PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE


Nebraska Trucking Executive Committee CHAIRMAN


Schulz Transportation Services


CHRIS KLOTZ SBT, Inc.


Distribution, Inc. MARY DAVIE


Flatbed Express


EARL VONRENTZELL NPPD


Seward Motor Freight DICK REISER


ERICH HELGE Werner Enterprises BOARD OF DIRECTORS


Duane Acklie* Don Adams Dean Aden* Steve Aherns


George Akerson*


Clayton Andrews* Crystal Anderson Tim Aschoff Blaine Batten


Dennis Bauder Emil Beyer


David Billings


Joanie Bogers Butch Brown* Kurt Brown Tom Coffey*


Drummond Crews III Eldon Dokter*


Dwight Dunsworth* Dave Erlandson Kurt Everett Ross Faubel Corby Flagle


Hugh Fugleberg* Mike Galvin


Norm Geiken Rick Gomel


Dick Hauptman Mike Herre* Mike Hewitt Al Hill


Al Hingst


Duane Hobscheidt Phillip Holliday Dan Hurt


Vince James


Cory Johnson Kim Johnson Don Kaiser


Larry Kersten *past chairman of the board NEBRASKA TRUCKER — ISSUE 5, 2012 — www.nebtrucking.com 7 Scott Kiddoo


Gerald Kilthau Brad Kistler


Tom Koenigs Dennis Leslie Larry Lewis Heidi Loop


Linda McCollum


Michael McKeever Ron Mencl Trey Mytty Scott Olsen


Tonn Ostergard* Dave Parker*


Dean Petersen Dick Pierson* Eric Pierson Tom Pirnie* Gene Quandt


Greg Reitmeier* Cath Reidemann Norm Riffel*


Ron Romans* Scott Romans Bob Sahling* John Sahling Roger Schmidt


Terry Schnauber Amanda Schuier Jack Shultz


Russ Stough Nick Vuko


Dave Walde C.L. Werner* Jerry Wessel Bert S. Wise Brian Wood Bob Wynne Rallie Zeitner


Chief Carriers BOB WINTER


BOB CLARK


Aulick Leasing Corp. ALAN SCHULZ


DANNY TOMKINS


GREAT PROGRESS ON I-80 IMPROVEMENTS


I was thinking on my morning commute from Omaha to Lincoln that I want to call to everyone’s attention to the opening of yet another segment of I-80 between Omaha and Lincoln. Highway funding continues to be one of our industry’s highest priorities. Tis particular project stands out as a great example of Nebraska investing in its future by improving one of the busiest interstate segments in the state. As one of the estimated 18,000 people that commute to jobs in either Lincoln or Omaha, I have witnessed the progress this project has made over the past 11 or so years. I know game day Saturdays seem to be moving a lot smoother and it will only continue to improve as the final sections are completed.


Eleven years may have seemed like a lifetime. However, I’ve been fortunate to see the improvements in efficiency and safety of the road itself. Prior to this time, I frequently experienced backups for miles. You would sit at a standstill for what seemed like an eternity, only to find that a minor fender bender had occurred on the “other” side of the interstate. Unfortunately, there were also times when the original fender bender, in the course of the long backups, would lead to more serious secondary or tertiary accidents, causing additional delays, injuries and property loss. Probably not so obvious, but equally important, are the many improvements I’ve noticed in the way construction zones are marked and handled to prevent accidents and minimize the disruption of traffic. Tese improvements are a huge credit to the staff of our Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) and their highway contractors and subcontractors. One of the most visible on this project has been one of our loyal member companies, Hawkins Construction. I’m certain that these highway improvements have required a great deal of vision and commitment on their part, investing in the best employees, machinery and safety practices available to accomplish the project in an efficient and safe manner.


Credit is also due to our elected state officials for their support in allocating funds and having a commitment to protecting our state’s highway fund to enable long-term improvements like this I-80 project. Last but not least, the trucking industry should be very proud that we are paying our fair share to finance these important enhancements. Our user- based fees and taxes represent 46 percent of all taxes and fees owed by Nebraska motorists, even though trucks represent only 13 percent of all vehicle miles traveled in the state.


Certainly, there are more high traffic corridors within the state that are on NDOR’s 20-year plan, when and if funds become available. Te highway-funding bill, LB84, which passed last year, will send one-quarter of a cent of our state sales tax into the highway trust fund to help on high priority projects similar to the I-80 improvement. It is a great investment, which will pay great returns in the future.


Larry Johnson President


Nebraska Trucking ljohnson@nebtrucking.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24