The Last Word

We’re Gonna Do What They Say Can’t Be Done.

By Andy Davis, Guest Writer

After months of the Governor’s Highway Funding Work Group meetings, Governor Asa Hutchinson announced his proposals for additional highway funding to a large crowd on Tuesday January 19, 2016.

Some of the ideas presented in the working group are included in the Governors proposal. The plan includes transferring $4 million ($2.7 to the state, $1.3 to cities & counties) in existing diesel taxes from general revenue back to highways, $5.4 million in revenue from the ½ cent sales tax approved by voters that is currently directed to the central services fund. That is the fund that pays for elected official’s offices.

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Up Front- Making it Count

 Shannon Newton
 President, ATA

Progress can be hard to measure. Bringing about change is often a slow process. However, this year has produced several notable pieces of legislation and regulation that have been a long time coming, bringing with them meaningful change for the industry in Arkansas and across the nation.

As 2015 began our association had a lofty agenda including relationship building, legislation passing and regulation monitoring. Our top legislative priority last January was to pass anti-indemnification legislation. Arkansas was one of very few states that still allowed shippers to force liability onto carriers no matter the circumstances. With the help of our members, the bill halting this practice passed through both chambers in March and was signed into law by Governor Asa Hutchinson. A win three years in the making.

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The Last Word

The Conservative Choice

By John Burris, Guest Writer

The field of candidates for the Republican Party presidential nomination is large in size and heavy on experience.

The Obama years have given us Christie, Rubio, Sandoval and others, just like the Bush years gave us McCaskill, Franken, and Obama. So the 2016 race is littered with governors, senators and other leaders who all have accomplishment to talk about. It should be a conservative year. We have some level of competing messages and personalities. That means Republicans have options.

Predictions are always foolish. Hundreds of events, fundraisers and gaffes stand between the present and the final decision of the future.

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Up Front- If Not Us, Then Who?

 Shannon Newton
 President, ATA

Earlier this week, at a nearby terminal, one of our newly minted Arkansas Road Team Captains did his first piece for a local news crew on distracted driving. There was excitement and nervousness.

Any opportunity to educate the public on how to safely share the road with tractor-trailers and demonstrate the industry’s commitment to safety is worth seizing.

I was fortunate to serve on the road team selection panel. It was one of my greatest days on the job. All the candidates gave compelling presentations. All spoke passionately, with pride and hard earned wisdom from years—if not decades—behind the wheel, about all that is right in trucking. It was truly moving. I cannot wait to get these captains in front of Arkansans to help educate motorists about safety and our industry.

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