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COVER STORY TABLE OF CONTENTS 2023 EDITION P 30 BY DAVID LEE CULLEN Bill Ewing and Hurley Transportation Companies THE VOICE OF ARIZONA'S TRUCKING INDUSTRY 50 BUY FIRST! Buyers’ guide of all ATA allied members 56 ATRI Fast Facts 9 Chairman’s Message by Xavier Ortega 9 ATA Board of Directors 11 President’s Message by Tony Bradley 50 Advertising Resource Index 13 ATRI’s Critical Issues ATRI survey: Driver shortage top concern in Arizona BY STEVE BRAWNER 17 Culture is Key The leadership at JoyRide Logistics, LLC is focused on its company culture BY DAVID MONTEITH 21 Joy Came from Working for the Right Reasons David Arbizu, together with his family, on what business is like at White Mountain Trucking, Inc. BY STEVE BRAWNER 24 Hauling Gas & Having Fun Diamond Trucking’s leadership – Jess Miller and his brother PJ Miller – share insight into their company history and the culture they’ve cultivated. BY DAVID MONTEITH 27 ATA 2022 Truck Driving Championships All Winners 29 ATA Member Milestones 38 Focusing on the Task at Hand ATA’s Safety Professional of the Year, Brian Boyer of FedEx Freight, was a driver first. BY STEVE BRAWNER 39 From the Air Force to Hauling Hazmat Minero Trucking’s Lisa Augustyn named ATA’s Driver of the Year BY STEVE BRAWNER 41 Thank you, ATA Conference Sponsors! 42 ATA 2022 Leadership Conference 45 ATA 2021 Fleet Safety Awards 46 ATA Events Highlights 49 ATA Foundation Scholarships BY DAVID LEE CULLEN IMAGES ON COVER AND THIS PAGE OF BILL EWING BY BLAKE WILSON FEATURES DEPARTMENTS 2023 EDITION ARIZONA TRUCKING • 7
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Chairman’s Message Xavier Ortega Xavier Ortega Chairman of the Board ATA President & CEO, Minero Trucking, LLC Arizona Trucking Association 2021-2023 Board of Directors OFFICERS CHAIRMAN XAVIER ORTEGA MINERO TRUCKING, LLC VICE-CHAIRMAN DOUG DWIGGINS, SHAMROCK FOODS CO TREASURER PARKER HANCOCK, WESTERN TRANSPORT LOGISTICS IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN BRUCE MACRAE, UPS STATE VIP ATA COLLIN STEWART, STEWART TRANSPORT, INC. ALT-STATE VIP ATA MARK DOUGHTY, PREPASS SAFETY ALLIANCE BOARD MEMBERS One thing that makes the ATA great is that it’s an association, not a club. What’s the difference? A club can be a closed entity. Membership can be limited to those who meet certain social criteria. Exclusivity, in fact, can be part of a club’s reason for existence. A club often is held together by weak bonds. The Arizona Trucking Association, in contrast, is rooted in a shared commitment to trucking, and those roots run deep – in fact, often through multiple generations. Trucking isn’t just our livelihood; it’s our life. It’s who we are. Unlike a club, our association is open to anyone who shares our values and our love of trucking. The more committed members we have, the louder our voice will be. Bigger is not always better in life, but there is strength in numbers. It’s why we want our association to grow. In recent years, the ATA has accomplished something many associations haven’t: Its membership has held steady despite all the ways society has changed, despite all the demands on people’s time and attention, and despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, holding steady is not good enough. If you’re not growing, eventually you’ll start shrinking. That’s one reason the ATA is taking longtime staff member Arthur Contreras away from its very successful vehicle registration service, and moving him over to membership. ATA hasn’t had a membership person in several years, and now Arthur will focus not just on recruitment but also on current member engagement. As good as Arthur will be at his job, he can’t do the work alone. He’ll be much more effective if ATA’s members help him. That’s why we must do our part in encouraging prospective members to join the ATA. The best salesman for any company is a satisfied customer. We can share with nonmembers how their company can benefit, and how much we want them be a part of us. Remember, we’re not a club but an association, so our own individual importance is not diluted when others join. If you need backup, have them call me. I can close the deal. Otherwise, just tell them that if they’re looking for ways to grow their business and serve the industry, to just join the club. And then explain to them that we’re actually an association. WANT TO SERVE THE INDUSTRY? JOIN THE ASSOCIATION. MIKE BARR Cummins Inc. DONALD BLAKE Inland Kenworth, Inc. RICH BREN Transtar Insurance Brokers CONNER CECIL BJ Cecil Trucking, Inc. MIKE CLINKINGBEARD W.W. Williams Co. LLC GEORGE CRAVENS Utility Trailer Sales Co. of AZ GARY DOYLE Baumann, Doyle, Paytas & Bernstein, PLLC RON EDDLEMAN McKee Foods Transportation, LLC JEFF GENNARO Capitol Insurance Brokers STEVE HITCHCOCK Duncan and Son Lines, Inc. BILL HUDNALL Walmart Supply Chain SCOTT “HUTCH” HUTCHINGS Waste Management MICHEAL JIMENEZ J & L Transportation, Inc. ROBERT KNAPP Vanguard Truck Center MIKE KUNDE Doudell Trucking Co. CHRIS LYNBERG Transtar Insurance Brokers DAN MARDIAN Marco Crane & Rigging PJ MILLER Diamond Trucking Inc. TJ MORGAN Citizen Auto Stage Co./ Citizen Express Lines TIM NOEDING Velocity Truck Centers RICK OWENS United Petroleum Transports DOUG PRALL HDS, Inc. JOSH PROCTOR Dircks Moving & Logistics SHON RASMUSSEN RWC Group CHRIS RYAN Rush Truck Centers MIKE SHANNON Empire Truck & Trailer RUSS THOMPSON Tri-State DAVE WILLIAMS Knight Transportation, Inc. SEAN WILLIAMS Southwest Truck Driver Training, Inc. LARRY WOOLSON Roehl Transport, Inc. MICHAEL YADON FedEx Corporation CHRIS ZWIERZYNSKI Z Trucking, LLC 2023 EDITION ARIZONA TRUCKING • 9
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THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE ARIZONA TRUCKING ASSOCIATION Arizona Trucking is owned by the Arizona Trucking Association and is published by Matthews Publishing Group LLC. To request additional copies, order reprints of individual article or to become a subscriber to Arizona Trucking, please contact Rhonda Merkel at [email protected] or call (602) 850-6001. To inquire about advertising or to share story ideas, please contact the publisher at [email protected] or call (501) 690-9393. Publisher Jennifer Matthews-Drake Matthews Publishing Group [email protected] Executive Editor Tony Bradley Managing Editor Rhonda Merkel Creative Director Fran Sherman [email protected] Graphic Designer Bárbara Negrón Ad Production Douglas Benjamin From the President & CEO Photographers John Ballance Mark Davis Al Ferreira Daniel Gray Christian Koszka Lawrence Kuzniewski John David Pittman David Sinclair Bryce Vickmark Blake M. Wilson Contributing Writers Steve Brawner Dan Calabrese Andrew Dunn Eric J. Francis Kevin Jones Johnny Kampis Renee Miller David Monteith Jack Roberts John D. Schulz Lacey C. Thacker Todd Traub Veronica Espinoza Diana Munoz Daisy Razo Justin Ulibarri Marbella Ulloa VEHICLE REGISTRATION AGENTS Arizona Trucking Association is an affiliate of the American Trucking Associations. ATA is an Arizona corporation of trucking companies, private carrier fleets and businesses which serve or supply the trucking industry. ATA serves these companies as a governmental affairs representative before legislative, regulatory and executive branches of government on issues that affect the trucking industry. The organization also provides public relations services, education services, operational services and serves as a forum for industry meetings and membership relations. www.aztrucking.com Arizona Trucking Association Staff President & CEO Tony Bradley [email protected] Director Of Administration Rhonda Merkel [email protected] Accounting Manager Karen Schiefelbein [email protected] Administrative Assistant Jenive Olgine [email protected] Membership Recruitment & Retention Arthur Contreras [email protected] Tony Bradley Tony Bradley President & CEO Arizona Trucking Association When you love your job, it doesn’t feel like working. That’s what the past decade has been like for me here at the Arizona Trucking Association. I’m celebrating 10 years here in February. It feels like it’s gone by in a flash, and I have no plans to leave. Ten years ago, then-chairman George Cravens and the rest of the ATA board took a chance on a political professional with lots of experience working for Sen. John McCain but no experience in trucking. I wasn’t worried about that last part. I knew there were plenty of trucking experts here. I don’t think there’s a day that I’ve awakened since that I’ve not looked forward to going to work. It’s become my home. It’s a place where I enjoy working on the trucking industry’s behalf so it can deliver the goods Arizonans need. While I knew the job would be a great fit, I never could have anticipated how great the people have been. The members of this association are almost a family. They’re competitors, but at the same time they also cooperate for the good of the industry. While they know a rising tide lifts all boats, their friendships are genuine, and they want to see each other succeed. Together, we’ve had a lot of successes. In 2021, we announced the association would be built on four pillars: vehicle registration, membership, lobbying and the ATA Foundation. Each of those pillars is strong. Thanks in part to Chairman Xavier Ortega’s leadership, vehicle registration revenues increased by $100,000 last year and will increase another $100,000 this year. The vehicle registration staff has grown from three employees when I started working here to seven now, although one will be moving over to membership. Speaking of membership, it’s been steady, and we’re about to focus on making growth a priority. As for our lobbying efforts, Arizona has invested more than $1 billion in infrastructure the last couple of years, and last year more than $50 million was dedicated to truck parking facilities, so we must be doing something right. The ATA foundation is strong, too. Having a supportive board definitely makes the job easier. So does having an amazing staff. Five have been here as long as I have: Rhonda Merkel, Karen Schiefelbein, Victoria Adams, Arthur Contreras and Diana Munoz. The other staff members have been welcome additions and are now part of our family too: Jenive Olgine, Veronica Espinoza, Marbella Ulloa, Daisy Razo, and Justin Ulibarri. No one knows what the future holds, but I look forward to being part of the Arizona Trucking Association family for years to come. Thanks to everyone for a great first 10. TEN YEARS HAVE FLOWN BY Department Lead Victoria Adams 2023 EDITION ARIZONA TRUCKING • 11
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The driver shortage was the top concern among Arizona’s motor carrier officials, suppliers, and other trucking stakeholders in the latest American Transportation Research Institute’s “Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry – 2022” survey, while fuel prices was the top concern across the industry nationally. In Arizona, 190 industry officials and suppliers responded to the survey. Three of the top five issues were related to workforce shortage challenges: the driver shortage at number one, driver retention at number two, and the diesel technician shortage at number five. The survey of drivers, motor carrier personnel and other industry stakeholders was open for responses from Sept. 6 through Oct. 7, 2022. Respondents were asked to choose between 28 critical issues. The issues that respondents ranked as most important were valued at three points, while those ranked second were assigned two points and those ranked third received one point. ATRI’s Arizona report includes all respondents except drivers. It does not include drivers in any of its state reports because, compared to industry officials and others, drivers generally are not as closely associated with a particular state. Respondents also ranked three preferred strategies for each issue that were selected by ATRI. They could write in their own preferred strategy. The top strategy among Arizonans for addressing the driver shortage was “Advocate for regulatory changes to allow a state to administer a driving skills test to any outof-state commercial driver’s license (CDL) applicant, regardless of where the applicant received driver training.” The second most preferred strategy was “Support outreach initiatives targeting high school students and young adults.” The report notes that a third of truck drivers are over age 55. The third most preferred strategy was related to the first: “Work with industry insurers to identify ways to expand coverage for younger drivers as part of the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Program.” That program allows up to 3,000 18-20-year-olds BY STEVE BRAWNER CONTRIBUTING WRITER ATRI Survey: Driver Shortage Top Concern in Arizona Overall, the top 10 in Arizona were as follows: 1. Driver shortage 2. Driver retention 3. Fuel prices 4. Economy 5. Diesel technician shortage 6. CSA 7. Automated truck technology 8. Driver distraction 9. Driver compensation 10. Truck parking The top 10 issues nationally were as follows: 1. Fuel prices 2. Driver shortage 3. Truck parking 4. Driver compensation 5. Economy 6. Detention/delay at customer facilities 7. Driver retention 8. CSA 9. Speed limiters 10. Lawsuit abuse reform 2023 EDITION ARIZONA TRUCKING • 13
to engage in interstate freight commerce at any one time, but ATRI has found that 50% of small fleets and 30% of large ones said insurance costs are a significant barrier. To address the driver retention issue, the top-ranking strategy in Arizona was “Research and prioritize retention strategies, based on driver feedback and driver tenure data.” Second was “Evaluate the impact of truck driver benefits, including health insurance and retirement benefits, on driver retention.” Third was “Quantify the relationship between safety technology deployment (e.g., cameras, speed limiters, active braking systems) and driver satisfaction and retention.” Fuel prices, which had not been in the top 10 since 2013 when it was number eight, jumped to the top of the list nationally and was third in Arizona as fleets and owner-operators dealt with high fuel costs in 2022. The issue replaced the driver shortage, which fell to number two after five years on top. Motor carrier personnel ranked it third nationally, as did the Arizona respondents. Nationally, commercial drivers ranked it as their second highest issue, while owner-operators ranked it as their top concern for the second year in the row. “It’s interesting because the very first one of these surveys we did in 2005, the number one and number two issues overall were fuel costs and driver shortage,” said ATRI President and Chief Operating Officer Rebecca Brewster. “Fast forward to 2022, that’s the same top two issues.” She noted that the inaugural survey came after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. Fuel supplies were down, and prices had increased. Arizonans and national respondents prioritized the same strategies for addressing the issue. First was “Advocate for federal actions that help stabilize the supply of fuel and minimize price volatility.” Second was “Research potential factors that may be affecting fuel availability and pricing volatility.” The least preferred strategy was “Promote financial incentives for alternative and renewable fuels to support growth and reduce costs during development and market expansion.” Nationally, only 6.8% chose that third strategy. ATRI’s 2022 Operational Costs of Trucking report found only 7% of respondents used some form of alternative fuel. The national results of the 18th annual survey were released Oct. 22 at the American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference & Exhibition in San Diego. While the driver shortage was no longer the top-ranking critical issue, it received a higher percentage of first-place votes at 12.2% than fuel prices. It was number one among motor carriers but was not in the top 10 among drivers. The American Trucking Associations says the industry currently is short 78,000 drivers, an amount that could reach 160,000 by 2031. A related issue, driver retention, fell five places from its number two ranking in 2021. However, motor carriers ranked it second behind the driver shortage, as they did the previous year. More than 4,200 responded to last year’s survey, the most ever. Last year, more than 2,500 responded. Professional truck drivers represented 47.2% of the respondents nationally, while motor carrier executives and personnel were 38.8% and other industry stakeholders were 14%. Those included Results among motor carrier personnel nationally were as follows: 1. Driver shortage 2. Driver retention 3. Fuel prices 4. CSA 5. Economy 6. Lawsuit abuse reform 7. Insurance cost/availability 8. Diesel technician shortage 9. Detention/delay at customer facilities 10. Truck parking Among commercial drivers, the results were as follows: 1. Truck parking 2. Fuel prices 3. Driver compensation 4. Detention/delay at customer facilities 5. Speed limiters 6. Economy 7. Hours-of-service rules 8. Electronic logging device mandate 9. Driver training standards 10. Transportation infrastructure/congestion/funding 14 • ARIZONA TRUCKING 2023 EDITION
industry suppliers, driver trainers and law enforcement. This year’s survey saw a significant increase in commercial drivers, who in 2021 represented 24.1% of respondents – about half of this year’s percentage. With more driver respondents, issues such as fuel prices and truck parking ranked higher than they have in the past. Many of the respondents were owner-operators, who had been especially hard hit by high diesel prices. Brewster was pleased to see more drivers taking part in the survey. “I believe where we can see the number of motor carrier personnel and the number of professional driver respondents more closely represented, I think that’s good,” she said. “They’re both big parts of the equation. Any time we see more than 50% of one group, I feel like we’re not getting representation from the other one. So, I was good with this mix.” Four issues appeared in the top 10 nationally among both motor carrier personnel and commercial drivers. Fuel prices were second among drivers and third among motor carriers, while the economy was fifth among motor carriers and sixth among drivers. Truck parking was ranked by drivers as their top concern, and its growing importance to the industry was reflected in its number 10 ranking by motor carriers. The other shared concern nationally was detention/ delay at customer facilities, which was fourth among drivers and ninth among motor carriers. Brewster noted that workforce issues continue to be top of mind for motor carrier personnel, with the driver shortage and driver retention at numbers one and two and the diesel technician shortage at number eight. That was similar to last year’s results, when the driver shortage and driver retention were the top two among motor carrier personnel while the diesel technician shortage was seventh. Neither of those three issues appeared in the drivers’ top 10. Ranking fourth in Arizona and fifth nationally was the economy, which made its first appearance in the top 10 nationally since 2020. Brewster said the economy’s high ranking was the result of a number of factors: inflation, fuel prices, and, as demonstrated by many of the write-in comments, difficulties in obtaining equipment and parts because of supply chain issues. The diesel technician shortage was fifth in Arizona but did not appear in the top 10 nationally, although it was number eight among motor carrier respondents. Ranking number six in Arizona and number eight nationally was the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability measurement system. CSA first appeared in 2010 as the number two issue, was number four in 2011, and was number one in 2012. It has never left the top 10 since. Automated truck technology ranked number seven in Arizona but did not appear in the top nationally. Arizonans’ eighth choice, driver distraction, also did not appear in the national top 10. Arizonans’ ninth choice, driver compensation, was the fourth-ranking issue across the country. The issue entered the top five nationally in 2019 and hasn’t left. It was ranked third by commercial drivers but was not in the top 10 among motor carriers. Company drivers ranked it first while owner-operators/independent contractors ranked it third. Truck parking was number 10 among Arizona respondents and number three nationally. It has has been a top five issue since 2015. Nationally, it was the top concern among truck drivers. Both company drivers and owner-operators/ independent contractors ranked it second, with company drivers ranking driver compensation first while owner-operators/independent contractors chose fuel prices. Brewster noted that truck parking reached number 10 among motor carrier personnel nationally after long being ranked high by drivers. “That, I think, is a reflection of the fact that they realize this is a big issue that’s impacting their ability to find and keep drivers,” she said. “We talk about wanting more women in the industry, but if we can’t provide safe parking, it’s not going to attract a lot of women into the industry.” The sixth ranking issue nationally was detention/delay at customer facilities, which entered the top 10 in 2019 and has remained there since. At number nine was speed limiters, which entered the top 10 for the first time after being ranked there by drivers for several years. Drivers this year ranked it fifth, and more than one out of five ranked it as their top concern. The ranking comes after the FMCSA earlier this year issued a notice of intent to move forward on a speed limiter rulemaking in 2023. Nationally, number 10 lawsuit abuse reform was in the top 10 for the third year in a row, dropping from fourth in 2021. Motor carrier respondents ranked it sixth after ranking it third in 2021. They ranked seventh a closely related issue, insurance cost/availability. That issue fell just outside of the overall top 10 at number 11 after ranking ninth last year. Falling out of the top 10 nationally were the diesel technician shortage, which last year was 10th, and transportation infrastructure/ congestion/funding, which ranked eighth last year. It was number 10 on the driver list but didn’t make the motor carrier list. Brewster said that result may be tied to the passage of the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in late 2021. “Maybe that is a reflection of the fact on the carrier side, they feel like, ‘Well, we now finally have a signed infrastructure law in place, and so now we’re going to finally start to address the issues,’” Brewster said. “And maybe on the driver side, it’s, ‘Well, we’re still sitting stuck in traffic congestion.’” 2023 EDITION ARIZONA TRUCKING • 15
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President Adis Danan and Vice President of Business Development Kemal Balihodžić are longtime friends and now colleagues. The pair, both in their mid-30s, emigrated to the United States from Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia– Herzegovina. “I’ve known Adis since we were 9 or 10” said Kemal. “We both come from humble backgrounds and hard-working families. We were always a bit ‘off ’ from the rest of the bunch in that we’ve had a lot of passion for changing our environment and making something special.” Currently, that ‘something special’ is JoyRide Logistics. When asked what three adjectives best describe his long-time friend, Kemal listed: honest, persistent, and highly invested. “Adis is known for his integrity and transparency, both in his personal and professional life. He believes that honesty is the foundation of trust, and that trust is essential to building strong relationships with customers, employees, and partners. He is always straightforward and upfront, even when it’s not the easiest thing to do,” Kemal said. “Adis is someone who doesn’t give up easily,” Kemal continued. “He is always looking for ways to improve and grow, and he is not afraid to take on new challenges or to tackle difficult problems. And Adis is deeply committed to the success of JoyRide Logistics, and he is willing to invest whatever it takes to make the company the best it can be. He takes a personal interest in the well-being and development of his employees and is always looking for ways to help them grow and succeed. I would add that Adis is also a good listener. He knows he doesn’t have all the answers, and he is always open to feedback and insights from others. He values the opinions and perspectives of his team members, customers, and partners.” JoyRide Logistics was recently awarded the “Most Valued Partner” at Amazon RelayCon 2022. This Q&A with Adis Danan explains why. Q: What’s the story behind the name JoyRide Logistics? Danan: “Since I came to the United States as an 18-year-old, I’ve been in trucking. My wife Vildana, who is also chairman of the board, and I started off as dispatchers and later as brokers for a small company in Michigan. When we moved to Arizona, I wanted to drive too, because I wanted to understand what it takes to be a truck driver before going crazy about the company itself. Vildana is an extremely dynamic and creative person. We were talking about how hard it was to find drivers who really enjoyed their work. Vildana just popped out, “JoyRide Logistics” — a trucking company that not only provides reliable logistics services but also prioritizes the happiness and well-being of its drivers. She envisioned a company where drivers felt appreciated and supported, and where they could take pride in their work. The name JoyRide Logistics reflects this vision. It’s a name that embodies the joy and satisfaction drivers and customers can experience when they work with our company.” Q: Describe your fleet. How many trucks and drivers? Where are most of your routes? Danan: “JoyRide Logistics has a fleet of 200 trucks and 400 trailers, all of which are operated by our company drivers. We do not work with owner-operators, as we believe that having a team of dedicated drivers who share our values and culture is essential to providing the best possible service to our customers. “Of our 400 trailers, approximately 50 are reefer trailers, while the rest are dry vans. Dry vans are our bread and butter, as they are versatile and can be used for a wide variety of shipments. Because we believe in long-term commitment and operational efficiency while focusing on safety and customer satisfaction, 95% of our routes are dedicated. “Our operations are primarily focused on regional and local work in and out of Arizona. We have terminals in California, Las Vegas, and Albuquerque, in addition to our headquarters in Phoenix. We do loads to and from El Paso and Utah too. Our 11-acre yard in Phoenix is our main hub. We have additional yards in Chandler and Las Vegas. “At JoyRide Logistics, we pride ourselves on our commitment to retaining drivers, investing in technology, and fostering a positive culture. Most of our fleet is 2021 or newer model equipment. Our Trailers are plated, food grade 2023 53’ high, cube, air-ride dry vans with swing doors to ensure maximum capacity and delivery on-time, every time. Equipped with ELD and GPS tracking, all drivers are solo, most with double endorsements.” Q: Describe what it means for JoyRide Logistics to be recognized with the “Most Valued Partner” award by Amazon. Danan: It truly means a lot! We’ve been great partners with Amazon over the last six years and continue to do more than 29,000 loads per year for them. Amazon RelayCon 2022 is the celebration of our partnership with Amazon and features content focused on doing business with them. Apart from receiving the plaque, Kemal and I were also speakers at the Member Spotlight: JoyRide Logistics, LLC Culture is Key The leadership at JoyRide Logistics is focused on its company culture BY DAVID MONTEITH CONTRIBUTING WRITER 2023 EDITION ARIZONA TRUCKING • 17
conference. We enjoyed sharing our experience and knowledge with all interested parties and more than 300 carriers out there. We’re honored to be recognized by Amazon and we’re even more proud of the work we do. In six years, we’ve never canceled a load. Q: You emphasize the diversity of your staff and drivers in your online materials. How has having a diverse staff contributed to the success of JoyRide Logistics? Danan: “Diversity is a core value at JoyRide Logistics, and we believe it has been a significant contributor to our success. “First and foremost, having a diverse team allows us to better understand and meet the needs of our customers. Our drivers come from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures, which helps us navigate different languages, customs, and business practices. This diversity also enables us to build stronger relationships with our customers, as they feel understood and valued by our team. By valuing and respecting each other’s differences, we have created a workplace where everyone feels welcome and included. This has led to higher levels of employee satisfaction and retention, which in turn has helped us to build a strong and dedicated team. More than 70% of our back-office staff is composed of high-value and hard-working women whom we cherish for their contributions to the company.” Q: What have been some of the most significant milestones or achievements in the history of JoyRide Logistics? Danan: Jumping from a one-trucker company to a fleet of 20 trucks. We only had three employees working 12-hour shifts to make it happen. And the Covid season was a strange but important milestone. We went all in, investing in trailers when most companies were withdrawing. It was a risk we were open to take because a crisis is also an opportunity. We managed to put our vision into motion and established an organizational system that fosters culture, hard work, and ethics. This helped us grow our back-office staff by 45 people within a year and a half, opening offices in Europe and Dubai to help support the operations. Q: What have been the most significant challenges for the company and how did you overcome them? Danan: One of the most significant challenges that JoyRide Logistics has faced is scaling the company. This has required us to navigate a range of complex issues, including managing different people, cultures, and management styles. To overcome these challenges, we have focused on building a strong and supportive organizational culture that emphasizes open communication, collaboration, and respect. We have also invested heavily in technology and training to ensure that our team members have the tools and resources they need to succeed in their roles. Another challenge is driver retention. We recognize that our drivers are the backbone of our business, and we are committed to creating a supportive and positive work environment that encourages them to stay with us long-term. To achieve this, we have implemented a range of programs and initiatives that focus on driver development, engagement, and well-being. Finally, as with any growing company, we have had to navigate changes in the market and shifts in customer demand. To overcome these challenges, we have remained agile and adaptable, continually looking for new opportunities to expand our services and improve our offerings. Overall, the key to overcoming these challenges has been our unwavering commitment to our core values of diversity, driver retention, and technology. By staying true to these values and focusing on building a strong and supportive culture, we have been able to build a successful and thriving company. Q: If another trucking company was considering joining the Arizona Trucking Association, what would you tell them about how being a member benefits JoyRide Logistics? Danan: Being a member of the Arizona Trucking Association (ATA) has been incredibly beneficial for JoyRide Logistics. As a member of the ATA, we have access to a range of resources and support that have been invaluable to our business. These include educational and training programs, networking events, and advocacy efforts that help us stay up to date on industry trends and regulations. The ATA also provides us with a powerful voice in shaping policy and legislation that affect our industry. By working together with other members and leveraging the strength of our collective voice, we can influence lawmakers and regulators in ways that benefit our business and the trucking industry. Finally, being a member of the ATA has allowed us to build strong relationships with other trucking companies and industry stakeholders. This has opened new opportunities for collaboration and growth, and has helped us to build a stronger, more resilient business. Q: What’s next for JoyRide Logistics? What are the company’s goals for the next five years? 10 years? Danan: Over the next five years, our focus will be on three key areas: investing in technology, expanding our operations to the Midwest region of the U.S., and giving back to the community. We are committed to staying at the forefront of industry innovation and adopting new tools and systems that can help us operate more efficiently and effectively. This may include investing in new software platforms, telematics, and other technologies that can help us better manage our fleet, track our shipments, and optimize our routes. We are looking to broaden our geographic reach and expand our operations into the U.S. Midwest. This will enable us to tap into new markets and to provide our existing customers with even more comprehensive service offerings. Finally, we are also committed to giving back to the community and making a positive impact on the world around us. This may involve partnering with local charities and organizations, volunteering our time and resources, and working to promote sustainability and social responsibility in everything we do. Getting to Know Adis Danan Q: Where were you born and raised? Adis: A small village in Bosnia called Oborci. I was six years old when the war ended. Q: What were your hobbies or favorite activities when you were a kid? Adis: Futbol/soccer Q: What do you miss most about home? Adis: Always family. 18 • ARIZONA TRUCKING 2023 EDITION
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2733 W Buckeye Rd · Phoenix Arizona 85009 · (602) 272-8910 Serving the Transportation Industry Since 1983
With 100 trucks and 130 employees including drivers and support staff, flatbed hauler White Mountain Trucking is doing well, and co-owner David Arbizu is loving his work. That wasn’t always the case, until a moment of clarity changed his perspective. The Laveen-based company operates in 11 states hauling mostly steel and other building materials. It started in 2012 when Arbizu’s brother-in-law, Steven Ray, invited him and Arbizu’s wife, Rebecca, to be partners. The company started with 12 trucks hauling primarily lumber products for a sawmill Ray was leasing. Steven and Rebecca had come from a trucking family. Their grandfather and father had both been drivers. Steven had grown up riding in his dad’s logging truck and had been driving since before he was an adult. Rebecca and her mother had owned a freight forwarding business. Arbizu did not grow up in trucking but had gotten involved in the business. He and Rebecca owned an LTL carrier, DR Transportation, where he was driving along with three others. In fact, when Arbizu had started his company in about 2000, Ray sold him his first truck, which he had been driving. Arbizu said his brother-in-law is “literally a visionary in business. He always has something new on the horizon. He is one of the smartest people I know. I wouldn’t be in trucking if he hadn’t got me into it.” Unfortunately, the sawmill lease was a bad deal, and Ray lost the mill. The fleet was cut to six trucks. They knew they had to “figure out this whole flatbed market pretty quick,” Arbizu explained. They did. The company began rebuilding with help from customer partners. The CMC steel manufacturer in particular saw White Mountain’s potential. In return, the company did whatever it took to service it. “Really, it’s the team over here that’s built us,” Arbizu said. “Honestly, I’m going to tell you the same thing I tell everybody else when people actually ask. I say, ‘You know, I could tell you what we did, but then you’d think we knew what we were doing. The truth is, God’s just been good to us.” Faith has been a big part of Arbizu’s trucking journey. Asked to elaborate, he said there have been times both he and his brother-in-law wanted to give up. He recalled a time when he was working six to seven days a week and at least 12 hours a day. One day while working in the shop – not his favorite aspect of the business – he basically told God he was done. “For me, it was, I really felt like Jesus was telling me, ‘Hey, you know, I hung on a cross for you. Can you turn a couple of wrenches for Me?’” he recalled. “So, when I was like, ‘OK, you know what? I’m working for the wrong person. I’ve been working for me, and if I do this for You, it changes it.’ All of a sudden, I’m happy in what I’m doing. All of a sudden, that’s when our business really started turning around. And like I said, I know Steven had those moments, too. When you give it over to God and you’re not doing it for yourself, and … you’re doing it for somebody besides you, it makes it worthwhile. “Because it is hard. When it’s really hard, you don’t want to do it. You’re like, if I’m doing this for me, this is harder than I want to work. I don’t want to work this hard. I don’t want to do this. This sucks. But when you’re doing it for somebody else, you’re like, ‘Oh, yeah, I can do this. It’s not that bad.’” Safety is a big focus at White Mountain Trucking. The company tries to do more than regulations require because it cares about its drivers and the motoring public. The load must be secured because there are no trailer walls holding it inside. “Every load is different when you flatbed,” Arbizu said. “Some loads are taller. Some loads are shorter. Some loads are this material. Some loads are that material. Some loads have to be tarped. Some loads don’t have to be tarped. It is a constant challenge, and it’s constantly growing and adapting. You’re learning something new all the time, and that is one thing that I do like about it is that it’s like Joy Came from Working for the Right Reasons David Arbizu, together with his family, on what business is like at White Mountain Trucking, Inc. BY STEVE BRAWNER CONTRIBUTING WRITER Member Spotlight: White Mountain Trucking, Inc. 2023 EDITION ARIZONA TRUCKING • 21
520-622-0419 | 6251 S. Wilmot Rd., Tucson, AZ 85756 HDS Safety Services has worked tirelessly since our founding to ensure that all transportation companies have access to the services they need to ensure DOT compliance and safety. We are committed to ensuring that you have all the tools you need. Drug and Alcohol Testing Driver Qualification and Pre-Employment Screening DOT Compliance and Safety Training Auditing Services including ELD Auditing These are just a few of the services we offer: HDSSafetyServices.com TucsonCDL.com HDS was founded by Doug Prall in 1989 which includes Digby Southwest, HDS Safety Service, Highway Diesel Services, and nine truck driving schools all across Arizona as well as in Texas and New Mexico. These nine schools send approximately 275 newly trained drivers out into a thriving industry each month, setting their lives, and often that of their families, on an upward curve. YumaCDL.com PhoenixTruckDrivingSchool.com
solving a puzzle that changes all the time.” Arbizu credits his team for the company’s success, including driver manager Mike Chavez and previous driver manager Mike Young; safety manager John Anunson, a former driver and former Department of Public Safety employee whom he called “the best safety guy in the state”; controller Heather Wallus, who he said keeps himself and Ray out of trouble; logistics manager Tony Root; and the dispatch team led by Kelly Thomas. “If these people were not here, we would not have made it this far,” he wrote in an email. “Their dedication and hard work and willingness to go above and beyond all the time blows me away daily.” White Mountain Trucking is very much a family affair. Wife Rebecca works in the office and also manages the couple’s LTL firm, which the couple is closing down. Their daughter, Elizabeth Wright, works in logistics, while another daughter, Kiren Arbizu, works in dispatch and son Zach is a driver and driver trainer. Ray’s son, Anthony, works in the shop. In fact, Arbizu trained him. Not all of Arbizu’s children are involved in the family business. A son is driving in Hawaii, and he and his family are happy there. Another son and daughter live in Colorado. Arbizu is happy for them and also for those who work at White Mountain Trucking. “I do like seeing them,” he said. “I’m glad this is a place that they want to work, but I always try to encourage them to do what it is that makes them happy. If this is what makes them happy, then yes, I’m glad they’re here. If they were miserable here, I would absolutely want them to be somewhere else.” The company emphasizes taking care of its drivers by making personal connections and getting them home on weekends. It tries to be competitive with wages and to offer advancement opportunities. Chavez was a driver himself, as were dispatchers. “Most of the people here who are in management have trucking experience,” Arbizu said. “They know what it’s like. They know what it’s like to not go home. It’s your birthday, and you’re not home. It’s your kid’s birthday, and you’re not home because you’re out on the road. Because it’s difficult. It’s a difficult lifestyle.” Arbizu would like to expand the company but doesn’t want to get too big. He’d like to create small hubs where the company already has a good customer base and then hire local people to run the lanes. That would enable the company to get drivers home more often and let it continue to treat people like individuals, not numbers. Ultimately, he said he wants to “See where God takes us. That’s pretty much it.” “If these people were not here, we would not have made it this far,” he wrote in an email. “Their dedication and hard work and willingness to go above and beyond all the time blows me away daily.” 2023 EDITION ARIZONA TRUCKING • 23
For at least two trucking companies featured in this edition of Arizona Trucking, making work enjoyable while providing excellent service is baked into the culture of the organization. This Q&A with Jess Miller, president of Diamond Trucking, offers insight into one of them. Diamond Trucking, a fuel hauling trucking company with a fleet of 65 power units, is run by brothers Jess and PJ Miller. The company was started by their parents, Dennis and Diann Miller a little more than 40 years ago. For those curious about the origin of the name — the family lived on Diamond Drive, and the company’s first truck was a Diamond Reo. So, Diamond Trucking was born. After acquiring Jonesco Trucking in 2017, Diamond Trucking expanded its services and geographic reach. It now transports petroleum, renewable fuels, and propane throughout Arizona, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Your parents started Diamond Trucking and now it’s run by you and your brother. How do your roles and responsibilities differ? Correct. Mom and Dad started Diamond Trucking in 1982 out of Ft. Collins, Colorado. For many years now their role has been the financial back bone. As long as PJ (vice president) and I (president) have been able to produce good financials, Mom and Dad spend their time cheering us on! We have certainly had times that have proven to be more than challenging and did not serve us well on the on the quarterly financials. When that happens, typically we know the cause and effect and have a solution to put in place. Then, PJ and I will dig our heels in and adjust Diamond’s path to correct any fiscal short fall, still receiving Mom and Dad’s cheers. Our roles really don’t differ at all. During our careers we have always worked side by side, and if you ask either one of us a question, you will receive the same answer from either one of us. You use the term “Diamond crew” in job descriptions when hiring. When you are interviewing new drivers or filling office jobs, what qualities help you know whether an applicant will be a good fit for the “Diamond crew?” “Crew,” “Team,” “Family,” or whatever word you want to use, at the end of the day, a person that accepts they are responsible for their actions good or bad, handles them humbly, and are committed to being better at the end of each day is where it is at. We don’t get hyper focused on extensive experience. We are willing to commit extra time to a youngster that is willing to learn and presents good human qualities. Hauling Gas and Having Fun Diamond Trucking’s leadership, Jess Miller and his brother PJ Miller, share insight into their history and the culture they’ve cultivated BY DAVID MONTEITH CONTRIBUTING WRITER Member Spotlight: Diamond Trucking, Inc. 24 • ARIZONA TRUCKING 2023 EDITION
Getting to know Jess and PJ Q: Where were you two raised? A: In 1986 we moved from Ft. Collins, Colorado—where most of the Miller Family was from—to the West Valley where we have been raised for the most of our lives. Q: What were your hobbies or favorite activities when you were kids? A: Activities consisted of a lot of football a little bit of wrestling, hunting, fishing. But most of all we spent much of our time working with Dad in the shop to help keep the trucks on the road. It was completely necessary to survive. We really enjoyed it most of the time, not knowing that we would acquire skills that would get us through many of our life challenges. Q: How old were you when you realized you’d be taking over the family business? A: I think we were very young. I would have been about 18 and PJ 20. Q: What are the pros and cons of working with family? A: Plenty of pros, easy to communicate with each other as we all seem to have the same vision. Cons we most likely bore significant others at holiday gatherings with business talk. “It just might not be worth it if you can’t have a little fun while you’re doing it.” —Jess Miller, Diamond Trucking When people read your slogan — “Passin’ Gas First Class” — what do you hope that tells them about your company? First of all, the message is that we have pride in our craft. Second is to let you know that we have a sense of humor. It just might not be worth it if you can’t have a little fun while you’re doing it. What have been some of the most significant milestones or achievements in 40- year history of Diamond Trucking? Survival is all that comes to mind. We never had outlandish goals or timelines, we just want to be good at what we do and be a solution for our employees and customer’s needs. Give an example of something you learned from watching your parents run the company. Trust. They’ve trusted PJ and I to carry on their legacy. We are currently learning to trust the next generation to continue the next. Is there any information about your fleet or drivers that isn’t on your website that would be helpful for others who aren’t familiar with your operation? If you like what you see, reach out to us, and have a conversation — we might just find the best in each of us. If another trucking company was considering joining the Arizona Trucking Association, what would you tell them about how being a member benefits Diamond Trucking? Diamond Trucking, along with every member of the ATA, has access to a wealth of information that can help a trucking business through a challenge. Not that the ATA will get them through the challenge, but it will be able to provide a good reference or a subject matter expert who is also a member. If you participate in many of the functions that the ATA provides, you will almost always come away from an event with purposeful content that can be applied in your own organization. What’s next for Diamond Trucking? What are the company’s goals for the next five years? 10 years? We really want to rally around our younger guys that will see Diamond Trucking through the next generation and carry Mom and Dad’s legacy. We also have a great bunch of guys that are nearing retirement in the next 5-15 years that have been instrumental in building the younger guys up for success. If you could make one improvement to the trucking industry that would benefit all truckers in Arizona, what would it be? The general motoring public seems to slip further and further away from the very apparent dangers that we all face when getting into a vehicle. As automakers have developed more technology to assist safe and skilled driving, it seems as if they have enabled many drivers not acquire the skills to operate a vehicle safely and considerately. I also understand there are commercial operators that need to be checked upon too, but there is an obvious lack of enforcement of the general motoring public. If we could manage a way to get this under control with a little good will and a whole lot of enforcement, I believe Arizona truckers would see a great benefit. 2023 EDITION ARIZONA TRUCKING • 25
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ATA 2022 TDC Winners First Place Winners (L-R) Ina Daily, Tankers - XPO Logistics Freight, Reynaldo Murrieta, 4-Axle - FedEx Freight, Chase Peterson, 3-Axle - Shamrock Foods Co (Rookie of the Year), Kelly Brown, Twins - FedEx Freight, Mike Alpine, 5-Axle Sleeper – ABF, David Coffel, Straight Truck -FedEx Express (High Course Score), Eric Ramsdell, Flatbed - Walmart Supply Chain, John M Housley, 5-Axel - Freeport Transportation Tony with Charlie Woodland’s family (Daughter Mattie in attendance, with wife Roni Woodland and Son Dakoda) 2023 EDITION ARIZONA TRUCKING • 27
1st Place Step Van Adrian Nunez, United Parcel Services (UPS) ATA 2022 TDC Winners Mike Alpine – Grand Champion Rick Lane and Tony Bradley - Rick was honored for his support of TDC and given the original duck he used 28 • ARIZONA TRUCKING 2023 EDITION
60 years Cummins Inc., 1/1/1962 Sanderson Truck & RV Center, 4/25/1962 W.W.Williams Co. LLC, 4/27/1962 55 years BJ Cecil Trucking, Inc., 2/17/1967 45 years Barnett’s Towing, LLC, 3/11/1977 40 years RWC Group, 1/1/1982 FedEx Corporation, 10/19/1982 FedEx Custom Critical, 10/19/1982 FedEx Express, 10/19/1982 FedEx Freight, 10/19/1982 35 years U-Haul International, 3/16/1987 Truck Renting & Leasing Association, 4/24/1987 Capitol Insurance Brokers, 8/28/1987 Interstate Wreck Rebuilders, 10/15/1987 30 years Pulice Construction, Inc., 11/18/1992 Duncan & Son Lines, Inc., 11/18/1992 25 years Daniel’s Moving & Storage, Inc., 5/28/1997 20 years Blue Ribbon Distributing, Inc., 2/18/2002 Environmental Response, Inc. (ERI), 4/8/2002 Walmart Supply Chain, 9/10/2002 Stage Call Corp., 9/12/2002 15 years United Petroleum Transports, 1/26/2007 Combined Transport, Inc., 2/21/2007 Groendyke Transport, Inc., 3/22/2007 Arizona Generator Technology, Inc., 5/1/2007 Sunstate Equipment Co., 5/30/2007 SFS Trucking, Inc., 6/7/2007 C.S. McCrossan, Inc., 6/13/2007 Asphalt Busters Inc., 6/21/2007 Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C., 6/22/2007 Bekins Moving Solutions, 6/27/2007 Associated General Contractors (AGC) AZ Chapter, 6/28/2007 Commercial Metals Company, 7/6/2007 CMF Leasing Co., 9/14/2007 FedEx Ground, 11/16/2007 Power Contracting, LLC, 12/18/2007 10 years Tri-State, 1/1/2012 The Fishel Company, 1/24/2012 ATG Transport, LLC, 3/28/2012 Continental Tire, 5/21/2012 Atech Logistics, Inc., 6/29/2012 OHK Transport, LLC, 7/30/2012 Great American Insurance Group, 8/30/2012 Dehorty Contracting and Management Services, LLC, 12/10/2012 5 Years Diamond Trucking Inc., 3/2/2017 Fisher Sand & Gravel, 3/3/2017 Speed Smart Freight Services Inc., 3/3/2017 Central Arizona Project, 4/26/2017 DriverTech LLC, 5/18/2017 Precision Components Inc., 6/12/2017 McKinney Trailer Rentals, 7/20/2017 Drivewyze Inc, 7/24/2017 Pressure Systems International, 8/2/2017 Western American Housing Corporation, 8/25/2017 Barney Trucking Inc., 9/18/2017 Value Truck of AZ, Inc., 10/16/2017 TuSimple, 11/21/2017 Arizona Professional Towing & Recovery Association, 12/4/2017 Minero Trucking, LLC, 12/27/2017 New Members Maximum Machinery Moving, 1/10/2022 Nikola Corporation, 1/20/2022 Rand McNally, 1/24/2022 U.S. Gain, 2/11/2022 PNC Financial Services, 2/11/2022 Circle K, 3/30/2022 One Distribution LLC, 6/3/2022 St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund, 6/17/2022 Accurate Cargo Delivery Service Systems, Inc., 7/8/2022 Nationwide Insurance, 7/15/2022 High Definition Vehicle Insurance, Inc. (HDVI), 7/26/2022 Muscular Moving Men LLC, 7/29/2022 Magnus Technologies, 8/5/2022 ProDrivers, 8/10/2022 DCARB, 8/31/2022 MBI Industrial Medicine, 9/6/2022 ISAAC Instruments, 9/14/2022 TRENCH-ADE, LLC, 9/19/2022 Updike Distribution Logistics, LLC, 10/20/2022 RIS/Assured Partners, 10/21/2022 Joe Morten & Son, Inc., 11/3/2022 Ozinga Renewable Energy Logistics, Inc., 11/8/2022 FBZ Inc., 11/9/2022 Below are ATA members celebrating a “membership milestone” in 2022. Listed are the company names and their join date. Please reach out and congratulate these members for their dedication to the transportation industry. 2022 MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES Xavier Ortega Chairman of the Board Tony Bradley President & CEO 2023 EDITION ARIZONA TRUCKING • 29
COVER STORY 30 • ARIZONA TRUCKING 2023 EDITION
Bill Ewing and the Winning Cruise of the Good Ship Hurley BY DAVID LEE CULLEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER From his starting stint behind the wheel in ‘68, Bill’s career had progressed along with Hurley’s growth. “I started working for Hurley driving at night,” Bill says. “I also had a job with a steel mill. I was married and planning to go to college. I kept with Hurley while in college and became full time there in 1969. When I was offered a job at Motorola, Fred Hurley convinced me to become dock foreman. From there, I worked everywhere except as a mechanic. “By ’74, I was operations manager,” he continues. “Then there was a parting of the ways with the general manager, and I was moved up to handle that role. From ’75 to ’97, I was general manager.” When Mrs. Hurley retired in 1987, Bill purchased the company, taking on the position of chairman and CEO. PHOTOGRAPHY BY BLAKE WILSON 2023 EDITION ARIZONA TRUCKING • 31
The skipper of the “Good Ship Hurley” has sailed into home port with flying colors, winding down a decades-long voyage of success and service. A veteran of the Arizona trucking industry for over 50 years, William R. “Bill” Ewing last summer wrapped up the operations of his Hurley Transportation Companies, a steady presence on Arizona highways and beyond for 70 years. Saluting Bill as he and his wife Becki embark on their next journeys, the Arizona Trucking Association (ATA) has presented him with its Lifetime Support Award. The honor recognizes Bill, currently an ATA director at large and chairman from 1987-1989, for his many years of dedicated service to the association, to Arizona trucking, and to the industry overall. “We saluted Bill with our Lifetime Support Award to recognize and thank him for his service to the industry,” says ATA President & CEO Tony Bradley. “Because he gives so much back, Bill has now received every honor we present, including our Pioneer award.” Bill’s years of deep involvement in trucking began back in 1968, when he took a driver position with Phoenix-based Hurley Transportation. Launched in 1952 by Fred Hurley initially to distribute the Arizona Republic and other newspapers across the state, over the years the company increased its newspaper distribution operations, added various LTL routes, and grew the business yet further by building a truckload service. “I was hired by Hurley as a part-time night driver,” says Bill Ewing. “I delivered The Arizona Republic on the Tower Plaza run.” His trucking journey would go full circle: “We [Hurley]) ended 70 years of service to The Arizona Republic on July 31st, 2022. Just before that, we closed out our Rockaway, N.J. facility. It was an excellent run and Hurley associates, new and old, should be proud of what we have all accomplished over the years.” Fred Hurley had worked for The Arizona Republic and, in 1952, he set up his business to handle their delivery runs from Phoenix to Flagstaff. “For the first three years, he was running to Phoenix,” says Bill. “In ’55, he got his first local routes. From there, he grew it until he was handling distribution for all of Phoenix and the rest of Arizona, adding other newspapers as well. He also started hauling paper rolls from the mills to the printing plants. In the ‘60s, Fred began hauling other products, including U.S. Mail and Sunbeam bread.” By 1972, the company had set up a local general-freight LTL operation in Phoenix. In 1974, Fred Hurley passed on and his wife took over as CEO. The carrier weathered deregulation in the early ‘80s and during that tumultuous time for trucking, Hurley didn’t stumble. Rather, it began running its LTL operation both interstate and statewide. While Bill led Hurley, its newspaper business continued to roll. “By 2003, we had also taken over distribution of Salt Lake City newspapers within Utah. Over the next 30 years, we provided distribution for many Gannett newspapers, working out of Ohio, South Carolina, and New Jersey.” The early ‘90s saw Hurley expand its LTL service throughout the state and opening a facility in Las Vegas as well as expanding contract truckload service to all over the “We thank Bill for his service to the industry and his service to trucking as a statesman of Arizona.” —Collin Stewart, president, Stewart Transport The former leadership team from Hurley Transportation following a reunion luncheon; from left to right: Bob Campbell, Chief Operating Officer; David Sly, co-owner; Bill Ewing, principal owner; and Dave Holland, operations and safety manager. PHOTO: Karen Rasmussen 32 • ARIZONA TRUCKING 2023 EDITION
ATA ENDORSED OWNER OPERATOR PROGRAM Major Medical • Occupational Accident • Physical Damage • Non Trucking Liability Transtar Insurance Brokers, Inc. Kenny Palmer | VP | 480 579 2410 | [email protected] Celebrating 60 Years in 2023! Transtar Insurance Brokers, Inc. is a highly regarded insurance broker, providing both property & casualty services, as well as employee benefits. Specializing in transportation and family owned since 1963, Transtar provides client focused insurance solutions for motor carriers of all sizes.
Barney Trucking SPECIALIZING IN DRY BULK HAULING Headquartered in Utah with locations in most western states: Beaver, UT • Cheyenne, WY Coolidge, AZ • Cricket Mountain, UT Delta, UT • Elko, NV • Globe, AZ Las Vegas, NV • Nephi, UT • Ogden, UT Phoenix, AZ • Safford, AZ • Salina, UT St. George, UT • Huntington, UT Salt Lake City, UT • Wendover, NV Celebrating 75 years ATA 2023 Fleet Safety Award Winner (800) 524-7930 | www.barneytrucking.com “Bill never let anything get him down and his hard work and willingness set a great standard for all of us to live by.” —Rich Bren, president, Transtar Insurance Brokers 34 • ARIZONA TRUCKING 2023 EDITION
Southwest. “At that point, we also created Hurley Leasing to provide trucks to others,” he notes. Also formed along the way were the Hurley Dedicated Services unit and the Hurley Consulting Group to consult with other newspapers on their distribution operations. By 1998, along with continued success in newspaper distribution, Hurley’s had become the largest LTL carrier in the state. Seeking greater profitability, Bill sold the LTL operation to another Arizona carrier to better focus on growing Hurley’s truckload business. By zeroing in on newspaper delivery and truckload services, profitability soared “significantly higher,” according to Bill. In an interview at the time with Transport Topics, he added that “bigger is not necessarily better; I’ve learned that at time or two.” Bill also revealed much of how he approaches business when he told that reporter that he “didn’t like where [LTL] was taking us and it just wasn’t fun anymore.” That comment reflects how he shies away from the word “I” in favor of the inclusive, team-oriented “We” or “Hurley” and it underscores his view that work and fun should not be mutually exclusive—for everyone’s benefit. Delivering newspapers is not for the faint of heart. As Bill puts it, “Newspapers are a perishable product, so our service level had to be top-notch, up to the minute.” In 2000, Bill opted to wrap up Hurley’s over-the-road operations-- except for its newspaper delivery contracts. “We kept our newspaper-related business going mainly for the benefit of our long-time employees,” he says. “Our desire was to continue to provide a good place of employment for them, knowing even back then that the newspaper Industry’s future would be limited, as it’s a declining industry.” But Bill may have underestimated newspapers’ staying power. “Newspapers spiraled down in the consolidation era. We lasted much longer than I thought we would back then. It worked out to everyone’s benefit. Our people had 22 more years of Hurley employment, we had 22 more years of ownership, and 22 years more of serving our community. We continued with The Arizona Republic right to the end. We started there and we ended there.” Bill is a champion of the work done by state trucking associations. “Hurley was involved with the Arizona Trucking Association its entire life, including lobbying for legislation,” he says. “Affecting legislative activity is always a challenge. Federal rules affect everyone, but each state operates in their own way.” For Karen Rasmussen, executive director of the Independent Carrier Safety Association, it was “a great privilege to present ATA’s Lifetime “Bill you’ve been to the brush, you’ve been up mountains, you’ve been down rivers. You’re a traveling man, but you’re the humblest person I’ve ever met. You’re caring, generous, kind-- and one of a kind.” —Bruce Mac Rae, VP governmental affairs western region, UPS 2023 EDITION ARIZONA TRUCKING • 35
IMPROVING SAFETY AND LOWERING RISK On topics as wide-ranging as predicting future crash involvement to safety technology cost-benefit analyses to obstructive sleep apnea, ATRI’s research provides a blueprint for managing risk and improving roadway safety. CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF ATRI This year ATRI celebrates 20 years of leadership in critical data and analysis to improve the trucking industry’s safety and productivity. From the truck stop to the executive suite, to the state house and Capitol Hill, ATRI’s reputation for providing objective industry analyses means data-driven decision making on the industry’s biggest issues. We rely on YOU to make our research successful. Help secure ATRI’s future for the next 20 years with a charitable contribution from you or your organization! Visit us today online at TruckingResearch.org to learn more about our research and commit to supporting ATRI through a charitable contribution. LEADING WITH DATA, NOT EMOTION ATRI’s research uses data and analyses to dissect the true impacts of policies and regulations across a range of critical topics including Hours-of-Service, autonomous vehicles, CSA, tolling, and nuclear verdicts. WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD ATRI has a long history of research focused on the issues and concerns of professional truck drivers. From involvement in over 40 national, state, and regional truck parking studies to quantifying the impacts of detention, ATRI’s analyses provide a key input to advancing the safety and productivity of the industry’s workforce. OPERATIONAL DATA YOU CAN COUNT ON Whether you’re looking to route your drivers around congestion or benchmark your costs against your peers in the industry, ATRI’s analyses combine real-world data with a deep understanding of industry operations. THE NATION’S TOP TRUCK BOTTLENECKS 2021 Since 2002, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has collected and processed truck GPS data in support of numerous U.S. DOT freight mobility initiatives. Using truck GPS data from over 1 million freight trucks, ATRI develops and monitors a series of key performance measures on the nation’s freight transportation system. Among many GPS analyses, ATRI converts its truck GPS dataset into an ongoing truck bottleneck analysis that is used to quantify the impact of traffic congestion on truck-borne freight at over 300 specific locations. While other datasets may identify congested corridors, no dataset available today specifically identifies granular chokepoints in the nation’s truck freight transportation system. ATRI’s annual Top Truck Bottleneck Analysis uses a full year of truck GPS data to calculate the top chokepoints. However, 2020 was by all definitions a different year with pandemic-related impacts intersecting with traffic patterns. In a March 2020 analysis using its truck GPS dataset, ATRI found average truck speeds at some of the worst truck bottlenecks improve by 100% or more as car drivers sheltered in place and trucks kept moving to deliver essential goods. In a separate analysis in April 2020, ATRI found state-level truck activity increased in early February as panic-buying drove consumer demand, followed by a decrease in truck activity as more businesses were closed. However, by April and into May, ATRI’s Truck Activity Index began to improve across the states analyzed, signaling a return to pre-pandemic freight demand. An additional impact on traffic congestion in 2020 was the number of roadway construction projects that were able to commence and/ or advance at a faster pace due to fewer vehicles on the road during the pandemic. Once traffic levels increased in the second half of 2020, those construction projects became even more congested. As such, this year’s Top Truck Bottleneck list reflects a rise in ranking in a number of locations impacted by roadway construction. CA WA TX GA TN PA NY CT 2021 TOP TRUCK BOTTLENECKS • BY THE NUMBERS 33.9% year-over-year Texas.................. 12 California............. 8 Washington......... 8 Connecticut......... 7 Georgia................ 7 Pennsylvania....... 7 New York.............. 6 Tennessee ........... 6 STATES WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF TOP 100 BOTTLENECKS: For more information on ATRI’s Top Truck Bottleneck analysis, including a detailed description of the methodology, visit www.TruckingResearch.org. TOP 100 BOTTLENECKS WITH AVERAGE TRUCK SPEEDS <45 MPH: NUMBER OF STATES WITH AT LEAST ONE 25% TOP 100 BOTTLENECK: 29 AVERAGE PEAK HOUR TRUCK SPEED: 43.0 mph San Bernardino, CA I-10 at I-15 #10 Houston, TX I-45 at I-69/US 59 #5 Chicago, IL I-290 at I-90/I-94 #6 St. Louis, MO I-64/I-55 at I-44 #8 Fort Lee, NJ 1-95 at SR 4 #1 Rye, NY 1-95 at I-287 #9 Cincinnati, OH I-71 at I-75 #2 Chattanooga, TN I-75 at I-24 #7 Atlanta, GA I-285 at I-85 (North) #3 Atlanta, GA I-20 at I-285 (West) #4 up ANALYSIS
Support Award to Bill. “Hurley Transportation is synonymous with ATA and Arizona Trucking,” she says. “For 70 years, Hurley was the pillar of the Arizona trucking community, with Bill running Hurley for 35 of its 70 years.” Karen, who was ATA’s president from 2001- 2012 and worked with Bill for many years on association matters, says that “For more years than most of us can remember, Bill and his wife Becki served on our conference planning committee and Becki helped staff the conference over the entire time I ran the association. “Bill was a member of our Building Committee and helped raise funds to construct our new headquarters,” she continues. “He and Hurley also made significant financial donations to the building fund. And the Ewings’ lovely home was the site of the ATA Christmas party for at least a dozen years, maybe more.” Karen notes that Bill’s many contributions to the work ATA performs for its members include being “in many ways responsible for the new headquarters that supports the association’s growth, and he was the first person to step up to help launch the ‘Share the Road’ campaign here in Arizona. He often took part in the annual ‘Call on Washington’ to lobby for trucking’s legislative interests.” Summing up Bill’s leadership style, Karen advises that “he is a very inclusive person. He’s always supportive of others. He’s very persuasive in a way that excites people to get involved with the association. And he’s a lot of fun. For one thing, he knows how to wear a costume!” Karen adds that since the sale of Hurley’s freight operations,” Bill remains involved in the ATA and the wider trucking community. That is, when he isn’t traveling to some exotic locale to scuba dive, cruise, or motorcycle, to name just a few of his many interests.” When this traveling man was first hired by Hurley, an executive there welcomed him “onboard the Good Ship Hurley.” It’s safe to say that gentleman would be immensely proud today to see how far and how well it was sailed for so long by Bill Ewing. “Bill is a great leader who gave back to our industry throughout the years in an incredible way. Many of us hold him in the highest esteem for all that he has contributed to us.” —George Cravens, president, Utility Trailer Sales “I feel so fortunate to know Bill and Becki. Your support of the association is unfathomable and it’s historic.” —Larry Woolson, president, Roehl Transport 2023 EDITION ARIZONA TRUCKING • 37
The Arizona Safety Professional of the Year first spent 30 years as a driver, and he says those experiences help him build a safety culture now. “When you can relate to your team members, be it a freight handler and/ or a driver, it’s huge,” said Brian Boyer, field safety advisor for FedEx Freight, Phoenix District. “They have a respect for what you bring to the table when you do that.” Boyer was a driver for various companies from 1987 through 2017. He drove flatbeds, reefers, doubles, and triples, eventually becoming a supervisor and then a driver development instructor. In all those years, he had only one accident when he struck a tree limb with the corner of his trailer. The key, he said was “focus on the task at hand.” Boyer was “very humbled” to receive the Safety Professional of the Year award in October at the annual Arizona Trucking Association meeting in Sedona. “I was floored to have that,” he said. “It is truly, truly something I value. It’s awesome to have your work recognized from the industry.” He will have worked in his current position for five years in August and will have 23 years of experience total with FedEx in September. He wants each team member – from the onboarding freight handler to the highest levels of leadership – to have a voice and to buy in to the company’s safety culture. When dealing with his drivers, he seeks to be available, accessible, and authentic. If he knows something, he’ll say so, and if he doesn’t know the answer yet, he’ll get back to them. He wants post-accident conversations to be positive because he respects drivers and empathizes with their challenges. “We ask them to put tractor-trailer equipment in places that people probably wouldn’t drive vehicles,” he said. “So, I understand what they’re going through, I want to try to have a positive approach, and I always want to make it educational.” The Safety Professional of the Year started his adult life in an unsafe occupation – as an Army combat medic attached to an infantry unit in West Germany at the height of the Cold War. He and his unit would mirror the activities of Soviet forces across the border in East Germany. The Sacramento native next went to work at a building materials company, earned his CDL, and spent nine years driving for Montgomery Ward until the retailer failed. After that, he worked for stable, secure companies: Sysco Foods, DLS, American Freightways and then FedEx Freight. He still has his CDL, and he still misses driving. “It’s like they say, I guess you get comfortable in your skin when you’re behind the wheel,” he said. “To this day, when I think about going down the road at night, you’re pulling a set of triples and you can see all the lights lined up behind you, that’s pretty special. It is. When I think about driving, that’s the scenario that I go back to. It’s really awesome to have the responsibility to carry that stuff down the road and be responsible for the people that are around you.” He said that while trucking companies compete for business, they also can work together to create a safer industry. He has been active in the Truck Driving Championships, the North American Transportation Management Institute, and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. “I feel that we as an industry have lots to share with one another. Each company and safety professional works to build, drive and sustain a safety culture,” he said. Outside of trucking, Boyer said he enjoys playing golf, smoking brisket, ribs and chicken, and spending time with his family and friends. He acknowledged that sometimes his preoccupation with safety in his professional life bleeds into his personal life and marriage. “I am always talking to people about following distance, excessive speed and focusing on the task at hand,” he said. “And yes, it annoys her.” ATA's SAFETY PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR Focusing on the Task at Hand ATA’s Safety Professional of the Year, Brian Boyer of FedEx Freight, was a driver first. BY STEVE BRAWNER CONTRIBUTING WRITER 38 • ARIZONA TRUCKING 2023 EDITION
The Arizona Trucking Association’s Driver of the Year is a female hazmat driver who came to the profession at age 50 when it became her fourth career. Lisa Augustyn, a professional driver for Phoenix-based Minero Trucking, received the award at ATA’s ceremony in October. The award recognizes a career driver who exemplifies outstanding standards of conduct and ability and who has had no DOTrecordable accidents or moving violations within the past three years. ATA's DRIVER OF THE YEAR From the Air Force to Hauling Hazmat Minero Trucking’s Lisa Augustyn named ATA’s Driver of the Year BY STEVE BRAWNER CONTRIBUTING WRITER “She literally takes so much pride in showing up every single day to do the best job she possibly can, and she literally delivers that every time. You know, what they do is not easy, and she makes it look easy because of her commitment to the job.” —Xavier Ortega, president & CEO, Minero Trucking, LLC 2021 Driver of the year award Lisa Augustyn (Minero Trucking, LLC) with Nick Patterson (Stewart Transport, Inc), Amanda Gallegos (Stewart Transport, Inc.), Bill Ewing (Stewart Transport, Inc.), Jason Moore (Stewart Transportation, Inc), Collin Stewart (Stewart Transport, Inc.), ATA Chairman Xavier Ortega, Brien Thomas (Minero Trucking, LLC) Mark Castaneda (Minero Trucking, LLC) and Jim Talley (Minero Trucking, LLC). 2023 EDITION ARIZONA TRUCKING • 39
The Peoria resident hauls emulsion, a hazardous oxidizer used for detonations, from near Milan, New Mexico, to the Pinto Valley Mine, a large copper mine in Miami, Arizona. She’s been hauling for Minero Trucking about five years and began hauling that particular product in June. She previously hauled ammonium nitrate from Benson to the Safford Mine in Graham County. “She literally takes so much pride in showing up every single day to do the best job she possibly can, and she literally delivers that every time,” said Xavier Ortega, CEO of Minero Trucking and ATA board chairman, in an ATA video. “You know, what they do is not easy, and she makes it look easy because of her commitment to the job.” Augustyn said she enjoys hauling this kind of material. She likes the process of physically loading and offloading it. The oxidizer is flammable but not explosive – unless it gets mixed with diesel. “I know the danger of it, but it doesn’t keep me from wanting to do it,” she said. “I guess it keeps me more on top and more aware of my driving and my situations that I am driving hazmat than just going in and kind of getting complacent.” Augustyn receives a variety of reactions from other drivers when they realize a female is driving a hazardous material truck. Some are proud to see her in that position. Others not so much. She and fellow female drivers often greet each other at fueling stations and talk about their loads. “I don’t feel any different being a female doing this,” she said. “Do I get treated a little bit different? Sometimes.” Augustyn has been driving professionally for seven years, starting at age 50 when she began driving dump trucks in construction. Originally from Chicago, she spent eight years in the Air Force, rising to the rank of senior airman. She was initially stationed at Luke Air Force Base and then transferred to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. She was an aerospace ground equipment mechanic for a mobile tactical aerospace command unit and also drove fuel trucks. Her next career was working for Lifetouch, a school and sports photography company, where she started by taking photos and then moved to being a photo manager responsible for training and equipment. She then owned a country dance bar in Phoenix for about 10 years. The venture was successful, but she watched the bar business begin to change. Insurance was becoming an increasing problem, and she noticed that fewer people were socializing in person in the age of social media. She knew she needed to make a change. All four of her brothers were in trucking, including an owner-operator in Las Vegas whom she consulted. Many close friends were drivers. “I knew I was going to be getting out of the bar business, which I love, but I wanted something, again, outdoors, independent, and that I could still utilize good work ethic, customer service,” she said. Augustyn is a latecomer to the profession and is working in her fourth career following her military service, her work at Lifetouch and her country dance bar. She didn’t start driving until she was 50. Now, she has no plans to do anything else. “There’s no reason for me to stop,” she said. “I can still move, I can still see, so, hey, we’re good.” 40 • ARIZONA TRUCKING 2023 EDITION
Thank You 2022 Annual Meeting & Carrier Conference Sponsors KEY SPONSOR (10,000.00) CRYSTAL SPONSOR (7,500.00 - 8,000.00) DIAMOND SPONSOR (5,000.00) PLATINUM SPONSOR - 3,500.00 Continental Tire Empire Truck & Trailer FedEx Corporation HDS Inc. MBI Industrial Medicine Pressure Systems International TEC Equipment / Wabash Utility Trailer Sales Company of Arizona Vanguard Truck Center W.W. Williams Co. LLC. GOLF TOURNAMENT SPONSOR (5,000.00) GOLD SPONSOR- 2,500.00 Allison Transmission Bennett Oil - American Transport Desert Trailer Systems, Inc. DISA Global Solutions Duncan & Son Lines, Inc. Great American Insurance Group J & L Transportation, Inc. Meritor, Inc. PNC Financial Services Thermo King West, Inc. U-Haul International SILVER SPONSOR - 1,500.00 Barney Trucking Inc. Freeport Transportation, Inc. ISAAC Instruments Minero Trucking, LLC Mountain West Insurance & Financial Services, LLC Stewart Transport, Inc. Wallwork Financial GENERAL SPONSOR - 500.00 Matthews Publishing Group, LLC Barnett's Towing, LLC Berger DOT & Safety Compliance BRONZE SPONSOR - 1,000.00 AT&T Mobility Services LLC (FirstNet Solutions) AZPRO DCARB USA Hub Int'l Transportation Insurance Svcs, Inc. Netradyne, Inc. Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, Inc. OTHER EVENT SPONSORSHIPS GOLF PHOTOS - 1,000.00 Transtar Insurance Brokers, Inc. SPOUSE EVENT SPONSOR - 100.00 A. J. Gallagher 2023 EDITION ARIZONA TRUCKING • 41
TRANSPORTATION ATTORNEYS Serving the Arizona Trucking Industry for Over 40 Years • Commercial Litigation Related to Transportation Industry • Regulatory, DOT Audits, Tax Hearings • Freight Claims • Truck Accident, Personal Injury and Insurance Defense • Corporate, Partnership and Business Transactions Gary T. Doyle 2929 N 44th St., Suite 120 • Phoenix, AZ 85018 602.952.8500 • [email protected] www.aztruckinglaw.com BDPB BAUMANN, DOYLE, PAYTAS & BERNSTEIN, P.L.L.C. ATA 2022 LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE Trooper Feigley has been a sworn member of the Arizona Department of Public Safety since March of 2004. He is currently assigned to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Task Force, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Northern District, and works in Yavapai County. Trooper Feigley, as a member of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Task Force, works diligently to ensure drivers and vehicles from the commercial motor vehicle industry operate on Arizona’s roadways in a safe manner. His extensive knowledge of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules and regulations allows him to educate drivers about safe driving practices while conducting roadside inspections. In the previous year, Trooper Feigley conducted 386 commercial motor vehicle inspections resulting in the detection of 1,472 commercial vehicle violations. Those violations placed 91 unsafe commercial vehicle drivers and 94 unsafe commercial vehicles out of service. Trooper Feigley made three arrests for criminal violations and cited 46 drivers for seat belt restraint violations. Additionally, Trooper Feigley routinely coaches new inspectors through their required inspection training and CVSA certification process. In April of 2022, Trooper Feigley placed first overall in a field of 46 inspectors competing for the Arizona State Inspectors Championship. This win earned him the right to represent Arizona and compete against his peers in the CVSA’s North American Inspectors Championship held in Indianapolis, Indiana. Trooper Feigley showcased his knowledge and ability during the Inspectors Championship competitions by finishing third in the HazMat inspections event and finishing sixth overall in all events combined. Trooper Feigley has a strong work ethic and strives to be the best state trooper he can be. Trooper Feigley is an asset to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Task Force and State of Arizona. Trooper Feigley exemplifies the American Trucking Association’s pillars of service (Advocate, Advise, Connect and Educate) and the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s motto of “Courteous Vigilance” while conducting professional FMCSA DOT roadside inspections. It is with great pleasure that Trooper Jeremy Feigley is recognized as the Arizona Trucking Association’s “Trooper of the Year.” 2022 Trooper of the Year: Trooper Jeremy Feigley BY XAVIER ORTEGA 42 • ARIZONA TRUCKING 2023 EDITION
GRAPHICS FOR CABS AND TRAILERS Competitive Pricing Nationwide Installation Available azprogroup.com 866.503.8345 [email protected] ATA 2022 LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE Congratulations to Eric Ramsdell, Walmart Transportation, Buckeye, AZ for winning 1st place in the Flatbed Division at the 2022 National Truck Driving and Step Van Competition (NTDC) hosted by the American Trucking Associations in Indianapolis, IN. This is Eric’s second NTDC title. In 2015, Ramsdell won a national title in the 5-Axle Division. This year’s NTDC featured 408 competitors from all around the country. Together, these champions of safety have driven nearly 730 million combined accident-free miles. In their respective classes, drivers tested their expertise in the driving skills they use daily. The competition course challenged their knowledge of safety, equipment, and the industry. The skills course tested drivers’ ability to judge distances, maneuver tight spaces, reverse, and position their vehicle exactly over scales before barriers or around curves. National Champion Eric Ramsdell, Walmart Transportation BY TONY BRADLEY You may view Arizona Trucking — complete with sound effects — online with a week of distribution. Another awesome feature of this great new technology is that websites in the digital magazine are “live.” So, viewers may click on a site featuring in an ad and be transported directly to an advertiser’s website. Check it out: www.aztrucking.com This is just one more service that we’re happy to offer on behalf of our AZT advertisers. Bill Ewing and the Winning Cruise of the Good Ship Hurley BY DAVID LEE CULLEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER From his starting stint behind the wheel in ‘68, Bill’s career had progressed along with Hurley’s growth. “I started working for Hurley driving at night,” Bill says. “I also had a job with a steel mill. I was married and planning to go to college. I kept with Hurley while in college and became full time there in 1969. When I was offered a job at Motorola, Fred Hurley convinced me to become dock foreman. From there, I worked everywhere except as a mechanic. “By ’74, I was operations manager,” he continues. “Then there was a parting of the ways with the general manager, and I was moved up to handle that role. From ’75 to ’97, I was general manager.” When Mrs. Hurley retired in 1987, Bill purchased the company, taking on the position of chairman and CEO. PHOTOGRAPHY BY BLAKE WILSON 30 • ARIZONA TRUCKING 2023 EDITION 2023 EDITION ARIZONA TRUCKING • 31 DIGITAL MAGAZINE NOW AVAILABLE 2023 EDITION ARIZONA TRUCKING • 43
ATA 2022 LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 2022 Industry Support Award Winners - Chairman Xavier Ortega, Larry Woolson (Roehl Transportation), Shon Rasmussen (RWC Group), Michael Jimenez ( J& L Transportation, Inc), Doug Prall (HDS, Inc), Clint Mills (Southwest Truck Driver Training), Matt Planeta (Heffernan Insurance Brokers), Tommy Lyons (Inland Kenworth, Inc.),Rich Bren (Transtar Insurance Brokers, Inc.), Dave Williams (Knight Transportation, Inc.), Tony Bradley ATA President & CEO 19th Hole Winners - Team That Had the Most Fun! Matt Planeta (Heffernan Insurance Brokers), Mike Kunde (Doudell Trucking Co.), Bob Zimmerman (Heffernan Insurance Brokers) Lifetime Support Award Bill Ewing (Hurley Transportation) with Karen Rasmussen (Independent Carrier Safety Association) Pioneer Award Rick Duncan (Duncan & Son Lines, Inc.) with Shon Rasmussen (RWC Group) and Tony Bradley (ATA President & CEO) Speaker Lee McPheters - Professor of Economics, ASU Cameron Leipart, ATA Golf Chairman presents 1st Place to Ross Bradder (EROAD, Inc), Sean Williams (Southwest Truck Driver Training, Inc.), Not in picture -Ryan Donahue (Marsh & McLennan Agency), Thadeus Cramer (Southwest Truck Driver Training, Inc.) Speaker Bruce Vasbinder “The Future of EVs and Trucking” Speaker Rebecca Brewster “Update on the latest research from ATRI” Speaker Bob Costello - Trucking & the Economy: 2022 Economic Update Keynote speaker Kari Lake, Republican Nominee for Arizona Governor Speaker Doug Marcello “Escalating Cost of Abusive Lawsuit” Speaker Jack Van Steenburg, Executive Director and Chief Safety Officer FMCSA 44 • ARIZONA TRUCKING 2023 EDITION
ATA 2021 FLEET SAFETY AWARDS 1st Place Winner: (1 to 500,000 miles) Precision Heavy Haul, Inc. Mike Poppe, President 1st Place Winner: (1 to 3-million-miles) ATG Transport, LLC Ray Mogensen, CEO R 1st Place Winner: (3 to 7 million miles) Barney Trucking, Inc. Glen Barney, owner and founder Chairman’s Award for Safety and Community Service: Precision Heavy Haul, Inc. Chairman’s Award: Precision Heavy Haul, Inc. with Collin Stewart (Stewart Transport, Inc.), Chairman Xavier Ortega, Michael Poppe (Precision Heavy Haul, Inc.), Rich Bren (Transtar Insurance Brokers, Inc.), Mark Doughty (PrePass Safety Alliance) Fleet Safety Winner: ATG Transport, LLC 1,000,001 to 3,000,000 million miles with Collin Stewart (Stewart Transport, Inc.), Chairman Xavier Ortega, Ray Mogensen (ATG Transport, LLC), Rich Bren (Transtar Insurance Brokers, Inc.), Mark Doughty (PrePass Safety Alliance) Fleet Safety Winner: Barney Trucking, Inc 3,000,001 to 7,000,000 million miles with Collin Stewart (Stewart Transport, Inc.), Chairman Xavier Ortega, Craig Payne (Barney Trucking Inc.), Greg Oliver (Barney Trucking Inc.), Rich Bren (Transtar Insurance Brokers, Inc.), Mark Doughty (PrePass Safety Alliance) Fleet Safety Winner: Precision Heavy Haul, Inc. 1 to 500,000 million miles with Collin Stewart (Stewart Transport, Inc.), Chairman Xavier Ortega, Michael Poppe (Precision Heavy Haul, Inc.), Rich Bren (Transtar Insurance Brokers, Inc.), Mark Doughty (PrePass Safety Alliance) Our safety awards honor our dedicated professional drivers, our safest fleets, and the individuals—supervisors, managers, maintenance technicians and drivers—all of whom play a role in the continuous improvement of highway safety. These safety awards are some of the most important recognitions the Arizona Trucking Association and the Arizona Trucking Association Foundation award during each year. The ATA’s Chairman’s Award for Safety and Community Service is give to the Fleet with the lowest accident frequency rate and additionally, for its contributions to the furtherance of safety to the State of Arizona. We know that we cannot truly impact truck safety without the dedication of our members who instill a culture of safety in their businesses. Like those of you here today, these members know that operating safely is paramount to their success. They know that their drivers aren’t just carrying loads but are also carrying an awesome responsibility—the safety of all those with whom we share the highway. 2023 EDITION ARIZONA TRUCKING • 45
ATA EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS 2022 Carrier Conference Golf Tournament - Sedona AZ: Troy Fulmer (Meritor, Inc.), John Hinesley (Meritor, Inc.), Cody Arnold (McLeod Software), Elliot Self (Great American Insurance Group) Jacob Fry (Fresh Freight LLC) at Roadcheck with State Troopers Clay Shoot 3rd Place - Ian Martin (J&L Transportation, Inc.), awarded by Tony Bradley, ATA President Clay Shoot 2nd Place - Amhir Garcia, (Velocity Vehicle Group) awarded by Tony Bradley, ATA President Clay Shoot 1st Place - Michael Jimenez (J&L Transportation, Inc.) awarded by Tony Bradley, ATA President Michael Jimenez enjoying bragging rights over his son Michael E. Jimenez! Michael E. Jimenez (J&L Transportation, Inc.), Michael Jimenez (J&L Transportation, Inc.) and Tony Bradley, ATA President. 46 • ARIZONA TRUCKING 2023 EDITION
ATA EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS PAC Golf 2nd Place - Transtar Insurance Brokers Kenny Palmer with Tony Bradley Roadside Inspection at Roadcheck 4X4 Freedom Run - Crown King HDS Inc. and State Troopers support Be Safe Saturday for Share the Road Inspection in process at Roadcheck 4 x 4 Freedom Run - Justin Clarke (F | Staff) buying lunch on Stewart Transport's credit card. "Thank you, Collin! No receipts were kept for this purchase. Accounting will not like this." PAC Golf 3rd Place - F | Staff Team John Backowski, Justin Clarke,Tony Bradley, Ronnie Wood, Evan Oneal 2023 EDITION ARIZONA TRUCKING • 47
ATA EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS PAC Golf 1st Place - Tony Bradley with Transtar Insurance Brokers Team Transtar Insurance Brokers Team with Golf Pro Morgan Reimler PAC Golf (L-R) Xavier Ortega, Collin Stewart, Jon Snider, Nick Patterson, & Golf Pro Morgan Reimler Most Fun Award David Ginsberg (HDS Inc.) awarded by Tony Bradley, ATA President 48 • ARIZONA TRUCKING 2023 EDITION
Blaine D’Ambrosio Cate McBride Matthew Goble Conor McBride Alexis Guillot Briana Jamieson Richard Johnson Jessa Nelson Jacob Thomas Allison Walker The Arizona Trucking Association Foundation Board of Directors is happy to announce the winners of the 2021 scholarship awards: Blaine D’Ambrosio Son of Kyndal D’Ambrosio, Sunland, Inc. Matthew Goble Son of Todd Goble, DMC Insurance, Inc. Alexis Guillot Daughter of Timothy Guillot, Swift Transportation Co. of AZ, LLC Briana Jamieson Daughter of Jay Jamieson, Empire Southwest Richard Johnson Son of Richard Johnson, Swift Transportation Co. of AZ, LLC Cate McBride Daughter of Caren McBride, Sunstate Equipment Co. Conor McBride Son of Caren McBride, Sunstate Equipment Co. Jessa Nelson Daughter of Jodi Nelson, Roehl Transport, Inc. Jacob Thomas Son of Brien Thomas, Stewart Transport, Inc. Allison Walker Daughter of Steven Walker, Roehl Transport, Inc. The ATA Foundation awarded a total of $15,000 in scholarships this year to employees of ATA member companies or their dependent children. If you or a family member will be attending or getting ready to attend college or trade school in the fall 2023 we urge you to apply. The application for 2023 will be posted March 1, 2023. For more information about the ATA Foundation or to make a donation please visit our website at: www.arizonatrucking.com The Arizona Trucking Association Foundation (formerly Arizona Transportation Education Foundation) was founded as a 501(c)(3) non-profit to operate exclusively for charitable, educational, research, environmental and/or scientific purposes. Donations to ATEF are tax-deductible. 2022 Scholarship Winners
Attorney Baumann, Doyle, Paytas & Bernstein PLLC Gary Doyle 2929 N. 44th St. Phoenix AZ 85018 602-952-8500 www.aztruckinglaw.com Jackson Lewis P.C. Greg Coulter 2111 E. Highland Avenue. Suite B 250 Phoenix AZ 85016 602-714-7070 www.jacksonlewis.com Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C. Phillip Stanfield 40 N. Central Ave. Phoenix AZ 85004 602-263-1745 www.jshfirm.com Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP Brian Del Gatto 2720 E. Camelback Rd. Phoenix AZ 85106 480-562-3660 www.wilsonelser.com Auto Hauler A-Plus Auto Shippers Stony Stonebreaker 13133 W. Orchid Ln. El Mirage AZ 85335 623-536-6300 www.aplusautotransport.com Champion Auto Carriers, Inc. Tony Cromwell 8909 Yosemite St. Henderson CO 80640 303-227-0226 www.championautocarriers.com Gila Express Shane Andrus P.O. Box 317 Waddell AZ 85355 602-763-1841 Building/Construction Ames Construction Todd Marriage 1801 S 51st Ave Phoenix AZ 85043 602-463-8174 www.amesconstruction.com Asphalt Busters Inc. Cathy Pennington 801 S. 71st Ave. Phoenix AZ 85043 623-936-8800 asphaltbusters.com Brundage-Bone Concrete Pumping, Inc. Jeremy Kopp 1025 S. 48th St. Tempe AZ 85281 602-558-2422 www.brundagebone.com Cactus Transport, Inc. Jason Hoffman 8211 W. Sherman St. Tolleson AZ 85353 623-907-2800 www.cactusasphalt.com Cemex Crystal Potter 3640 S. 19th Ave. Phoenix AZ 85009 602-262-1206 www.cemexusa.com Dehorty Contracting and Management Services, LLC Jesse Dehorty 8715 N. 78th Ave. Peoria AZ 85345 602-272-4977 www.dehortycontracting.com Ewing Irrigation Products, Inc. Douglas York 3441 E. Harbour Dr. Phoenix AZ 85034 602-437-9530 www.ewingirrigation.com FNF Construction, Inc. Deb Germann 115 S. 48th St. Tempe AZ 85281 602-619-0808 www.fnfinc.com Kimbrell Electric, Inc. John Kimbrell 7593 N. 73rd Drive Glendale AZ 85303 623-463-0298 https://kimbrellelectricaz.com/ Power Contracting, LLC David Willkomm 2640 W. Lone Cactus Dr. Phoenix AZ 85027 602-513-1689 www.powerllc.com Pulice Construction, Inc. Rafael Hurtado 8660 E. Hartford Dr., Ste. 305 Scottsdale AZ 85255 713-205-5957 www.pulice.com Rummel Construction, Inc. Jamie Haines 7520 E. Adobe Dr. Scottsdale AZ 85255 602-695-0927 www.rummelconstruction.com Sundt Construction Geri James 2905 S. 18th Place Phoenix AZ 85034 602-509-8149 www.sundt.com Sunland, Inc. Jeff Coffman 775 W. Elwood St. Phoenix AZ 85041 602-288-4557 www.sunlandasphalt.com Superlite Block Ken Mueller 4150 W. Turney Ave. Phoenix AZ 85019 602-352-3504 www.superliteblock.com V & P Nurseries, Inc. Demetrios Vlachos P.O. Box 4221 Mesa AZ 85211 480-917-9847 www.vpnurseries.com Valley Rain Construction Corp. Terry Weathers 1614 E. Curry Road Tempe AZ 85281 602-757-8449 www.valleyrain.com ATA BUY FIRST – ALLIED MEMBERS LISTING 50 • ARIZONA TRUCKING 2023 EDITION