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Up Front- Echo

ShannonNewton

Shannon Newton
President, ATA

The first few weeks of a new year, we’re all speaking our resolutions into the universe. We name what we care about, what we’re working on, the word that summarizes our aspirations, the problems we want to solve and the kind of people we want to be.

A lot of those visions and nice ideas will be abandoned by February.  But sometimes, we keep repeating them.  Bravely shouting into the void, “This still matters,” until our voices are hoarse.

In trucking, we’ve been resolving to address the workforce shortage and lack of safe, accessible truck parking for years. We talk about it regularly at meetings and over coffee. We pull up to roundtables and panels to share our experiences in hopes of compelling action. We tell researchers who literally publish a list of our top concerns that local and national media report to our audiences. We call on legislators in Arkansas or we get on an airplane and visit those in D.C. to tell them what we need to do our jobs better and safer.

We keep vocalizing what we are striving for. We make noise, because in some spaces—the angles, the distance, the textures--that noise is reflected.

And we hear echoes.

When the sound waves reflect off surfaces, it bounces back, repeating our message. And each bounce adds to the echo, finding new surfaces.

This year, we have had the opportunity to hear our resolutions echoed back in spaces where real change happens.

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The Last Word

Freight, Fights and Federal Halls

By Michelle Hanby

On Nov. 14, 2023 I had the pleasure of joining Arkansas Trucking Association’s president, Shannon Newton, and ten others from the industry, for ATA’s Call on Washington. It was my first time attending, and it did not disappoint.

The Hill was alive with activity: the House had been without a speaker for weeks, voting was going on and the hallways were a flurry with staffers coming and going, tension between Israel and Hamas was escalating, and protests were popping up across the city. On the afternoon we landed, one senator even challenged the Teamsters’ president to a fist fight.

We walked what seemed like miles through the tunnels and hallways—between meetings with Arkansas’ delegation. I have never considered myself star-struck, but it’s hard not to be in awe seeing the faces and offices of those who make the laws for our country.

To be honest, though, I never considered myself political. I have voted in nearly every election I was eligible for, but if the candidate I voted for didn’t win then I certainly didn’t lose sleep over it. I’m terribly embarrassed to admit this, but, until the last several years, I believed it really didn’t matter that much.

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Arkansas Trucking Association Adds New Role, Hires Jordan Welch

Jordan web

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – The Arkansas Trucking Association is pleased to announce that Jordan Welch has joined the organization as finance coordinator. Jordan will support the ATA Self Insurers' Fund for workers’ compensation insurance as well as support other financial aspects of organizational management.

ATA president Shannon Newton said, "We're excited to add Jordan to our team. She brings a skill set that will serve our Fund members well, while allowing our organization to improve our efforts to promote and protect the entire trucking industry in Arkansas.”

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Up Front- Filing Day

ShannonNewton

Shannon Newton
President, ATA

Over the next year, we will see hundreds of elements of the 2024 election season play out in real time. We’ll watch campaign commercials until we’re seeing red (or blue). We’ll receive fundraising emails and political mailers. We’ll watch or avoid the debates. We’ll see candidates bow out and primary results posted. We’ll endure awkward holiday conversations or maybe offer heartfelt support to a candidate or cause. Then finally, we’ll conclude with the final task of making selections with a stylus on ballots next November.

All of that starts with the filing period, where candidates officially request their names to appear on the ballot.

It’s like the Rube Goldberg machines you see in cartoons or movies—the contraptions that turn some ordinary event into a series of a bunch of small steps carried out by simple machines. Pull this string that flips the cup that drops the marble down the ramp and rolls into an epic domino formation, and when the final domino falls, it lands on the button that turns all the lights on. It’s something you could do without a bunch of levers flipping, wheels turning, but the machine makes the work a performance to behold. The point of a Rube Goldberg machine is the spectacle, to make some banal task fun to watch.

Election season doesn’t always feel fun to watch, but it is a type of Rube Goldberg machine. It’s a chain reaction that we need to work even when all the little steps feel overengineered and unnecessary.

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The Last Word

Louder than the rest

By Chris Spear

For 90 years, the ATA Federation has been the leading voice of our industry in Washington, D.C. and every state capital across the country. That’s volume, reach and history no other voice in trucking can claim, and few industry associations can match. Today, we can proudly declare our efforts are making a difference.

Our collective voice cuts directly through the rhetoric and emotion peddled by our foes: trial lawyers chasing jackpot justice, self-promoting union bosses, and delusional environmental extremists. Together, they constitute a clear threat to our industry’s ability to grow and support our nation’s economic security.

Union bosses today are emboldened. Pouring $1.8 billion into the last Presidential cycle, they bought access, legislation and regulations. The Pro Act, federal reclassification rules, California’s AB5 and duplicative meal and rest break requirements are all engineered to rewrite a century of labor laws and reverse decades of plummeting union membership. 

While union membership shrinks, our industry has grown to more than 8.4 million strong. One in 17 jobs in the United States are trucking related. These hardworking, patriotic men and women are the glue that binds the nation’s supply chain, the backbone of the economy and the heartbeat of this nation. They think on their feet and for themselves. They don’t need some showboating union boss to do it for them. 

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Trucks deliver a Candyland Christmas for Arkansas children in foster care

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LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – Project Zero and Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) will be partnering with trucking to deliver Christmas for children and teens in foster care across Arkansas.

Over the past few weeks, individuals and businesses adopted wish lists of children in foster care. Today, Friday, Dec. 1, at Project Zero’s “North Pole” at EngageMed in North Little Rock, community volunteers will organize, sort and load the donated gifts onto trucks to be delivered to Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, in preparation for tomorrow’s Candyland Christmas. 

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Report Examines Excessive Towing Rates Faced by Trucking Companies

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – Trucking companies are increasingly encountering excessive towing rates and predatory practices by providers. A new report released by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) examines the causes and countermeasures of predatory heavy-duty towing, with the goal of improving the relationship between the towing and trucking industries.

According to the report, the most common types of predatory towing were excessive rates, experienced by 82.7% of trucking companies, and unwarranted extra service charges, experienced by 81.8% of carriers. Most carriers also encountered additional issues such as truck release or access delays, cargo release delays, truck seizure without cause and tows misreported as consensual.

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Up Front- Household Names

ShannonNewton

Shannon Newton
President, ATA

Over my 20-year career, I’ve had the honor of meeting dozens of industry titans: J.B. Hunt, Sheridan Garrison, Dan England, Jerry Moyes, Robert Low and other recognizable figures. But some of the most rewarding and impactful conversations I’ve had were with less recognizable individuals: Gary Mars, Loren Hatfield, Danny Fuller, Dave Hall, Jessie King and more.

Who are they? You’ve likely seen them within the pages of this magazine. The work they do impacts communities across our state, but they aren’t household names. If the Arkansas Trucking Association is the voice of the Arkansas trucking industry, these individuals, Arkansas Road Team Captains, are the trucking industry.

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The Last Word

To Save Lives and Create Jobs

By James Reed

I think there are two immutable facts about autonomous vehicles (AVs). First, and most importantly, they will save lives. Second, they are no longer a few years out —AVs are on American roadways every single day. Driverless robotaxis from Waymo and Cruise drive the streets of San Francisco carrying paid customers 24/7; Waymo partnered with the NFL to offer rides to Super Bowl fans in Phoenix; and fully-loaded class 8 trucks deliver freight across the southern half of the U.S. daily.

Trucking industry leaders saw this revolution coming. Over the last three years, the trucking industry’s interest in AV trucks has grown significantly, with most of the country’s biggest fleets piloting the technology. Leading Arkansas companies, including Tyson, Walmart, J. B. Hunt, and my former company, USA Truck, have been on the forefront of testing. These companies are doing the hard work of preparing their freight and logistics for this self-driving future by ensuring they have experience and a view on the technology.

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Gov. Sanders Declares Truck Driver Appreciation Week in Arkansas

2023TMAF 48x14 Driving Force Charles and Otis Page 2

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – In an executive proclamation, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders officially declared Sept. 10-16, 2023, Truck Driver Appreciation Week in Arkansas. During this week, the Arkansas Trucking Association, along with American Trucking Associations and the entire trucking industry, celebrates the 3.5 million professional truck drivers who work each day to deliver America’s freight safely as part of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.

“Professional truck drivers deliver goods to every home, community, school, and business in Arkansas. In times of prosperity or times of crisis, Arkansas’ and our nation’s economy rides on the shoulders of professional drivers who bring what we need every day to thrive, and survive, build and rebuild our lives across the state,” Gov. Sanders said in the proclamation.

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Eight New Captains Selected for Arkansas Road Team

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – The Arkansas Trucking Association is pleased to announce it has selected eight new members to join the Arkansas Road Team, a group of professional drivers chosen for their commitment to highway safety, communication skills and interest in improving the image of the trucking industry. This complimentary outreach program of the ATA serves as a public education service to address highway safety and to educate the motoring public on safe driving, especially around large commercial vehicles.

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Up Front- Enchanted

ShannonNewton

Shannon Newton
President, ATA

On July 8, my kids and I put on our sequins and smiles, stacked beaded bracelets up our arms and joined 75,000 other Swifties in Kansas City for Taylor Swift’s Eras tour. We sang along to our favorite songs, bought merch and had so much fun we forgot to act cool about any of it.

The tour, which spans Swift's career including songs from every album, is shaping up to be a cultural moment, one that I wanted to experience with my two young teens.

Long before we funneled in, windows down, music up, a convoy of trucks had descended on Arrowhead Stadium. The logistics of creating the kind of four-hour spectacle that lives up to fans’ wildest dreams is the result of hundreds of crewmembers, complex planning, back ups for the backups and, of course, trucks—about 90 of them, costing $500,000 each week in fleet expenses alone.

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The Last Word

Driven to remember, honor and educate

By Brad Hicks

There’s a lot of excitement around J.B. Hunt this time of year. Throughout August, we begin the planning process for Wreaths Across America, a national event honoring the legacy of those who have sacrificed their lives serving our country. For nearly a decade, a convoy of J.B. Hunt trucks has joined hundreds of carriers to transport wreaths thousands of miles across the nation to reach their final destination - the headstones of the fallen who served our country.

For our drivers, it’s an honor to be a part of the Wreaths convoy. Many are veterans themselves or have a close relative who has served. Hundreds of these drivers are nominated each year by fellow employees across the company, and more than 425 J.B. Hunt drivers have participated in this incredible program since 2014. Together, they’ve transported nearly one million wreaths for thousands of volunteers to place on headstones in all 50 states.

Wreaths Across America is just one of many events we proudly support throughout the year to ensure that the veterans who defend our freedom are never forgotten. At J.B. Hunt, supporting our veterans has a far deeper meaning, tying in with our culture and legacy. Honoring those who have served goes all the way back to Mr. Hunt himself, who was both a driver and a military Army veteran.

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2023 Arkansas Trucking Championship

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Two Arkansas Seniors Receive Technician Scholarships from Arkansas Trucking Association

Bass Burroughs square

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – Two graduating Arkansas seniors have been selected to receive scholarships from the Arkansas Trucking Association. Bass Burroughs of Mt. Vernon, Ark., and William Warren of Floral, Ark., are both planning to attend Arkansas State University – Beebe, Searcy campus this fall to pursue careers in medium/heavy duty truck technology. Each of the students will receive a $7,500 scholarship from the Carl Tapp Memorial Scholarship Fund to aid in their education and training.

   William Warren square
Bass Burroughs
of Mt. Vernon, Ark.
Arkansas State University-Searcy, Beebe
William Warren
of Floral, Ark.
Arkansas State University-Searcy, Beebe

“Trucking is at the forefront of many evolving technologies like autonomous vehicles and collision-mitigation systems. It is critical that we continue to recruit new talent who can not only keep our trucks moving safely down the road, but also equip us for what’s next,” said Shannon Newton, president, Arkansas Trucking Association. “I am honored to welcome Bass and William to our industry and look forward to watching them lead us into the future. Our industry is over a century old, but what we do and what we deliver today is still as relevant as it was a hundred years ago.”

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Arkansas Trucking Association Awards Driver, Safety Professional, Maintenance Professional

4B5A5938 Ken award

On Wednesday, May 17, the Arkansas Trucking Association announced the 2022 Driver of the Year, Ken Geer; 2022 Safety Professional of the Year, Brett Graves; and 2022 Maintenance Professional of the Year, Samuel Satterfield. The top honors were announced at the awards luncheon during the ATA Conference in Little Rock, Ark.

Each year, the Arkansas Trucking Association recognizes one driver for their strong and noteworthy professional qualifications, experience and performance; one safety professional for their qualifications, safety program and safety achievements; and a maintenance professional for their contributions to their company’s maintenance program, certifications and credentials.

Ken Geer, the 2022 Driver of the Year, has been a professional truck driver for Walmart Transportation since 2020. In his 34-year career, he has driven more than 4 million accident-free miles. Dedicated to safety in his professional and personal life, the former firefighter volunteers to run fireworks displays at Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion and local football games. He’s also a committed fundraiser for the Gravette Lion Band Boosters.

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Up Front - Grand Achievements

ShannonNewton

Shannon Newton
President, ATA

What should you carry on an 18-mile trek descending 5,000 feet into the Grand Canyon? I’ve spent a lot of time researching this question over the last few weeks. The internet has innumerable lists and a few warnings. A headlamp and some SPF made my packing list. Comfortable shoes were a must. I planned to bring sunglasses, chapstick and layered clothing for protection against the elements. Water, obviously, but how much is enough for a 12-hour hike?

When it was time to step onto the trail, I wanted to be ready to enjoy the awe-inducing view of wind-sculpted rock walls and be prepared for the thirst, hunger, muscle fatigue, blistered feet or any other challenge I might encounter.

I was joining a group of friends to hike seven miles down the South Kaibob Trail to the Colorado River Basin, make a stop at Phantom Ranch, and then climb back up the 10-mile Bright Angel Trail all in one day. Expected to take from sunrise to sunset, this is a feat only 1% of Grand Canyon visitors achieve.

Today—calves sore and memories still fresh—I can say I did it, and though I overpacked, I’m really grateful for all the snacks and that extra pair of socks.

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The Last Word

Where camera angles matter: inside a truck cab

By Joey Berkemeyer

To film or not to film? Everyone has an opinion. At Wayne Smith Trucking, we have front-facing cameras in everything we own. The front facing cameras can get you out of a jam or tell you when it’s best to settle a lawsuit before it gets worse. Side-facing cameras offer the same benefits, and my drivers like both cameras. These video perspectives can prove when drivers are in the right in the event of an accident.

Cameras that face the road in the front of and beside the truck and tractor have been popular and therefore easy to adopt. Now comes the problem child: driver-facing cameras. We do not have these rear-facing devices in any of our vehicles, nor will we.

Some of you are asking why? I did a little survey with some of our drivers to get a feel for their thoughts. Not one said, “I want one.” What they did say was, “Guess I will have to find another job.”

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FedEx Express Earns Top Safety Award at Trucking Conference

FedEx Express and other carriers were honored at the Arkansas Trucking Association Conference during the awards luncheon on May 17 in Little Rock, Ark.

The association recognized winners in six categories, as well as an overall grand champion celebrating the safest fleets among the Arkansas Trucking Association member companies.

FedEx Express earned the top award for the second consecutive year. In 2022, the company logged over 11 million accident-free miles on Arkansas highways

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Governor Sanders, Shelley Simpson among Arkansas Trucking Association Conference Headliners

Little Rock, Ark. – Next week, nearly 300 trucking industry leaders will gather in Little Rock for the Arkansas Trucking Association Annual Conference & Vendor Showcase. A lineup of speakers will address economics, leadership, politics, workforce equity, nuclear verdicts and Arkansas’s role in the global supply chain. Two receptions, one honoring members of the Arkansas state legislature and the other welcoming conference-goers, will kick off the three-day event. Educational forums will follow on Tuesday, May 16 and Wednesday, May 17 at the Statehouse Convention Center.

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Up Front - Alternative Route

ShannonNewton

Shannon Newton
President, ATA

In a regulated industry like trucking, solving industry problems often seems to require an act of Congress. I don’t mean that figuratively. The IIJA that provides federal dollars to our crumbling infrastructure was a bipartisan victory that passed only after years of lobbying and negotiation. The creation of FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse to keep drug abusers out of commercial trucks was also a literal act of Congress, thanks to Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) partnering with ATA to persuade his colleagues that carriers needed a way to flag drivers with positive drug tests when they apply for the next driving job.

In Arkansas, we often ask our Legislature to understand our business and to pass laws that help us do our jobs better with fewer complications.

But not every challenge we face requires navigating the halls of the Capitol. Over the last year, ATA has been working through a specific challenge without waiting for elected officials to take a single vote or pass any new laws. Some months ago, we learned that the path from interest to employment for a new CDL driver is especially cumbersome.

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The Last Word

Happy Birthday to the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse!

By Marilyn Surber

On Jan. 6, 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration launched the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse that would allow employers to have quick access to the drug testing violation history. For the last three years, every employer has been required to add drug testing information for its current drivers and to check (query) the drug testing history for new hires.

At three-years-old, the Clearinghouse should officially have enough data to give a clearer picture of drug testing in the industry. It’s hard to believe we are here already. What have we learned over the past three years and what does this milestone mean for carriers trying to qualify and hire professional truck drivers?

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Up Front - 'Tis the Season

ShannonNewton

Shannon Newton
President, ATA

It probably feels a little late to send season’s greetings. You’ve eaten your black-eyed peas and cornbread and probably pulled the Christmas tree to the curb or boxed it back up in the attic, but this, too, is a season I am ready to greet.

Arkansas has a new gubernatorial administration for the first time in eight years. There are new cabinet secretaries, new commissioners, new legislative liaisons and policy advisors. As the 94th General Assembly of the Arkansas Legislature begins, there are even more new faces around the Capitol with 31 individuals serving for the very first time. (see page X for our election recap).

All that newness can be exciting, but the unknown can also be intimidating.

Our elected officials, returning or fresh-faced, are also deciding what to do with this season. As leadership changes, so do agendas and priorities.

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The Last Word

Last Word tmaf perception findings

Popularity Contest: People Like Truckers

By Trucking Moves America Forward

 In September, Trucking Moves America Forward commissioned a survey to measure the impact of awareness and image campaigns. The TMAF campaign was launched in March 2014 at the Mid-America Trucking Show to improve the image of the trucking industry and educate the public on the impact of the industry and its relevance to the American way of life.

When the survey was last conducted pre-pandemic in 2019, 67% of respondents had a favorable impression of the trucking industry.

Since then, the public’s perception of trucking has only improved. In fact, the image of trucking is stronger than ever.

The public perception of the trucking is at an all-time high with the poll finding that the majority of Americans – 87% of voters – have a favorable impression of trucking, which is the highest public opinion has been since TMAF began tracking industry views almost a decade ago. More and more Americans continue to realize the essential role that trucking plays in the nation’s economy and in all of our lives, thanks to industry-wide education efforts.

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Up Front - No asterisk

ShannonNewton

Shannon Newton
President, ATA

 

Those who know me well, know that highlighting the differences associated with being a woman in the workplace is not a subject that excites me. I long for the day when it isn’t noteworthy, and we can just accolade the individual. No need to asterisk her success: She’s smart/talented/accomplished for a woman.

But we’re not there yet, so continuing to talk about it is important. Highlighting the successes of women in our industry makes it easier for others to imagine their own. Emulating the path of others seems more achievable than blazing a new one—not only for young girls imagining what they want to be when they grow up but also for young ladies contemplating college courses and career decisions. Our industry needs both. 

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The Last Word

A Strong Foundation: People, Technology, Capacity

By Shelley Simpson

J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. recently passed a big milestone: 60 years in business. That’s 60 years of building on Johnnie Bryan and Johnelle Hunt’s innovation and vision for a more efficient supply chain. That’s 60 years of delivering for our customers and taking care of our people.

When we took the time to reflect on our history, three important themes emerged. They are the foundations of all that has come before, and all that will come after. These three company foundations personify the momentum that got us here and the vision that will continue to push us forward.

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Arkansas Technicians Garner Big Wins at National Competition

Arkansas Technicians Garner Big Wins at National Competition

Jesse Elmore, a heavy-duty truck technician for Doggett Freightliner of Arkansas, and Sean “Kade” Bring, a trailer technician for Tyson Foods, represented Arkansas at the American Trucking Associations’ Technology and Maintenance Councils’ National Technicians Skills Competitions this week, Sept. 25-29, in Cleveland, Ohio.

At the national competition known more commonly as SuperTech, Elmore took 1st place in the Brakes Station on the Heavy Duty Truck Track, while Bring won 1st in the Hydraulics & Drivebelts Station in the Trailer Track.

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Up Front- Name. Image. Law Office Commercial Breaks.

ShannonNewton

Shannon Newton
President, ATA

College football is back. Woo Pig Sooie!! Bust out your team colors, criticize the pre-season rankings, make your own predictions and escape real-world realities for a few hours. Whether you’re gathered in the bleachers or in living rooms and sports bars around the state, supporting your team is just a good way to spend a Saturday. Paint your face, scream your lungs out, invest a little too much emotion in the outcome of the game; however you fan, I’m here for it.

The game day commercial breaks I’m less enthusiastic about.

This year, especially, it feels like the boundary between the challenges of the industry are seeping into the spaces between quarters, and the feeling I am left with is whiplash and even a little bit of dread.

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The Last Word

Building Tomorrow's Workforce

By Kenneth Calhoun

And suddenly we were not alone anymore.

For my entire career, we have been sounding the alarm that there is a shortage of skilled labor to both operate and maintain our trucks. Now it seems that the whole world has realized that there is a shortage of skilled labor. Who could have imagined that doing away with the programs in our educational system that taught us how to weld, repair small engines, build a jewelry box or wire a house could have such an impact?

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Up Front- Vital Role at Risk

ShannonNewton

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.

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The Last Word

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.

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2022 Arkansas Trucking Championship

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Truck Driving Championship Winners

FULL LIST

Technician Championship Winners

FULL LIST

ATA would like to thank all the volunteers, sponsors, vendors, drivers, technicians, and fans for their support.

Up Front- Famous Redhead

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Shannon Newton
President, ATA

In early April, I traveled with a group of Arkansas trucking executives to Washington D.C. to meet with our delegation and share our experiences and asks on important policy issues, as part of our annual Call on Washington.

The trip can feel like a whirlwind.

In two days, our attendees had a briefing with the American Trucking Associations representatives on current initiatives and proposed legislation that affect trucking, followed by face-to-face meetings with all six members of the Arkansas delegation. We had claimed time and attention between committee meetings and intelligence briefings to talk about infrastructure, the supply chain struggles, workforce barriers and lawsuit reform. It was a lot of ground to cover—both policy and literally as we hustled from office to office by trolley, foot and with an escort. 

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News Release: ATA Elects New Chairman, Directors at 2022 Annual Conference

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ATA Elects New Chairman, Directors at 2022 Conference

Representatives from J.B. Hunt, Wayne Smith Trucking, MHC Kenworth join ranks

The Arkansas Trucking Association held Board of Directors elections at its annual conference in Hot Springs, Ark., May 11-13. Outgoing Chairman Mark Morris, president and CEO of Hamburg-based Morris Transportation Services, announced Jeff Loggins, president of Jonesboro-based Loggins Logistics, was selected to succeed him to the crowd of nearly 300 trucking professionals.

“Mark served as a chairman during a critical time for our industry,” said Shannon Newton, president, Arkansas Trucking Association. “We thank him for his leadership when the pandemic, supply chain issues and ongoing workforce shortages put a spotlight on how essential trucking is. We look forward to working with our new chairman, Jeff Loggins, to continue to address these and other issues that matter most to our more than 330 member companies.”

Additionally, three transportation leaders were elected to join the Arkansas Trucking Association Board of Directors:

  • Neil Corder, President – Wayne Smith Trucking, Inc. of Morrilton, Ark.;
  • Brad Hicks, President of Highway Services and EVP – J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. of Lowell, Ark.; and
  • Todd Venable, Branch Manager – MHC Kenworth of Little Rock, Ark.

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News Release: Arkansas Trucking Names Top Driver, Safety Professional

2021 Driver of the Year Wyatt Jepsen

Wyatt Jepsen, Walmart Transportation, and Russ Curbo, Lew Thompson & Son Trucking, receive top awards at ATA Annual Conference 

On Wednesday, May 11, the Arkansas Trucking Association announced the 2021 Driver of the Year, Wyatt Jepsen, and 2021 Safety Professional of the Year, Russ Curbo. Jepsen is a professional driver for Walmart Transportation. Carson is the director of safety at Lew Thompson & Son Trucking in Huntsville, Ark. Both honors were bestowed at the Safety Awards Luncheon during the ATA Annual Business Conference & Vendor Showcase in Hot Springs, Ark.

Each year, the Arkansas Trucking Association recognizes one driver for their strong and noteworthy professional qualifications, experience and performance and one safety professional for their qualifications, safety program and safety achievements.

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Three Arkansas Seniors to Receive ATA Scholarships

Three Arkansas Seniors to Receive Technician Scholarships from Arkansas Trucking Association

Three graduating seniors have been selected to receive scholarships from the Arkansas Trucking Association. Each of the students will receive a $7,500 scholarship from the Carl Tapp Memorial Scholarship Fund to support their pursuit of careers in medium/heavy duty truck technology. Below are the 2022 Carl Tapp Scholarship recipients:

  • Colton Bell of Harrison, Ark.
  • Cole Goodeaux of Hot Springs, Ark.
  • Will Wade of Sherwood, Ark.

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2022 Arkansas Trucking Champions

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.

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ATA Names Womack Inaugural Maintenance Professional of the Year

MPOY Ryan Womack

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.”

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Trucking Wages Up in 2021, Study Finds

Trucking Wages Up Alongside Freight Demand, Driver Shortage

As demand for truck drivers rises among a growing shortage, so have driver wages, according to a new study by the American Trucking Associations.

In the wake of increased shipping spurred by the pandemic and compounding fractures in the supply chain, the truck driver shortage has grown to a staggering 80,000 openings in the U.S. Couple this with a 3.5% unemployment rate and the need to entice drivers with competitive wages becomes clear.

“We are committed to creating better jobs for our drivers, and that includes offering pay that reflects the value of the work they do,” said John Culp, president of North Little Rock-based Maverick USA and member of the Arkansas Trucking Association Board of Directors. “If we want to attract the best candidates to our industry, we have to be willing to pay for it in terms of actual wages and other benefits.” 

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The Last Word

Mr. Morris Goes to Washington

By Mark Morris

In April, I joined Arkansas Trucking Association President Shannon Newton and other trucking executives for my first Call on Washington. Over two days, we walked miles back and forth over Capitol Hill for meetings with our delegation to talk trucking. After more than two years of virtual this and webinar that, I welcomed the opportunity to come face-to-face with my elected officials in the nation’s capital.

I was elected to be chairman of the Arkansas Trucking Association Board of Directors August 2020 at the annual conference that had been delayed three months because of the pandemic. At that time, board members were taking conference calls with state and federal leadership to get updates on the virus situation and share what challenges we were facing to keep the supply chain moving. Since then, my whole tenure as chair has been in the middle of the pandemic; the vaccine rollout; the inflating economy; and the shortage of workers, toilet paper and microchips. The COVID chair, that’s who I’ve had to be.

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Up Front- In the Queue

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Shannon Newton
President, ATA

Whether you’re eager for your first set of keys and real freedom or seeking a professional license to earn a living, getting a driving license is a process.  Some take drivers’ education courses to prepare, and others flip through the little study guides provided by the state police. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a highlighted version to expedite my studies. After filling in the bubbles and answering dozens of questions to prove we could decode traffic signs and understood right-of-way at various stops, we were only halfway to our license.

The last step is getting behind the wheel with a test examiner. It’s the same for commercial drivers; before someone can earn their CDL, they have to pass a skills test. Unlike the multiple-choice knowledge test which can be conducted with one proctor and several testers at a time, a skills test is one-on-one and therefore takes more human resources and time. While there are more exam locations than counties for individuals looking to get their Arkansas driver’s license, for a CDL skills test, there are only six places in the state to go: Little Rock, Newport, Russellville, Hope, Harrison or Lowell.

In December, I serendipitously learned that some individuals were in a weeks-long queue to take the CDL skills test.

As an industry, we are constantly feeling the pressure of demand exceeding the number of available drivers. In my position as industry advocate, it is my job to enhance and expedite the workforce pipeline that we rely on to provide the flow of qualified workers. The dearth of CDL examiners presented a blocked pipe.

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The Last Word

The more things change, the more they stay the same

By Roby Brock

As we enter 2022, I’ll celebrate (and commiserate) working at the state capitol or covering Arkansas politics for 30 years. My first foray in state politics was working in the transition office when then-Gov. Bill Clinton was elected president and he transferred power to then Lt. Gov. Jim Guy Tucker. I got to witness that historic transfer of leadership up close in a private chamber session, which was pretty exciting for a 20-something political newbie.

Right after he was sworn in, Gov. Tucker called a special session of the legislature to deal with a Medicaid funding shortfall, which led to the soda pop tax that stayed on the books for decades. During that dramatic special session, bottlers circled the capitol with their delivery trucks in an intimidating blockade and their employees entered the marble halls of the capitol shaking empty aluminum soft drink cans filled with pennies. It was near-deafening. 

Meanwhile, supporters of Medicaid—nursing home employees and residents, developmentally disabled families and teams of pro-soda pop tax supporters—wandered the halls in confrontation with the uniformed soft drink workers.

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Up Front- Fast Friends

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Shannon Newton
President, ATA

As I think of all the friendships that I have nurtured over the years and how precious those are to my life, career and place in our community, it is evident that the pandemic took its toll on personal connection. Some may have mastered connecting through a screen, but I was not one of them. Behind a mask, from six feet away, it has been hard to navigate first impressions and introductions. Whether you are starved for connection or most comfortable by yourself, meeting new people or strengthening previous connections feels more challenging these days. 

Making friends in school was easy. You are served the same lunch, walk the same halls, endure the same homework assignments and midterms for 8 hours every day with the same group of peers. The proximity and shared circumstances amount to an understanding that develops into a relationship. It’s almost out of your control how close you grow to the people around you.

Shared experiences are an incubator for fast friendships.

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The Last Word

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How Trucking Can Rise Above Current Industry Challenges

By Jeremy Reymer

As leaders in the trucking industry, we're all acutely aware of the unprecedented challenges we're facing daily. Unfortunately, these challenges are nothing new. According to the most recent ATRI survey, "Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry - 2021", the driver shortage topped the list for the fifth year in a row. Industry thought leaders such as the American Trucking Associations’ Bob Costello, chief economist and senior vice president, estimate that the industry is short nearly 80,000 drivers, and many expect this to be on the lower end of the actual number.

An Increasing Loss in Drivers

Several reasons can be attributed to this increasing loss in drivers over the last few years. The first is the introduction of the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse, which has been steadily disqualifying non-compliant drivers since January 2020. According to the FMCSA, over 70,000 drivers have been removed or disqualified from operating a CMV due to the Clearinghouse.

Add to that an aging workforce – the average age of a truck driver is 55 years old; the average age of a new entrant is 35 years old – coupled with a global pandemic that exacerbated drivers leaving the industry while also restricting new entrants from joining, and you’ve got a perfect storm that has led to the challenging driver shortage we currently face.

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Up Front- Managing Expectations

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Shannon Newton
President, ATA

I’m a strong believer in managing expectations. It helps avoid a lot of life’s disappointments. So as people start to sign their e-mails with “Happy Holidays,” we need to talk about setting our expectations for a “happy” season.

No one wants to talk about toilet paper again, but images of empty shelves where rolls of three-ply should have been stacked deep encapsulates the chaos of the early days of the pandemic in America. COVID-19 cases were low, only a few states were dealing with hospital capacity issues and misinformation was only starting to breach questions that scientists were just beginning to research.

We knew plenty of toilet paper existed, but the temporary disruption to the supply chain was enough to make the paper product aisles appear post-apocalyptic for a few weeks. The run on Charmin was a pandemic outcome I didn’t expect. Since then, every delicate link of the chain has been tested.

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The Last Word

State Tax Plan: Simple, Fair, Competitive

By Arkansas State Senator Jonathan Dismang

While it appears we have finally (and thankfully) concluded one of the longest sessions in recent history, we still have unfinished business.

After extending the regular session to wait for the pending redistricting census data, the legislature completed the congressional maps in a session wrap-up that ultimately had very little to do with maps. The close morphed into a difficult discussion on employee vs. employer rights and the differences between government mandates and employer requirements.

Amid the noise of the continuing debate related to Covid-19 policies and other hot button social issues, we have quietly set the stage to make responsible strides in reforming our state’s income tax structure.

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ATA Announces 2020 Driver and Safety Professional of the Year

On Wednesday, Aug. 25, the Arkansas Trucking Association announced the 2020 Driver of the Year, Dean Roberts, and 2020 Safety Professional of the Year, Roger Carson. Roberts is a professional driver for Dedicated Logistics, a carrier headquartered in Crossett. Carson is the vice president of safety at Oakley Trucking, Inc. in North Little Rock. Both honors were bestowed at the Safety Awards Luncheon during the ATA Annual Business Conference & Vendor Showcase in Hot Springs, Ark.

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Up Front-The Right Time

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Shannon Newton
President, ATA

We tend to categorize, label and rank everything around us. Being human is to analyze and keep records of the best, the worst, the most, and the least, to assign order to all the things.

This summer, I celebrated 18 years with the association. My titles and scope of responsibility have changed, but ATA is just my second job after college. My first was in the accounting department of a member trucking company. Approaching college graduation, I attended a job fair on campus and clicked with a recruiter from Maverick Transportation. Almost 20 years later, I have a fulfilling career in this industry because of an opportunity that was available to me at a time in my life when it mattered.

Who you meet, what you study, where you work and experiences you have entering adulthood undoubtedly shape your future.

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The Last Word

My Final Mile

By Gwen Moritz

A few years ago, I sat in an audience of business publishers as our keynote presenter offered a tip on extemporaneous speechifying. If you ever find yourself called upon to speak to a trade group, he said, you can't go wrong with this opening: "No industry has experienced more change in recent years than yours!"

Those of us in the audience instantly suspected that we were not the first trade group audience to hear his speech about speaking to trade group audiences. "Totally meta," as the kids would say. But he was right: Virtually every industry has navigated so much change that anyone with even a few years of experience feels that surely no one outside their industry could possibly appreciate how much they have had to rethink and relearn.

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Up Front- G.O.A.T.

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Shannon Newton
President, ATA

We tend to categorize, label and rank everything around us. Being human is to analyze and keep records of the best, the worst, the most, and the least, to assign order to all the things.

Superlatives sell. That’s why you see billboards for the biggest steak, the highest rollercoaster and the fastest car.  Later this summer, millions will tune in as the Olympic Games deliver some of the most impressive superlatives in the world. Athletes will earn titles like fastest runner, strongest weightlifter, highest jumper, best gymnast.

In trucking, I’ve seen another superlative making the headlines, declaring the driver shortage is the worst it’s ever been. In July 2019, months before the global pandemic, American Trucking Associations released its latest numbers on the shortage, urging the industry to hire 1.1 million new drivers over the next decade, or an average of 110,000 drivers each year.

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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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