Page 7 - ATR 6 2014 web

UP front

Award-Winning Regional Journal 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 Lloyd at 501.372.3462.
publisher PavIng a new way
JENNIFER MATTHEWS
Matthews Publishing Group In 2011, the Arkansas Highway Commission named Scott Bennett
jennifer@matthewspublishing.com
executive editor director of the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department
SHANNON NEWTON (AHTD). Bennett is profiled in this issue of ATR because the relationship
managing editor
BETHANy MAy between industry and the department has never been better or more
contributing writers vital. It is well worth highlighting.
STEVE BRAWNER JOHN SCHULz
brawnersteve@mac.com jdschulz50@aol.com
JENNIFER BARNETT REED SCOTT TRAVIS To say a lot is riding on how we respond as a state and as a nation to our
jbreed13@gmail.com stravis@gmail.com infrastructure and highway-funding needs is an understatement. Our
JIM HARRIS
jimharris@arktimes.com transportation infrastructure is key to our economic development. Our
art director future prosperity is riding on our will to find solutions.
JON D. KENNEDy
The Freelance Co. LLC, freelanceco@comcast.net It is widely acknowledged our nation’s infrastructure is in serious disrepair. Governments at
production editors
SARAH SHEETS, KATIE THOMASON all levels are struggling to pay for maintenance and upkeep, not to mention investments in
illustrator
BRENT BENNETT necessary upgrades and new projects to support much greater capacity demands.
brentdraw@att.net
photographers Flashback 15 years, our association, our industry and the Arkansas Highway Commissioners,
JON D. KENNEDy, BOB OCKEN, JOHN DAVID PITTMAN
couldn’t agree on much, if anything, including acknowledgement of our industry’s vital
contribution to our state’s economy and the pursuit of safety in all that we do. It was so
adversarial that our association was out front pushing legislation to abolish the highway
commission or strip them of autonomous power over highway spending.
www.arkansastrucking.com
president In the mid-2000s, the two groups were at it again, this time over a special election on
SHANNON SAMPLES NEWTON
shannonnewton@arkansastrucking.com bonding authority. No one was feeling the love. Mistrust existed on both sides.
director of operations
SARAH NEWMAN SHEETS Trucking contributes over $440 million in fuel taxes alone annually to the AHTD. We have
sarahsheets@arkansastrucking.com
communications coordinator a vested interest in ensuring that those funds are used to maintain our interstates and
BETHANy MAy
bethanymay@arkansastrucking.com freight corridors. To the commission, it seemed trucking wanted a free-ride without “paying
corporate services coordinator
KATIE THOMASON their fair share.”
katiethomason@arkansastrucking.com
executive assistant While those sentiments of mistrust or ill-informed opinions aren’t completely eradicated, it
ABBy LLOyD
abbylloyd@arkansastrucking.com is a different time. As an association we have done a better job of educating elected officials,
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD and as a result, the trucking industry’s dynamic role in the state’s economy is better
CRAIG HARPER
J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.
Executive Vice President & COO understood and appreciated.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MARR LyNN BEARDEN MARK MORRIS The only thing that is constant is change. And as names and faces have changed on the
Marrlin Transit, Inc. Morris Transportation, Inc.
President President
ALLEN BERRy DR. JOHN OzMENT Highway Commission, within the department, at the Capitol and among the trucking
Central States Manufacturing, Inc. U of A/Walton College of Business
Transportation Director Chair of Transportation industry, perhaps a new way of doing things has emerged.
GREG CARMAN PAT REED
Carman, Inc. FedEx Freight It began with baby steps.
President Executive Vice President & COO
DAN CUSHMAN G.E. “BUTCH” RICE III
P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. Stallion Transportation Group In 2012 both sides began meeting on proposed legislation that would provide additional
President & CEO President & CEO
AL HERINGER IV TRACy ROSSER administrative funding to the AHTD and create a new segregated fund to be used to advance
Star Transportation, Inc. Walmart Transportation
Vice President Senior Vice President commercial vehicle safety and education. The funds would be generated with an increase in
BLUE KEENE GARy SALISBURy
Tyson Foods, Inc. Fikes Truck Line the registration fees of interstate trucks. Together we were successful in passing the legislation
Transportation Director Chairman & CEO
JEFF LESTER ROy SLAGLE now known as the Commercial Vehicle Safety Improvement Act of 2013. Now industry
USA Truck ABF Freight System, Inc.
Executive Vice President, President & CEO representatives are working together with the department to ensure the funds are spent in a
Risk Management and Safety WAyNE SMITH
PHILIP MAHONEy Wayne Smith Trucking, Inc. way that advances safety, education and enforcement in the industry in Arkansas.
Great West Casualty Co. President
Executive Vice President
VICKI JONES STEPHENS
SCOTT MANCHESTER C.C. Jones, Inc. Here are some things we can all agree on. Highway funding needs are great, funding
Truck Centers of Arkansas President
Vice President, Truck Sales falls short and the cost of construction continues to rise. Highway officials and elected
MIKE MCNUTT STEVE WILLIAMS
Maverick USA
Distribution Solutions, Inc. Chairman & CEO representatives, both state and federal, the motoring public and the trucking industry all want
CEO, Owner
safe and efficient highways.
an affiliate of the american trucking
associations The way that each group prioritizes the needs and evaluates solutions are shaded with
Arkansas Trucking Association (ATA) is an Arkansas corporation of trucking our own perspective. We won’t always agree. But I welcome moving forward from a place
companies, private carrier fleets and businesses which serve or supply the
trucking industry. ATA serves these companies as a governmental affairs of mutual respect, from which we can resolve to be problem-solvers, acknowledging our
representative before legislative, regulatory and executive branches of
government on issues that affect the trucking industry. The organization also common goals and working together to promote safe and efficient highways and a more
provides public relations services, workers’ compensation insurance, operational
services and serves as a forum for industry meetings and membership relations. prosperous Arkansas and nation.
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
www.arkansastrucking.com
Drivers Legal Plan Shannon Newton
President, Arkansas Trucking Association
Drivers Legal Plan
arkansas trucking report | issue 6 2014 7