Page 25 - ATR 6 2014 web

to make sure it’s as safe and efficient as issues in bugged trucks. Then the police the trucking industry does want to do
it can be … We’ve talked to colleges that return the favor and act as judges of the what’s right and make sure that they
are talking about programs that revolve truck drivers who also identify issues on and everybody around them are safe,
around the regulation side of the truck- bugged trucks and participate in a driv- and that’s really what our folks are
ing industry. We think there are things ing course. there for.”
that we can use the money for, such “It’s something that really pro-
as what our highway police can do to motes a lot of camaraderie between our faMILy Man
make safety in the trucking industry highway police officers and the trucking Bennett grew up as the last of
more efficient. We think this is going to industry,” Bennett said. “A lot of times, four sons of a traffic manager at the
be a really good program.” people will think the trucking industry now-closed Eaker Air Force Base in
For a few years now, the highway and the highway police, who are the Blytheville. Bennett was nine years
department and the Arkansas Trucking enforcement arm of commercial vehicle younger than the third son, but he has
Association have helped each other with rules and regulations, don’t always get to tell people his late birth was no acci-
inspector competitions that benefit the along. But that’s not really the case dent. “I have to tell everybody that. My
Arkansas Highway Police, which is part overall because I think everybody in the brother Danny was,” he said. “My mom
of the AHTD, and the trucking industry. trucking industry is interested in safety. had this grand plan that she was going
Police officers are rated on inspections “You’ve got folks like Steve to have two boys and two girls and have
— last year Corporal Derek Canard won Williams at Maverick who has really them all two years apart. She had two
both state and international contests, been a champion for doing everything boys two years apart, and then 51 weeks
Bennett noted. that he can do to make sure the truck- later my brother Danny was born. It
The inspector competitions are ing industry is as safe as possible. You took them a while to try again.”
held at the annual Arkansas Trucking might not always see it with some of His father passed away a few years
Championships in Rogers, Ark. During the owner-operators that are just run- back, but Bennett’s 84-year-old mother,
the three day event, members of the ning their own truck, or sometimes Jeane, still lives in Blytheville along
Arkansas Trucking Association judge with farm trucks, it’s not quite the with brother Steve and his family. Terry,
police officers who compete to catch same. But I think overall everybody in


DataQ Challenges?

we’re pulling for you

Contact us at dlp@driverslegalplan.com (800-417-3552) to discuss how
we can have our attorney file your DataQ challenges for FREE.

DefenD your company anD your
Drivers with a legal Defense plan Call Jim C. Klepper, Esq.
DesigneD By anD for truckers. 8 0 0 - 4 1 7 - 3 5 5 2
Drivers Legal Plan @DriversLegal www.driverslegalplan.com

arkansas trucking report | issue 6 2014 25