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“The fund is a real benefit for the nothing wrong with that, but that’s not address is an update to the operations
small carriers and a benefit for the the future. I plan to be at the associa- in the Department of Finance and
association because we’re paid to man- tion 10 years from now, and then who Administration. The system for truck
age it, so it’s a win-win for everyone.” is going to be sitting in these positions. title registration for the smaller truck-
It was important to get a foothold into ing firms is outdated, she said. Bigger
a neW Face Leading the Way the next generation.” firms with out-of-state terminals can
One of the bigger projects on her Membership, which exceeds 250 register their trucks in those states; a
ever-growing plate is bringing more of companies, is only part of the resources small company in, say, Hope, with 15
the younger generation into ATA and equation for ATA. Dues account for 21 trucks, must bring all of them to Little
attracting them to leadership roles, she percent of the organization’s budget, Rock for title registration.
says. Newton said. The rest of its revenue is “That’s absurd. What other indus-
“As our experienced leadership derived from the programs adminis- try does that?” Newton asks. “The
retires, how do we replace them?” she tered through the office, such as the self people we are hurting the most are the
asks. She believes one answer is the 40 insurers’ fund. little guys … These are the people we
Under 40 Council, what Newton deems “Any program that we can manage should be doing the most to facilitate
a pet project. For a time, the association that can provide revenue, we have to and help do business in Arkansas. They
had no place to plug younger members kind of create our own work,” Newton have to load up and bring all their doc-
in to leadership roles. The way to do said. “We do have some endorsement uments here to register.”
that was to establish leadership posi- agreements that help. Other means are And with the big companies regis-
tions for those under 40 so they could through special events and education: tering in other states, “that’s a missed
learn how the association and the board our annual conference, our annual opportunity in fees,” Newton added.
operated. truck driving championships and the In the simplest of terms, Newton
“I’d been here nine or ten years, one-off seminars that we hold.” describes the association’s role to mem-
and I was struggling to find my peers,” One pressing issue to the industry bers as: Protect, promote and serve. And
Newton said. “Most of the leadership that Newton hopes the legislature and now the members, and the legislature,
were men over the age of 50. There’s new Governor Asa Hutchinson can will see a new face leading the way. ATR

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30 arkansas trucking rePort | issue 1 2015

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