Page 38 - ATR 5 2012 web 2

Tip of the Hat

Arkansas says thanks to drivers during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

By ATR staff Additionally, each driver’s lunch includ-
On September 18, Arkansas joined ed a water bottle and Cobb-Vantress
the nation in celebrating National provided fresh fruit.
Truck Driver Appreciation Week by dis- Nineteen (19) corporate members
tributing free lunches and goodie bags of the Arkansas Trucking Association
in North Little Rock, Ark. at the Pilot donated food, refreshments and vol-
Travel Center on I-40, one of the most unteers for the event. The drivers were
heavily traveled freight corridors in the grateful for this outpouring of thanks
southeast. and the Arkansas Trucking Association
There are more than 3.1 million would like to extend its appreciation to  Volunteers form an assembly line to
professional truck drivers nationwide the following companies which made complete goodie bags for drivers.
who deliver life’s essentials every day. the event possible.
These professional men and women log
close to 398 billion miles each year and ABf freight system, Inc.
in 2011 they delivered 67 percent of the ART Transport, Inc.
U.S. freight tonnage – or over 9.2 billion
tons of freight. Burnett Insurance
“As a result of the professional c.c. Jones Trucking
truck drivers’ professionalism and
commitment to safety, Americans are calArk International
able to maintain their standard of liv- cobb-Vantress, Inc.
ing, and can rest assured our nation’s  michael hamilton, Tyson Foods, Inc.,
highways are the safest they have ever concentra Medical center and tommy Creech, Cummins mid-South,
been,” said Lane Kidd, president of the corvel help assemble goodie bags.
Arkansas Trucking Association (ATA). cummins Mid-south, llc
“We as a nation owe a great deal to the
truck drivers out on our nation’s roads, diamond International
as well as the families of those behind distribution solutions, Inc.
the wheel.”
During National Truck Driver fedex freight
Appreciation Week (September 16-22), first choice drug Testing
the ATA and other state associations
marked the celebration by holding leB Trucking
events across the nation. Mckee foods Transportation, llc
In addition to the usual free lunch pilot flying J
and goodie bags, this year Arkansas’s
celebration included a driver wellness Tyson foods, Inc.
component wherein drivers could have university of central Arkansas  sherri Crook, Concentra, and Doug
their blood pressure, blood glucose voss, University of Central Arkansas, hand
and weight checked by medical profes- Willis shaw express out lunches to drivers waiting to refuel.
sionals. Flu shots were even available.

38 arkansas truCking rePort | issue 5 2012