Page 50 - ATR 3 2022 digital

First, in Electrification Playbook, described the state’s efforts to address
Arkansas Secretary of Energy and labor concerns. Rice and Simmons
Environment Becky Keogh reported on both shared their personal experiences
the state’s investment in infrastructure training and hiring drivers in the worst
that will allow for greater adoption of driver shortage on record. Rice spoke
electric vehicles. Then Dr. Alex Leslie, about opening a driving school to cre-
American Transportation Research ate prepared professionals for his own
Institute, delivered the data from the fleet, and Simmons talked about Tyson’s
latest studies on insurance costs in participation in FMCSA’s Safe Driver
trucking and how carriers are reacting Apprentice Program. (Read more on
to exponentially rising costs. And Jack page 22).
Atkins, Stephens’ senior research ana- Finally, Gus Malzahn recounted
lyst and managing director of transpor- his path from Fort Smith, Ark., to
tation equity research, ran the numbers Arkansas High School Sports Hall of
on the greater economic landscape in Fame, recording five consecutive top-10
Wins and Losses: The 2022 Economic nationally ranked recruiting classes,  Grady Phillips (Corporate Medical
Stat Sheet. (Read more about Atkins’ and coaching the Heisman Trophy win- Services) meets author Ken Gronbach
predictions on page 18). ner Cam Newton throughout his career (KGC Direct LLC)
At Thursday’s governmental affairs as a championship-winning college
luncheon, Blake Eddins, principal of football coach.
Eddins & Associates, and J.R. Davis, Mark Morris invited everyone to
partner of Gilmore Davis Strategy his final Chairman’s Tailgate, next door
Group and former communications to the convention center at Inside Track.
director for Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Coach Malzahn held a meet and greet
invited attendees to “Pregame the with guest and signed footballs to mark
Primaries”. They discussed the most the end of 2022’s official conference
competitive races, made predictions activities.
on which candidates would progress Sixty-two (62) players from 29
to the general election in November companies met Friday morning for
and talked about how the new district breakfast and the Spring Golf Classic
maps, drawn after the 2020 census, at the Hot Springs Country Club.
could shake up the Arkansas legislative Adam Kampbell (MHC), Clint Crossno  Austin Godwin, Noah Bowerman
makeup. (Crossno Corp.), Joe France (Roadside (Bowerman Trucking) and Tim Green (TAB
After lunch, Jeremy Reymer, Properties) and Scott Barrett (Alpine Bank)
founder of DriverReach, moderated Electric) came in first
the Tackling Workforce Worries Panel place on the greens.
with Dr. Charisse Childers, director
of the Arkansas Division of Workforce
Services; Butch Rice, president of
Stallion Transportation and Patrick
Simmons, vice president
of transportation at
Tyson Foods. Childers

 Terry Burnett,
Vicki Burnett (Twin
City Transportation)
and Danny Burnett  John Dietze (BMO Transportation Finance),
(Cottingham & Butler) Daniel Smith (Utility Tri-State), Cody Mills (BMO
with Butch Rice (Stallion Transportation Finance) and John Paul Hart
Transportation Group)
(Utility Tri-State)

50 Issue 3 2022 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT