Arkansas Trucking Association

The Arkansas Trucking Association today commended the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for publishing a final rule on changes to Hours of Service (HOS) regulations and recognizing the opportunity to improve safety and provide additional flexibility for drivers on our nation's highways.   

“Today’s rule is the result of a two-year, data-driven process, and it will result in needed flexibility for America’s professional truck drivers while maintaining the safety of our roads,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “We appreciate the time and attention President Trump, Secretary Chao and Administrator Mullen have paid to our industry and to this regulation, which, while maintaining the core limitations on drivers’ work and rest cycles, makes smart changes to portions of the rules.”

Arkansas Trucking Association member Cummins is partnering with DuPont to address the nation’s shortage of N95 respirator masks. 

Cummins, an engine manufacturer, uses DuPont’s Hybrid Membrane Technology in its filtration products, like those in heavy-duty diesel engines. The HMT can also be used in N95 respirator masks, the kind recommended for use in hospitals because they filter 95% of airborne particles that can spread COVID-19.

Truck drivers have been working harder than ever to keep shelves stocked and to bring medical supplies to hospitals, but some Arkansas healthcare professionals have been delivering products as well.

Workers with Survival Flight EMS, an emergency medical transportation company dedicated to air medical transportation, delivered groceries to people in need in Batesville, Ark.

U.S. automobile manufacturers halted production when the coronavirus began spreading across the country in March, but the factories aren’t all sitting empty.

GM has reactivated its Kokomo plant to produce Ventec ventilators as part of its partnership with that company. And Ford has teamed up with 3M and GE Healthcare to produce ventilators and personal protective gear for healthcare workers.

The airline industry has been one of the first and hardest hit by the economic effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. Major passenger airline operators—including American, Delta and United—have all run cargo-only flights.

When passenger demand dropped 90% on a flight between Fort Worth, Texas, and Frankfurt, Germany, American Airlines used the Boeing 777-300 to transport medical supplies and other cargo in place of the passengers.

Another plane that’s getting a new assignment is the New England Patriots' team plane that usually takes NFL players to games was recently use to transport 1.2 million N95 masks from Shenzhen, China, to the United States.

In March, McDonald’s joined restaurants around the country in closing their dining rooms to slow the spread of COVID-19, leaving fewer options for the 1.8 million truck drivers still on the road delivering critical supplies to affected communities.

Though the fast food chain continued to do business via drive-thru windows, these are largely inaccessible to truck drivers who cannot move their trucks through these lanes. A company-wide safety policy prevented employees from accepting orders from customers who walked through instead of driving up to the window.

The hardships truck drivers face when their food options dwindle made headlines all over the country when restaurants and even rest stops closed their doors to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Taco Bell has also created a drive-thru experience for truck drivers. The fast food chain served free meals to drivers at their corporate headquarters.

An app, BasicBlock, is allowing truckers to stay safe, practice social distancing as recommended by the CDC,  and file their paperwork over the phone.

Social distancing is a term that describes measures taken to prevent the spread of contagious disease, like COVID-19, by maintaining physical distance between people and reducing the number of times people come into close contact with each other.

Tyson Foods is also investigating ways to keep their drivers safe and make their difficult jobs a little bit easier by launching a task force. The company also announced approximately $60 million in bonuses to 116,000 frontline workers, including truck drivers, who are serving during the COVID-19.

All eligible employees will receive a $500 bonus in addition to other company-announced efforts to support workers, plant communities and livestock producers during the global pandemic.

BMO Harris Bank, one of the largest lenders to the trucking industry, introduced a financial relief program for those impacted by COVID-19.  

Relief for small businesses and customers may include payment deferrals on credit cards, mortgages, home equity, auto, personal and small business loans for up to three months; fee waivers for checking and savings accounts; and removing some penalties. The bank has also paused foreclosure and repossession actions for consumers with COVID-19 related circumstances.