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Award-Winning Regional Journal of the Arkansas Trucking Association
Arkansas Trucking Report is owned by the arkansas trucking
association, inc. and is published bimonthly by matthews publishing
group. For additional copies, to order reprints of individual articles or
to become a subscriber to ATR, contact abby lloyd at 501.372.3462.
publisher THEy likE uS, THEy rEally likE uS.
JENNIFER MATTHEWS
Matthews Publishing Group, As an industry, we talk a lot about image. We worry about public
jennifer@matthewspublishing.com
executive editor opinion.
SHANNON NEWTON
managing editor It’s only natural. After all, who doesn’t want to be loved?
BETHANy MAy
contributing writers
STEVE BRAWNER JOHN SCHULz While image is not everything, it certainly has an impact, from
brawnersteve@mac.com jdschulz@aol.com driver and industry recruitment to regulatory, legislative or public
JENNIFER BARNETT REED SCOTT TRAVIS
jbreed13@gmail.com stravis@gmail.com policy actions.
JIM HARRIS SPENCER WATSON
jimharris@arktimes.com sswatson@gmail.com
I think most of us believe that the trucking industry’s image needs some improvement.
art director
JON D. KENNEDy
The Freelance Co. LLC, freelanceco@comcast.net I wonder, in the absence of any real data, why we make this assumption.
production editors
SARAH SHEETS, KATIE THOMASON Are we giving too much power to a vocal minority that may be driving the discussion? Is it
illustrator
BRENT BENNETT the high profile, typically negative and misunderstood media coverage? Have we become
brentdraw@att.net
photographers so defensive about what we imagine our industry’s image to be that we have come to
JON D. KENNEDy, BOB OCKEN, JOHN DAVID PITTMAN
accept it as fact?
Well, I’m happy to report a recent poll commissioned by the American Trucking Associations
suggests that the public’s image of the trucking industry is actually very positive.
www.arkansastrucking.com The poll was conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and presented to attendees of the
president
SHANNON SAMPLES NEWTON annual ATA Management Conference & Exhibition by co-founder Neil Newhouse, a
shannonnewton@arkansastrucking.com
director of operations prominent pollster for the 2012 Romney campaign.
SARAH NEWMAN SHEETS
sarahsheets@arkansastrucking.com
communications coordinator Among the highlights of the poll: 65% of Americans have a favorable opinion of the
BETHANy MAy
bethanymay@arkansastrucking.com trucking industry, compared to just 9% unfavorable; 80% of Americans believe truck
corporate services coordinator
KATIE THOMASON drivers are safer than passenger vehicle drivers; 90% of respondents believe passenger
katiethomason@arkansastrucking.com vehicle drivers are more likely to speed than truck drivers; and 74% of respondents think
executive assistant
ABBy LLOyD
abbylloyd@arkansastrucking.com in accidents involving a car and a truck, the passenger vehicle driver is at fault.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
CRAIG HARPER “This is really good news for the industry; the safety numbers are extraordinary,”
J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.
Executive Vice President & COO
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Newhouse told those of us in attendance. “There’s a consensus across the country that
MARR LyNN BEARDEN MARK MORRIS
Marrlin Transit, Inc. Morris Transportation, Inc. truck drivers are much safer, much more diligent, they’re less likely to speed and cause
President President
ALLEN BERRy DR. JOHN OzMENT crashes than passenger car drivers.”
Central States Manufacturing, Inc. U of A/Walton College of Business
Transportation Director Chair of Transportation
GREG CARMAN PAT REED As an industry we’ve been communicating these messages for years through programs
Carman, Inc. FedEx Freight
President Executive Vice President & COO like Share the Road, America’s Road Team and the current Trucking Moves America
DAN CUSHMAN G.E. “BUTCH” RICE III
P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. Stallion Transportation Group Forward campaign.
President & CEO President & CEO
AL HERINGER IV TRACy ROSSER
Star Transportation, Inc. Walmart Transportation So what now? The poll is clear. The majority of Americans have a favorable outlook on the
Vice President Senior Vice President
BLUE KEENE GARy SALISBURy trucking industry. How can we use this information to benefit our membership?
Tyson Foods, Inc. Fikes Truck Line
Transportation Director Chairman & CEO
JEFF LESTER ROy SLAGLE I believe these poll numbers are suggesting that our advocacy efforts should be less
USA Truck ABF Freight System, Inc.
Executive Vice President, President & CEO
Risk Management and Safety WAyNE SMITH apologetic, less defensive. Promoting the good that so many in this industry do as well as
PHILIP MAHONEy Wayne Smith Trucking, Inc.
Great West Casualty Co. President the critical, efficient and responsible role that trucking plays in our economy is a great
Executive Vice President
VICKI JONES STEPHENS
SCOTT MANCHESTER C.C. Jones, Inc. story, a great American story. It is our story.
Truck Centers of Arkansas President
Vice President, Truck Sales
MIKE MCNUTT STEVE WILLIAMS This poll shows a majority of the public knows our story. And they like it. Now we know
Maverick USA
Distribution Solutions, Inc. Chairman & CEO
CEO, Owner
they like it. True, we doubted. But just as we operated under a false assumption, we can be
an affiliate of the american trucking sure that many of our elected leaders and others important to our cause are as well.
associations
Arkansas Trucking Association (ATA) is an Arkansas corporation of trucking Emboldened by the public’s support and our renewed industry self-confidence, we must
companies, private carrier fleets and businesses which serve or supply the
trucking industry. ATA serves these companies as a governmental affairs redouble our efforts to educate our public officials, lawmakers and the media of our
representative before legislative, regulatory and executive branches of
government on issues that affect the trucking industry. The organization also industry’s commitment to safety and on just how
provides public relations services, workers’ compensation insurance, operational
services and serves as a forum for industry meetings and membership relations. essential (and liked) trucking really is.
For information, contact ATA at:
1401 West Capitol, Suite 185
Post Office Box 3476 (72203)
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Phone 501.372.3462 Fax 501.376.1810
www.arkansastrucking.com
Shannon Newton
Drivers Legal Plan President
Arkansas Trucking Association
Drivers Legal Plan
aRkansas tRuCking RepoRt | issue 5 2014 7