Page 32 - ATR 6 2015 web 2

Arkansas road team

hits the highways

Inaugural group of 12 top drivers will promote a message of safety statewide

by Jennifer barnett reed

Contributing Writer

For many truck drivers, public
speaking feels about as natural as fat-
free potato chips. For the 12 inaugu-
ral members of Arkansas Road Team,
though, it’ll soon be old hat.
The volunteer Road Team captains
were chosen in September after being
nominated by their Arkansas-based
trucking companies. They’ll be the
Arkansas Trucking Association’s new
safety ambassadors, traveling around Arkansas inaugural Road Team
the state to speak to groups of students,
civic groups and other gatherings about
the trucking industry in general and, them to create and deliver a 10-minute
more specifically, how to be safe on the presentation in front of the selection
road. panel, and answer questions from panel
“We looked for drivers with out- members, who included representa-
standing safety records who could deliv- tives from the trucking industry, law
er a message of safety, professionalism enforcement, industry executives, safety
and a positive image for the industry, directors and a current America’s Road April coolidge, new Arkansas Road Team
and reach audiences of different sizes Team captain. Captain from USA Truck practicing her
and characteristics,” said David O’Neal, “We didn’t give them a lot of detail media skills
the Arkansas Trucking Association’s about what to present,” O’Neal said.
director of safety services. “We wanted to see what they brought to “We’re helping people to know
“We didn’t have a preconceived the table—how well they could think on themselves,” said David May, a truck
notion going in about how big it should their feet under a little bit of pressure.” driver from upstate New York who’s
be,” O’Neal said. “We wanted to cast a Since then, they’ve gone through been an America’s Road Team captain
wide net and see what we got.” an orientation process — a sort of for 11 years and former National Driver
The 12 Road Team members repre- Road Team 101 — where members of of the Year. “People are most effective
sent six Arkansas-based trucking com- America’s Road Team and Elisabeth when they’re themselves.”
panies. They’re truly a cross-section of Barna, the American Trucking Arkansas is joining a number of
the trucking industry, O’Neal said. Associations’ senior vice president of other states with Road Teams thanks to
“They come from a wide variety of strategic planning and outreach, worked a grant from the Arkansas Commercial
backgrounds,” he said. The commonal- with them on ways to hone their speak- Truck Safety and Education Program
ity is a shared commitment to improve ing style and handle common questions (ACTSEP) which was approved in 2013
highway safety.” they might be asked by journalists or by the Arkansas General Assembly. The
The selection process required members of the public. purpose of ACTSEP is to improve the

32 ArkAnsAs truckIng rePort | Issue 6 2015