Page 7 - Arkanas Trucking Report Volume 22 Issue 5

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 DO NOT DELAY
STEVE BRAWNER LACEY THACKER
brawnersteve@mac.com lacey@laceythacker.com
JENNIFER BARNETT REED ANGELA THOMAS This year has been marked with reflection over the past 85 years since the Shippers
jbreed13@gmail.com angelaejthomas@yahoo.com and Carriers Association of Arkansas was formed in 1932. While it might be easy to
JIM HARRIS TODD TRAUB
jimharris@arktimes.com toddtraub@centurytel.net talk about how the Association took tough stances on issues that improved conditions
RENEE MILLER DEANA NALL
rmiller@rescue18wheeler.com deananall@gmail.com for Arkansas carriers, it’s much harder to be the association that takes those tough
art director positions and persuades others to come along. Sometimes, we’ve gotten it right and
JON D. KENNEDY
The Freelance Co. LLC, freelanceco@comcast.net led the change, and other times, like when the Association opposed deregulation, we
production editors
SARAH SHEETS, KATIE THOMASON, DAVID O’NEAL followed the change and learned to adapt.
illustrator
BRENT BENNETT
brentdraw@att.net On every issue ATA tackles, we want to be on the right side of history. The questions
photographers
JON D. KENNEDY, JOHN DAVID PITTMAN we always ask are these: Does this improve safety? Does this make carriers more
efficient, more profitable or more risk averse? Does this protect our most valuable asset—
professional drivers?
When the answers are yes, we don’t hesitate to stand out front, lead the discussion and
www.arkansastrucking.com
president speak to our legislators and other decision makers. Fortunately, on ELDs, we have been
SHANNON SAMPLES NEWTON
shannonnewton@arkansastrucking.com heard by those in Washington.
vice president, safety programs and industry engagement
DAVID O’NEAL, CDS st
davidoneal@arkansastrucking.com On Sept. 5, Rep. Rick Crawford (R-1 ) penned a letter to his colleagues, urging them
director of operations
SARAH NEWMAN SHEETS ‘do not delay’ implementation of the Dec. 18 ELD compliance deadline. He cited the
sarahsheets@arkansastrucking.com overwhelming majorities from both houses of Congress that have repeatedly directed the
communications coordinator
BETHANY MAY
bethanymay@arkansastrucking.com FMCSA to complete the ELD rulemaking over the last five years.
business development coordinator
AMANDA LAMB
amandalamb@arkansastrucking.com Crawford wrote that further delay would penalize the thousands of companies who have
corporate services coordinator worked to comply with the federal law, and he wasn’t the only leader from Arkansas
KATIE THOMASON
katiethomason@arkansastrucking.com to speak up on behalf of fleet owners who have adopted the technology in anticipation
executive assistant
th
CAITLIN WALRAVEN of the deadline. Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-4 ) joined Crawford on the House floor to
caitlinwalraven@arkansastrucking.com
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD oppose an amendment that would have delayed enforcement.
AL HERINGER IV
Star Transportation, LLC
Vice President
BOARD OF DIRECTORS In fact, all four Arkansas representatives resisted stall tactics and voted to move forward
ROCHELLE BARTHOLOMEW MIKE MCNUTT with electronic logging.
CalArk International, Inc. Distribution Solutions, Inc.
President CEO, Owner
MARR LYNN BEARDEN MARK MORRIS
Marrlin Transit, Inc. Morris Transportation, Inc. ATA has supported the use of ELDs for almost two decades, serving as a leader in this
President President
CARL BOJA JAMES REED national, and at times controversial, discussion.
TravelCenters of America USA Truck
Vice President Fleet Sales CEO
GREG CARMAN G.E. “BUTCH” RICE III We’ve educated our legislators, regulators, and even our members, about the benefits of
Carman, Inc. Stallion Transportation Group
President President & CEO electronic logging and shared stories of those who have improved CSA scores and avoided
JOHN CULP TRACY ROSSER
Maverick USA Walmart Transportation
President Senior Vice President long, expensive lawsuits with electronic proof of a driver’s hours. We spoke, and Reps.
DAN CUSHMAN JOHN SMITH
P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. FedEx Freight Rick Crawford, French Hill, Bruce Westerman and Steve Womack listened and showed
President & CEO SVP Operations
CRAIG HARPER VICKI JONES STEPHENS up to vote down another delay.
J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. C.C. Jones, Inc.
Executive Vice President & COO President

KORY LARSON TIM THORNE When we have confidence that drivers across the nation are operating in compliance,
The Larson Group ABF Freight
COO President & CEO
JEFF LOGGINS DOUG VOSS we can take credit for a little piece of that assurance. When a driver’s name is cleared
Loggins Logistics, Inc. University of Central Arkansas
President & CEO Associate Professor of Logistics because his ELD verifies he is working within the allowable hours of service, we can
ROB LYALL
Tyson Foods, Inc. celebrate with him and his company. When all carriers are held to the same high
Vice President - Transportation
Distribution
standards of compliance, Arkansas can claim to have helped level the field.
An affiliate of the American Trucking
Associations But ultimately, in the years that follow, success will be measured in safer highways.
Arkansas Trucking Association (ATA) is an Arkansas corporation of trucking When we look back at Arkansas’s leadership in adopting this technology and saving lives,
companies, private carrier fleets and businesses which serve or supply the
trucking industry. ATA serves these companies as a governmental affairs I believe this is a stance that the Arkansas trucking industry can be proud of.
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)
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 Drivers Legal Plan
Phone 501.372.3462 Fax 501.376.1810 Shannon Newton
www.arkansastrucking.com
President, Arkansas Trucking Association

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 5 2017 Drivers Legal Plan 7