The Arkansas Trucking Association (ATA) applauds the reintroduction of the DRIVE-Safe Act, a critical piece of legislation that aims to address the massive driver shortage affecting the delivery of commerce in our country, while also promoting enhanced safety training for new members of the workforce.
ATA also praises the support of Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) and Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) as co-sponsors of the legislation.
Read more: Arkansas Trucking Association Praises Reintroduction of DRIVE-Safe Act
The Arkansas Trucking Association today commended Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and other legislative leaders for introducing a long-term, sustainable infrastructure plan to fund roads and bridges across the state.
Under the proposal, $300 million in new highway spending is predicted to generate hundreds of millions in economic activity and thousands of new jobs.
The highway plan would allow the cities, counties and the Arkansas Department of Transportation to invest in infrastructure that will connect communities and businesses. Ninety percent of Arkansans recognize the need for repair and believe improving the state's infrastructure is key to driving economic activity.
ATA President Shannon Newton noted the commitment of the Governor and legislators in formulating the proposal. "For too many years and legislative sessions, we've seen the can kicked down the road. ATA members are pleased to see decisive action on the part of the General Assembly and the Executive Branch in bringing long-term confidence to funding the highways where we do business."
Arkansas Trucking Association was one of 17 state trucking associations honored with Summa Cum Laude status during American Trucking Associations’ Safety, Security and Human Resources National Conference and Exhibition in Long Beach, Calif. on Nov. 14.
President Trump signed into law a package aimed at curbing abuse of opioid drugs, and included in the legislative package is a provision that requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide Congress with an update on the status of guidelines for conducting hair-sample drug tests.
In 2015, the FAST Act highway bill required the U.S. DOT to recognize hair-sample drug tests for truck drivers as an alternative to urine-sample tests, and DHS was given a year to produce guidelines for how those tests should be conducted. Three years later, fleets are still waiting for those guidelines.
Read more: What’s the hold up on DHS’s hair sample drug testing protocol? asks new bill
Two new studies report that crashes are up by as much as 6 percent in the first states to legalize marijuana—Colorado Nevada, Oregon and Washington—compared with neighboring states that haven't legalized marijuana for recreational use. The research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) come as campaigns to decriminalize marijuana gain traction with voters and legislators in the U.S., and Canada begins allowing recreational use of marijuana.
Read more: Crashes Rise in States that Legalized Recreational Marijuana
Arkansas Trucking Association President Shannon Newton was recently named to the American Transportation Research Institute 2019-2020 Research Advisory Committee (RAC). Among other activities, ATRI's RAC is responsible for annually identifying the top research priorities for the trucking industry.
RAC members represent a diverse cross-section of trucking industry stakeholders including motor carriers, industry suppliers, commercial drivers, shippers, law enforcement, academia and government.
Read more: Newton named to ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee
As congestion on America’s highways continues to spread, SureFly, a personal helicopter, offers technology for commuters to fly over traffic in a partially electric drone-like aircraft for two people.
The helicopter with a target pricepoint around $200,000, includes 8 rotors and a hybrid motor that can fly for up to 2 hours at a time.
The Federal Aviation Administration requires a skilled pilot to operate vehicles like the SureFly, but Elliot Bokeno with Workhorse, the Ohio based company trying to bring the aircraft to market, says it isn’t difficult to use, “You don’t need a huge skill set to fly it. If you can fly a drone, you can fly this."
Read more: Bypass Traffic Congestion in a Personal Helicopter
Despite the recent regulatory rollbacks, the Environmental Protection Agency announced in Nov. that it will pursue more stringent restrictions on pollution from heavy-duty trucks.
The Cleaner Trucks Initiative is a future rulemaking to update standards for nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from heavy-duty trucks and engines. NOx emissions standards for these vehicles were last revised in 2001.
Arkansas' Greer Woodruff, senior vice president of safety, security and driver personnel at J.B. Hunt Transport Services, was among those honored by American Trucking Associations Image and Advocacy Award, which acknowledges outstanding industry advocacy efforts.
The Highway to Victory Award is given to someone who has championed the associations' legislative agenda and has gone well above and beyond in promoting and advocating for the top legislative interests of the trucking industry.
Arkansas Trucking Association applauds the U.S. Department of Transportation for announcing its $1.5 billion investment in infrastructure projects around the U.S. including two important projects in Arkansas. DOT Sec. Elaine Chao announced today that $45 million would be awarded for Arkansas infrastructure through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program which is allocated for nationally and regionally significant projects. Interstate 49 at the Arkansas-Missouri border will receive $25 million to complete the project and an extension of a Hot Springs bypass will receive $20 million.
Arkansas legislators including Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), Rep. Steve Womack (Ark.-03) and Rep. Bruce Westerman (Ark.-04) supported the grant applications and asked Transportation Sec. Elaine Chao to award the funds to these projects in order to boost economic development in the area.
Read more: Arkansas Trucking Association Applauds DOT for Infrastructure Grants
Spear, Newton and outgoing American Trucking Associations Chairman Dave Manning with prize money photo by John Sommers II for Transport Topics
Arkansas Trucking Association is proud to announce President Shannon Newton was named the 17th recipient of the American Trucking Associations' President's Trucking Association Executives Council (TAEC) Leadership Award during ATA's 85th Management Conference and Exhibition in Austin, Tex. today.
Newton was recognized as a leader in the industry for her advocacy efforts and for promoting the image of the industry across the state and the nation.
"Our industry benefits greatly from leaders like Shannon who build coalitions, generate relationships and make sure pro-safety, pro-trucking policies are enacted at the state level and supported at the national level," said incoming ATA Chairman Barry Pottle, president of Pottle's Transportation. "Shannon is a great example of the wonderful relationship ATA has with our state federation and how we can use those to make a positive impact in our industry."
The President's TAEC Leadership Award was created in 2002 by ATA to honor a state trucking association leader and to create an enduring legacy for that leader and for the industry. The award comes with a $10,000 grant for a non-profit 501(c)(3) trucking education or research organization chosen by Newton.
Read more: ATA President Shannon Newton Receives Industry Leadership Award
On Oct. 18 the Arkansas Supreme Court released its ruling that the votes on Issue 1 (“tort reform”) will NOT be counted on the Nov. 6, 2018 general election ballot. By a 6-1 vote, the Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s decision that the legislature improperly referred Issue 1 in violation of Art. 19, Sec. 22’s separate-vote requirement and its three-amendment per election limitation. The Court based that determination on its conclusion that the four sections of Issue 1 are not “reasonably germane” to each other or to a “general subject” under the test established by Forrester v. Martin. The Supreme Court’s ruling means that while Issue 1 will appear on the ballot, the Secretary of State is prohibited from counting the votes.
The Arkansas Trucking Association worked diligently through the Arkansans for Jobs and Justice Coalition and proudly collaborated with a diverse group of individuals and interests – including, but not limited to, the Arkansas State Chamber, the Arkansas Hospital Association, the Arkansas Medical Society, the Arkansas Farm Bureau, the Arkansas Health Care Association and the Poultry Federation – to amend our Constitution to allow Arkansas to grow jobs, improve our healthcare system and stabilize costs of doing business in this litigious environment. This coalition has worked extremely hard and spent nearly $3 million dollars to educate Arkansas voters.
Read more: Arkansas Supreme Court Strikes Ballot Measure on Tort Reform
Arkansas Trucking Association
PO Box 3476 (72203)
1401 West Capitol Ave.
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 372-3462 | Phone
(501) 376-1810 | Fax
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