Scholarship Recipients

ATA Launches “Focus. Drive. Stay Alive.” Initiative

Focus Drive Stay Alive initiative Arkansas Trucking

Little Rock, Ark., April 2, 2018 – The Arkansas Trucking Association launches today a statewide initiative to educate the public about the dangers of driving while distracted.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson joined Arkansas Trucking Association officials, along with officers from the Arkansas State Police and the Arkansas Highway Police, to announce “Focus. Drive. Stay Alive.” at the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock.

“One of our goals is to make Arkansas’s roads and highways safer for all drivers,” said Arkansas Trucking Association President, Shannon Newton. “’Focus. Drive. Stay Alive.’ will help educate Arkansans about the dangers of driving while distracted and safely sharing the road.”

Read more: ATA Launches “Focus. Drive. Stay Alive.” Initiative

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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