Trucking's Firewall
Arkansas Trucking Association (ATA) is recognized for its record of performance in protecting the collective interests of its member companies in the regulatory and legislative arenas. Sometimes, well-meaning legislators and public policy makers introduce proposals that would have a negative impact on the trucking industry and the thousands of people it employs; that's when ATA steps in.
ATA is frequently the only organization standing in the way of regressive legislation or a burdensome regulation becoming reality – trucking's firewall.
While its primary focus is in Arkansas, the ATA doesn't hesitate to take the lead on national industry issues. For example, Arkansas Trucking Association was a leader in promoting a requirement that electronic on-board recorders be in all commercial trucks to verify the number of hours a truck driver has been behind the wheel.
ATA also worked with Congressman Rick Crawford (R-Ark.-1) to persuade Congress to create a national drug and alcohol clearinghouse in order to flag anyone who has tested positive on a drug test when applying for a job as a truck driver, thereby helping to keep drug abusers out of commercial trucks and off the nation's highways.
In 2014, Arkansas Trucking Association asked Rep. John Boozman (R-Ark.-3) to improve the hours-of-service rules, particularly the provision that requires drivers to include two consecutive 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. periods within a "restart" between work weeks because the provision puts more drivers on the road during early rush hours. Rep. Boozman helped ATA successfully suspend the restart provision until more research could be done to prove the restart increases highway safety. The results of that study are still pending at press time.
Of course, trucking is a diverse industry and not every issue draws unanimous support or opposition. For that reason, the ATA Board of Directors weighs each regulatory and legislative proposal to determine the association's position.
Here are some of the more recent issues ATA has played a role in the outcome:
Past Legislative and Regulatory Victories Include:
|
In 2011, successfully lobbied the Arkansas General Assembly to fully exempt from state sales tax the purchase price of new and used large trucks and semi-trailers that are engaged in interstate commerce (a savings of $23 million per year for Arkansas trucking companies). |