Page 36 - ATR 4 2015 web

“you JusT doN’T have people comiNg up iN TruckiNg families like we
did. we Need a NaTioNal push To give The whole image of TruckiNg a
facelifT. we are The lifeliNe of preTTy much everyThiNg ThaT moves.”

–darreN Tyler, J.B. huNT TraNsporT

determine who does their job best while should ring a bell a little bit,” Tyler said. ple every year,” Hall said.
your boss, your spouse, your friends all It’s also, the men agreed, a mental- The potential for a win is a pretty
watch. Not at the top of your bucket ly-stimulating career. big draw, too. “If they don’t place in
list? “The trucks of today, what 15 years the top three, it makes them want to
But Dave Hall, Darren Tyler, Aaron ago may have had one computer—that improve. They want to be up on that
Martin and the other drivers and tech- Cascadia sitting outside could have as stage,” Gillen said.
nicians who show up at the Arkansas many as 12-15 that all have to be happy Will our Rookie of the Year try
Trucking Championship each year at one time,” Martin said. for Grand Champion next year? “Not
are willing to do just that. Moreover, Those complexities are well-known having a clue what I was getting into
they’re excited to do it because they to those on the inside. “True profes- this year, I was just taken by the whole
are proud of the work they do and the sional technicians have a desire to be process—I really enjoyed it,” Tyler said.
industry they serve. in the tough environment, to adapt to “Now I think, okay I can do this. It just
“It instills a lot of pride,” Martin all the changes, the new technologies,” makes you want to come back; it makes
said. “My [Grand Champion] trophy Gillen said. “Before they were mechan- you want to be a better driver.”
sits on my desk. I’ve walked into my ics, but now they’re truly technicians That’s certainly proved true for
office to see a driver staring at them because there are a lot more computers Dave Hall, who went on to the National
and ask what they are. And after I on a truck. It makes them feel impor- Truck Driving Championship August
explain, they ask ‘Are you the one work- tant because they’re not just a wrench- 11-15 for the fourth time in his career.
ing on my truck?’” turner.” “You think state is addicting? Make
Maintaining that sense of pride has And they do feel important. Each nationals just once, and you’ll want to
become more difficult in current day as recognizes that he is delivering the go every year,” Hall smiled.
the industry’s image has dissipated. things that maintain the American Winning at Nationals is one of his
“Truckers, we used to be on a ped- standard of living. goals, and in 2008 he came close by
estal, but it’s not like that anymore,” “This generation, they think things placing eighth in his division.
Hall said. just magically appeared in their stores,” But Hall said maintaining a safe
Dave, Darren and Aaron can easily Martin said, necessitating the reminder driving record trumps the desire to win.
remember that time, back when they that 87 percent of Arkansas communi- “My goal is to have no accidents for the
used to ride with their dads. ties are served exclusively by trucks. rest of my career.”
“It’s definitely changed a lot over “You just don’t have people com- And what about young Aaron
the years, but I still enjoy driving,” Hall ing up in trucking families like we did,” Martin, only 26 and already has a desk
said. “There are a lot more vehicles, Tyler said. “We need a national push to littered with trophies? “I’ve only just
more trucks, more new truck drivers on give the whole image of trucking a face- begun,” he smiled. “I’d like to be a
the road—it makes it a little bit more lift. We are the lifeline of pretty much trainer and pass on my knowledge.”
stressful.” everything that moves.” The biggest lesson they all learn?
Trucking can also provide a decent It’s all about safety.
wage, Tyler pointed out. year afTer year “Safety is important to us—that’s
“You can go to college for four What keeps these professionals what I want people to know,” Tyler said.
years and come out $80,000 to coming back for more? The people and “We consider ourselves stewards of the
$100,000 in debt, not making the sal- the possibility of improving their score. roadways. It’s just as important to keep
ary you would make in the trucking “That’s one of the things that keeps them safe with our actions as it is to
industry. From a financial standpoint, it us coming back—getting to see the peo- ourselves.” ATR

36 arkansas Trucking repOrT | issue 4 2015