Arkansas Trucking Association

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Wayne Smith Trucking Founder Passes Away

Wayne SmithWayne 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.

Smith's company is a leader in safety, regularly winning safety awards and employing more than 100 drivers of which twenty five have one million accident free miles and eight have two million accident free miles. Smith also believed in giving back to the community. He served on the board of the Petit Jean State Bank and Central Baptist College.

"On behalf of the Arkansas trucking industry, we extend our gratitude for the legacy of hard work, family values and love of trucking. His work with the Fund has created opportunities for small trucking companies to be successful in this industry," said Newton. "Our deepest sympathy is with his family right now." 

Visitation will be held 4:00 PM Sunday, April 30 at the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church on Hwy 92 at Hill Creek. The funeral service will also take place at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church at 2:00 PM Monday, May 1.

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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
You are here: Home News In Brief Wayne Smith Trucking Founder Passes Away