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“We have a higher exposure, for are not heavily traveled,” he said. While he’s not trying to look too
example, to hazardous materials laws “Beautiful scenery along Highway 59 far ahead as far as his own career is
because we’re handling material ship- between Van Buren and up into the concerned, Slagle is 59 now and ABF
ments in an environment where they’re northwest Arkansas area. And the Pig has a mandatory retirement age of 65
mixed with other shipments,” he said. Trail, that’s a great ride.” for officers. So he knows how much
“You can’t load, for example, poison He and Karen do some traveling, time he has to accomplish what he
and food on the same trailer, and there but since he also travels a lot for work wants to for the company.
are other hazardous material commodi- Slagle values time at home with her. “ABF is a subsidiary of Arkansas
ties that can’t be mixed with one anoth- Still, they went to Paris for their hon- Best Corporation, and the president

“…aNd oNe of my soN’s colleagues just looked at me aNd said, ‘iN all
that time you couldN’t fiNd aNother job?’”

er. There are placarding regulations eymoon, and took a motorcycle trip to and CEO of Arkansas Best is Judy
that are rather complex. I think there’s New Mexico. And a few times a year McReynolds,” he said. “When I took
a number of those kinds of issues we when he’s got a work travel obliga- this job, Judy asked me what were my
deal with that are less of a challenge for tion – say for the Arkansas Trucking main goals. The first thing I told her
truckload carriers – and honestly, I’ve Association or American Trucking was I hoped to direct our team to nego-
never worked for a truckload carrier and Associations conferences – she’ll go tiate a collective bargaining agreement
they may have challenges I’m just not with him, and it’s nice for her to share that would enable ABF to be competi-
familiar with.” in some of the business travel and tive and return to a growth cycle (now
makes it a real treat for him, Slagle said. achieved). While ABF is celebrating its
NoT all WoRk Slagle recently replaced Robert 90th anniversary in 2013, I wanted to
When he does get away from the Young as a member of the Arkansas put together a labor agreement that
office, the main leisure activity for Trucking Association (ATA) Board of would enable us to celebrate our 100th
Slagle and his wife, Karen, is simply to Directors. But his years at ABF made anniversary and beyond, to put ABF in
spend time with each other. him very familiar with its work. Having a position to be profitable going forward
“Sitting out on the back porch, been exposed to a number of trucking and unleash the potential of its people.
talking, watching TV shows in the eve- association executives over the years Those are my goals to achieve before I
ning,” he said. “My kids are all grown makes him appreciate ATA President hang it up.”
and they don’t live near us; the oldest Lane Kidd. Once retirement does arrive, he
two live in Columbus, Ohio. But we “I think Lane is one of the most said the plans are pretty nebulous.
have four grandsons and thankfully the effective in that position,” he said. For sure he’s going to take Karen up
two oldest come to visit us for a week “He’s very in tune with the Arkansas on her offer of an “insider’s tour” of
in the summer. My youngest son and legislature and has a good handle on Washington, D.C., where she used to
his wife and son live in Manila, so it’s what’s going on there. He has great live, and maybe taking in some parts of
a little more of a challenge to get them relationships and is able to convey our the country they both want to explore:
here. We have a great time with the kids position to legislators in a way to help The Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore,
and grandkids and grand dogs.” them understand what we’re trying to the Pacific Northwest, New England.
Slagle also enjoys golfing and meets achieve.” And definitely some golf and relaxation
with a regular group of friends on the He also likes the progressive poli- at home.
weekend – and so does Karen, in fact. cies the ATA has taken over the years, In the meantime, though, he’s
He also has a Harley Davidson Softail in some cases, years before other state going to make the most out of a job
Deluxe motorcycle and they enjoy the or national industry trade groups. “The he enjoys, following some advice he
occasional ride. He says that old U.S. 71 ATA has been, in my view, on the cut- received from his father long ago.
that runs north-south on the western ting edge of things. The leadership “My dad told me that if you work
edge of Arkansas is probably his favor- there has been very forward-looking in at something you love,” Slagle said, “it
ite, especially between Forth Smith and championing, for example, EOBRs and won’t be work and you’ll be successful
Fayetteville. the types of drug testing that should at it.”
“There’s a lot of great roads in be allowed and especially to create a
Arkansas to ride a motorcycle on that national, central drug testing database.”

arkansas Trucking reporT | issue 3 2013 31