Page 21 - ATR 4 2015 web

Online convenience

Office of Motor Vehicles working with ATA to ease IRP Registration process

By steve Brawner
Contributing Writer

In 2015, the expectations of online
convenience in almost every aspect
of business are the norm. Whenever
there is information changing hands,
someone will soon ask, “Can’t we do
this online?” The Arkansas Trucking
Association has been working with
the Department of Finance and “The process They have seT up righT Now is 180
Administration to help meet some
of those online expectations when it from whaT we used To have To do. ... Before,
comes to IRP Registrations. iT was make a call, carry a check dowN There,
“It’s ATA’s job to make sure the pay for iT, waiT. Now we caN preTTy much do
system is meeting the needs of the
trucking companies in Arkansas. all ThaT oNliNe.”
Creating the most efficient process for
our Arkansas carriers is Step 1. Step 2 —Jeff holT, vice presideNT,
is competing with other states whose sTallioN TraNsporTaTioN group
process is better and attracting our
large carriers to register here at home,”
Shannon Newton, president of the ATA, Under the current system, motor nel have had multiple meetings with
said. carriers can perform their IRP renewals the Arkansas Trucking Association and
Yet, though the IRP application online – both individual vehicles and are working together to create an online
process went online over 5 years ago, entire fleets, as well as replace plates platform that will meet the industry’s
many carriers do not know about the and transfer plates from one vehicle to needs. The office has met with the
change and its added convenience. With another. However, first-time customers state’s programmers and developers
the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) are required to do everything by mail at the Office of Information Systems,
continuing to improve the process, they or in person because it’s a more compli- as well as the vendors, Celtic Systems
expect to see more companies forgoing cated process. “Once that account has and IBM, that operate the system, and
the face-to-face registration. been established with us, then they can they have outlined a plan for what to
be set up to do all future applications do next. Earnhart said none of Celtic’s
OnLine frOM sTarT TO finish online,” said Christy Earnhart, assistant other state partners offer initial online
Beginning perhaps as early as next administrator of the OMV. registrations, either. According to Roger
year, Arkansas-based motor carriers OMV now is moving toward begin- Duren, Office of Motor Vehicles admin-
should be able to make even their initial ning an online registration process for istrator, “We’ve kind of gotten down on
International Registration Plan registra- new registrants as well – perhaps avail- paper which direction we need to go.”
tions online. able as early as next year. Office person- 

arkansas Trucking repOrT | issue 4 2015 21