Page 7 - ATR 2 2019 digital

UP FRONT

Award-Winning Magazine of the Arkansas Trucking Association
Arkansas Trucking Report is owned by the Arkansas Trucking Association,
Inc. and is published bimonthly. For additional copies, to order reprints
of individual articles or to become a subscriber to ATR, contact Caitlin
Walraven at 501.372.3462.
executive editor
SHANNON NEWTON
managing editor
BETHANY MAY
contributing writers EPICENTER OF THE ECONOMY
STEVE BRAWNER LACEY THACKER
brawnersteve@mac.com lacey@laceythacker.com th
DAVID MONTEITH ANGELA THOMAS The transportation sector is the 4 biggest contributor to the American GDP. Research
monteith.consulting@gmail.com angelaejthomas@yahoo.com from the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics shows that
JIM HARRIS TODD TRAUB
jimharris@arktimes.com toddtraub@centurytel.net accelerations and decelerations of the freight Transportation Statistics Index precede the
MOLLY MILLER LEA WHITE
mollymillerfreelance@gmail.com leawhite1979@gmail.com
growth cycles of the economy by about four months. We sit on top of the economic fault
art director
JON D. KENNEDY lines, so when plates begin to shift, trucking feels it first.
The Freelance Co. LLC, freelanceco@comcast.net
production editors
SARAH SHEETS, KATIE THOMASON, CAITLIN WALRAVEN
illustrator Over 200 years ago, the three most powerful earthquakes shook the U.S. along the New
BRENT BENNETT
brentdraw@att.net Madrid faults, a seismic zone from Arkansas to Illinois. On Dec. 16, 1811, northeast
photographers
JON D. KENNEDY, JOHN DAVID PITTMAN Arkansas was the epicenter of the first quake. For over 7 weeks, more earthquakes and
intense aftershocks rippled up the fault lines, and the convulsions shook awake people
in Pittsburgh. Even Pres. John Madison and his wife Dolly could feel the tremors in the
White House.
www.arkansastrucking.com
president
SHANNON SAMPLES NEWTON
shannonnewton@arkansastrucking.com Since then, there have been hundreds of small quakes on the New Madrid. About twice
director of operations
SARAH NEWMAN SHEETS a year, you might feel the rumble of some seismic activity, but it’s usually nothing
sarahsheets@arkansastrucking.com
communications director damaging.
BETHANY MAY
bethanymay@arkansastrucking.com
director of safety services
SKYLAR HATFIELD After the 1811 quakes ended, people were justifiably spooked, wondering when the next
skylarhatfield@arkansastrucking.com
director, loss prevention would strike. But despite the legend of the Mississippi River reversing course for several
MIKE BRUST
mikebrust@arkansastrucking.com hours after the ground stopped shaking, this is just a part of living on a tectonic plate on
business development coordinator
AMANDA LAMB Planet Earth.
amandalamb@arkansastrucking.com
corporate services coordinator
KATIE THOMASON
katiethomason@arkansastrucking.com Many in our industry remember the trauma of the Great Recession in 2008. For most of
executive assistant
CAITLIN WALRAVEN
caitlinwalraven@arkansastrucking.com us, it felt like an earth-shaking event, swallowing up businesses and careers.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AL HERINGER IV
Star Transportation, LLC
Vice President Though we’ve survived and experienced the strongest freight market in the past 50
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ROCHELLE BARTHOLOMEW MIKE MCNUTT years, the anxiety associated with its end seems to be growing. A few recent lower-than-
CalArk International, Inc. Distribution Solutions, Inc.
President CEO, Owner
MARR LYNN BEARDEN MARK MORRIS expected earnings reports, decreases in tonnage year-over-year and other indicators have
Marrlin Transit, Inc. Morris Transportation Services, LLC
President President some executives claiming we’re on the downhill fall of the economic rollercoaster.
KEVEN HADDOX JAMES REED
Southern Tire Mart USA Truck
Vice President of Operations CEO
GREG CARMAN G.E. “BUTCH” RICE III
Carman, Inc. Stallion Transportation Group If you’ve been watching the headlines with piqued interest, I hope you’re planning to join
President President & CEO
JOHN CULP ALAN RIELS us in Little Rock for our Annual Business Conference & Vendor Showcase May 15 and
Maverick USA Dedicated Logistics, LLC
President President & CEO
DAN CUSHMAN JOHN SMITH 16. The best thing we can do during times of change is stay educated and engaged.
PAM Transport, Inc. FedEx Freight
President & CEO President
CRAIG HARPER VICKI JONES STEPHENS
J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. C.C. Jones, Inc. American Trucking Associations’ chief economist Bob Costello will be in on May 15
Executive Vice President & COO President

KORY LARSON TIM THORNE
The Larson Group ABF Freight providing his insight on what’s happening with the economy and whether the tremors
COO President & CEO
JEFF LOGGINS DOUG VOSS you may have noticed are false alarms or an indication that the economy is coming in
Loggins Logistics, Inc. University of Central Arkansas
President & CEO Associate Professor of Logistics for a soft landing.
ROB LYALL
Tyson Foods, Inc.
Vice President - Transportation
Distribution
An affiliate of the American Trucking We already know a growing economy doesn’t last forever, but don’t be spooked by
Associations
Arkansas Trucking Association (ATA) is an Arkansas corporation of trucking a rumble here or there. Instead, lean in and be part of a community that will adapt
companies, private carrier fleets and businesses which serve or supply the
trucking industry. ATA serves these companies as a governmental affairs through even the most ground-shaking seasons.
representative before legislative, regulatory and executive branches of
government on issues that affect the trucking industry. The organization also
provides public relations services, workers’ compensation insurance, operational
services and serves as a forum for industry meetings and membership relations.
For information, contact ATA at:
1401 West Capitol, Suite 185
Post Office Box 3476 (72203) Shannon Newton
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 Drivers Legal Plan
Phone 501.372.3462 Fax 501.376.1810 President, Arkansas Trucking Association
www.arkansastrucking.com
ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 2 2019 7
Drivers Legal Plan