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know what we’re facing. High fuel
prices add pressure to everything. And
it doesn’t look like it’s going to get any
better. High fuel affects everybody. Not
“I HAVE A LOT OF just business owners. All Americans

PEOPLE DEPENDING have to be concerned about where this
may lead us.”
ON ME, SO WHATEVER I Along with shortages and rising
HAVE TO DO THAT DAY, fuel prices, operating and maintenance Innovative
I WANT TO DO MY BEST costs have also experienced unprec- Logistics
AT IT. I DON’T WANT edented increases in the industry. Solutions That
“I’ve never seen operating costs
TO BE IN A SITUATION escalate at the rate they have this
THAT I’M NOT PUTTING year than ever in the past,” he said. Keep Supply
OUT ALL THE EFFORT “Maintenance costs have skyrocketed. Chains Moving
There’s no way to budget for it.”
THAT I CAN.” And these astronomical cost
increases are sending shockwaves We’re a trusted
—MICHAEL BARR, JM throughout the industry. FleetNet advisor, and we see
BOZEMAN ENTERPRISES America reported a 20.4 percent repair-
PRESIDENT cost increase from 2020 to 2022. It’s the world through
enough for any business owner to your eyes. We’re
become discouraged and negative. But fueled by the simple
Barr said he and Bozeman have worked
hard to keep a positive outlook. notion of finding a
sometimes have to be transported to “We don’t have a choice,” Barr said. way to get the job
another truck, or their families have to “You’ve just got to have courage. You done, no matter what.
pick them up. This continues to be an have to saddle up even when you don’t We leverage our full
industry-wide problem, he said. want to. As an owner, you want to set
Another issue affecting the truck- that example. If we got negative and suite of shipping and
ing industry is rising fuel costs. JMB is pessimistic, employees would sense it. logistics solutions to
primarily a contract carrier, so the fuel They would see it in my face and hear meet your most
surcharge takes a lot of the burden of it in my voice. So we have to stay posi- critical needs, each
increased costs away from the company, tive.”
Barr explained. But rising fuel costs This is why Barr keeps that piece and every day.
still affect everything. Deadhead miles, of cowboy wisdom close to his heart: Welcome to ArcBest.
also known as the “empty” miles trucks “Worrying is like paying on a debt that
drive after delivering a shipment or will never come due.” arcb.com
when the driver is returning home, can Like anyone leading a company in
add up quickly for a company like JMB, a tough economic climate, Barr takes
which primarily operates in the south- each day as it comes. His business is
east and southwest U.S. with routes philosophy is simple: He tries to do his
stretching from the Rocky Mountains best every day.
in the west to the Carolinas in the east.
In 2021, Express Freight Finance found PRIDE AND GRATITUDE
that deadhead miles can amount to “I have a lot of people depending
15–30% of rolling miles annually per on me, so whatever I have to do that
truck. day, I want to do my best at it,” he said.
“There’s no surcharge for deadhead “I don’t want to be in a situation that
miles,” Barr said. I’m not putting out all the effort that I
“Drivers look out for the can.”
companies’ fuel in a lot of ways,” Barr While focusing on each day, Barr
said. “They see those huge numbers also keeps an eye on the future. In
when they fill those trucks up, so they 

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 3 2022 37