Page 7 - Arkansas Trucking Report Volume 22 Issue 6

UP FRONT

Award-Winning Magazine of the Arkansas Trucking Association
Arkansas Trucking Report is owned by the Arkansas Trucking Association,
Inc. and is published bimonthly. For additional copies, to order reprints
of individual articles or to become a subscriber to ATR, contact Caitlin
Walraven at 501.372.3462.
executive editor
SHANNON NEWTON
managing editor
BETHANY MAY
contributing writers REMEMBERING THE EMPTY SEATS
STEVE BRAWNER LACEY THACKER
brawnersteve@mac.com lacey@laceythacker.com
JENNIFER BARNETT REED ANGELA THOMAS This time of year, there’s a lot of pressure to spend weeks (and your whole paycheck)
jbreed13@gmail.com angelaejthomas@yahoo.com
JIM HARRIS TODD TRAUB shopping for and wrapping holiday gifts for your family, but in the minutes after
jimharris@arktimes.com toddtraub@centurytel.net
RENEE MILLER DEANA NALL all the presents are opened, bellies full of chocolate oranges and surrounded by a
rmiller@rescue18wheeler.com deananall@gmail.com
art director small mountain of crumpled reindeer paper and ribbon, we can forget that the most
JON D. KENNEDY
The Freelance Co. LLC, freelanceco@comcast.net expensive gift is the one we sometimes take for granted — living in a free country.
production editors
SARAH SHEETS, KATIE THOMASON, DAVID O’NEAL
illustrator For all the reasons to love the holidays — presents, parties, your kids in matching
BRENT BENNETT
brentdraw@att.net pajamas on Christmas morning — the expectation to make merry and have an
photographers
JON D. KENNEDY, JOHN DAVID PITTMAN abundance of joy is not always the reality for the families who have an empty seat at
the dinner table. The songs tell us to trim up the tree and deck the halls, but there’s a
melancholy about the season for anyone remembering loved ones who have laid down
their lives for us to freely celebrate whatever holidays we want.
www.arkansastrucking.com
president This year, the Arkansas Trucking Association had the opportunity to recognize the
SHANNON SAMPLES NEWTON
shannonnewton@arkansastrucking.com
vice president, safety programs and industry engagement brave men and women who have paid for our freedom. The Wreaths Across America
DAVID O’NEAL, CDS
davidoneal@arkansastrucking.com program is a movement to honor, remember and teach families about the ultimate
director of operations
SARAH NEWMAN SHEETS sacrifice. A wreath factory that grows their own fragrant Balsam donates thousands of
sarahsheets@arkansastrucking.com
communications coordinator wreaths. Then hundreds of volunteer truck drivers deliver fresh evergreen to veteran
BETHANY MAY
bethanymay@arkansastrucking.com cemeteries around the country, where volunteers lay the wreaths against tombstones
business development coordinator
AMANDA LAMB and say aloud the names etched in stone from wars past and present.
amandalamb@arkansastrucking.com
corporate services coordinator
KATIE THOMASON Arkansas Road Team Captain Mark Buckley, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1979 to
katiethomason@arkansastrucking.com
executive assistant 1987, recently drove to Columbia Falls, Maine, to pick up the red-ribboned laurels for
CAITLIN WALRAVEN
caitlinwalraven@arkansastrucking.com veteran graves in Memphis, Birdeye and Jonesboro.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AL HERINGER IV
Star Transportation, LLC
Vice President What started as a single ceremony in Arlington National Cemetery has grown to over
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ROCHELLE BARTHOLOMEW MIKE MCNUTT 1200 sites in all 50 states, made possible by Worcester Wreath Company, more than
CalArk International, Inc. Distribution Solutions, Inc.
President CEO, Owner 150 volunteer trucking companies, and citizens that give up a Saturday morning of
MARR LYNN BEARDEN MARK MORRIS
Marrlin Transit, Inc. Morris Transportation, Inc.
President President shopping for gifts to show their gratitude for the gifts we already have — freedom, so
CARL BOJA JAMES REED
TravelCenters of America USA Truck richly paid for in violence and sacrifice and love.
Vice President Fleet Sales CEO
GREG CARMAN G.E. “BUTCH” RICE III
Carman, Inc. Stallion Transportation Group
President President & CEO Buckley was joined in Birdeye by fellow Road Team Captains Danny Fuller and Otto
JOHN CULP ALAN RIELS
Maverick USA Dedicated Logistics, LLC Schmeckenbecher, who served in the Marine Corps from 1981 to 1985 and 1967-1968
President President & CEO
DAN CUSHMAN TRACY ROSSER respectively, to unload the wreaths and pay respects.
P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. Walmart Transportation
President & CEO Senior Vice President
CRAIG HARPER JOHN SMITH
J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. FedEx Freight In an industry where 25 percent of the workforce is made up of veterans, I’m not
Executive Vice President & COO SVP Operations
KORY LARSON VICKI JONES STEPHENS surprised to see drivers eager to recognize the service of fallen military.
The Larson Group C.C. Jones, Inc.
COO President

JEFF LOGGINS TIM THORNE
Loggins Logistics, Inc. ABF Freight Proud would be a better word. Or grateful, to work alongside those who have served
President & CEO President & CEO
ROB LYALL DOUG VOSS our country and who continue to carry light, love, freedom, and even presents on those
Tyson Foods, Inc. University of Central Arkansas
Vice President - Transportation Associate Professor of Logistics
Distribution 18-wheelers.
An affiliate of the American Trucking On Christmas morning, when I’m surrounded by my own mountain of reindeer paper
Associations
and the contents of stockings are scattered around my feet, I will be remembering
Arkansas Trucking Association (ATA) is an Arkansas corporation of trucking
companies, private carrier fleets and businesses which serve or supply the
trucking industry. ATA serves these companies as a governmental affairs those who have an empty seat at their table and whispering prayers of thankfulness for
representative before legislative, regulatory and executive branches of
government on issues that affect the trucking industry. The organization also my freedom.
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 Drivers Legal Plan
Phone 501.372.3462 Fax 501.376.1810 Shannon Newton
www.arkansastrucking.com
President, Arkansas Trucking Association

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 6 2017 Drivers Legal Plan 7