Arkansas Trucking Association

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.

The Arkansas Trucking Association held elections for its Board of the Directors at its annual conference in Hot Springs, Ark., August 25-27. Board Chairman Mark Morris, president and CEO of Hamburg-based Morris Transportation Services, was re-elected to a second term.

ATA President Shannon Newton presents 2021 Champion of Trucking Rep. Keith Brooks (R-Little Rock) with a commemorative truck and a legislative report card.

The Arkansas Trucking Association created the Champions of Trucking award in 2019 to recognize members of the Arkansas Legislature who supported issues of importance related to taxes, the legal environment, infrastructure and healthcare.

We are happy to announce 58 members of the 93rd Arkansas General Assembly as 2021 recipients of the Champions of Trucking award for their support of a pro-business, pro-trucking environment.

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.