Page 28 - ATR 2 2014 web

ders, and the drivers respond to that. speed on today’s issues. CEO Steve Williams has worked with
That doesn’t mean Rosser has no “I appreciate those folks a lot for Rosser through the ATA and he has a
concerns at all when it comes to drivers. helping me get reintroduced in terms theory on why Rosser’s done well in the
“I think where I start to worry of what the ATA is doing, and the 40 industry: He got started in the right
about truck drivers is not so much Under 40 Council,” he said. “I’m really niche.
internally, but as we have drivers retire,” happy at Walmart when we have a cou- “Part of the kinship I have with
he said. “I’m thinking about who’s ple of people participating in 40 Under Tracy is that, way early in his career,
going to come back in and fill those 40, looking for that next generation of he worked for a flatbed carrier,” said

“if you looked at
us as a truckiNg

compaNy, our
turNoVer would
be the eNVy of
the iNdustry. we
haVe siNgle-digit
turNoVer.”

drivers’ seats who are retiring.” leadership that will be in succession Williams with a chuckle. “With all the
Right now he’s getting “highly- to all of us, so I’m glad we’re getting complicated logistics and responsibili-
trained, seasoned drivers” from within people involved at a younger age into ties he has today, I’m proud to know he
the trucking industry. In asking new the ATA.” at least started in the flatbed business.”
hires about their reasons for seeking new As for what he can offer ATA’s Williams first got to know Rosser
jobs, Rosser has found that higher turn- Board, Rosser said that would be “a cus- while they served on the Executive
over in the industry is most often not tomer’s perspective.” Committee of the Transportation
because of pay but because of quality of “A really untainted view of what’s Research Board of the National
life – and because they don’t feel valued. important to a major shipper in any Academies.
“I think one of the biggest things discussion, even something like hours- “The thing I have always admired
that can happen is for everybody who of-service,” he said. “What is it that the about Tracy is consistent with a lot of
employs a truck driver to really respect customer base, the shipper community, other Walmart executives that served
them for the job they do,” he said. can be doing and what are those con- on the board – they’re just so willing
“Listen to them. Hold our truck drivers versations we can be having with all to help out,” he said. “Tracy’s just real
in high regard.” shippers, whether it is ourselves or our even-keeled, pleasant and very knowl-
He also is concerned about the vendors, to make the trucking industry edgeable. In an industry that has so
public image of drivers; if that can more efficient? How does the shipping many strong personalities and char-
be improved, he said, that will help public play a role in driver retention, acters, he just smoothly does what he
encourage people to continue to con- because that’s a big deal? I remember needs to do and then moves on.”
sider driving as a career in the future. from my Poole days – if you had a driver Rosser is good at offering broad
Around the same time Rosser who had a handful of bad experiences perspectives on issues, said Williams,
took up his current role at Walmart, with shippers, it can cause them to leave which he attributed to the kind of glob-
he joined the Arkansas Trucking the industry. So maybe that’s a little bit al experience that comes from working
Association (ATA) Board of Directors. of value we can bring to the organization with a company like Walmart. And he
That helped him reintegrate into the from the customer’s perspective.”
trucking community and come up to Maverick USA, Inc. Chairman and 

28 aRkaNSaS tRuckiNg RepoRt | issue 2 2014