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work from here to get them informa- Somehow, I think that when we get An hour later, across the river in
tion about where to go to get medical through this, and I’m back to speak- Little Rock, Leslie Stout uses almost
care and help them with the fact each ing to the Rotary Club in towns like the same words, “My heart is always
state has different guidelines on what to Malvern, my story about why roads with the drivers, and I have so much
do if you think you have the virus.” matter is going to begin with COVID-19 respect for them. But I hope when this
These Arkansas-based trucking and the fact the supply chain worked on is over, we still look at the drivers as
companies aren’t the only ones hold- the very darkest of days. We are learn- we do today. They are just essential. If
ing our way of life together. We live in ing the hard way that nothing is more the trucks ever stopped, we would have
a state with a thoughtful, smart gov- important than that. nothing.”
ernor who is on TV everyday helping Gary Mars closes our conversation But because the trucks are rolling
us through this. We live in a state that like a no-nonsense trucker who ignores around the clock on sophisticated
produces leaders like Asa Hutchinson the chaos around him and just does the infrastructure, we have a lot. I don’t
and companies like Walmart, Tyson job, “I have never seen people panic like think anyone shopping for groceries for
and J.B. Hunt. We live in a state where this, but Walmart’s gonna be Walmart their kids or trying to get medicine for
a brutal tornado devastates Jonesboro and take care of the customer.” frail grandparents is going to disagree
during a pandemic, and people just pick In North Little Rock, during a hec- with Gabe or Leslie as we fight our way
themselves up, start helping their neigh- tic afternoon finding new loads, Gabe back to normal. We are in a once-in-a
bors, and get back to work. Stephens takes a break to fix a cup of lifetime battle for survival, and I feel
So, a sincere thank you to the coffee as we talked. As we finished, he better having those truckers beside us.
members and friends who make all this quietly said, “You know, we’ve said for Be safe. ATR
work and bring the things that keep my years that nobody really appreciates
pantry full and my family safe. We are truck drivers. But this may finally be Joe Quinn is the Executive Director of the
Arkansas Good Roads Foundation. The
all better off because of smart people in the thing that convinces people that foundation works to educate Arkansans
both the public and private sector who what we do really matters. It’s pretty about why quality roads and bridges mat-
have spent years building this American dang scary to think about what this ter. The Arkansas Trucking Association is
infrastructure. could really be like.” a proud member.

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ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 2 2020 31