Award-Winning Magazine of the Arkansas Trucking Association
Arkansas Trucking Report is owned by the Arkansas Trucking Association, Inc. and is published bimonthly by Matthews Publishing Group. For additional copies, to order reprints of individual articles or to become a subscriber to ATR, contact Abby Lloyd at 501.372.3462.
publisher JENNIFER MATTHEWS Matthews Publishing Group
jennifer@matthewspublishing.com executive editor
SHANNON NEWTON
managing editor BETHANY MAY
contributing writers
brawnersteve@mac.com
JENNIFER BARNETT REED
jbreed13@gmail.com JIM HARRIS
jimharris@arktimes.com art director JON D. KENNEDY
The Freelance Co. LLC,
freelanceco@comcast.net production editors
SARAH SHEETS, KATIE THOMASON illustrator
BRENT BENNETT
brentdraw@att.net photographers
JON D. KENNEDY, BOB OCKEN, JOHN DAVID PITTMAN STEVE BRAWNER
jdschulz50@aol.com SCOTT TRAVIS
stravis@gmail.com JOHN SCHULZ SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES
Depending on your outlook, the trucking industry has many daunting challenges to address or critical opportunities to seize in 2015 and beyond. Of course perspective matters, but this is not just a clever case of semantics. It’s about mindset.
Research suggests a powerful link between how we impact issues and the frame of reference we bring to bear upon them. Management consultants tell us the same is true of organizations: the difference between achieving a wildly successful outcome and experiencing a dismal failure is sometimes only a slight shift in perception. How important is our perspective, and how much difference can you create with a subtle shift in mindset? Just as important, how influential is our environment upon our current outlook?
www.arkansastrucking.com president
SHANNON SAMPLES NEWTON
shannonnewton@arkansastrucking.com director of operations
SARAH NEWMAN SHEETS
sarahsheets@arkansastrucking.com
communications coordinator BETHANY MAY
bethanymay@arkansastrucking.com
corporate services coordinator KATIE THOMASON
katiethomason@arkansastrucking.com
executive assistant ABBY CROSSLAND
abbycrossland@arkansastrucking.com
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD CRAIG HARPER
Executive Vice President & COO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MARR LYNN BEARDEN Marrlin Transit, Inc. President
Central States Manufacturing, Inc. Transportation Director
ALLEN BERRY
GREG CARMAN Carman, Inc. President
P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. President & CEO
DAN CUSHMAN
Star Transportation, Inc. Vice President
Transportation Director
Risk Management and Safety PHILIP MAHONEY
Distribution Solutions, Inc. CEO, Owner
Vice President, Truck Sales MIKE MCNUTT
Truck Centers of Arkansas
Executive Vice President SCOTT MANCHESTER
Great West Casualty Co. Executive Vice President,
JEFF LESTER USA Truck
Tyson Foods, Inc. BLUE KEENE AL HERINGER IV
Morris Transportation, Inc. President
MARK MORRIS
U of A/Walton College of Business Chair of Transportation
Executive Vice President & COO G.E. “BUTCH” RICE III
Stallion Transportation Group President & CEO
Walmart Transportation Senior Vice President
TRACY ROSSER
GARY SALISBURY Fikes Truck Line Chairman & CEO
ABF Freight System, Inc. President & CEO
Wayne Smith Trucking, Inc. President
VICKI JONES STEPHENS C.C. Jones, Inc. President
STEVE WILLIAMS Maverick USA
Chairman & CEO WAYNE SMITH ROY SLAGLE FedEx Freight PAT REED DR. JOHN OZMENT J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.
It’s certainly true that our industry’s performance is closely tied to the American economy, which has been looking increasingly positive. Freight demand is up, tonnage growth is increasing and, after the toughest period in recent memory, economic forecasts are trending positively. In short, the state of our industry is strong, characterized by an overall sense of optimism.
And yet, there are many critical opportunities to be seized for the collective well-being of our industry. We must continue to stare down the barrel of pressing business and regulatory concerns. Described in detail in Arkansas Trucking Report’s ‘The Trucking Industry’s Top 10 Issues Survey,’ these pressure points include tightening regulations, ongoing driver turnover and shortages, deteriorating infrastructure and funding, and integration of technological advancements.
These are certainly challenges, but they are also opportunities that will impact the long- term health and direction of our industry. The stakes are high, with consequences that will last well into the future. We must do everything we can to make sure we’re moving in the right direction.
But this mission is bigger than any individual company. Each of us is an important component of creating a safer, more productive and efficient industry. Seeing industry pressure points for the opportunities they are, despite the complexities involved, can redirect us to take action on issues that really matter and can create a brighter future for us all.
An affiliate of the American Trucking Associations
Arkansas Trucking Association (ATA) is an Arkansas corporation of trucking companies, private carrier fleets and businesses which serve or supply the trucking industry. ATA serves these companies as a governmental affairs representative before legislative, regulatory and executive branches of government on issues that affect the trucking industry. The organization also provides public relations services, 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 Post Office Box 3476 (72203) Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 Phone 501.372.3462 Fax 501.376.1810
www.arkansastrucking.com
In this issue, Arkansas Trucking Report profiles a woman who sees these opportunities and sincerely cares about the success of our trucking industry—new ATA President Shannon Newton. A trailblazer on issues that are important to all truckers, particularly those impacting Arkansas carriers, Mrs. Newton has been an influential voice on the self insurers’ workers compensation fund, the state tax on extended warranties and anti- indemnification language. Shannon’s 12 years of experience with our association is evident in how well she navigates through the legislatures in Arkansas, as well as in D.C. She is a phenomenal asset to the Arkansas Trucking Association, and we are fortunate to have her as our President.
UP FRONT
Craig Harper, ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 1 2015
Drivers Legal Plan Drivers Legal Plan
J. B. Hunt Tranport, Chairman of the Board,
Arkansas Trucking Association 9
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