Up Front- Vital Role at Risk
- Details
- Created: 07.29.2022
Shannon Newton
President, ATA
The heavy task of delivering 10.23 billion tons of America’s freight every year takes millions of people. Millions of people, fulfilling different roles—some put on a uniform before grabbing company keys, others invest in their own class 8 tractor, or pop the hood to maintain the machines, pick up the phones and create efficient routes, train the next generation of drivers or keep the books. Every role matters. An unreasonable burden to interstate commerce would be to dismantle one of the most critical roles—the owner-operator.
For nearly three decades, the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act has forbidden states from enacting laws relating to prices, routes and services of motor carriers to avoid an unreasonable burden on interstate commerce.
However, California Assembly Bill 5 (AB5), popularly known as the “gig worker bill,” essentially requires companies that hire independent contractors to reclassify them as employees. Enforcing an ABC test all but eliminates a motor carriers’ ability to contract with an owner-operator because they are both in the business of transporting goods for hire.
The Last Word
- Details
- Created: 07.29.2022
For safer communities and new hiring opportunities, consider ex-offenders
By Sec. Solomon Graves
More than 80,000 adult offenders are currently incarcerated in DOC facilities or on parole/under probation supervision, and over 80% of state prison inmates will be released from prison at some point in their sentence.
One word that describes this job market—competitive. One word that describes successful industries—innovative. An innovation being considered more often in this job market is hiring ex-offenders. These individuals want a chance to prove their skills; your industry and communities across Arkansas stand to benefit from giving that chance.
The Department of Corrections is working diligently to prepare offenders to be qualified job candidates upon release. We are very excited to be in the planning stages of a pilot program that could help offenders obtain their commercial driver license.
Oftentimes, employers only consider potential negative outcomes from hiring ex-offenders. Consider that there are also practical benefits, such as supervision terms that often require parolees to hold a job, stay away from criminal activity, check in with parole officers and submit to drug testing. Ex-offenders can be more reliable than other prospective workers.
ATA Names Womack Inaugural Maintenance Professional of the Year
- Details
- Created: 05.09.2022
2021 Maintenance Professional of the Year - Ryan Womack, McKee Foods Transportation
At the Arkansas Technician Championship in Rogers last month, the Arkansas Trucking Association announced the winner of a new award: the Maintenance Professional of the Year Award. The inaugural recipient, Ryan Womack, fleet maintenance superintendent for McKee Foods Transportation, LLC, was named at the awards banquet on June 24.
“We have long recognized the top driver and safety professional at our annual conference, so we are thrilled to add this award and recognize the men and women who keep our equipment safely on the road,” said Shannon Newton, ATA president. “We could not have given this inaugural award to a more deserving candidate than Ryan. He is a dynamic leader within his company, our association and our industry.”
2022 Arkansas Trucking Champions
- Details
- Created: 05.09.2022
2022 Arkansas Trucking Championship Winners
Nine professional truck drivers and two technicians have qualified to compete for national titles after taking top prizes in the 2022 Arkansas Trucking Championship this weekend.
The written and hands-on competitions brought together 108 of the best drivers and 50 of the top technicians in the state for a demonstration of safety knowledge and skill. Hosted by the Arkansas Trucking Association, the championship was held June 24-25 at the Rogers Convention Center in Rogers, Ark.
