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Award-Winning Magazine 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 abby Lloyd at 501.372.3462.
publisher
JENNIFER MATTHEWS
Matthews Publishing Group
jennifer@matthewspublishing.com
executive editor
SHANNoN NEWToN
managing editor seizing oPPortunities
BETHANy MAy
contributing writers Depending on your outlook, the trucking industry has many daunting challenges to
STEVE BRAWNER JoHN SCHULz
brawnersteve@mac.com jdschulz50@aol.com address or critical opportunities to seize in 2015 and beyond. Of course perspective
JENNIFER BARNETT REED SCoTT TRAVIS
jbreed13@gmail.com stravis@gmail.com matters, but this is not just a clever case of semantics. It’s about mindset.
JIM HARRIS
jimharris@arktimes.com Research suggests a powerful link between how we impact issues and the frame of
art director
JoN D. KENNEDy
The Freelance Co. LLC, freelanceco@comcast.net reference we bring to bear upon them. Management consultants tell us the same is
production editors true of organizations: the difference between achieving a wildly successful outcome
SARAH SHEETS, KATIE THoMASoN
illustrator and experiencing a dismal failure is sometimes only a slight shift in perception. How
BRENT BENNETT
brentdraw@att.net important is our perspective, and how much difference can you create with a subtle shift
photographers
JoN D. KENNEDy, BoB oCKEN, JoHN DAVID PITTMAN in mindset? Just as important, how influential is our environment upon our current
outlook?
It’s certainly true that our industry’s performance is closely tied to the American
economy, which has been looking increasingly positive. Freight demand is up, tonnage
growth is increasing and, after the toughest period in recent memory, economic forecasts
www.arkansastrucking.com
president are trending positively. In short, the state of our industry is strong, characterized by an
SHANNoN SAMPLES NEWToN
shannonnewton@arkansastrucking.com overall sense of optimism.
director of operations
SARAH NEWMAN SHEETS
sarahsheets@arkansastrucking.com And yet, there are many critical opportunities to be seized for the collective well-being
communications coordinator of our industry. We must continue to stare down the barrel of pressing business and
BETHANy MAy
bethanymay@arkansastrucking.com regulatory concerns. Described in detail in Arkansas Trucking Report’s ‘The Trucking
corporate services coordinator
KATIE THoMASoN Industry’s Top 10 Issues Survey,’ these pressure points include tightening regulations,
katiethomason@arkansastrucking.com
executive assistant ongoing driver turnover and shortages, deteriorating infrastructure and funding, and
ABBy CRoSSLAND
abbycrossland@arkansastrucking.com integration of technological advancements.
CHAIRMAN oF THE BoARD
CRAIG HARPER
J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. These are certainly challenges, but they are also opportunities that will impact the long-
Executive Vice President & Coo
BoARD oF DIRECToRS term health and direction of our industry. The stakes are high, with consequences that
MARR LyNN BEARDEN MARK MoRRIS
Marrlin Transit, Inc. Morris Transportation, Inc. will last well into the future. We must do everything we can to make sure we’re moving
President President
ALLEN BERRy DR. JoHN ozMENT in the right direction.
Central States Manufacturing, Inc. U of A/Walton College of Business
Transportation Director Chair of Transportation
GREG CARMAN PAT REED But this mission is bigger than any individual company. Each of us is an important
Carman, Inc. FedEx Freight
President Executive Vice President & Coo component of creating a safer, more productive and efficient industry. Seeing industry
DAN CUSHMAN G.E. “BUTCH” RICE III
P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. Stallion Transportation Group
President & CEo President & CEo pressure points for the opportunities they are, despite the complexities involved, can
AL HERINGER IV TRACy RoSSER
Star Transportation, Inc. Walmart Transportation redirect us to take action on issues that really matter and can create a brighter future
Vice President Senior Vice President
BLUE KEENE GARy SALISBURy for us all.
Tyson Foods, Inc. Fikes Truck Line
Transportation Director Chairman & CEo
JEFF LESTER Roy SLAGLE In this issue, Arkansas Trucking Report profiles a woman who sees these opportunities and
USA Truck ABF Freight System, Inc.
Executive Vice President, President & CEo sincerely cares about the success of our trucking industry—new ATA President Shannon
Risk Management and Safety WAyNE SMITH
PHILIP MAHoNEy Wayne Smith Trucking, Inc. Newton. A trailblazer on issues that are important to all truckers, particularly those
Great West Casualty Co. President
Executive Vice President VICKI JoNES STEPHENS impacting Arkansas carriers, Mrs. Newton has been an influential voice on the self
SCoTT MANCHESTER C.C. Jones, Inc.
Truck Centers of Arkansas President
Vice President, Truck Sales insurers’ workers compensation fund, the state tax on extended warranties and anti-
MIKE MCNUTT STEVE WILLIAMS
Maverick USA
Distribution Solutions, Inc. Chairman & CEo indemnification language. Shannon’s 12 years of experience with our association is
CEo, owner
evident in how well she navigates through the legislatures in Arkansas, as well as in D.C.
an affiliate of the american trucking She is a phenomenal asset to the Arkansas Trucking Association, and we are fortunate to
associations
have her as our President.
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
representative before legislative, regulatory and executive branches of
government on issues that affect the trucking industry. The organization also
provides public relations services, workers’ compensation insurance, operational
services and serves as a forum for industry meetings and membership relations.
For information, contact ATA at:
1401 West Capitol, Suite 185 Craig Harper,
Post office Box 3476 (72203)
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 J. B. Hunt Tranport,
Phone 501.372.3462 Fax 501.376.1810 Drivers Legal Plan
www.arkansastrucking.com Chairman of the Board,
Arkansas Trucking Association
Drivers Legal Plan
arkansas trucking rePort | issue 1 2015 9