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 2021 Carl Tapp Scholarship recipients:

• Caiden Sallee of Gentry, Ark.
• Channlyn Vaughn of Jonesboro, Ark.
• Ricky Watkins of Rogers, Ark.

“Without trucks, America stops; and without skilled technicians, trucks stop,” said Shannon Newton, president, Arkansas Trucking Association. “Truck drivers and diesel technicians are essential to a healthy economy. In fact, one in ten working Arkansans has a career in trucking. And that’s what we’re providing with these scholarships – the opportunity to launch careers. We welcome this year’s scholarship recipients into our industry where they will learn to ensure the safety of trucking equipment on the roads we all share.”

On March 31, President Biden released plans for a $2.25 trillion infrastructure and economic recovery package, known as the American Jobs Plan. The eight-year plan would be funded by a partial-reversal of the Trump tax cuts, raising the corporate tax rate from 21 percent to 28 percent over 15 years.

A $621 billion in transportation infrastructure would aim to repair and modernize bridges, roads, public transit, ports, airports and electric vehicle development.

After blocking the Suez Canal for nearly a week, the Ever Given — which was carrying more than $3.5 billion in cargo – was finally dislodged; however, the ripple effect on the supply chain is expected to last well into the summer.

Dean Croke, principal analyst at DAT Solutions, said in a recent interview that, during the first three months of this year, 36% of container volume into the Port of New York and New Jersey came from the Suez Canal, along with 22% of volume at the Port of Savannah, Ga.

The ongoing shortage of semiconductors along with limited availability of other parts and supplies, including rubber to produce tires, are causing delays for trucking fleets, a recent survey found.

Conducted by the Technology & Maintenance Council of American Trucking Associations, 73% of survey respondents said their operation has experienced delay in taking delivery of new vehicles due to the shortage of semiconductor chips. In 63% of these cases, the delay has amounted to 60 or more days.

Meera Joshi is currently serving as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s deputy and acting administrator, a position she’s held since January, and one President Biden intends to make permanent with a nomination.

The FMCSA has been operating under acting administrators since Administrator Ray Martinez stepped down in October 2019.

In addition to his $2 trillion infrastructure plan, President Biden has previewed a $1.5 trillion fiscal 2022 budget plan that would increase discretionary spending for transportation systems and severe weather resilience programs.

To evidence the need for an infrastructure bill, the White House has released state-by-state breakdowns that show the dire shape of roads, bridges, the power grid and housing affordability.

The administration's fact sheet had 25 states receiving grades of C-minus or below. The highest grade given was a C+, to Georgia and Utah. A total of 13 states – including Arkansas – did not receive a grade.

A bipartisan group of Congressmen have introduced H.R.2187, the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, which would improve highway safety by addressing a critical shortage in available parking for semis and large commercial trucks.

Playing for the PAC has never been easier than with the inaugural Arkansas Trucking Association bracket challenge. There were 37 brackets submitted with predictions for the NCAA Men’s Championship Basketball Tournament along with a donation to the ATA PAC for a chance to win prizes.

On April 5, Baylor University won their first-ever National Championship as they defeated Gonzaga in the final game. In all, 11 individuals took home prizes for points earned during the six rounds, and the tournament MVP, Tiffany Senavinin of Maverick Transportation, won $600 cash.

A Federal Reserve survey has found that the economy was rebounding in late February through early April. The new survey cites a range of factors, from vaccinations to the payments of up to $1,400 for individuals from President Biden’s $1.9 trillion relief package.

Four Arkansas cities and their surrounding areas face demotion and possible economic repercussions if a proposed statistical change is adopted by the federal Office of Management & Budget.

The OMB received a recommendation to double the core population required for designation as a metropolitan statistical area from 50,000 to 100,000. If the population threshold is changed, current Arkansas MSAs that are based around Hot Springs, Jonesboro, Pine Bluff and Texarkana would be redesignated as micropolitan statistical areas.