Page 41 - ATR 3 2013

RIGHT THING,
Continued from page 23 “if we recruit 100 guys aNd oNly three of
them make it through the screeNiNg process,
flexible hours to attract younger driv- 97 of them weNt dowN the road aNd got a job
ers who might be interested in more
nights and weekends with families. “It’s somewhere else. that’s what scares me.”
incumbent upon us to do all that we —gary salisbury, fikes truck liNe
can for those people that are willing
and capable of driving a truck or choos-
ing that lifestyle,” Williams said.
Programs also exist to sign up led to the question of driver health and the entire NHS. The American Trucking
and train former military members Card said ignoring the issue is the big- Associations said the bill would “severely
who have had some experience with gest thing the industry is doing wrong. restrict states’ ability to decide for them-
big trucks and are struggling to find “There are no good wellness programs selves how best to deal with their con-
work in the civilian sector. But none of over the road for our drivers,” Card said. gestion and goods movement issues at a
the panelists were especially eager to “It’s hard to get meds. … I know it’s time when they should be granted more
embrace a full-scale youth movement, hard for me to get in and see a doctor, flexibility, not less.” Perhaps, not surpris-
especially if safety is already an issue in can you imagine how hard it is for our ingly, the panelists sided with the ATA,
the industry. drivers trying to get in to see a doctor? but with qualifications.
While joking that he was mature We must change the way we treat our Williams, a longtime supporter
for his age when he began driving, drivers.” for increasing truck weight limits,
Salisbury hesitated to endorse the idea Williams noted the presence of explained that his endorsement has
of making it possible for 18 or 19 year drive-in clinics in some areas and the evolved and is actually more qualified.
olds to drive trucks across the country. more healthy fare that is appearing at “If all the facts say that this is what
“I have mixed emotions about that,” truck stop restaurants, and it was gen- we need to do. then I’ll support that,”
Salisbury said, “because I was 18 when I erally agreed that Walmart, by allow- Williams said. “But if, in fact, we’re
started driving.” ing truck parking so drivers can visit dumbing it down or compromising
Salisbury also bemoaned the pass- the pharmacy, has been helpful. “It’s a safety or any of those priorities, then
ing of an age in which fathers, grandfa- long way from where we need to go,” it’s not something we should do.”
thers and uncles could put a youngster Williams said of the efforts to create a Card said the next highway reau-
behind the wheel and teach him. “It healthier corps of drivers. thorization would better address weight
was a different time and a different limits and predicted there might soon
day,” Salisbury said. moVINg foRWaRd be a more productive vehicle.
That led Salisbury to float the idea There were a few jokes about Before Burruss could really ask, the
of a mentoring program for younger executive stress relief — Salisbury rec- executives turned toward the future
drivers. ommended Scotch before admitting of the trucking industry. Card said the
“Proper training in the right he unwinds by working on his farm — small carriers would have the hard-
circumstances, I would say maybe,” before the conversation turned to truck est time dealing with new legislation
Salisbury said. weight limit restrictions. and new technology but all agreed that
Flipping the coin, Card challenged Burruss asked the panelists to offer change would come and the industry
the perception that an aging driver their opinion on what is a divisive issue should be on the cutting edge and avoid
workforce is any safer. “If we’re really within the industry – whether states what Williams called a “protectionist”
concerned about safety we need to have should be given the ability to increase attitude of defending a process simply
a proper and honest and open conversa- the maximum truck weight limit on the because that’s how it was always done.
tion about how old is too old,” Card said. nation’s interstate and national high- “You’ve got to change and you’ve
“Or what kind of testing we should have. way system, or NHS. got to evolve for the better of the indus-
Or how young is too young?” For example, Burruss cited the try or it’s not going to work,” Salisbury
Card called for analysis by the “The Safe Highways and Infrastructure said.
American Transportation Research Preservation Act of 2013” (SHIPA), And how, Burruss asked, does an
Institute to determine the optimum introduced by U.S. Senator Frank industry do that? How does it continue
driver age and what is considered safe. Lautenberg (D-NJ) before passing away. to stay attractive and viable while also
“Let’s not guess. It’s too important. The legislation would apply the cur- remaining profitable? “The answer is to
We’ve got to get it right,” Card said. rent limits of 80,000 pounds of gross do the right thing,” Williams said.
The subject of driver qualifications vehicle weight to every state and affect

arkansas Trucking reporT | issue 3 2013 41