Arkansas Trucking Report Volume 22. Issue 3

Award-Winning Magazine of the Arkansas Trucking Association Vol. 22 | Issue 3 2017 | $4.95

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Flying High

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UNPARALLELED UPTIME

By addressing the many factors that can infl uence uptime, we’ve been able to completely overhaul the
systems on the new LT Series to make it our most reliable truck to date, and we’ve simplified serviceability to
facilitate a considerable decrease in downtime. The end goal in the trucking industry is to drive the bottom

Unparalleled Uptimeline, and the key to that is increasing uptime. The new LT Series has made leaps and bounds to make sure
that our customers are experiencing more uptime than ever before.
By addressing the many factors that can influence uptime, we’ve been able to completely overhaul

the systems on the new LT Series to make it our most reliable truck to date, and we’ve simplified

serviceability to facilitate a considerable decrease in downtime. The end goal in the trucking industry

is to drive the bottom line, and the key to that is increasing uptime. The new LT Series has made leaps

and bounds to make sure that our customers are experiencing more uptime than ever before.

RUSSELLVILLE, AR Cooling module-New ground HVAC controls and front
(888) 806-6149 up design optimized for section-Completely redesigned
LT Series with extensive lab with automotive industry
143 State Rd. 331 North and field test validation. methodologies and designed to
Russellville, AR 72802 Forward lighting-New deliver best-in-class performance
robust fog light, designed for and reliability.
PINE BLUFF, AR durability and best-in-class
(888) 804-8124 lighting performance. Aftertreatment-New,
simplified, single can
4325 Highway 65 South SCR system.
Pine Bluff, AR 71602
LOWELL, AR Indirect vision- Cab wiring-All-new
(888) 706-6119 New design for harnessing, with more
807 S. Bloomington reliability and robust in-cab power
Lowell, AR 72745 improved distribution module.
LITTLE ROCK, AR serviceability. Improved termination and
(888) 827-2499 modular termination blocks
11401 Diamond Drive Operator controls & o er industry leading
instrumentation- reliability and uptime.
N. Little Rock, AR 72117 The new J1939 based
electrical architecture
is the modern industry
standard.

Source 1:
http://fleetanswers.com/content/understanding
-true-cost-fleet-vehicle-downtime

www.summittruckgroup.com

IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 22 | ISSUE 3 2017

F E AT UR E S

COVER STORY

28 FLYING HIGH

Rich Logistics’ COO Shannon Everett works for the road,

lives on the ranch and dreams of the clouds

By Deana Nall

THE LONG HAUL, CAPITOL WATCH

Overhauled19 THE STATE OF THE INDUSTRY IN 2017
ATA CEO: Visit with Trump an honor; legislative loss a “delay”
By Steve Brawner

24 ECONOMIC EXPECTATIONS VS. REALITY
Economist Lindsey Piegza warns “Keep expectations in check”
By Steve Brawner

SEE HOW TH E N E W INTERNATIONAL® LT ™ SERIES 36 SMARTER TRUCKS
WAS REENGINEERED TO BOOST SUEPRTAVImMIeCEriEcaWAnBITTrIuLHcIkTinYgc. aAssesofociraatiuotnosn’ oMmiocuhsaetlecChanmolmogiysainmtarkuecskitnhge
ALL-NEW SYSTEMS AND SIMPLIFIED

By Lacey Thacker

TRADE SECRETS

39 NO VACANCY
ATRI’s Rebecca Brewster talks truck parking at ATA conference

By Angela Thomas

PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE AND COVER SCENE AROUND
BY JOHN DAVID PITTMAN 42 MILESTONE IN ROGERS
Recap of the 2017 ATA Annual Conference & Vendor Showcase

By ATR Staff

48 FUEL TAX AND CRACKERJACKS
ATA members discuss infrastructure funding with legislators

for the 2017 Call on Washington
By ATR Staff

D E PA R T M E N T S

7 Up Front: by Shannon Newton
9 They Said It

10 News in Brief
12 New Members
17 Calendar of Events
50 Insider Trucking

52 Stat View
53 Advertiser Resource Index
54 The Last Word: by David O’Neal

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 3 2017 5



Award-Winning Magazine of the Arkansas Trucking Association UP FRONT

Arkansas Trucking Report is owned by the Arkansas Trucking Association, SISYPHEAN TASK
Inc. and is published bimonthly. For additional copies, to order reprints
of individual articles or to become a subscriber to ATR, contact Caitlin When I sit down to write this column, I usually pick up my pom-poms and megaphone,
Walraven at 501.372.3462. taking on the role of industry cheerleader. I let you know where we are in the game, if we
are chanting “DE-FENSE!” or “S-C-O-R-E!”
executive editor Usually, I’ve got good news. Our bill was passed. We got through to our legislators or the
SHANNON NEWTON public. We did a good deed. We’ve set new goals. We celebrated a new milestone. We
launched a new program.
managing editor This time, instead of good news, I’ve got perspective. For all the times fighting for the
BETHANY MAY industry feels like political football, it isn’t the kind of game where the buzzer sounds, the
ice chest is upended and we all go home.
contributing writers

STEVE BRAWNER LACEY THACKER
[email protected] [email protected]

JENNIFER BARNETT REED ANGELA THOMAS
[email protected] [email protected]

JIM HARRIS TODD TRAUB
[email protected] [email protected]

RENEE MILLER DEANA NALL
[email protected] [email protected]

art director
JON D. KENNEDY
The Freelance Co. LLC, [email protected]
production editors
SARAH SHEETS, KATIE THOMASON, DAVID O’NEAL

illustrator
BRENT BENNETT
[email protected]
photographers
JON D. KENNEDY, JOHN DAVID PITTMAN

The work is never really over, and I am reminded of that each time highway funding gets

pushed further down on the agenda or when I open my inbox to misinformation about

www.arkansastrucking.com the industry and what we contribute.

president Recently, when a highway construction project on I-40 near West Memphis was
SHANNON SAMPLES NEWTON announced, a local blogger and political pundit took the opportunity to take the trucking
[email protected] industry to task.

director of operations
SARAH NEWMAN SHEETS
[email protected]

director of safety services The headline is salacious; the content, deceptive and outright false. The goal of playing
DAVID O’NEAL the blame game is to see who can get to resentment first. And the bottom line of this
particular argument is truckers are destroying roads, in unequal measures to their
[email protected]
communications coordinator
BETHANY MAY

[email protected]

business development coordinator passenger vehicle counterparts, and they want taxpayers to foot the bill.
AMANDA LAMB

[email protected]

corporate services coordinator If that were true, I’d resent trucking, too.
KATIE THOMASON
The blog implies that taxpayers are disproportionately paying for the rebuilding of a
[email protected] particular stretch of interstate that is “regularly pounded to rubble by interstate truck
traffic,” from the proceeds of a temporary half-cent sales tax passed by voters in 2012.
executive assistant However, Arkansas voters approved the tax to fund continued construction of four-lane
CAITLIN WALRAVEN highways to connect all four corners of the state. The proceeds are split between the state
[email protected] highway system and local cities and counties. According to the Arkansas State Highway &
Transportation Department’s website, the bond program doesn’t fund interstate repair or
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AL HERINGER IV

Star Transportation, Inc.
Vice President

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ROCHELLE BARTHOLOMEW MIKE MCNUTT
CalArk International, Inc. Distribution Solutions, Inc.

President CEO, Owner

MARR LYNN BEARDEN MARK MORRIS
Marrlin Transit, Inc. Morris Transportation, Inc.

President President

CARL BOJA JAMES REED maintenance like the project the blogger referenced.
TravelCenters of America USA Truck
Vice President Fleet Sales
CEO

GREG CARMAN G.E. “BUTCH” RICE III The author also perpetuates one of the most frustrating and common misnomers about
Carman, Inc. Stallion Transportation Group interstate truck traffic, stating that big rigs leave their mark along Arkansas highways and
the state doesn’t receive any benefit unless they stop for a cup of coffee. But in reality,
President President & CEO Arkansas receives fuel tax revenue from every truck that passes through (based on reported
JOHN CULP TRACY ROSSER
Maverick USA Walmart Transportation
President Senior Vice President
DAN CUSHMAN JOHN SMITH
P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. FedEx Freight
President & CEO SVP Operations

CRAIG HARPER VICKI JONES STEPHENS and audited miles driven in the state), regardless of where they purchase their fuel or food.
J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. C.C. Jones, Inc.
Executive Vice President & COO President

KORY LARSON TIM THORNE The blog also failed to mention that trucking pays 47% of all taxes collected from
The Larson Group ABF Freight Arkansas motorists, yet we drive only 14% of the vehicle miles traveled here. And we
President & CEO support and are willing to pay more state and federal taxes for the roads we use.
COO DOUG VOSS
JEFF LOGGINS University of Central Arkansas Carrying around these facts and righting wrong information is the never-ending work it
Loggins Logistics, Inc. Associate Professor of Logistics
President & CEO

ROB LYALL
Tyson Foods, Inc.
Vice President - Transportation

Distribution

An affiliate of the American Trucking takes to pursue progress for the roads we all share.
Associations
So no pom-poms or backflips, just perspective: The game’s never over, but the work is
Arkansas Trucking Association (ATA) is an Arkansas corporation of trucking
companies, private carrier fleets and businesses which serve or supply the worth it. Trucking’s contributions are impossible to untangle from the prosperity of the
trucking industry. ATA serves these companies as a governmental affairs economy, and we need safe, reliable roads to make those contributions.
representative before legislative, regulatory and executive branches of
government on issues that affect the trucking industry. The organization also
provides public relations services, workers’ compensation insurance, operational
services and serves as a forum for industry meetings and membership relations.
For information, contact ATA at:
1401 West Capitol, Suite 185 Drivers Legal Plan Shannon Newton
Post Office Box 3476 (72203) President, Arkansas Trucking Association
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Phone 501.372.3462 Fax 501.376.1810
www.arkansastrucking.com

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 3 2017D rivers Legal Plan 7

Over 100 Locations in 16 States

NEW & USED TRUCK SALES | PARTS | SERVICE | BODY SHOP
LEASING & RENTAL | FINANCE | TRANSPORT REFRIGERATION

Dealership
Leasing & Rental
Truck Source
Carrier
RoadReady

THEY SAID IT

“I’m not “I don’t think Putin
is a Republican or a
running Democrat. He’s an
for
opportunist.”
Congress —Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) on Russia’s meddling in the 2016 presidential election

so I’m in “As Arkansans, we know what it means to be good
favor.” stewards of the environment. We also know how

—Trump infrastructure adviser Richard destructive overregulation can be to economic growth.
LeFrak said of raising the gas tax There’s a responsible balance, of which
the Paris accord failed to achieve.”

—Gov. Asa Hutchinson on his support of Pres. Trump’s decision
to pull out of the Paris Agreement

“The “The myth of the trucker as
tough a latter-day cowboy is the
votes same narrative the urban
need to be rapper or the southern

taken rebel adopts to accept his
place at the bottom of the
this year.”
American Dream.”
—Author and truck driver Finn Murphy in his new memoir The Long Haul: A
—Former Transportation Secretary Ray Trucker’s Tales of Life on the Road about his more than thirty years as a long-haul
LaHood on voting for infrastructure
truck driver, dispelling the myths of the road which the New York Times called
funding before campaign season starts “almost shamefully enjoyable.”

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 3 2017 9

NEWS IN BRIEF

TRUMP INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN “Tolling is generally restricted on Monetizing assets paid for with taxpayer
INCLUDES ROLLING BACK TOLL interstate highways. This restriction funds is not a solution. In fact, it will
RESTRICTIONS prevents public and private investment likely create more problems that those
in such facilities,” the fact sheet says. solved. Tolling disrupts traffic patterns,
The Trump administration released “We should reduce this restriction and pushes congestion to local roads and
a blue-print for the $1 trillion infra- allow the states to assess their trans- compromises safety. Additionally, toll-
structure package the President prom- portation needs and weigh the relative ing comes with incredible overhead costs
ised during his campaign. The six-page merits of tolling assets.” (30%) that is disproportionate to other
fact sheet was a part of his budget funding models, like the fuel tax (2%)
proposal and included a proposal to lift The proposal, is just that: a pro- which the trucking industry continues to
a federal ban on tolling existing inter- posal. Any change would need support support increasing.
state highway lanes and partnering with from Congress, specifically, the tax-
private companies to construct, operate writing panels and the transportation ATRI SEEKS FOR-HIRE MOTOR
and maintain interstate rest areas. authorizing committees before being CARRIER OPERATIONAL COST
brought to a vote. The idea is expected DATA
States have been prohibited from to be a tough sell as lawmakers worry
tolling interstates since the highway it could be unpopular to make drivers The American Transportation
system was built in 1956. A pilot pro- pay for infrastructure twice (first at the Research Institute (ATRI) issued a
gram was established that allowed for pump and then at the toll). data call for the annual update to its
three states to toll interstates to explore Operational Costs of Trucking report,
the feasibility, but none of the states in The Arkansas Trucking Association which provides real world data for
the program have done so. Two states, continues to oppose tolling existing future infrastructure improvement
Virginia and North Carolina, both gave interstates. The national highway sys-
up their spots in the program due to tem is vital to economic development, 
lack of feasibility and public support. commerce and even national security.
Issue 3 2017 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT
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NEWWAETLACMOEMMBEE,RS! UBER LAUNCHES TRUCKING APP

Together, We Are the Power of Association Uber officially launched Uber
Freight, the company’s app that will
We welcome the following new members. Each new member match truckers with companies who
adds to the Arkansas trucking industry’s collective strength to need cargo shipped across the country.
promote, protect and serve with a unified voice.
The app is available on iOS and
Android. Drivers are vetted when they
sign up. The service “take[s] guesswork
out of finding and booking freight,
which is often the most stressful part of
a driver’s day,” according to Uber.

FOR-HIRE CARRIER HEATH & YUEN, APC The app is full of a list of available
MEMBERS San Francisco, Calif. jobs and the routes they require, and
SINDLE TRUCKING, LLC 415.622.7004 each listing tells the driver what they’ll
El Dorado, Ark. Offers civil law services and insurance be hauling and how much they’ll be
870.862.0870 defense for transportation and trucking paid. Once they arrive in that destina-
Number of Trucks: 47 industry tion and make the delivery they can
LIBERTY NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE then, like an Uber driver, find the next
ALLIED MEMBERS Little Rock, Ark. job.
ASU-BEEBE 501.225.5556
Beebe, Ark. Provides life, cancer, critical illness, Uber Freight ran a pilot program in
501.882.3600 accident and supplemental benefits Texas last year to study how truck driv-
Offers diesel technology education insurance ers used the app. Bill Driegert, director
BEST-WADE PETROLEUM SMARTTRUCK SYSTEMS, LLC of Uber Freight said it became an oppor-
West Memphis, Ark. Greenville, S.C. tunity for him to assess the driver and
888.888.6457 864.551.2286 carrier market and take into account
Distributes lubes and fuel Provides aero-dynamic truck parts the different reasons a driver or carrier
BLUE TREE SYSTEMS SUPERVISION would want to engage in the app.
Greensboro, N.C. Eagan, Minn.
563.340.3225 657.405.4272 “We found owner-operators wanted
Provides ELD and telematics solutions Provides continuous MVR monitoring, to move freight in a day run and be
for large and mid-sized fleets CSA, telematics and crash data home at night with their families,”
TRANS LEASE, INC. Driegert told Fleet Owner. “Over-the-
For membership Belton, Mo. road drivers want to get lots of miles
information, visit 612.799.0763 and fill capacity, and we want to be able
arkansastrucking.com Offers financial services for the trucking to serve them as well.”
and transportation industry
Issue 3 2017 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT
NEWS IN BRIEF, provides a critical benchmark for us
to identify where we can improve our
Continued from page 10 operating efficiency across a number
of key metrics. I certainly encourage
analyses for the past nine years. The my colleagues throughout the trucking
brief online questionnaire seeks to industry to support ATRI in this critical
capture basic cost information from data collection,” said Dennis Dellinger,
for-hire motor carriers such as driver president of Cargo Transporters.
pay, fuel costs, insurance premiums and
lease or purchase payments. Carriers are For-hire motor carriers are encour-
asked to provide full-year 2016 cost per aged to provide confidential operational
mile and/or cost per hour data. cost data through ATRI’s survey by June
29, 2017 available online at atri-online.
“We rely on ATRI’s research to org. The results of this study will be
inform so much of our operations and available later this year, but survey
the Operational Costs of Trucking respondents will receive an advance
is no exception. The annual report copy of the report.

12

year, which adds $63.4 billion in delays.
“Congestion increases motor car-

rier operating costs through wasted
fuel, increased labor costs, vehicle wear
and tear, and puts additional stresses
on professional drivers as available on-
duty and drive hours are spent sitting
in traffic — which anecdotally contrib-
utes to the truck driver shortage crisis,”
according to the report. “Secondary
impacts include inflationary effects
from inefficiencies in the nation’s sup-
ply chain as pick-up and delivery sched-
ules are impacted by traffic delays.”

ARKANSAS CONGESTION COSTS ATRI reported that congestion cost GOING FROM MILITARY TO
INDUSTRY $74 MILLION the trucking industry 996 million oper- TRUCK DRIVER TO GET EASIER
ating hours, the equivalent of 362,243
Arkadelphia, on Interstate 30 and truck drivers off the road for the entire The House Transportation and
Highway 7, was named one of the most Infrastructure Committee approved
costly congested National Highway two measures that extend provisions in
System segments in America for truck 2015’s FAST Act in order to further ease
drivers, according to the American the transition of military personnel
Transportation Research Institute’s 2017 seeking commercial driver’s licenses.
“Cost of Congestion to the Trucking
Industry” report. The Veterans Expanded Trucking
Opportunities (VETOPPS) Act of
Arkadelphia was second in cost-per-
mile congestion, costing the industry 
$887,749 each mile or, with only 83
highway miles, $74 million in 2015. DIGITAL MAGAZINE NOW AVAILABLE!

The small metro recorded the larg- You may view Arkansas Trucking Report—complete with sound effects—online within a
est cost-per-mile increase of 255.4% week of distribution.
($53 million) over the 2014 data.
Arkadelphia’s 2015 congestion cost the Another awesome feature of this great new technology is that websites in the
trucking companies $74 million, an digital magazine are “live.” So, viewers may click on a site featured in an ad and be
increase of more than $53 million from transported directly to an advertiser’s website.
2014. That 2014 total comes out to
just under $638,000 a mile, the worst Check it out: www.arkansastrucking.com
increase in the United States.
This is just one more service that we’re happy to offer on behalf of our ATR advertisers.
Congestion across Arkansas’ 8,893
highway miles cost the trucking indus-
try nearly $730 million in 2015, a 27.5
percent increase from the 2014 total of
over $572 million.

The Ogden-Clearfield, Utah, area
had the worst per-mile congestion cost
at $914,879, and its overall total was
more than $566 million.

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 3 2017 13

NEWS IN BRIEF,

Continued from page 13

2017, introduced by Rep. Rob Woodall The Kyoto-based company has Francisco. The company plans to release
(R-Ga.), allows more medical profes- started recruiting full-time drivers, who a product to their target market of
sionals at veterans’ affairs (VA) medical will be able to hold other jobs on their police officers and employers by the end
facilities to conduct physicals for truck days off. Under the plan, parcel delivery of the year.
drivers. The FAST Act required certified drivers in Tokyo will work 10 hours a
physicians to conduct medical checks day four days a week at a starting salary Urine and hair tests, such as those
for truck drivers. The VETOPPS permits of 180,000 yen to 260,000 yen ($1,630 taken by commercial drivers, can iden-
nurse practitioners and other medi- to $2,355) a month — about the same tify if a person has used marijuana for
cal professionals to conduct the driver pay as for five days of work. days and even weeks prior to the test.
physicals since there are not enough However, the new tests will detect THC
professionals at the VA to perform the Sagawa currently employs roughly (tetrahydrocannabinol) in the blood-
required examinations. 30,000 full-time drivers including stream within two hours of driving.
contract workers. The draw for drivers
The Active Duty Voluntary is the time to hold other jobs on their The U.S. Department of
Acquisition of Necessary Credentials for days off. Transportation maintains that truck
Employment (ADVANCE) Act, intro- drivers will not be allowed to use any
duced by Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), Schedule 1 drugs (such as marijuana)
also revises language from FAST Act even when they are prescribed or used
to help more military professionals get in a state or country where the sub-
CDLs. The FAST Act allowed veterans stance is allowed.
with driving experience to expedite the
CDL process by waiving certain test iPHONE TACKLES DISTRACTED
steps. The ADVANCE Act clarifies that DRIVING
active military, not just veterans can
take advantage of this measure. Apple’s senior vice president of
software engineering, Craig Federighi,
COMPANY COMBATS DRIVER announced a “Do Not Disturb While
SHORTAGE IN JAPAN WITH Driving” feature will be a part of
4-DAY WORKWEEK Apple’s iOS 11, Apple mobile devices’
newest operating software, at the
The United States isn’t the only BREATHALYZER FOR MARIJUANA company’s Worldwide Developers
country to face a commercial driver USE IS IN THE WORKS Conference.
shortage. A major ground shipper in
Japan, Sagawa Express has begun offer- A California startup company is When the device is connected to
ing four-day workweeks at full-time pay. currently working on the tests to detect the car, or if the car is moving, the
when a driver is under the influence device will withhold any text or news
of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the
psychoactive agent in marijuana, after 
26 states, including Arkansas, plus the
District of Columbia have passed legis- Issue 3 2017 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT
lation to legalize marijuana use in some
form and Canada just announced it will
legalize recreational use by 2018.

Oakland-based Hound Labs is
developing small handheld devices with
tubes that people blow into, similar to
breathalyzers used to test for drunk
driving.

Hound Labs has already raised
$8.1 million and begun clinical trials
with the University of California, San

14



NEWS IN BRIEF,

Continued from page 14

Exclusive. All-Inclusive. Simple.

Patron alerts. When a text is received, the
phone will be able to send an automated
Utility Tri-State, Inc. response that the recipient is driving
and unable to text back.
Supporters
Aon The screen will also lock to prevent
drivers from using apps or other dis-
Drivers Legal Plan tractions while driving. Passengers who
Stephens are just riding will have the ability to
indicate that they are not driving and
The Larson Group disable the feature.

In 1932, a small number of companies came together to lay the Navigation apps an Apple’s CarPlay,
foundation for today’s Arkansas Trucking Association --- the which allows drivers to hear and
recognized voice for the trucking industry in Arkansas. respond to texts using voice commands,
Members today continue to provide the support that builds will both still be available when using
upon those foundations. Founders Club members support ATA the new feature, though users won’t be
because they believe, like we do, that trucking is the backbone able to type destinations into GPS apps
of our economy. while the vehicle is moving.

16 The iOS 11 OS is expected to be
available this fall.

DOL WITHDRAWS INFORMAL
GUIDANCE ON JOINT
EMPLOYMENT AND INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS

The Department of Labor
announced it is rolling back the infor-
mal guidance on issues of joint employ-
ment and independent contractors in
previous memos from former admin-
istration’s Wage and Hour Division
Administrator, David Weil.

The rollback includes the condi-
tions for when one business can be held
liable for employment and civil rights
law violations at another company.

Previously, the department only
applied the guidance to cases in which
the company had “direct control” over
the other’s workplace. However in
2015, the department under then-Labor
Secretary Tom Perez expanded the defi-

Issue 3 2017 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT

nition of employees to include those private right of action under the FLSA OCAFLEEVNEDNATRS
also under “indirect control” to capture and various state laws.”
companies who were incorrectly classi- JULY
fying employees as contractors. VAN BUREN TRUCKS JULY 13-15
HONOR MILITARY AND LAW
American Trucking Associations ENFORCEMENT 50TH ANNIVERSARY ARKANSAS
responded to the “aggressive departure TRUCKING CHAMPIONSHIP
from prevailing classification stan- JR’s Trucking unveiled two trucks John Q. Hammons Center, Rogers, Ark.
dards,” saying it “no doubt signals an specially designed with Tankersley JULY 20
attack on industries like trucking that Foods to celebrate armed forces and law SMC-MTC PRESENTS
rely significantly on contractors.” enforcement at a dedication ceremony BENDIX PRODUCT DEMO
in Van Buren on May 12. Little Rock, Ark.
The old guidance encouraged
employers to use an “economic Van Buren mayor Bob Freeman AUGUST
realities” test to distinguish between addressed those in attendance. AUGUST 8-12
employees and contractors.
The law enforcement themed truck AMERICAN TRUCKING
This withdrawal has no effect on is driven by team drivers Kevin Wheeler ASSOCIATIONS’ NATIONAL TRUCK
the legal obligations of employers under and Holly Tyndall, and the armed forces DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS AND
the Fair Labor Standards Act. themed truck is driven by Veteran NATIONAL STEP VAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Calvin (Dale) Jones. Orange County Convention Center, The Hyatt
The National Law Review com- Regency Orlando, and the Rosen Center Hotel
mented, “while today’s announcement “It’s been a great partnership Orlando, Fla.
is welcome news for employers and may with Tankersley Foods,” said Art Floyd, AUGUST 22
signal less extreme positions by the CEO and president of JR’s Trucking. “It MTC MEETING
Department of Labor, employers should means more than most people realize,” Gentry Career and Technical Education Center
still be mindful of potential liability Floyd said the truck designs were per- Gentry, Ark.
associated with joint employment and sonally meaningful to his family “My AUGUST 29-30
independent-contractor classifications. son is retired military and is currently ATA SAFETY SYMPOSIUM:
In addition to DOL enforcement (which a federal U.S. Marshal, and I told him THE FUTURE OF SAFETY
the agency made clear will continue), this project was, for me, also part of Little Rock, Ark.
a number of states have been active in honoring him and what he has done
their efforts to curb employee misclas- and what he does right now.” ATR SEPTEMBER
sification, and employees also have a SEPTEMBER 10-16

JR’s Trucking NATIONAL TRUCK DRIVER
APPRECIATION WEEK
ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 3 2017 SEPTEMBER 17-21
CVSA ANNUAL CONFERENCE &
EXHIBITION
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
SEPTEMBER 21
ATA-PAC FALL GOLF TOURNAMENT
Chenal Country Club, Little Rock, Ark.
SEPTEMBER 28-29
NATMI SAFETY & DOT COURSE
Little Rock, Ark.

OCTOBER
OCTOBER 12

SAFETY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL
MEETING
OCTOBER 17
MAINTENANCE & TECHNOLOGY
COUNCIL MEETING
OCTOBER 21-24
AMERICAN TRUCKING
ASSOCIATIONS’ MC&E CONFERENCE
& EXHIBITION
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nev.
OCTOBER 27
NATMI WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
& COST CONTROL
Little Rock, Ark.

17



The State of the Industry
in 2017

ATA CEO: Visit with Trump an honor; legislative loss a “delay”

By Steve Brawner

Contributing Writer

An Oval Office visit with President
Trump was a reminder of how an orga-
nized association of motor carriers can
affect policy, while recent last-minute
changes to important legislation were a
reminder of the work left to do.

The visit, and other ups and downs
of working in the nation’s capital, were
topics covered by Chris Spear, president
and CEO of the American Trucking
Associations, at the 2017 Arkansas
Trucking Association Annual Business
Conference & Vendor Showcase May
3-5 in Rogers.

“YUGE” OPPORTUNITIES American Trucking Associations’ president Chris Spear
speaks at the annual conference in May
Spear, the ATA’s ninth president
and CEO, led a delegation that visited employees and provides 1 in 16 “These are facts, and we own them.
Trump and Vice President Mike Pence at American jobs. Trucks carry 70 percent
the White House March 23. With Spear of the nation’s domestic freight tonnage That’s part of our narrative, and to tell
were 12 America’s Road Team captains, and 56 percent of its gross domestic
including David Green of Hot Springs, product. it at the highest level, what an honor,”
who drives for Werner Enterprises, and
11 trucking CEOs. In a moment cap- Spear says. 
tured on video, Trump told the group,
“Nobody knows America like truckers
know America, and you see it every day,
and you see every hill and you see every
valley and you see every pothole in our
roads that have to be redone.”

As part of the visit, Trump climbed
into one of two semi trucks parked
outside the White House portico. Spear
said other association directors were
emailing him expressing their envy at
the industry’s marketing coup.

The industry has 7.3 million

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 3 2017 19

Spear says that Trump is unortho- seen it this toxic. It’s real.” vital to trucking had been left out of
dox, makes a lot of controversial state- But the trucking industry can the transportation budget in a $1.1 tril-
ments and engages in arguments with lion omnibus spending bill.
the media. navigate that difficult environment by
staying smart, organized and unified, by At issue is California’s require-
“But he does promise a lot of things being proactive, and by telling its story. ment of a 30-minute meal break for
that could be very good for our industry, Spear said 42 of the 50 state associa- all employees, including truckers, who
good for our country, and we need to tions are participating in the ATA’s Call work more than 10 hours as well as
separate all the white noise from the on Washington this year. 10-minute rest breaks for every four
agenda,” he said. “The agenda matters. hours they work. Meanwhile, the state
It matters to us. It’s who we are, and IT’S REAL; IT EXISTS; is requiring compensation for rest
what we can do for our country, and if IT’S BITTER. WE HAVE breaks and non-driving time, even
we’re good at what we do, at telling our A VERY RAZOR-THIN when drivers are paid on a piece-rate
story, we have huge opportunities that MARGIN WITHIN THE basis at far above the minimum wage.
lie ahead.” HOUSE AND SENATE
DESPITE REPUBLICAN The rules would seem to vio-
On May 1, Bloomberg News released MAJORITIES IN BOTH late the spirit of the Federal Aviation
an interview with Trump in which the CHAMBERS, AND IT’S Administration Authorization Act of
president said he “would certainly con- MADE GETTING THINGS 1994. Known as FAAAA, or “F4A,”
sider” a fuel tax increase earmarked for it included a provision stating that
highways, citing the idea’s support from DONE ON BEHALF states cannot interfere with motor car-
the trucking industry. Spear said it was OF OUR INDUSTRY, riers’ routes, rates and services. But
the first time since 1993, when the fuel ON BEHALF OF THE California’s flaunting of that legislation
tax was last raised, that a president has COUNTRY, MUCH makes trucking companies vulnerable,
said anything about a fuel tax, and he MORE DIFFICULT. and now the state of Washington has
said he’s been encouraging members AND QUITE FRANKLY, passed similar rules.
of Congress to amplify the message. HAVING WORKED IN
Numerous states, red and blue, have WASHINGTON FOR OVER “Now what does that do for any-
increased fuel taxes, including recently 25 YEARS, I’VE NEVER body that’s crossing state lines into
Tennessee. Spear said raising the fuel SEEN IT THIS TOXIC. IT’S California? Well, if you’re a trial lawyer,
tax by 20 cents a gallon would cost the it’s Christmas almost every day,” Spear
average motorist $80 a year but would R E A L .” said. “We look like a giant piggy bank.
help motorists save part of the $1,400 I’m here to tell you, we’re not a money-
in costs per driver associated with con- —CHRIS SPEAR, PRESIDENT filled piñata. We’re not going to allow
gestion – a number estimated by Inrix, AND CEO OF THE AMERICAN the trial lawyers to keep taking swings at
a transportation analytical and consult- us and cracking open that piggy bank.”
ing firm. TRUCKING ASSOCIATIONS
Spear said that because the truck-
“It’s a no-brainer. It’s the most “THIS IS NOT A LOSS.” ing industry has lost in the courts, it
cost-effective, lowest administrative must win in Congress, and it thought
burden to infuse immediate cash into Spear said having a Republican it had done so after two years of work
the trust fund to shore up our roads in the White House and Republican with a favorable provision in the spend-
and bridges,” he said. majorities in the House and Senate ing bill. Committee members had
would suggest this could be a success- assured the ATA it would be included.
Spear said that the atmosphere in ful time for the trucking industry in Then at midnight the Saturday before
Washington, with its partisanship and Washington. But days earlier, he and his speech, he had learned the language
narrow Republican majorities, makes other ATA leaders had heard some frus- had been removed along with 167 other
accomplishing things harder. trating news: An expected provision policy riders in order to avert a govern-
ment shutdown. On Sunday, the ATA
“You see it every day on the news,” tried to have the language reinserted
he said. “It’s real; it exists; it’s bit- into the bill, but to no avail. The White
ter. We have a very razor-thin margin House already had conceded on Trump’s
within the House and Senate despite border wall while House conservatives
Republican majorities in both cham- had conceded regarding ending subsi-
bers, and it’s made getting things done dies for the Affordable Care Act, other-
on behalf of our industry, on behalf wise known as Obamacare. Other issues
of the country, much more difficult.
And quite frankly, having worked in 
Washington for over 25 years, I’ve never

20 Issue 3 2017 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT

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had been negotiated away, so the ATA’s “WE LOOK LIKE A GIANT PIGGY BANK. I’M HERE TO
allies had no leverage for negotiating. TELL YOU, WE’RE NOT A MONEY-FILLED PIÑATA.
WE’RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THE TRIAL LAWYERS
Spear said he had thought the mea-
sure had a 90 percent chance of getting TO KEEP TAKING SWINGS AT US AND CRACKING OPEN
signed, but in the end, four people were THAT PIGGY BANK.”
making last-minute decisions, and the
ATA didn’t have a voice at the table. —CHRIS SPEAR, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE AMERICAN
TRUCKING ASSOCIATIONS
“We did everything we felt right,”
he said. “We were told by the commit- Meanwhile, issues are arising at still involve a pilot and a co-pilot who
tees, by the members that we were going the state level that could spread nation- can react and make decisions. Drivers
to be happy with what we got, and still ally. Rhode Island is attempting to pay will always be needed to navigate in
that 10 percent crept in and bit us.” for road and bridge repairs by tolling cities and do pickups and deliveries, he
only Class 8 vehicles. California and said.
Spear said this was the industry’s other states are attempting to make
third attempt in two years after try- changes to independent contractor laws. “It’s not driverless,” he said. “It’s
ing other avenues previously. Moving In those cases, the ATA will become driver assist. And if we get our heads
forward, it will try again – perhaps involved at the state level to stop prob- around that, there’s a lot of cool things
in legislation repealing and replacing lems at their source before it becomes a we can do with this technology.”
the Affordable Care Act, perhaps in a national problem, Spear said.
spending bill for fiscal year 2018, or Indeed, the industry continues to
perhaps in the coming Federal Aviation In addition to federal legislation, face a shortage of qualified drivers and
Administration reauthorization bill, for the ATA is heavily involved in address- technicians, and solutions are needed.
which the ATA has a soft commitment ing the regulatory environment. The Hiring Our Heroes, which encourages
from Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. requirement that long-haul trucks employing military veterans, is a partial
Meanwhile, the ATA will be working be equipped with electronic logging solution. Also needed is a process for
with committee and subcommittee devices takes effect Dec. 18, and the letting commercial drivers under age 21
chairs to hold hearings specifically on ATA, which supports the requirement, drive across state lines with limitations.
this issue, which has not happened pre- wants to ensure the Department of Spear said 48 states already allow driv-
viously. Transportation administers it effective- ers that young to drive intrastate routes,
ly. The ATA is also pushing the Federal and military service personnel who are
“It’s OK to feel down. It’s OK Motor Carrier Safety Administration to those ages are already put in charge
to feel disappointed, but I’m here to allow motor carriers to use hair samples of multimillion-dollar equipment. He
remind you, this is not a loss,” he said. for required drug testing. expressed optimism that the industry
“This is a delay. We don’t roll over in will be able to work well with Secretary
the trucking industry. We know hard Spear emphasized that motor car- of Transportation Elaine Chao, who pre-
work, we roll up our sleeves, and we get riers must become a major player in viously served as secretary of labor, and
this done. We are not going away on autonomous technology, which largely he also is optimistic about Secretary of
this or any other issue that’s important is being driven by the passenger car Labor Alexander Acosta.
to our industry.” industry. The industry must ensure
it has a voice in creating regulations. Revealing that he was speaking
TAXES, TRADE, TOLLS AND TECH Moreover, trucking is where the tech- days after his mother’s death, Spear
nology likely will first gain a foothold concluded by saying he was ready to talk
The ATA is involved in other legis- because while carmakers must per- about solutions rather than problems.
lative issues at the national level. The suade skeptical drivers to pay extra for The ATA represents business and should
association supports Trump’s proposal it, motor carriers will see a return on act like one, he said.
to reduce the corporate income tax to 15 investment.
percent. That extra cash could be used to “What matters to me most is mak-
buy equipment and increase driver pay. Spear downplayed the fears that ing certain that you have the ability to
The ATA is working to protect the North autonomous technology will lead to a grow in a safe, responsible way,” he said.
American Free Trade Agreement, which loss of driver jobs. He pointed out that “It is about ROI. You pay good money to
Trump has threatened to terminate and planes can fly themselves and yet they belong to the association. You deserve
now wants to renegotiate. Spear said the an ROI.” ATR
trucking industry moves 76 percent of
the domestic trade tonnage associated
with the agreement, while trucks move
83 percent of cross-border traffic to
Mexico.

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 3 2017 23

Economic Expectations
Vs. Reality

Economist Lindsey Piegza warns “Keep expectations in check”

By Steve Brawner “IF YOU WANT TO FEEL
GOOD, JUST LOOK AT OUR
Contributing Writer EUROPEAN COUNTERPARTS.

The U.S. economy is growing at a JUST LOOK AT WHAT’S
positive but moderate rate, so motor HAPPENING IN JAPAN. WE’RE
carriers should manage their expecta- STILL THE PRETTIEST GIRL IN
tions regardless of what policies are pro-
posed in Washington. THE UGLY GIRL CONTEST.”

That’s according to Dr. Lindsey —DR. LINDSEY PIEGZA, CHIEF
Piegza, chief economist at Stifel ECONOMIST AT STIFEL FIXED INCOME
Fixed Income, who spoke at the
2017 Arkansas Trucking Association recovered while others recovered only positive employment growth, but hir-
Annual Business Conference & Vendor recently – Arkansas, in fact, in 2015. ing has slowed from 250,000 in 2014
Showcase May 4 in Rogers. The national unemployment rate of 4.5 to 180,000 currently, according to
percent is much better than the nearly her latest numbers. That’s a problem
Piezga said the economy will react 10 percent reached during the height of because the economy must add 200,000
to a changing policy environment the recession. However, the 4.5 percent to 250,000 jobs each month to cover
where the Federal Reserve is slowly figure doesn’t include the millions of population changes and immigration.
increasing interest rates and President Americans who have dropped out of the Transportation and warehousing jobs
Trump’s administration is advocating labor force and aren’t seeking employ- are still in positive territory but have
pro-growth policies. However there are ment, the majority of them 20-55-year- lost momentum.
limits to what presidents and policies olds who should be entering or in the
can accomplish. middle of their prime working years. Piezga said consumers are under
The actual unemployment rate is closer pressure and have lost momentum
“I think it’s very important to put to 9 percent counting those workers since 2014. They’re still spending, but
our expectations in check against a and part-time workers who would prefer at a much slower pace than earlier in
reality that is still showing a number of to work full time, Piezga said. the recovery. They’ve been helped by
barriers and burdens to growth,” said cheap gasoline that has saved the aver-
Piezga, who specializes in analyzing eco- “I always say, it’s very easy to get age household more than $1,000 in
nomic trends, world economies, finan- the unemployment rate down to zero if just the past year – a benefit consumers
cial markets and fiscal policies. “The nobody is looking for work,” she said. have enjoyed for more than two years.
U.S. economy is still growing, still grow- That’s discretionary money that can be
ing at a positive clip, but at still a very Piezga, who is frequently inter- spent in the marketplace and can lead
muted pace. We have a lot of ground to viewed by national media outlets, said consumers to spend even more because
cover, a lot of traction to regain before the labor market is “stable but far from they feel wealthier.
we can talk about a much more solid, robust.” There have been 78 months of
much more robust U.S. economy.”

Signs of a healthy consumer sector:
Organic income and job growth

The economy certainly is in better
shape than it was at the height of the
recession, but some states have not fully

24 Issue 3 2017 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT

But retail sales have been in nega- increased, but at a slower, more volatile including high-wage employees. Durable
tive territory two straight months, as pace. goods orders (excluding aircraft and
consumers aren’t spending that extra defense), a good indicator of business
money. The auto industry is slumping. The Trump administration has investment, were in negative territory
Meanwhile, consumers are spending proposed tax reforms that would create for 23 consecutive months.
more on services, particularly health three income brackets and would reduce
care. For the average American, health rates. It’s also trying to repeal and “Folks, if businesses aren’t invest-
insurance premiums have increased replace the Affordable Care Act. But a ing, developing, innovating, we can’t
$3,000 since 2013. Health care and 6-10 percent increase in oil prices would expect to maintain even this … one-
housing now compose 50 percent of the offset any gains for many consumers. and-a-half percent-ish economy, let
average American’s expenditures. Piezga Oil prices have already risen 68 percent alone talk about growing to what the
said the American Health Care Act, the from their low in January 2016, while president’s been talking about – 3-4
health reform bill recently passed by gas prices have risen 15 percent from a percent GDP,” she said.
the House and sent to the Senate, does year ago.
nothing to address the primary driver The Trump administration has pro-
of increased health care costs – tech- “Long-run growth, a healthy con- posed a simplified corporate tax struc-
nology, which typically makes goods sumer sector has to be built on organic ture and reducing regulation to ease
and services cheaper in other economic job and income growth,” she said. the downward pressure on corporate
sectors but has the opposite effect in America. The missing component is pro-
health care. CONFIDENCE TO INVEST ductivity, which has been languishing
for most of the past decade. Addressing
Incomes have risen modestly over At the same time that consumer that shortage is the most important
the past six to eight months, but only spending is slowing, business invest- reform a government can undertake,
in certain high-demand, low-supply ment is sluggish and moderate even as but it would take time.
areas such as engineering, information corporations are awash in cash. While
technology, craft labor and accounting. business investment was increasing by While all this is happening, both
Incomes in the transportation field have 5 percent annually in 2014, it wasn’t the stock market and the bond market
increasing at all by 2016. Businesses are have seen increases since Trump became
hesitant to spend money for anything,


ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 3 2017 25

“FOLKS, IF BUSINESSES AREN’T INVESTING, DEVELOPING, INNOVATING, WE CAN’T
EXPECT TO MAINTAIN EVEN THIS… ONE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT-ISH ECONOMY, LET
ALONE TALK ABOUT GROWING TO WHAT THE PRESIDENT’S BEEN TALKING ABOUT

— 3-4 PERCENT GDP.”

—DR. LINDSEY PIEGZA, CHIEF ECONOMIST AT STIFEL FIXED INCOME

president, a vote of confidence in his services more expensive. Meanwhile, ing it hard for the federal government
administration. the Trump administration has pushed to push through a much-needed major
protectionist trade policies such as infrastructure bill.
The Federal Reserve is on track to withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific
raise interest rates, with one additional Partnership. There’s been talk of a “bor- BETTER THAN THE WORST
rate hike expected the rest of this year. der adjustment tax” on goods being
She said the Fed is “still keeping a very imported into the United States. Framed Complicating the issue is the
accommodative policy level against the as a tariff, it’s ultimately a tax on aver- national debt, the problem that she says
backdrop, again, of a very tepid, mod- age Americans who have been helped by “keeps me up at night.” The federal gov-
erate growth case in the overall U.S. cheap, overseas goods at a time when ernment’s debt to gross domestic prod-
economy.” incomes aren’t rising. uct ratio now stands at 77 percent and
rising, not including what the govern-
If interest rates returned to a “Obviously, they’re trying to off- ment has borrowed from itself, which
normal level, some would win and set some of the revenue loss from the would make it even worse. That’s the
some would lose. Seniors, savers and proposed changes of the tax code, but highest level ever except for a short time
financial institutions would be helped, who’s going to foot the bill for that tar- in the 1950s when the U.S. economy
while costs would increase for housing, iff? It’s going to be the consumer. It’s was beginning a decade-long economic
consumer credit and accessing capital. going to be small businesses as those expansion of 4.5 percent annually, an
First-time homebuyers would have a prices are passed on via rising import amount it likely won’t achieve dur-
harder time buying a home, particularly costs,” she said. ing an era that now sees 1.5 percent
young people strapped with high stu- growth. Taxpayers paid $330 billion in
dent loan debt who would need to save Trump has promised a return of interest payments on the debt in 2016,
five to 10 years just to make a down manufacturing jobs, but those jobs and even a moderate change in rates
payment. Many of those younger people face pressure from automation. In fact, could increase that fourfold to $1 tril-
are frustrated by their inability to find while manufacturing employment has lion a year.
a job because they have skills that don’t fallen, production has doubled.
match the labor market. Many have a “How do you pay for that?
more “life” oriented attitude toward “If you talk about revamping trade Government cuts? Very difficult to do,
the work-life balance than their par- deals because you want to bring manu- regardless Republican or Democrat.
ents. They’re happy renting and have facturing jobs back, well, that won’t So you raise taxes – the exact opposite
no plans to buy a home, and the hous- work unless you’re talking about out- of what the Trump administration
ing market is reflecting that change in lawing automation or taxing robotics,” is trying to do,” she said. “So again,
attitude, with multi-family units being she said. managing expectations with what the
constructed instead of single-family administration wants to do against the
homes. Trump has proposed a major backdrop of the reality that we face.”
increase in infrastructure spending, a
“This isn’t your parents’ housing subject that at least in theory has broad With all of the bad news, what’s
market anymore,” she said. “There will support from both Republicans and the silver lining? The United States still
be changing trends coming in with the Democrats. But how to pay for it is a has the world’s most entrepreneurial
younger generation.” big question. Republicans want to offset labor force and the largest, most liquid
the costs with cuts elsewhere, while markets.
WHO PAYS FOR IMPORTS AND Democrats want to raise taxes. The
INFRASTRUCTURE? result is a stalemate. She said politicians “If you want to feel good, just look
are first concerned with getting elected at our European counterparts. Just look
When it comes to trade, the United – “convincing 51 percent the other 49 at what’s happening in Japan,” she said.
States is being hampered by a strong is to blame.” The reality is, constituents “We’re still the prettiest girl in the ugly
dollar, which protects purchasing power are chiefly concerned with jobs and out- girl contest.” ATR
but makes American-made goods and of-control government spending, mak-
Issue 3 2017 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT
26

Wayne Smith “

1946 - 2017

Wayne Smith served on the Arkansas Trucking Association board
of directors for over two decades and was a founding trustee of
ATA’s Self-Insurers’ Fund. His passing is a great loss to the
industry. He leaves behind a legacy of hard work, family values,
integrity, and a passion for trucking.

It’s been a good trip.

-Wayne Smith
Arkansas Trucking Report Volume 21, Issue 3

“YOU HAVE TO INNOVATE
BEFORE YOU CAN REGULATE…”

—SHANNON EVERETT,
COO OF RICH LOGISTICS

Rich Logistics’ COO Sha
lives on the ranc

28 Issue 3 2017 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT

annon Everett works for the road,
ch and dreams of the clouds

By Deana Nall

Contributing Writer

It’s a Tuesday afternoon at Rich Logistics, and the
atmosphere at the Little Rock, Ark., office is bustling.
The call center is a steady hum of ringing phones
and employees’ voices. People hurry down hallways,
but they don’t mind stopping for a smile and a “hi.”
Shannon Everett walks past the lively activity into
his office, where a glass wall reveals another room of
people across the hall taking customer service calls.
With a fleet of 750 trucks that log 2.2 million miles
all over the nation every week, the phones, hallways
and offices at Rich stay busy. And don’t bother ask-
ing Shannon what a typical day is like for him.



ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 3 2017 29

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“A typical day is not very typical,” “I REMEMBER THINKING TO MYSELF, IS THIS GUY
says Everett, chief operations officer OLD ENOUGH TO OPERATE A COMMERCIAL MOTOR
at Rich Logistics. “There’s never a dull
moment around here. You’ve got to be a VEHICLE ? ’”
good problem-solver.”
—HAYES ATWOOD, VICE PRESIDENT OF NEW TRUCKS
One problem on Shannon’s mind AT SUMMIT TRUCK GROUP
is the tornado that hit the World Trade
Bridge at the border crossing in Laredo, “If he wasn’t in school, he was on After working on the docks for
Tex., a week earlier. The busiest com- the road with me,” Keith says. a while, Shannon decided to get his
mercial bridge on the Mexican border, CDL and become a local driver for the
the World Trade Bridge is critical to LEARN TO FLY company. It was around this time that
Rich’s operations in Mexico. The bridge Shannon first met Hayes Atwood at
has been closed for eight days, and with Despite Keith’s career in trucking, Idealease.
both the U.S. and Mexican governments becoming a trucker was not part of
working on repairs, it should be back in Shannon’s plans as a child. “I was checking in a 16-foot rental
business by the end of the week. That box truck he was returning to us,” says
might seem like a quick repair, but with Instead, he wanted to be a pilot. Atwood, who is now vice president of
10,000 trucks crossing the bridge daily This dream never left, and as a teen, new trucks at Summit Truck Group. “I
that have had to find alternate routes, Shannon began working around crop remember thinking to myself, is this
every minute can mean lost time and dusters. At 18, he started working guy old enough to operate a commercial
lost revenue. toward his pilot’s license. But then motor vehicle?’”
Shannon experienced a close call dur-
“It just shows how vulnerable we ing pilot training that caused him to At the time, Shannon had no
are,” he says. “Our team has done a reconsider. After five flight lessons, intention of staying in the trucking
good job of problem-solving. In our Shannon’s instructor wanted to dem- business.
business, you have to be constantly onstrate how to pull out of a dangerous
adapting.” situation, so with Shannon on board, he TURBULENT TIMES
put the plane into a self-induced spin.
Shannon’s sentences are peppered “I was a teenager, and I was just
with words such as “we,” “our,” “team” “We ended up closer to the ground trying to save up for a truck,” he says. “I
and “us” because he doesn’t believe than we wanted to be,” Shannon didn’t think of it as a career. I thought
anyone accomplishes anything at Rich remembers. “It turned out OK, but it of it as a stepping stone.”
without the help of someone else. really shook both of us up.”
Shannon left Rich and Little Rock
“This is all about teamwork, and With his pilot plans on indefinite to go back to Jonesboro, where he
I’ve got a really strong team,” he says. hold, Shannon had to figure out what worked in regional sales for Coca-Cola.
was next. By then, he had moved to In 2002, he returned to the Little Rock
Rich Logistics employs a solid Bryant, Ark., and graduated from high area and started working as a dispatcher
network of professionals, including school there, and Keith was working for Rich Logistics. He eventually became
Shannon’s wife, Dana, who heads up as operations manager for a company director of sales. Then 2008 came, and
the company’s sales. called Rich Logistics. Back then, Rich with it, the devastating financial crisis
officed out of a mobile home in Bryant, that affected markets from business to
“It’s unbelievable how much work and Virgil Ott was the company’s housing to banking.
she does for the company,” he says. general manager. Ott remembers
“She’s my right hand. The customers Shannon loading trucks on the docks “That’s when I was asked to step
joke that Dana’s the one who does all while Ott crunched numbers in the up and take an executive role with the
the work. It’s not a joke. It’s the truth.” office for a company that was trying to company,” Shannon says.
get its footing.
And Shannon’s father Keith is a The recession and the years that
longtime employee at Rich who now “My job was to try to get enough followed were tough for everyone in the
serves as the company’s CEO. Shannon money together to keep our checks cov- company, recalls Bryan Patton, who is
is quick to tell people that his work ered,” Ott says.
ethic came from his father. Keith has now executive vice president of Rich
worked in trucking his entire career,
and Shannon spent a lot of time at his
father’s office as a young boy. By 11,
Shannon sat next to Keith in the truck
on long drives for Keith’s work—some-
times all the way to Boston and back
home to Jonesboro, Ark., in a few days.

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 3 2017 31

Logistics. At the time, Patton owned a cuts. It was the only way the company “I WALK INTO HIS
company that pulled trailers for Rich. could survive the crisis. Some carriers OFFICE SOMETIMES
left and some stayed, and Patton knew AND HIS BIBLE WILL BE
“I would go to the office to collect he had a decision to make. But for him, OPEN ON HIS DESK. I
money, and Shannon would be sit- the decision was easy. SWEAR THAT’S WHERE
ting at his desk, rubbing his face and HE GETS HIS IDEAS FOR
head,” Patton says. “Then he would ask, “I could have left, but I believed BUSINESS SOMETIMES.”
‘How much can you get by with?’ And I in Shannon and Keith,” Patton says.
would ask for at least enough to pay my “I believe that if it could be done, they
drivers.” could make it happen and turn things
around.”
Shannon had to call a meeting
with Rich’s carriers to announce price Rich was eventually able to replace

—BRYAN PATTON, EXECUTIVE
VICE PRESIDENT OF RICH
LOGISTICS

screen the company’s bank and line of credit.
simulation In 2010, the company began moving
past the crisis.
TAKE ON THE FSMA
“We were successful and we got it
WITH THE NEW done,” Shannon says. “Some custom-
ers filed for bankruptcy, but they still
STANDARD OF paid us.”

CLEAN Shannon still considers the 2008
financial crisis the biggest challenge
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science now comes standard—because when it comes to safety and says. “I walk into his office sometimes
efficiency, we always go the extra mile. and his Bible will be open on his desk. I
Take on the FSMA with the industry’s most powerful antimicrobial swear that’s where he gets his ideas for
protection. Let’s go. business sometimes. I will see him sit-
ting at his desk to improve productivity
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that’s where he finds the answers.”
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32 In 2014, Roadrunner
Transportation Systems purchased Rich
Logistics. Shannon then became chief
operations officer at Rich.

“Roadrunner owns the company
and we report to them, but day to day
operations are still the same,” Shannon
says.

After the merger, their business
expanded from 400 trucks to a 750-
truck fleet.

“I’ve now experienced what it’s like

Issue 3 2017 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT

to go from a small business executive shannon everett
to a large business executive,” Shannon AT-A-GLANCE
says. “Things take longer. I miss being
nimble—being able to act more quickly. BORN IN PARAGOULD, ARK.
I think that’s the difference for every- WHAT’S THE BEST CONCERT YOU’VE EVER BEEN TO? George Strait
one when it comes to expanding.” ANY HIDDEN TALENTS? Team roper and pilot
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM VACATION? Camping with my family in Yellowstone
Even when managing a busi-
ness with a large fleet, Shannon and WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR? White Ford F150 pickup with a lime green stripe
Keith try to hold on to the “100-truck BEST ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED? Have faith.
ethic” from the company’s earlier days. WORST ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED? Buy more trucks.
Shannon initially had no plans to fol- WHAT’S ONE WORD THAT DESCRIBES YOU? Strategizing
low his father into the trucking busi- WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOU? My wife
ness, but Keith’s work ethic made an INTERESTING FACT PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU? I keep
impression on Shannon early on, and my dad on a 3 story limit.
he carries it to this day.
33
“I believe in hard work,” Keith says.
“If you work hard, you get a reward at
the end. Not many people have that
ethic anymore, so if you do, you set
yourself apart from everyone else.”

Instead of working in an office at
Rich behind a closed door, Keith sits
in the middle of operations every day,
answering calls and handling customer
service issues. And he still drives a truck
when he needs to. His 11-years experi-
ence as a full-time driver translates into
a solid relationship with Rich’s drivers.

“They respect me more,” Keith says.
“I’m not going to ask them to do some-
thing I wouldn’t do.”

Keith’s driving experience has also
inspired Rich to offer better working
conditions than what Keith and other
drivers had in the past. Keith remem-
bers driving 1,000 miles in two days,
unloading the heavy cargo himself,
reloading the truck, and driving anoth-
er 1,000 miles.

“We worked around the clock a lot
of times,” Keith says.

Most of Rich’s drivers have Keith’s
cell phone number, and they know if
they need something, they can walk
into Rich’s offices and find Keith in the
middle of the action.

“He’s deeply immersed in the busi-
ness,” Shannon says. “When truck
drivers come in, they know they will
find him there and not behind a closed
office door.

“We have a great relationship with

all of our drivers. Rich focuses on qual-

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 3 2017

“I’VE NOW EXPERIENCED WHAT IT’S LIKE TO GO May of his intent to renegotiate NAFTA.
FROM A SMALL BUSINESS EXECUTIVE TO A LARGE The agreement originally eliminated
BUSINESS EXECUTIVE. THINGS TAKE LONGER. I MISS most regulatory barriers, tariffs and
BEING NIMBLE—BEING ABLE TO ACT MORE QUICKLY. other hindrances to free trade between
I THINK THAT’S THE DIFFERENCE FOR EVERYONE the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Over
the years, NAFTA critics have claimed
WHEN IT COMES TO EXPANDING.” the agreement has resulted in a loss of
manufacturing jobs in the U.S. Trump
—SHANNON EVERETT, COO OF RICH LOGISTICS has proposed reinstating the tariff pro-
cess if a high volume of imports is caus-
ity of life of the driver. We just had plan that proposes the elimination of ing harm to a domestic industry. Also
an outside firm conduct a survey with restrictions on new tolls on U.S. high- up for renegotiation are NAFTA’s “rules
our drivers. The No. 1 thing they like ways. When the plan was announced, of origin,” which determine how much
about working for Rich is home time. a group of trucking executives, includ- of a product can be produced outside of
Being away from home five to ten days ing Shannon, was in Washington to the three countries and still count as a
at a time is hard. You miss your son’s discuss issues in the trucking industry. product of the free trade zone.
baseball games. You’re not there when The infrastructure plan was the primary
your wife is sick. We focus on getting topic. Shannon, Keith and the team at The majority of Rich’s business is
our drivers home more often. It comes Rich support fuel taxes and oppose toll in cross-border trucking with Mexico,
down to planning more.” roads. so a renegotiation could impact the
company. But Shannon is determined
FIRST-CLASS SERVICE “I want to completely discourage to roll with the changes as, and if, they
any discussions about toll roads,” Keith come. Rich hasn’t always done business
As a father to Blake (13), Tucker says. “They are not friendly toward our south of the border; that began during
(11) and Layla (3), Shannon knows industry. They slow production. The Shannon’s time as a dispatcher, when
about the importance of time spent most reasonable way to increase fund- he first traveled with Keith to Mexico.
with family. He and Dana spend a lot ing is to use the fuel tax.” They saw the opportunities available
of time on the family ranch in Sheridan there, and the company refocused
and going on camping trips. All of Another hot topic on Capitol Hill its efforts on trade at the border. The
Rich’s business practices are based on was the electronic log rule, on which switch has been successful for Rich, but
the principles that Shannon values as a Keith said the industry needs a clear the company is open to refocusing else-
business leader, which are reflected in direction. where, if necessary.
the company’s mission.
The Arkansas Trucking Association “I think fair trade is good,” he says.
“We provide our customers with has supported electronic logs since “What we need is fair trade over free
the best service, employees with the best 1999. FMCSA published its final rule on trade. We see the imbalances that exist
safety, and our drivers with the best ELDs in 2015 that mandated all carri- in the truckload trade, and there is defi-
productivity, and we accomplish that ers adopt electronic logs by December nitely a lot more coming into U.S. than
every day with the best team. We can’t 2017, but opposition groups have tried going out. There are some sides we don’t
do anything without people, and we to delay implementation. ELD support- see because the majority of U.S. exports
have the best people.” ers have asked Congress to hold FMCSA are agricultural and those commodities
firm to its original deadline. are typically transported by rail.
WATCHING THE HORIZON
“That’s been on the books for eight “We’re pretty fortunate that our
Shannon’s job involves not only years,” Keith says. “It only hurts us to business is on wheels. That gives us
keeping things running smoothly at continue to stay in the middle of this the flexibility to adapt. We shifted our
Rich, but he and Keith must also keep road. We need to know if we’re going to operation to Mexico, and we can shift it
a close eye on the industry as a whole do it or not.” away from Mexico.”
and how Rich and its employees could
be affected by decisions made on a Other issues that stand to impact Another area of national concern
national level. In May, President Trump the trucking industry are the North is the U.S. federal emissions stan-
unveiled a $1 trillion infrastructure American Free Trade Agreement renego- dards, which are established by the
tiation and fuel emissions regulations. Environmental Protection Agency.
President Trump notified Congress in Shannon believes the current process is
out of order.

“I feel like you have to innovate
before you can regulate,” he says. “The
government has come up with new

34 Issue 3 2017 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT

emissions standards that we really don’t fleet of OTR trucks,” Atwood recalls. “I in nature and around the cows and
have the best technology to support. went to that meeting with the intent calves.
What we end up getting are trucks that of selling him trucks, but left with a
require a lot more maintenance and long list of notes of a better approach “People lose touch with the simple
don’t have the same residual values to understanding the cost of operating things,” he says. “I don’t want to do
when you go to trade them. This has trucks. Like some other good Arkansas that.”
been hurting our owner operators. We truckers I know, Shannon prioritizes his
need trucks that are reliable and more love for his family and his commitment Keith, on the other hand, doesn’t
affordable to maintain.” to his faith. I am proud and thankful to like to sit still. He unwinds after a day
call Shannon Everett my friend.” of work by roping cattle or striking out
Shannon’s passion for all levels of on the highway on his Harley.
Rich Logistics and the trucking indus- TAKING FLIGHT
try have helped transform him from a “I can count on one hand the num-
recent high school graduate who didn’t Even with his success in the truck- ber of times I’ve sat down and watched
look old enough to drive a truck into ing business, Shannon couldn’t forget TV with him,” Shannon laughs.
the respected business leader he is today. that childhood dream of becoming a
He has become known for never being pilot. So in 2008, he finally got his Shannon and Keith agree that the
too busy to stop and help someone, and pilot’s license. Now when traveling trucking business is simple; it’s manag-
for staying a step ahead of his time. for business, he can go by his own ing people that can get complicated.
After Shannon was promoted to COO schedule instead of having to rely on They believe Rich Logistics is blessed
at Rich in 2014, Atwood met with him commercial airlines. Now when he with the best team of people they could
to try to make some truck sales. needs to travel to far-off states such as have.
Michigan or Wisconsin for work, he
“Shannon ended up giving me cost- can get there and back in a day. When “We’re always adapting,” Shannon
per-mile lessons in his office on a pro- Shannon isn’t traveling or at the office, says. “In our business, you have to be
jected, sophisticated spreadsheet he had he can typically be found on his fam- constantly adapting. Requirements are
created using their own value system in ily’s ranch, seeking simple moments more tedious, and they want faster ser-
evaluating cost to operate their growing vice times. I think we’re doing a good
job of doing both.

“I think there’s a lot of mercy and
grace on the company and on us.” ATR

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 3 2017 

35

Smarter Trucks

American Trucking Associations’ Michael Cammisa makes the case
for autonomous technology in trucking

By Lacey Thacker

Contributing Writer

At this point, the general public IT’S ABOUT ROI. WE THINK A COMPELLING BUSINESS
does not have much experience with CASE CAN BE MADE ON THE IMPROVED SAFETY AND
completely autonomous vehicles besides
reading headlines about Google’s pub- PRODUCTIVITY AND REDUCED FUEL BURN.”
licized experiments with passenger
vehicles. Though features like parallel —MICHAEL CAMMISA, AMERICAN TRUCKING ASSOCIATIONS’
parking assist are becoming more and VICE PRESIDENT OF SAFETY AND CONNECTIVITY
more common in new model vehicles,
the possibility of autonomous vehicles there are many levels of autonomous tion. Cammisa notes that, “We don’t
still seems relatively apart from the technology already on the road. Peloton really see this as a driverless technology
daily driving experience. Technology has the ability to link two at this point. We think there’s a role for
trucks, one following the other, in the the driver for the foreseeable future in
But, much of the technology forty to one-hundred feet range, which the trucking industry.” However driv-
needed to make vehicles truly autono- improves aerodynamics and has the ers and autonomous technology come
mous is here already, though still potential to decrease fuel costs. This together, Cammisa believes autonomous
in development and testing. And of following distance is closer than two vehicles have the potential to dramatically
course, motivations behind passenger human drivers can maintain safely. impact nearly all aspects of the truck-
vehicle purchases are different than Otto, a self-driving technology company ing industry. “It’s about ROI. We think
the driving force behind commercial owned by Uber Freight, drove a truck- a compelling business case can be made
vehicle purchases. Particularly during load of beer through Colorado while the on the improved safety and productivity
early implementation, innovative fea- driver was away from the controls and and reduced fuel burn.” Cammisa also
tures in passenger vehicles are seen as even in the sleeping berth at one point. said the ATA believes these technologies
luxury add-on’s, but trucking compa- can bring benefits in the areas of safety,
nies don’t replace vehicles for purposes A totally remote operator is another productivity, efficiency, and also driver
of luxury. Instead, the impact to ROI level—driving completely under computer health, wellness and retention.
will determine how companies view control with a monitor at a remote loca-
the technology, according to American
Trucking Associations’ vice president
of safety and connectivity Michael
Cammisa, who addressed trucking
execs at Arkansas Trucking Association’s
Annual Business Conference & Vendor
Showcase, May 4 in Rogers.

What is meant by “autonomous
vehicles,” anyway? Well, it depends
on who you talk to. Some imagine it
refers only to fully autonomous vehicles
piloted by remote drivers, but in fact

36 Issue 3 2017 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT

ABOUT AUTONOMY “WE DON’T SEE AUTOMATION AS REPLACING THESE
DRIVERS, BUT WHAT WE DO SEE IS THE POTENTIAL
There are five levels of automation,
according to the Society of Automotive FOR THIS TO IMPROVE THEIR PRODUCTIVITY. BY
Engineers. These levels range from 0, IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY, WE CAN HOPEFULLY
which is no automation, to 5, which is TAKE UP SOME OF THIS SLACK, AND HOPEFULLY
full automation. Cammisa encouraged HAVE THE NEEDED CAPACITY OF TRUCKS MOVING TO
the audience to think of autonomous
technology not as completely inde- MATCH THE DRIVERS WE HAVE.”
pendent vehicles that need no human
interaction, but rather as a series of –MICHAEL CAMMISA, AMERICAN TRUCKING ASSOCIATIONS’
building blocks that, when combined, VICE PRESIDENT OF SAFETY AND CONNECTIVITY
result in different levels of autonomous
capability. Those building blocks include For that exact reason, Fuller noted limits in its capabilities based purely on
things professional drivers are already that while he’s heard some concerns the size differential between trucks and
accustomed to, such as lane departure about a possible decrease in wages down passenger vehicles, the new focus will be
warning, ABS, collision warning, and the line due to a perceived decrease in on decreasing the frequency of crashes.
adaptive cruise control. ABS led to elec- the value of the driver, he hasn’t heard Cammisa pointed out that many of the
tronic stability control, which led to much concern about autonomous companies working to develop or pur-
lane-keeping assist. Add cameras and vehicles completely replacing drivers. The chase autonomous technology are doing
machine vision, and you begin to get drivers he spoke with are aware their so with safety as the impetus.
into advanced levels of automation. jobs may change over time, but they will
still be needed to join the pups on two Drivers are looking a mile down
It’s in the middle of the range, trailers, back in to docks, exit interstates, the road, looking for potential obstacles.
Cammisa says, that things get tricky. troubleshoot, and more. Fuller pointed Generally, preventing a crash involves
“The driver might be comfortable, the out that major changes are likely still putting on the brakes to avoid the obsta-
vehicle is handling things, then they far off. What Fuller is more concerned cle all together, or to slow as much as
suddenly have to get reengaged in the with is safety. “I want to always bring possible before impacting that obstacle.
driving task.” To help keep drivers it back to safety. I really hope and pray Cammisa pointed out that occasionally,
engaged, there are options in develop- that when these corporations implement a driver will swerve out of their lane or
ment such as eye tracking and hands- something like this into one of their even off the road to avoid an obstacle,
on-the-wheel monitoring, both of which tractor trailers, that they understand it’s though it’s not always the best decision.
could face obstacles in driver acceptance. a seventy-foot-long, eighty-thousand- But if the vehicle is in control, “The basic
pound tractor. I want them to be the sense of the machine is going to be, stay
Danny Fuller, truck driver for XPO safest tractor trailers on the road they on the road.”
Logistics and an Arkansas Road Team can be.”
captain, said maintaining driver engage- That machine’s “decision making”
ment was one of his key concerns with SAFETY IMPLICATIONS will impact liability, though it’s not yet
the implementation of the technology. clear exactly how, as there are almost no
“When I’m sitting there driving, shift- In general, trucking continues to regulations on the books yet. Cammisa
ing gears, using the brakes—it’s keeping get safer. The overall trend line shows a believes, “Since you do have the machine
my mind active. If I’m just sitting in the 32% decline in large truck related fatal making some choices, I think the liabil-
seat looking around, it makes me more crashes since 1980, and a 74% decrease ity passes more on to the developer. I
fatigued and opens up the possibility of per 100 million miles. We’re pushing think there will become an acceptable
more distraction on my part.” the limits of crash-worthiness, Cammisa level of how these machines are sup-
says, but we have the technology now posed to work and what kinds of bounds
The job of truck driving isn’t just to avoid the crash in the first place. they would have.”
driving. The driver interacts with the “With the mismatch in the size between
shipper and the receiver, and the driver a truck and a car, if you can avoid the CONGESTION RELIEF
is also able to troubleshoot issues with crash, you’re just miles ahead in terms of
the load. Drivers address alerts regarding safety.” Lately, Cammisa said much of the
problems with the truck or trailer that conversation surrounds drivers and how
would affect the load like a refrigerated This technology is coming close to their role will change in the future.
trailer hauling produce in the summer that capability. Instead of focusing on Driving is one of the top employment
that is no longer cooling. With a driv- improving crash worthiness, which has
erless vehicle (level 5), the choices for categories in almost every state, so it’s an
troubleshooting what might be a simple
issue become complicated. 37

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 3 2017

important question to consider sooner, “WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME TRUST IN THE
rather than later. “We don’t see automa-
tion as replacing these drivers, but what TECHNOLOGY AND THE PEOPLE DEVELOPING IT.”
we do see is the potential for this to
improve their productivity. By improving –MICHAEL CAMMISA, AMERICAN TRUCKING ASSOCIATIONS’
productivity, we can hopefully take up VICE PRESIDENT OF SAFETY AND CONNECTIVITY
some of this slack, and hopefully have
the needed capacity of trucks moving to functioning in mind; now develop- their location to other vehicles, and
match the drivers we have.” ers must go several steps further. After vice versa. This is called V-to-V com-
designing and testing the system and munication, in which vehicles emit a
Congested traffic alone accounts doing some due diligence around antici- short-wave warning to other vehicles,
for a huge number of lost productive pated misuse, developers must also look alerting them to location and proximity,
hours--about 728 million hours each at malicious intent. From there, they’ll as well as intended turns. This technol-
year, the equivalent of 264,500 drivers begin installing failsafes that detect ogy could be expanded to include V-to-V
sitting still for an entire year. That malicious use and shut the system down communication, in which vehicles
gap is almost the same as the driver if it’s detected. “Those are all elements receive similar information regarding
shortage gap projected over the next being designed into systems,” Cammisa pedestrians, perhaps transmitted by
five years. With a traffic-jam assist explained in response to an audience the pedestrian’s cell phone. This type
feature in trucks that could handle the member’s question about preventing of communication requires the use of a
stop-and-go, drivers could potentially trucks from being “hacked” or otherwise dedicated spectrum, and thus the input
have time added back to their day. If the weaponized. While that awareness is top of the FCC. Because that spectrum
congestion problem can be improved, so of mind for developers, all the questions will fill quickly with information that
too can the driver shortage issue. as to how that misuse will be prevented will directly impact safety, the develop-
simply have not been answered yet. ers behind the technology will need
POLICY AND SECURITY to ensure there are policies in place
At this point, because the technol- regarding any changes in the use of the
Vehicles and vehicle technology ogy is still developing, there are almost spectrum.
used to be designed with only correct no regulations in place restricting the
technology, leaving plenty of room While regulating the technology as
CourtHouse Concepts™ for states to create regulation, such as it develops will be necessary, Cammisa
determining whether platooning will doesn’t think there should be laws or
be allowed and at what distance, as regulations that force the technology
Arkansas did recently. But determining on people or companies. Instead, com-
the performance and performance stan- panies should have the freedom to pick
dards of the technology has been and the pieces of technology that work for
should continue to be the role of the their business. Growth may be slow — at
federal government, Cammisa says. current rates of replacement, it would
take fourteen years to replace all trucks
There are those who want to put up in use — but slow growth will allow for
barriers to the technology, but Cammisa gradual, continuous improvement.
wants to see opportunities left open for
autonomous vehicle innovation to move The Department of Transportation
forward, “We have to have some trust has created an advisory committee
in the technology and the people devel- on automation and transportation.
oping it. Some states are very involved Chris Spear, the CEO of the American
in encouraging innovation. Michigan, Trucking Associations, has been
Ohio, and Pennsylvania have the selected to serve on the committee,
‘Smart Belt Coalition.’ They are working which will advise the new Secretary of
together with their state universities to Transportation Elaine Chao on auto-
create a corridor to try to bring auto- motive-related issues. “We have three
mated vehicles into that area.” principles we talk about when we talk
to regulators. ‘Do no harm; stakeholder
If autonomous vehicles enter the input is important; think about the
roads in any significant way, it will future.’” ATR
be imperative they can communicate

38 Issue 3 2017 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT

No Vacancy

ATRI’s Rebecca Brewster talks truck parking at ATA conference

By Angela E. Thomas “Trucks parked on exit ramps is, Brewster
unfortunately, an all too familiar scene
Contributing Writer anywhere you drive in this country. It’s “more than 75 percent of the drivers
a very unsafe situation for the drivers of have trouble parking at night; 59 per-
Truck parking, or lack thereof, the trucks and for others who have to cent of states have truck parking short-
gained national attention in 2012 navigate around those trucks,” Brewster ages in public rest areas and 31 percent
with the passing of Jason’s Law, which said. in private truck stops.”
addresses the lack of rest areas for com-
mercial truck drivers. The law designat- ATRI has the ability to track real- According to “Real World Insights,”
ed tens of millions of dollars in federal time data from trucks, however, dur- more than 90 percent of the drivers
funding to help construct and restore ing her presentation “No Vacancy: select their own parking locations, pre-
roadside parking areas for commercial Truck Parking Challenges & Solutions,” dominantly (55.5 percent) use websites/
drivers. While the measure was a step Brewster recalled observing firsthand smartphone apps and GPS systems.
in the right direction, data collected by the parking problem while on travel
the American Transportation Research from Atlanta to Chattanooga, Tenn., According to the survey, drivers
Institute (ATRI) found that 5 years later along I-75. chose parking based on proximity — the
parking remains a problem for commer- spaces were close to their destinations or
cial drivers. “It was about 4:30, 5 in the morn- routes and restrooms/showers and food.
ing, and every single exit that I passed
Each year ATRI surveys motor car- had no fewer than four trucks parked The drivers indicated that it’s
riers and commercial drivers to identify on the entrance ramps and then no less equally difficult to find parking in public
the biggest issues of concern. Truck than four on the exit ramps coming and private parking areas — especially in
parking ranked No. 4 in 2016, up one back,” she said. urban and metropolitan regions — and
place from 2015. that, in some instances, reserved parking
One challenge to adding truck spaces can actually add to the problem,
At the Arkansas Trucking parking is public perception. Brewster as these spaces often go unused and free
Association’s Annual Business said it seems the public has a “not in parking spaces become full.
Conference & Vendor Showcase in my backyard” mindset.
Rogers on May 4, ATRI president and Drivers indicated that they prefer
COO Rebecca Brewster shared the not- “People do not want trucks park- to park in public rest areas. However,
for-profit organization’s latest research ing near where they live and work. They public rest areas can be difficult to find
on how the dearth of parking spaces is want all the goods that come on those as a good number are closed, and the
affecting the industry. trucks, but they don’t want to have the distance between these parking loca-
space available for drivers to get their tions has increased. In fact, one driver
A CLOSER LOOK mandated rest.” wrote that he had been “kicked out of

Federal Motor Carrier Safety regu- FROM THE CABIN rest areas wondering if I will make a
lations allow drivers 14 hours of on-
duty time and 11 hours of driving time, Brewster shared insight from 39
after being off-duty for 10 or more ATRI’s 2016 study “Managing Critical
consecutive hours. This regulations is Truck Parking Case Study — Real World
intended to help reduce driver fatigue Insights from Truck Parking Diaries.”
and in turn positively impacts safety The data, which was collected from
for everyone on the road. However, this ATRI-supplied driver diaries, speaks to
regulation also presents a challenge for the shortage and gives credence to a
truck drivers: parking. Federal Highway Administration sur-
vey of 8,000 drivers which found that
ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 3 2017

safe haven for my 10-hour break. It is time. On average, the drivers give up equipment, parked in spaces designated
the most stressful aspect of the job.” about an hour a day,” Brewster said. for their use. The instances of this issue
rose coinciding with the hours during
A diary entry from an Oklahoma Drivers using electronic logs were which drivers were most likely to park in
driver also illustrated this point: “The twice as likely to spend 30 minutes or unauthorized and undesignated areas, 7
first thing states do when they cut bud- more looking for parking than those to 11:59 p.m. and midnight to 4:59 a.m.
gets is to close rest areas. So, we cannot who do not use an ELD. One driver
depend on them to be open when we noted: “ELD leaves no room for dealing In fact, the time of day was cited
need them. Some states are ‘no trucks with full truck stops, making it nearly as the most common parking issue —
allowed’ in some rest areas or restricted impossible to preplan.” nearly 62 percent of drivers listed this as
to 2 hours. And if we use them, we risk a problem. To combat this, some of the
having our break interrupted by a DOT Charles Brown has been a profes- drivers “operate at night or begin their
inspection.” sional driver for 23 years. He’s based in duty cycles early in the morning.

When available, private truck “PEOPLE DO NOT WANT Brown’s longest route is 900 miles.
stops are, according to ATRI’s research, TRUCKS PARKING NEAR “For that route, I can usually cover most
preferred by drivers for their 10-hour WHERE THEY LIVE AND of the route the first day. I drive 8 hours,
breaks. Factors that influenced these WORK. THEY WANT ALL take a 30-minute break and after 3
choices included: proximity to route/ THE GOODS THAT COME hours take my 10-hour break. I’m a day
destination; restrooms/showers and driver, by choice. I start my day at 8 a.m.
restaurants; parking availability; ease of ON THOSE TRUCKS, and end it about 10 or 11 o’clock, and
access; security; company policy; and BUT THEY DON’T parking is definitely an issue then. Most
customer loyalty programs. Parking here WANT TO HAVE THE people drive the day shift, so that makes
also posed problems at times, due to SPACE AVAILABLE FOR it difficult.”
overcrowding. DRIVERS TO GET THEIR
MANDATED REST.” Brown said he spends about 15 to 20
Most of the drivers surveyed admit- minutes looking for parking. However, he
ted to parking in an unauthorized or –REBECCA BREWSTER, said, when push comes to shove, parking
undesignated area at least three or four PRESIDENT AND COO OF ATRI at a truck stop in an undesignated area is
times per week, followed by 25.7 percent common among drivers.
who did so 1 to 2 times per week, and Little Rock, Ark., and drives routes that
9.5 percent admitted to “relying heavily cover 12 states. He said parking is an “It’s very difficult,” he said. “If
on shoulder and ramp parking … which issue that has become more complicated you’re tired and sleepy, you have to stop.
equates to parking in an unauthorized or with federal guidelines and ELDs. It’s a matter of safety. I’ve seen drivers
undesignated area at least once per day.” park in the fuel lanes.”
“We’ve always had standards and
Brewster said, “Drivers are not will- limits on drive time, but now companies And just like drivers who took part
ingly choosing to park where they’re use a different method to ensure drivers in ATRI’s study he’s seen RVs and other
not allowed to park, but they’ve got to follow procedures and take the breaks vehicles parked in areas designated for
get their rest somewhere. We’d heard we’re supposed to. Everything is done trucks.
anecdotally that drivers will often give electronically, so we’re not using paper
up available drive time because they logs anymore.” Brown said he must plan his stops
know there’s parking [where they are], and knows where parking is scarce and
but they’re not confident that they will By December 2017, almost every does lose drive time as a result. “You
find parking an hour or 2 hours down driver will be mandated to record their absolutely lose money. However, you
the road.” driving time electronically, which is like- must make the wise decision and park.
ly to push more drivers onto exit ramps It definitely results in lost drive time
Specifically, drivers looking for when their time runs out and there’s no and over the course of the year, a con-
parking from 7 to 11:59 p.m. often rest stop in sight. siderable amount of money.”
spent more than 15 minutes looking for
parking, which could impact their HOS. Further exasperating the prob- Brewster reports that time spent
(Hope Rivenburg, Jason Rivenburg’s lem, drivers often find noncommercial looking for a spot amounts to about
widow and driving force behind Jason’s vehicles, such as RVs or construction $4,600, or about an average of 10 per-
Law, sponsored a study of parking con- cent, in lost wages annually per driver.
ditions in which 39 percent of drivers
said it takes them an hour or longer to “EASY” FIXES
find parking.)
Brewster offered some relatively
“So they’d rather hedge their bets “easy” fixes to the complex problem.
and park now and give up available drive For example, she suggested time limits
be increased at public rest areas so a
40 driver isn’t disturbed by law enforce-

Issue 3 2017 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT

ment’s knock on his window, two Another fix is for motor carriers if you’re not willing to pay $12, they
hours into his rest time. “Real World to pay for reservation fees. According are just unavailable spots,” wrote an
Insights” also proposed that state DOTs to ATRI’s study, drivers have the most Arkansas driver.
reopen rest areas that were previously difficulty parking in and around met-
closed; and expand current facilities. ropolitan areas, so they are more likely “Additionally, drivers must plan
(Last December, the U.S. DOT Federal to use reserved parking. However, only ahead, accounting for their required
Highway Administration issued a memo 15 percent of those surveyed said their breaks and rest periods, and do a bet-
with detailed information on funding companies pay for parking. “The rub,” ter job of utilizing the spaces so there’s
eligibility for truck parking projects.) Brewster said, “is that only 20 percent room for more drivers,” Brewster said.
of drivers were willing to pay up to $5”
She also proposed that parking be and only 20 percent were willing to pay Further, the report, which is avail-
allowed at weigh stations and other up to $10 for the spaces. This may be able at atri-online.org, also included
public facilities. There is square foot- because the drivers are already losing the suggestion that drivers “take their
age just the off the highways that isn’t money through the loss of drive time 10-hour required HOS breaks during
designated for legal truck parking, but due to HOS limits. off-peak demand hours, typically 5 a.m.
it could be. And legal obstacles like zon- to 4 p.m.” and shift their days of opera-
ing laws could be relaxed or revisited for “With more truck stops imple- tion to include weekends, which may
private truck stop operators to open or menting reserved parking spots, it help improve productivity.
expand facilities to accommodate more makes it more challenging if your
trucks. company doesn’t reimburse reservation Brewster concluded her presenta-
fees. I assume most companies don’t. tion by teasing some of the other issues
But before new spaces are found, It’s nice to have a spot available late at truck drivers face that ATRI is currently
private truck stops have the responsi- night when you pull in, but most of the researching. Congestion and bottle-
bility of better managing the available spots go unused each night. I haven’t necks, driver experiences with certified
spaces and designating separate areas seen more than half of the available medical examiners, and how autono-
for smaller bobtail tucks or non-com- spots used at the stops I’ve been to. But, mous trucks may impact drivers. These
mercial vehicles. and other research can be found at the
website www.atri-online.org. ATR

Join Us! CHAMPIONSHIP
50TH ANNIVERSARY
July 13 - 15 2017

Rogers, Ark.

John Q. Hammons
Convention Center

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 3 2017 41

Milestone in Rogers

Recap of the 2017 ATA Annual Conference & Vendor Showcase

By ATR Staff Wednesday morning with the Safety After the morning’s panels and
Management Council’s session, “The opening the vendor showcase, ATA
The Arkansas Trucking Association Anatomy of an Accident” presented by President Shannon Newton recognized
celebrated its 85th anniversary at its Doug Marcello, of Marcello & Kivisto. the association’s safest fleets and indi-
Annual Business Conference and Then the Maintenance & Technology viduals at the Awards luncheon.
Vendor Showcases with 322 individu- Council hosted a technician curriculum
als representing over 138 companies panel, discussing how to include the Winners included Driver of the
and organizations attending the mile- voices of business and education insti- Year, Jerry Whittenburg of Stallion
stone event on May 3–5 at the John Q. tutions to prepare young technicians for Transportation Group, and Safety
Hammons Center in Rogers, Ark. a changing field. Bentley Wallace, the Professional of the Year, Scott Stewart
vice chancellor for economic develop- of Distribution Solutions, Inc. Walmart
This year’s schedule offered six ment at UA-Pulaski Technical College” Transportation claimed the safest fleet
forums, four council meetings, the elec- moderated the conversation between award for the second year in a row.
tion of five new board members, and Truck Centers of Arkansas’s Kenneth
the stories of individuals and families Calhoun, McKee Foods Transportation’s After lunch, reports were given
who have contributed to trucking’s long James Berry, Dr. Beth Stewart from the for ATA finances, membership, work-
history in Arkansas, including the story North Little Rock School District and ers’ compensation, governmental
of how featured speaker Johnelle Hunt NATEF’s George Arrants. affairs and councils. The board of
cofounded one of the biggest trucking directors added five new members dur-
companies in North America with her ing the association’s general business
late husband, Johnnie Bryan. meeting on Wednesday afternoon as
well: Rochelle Bartholomew, CalArk
The conference kicked off International; John Culp, Maverick

 Lisa Schimmelpfenning from Walmart
Stores talks trade

 ATA President Shannon Newton  J.B. Hunt
awards the Grand Champion of Corporate Transport
Fleet Safety to Jason Wing with Walmart cofounder
Transportation
Johnelle Hunt
tells stories of
how she and her

late husband
built one of the
biggest trucking

companies in
North America

42 Issue 3 2017 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT

USA; Kory Larson, The Larson Group; AWARD RECIPIENTS
James Reed, USA Truck; and John Smith,
FedEx Freight. Before the meeting con- 2016 DRIVER OF THE YEAR GENERAL COMMODITIES LTL
cluded, outgoing board of directors JERRY WHITTENBURG DIVISION
chairman Butch Rice passed the torch
to Star Transportation’s Al Heringer IV, Stallion Transportation Group Intermediate Carrier:
and Butch was honored for his service
and two-year term as board chair. 2016 SAFETY PROFESSIONAL OF OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE,
THE YEAR INC.
The American Trucking SCOTT STEWART
Associations’ president, Chris Spear Thomasville, N.C.
delivered the State of the Industry Distribution Solutions, Inc. Large Carrier:
address. He recapped the recent visit to
the White House by trucking executives CORPORATE FLEET SAFETY FEDEX FREIGHT
and what priorities his members want AWARDS
to see dealt with in Washington: infra- Harrison, Ark.
structure. Spear also addressed the need Grand Champion
for nationally uniform labor laws and PRIVATE CARRIER DIVISION
the frustration the industry faces when WALMART TRANSPORTATION
states enforce contradictory meal and Intermediate Carrier:
rest break requirements for drivers who Bentonville, Ark.
work across state borders. ARGOS
TRUCKLOAD-FLATBED DIVISION
In his address, Spear highlighted Little Rock, Ark.
some of the other legislative issues Intermediate Carrier: Large Carrier:
that trucking will face including tax
reform, toll prevention and how to LOGGINS LOGISTICS WALMART TRANSPORTATION
safely embrace technology. He also
emphasized the need to protect trade Jonesboro, Ark. Bentonville, Ark.
agreements and the impact renegotia- Large Carrier:
tion could have on cross-border traffic. TANK TRUCK DIVISION
Read more about Spear’s address in MAVERICK TRANSPORTATION
Steve Brawner’s article, “The State of Intermediate Carrier:
the Industry in 2017” on page 19. Little Rock, Ark.
SOLAR TRANSPORT COMPANY
Stifel Fixed Income’s chief econo- TRUCKLOAD - VAN & REEFER
mist Lindsey Piegza spoke to attendees DIVISION West Des Moines, Iowa
about the current economic climate
and where it leaves the industry on Small Carrier: SMALL PACKAGE DIVISION
infrastructure, trade and employment.
An overview of Piegza’s presentation BRAY FAST FREIGHT, LLC Large Carrier:
can be found in Steve Brawner’s article
“Economic Expectations vs. Reality” on Batesville, Ark. FEDEX GROUND
page 24. Intermediate Carrier:
Coraopolis, Pa.
40 Under 40 Council members got DEDICATED LOGISTICS, LLC
some insight from Spear, who stayed to
address the young trucking profession- Crossett, Ark.
als in a smaller, more personal setting. Large Carrier:

The Accounting & Finance Council P.A.M. TRANSPORT, INC.
also held their quarterly meeting
Wednesday afternoon. Senior Research Tontitown, Ark.
Analyst Brad Delco from Stephens Inc.
presented on wall street’s perspective on  Safety Professional of the Year, Scott
ELD regulations. Stewart of Distribution Solutions, Inc.
with ATA President Shannon Newton
This year’s event was made pos-  Driver of the Year Jerry Whittenburg of
Stallion Transportation with his wife Vickie
sible by 19 Gold Sponsors and 11 Silver

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 3 2017 43

Sponsors. An exclusive Gold Sponsor talked trade. To close we won’t forget for many years or miles
reception was held Wednesday night the educational por- down the road, but we are already look-
where guests were encouraged to “party tion of the conference, ing forward to next year’s meeting in
like it’s 1932”— the year the association Shannon Newton Hot Springs. Save the date now for May
was founded. shared the video 16–18, 2018. ATR
stories of five indi-
Thursday morning’s Silver Spoon viduals who lived and
breakfast allowed silver sponsors to worked in trucking
lead discussion on industry topics with throughout the last
attendees over pancakes and coffee 85 years before she
before the day’s forums began. paid tribute to some of
the men and women
ATRI’s COO Rebecca Brewster came who have become myth and celebrity
to the conference stage to present the in the Arkansas trucking story. Finally,
latest research on truck parking and Johnelle Hunt took the stage to tell her
how lack of space is creating hardships own family’s story of trucking in the
for drivers across the country. Read Natural State.
Angela Thomas’s report on ATRI’s find-
ings in her article “No Vacancy” on Friday morning was chilly but
page 39. green for 79 golfers on 20 teams to
enjoy a morning tournament. The first
Michael Cammisa, the American place trophies went home with Chuck
Trucking Associations’ vice president of McCauley (Corvel Corporation), Jack
safety policy and connectivity, exam- Welbourn, and Brian Welbourn (both
ined autonomous trucks and the policy of Regions Insurance).
needed to prepare for their arrival (full
story “Smarter Trucks” on page 36), and It was a milestone conference that
Walmart Stores’ Lisa Schimmelpfenning

 Rep. Charlie Collins shares what it
takes to get things done in the legislature

44  Maintenance & Technology Council’s
panel discussion on technician curriculum
in Arkanas. Speakers were (left to right)
moderator Bentley Wallace, UA-Pulaski
Technical College; Kenneth Calhoun,
Truck Centers of Arkansas; James Berry,
McKee Foods Transportation; Dr. Beth
Stewart, North Little Rock School District;
and George Arrants, National Automotive
Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF)

Issue 3 2017 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT

THANK YOU,

ATA CONFERENCE SPONSORS!

GOLD SPONSORS  ATA President Shannon THANK YOU TO OUR 2017 VENDORS
Newton recounts 85 years of
Aon myth, legends, and history Battery Outfitters
Bendix CVS LLC D.W. Story & Associates, Inc.
CorVel Corporation Drivewyze, Inc.
Cummins Sales & Service Frost Oil Company
FedEx Freight HELP Inc.
HELP Inc. Liberty National Life Insurance
J.B. Hunt Transport Lowen Color Graphics
PeopleNet NanoMech
Pilot Flying J Open Road Drivers Plan
Rich Logistics ORBCOMM
Stallion Transportation Group PeopleNet
Summit Truck Group Shipley Motor Equipment Company
Superior Trailer Sales Co. SmartDrive Systems
The Larson Group SmartTruck Systems, LLC
TravelCenters of America Super Trailer Sales Co.
Tri-State Truck Center SuperVision
Truck Centers of Arkansas, Inc. The Larson Group
Utility Tri-State, Inc. TravelCenters of America
York Risk Services Group Truckstop.com
Utility Tri-State, Inc.
SILVER SPONSORS
 Doug Marcello of
Carman, Inc. Marcello & Kivisto, LLC
Drivers Legal Plan presents “The Anatomy of
Great Dane Trailers an Accident”
Great West Casualty Company
J. J. Keller & Associates 45
Regions Insurance, Inc.
Shipley Motor Equipment Company
Stephens
Walmart Transportation
Wayne Smith Trucking
Wells Fargo Equipment Finance

 American Trucking Associations
President Chris Spear spoke with the

40 Under 40 Council

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 3 2017

GOLD SPONSOR RECEPTION

46 Issue 3 2017 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT

GOLF TOURNAMENT

2ND PLACE TEAM – Aon 3RD PLACE TEAM – Shipley Motor
1ST PLACE TEAM – CorVel Coporation and Equipment Company
Regions Insurance, Inc.

GOLF SPONSORS

Aon

Bendix CVS LLC

CorVel Corporation

Central National Bank–Trucking Division

Comdata, Inc.

Cummins Sales & Service

Distribution Solutions, Inc.

FedEx Freight

HELP Inc.

J.B. Hunt Transport

Loggins Logistics, Inc.

Marrlin Transit, Inc.

McGriff, Seibels & Williams, Inc.

PeopleNet

Pilot Flying J

Rich Logistics

Shipley Motor Equipment Company

Stallion Transportation Group

Subrogation Division, Inc.

Summit Truck Group

Superior Trailer Sales Co.

The Larson Group

TravelCenters of America

Tri-State Truck Center

Truck Centers of Arkansas

Utiltiy Tri-State, Inc.

York Risk Services Group ATR

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 3 2017 47

Fuel Tax and Crackerjacks

ATA members discuss infrastructure funding with legislators and witness a
Washington Nationals win for the 2017 Call on Washington

By ATR Staff On Wednesday morning, the in the Federal Aviation Administration
American Trucking Associations Authorization Act (F4A) to prevent
Arkansas Trucking Association hosted a briefing, where newly con- restrictions on free flowing interstate
participated in a Call on Washington firmed FMCSA Chief Counsel Randi commerce.
May 23 – 25 with 15 attendees from Hutchinson was introduced and
eleven member companies and answered questions about her new role. In addition to consistent regulation,
lobbyists from Little Rock’s Capitol the group also discussed alternative
Advisors Group including three board ATA went to the Hill with an ambi- infrastructure funding sources to the
of directors members and, for the first tious agenda of topics to cover with the politically unpopular fuel tax. Each
time, two professional drivers from the legislators. Trucking executives who legislator expressed their appreciation
Arkansas Road Team. operate across state lines expressed the for the commitment of time and level
necessity for standardized meal and of effort that goes into traveling to
Before meeting with each of rest break requirements for their drivers D.C. to meet with them. Congressman
Arkansas’ six elected legislators, the who should not have to recognize new Westerman was particularly hospitable,
group gathered at Nationals Park to state labor laws in the middle of their treating guests to a nighttime tour
root for the home team’s 10-1 victory shift as they cross the border. Legislative of the Capitol Building Wednesday
over the Seattle Mariners. action is needed to clarify the language evening. ATR

 Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) listens to  Rep. French Hill (R-1st District) flanked by
the concerns of ATA members Arkansas Road Team Captains Loren Hatfield,
ABF Freight, and Danny Fuller, XPO Logistics
48  Rep. Westerman leads a private tour
of the Capitol at night

Issue 3 2017 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT

 Al Heringer IV, Star Transportation; 2017 CALL ON WASHINGTON AGENDA
Randi Hutchinson, FMCSA; Shannon
Newton and David O’Neal, Arkansas Clarify Preemption Under F4A: ATA strongly supports clarifying the Federal Aviation
Trucking Association Administration Authorization Act’s (F4A) preemption provision over state meal and
rest break requirements and state bans on “piece rate” pay practices. This will ensure
carriers can operate efficiently and competitively, under uniform federal regulations,
rather than being subjected to a patchwork of state rules governing driver hours and
pay practices.

Transportation Infrastructure Funding: ATA supports adequate, long-term, stable and
sustainable funding for the federal-aid highway program and an increase to the fuel
tax. Other alternatives ATA supports include a new annual fee on all vehicles; royalties
from new oil and gas leases; and a barrel tax on imported petroleum and domestic
crude oil.

Federal Tax Reform: ATA supports efforts at providing comprehensive tax reform
and urges the adoption of several key tax reforms, including lowering the rate of the
income tax on all business income, simplifying the tax code, and retaining Section 1031
of the Internal Revenue Code.

Regulatory Reform: ATA strongly support regulations that are based on sound science
along with input from experts. Federal regulations should be narrowly tailored,
supported by strong and creditable data and evidence, and impose the least burden
possible while implementing congressional intent.

Electronic Logging Devices: ATA continues to support ELDs and asks that the December
2017 adoption requirement not be extended. Carriers have invested substantial time
and financial resources in advance of this date and request that Congress hold FMCSA
firm to its own deadline.

 Meeting with Sen. John Boozman

 At the Capitol

 Jeff Loggins, Loggins Logistics;  (Back Row) Don Hinkle, YRC Freight; Shannon Everett, Rich Logistics; Tammy 49
Danny Fuller, XPO Logistics; Chuck Dumas, FedEx Corp.; Loren Hatfield, ABF Freight; Al Heringer IV, Star Transportation
Mitchell, MC Express; and Al Heringer (Second Row) Danny Fuller, XPO Logistics; Chuck Mitchell, MC Express; Christy
IV, Star Transportation Conrad, FedEx Freight; Jeff Loggins, Loggins Logistics; David O’Neal, ATA; Rep. Bruce
Westerman (R-4th District); Shannon Newton, ATA; Doug Voss, University of Central
ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 3 2017 Arkansas; Alan Riels, Dedicated Logistics

Insider Trucking

A look at the latest products, services and news from ATR advertisers

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 DOT
 testing.
 
cost a significant amount of moneyby top industry leaders, to eliminate friction, wear and corrosion under extreme pressure and climates.
“Complacency can cost a significant amount of money while being adaptive to change and improvement diate action if the employee violates the

while being adaptive to change andcan be a game changer,“ adds Peoples. drug and alcohol safety regulations.
NanoMech is the #1 scientific breakthrough in advanced lubrication & protection. They surpass what
Mobile Screening Services by
improvement can be a game changer,“others just promise. For more information please visit www.Nanomech.com or contact us at 479-725-
8008 or [email protected]. Courthouse Concepts provides drug

a dds Peoples. testing services at your business. The
NanoMech is the #1 scientific
mobile drug test services are regularly
breakthrough in advanced lubrication
and protection. They surpass what oth- available throughout Arkansas, and can
ers just promise. For more information
please visit www.Nanomech.com or be scheduled anywhere in the United
contact us at 479-725-8008 or Info@
NanoMech.com. States with proper notice.

Whether you are dealing with

the DOT or saving on your insurance

through a “Drug Free Workplace” pro-

gram, CourtHouse Concepts has you

covered.

Visit us today at www.courthousec-

oncepts.com

50 Issue 3 2017 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT