Page 16 - ATR 5 2013

CALENDAR News iN brief, Congress’s failure to raise the gas tax
Continued from page 15
over the past two decades, paired with
OF EVENTS with identifying the role freight trans- increased fuel efficiency, have created
portation plays in the U.S. economy; a tremendous shortfall in transporta-
ways to increase the efficiency, safety, tion funding. Although no one funding
November overall condition and performance solution was called for, the bi-partisan
of the Nation’s freight network; how unification behind the call for increased
NoVEMBER 19
ATA BoARd of TRusTees technology assists in the movement of infrastructure investment is significant,
MeeTIng freight and financing options for trans- and will guide the discussion as the
Little Rock, Arkansas portation projects that improve freight Committee begins to consider highway
NoVEMBER 20-21 mobility. reauthorization in 2014.
nATMI TRAInIng: oshA During the course of its 6-month Beyond funding issues, included
AudIT ReAdIness
The Victory Building charter, the panel held six public in the report were recommendations
Little Rock, Arkansas hearings, three roundtable discussions, to authorize guaranteed funding for
December toured freight facilities and held the Projects of National and Regional
numerous briefings with freight Significance program, which focuses
DECEMBER 10-11 industry professionals. spending on important freight cor-
40 undeR 40 CounCIl
MeeTIng The final report calls for a “robust ridors, and to promote and expedite
Northwest Arkansas public investment in all modes of trans- delivery of projects that improve the
JaNuary portation on which freight movement efficient movement of goods. The report
relies, and incentivize additional private also asks Transportation Secretary
JANUARy 7 investment in freight transportation Anthony Foxx to establish a compre-
sAfeTy MAnAgeMenT
CounCIl facilities, and to maintain and improve hensive national multimodal freight
Wyndham Riverfront the condition and performance of the transportation policy and designate a
North Little Rock, Arkansas freight transportation network.” national, multimodal freight network.
JANUARy 26-28 Additionally, the Panel asks the As the Committee prepares to craft
2014 AMeRICAn TRuCkIng Transportation and Treasury secretaries the next highway reauthorization bill
AssoCIATIons exeCuTIVe
MeeTIng to “identify and recommend sustainable in 2014, initiatives to improve freight
Capital hilton sources of revenue across all modes of transportation efficiencies, and funding
Washington, D.C. transportation that would provide the mechanisms to bring those initiatives to
JANUARy 27-31 necessary investment in the Nation’s fruition will be essential to increasing
CVsA CohMed ConfeRenCe multimodal freight network.” American competitiveness and creating
Sarasota, Florida
Following the release of the panel’s jobs.
February recommendations, Chairman Shuster “Because bottlenecks at any point
FEBRUARy 13 echoed the recommendation that the in the transportation system can seri-
ATA BoARd of dIReCToRs administration takes in active role in ously impede freight mobility and drive
MeeTIng
the infrastructure funding discussion. up the cost of the goods, improving the
MARCh 10-13 “The president has talked about funding efficient and safe flow of freight across
2014 TMC AnnuAl MeeTIng
& TRAnspoRTATIon transportation for five years. Nobody in all modes of transportation directly
exhIBITIon his administration has come forward impacts the health of the economy,”
Nashville City Music Center and given their recommendations on said Duncan.
Nashville, Tennessee
how to fund it,” Shuster said.
Save the Date: Duncan and Nadler insist that is it safety fiRst
important for Cabinet secretaries to be Former Chairman of the
MAy 21-23 actively involved in the process of deter- Arkansas Trucking Association’s Safety
ATA AnnuAl BusIness
ConfeRenCe And VendoR mining sustainable funding options Management Council, Jason Wing of
shoWCAse because “they have significant resources ABF Freight System, Inc., earned the
hilton Branson Convention Center to bring to bear to create that sort of National Safety Professional Award of
Branson, Missouri
consensus,” Nadler said at the press Excellence from the American Trucking
JULy 10-12 conference unveiling the report. Associations (ATA). Wing, manager
ATA TRuCkIng
ChAMpIonshIp While the 103-page report does of safety compliance and training for
John Q. hammons Convention Center not recommend a specific revenue ABF, was honored at the ATA Safety and
Rogers, Arkansas source, the panel was unified in calling Human Resources National Conference
for increased transportation funding. and Exhibition in Sparks, Nev. and at

16 arKansas trucKing report | issue 5 2013