Arkansas Trucking Association

In a white paper, released in October, J.B. Hunt concluded that shipping rates are expected to continue to increase in 2015. The report cited six key stresses on the industry: driver shortage and retention, tightening regulations/Hours of Service, capacity, railroad investment, rising equipment costs and falling productivity.

Efforts to amend last year’s hours-of-service (HOS) rules have faced opposition, but Philip L. Byrd, Sr., chairman of the American Trucking Associations, says the ATA is “bound and determined to bring about positive change” in federal trucking regulations.

The 10th annual SuperTech was held September 22-24 during TMC’s fall meeting at the Dolphin Resort at Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Mark McLean Jr., a FedEx Freight technician from New York state, finished as grand champion for the second year in a row.

Trucking publishing-executive Brad Bentley has been selected as the new president of the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA). He will succeed Chris Burruss, who resigned in June due to personal reasons.

Jannie Reece of Waynesboro, Tenn., a professional truck driver for Transco Lines, Inc., of Russellville, Ark., has been named a Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA). She is being recognized for helping put out the flames on a fellow motorist’s car.

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released the findings of its 2014 update to An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking.  The research, which identifies trucking costs from 2008 through 2013 derived directly from fleets’ financial and operational data, provides motor carriers with an important high-level benchmarking tool and government agencies with real world data for future infrastructure improvement analyses.

A bill has been introduced in the U.S. House to require the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to remove from public view the carrier rankings and scores produced in the agency’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability program from public view.

Truck Stop Health Care, a physician team that aims to bring health services to truckers where they work, is planning to make DOT physicals for CDL drivers available at truckstops across the U.S.

CDL drivers are required to have a DOT physical every two years, and allowing them to be examined at truckstops is more convenient and will save drivers time, says Truck Stop Health Care.

The Dept. of Transportation (DOT) has issued a notice of content to consider an increase in the minimum insurance requirement for motor carriers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) also is considering extending financial responsibility requirements to private motor carriers.

A $22 million trucking project begins with a $1.2 million grant for the city of Hope, one of seven cities to receive grants from the Economic Development Administration. The development was planned by executives of Fikes Truck Line.

American Trucking Associations President Bill Graves took part in the “Ice Bucket Challenge,” a campaign to raise awareness and funds to find a cure for the nerve disease ALS.

Arkansas sent nine drivers representing five different carriers to compete at the 2014 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) in Pittsburgh, Aug. 12-16.