Page 46 - ATR 6 2013 digital

UP FRONT, 4. The Arkansas Highway Department employment screening program,
Continued from page 7 and the trucking industry will highway bill, post-crash inspection, Level
jointly work to improve commercial 1 Inspection demonstration, medical
So, with more than 25,000 readers vehicle safety enforcement, training card requirements, hours-of-service and
of the Arkansas Trucking Report, we’d and education and promote ways to OSHA compliance.
like to invite your company, whether move freight on our highways more
in Arkansas or not, to experience the efficiently with the creation of a $2 The ATA Maintenance & Technology
‘power of association’ by joining the million annual fund that will, for Council (MTC) is comprised of 72
Arkansas Trucking Association in 2014. the first time, dedicate money for companies with 188 representatives.
these purposes. The ATA MTC met eight times in 2013
As you know, freight doesn’t stop at the and covered topics such as: technician
state line, and neither does the work 5. By 2016, all commercial trucks will training sessions; natural gas technology;
of our association. Our reach starts in be required to install electronic log- collision avoidance demonstrations;
Little Rock and goes all the way up to ging devices to track the number of reduced stopping distance and diesel
Washington, D.C., where many of the hours a driver is behind the wheel particulate filter technology.
issues affecting your environment and thanks to the work of Arkansas’s
our members are decided. congressional delegation. ATA’s 40 Under 40 Council currently
has 34 transportation executives
The Arkansas Trucking Association offers 6. Trucking companies will have access representing 17 different corporate
a wide variety of services to its member to a national database in 2014 to members. Members of this council
companies and executives. Plus, we are identify any person who has pre- must be nominated by their company
engaged in advocating specific legislative viously tested positive on a DOT and approved by the ATA Board of
and regulatory achievements to improve mandated drug and alcohol pre- Directors. The Council met three times
the operating climate for our member employment exam, again, thanks to during 2013. Speakers included political
companies. Consider some our successes the work of Arkansas’s congressional consultant Bill Vickery, ATA President
over the past year. delegation. Lane Kidd, ABF Freight System President
and CEO Roy Slagle and Chief of Staff
1. Company owners are finally assured One hundred and thirty-five (135) for U.S. Senator Mark Pryor, Andy York.
that when they buy a new or used companies were represented by 322
truck or semitrailer in Arkansas, attendees at the 2013 Arkansas Trucking The ATA Self-Insurers’ Fund continues to
they can do so tax-free, as the Association Business Conference in Little provide affordable and reliable workers’
Arkansas General Assembly passed Rock, Ark. (Make plans to join your compensation insurance to member
measures to make this important colleagues May 21-23, at the Branson trucking companies, providing them
exemption permanent. This sales tax Hilton and Conference Center.) insurance coverage for their drivers
exemption will save trucking com- throughout the United States.
panies about $21 million per year at The Arkansas Trucking Championship
current sales volumes. hosted 121 drivers and 83 technicians We invite you to visit www.
in the Arkansas Truck Driving arkansastrucking.com to review even
2. Arkansas will find it more difficult Championship, the Arkansas Technician more services and benefits of our
to reclassify an owner-operator Championship and the Commercial organization. Join your fellow trucking
who gets hurt on the job and files Vehicle Safety Inspection Competition, companies and private fleets in what
a claim that he was actually an organized by the Arkansas Highway we believe, is one of the most powerful
employee of the trucking company. Police competition. trucking associations around!

3. An owner-operator will now have The ATA Safety Management Council Lane kidd is president, Shannon newton
the same opportunity as a company (SMC) consists of 77 companies and is vice president and Sarah Sheets is
driver to obtain workers’ compensa- 166 executives who regularly meet director of operations of the Arkansas
tion insurance without jeopardizing on issues related to state and federal Trucking Association.
his or her status as an independent regulations, driver issues and safety
contractor. compliance. The SMC met eight
times in 2013, on such topics as pre-

46 arkaNsas TruckiNg reporT | issue 6 2013