Page 30 - ATR 3 2013

company, offer premium wages, pre-
mium benefits, and great working con-
“eVerythiNg we do is a team effort.” ditions. Most of our drivers are out no
more than one night, two at the most,
and many of our drivers are home the
big issues we face is what’s commonly still in the rule-making process. same day. Paying higher wages and ben-
referred to as the orphans – people in Another ongoing issue is the driver efits enables us to attract drivers oth-
funds that have benefits coming to shortage that’s been around since 2005 ers can’t. We’re able to hire good, safe,
them, but their employer is no longer or 2006. The fluctuating state of the experienced drivers, but as the driver
in existence and making contributions economy has a direct effect on ABF’s shortage worsens that dynamic changes
to those funds. When a company fails, ability to hire drivers, said Slagle. a little bit.”
their obligations fall to the remaining “There’s a significant migration That’s a metric that won’t be unfa-
members of the funds. The Pension between carpentry and other construc- miliar to anyone in the industry. But
Protection Act comes up for renewal in tion work and truck driving,” he said. running an LTL carrier like ABF also
2014 and we’d like to see Congress give “During the times when the housing means there are some challenges in
multi-employer pension plans greater industry is very weak, people tend to go front of Slagle that counterparts in the
leeway in dealing with their underfund- into truck driving; and when the hous- truckload side of the industry might not
ing issues.” ing industry picks up, there’s migration be facing.
The Affordable Care Act, even from trucking into those other trades. For example, the company employs
though delayed by one year, is also very “At ABF, we probably have higher people in all 50 states plus Puerto Rico
much on his radar, as it is for any busi- than average age for our over-the-road and several Canadian provinces so stay-
ness, he said. There’s a lot of study going drivers,” he said. “When I first discov- ing on top of differing employment and
on and still more needed before it’s clear ered that I was in HR, and that fright- tax withholding laws is critical. And
exactly how it will need to be imple- ened me. But I’ve watched it over the then there’s the complex tango of what
mented and what impact it will have on years and that age has held relatively you can, and can’t, put on the same
the business. Especially since states are steady. For one thing, we’re a union truck.

Speed limitS.

weight limitS.

fuel coStS.

more numberS are the laSt thingS a
trucking company needS to worry about.

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30 arkansas Trucking reporT | issue 3 2013