Page 41 - Arkanas Trucking Report Volume 22 Issue 5

regulation matter so legislators and the
public know this is what is on the mind
of everyone in trucking.
“We want our reputation for safety
to precede us,” said Newton.
In the last 18 months, ATA has
organized two Call on Washington
events for members to travel to Capitol
Hill and meet with Arkansas’ federal
delegation to discuss these pressing
issues that legislators have power to
affect.
Newton also testified in numer-
ous legislative meetings, educating state
lawmakers on the practical applica-
tions of policies affecting the trans-
portation industry in Arkansas. She
serves on the Arkansas Department
of Transportation’s Freight Advisory
Committee, Transportation Planning
Advisory Group, the Arkansas Highway
Safety Steering Committee, Metroplan “IT’S IMPORTANT ATA IS ENGAGED IN THESE EFFORTS
Regional Planning Advisory Council, SO ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND THE GENERAL
the I-55 Advisory Council, and the
Mack Blackwell Transportation Center PUBLIC KNOW THAT TRUCKING DOES MORE THAN
Advisory Board. JUST TALK ABOUT SAFETY.”
“Lots of commitments, but each
council, committee, group, and board —DAVID O’NEAL, ATA’S VICE PRESIDENT OF SAFETY PROGRAMS
meeting was a room full of eyes and AND INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT
ears to bear witness to our story and
how the plot twists in response to leg-
islation, infrastructure investment, competition that recognizes and cel- as a CB radio rather than the complex
attention to freight corridors, capacity, ebrates safe driving. computers that log hours, route deliver-
safety and operational improvements,” Last year, ATA partnered with local ies, connect vehicles, mitigate crashes
Newton said. television stations, the Ad Council and and make the roads safer than they
This summer, in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety have ever been.
the Arkansas Highway Police, ATA also Administration in producing 30 second This spring, ATA had the oppor-
promoted and spoke at a kickoff press PSAs to raise awareness about drunk tunity to share the future of trucking
conference for CVSA’s International driving over the holiday season. From with state legislators when lobbying to
Road Check. the week before Thanksgiving until New reduce the mandated distance between
“It’s important ATA is engaged in Year’s Eve, four local TV stations and two trucks. The shorter distance will
these efforts so enforcement officials two news websites ran the PSA with the allow testing of platooning technology
and the general public know that truck- safety message. The same PSA will hit to virtually connect the vehicles on
ing does more than just talk about airwaves again in the upcoming 2017 the road, reducing wind resistance and
safety,” said David O’Neal, vice presi- holiday season on local NBC affiliates. requiring less energy. The law recently
dent of safety programs and industry went into effect, and drivers testing pla-
engagement at ATA. “We want to see it WE ARE FORWARD-THINKING tooning technology won’t have to worry
in practice. We want to see it enforced.” One hurdle ATA has in aligning about a state statute restricting the fol-
In addition to attending safety the public’s perception of trucking with lowing distance between two vehicles.
events, ATA also hosted them. ATA has reality is communicating the extent to And in July, ATA hosted demonstra-
hosted two safety seminars, a dozen which technology shapes the industry. tions of trucking safety systems at the
Safety Management Council meet- Trucking has changed so much in the state fairgrounds, inviting the media
th
ings and the 50 anniversary of the last 85 years, and yet, there are still and the governor’s office staff and sum-
Arkansas Trucking Championship — a people who think of truck technology 
ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 5 2017 41