Page 14 - ATR 2 2019 digital

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

MAY AUGUST
MAY 15 - 16 AUGUST 13 - 17
ATA ANNUAL BUSINESS AMERICAN TRUCKING
CONFERENCE & VENDOR ASSOCIATIONS SAFETY
SHOWCASE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL’S
Arkansas State House Convention Center NATIONAL TRUCK DRIVING
Little Rock, Ark. CHAMPIONSHIPS AND
MAY 17 NATIONAL STEP VAN DRIVING
ATA SPRING GOLF CLASSIC CHAMPIONSHIPS
Chenal Country Club Pittsburgh, Penn. pricing plan is intended to reduce traffic
Little Rock, Ark. AUGUST 27 - 30 by charging drivers who enter the city’s
NATMI’S MOTOR FLEET ACCIDENT business district. Cordon pricing charg-
JULY INVESTIGATION & ADVANCED es drivers to enter a congested area.
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
JULY 11 - 13 The Victory Building While other U.S. cities have variably
ARKANSAS TRUCKING Little Rock, Ark. priced lanes and facilities to control
CHAMPIONSHIP congestion, New York City is the first to
John Q. Hammons Center implement cordon pricing.
Rogers, Ark.
New York City has some of the
JULY 14 - 17 For calendar most congested streets in the country.
AMERICAN TRUCKING information, visit
ASSOCIATIONS FORUM FOR The gridlock is especially challenging
MOTOR CARRIER GENERAL arkansastrucking.com for emergency vehicles that maneu-
COUNSEL SESSION ver through the city to save lives and
San Diego, Calif. respond to crises.
The exact price point is still unde-
cided, but the once-a-day charge is pre-

NEWS IN BRIEF, advertisements belong to trial attorneys dicted to raise $1 billion each year for
who solicit business from those involved
public transportation.
Continued from page 13 in a truck accident. Supporters laud the plan for tack-
McFarland said the legislation is ling congestion and addressing subway
highway, state highway, or any of the not intended to target content, but breakdowns while others who work in
interstates now without seeing a bill- rather the frequency and location of the the area consider the cost to their busi-
board every 500 feet.” ad spots. nesses.
McFarland argued that the number Chance McNeely, executive direc- Rocky Karla, a delivery service
of billboards in the state is dispropor- tor of the Louisiana Motor Transport owner, told national publication, The
tional to its highway miles. Louisiana Association, said the issue is about Guardian, that the charge will force
has 2 percent of U.S. highways, but 10 distracted driving. “They are inherently him to raise prices for his customers.
percent of the billboards. distracting,” McNeely said. “They exist “They’re saying it’s going to help in low-
“They’re innovative, attention-get- to distract.” ering the congestion,” he said. “I don’t
ters. People do look up doing 65, 75, 85 After three hours of debate, the think so because everyone has to come
miles an hour on the interstate. You’re House of Representatives voted against here.”
spending more time looking up than the bill. However, similar legislation in While the plan will hit drivers in
ahead,” said McFarland. the Senate has not made it to the floor the city, who are generally wealthier
The bill was opposed by outdoor for a vote yet. than transit riders, residents inside the
advertising giants like Lamar, which is toll-zone will receive a credit if they
headquartered in Baton Rouge. They MEANWHILE IN NEW YORK, make less than $60,000 per year, to
called the legislation “anti-business.” COUNTRY’S FIRST CORDON reduce the burden.
Trucking companies, who are often CONGESTION PRICING PASSES Congested cities around the world
villainized by trial attorney billboards, New York City drivers will be the have implemented similar plans to
support the proposal. first in the nation to pay cordon con- 
About 1,000 of the state’s billboard gestion pricing, beginning in 2020. The

14 Issue 2 2019 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT