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Award-Winning Regional Journal of the Arkansas Trucking Association
Arkansas Trucking Report is owned by the Arkansas trucking
Association, inc. and is published bimonthly by Matthews Publishing
Group. for additional copies, to order reprints of individual articles
or to become a subscriber to ATR, contact katie thomason at
501.372.3462. WhaT WE Do. Why WE Do IT.
publisher
JENNIFER MATTHEWS kIdd I’ve worked for the Arkansas Trucking Association for over a
Matthews Publishing Group,
jennifer@matthewspublishing.com decade now. You would think I’d have a handy elevator pitch that
executive editor
SHANNON NEWTON succinctly conveys the essence of what it is we do.
managing editor
BETHANy MAy Yet, I don’t. Not one I’m completely satisfied with anyway.
STEVE BRAWNER JOHN SCHULz
brawnersteve@mac.com jdschulz@aol.com Sure, I can recite the mission statement. Rooted in our core value
JENNIFER BARNETT REEd SCOTT TRAVIS
jbreed13@gmail.com stravis@gmail.com of service to our membership, it adequately states our primary
JIM HARRIS SPENCER WATSON
jimharris@arktimes.com sswatson@gmail.com objective to protect, promote and inform on our member’s behalf.
contributing writers
art director
JON d. kENNEdy But the mission statement alone doesn’t explain how or why. It doesn’t capture
The Freelance Co. LLC, freelanceco@comcast.net
production editors the power—power that delivers meaningful and far-reaching impact through our
SARAH SHEETS, kATIE THOMASON association and the industry in Arkansas.
illustrator
BRENT BENNETT
brentdraw@att.net Whether issues of public interest, advancing our image, or addressing an arcane,
photographers
JON d. kENNEdy, BOB OCkEN, JOHN dAVId PITTMAN stealth regulatory change—the power of association can make the difference.
As many are aware, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration
(DFA), without legislation, regulation or public comment, recently made an internal
administrative determination that it would no longer treat the sale of a commercial
www.arkansastrucking.com
president truck with an extended warranty as one transaction, but two. This caused the purchase
SHANNON SAMPLES NEWTON
shannonnewton@arkansastrucking.com price of extended warranties to be subject to full sales tax.
director of operations
SARAH NEWMAN SHEETS We became aware of this change when a truck driver who arrived at the revenue
sarahsheets@arkansastrucking.com
communications coordinator department, anticipating a $10.50 title fee instead owed over $700 in sales tax. This
BETHANy MAy
bethanymay@arkansastrucking.com owner operator had no choice but to pay the tax so his livelihood could continue. Nor
corporate services coordinator
kATIE THOMASON did this owner operator have the time and energy to protest this wrongful charge.
katiethomason@arkansastrucking.com
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARd
CRAIG HARPER His was not an isolated incident.
J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.
Executive Vice President & COO
BOARd OF dIRECTORS That sales tax was charged on over 150 warranties in June and July, all meant to be
MARR LyNN BEARdEN MARk MORRIS excluded as part of the sales-tax exemption on commercial truck and trailers our
Marrlin Transit, Inc. Morris Transportation, Inc.
President President
ALLEN BERRy dR. JOHN OzMENT association passed in 2011.
Central States Manufacturing, Inc. U of A/Walton College of Business
Transportation director Chair of Transportation
GREG CARMAN PAT REEd The cost of extended warranties varies greatly, but using a typical range, the taxes
Carman, Inc. FedEx Freight
President Executive Vice President & COO levied on these purchase prices across the state were between $350 - $1,000 per truck.
dAN CUSHMAN G.E. “BUTCH” RICE III
P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. Stallion Transportation Group
President & CEO President & CEO When I became aware of the situation, the association’s legal counsel was quickly
AL HERINGER IV TRACy ROSSER
Star Transportation, Inc. Walmart Transportation engaged to affirm our position that the exemption of extended warranties should
Vice President Senior Vice President
BLUE kEENE GARy SALISBURy continue to apply. Over the next 60 days, the association, staff, lawyers, board members
Tyson Foods, Inc. Fikes Truck Line
Transportation director Chairman & CEO and other liaisons pursued all avenues to undo this abrupt and unjust change.
JEFF LESTER ROy SLAGLE
USA Truck ABF Freight System, Inc.
Executive Vice President, President & CEO
Risk Management and Safety I was thrilled when we received word that the DFA reversed their decision and
WAyNE SMITH
PHILIP MAHONEy Wayne Smith Trucking, Inc.
Great West Casualty Co. President rescinded this extra tax due to our efforts. As a result, refunds totaling more than
Executive Vice President VICkI JONES STEPHENS
SCOTT MANCHESTER C.C. Jones, Inc. $100,000 are being mailed this month to trucking companies and owner-operators
Truck Centers of Arkansas President
Vice President, Truck Sales who were overcharged when registering their new trucks. In addition to these refunds,
STEVE WILLIAMS
MIkE MCNUTT Maverick USA
distribution Solutions, Inc. Chairman & CEO many more thousands were saved by preventing the continuance or worse, back taxes,
CEO, Owner
under this improper tax treatment.
I wanted to shout, “This is what we do; this is how the power of association can—and
An affiliate of the American trucking
Associations does—deliver!”
Arkansas Trucking Association (ATA) is an Arkansas corporation of trucking
companies, private carrier fleets and businesses which serve or supply the
trucking industry. ATA serves these companies as a governmental affairs I hope you’ll join me in celebrating this shared victory—your victory— with all of
representative before legislative, regulatory and executive branches of
government on issues that affect the trucking industry. The organization also the trucking companies who choose to do business in Arkansas and register their
provides public relations services, workers’ compensation insurance, operational
services and serves as a forum for industry meetings and membership relations. equipment here.
For information, contact ATA at:
1401 West Capitol, Suite 185
Post Office Box 3476 (72203) It’s what we do. And you are why we do it.
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Phone 501.372.3462 Fax 501.376.1810
www.arkansastrucking.com
Shannon Newton
Drivers Legal Plan President
Arkansas Trucking Association
Drivers Legal Plan
ArkAnsAs truckinG rePort | issue 4 2014 7