Arkansas Trucking Association

On Sept. 16, dozens of safety-minded organizations launched a national coalition aimed at reducing the deadly threat of distracted driving on the nation’s highways. The National Distracted Driving Coalition, governed by a 100-member steering committee, plans to act as a central clearinghouse for local and state safety groups to promote national, innovative and collaborative approaches to shed light on and pursue legislation on talking and texting on cellphones, among other distractions.

The Federal Reserve indicated it may start raising its benchmark interest rate sometime next year, earlier than it envisioned in June. In a statement, the Fed also said it will likely begin slowing the pace of its monthly bond purchases "soon" if the economy keeps improving. These changes potentially signal that high inflation pressures will persist and that the economy has recovered from the recession.

FedEx, in partnership with Aurora Innovation Inc. and Paccar Inc., launched a commercial pilot of autonomous trucking between Dallas and Houston, a 500-mile round trip, along the I-45 corridor.

“This is an exciting, industry-first collaboration that will work toward enhancing the logistics industry through safer, more efficient transportation of goods and we are pleased to collaborate with other industry leaders – Aurora and Paccar – on this endeavor,” said Rebecca Yeung, vice president of advanced technology and innovation at FedEx Corp.

The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville celebrated the grand opening of its new Workforce Training Center on Sept. 21.

“Our hope is that this center will be a marker for an increase in skilled education in the state,” Zach Harber, UACCB director of career and technical education said.

NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville will use a $288,700 grant from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education to establish a commercial driver’s license training and truck driving program, which is expected to launch in phases starting late this fall.

The Internal Revenue Service announced it will increase the allowable per diem rate for owner-operators from $66 to $69 beginning Oct. 1. This reimbursement designed to cover meals and incidentals gives drivers more take-home pay because less taxes are withheld.

A new FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse report shows the number of positive driver drug tests through August increased nearly 13% compared with a year ago. The report showed increases in marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamines and positive drug tests overall. Positive marijuana tests account for more than 53% of the total number of the 14 different drug panels tested since the Clearinghouse opened.

Looking for baby names? Going with “Sam” may get your kid one step closer to $10,000, thanks to a recent announcement from Sam’s Club. Leveraging the NCAA agreement that allows college athletes to monetize their name, image and likeness and profit from work with brands, the warehouse retailer is now offering $10,000 each to 10 athletes across sports. So far, Sam's Club has signed four athletes and is turning to the public to fill the remainder of the team via TikTok.

Maurice Fayne, who starred in the reality TV series “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” and owned Flame Trucking, was sentenced to more than 17 years in federal prison for conspiracy, wire fraud and bank fraud.

Fayne, who also goes by 'Arkansas Mo,' was convicted of running a multistate Ponzi scheme that defrauded people who invested in his trucking business. He had promised to use investors’ money to operate the business, but instead, he used the money to pay his personal debts and expenses, including spending more than $5 million at a casino in Oklahoma.

In an executive proclamation, Gov. Asa Hutchinson officially declared September 12-18, 2021, 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 millions of professional truck drivers who work each day to deliver America’s freight safely as part of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.

Walmart Transportation and other carriers were honored at the Arkansas Trucking Association (ATA) Awards Luncheon at the organization’s annual business conference last week in Hot Springs, Ark.

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