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Award-Winning Magazine of the Arkansas Trucking Association
Arkansas Trucking Report is owned by the arkansas Trucking association,
inc. and is published bimonthly by Matthews publishing group. for
additional copies, to order reprints of individual articles or to become a
subscriber to ATR, contact abby Crossland at 501.372.3462. Won — noT done
publisher
JENNIFER MATTHEWS
Matthews Publishing Group Grown men huddled around water-coolers talking Cinderella, bracket
jennifer@matthewspublishing.com
executive editor busting, buzzer beaters, jubilant celebrations and teary-eyed defeats
SHANNoN NEWToN are all part of the hoopla and frenzy that is March Madness. This single-elimination
managing editor
BETHANy MAy tournament between 68 teams determines the national champion in college basketball.
contributing writers
STEVE BRAWNER JoHN SCHULz The phrase March Madness references the excitement, passion, unpredictability and
brawnersteve@mac.com jdschulz50@aol.com
JENNIFER BARNETT REED ToDD TRAUB craziness surrounding the tournament.
jbreed13@gmail.com toddtraub@centurytel.net
JIM HARRIS While the country celebrates this annual rite, a debate has emerged over the “one and
jimharris@arktimes.com
art director done” rule by which the NBA requires players be one year removed from high school,
JoN D. KENNEDy
The Freelance Co. LLC, freelanceco@comcast.net before entering the draft or signing to play professionally. One and done describes a player
production editors
SARAH SHEETS, KATIE THoMASoN who attends college for one, obligatory year before bolting for the prosperity of the NBA.
illustrator
BRENT BENNETT The NCAA doesn’t hold the monopoly on March Madness — not by a long, (three-point)
brentdraw@att.net
photographers shot. March is also the time when state legislatures in the South convene in a sometimes
JoN D. KENNEDy, BoB oCKEN, JoHN DAVID PITTMAN
zany, always passionate, “Big Dance” of their own. And for those with a stake in the
outcome, hard-won jubilant celebrations and last-second bitter defeats are as much a part
of the hoopla and frenzy as any tournament.
And this session, we had our fair share of hoopla in Arkansas. As lawmakers scrambled to
www.arkansastrucking.com meet their self-imposed deadline of adjournment before Easter, passions were stirred.
president
SHANNoN SAMPLES NEWToN
shannonnewton@arkansastrucking.com The Religious Freedom Restoration Act took center stage. Camera crews from CNN,
director of operations
SARAH NEWMAN SHEETS MSNBC, FOX and local affiliates of all the major networks, visible from our offices, lined
sarahsheets@arkansastrucking.com
communications coordinator the streets outside the Capitol. The outcome: Leadership from the Senate and House
BETHANy MAy
bethanymay@arkansastrucking.com worked with the Governor, compromises were struck; a “crisis” was averted.
corporate services coordinator
KATIE THoMASoN Despite this dramatic ending, the session also resulted in many important issues with
katiethomason@arkansastrucking.com
executive assistant implications for the Arkansas trucking industry. The most important bill, of course, was
ABBy CRoSSLAND
abbycrossland@arkansastrucking.com anti-indemnification, our association’s number one priority going into the session. I’m
CHAIRMAN oF THE BoARD
CRAIG HARPER pleased to say that we—meaning you, our members — won. It was signed into law on Mar.
J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.
Executive Vice President & Coo 20, 2015 by Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
BoARD oF DIRECToRS
MARR LyNN BEARDEN MARK MoRRIS
Marrlin Transit, Inc. Morris Transportation, Inc. Thanks to our members.
President President
ALLEN BERRy DR. JoHN ozMENT
Central States Manufacturing, Inc. U of A/Walton College of Business Thanks to the diligent work of our membership, there was a broad and strong coalition
Transportation Director Chair of Transportation
GREG CARMAN PAT REED behind this most important bill aimed at improving the legal and business environments
Carman, Inc. FedEx Freight
President Executive Vice President & Coo
DAN CUSHMAN G.E. “BUTCH” RICE III for our member carriers. An article about this common-sense, (long-overdue) legislation is
P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. Stallion Transportation Group
President & CEo President & CEo found in this issue.
AL HERINGER IV TRACy RoSSER
Star Transportation, Inc. Walmart Transportation
Vice President Senior Vice President Other issues that we monitored, tracked and worked throughout the session included
BLUE KEENE GARy SALISBURy
Tyson Foods, Inc. Fikes Truck Line highway funding, public private partnerships, regional mobility authorities, independent
Transportation Director Chairman & CEo
JEFF LESTER TIM THoRNE contractors, alternative fuels and a range of bills aimed at reigning in towing operations.
USA Truck ABF Freight System, Inc.
Executive Vice President, President & CEo
Risk Management and Safety WAyNE SMITH For those of you who got involved in the legislative process, attended committee meetings,
PHILIP MAHoNEy Wayne Smith Trucking, Inc.
Great West Casualty Co. President
Executive Vice President VICKI JoNES STEPHENS made phone calls or sent e-mails to your representatives and senators, we would like to
SCoTT MANCHESTER C.C. Jones, Inc.
Truck Centers of Arkansas President thank you on behalf of our industry. Your voice and action does indeed make a difference!
Vice President, Truck Sales
MIKE MCNUTT STEVE WILLIAMS I’m pleased to report we won! But rest assured, we’re not a one-and-done, or more
Maverick USA
Distribution Solutions, Inc. Chairman & CEo
CEo, owner
appropriately, a won-and-done operation. I prefer to think of our recent work on your
behalf as won — not done.
an affiliate of the american Trucking
associations
Our work on regulatory, legislative and industry issues is always in motion. We’re never
Arkansas Trucking Association (ATA) is an Arkansas corporation of trucking
companies, private carrier fleets and businesses which serve or supply the done, always moving forward, for a stronger industry, a stronger Arkansas, for a stronger
trucking industry. ATA serves these companies as a governmental affairs
representative before legislative, regulatory and executive branches of nation. Together.
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
Phone 501.372.3462 Fax 501.376.1810 Drivers Legal Plan Shannon Newton
www.arkansastrucking.com
President, Arkansas Trucking Association
Drivers Legal Plan
aRkansas TRuCking RepoRT | issue 2 2015 9