Alabama Trucker, 1st Quarter 2014 by Alabama Trucking Association

Officers Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kevin Savoy Vice Chairman . . . . . . . . . . .Wayne Watkins Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bruce MacDonald Immediate Past Chairman . . . . . . .Jack Brim

ATA Board of Directors Dennis Bailey, Robert Barnett, Aubrey Baugh, Rhonda Bees, Joe Black, Gary Bond, Ray Brock, Greg Brown, Will Bruser, Mike Callahan, Dan Carmichael, Fenn Church, Mark Coffman, Jeff Coleman, John Collier, Rodger Collins, Driscoll Colquett, Brent Cook, Gail Cooper, Al Cox, Jerry Davis, Ranny Davis, Joe Donald, Edmund Doss, Mack Dove, Russ Elrod, Dean Flint, Jack Fricks, Terry Kilpatrick, Jason King, Mark Knotts, Jerry Kocan, Drew Linn, Alan Love, Jeff McGrady, Barry McGriff, Tom McLeod, Buck Moore, E.H. Moore, Jr., Ross Neely, Jr., Tommy Neely, George Overstreet, Butch Owens, Clay Palm, Jim Pickens, Mike Pursley, David Rouse, Bill Scruggs, Danny Smith, Harold Sorrells, Ronnie Stephenson, Paul Storey, James Suttles, Bill Ward, Scott White, David Wildberger, Skip Williams, T.J. Willings, Keith Wise.

ALABAMA

TRUCKER I

N S I D E

ATA WCSIF Staff Kimble Coaker, CEO & Fund Administrator Don Boatright, COO Todd Hager, Director of Claims Rick Hunter, LSP, CDS, Director of Loss Control Debra Calhoun, Office Manager Scott Hunter, MS, CDS, Loss Control Engineer Duane Calhoun, CDS, Loss Control Engineer Kimberly Best, Payroll/Audit Coordinator Kim Campbell, Underwriting Coordinator Katie Edwards, Accounting Specialist Kim Sims, Administrative Assistant

H I S

S S U E

One Less Step for Vets

Thanks to a new state initiative, experienced military truck drivers can now more easily and quickly obtain a civilian commercial driver license under recent federal regulatory changes.

Tools for Success Offering a myriad of resources, tools and programs, your Alabama Trucking Association serves as a one-stop shop for industry improvement and development.

ATA Staff J. Frank Filgo, CAE, President & CEO Tim Frazier, CDS, Dir. of Safety & Member Services Jane Nixon, Executive Assistant Lynn Thornton, Bookkeeper Ford Boswell, Director of Communications Brandie Norcross, Administrative Assistant

E P A R T M E N T S

President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Safety Insights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SMMC Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Trucking News Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Buyers’ Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 ATA Events and New Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Published quarterly by the Alabama Trucking Assn., P.O. Box 242337, Montgomery, AL 36124-2337. ADVERTISING RATES: Quoted upon request.

Alabama Trucking Association

Alabama Trucking Association 334-834-3983 • www.alabamatrucking.org A LABAMA T RUCKER • 1 ST Q UARTER 2014

From the President

Forward on many fronts

Frank Filgo, CAE President and CEO Alabama Trucking Association

‘With each passing year, our Executive Board grows stronger and more supportive, which is a necessary component for this Association’s bright future.’

our Alabama Trucking Association is busy working for you and protecting your bottom line on so many fronts. What follows are my notes and comments about a few of the activities in which your ATA is working for you. On March 24th, the ATA Safety and Maintenance Management Council hosts its annual Fleet Safety Awards – major awards include the Driver of the Year, Safety Professional of the Year, Maintenance Professional of the Year, Fleet Manager of the Year, and the President’s Award. The awards also honor the safest trucking companies in Alabama. I hope you will join us in Pelham as we recognize those who put safety first. The next day, ATA’s Nominating Committee, consisting of all active past ATA chairmen, will meet to develop a slate of nominees for next year’s Board. ATA’s Board of Directors currently consists of 62 members, representing 55 member firms. Seats on the Board are reserved for those member firms that are the most active. A testament of the Board’s strength is their sponsorship of the Association’s premiere events – our Annual Convention and the ATA Golf Classic. This year, Board member firms contributed more than 50 percent of the overall sponsorship total. With each passing year, our Executive Board grows stronger and more supportive, which is a necessary component for this Association’s bright future. Be sure not to miss ATA’s 76th Annual Convention & Membership Meeting set for April 24-26, 2014 at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa, in Destin, Fla. Your Convention Planning Committee, under the leadership of ATA Vice Chairman Wayne Watkins (Watkins Trucking Co.) has put together a great lineup of speakers and entertainers. Congratulations to Joe Black (McGriff Tire Co.). His committee has once again exceeded the event’s sponsorship goals. That means we can continue to upgrade our

menus, and entertainment offerings. If you have not yet registered, please go to the ATA website and do so today. As of this writing, the Alabama Legislature is at its halfway point. Your ATA continues to monitor all bills of interest to trucking. One in particular on ATA’s legislative agenda is House Bill 328. This bill transfers money collected from UCRA fees to the Motor Carrier Safety Unit of the Alabama Dept. of Public Safety (DPS). Last week the bill cleared the House Committee and now goes to the House floor for debate. ATA maintains that the intent of these funds is to provide for truck safety enforcement, thus they should be transferred to the primary truck enforcement agency. Also, keep in mind that it’s an election year, and ATA’s political action committee (TRUK-PAC) is engaged in supporting protruck candidates for the state legislature, along with a number of other candidates running for state offices. The June 3rd Primary is now the focus of our PAC’s support activities. Plans are to contribute funds to candidates involved in nearly 30 primary races. TRUK-PAC will then turn its attention to the June 15th Runoff Elections. The General Elections are scheduled for November 4th. Meanwhile, ATA Chairman Kevin Savoy and the ATA staff are busy visiting the membership. Having completed selected visits with members in the Wiregrass and Mobile Bay areas, we now turn our attention to the Black Belt area. The intent of the visitations is to improve and promote member participation. We have been most encouraged by the member comments and hope to fine tune our member services to best meet the members’ needs. In closing, I want to thank the member companies of the ATA for their continued support. Alone we can do very little; together we do so much.

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 1 ST Q UARTER 2014

Easing the Transition As of January 1, 2014 honorably discharged veterans can obtain a Class A CDL in Alabama without taking the skills test. By Ford Boswell

ith the nation’s trucking industry struggling to find and hire experienced, well-trained drivers, Alabama has joined other states in adopting the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s guidance to waive commercial driver license (CDL) skill test requirements for recently discharged military veterans with experience driving military trucks. Since January 1, 2014, the Alabama Dept. of Public Safety is waiving its skills testing requirements for vets who want to obtain an Alabama commercial driver license. The waiver means that former active duty military personnel who drove trucks (or other heavy machinery) for a U.S. military branch are now able to bypass the State 4

of Alabama’s commercial driver license skills test, which allows them to obtain a CDL quicker and with less cost. According to the guidelines issued by FMCSA in 2011, to qualify for the waiver an applicant must have held a military CDL equivalent to the CDL grade the applicant is seeking in a particular state. That applicant must also have at least two years of driving experience with the military and must apply for the Alabama CDL within 90 days of ending employment by either retirement or other-than-dishonorable discharge. More specifically, the regulation, 49 CFR 383.77, provides guidance for state driver license agencies, which require the applicant to certify: 1) his/ her safe driving experience; 2) that he or she has not held more than one license (except a military DL) in

the past two years; 3) has not had his/her base state issued driver license suspended, revoked or cancelled; and, 4) has not had convictions in any type of motor vehicle for the disqualifying CDL offenses listed elsewhere in the regulations. There are also other requirements that states must recognize in order to take advantage of this Skills Test Waiver, but the process allows states to assist veterans and active duty personnel in their transition from their military occupation to a civilian career. As more of our military troops return home from active duty, the Dept. of Transportation and FMCSA have joined with the Depts. of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs to ease this process. Alabama’s waiver ends more than two years of work from the Alabama Trucking A LABAMA T RUCKER • 1 ST Q UARTER 2014

Hurry up and wait: Alabama’s new skills test waiver reduces the 60-day timeframe it can take recent vets to obtain a CDL

Association, which, along with state officials and political representatives pushed a resolution for Governor Robert Bentley, who signed it last December. “We are ecstatic that the governor quickly signed the resolution making it easier for our servicemen and women to continue to drive large commercial vehicle after they leave the military,” said ATA Director of Safety and Member Services Tim Frazier. “It’s my understanding in speaking with state Public Safety officials that the wait to take a skills test for an Alabama CDL is at least 60 days. That’s too long for someone to wait who has already proved themselves to be a professional driver for our armed services.” According to DPS officials, the state basically adopted the federal guidelines. According to published reports, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration began examining ways to bring more veterans to the truck-

A CDL applicant maneuvers a rig through a driver skills course. A LABAMA T RUCKER • 1 ST Q UARTER 2014

ing industry back in 2010. “The demand for truck drivers will continue to rise in the coming years, so we are taking action to remove the obstacles that prevent military veterans from finding employment in the industry,” said FMCSA Anne Ferro. “The men and women who serve in uniform commit their lives to protecting our country—in many cases by operating heavy vehicles—and there are no better credentials for becoming a safe truck or bus driver.” FMCSA officials report that the agency will continue to explore other ways to ease the transition from military occupations to jobs requiring CDLs, including waiving the requirements for pre-employment drug testing for recently discharged military personnel based on their recent participation in random drug testing programs run by the military.

Written tests are still required for vets applying for a CDL.

How to apply for the skills test waiver Applicants must download and complete the FMCSA’s Application for Military Skills Test Waiver form, available at www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registrationlicensing/cdl/Military-CDL-Waiver.aspx. The form addresses all issues captured in the new regulation, including which violations can deny the waiver; identifying the specific type(s) of vehicle which the service member was licensed to drive; and, an endorsement by the service member’s commanding officer of the safe driving record. The front side of the form is to be completed and signed by the CDL applicant and the back side is to be completed and signed by the applicant’s commanding officer. The applicant must then schedule a written test at one of the state’s many testing locations. Office hours and testing times vary, so it’s a good idea to double-check the schedules at your preferred CDL licensing office to find out whether you need to make an appointment. A complete list of testing location and hours is available at DPS’s website https://dps.alabama.gov/Home. The written test fee is $25 (cash or credit/debit card only), with license fees depending on the class of license you are applying for. Class A is $53.50; Class B is $43.50; and Class C is $23.50. Endorsements may be extra. Counties might also add fees. 5

Tools for your success Offering a myriad of resources, tools and programs, your trucking association serves as a one-stop shop for industry improvement and development.

n 1938, a group of industrious, forward-thinking truckers assembled in Birmingham to form a trade association for Alabama’s growing trucking industry. Since then, the Alabama Trucking Association has worked for locally based carriers of all sizes and specialties in the promotion and development of a better, safer industry. In the early days, the Association was really no more than an alliance of about two dozen trucking fleet owners, mostly from the Birmingham area, who wanted to quell growing taxes and costly weight restrictions that were being pushed through the State Legislature. Over time, even as issues have come and go, the Association’s mission remains clear: To protect trucking’s interests, ensuring a free-flow of commerce across our state; make our highways the safest in the land; and to serve and protect your interest in the state’s economy and political arena. With the support of its more than 650 member firms, ATA is now among the state’s leading trade groups, serving as an impetus for highway safety, economic issues and regulatory processes. As part of your dues investment as a full member, you are eligible to utilize many educational programs, training opportunities and other benefits to help your business reach its full potential. 6

ATA’s board of directors continuously reevaluates its offering of programs and benefits. Staying involved with our Association affords many resources for your business that otherwise you could not provide for yourself, including safety expertise, training and educational programs; affordable workers’ comp insurance through a powerful and independent self-insurance fund; regulatory updates and alerts; public relation efforts to improve trucking’s image; individual tariff publishing for household movers; employee recognition and award programs; industry leadership opportunities; special membership benefits, such discounts on supplies, safety services and training for your employees; networking opportunities at several Association events, including an outstanding annual convention at one of the Southeast’s premier resorts; and an experienced staff available when you need them – all you have to do is pick up the phone or visit alabamtrucking.org.

Expressing Your Concerns A major focus for Association leaders is to ensure our state’s business environment isn’t so restrictive that it unfairly limits trucking’s A LABAMA T RUCKER • 1 ST Q UARTER 2014

growth and prosperity among its many stakeholders. Because the public sometimes focuses on the negative aspects of a few bad operators without any consideration that most trucking fleets maintain high standards of professionalism, it’s our job to bring our attributes, needs and concerns to the forefront of discussion. We want everyone to understand that trucking provides jobs for tens of thousands of Alabamians and millions in tax revenue for the state. To accomplish that, ATA works continually with state, regional and national agencies and organizations in the advancement of reciprocity and removal of regulatory barriers and discriminatory taxes upon truck transportation. Likewise, the Association continuously lobbies the industry’s position before Congress and the State Legislature. Our recent efforts have yielded many victories, including a multi-year tractor tag, permanent trailer tag, apportionment of the 2-cent inspection fee, and the defeat of dual speed limits, lane restrictions, etc. We also represent before state and federal regulatory agencies on issues such as hours of service, medical certificates, CDL issues, electronic on-board recorders, and through voluntary membership donations and fundraisers for our political action fund, we work to elect “pro-truck” candidates to state and district offices. Meanwhile, ATA works to promote the industry’s public image through various public relation campaigns, award recognition programs, and community outreach initiatives to improve industry safety and to encourage professionalism from boardroom to truck cab. These activities benefit every truck operator in the state by providing information and facts to foster a better public understanding of the trucking industry. Through its Safety & Maintenance Management Council, ATA also provides various recognition programs to showcase the state’s safest fleets, best drivers, and most effective fleet managers. We proA LABAMA T RUCKER • 1 ST Q UARTER 2014

mote and inform our members with our communications and marketing department, which publishes this magazine and maintains ATA’s rich website. These efforts provide broad exposure to showcase the vital role of trucking in Alabama’s economy.

Exclusive Workers’ Comp Fund During the 1990s, a major obstacle facing Alabama trucking firms was a sharp spike in workers’ compensation insurance rates. Unable to find adequate coverage and saddled with skyrocketing rates, truckers found themselves looking for answers from ATA. The market had become so hard that the ATA’s Board of Directors had already begun considering ways it could provide affordable and effective workers’ comp insurance for qualified trucking and allied firms. Other trade organizations had had success in doing so, and the ATA Board of Directors believed that it was time that it did the same for the state’s trucking industry. After state laws and regulation were lifted on the formation of such funds, in October 1992, amid pressure from the business community, legislators passed guidelines on self-insurers funds, ATA set up its own fund. Today, the ATA Workers’ Comp Fund is the only workers compensation provider that bears the full endorsement of the Association. ATA members who participate in the Fund are eligible for dividends based on the Fund’s operating and investment performance, and by offering expert consultation on how to reduce loss ratio Fund members can save their operations costly accidents.

Safety & Compliance Resource The Alabama Trucking Association is the state’s preeminent source 7

for highway safety training and information. Working with state and federal regulating agencies, ATA and its membership have significantly reduced fatal truck crashes. Our safety activities are a massive part of that success. Spearheaded by the Association’s three active chapters of the Safety and Maintenance Management Council, we are able to produce many valuable programs for fleet safety, including our annual safety contest, the Alabama Truck Driving Championships, several courtesy roadside inspections a year, a master driver program, the Share the Road initiatives, and maintaining Alabama’s Road Team. We also serve as a one-stop shop for your fleet’s safety compliance needs. Our safety staff offers free mock Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) compliance reviews to keep your fleet in check. There are also scads of exclusive training and educational programs available to you and your staff, including discounted training sessions sponsored by the National Safety Council. For convenient online training for you drivers and staff, we have partnered with Vertical Alliance Group to offer an affordable driver safety, regulatory and terminal/warehouse online training classes exclusively for members.

Networking Membership with ATA is about being connected with those who share your needs. Staying involved yields valuable networking opportunities at several exclusive events each year, like our Convention, SMMC meetings, political fundraisers that can help improve your business’ profile and brand recognition. For Allied members there are exclusive referrals for all service and

equipment needs through our Buyers’ Guide, which is available in all print publications and online at the Association’s website. For Motor Carriers there are exclusive peer group forums and events where you can address major industry issues. There are opportunities for personal interaction with state and federal regulators to help you and your top staffers better understand the regulatory process. Of course, we also have an experienced, expert staff available whenever you need counsel and representation on legislation and regulation affecting your interest.

Discount Programs Along with all those previously mentioned professional benefits, we also offer several services at deep discounts that can help your business save on essential business needs, including shipping, supplemental insurance, safety supplies, and exclusive training. For example we offer deep discounts for business shipping with UPS for services such as Next Day Delivery; convenient online safety training through Infinit-i; discounted safety supplies through J. J. Keller & Associates; and industry and business solutions, like whitepapers on policy, market and regulatory issues from the American Trucking Associations’ Business Solutions marketplace. Last year, we completed our 75th year of serving your needs. Our hope with this article is to showcase what we do for you each day to improve and better Alabama’s trucking industry. We want you to take full advantage of your dues investment with the Alabama Trucking Association. We are constantly seeking ways to bring more value to your membership. Remember we are here for you and your business. All you have to do is pick up the phone.

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 1 ST Q UARTER 2014

2:00-5:30 P.M.

WEDNESDAY – APRIL 23rd WCSIF Board Meeting Emerald Ballroom (Trustees and Fund Advisors only)

2:00-5:00 P.M. 5:00-7:00 P.M.

THURSDAY – APRIL 24th Open Registration Emerald Registration Booth ATA Welcome Reception Sunset Deck Rum Runners Dueling Pianos

FRIDAY – APRIL 25th 8:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. Registration Emerald Registration Booth 8:30-11:00 A.M. Business Meeting & Breakfast Emerald Ballroom Keynote Speakers: Ken Gronbach, nationally recognized expert and futurist in the field of Demography and Generational Marketing Jim Morris, retired major league baseball legend that inspired the movie “The Rookie” 1:00-4:00 P.M. Poolside Cabana Poolside 5:00-7:00 P.M. ATA WCSIF Reception Emerald ballroom Free Evening

8:00-11:00 A.M. 8:00-9:00 A.M. 9:00-11:00 A.M.

11:30 A.M. 12:00-5:00 P.M. 1:00-4:30 P.M. 6:30-7:00 P.M. 7:00-9:00 P.M.

SATURDAY – APRIL 26th Registration Emerald Registration Booth Board Meeting Emerald ballroom (Directors & Special Guests only) Annual Meetings & Breakfast Emerald ballroom ATA Workers Comp Fund Meeting ATA Membership Meeting Keynote Speaker: Jeff Mason, Executive Vice President Communications & Public Affairs American Trucking Associations Golfer’s Lunch Baytowne Course Golf Tournament Baytowne Course Poolside Hospitality Poolside Chairman’s Reception Emerald Foyer Chairman’s Dinner Emerald Ballroom Honoring Kevin Savoy, COB Entertainment: Richie McDonald (lead singer for the country music group Lonestar)

SAFETY & MAINTENANCE Safety Insights

Get Connected

Tim Frazier, CDS ATA Director of Safety and Member Services

‘…Being connected to this group can provide valuable information regarding most any aspect of your operation.’

ur Safety and Maintenance Management Council (SMMC) has worked hard the past couple years producing some of the best educational meetings in the industry. Our monthly meetings in Birmingham and Montgomery, along with our quarterly meetings in Mobile, have been an excellent source for information for our safety and maintenance professionals. Recently, we’ve had a couple meetings I would like to highlight in this article, and hopefully you’ll see the importance of being connected with this society of professionals. Just a few short months ago, we conducted a mock trial in our newly refurbished conference room. After many hours of preparation from several of our members including drivers, safety pros, and one of our member law firms, we were able to produce a presentation that provided some 60 attendees with valuable information. Our cast of actors did an outstanding job uncovering many of the dos and don’ts regarding a crash situation. Our goal was to provide information to our members that would assist them in areas such as hiring, retention, regulations, maintenance procedures, and record retention – to name a few. Having the opportunity to see a small sample of what could actually occur due to an accident scenario provided priceless information. Many of our attendees have commented on various parts of the mock trial that allowed them to go back to their facilities and review their operations. Though most all our members work daily to see that their house is in order, many useful nuggets of information were gathered that would help strengthen any operation. The reality for our industry is there will always be those who seek dishonest gain due to an accident involving one of our trucks, it is imperative that carriers have everything in order at all times. One of our goals this year is to connect our three councils with a few combined SMMC meetings in Montgomery. We had our first one in February with more than 50

attending the event. The meeting covered a wide array of topics, including an in-depth study of the CSA program along, and a lengthy a session on liability insurance. Thanks to the efforts of a few of our own safety professionals, we were able to see presentations that were far deeper than many have been exposed to before. Allowing our members to see what actually affects their CSA scores, and how to become proactive reviewing data, will surely assist them with improving areas of concern. Attendees were able to see an actual how to presentation regarding CSA information. Understanding the mechanics that cause scores to increase or decrease is crucial for any carrier’s success. I believe this was one of the most beneficial educational meetings I have personally attended regarding this subject. Often we fail to really dig deep into the details, and we miss opportunities. Insurance underwriters were also on hand to discuss the effect CSA scores have on premiums and how premiums are calculated. Carriers were able to hear from individuals who are in the direct decision making process regarding insurance coverage. Knowing what actual details are gathered and reviewed during the renewal process is extremely valuable. Companies that are proactive regarding the safety performance of their operation are better prepared for this task each year. Our presenters shared many of the components that are researched regarding the insurability of a company. Items such as loss history, crash severity, preventability, and relationships are critical regarding premium rates. Attendees were able to offer many questions from the floor and were provided excellent information regarding the actual insurance process. I encourage all SMMC members, along with other company representatives, to attend our upcoming meetings. I believe active SMMC members would tell you being connected to this group can provide valuable information regarding most any aspect of your operation. A LABAMA T RUCKER • 1 ST Q UARTER 2014

MANAGEMENT COUNCIL NEWS SMMC Fleet Safety Awards set for March 24 in Pelham The Alabama Trucking Association Safety & Maintenance Management Council’s Annual Fleet Safety Awards are set Monday, March 24 at the Pelham Civic Complex (500 Amphitheater Road, Pelham, AL 35124). These annual awards recognize companies and drivers who uphold the highest safety standards in the state for the previous calendar year. Companies with the best safety records in 14 different classes are awarded the Fleet Safety Awards. Safety records are determined by calculating the number of accidents per million miles driven within the state. Individual awards include Fleet Manager of the Year; Safety Professional of the Year; Maintenance Professional of the Year; and Driver of the Year. Winners are selected by a panel of judges composed of representatives from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Alabama Department of Public Safety.

those less fortunate among us.” The Firehouse Shelter main facility is housed in a historic fire station in Downtown Birmingham. Built in 1906, Fire Station No. 6 is Birmingham’s oldest remaining fire station. The shelter was founded in 1983 as an outreach program of Cooperative Downtown Ministries. On its first night, it housed 12 men. Today, more than 175 homeless men find a safe, welcoming bed at a Firehouse Shelter facility. For 25 years, the Shelter has worked to improve and expand its programs and services for Birmingham’s homeless. Its success is seen in the fact that 90 percent of shelter clients leave its programs for permanent or transitional housing, or for needed medical treatment. “The Firehouse Shelter thanks you for the contribution,” said Wright. “It is only with organizations and people like you that we are able to provide essentially daily needs, as well as services to guide our homeless population to a brighter future.”

Birmingham SMMC chapter raises more than $3,000 for homeless shelter The Birmingham chapter of the Alabama Trucking Association’s Safety & Maintenance Management Council (SMMC) has donated nearly $3,200 to the Birminghambased charitable group The Firehouse Shelter. The gift, made possible by individual and member firm donations to the SMMC’s BenevoAnne Wright and Butch Owen lent Fund, was presented to the outreach program’s executive director Anne Wright. Longtime Birmingham SMMC member and founder of the group’s Benevolent Fund Butch Owens of Golden Flake Snack Foods said his group chose The Firehouse Shelter based on its outstanding reputation as a community leader in the fight against homelessness. “For years, this group has done incredible things for the poor in our area,” Owens said. “Anne and her staff have grown to six locations to provide transitional and long term housing for seriously mentally ill homeless mean. They are an inspiration and a blessing to us all to look out for

Safety group estimates 3 percent drop in 2013 traffic deaths About 35,200 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2013, a 3 percent decline from 2012, the National Safety Council said Feb. 12. The 2013 figure is still higher than 2011’s fatality count, NSC said, adding that 2012 was likely a one-year bump because of weather. “More than 90 percent of crashes are due to human error,” John Ulczycki, vice president of strategic initiatives at NSC, said in the statement. “We all need to look at the risks we take and the resulting harm that may be caused to ourselves and others. Many of these 35,200 fatalities last year surely involved people taking risks they thought they could handle. Sadly, they were wrong.” In addition to the drop in deaths, NSC estimated a 2 percent decline in highwaycrash injuries, to 3.8 million. The cost of crashes also fell 3 percent to $267.5 million, the group said. NSC estimates crash statistics using data gathered monthly from state law enforcement agencies. It does not separate truck-involved crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration annually publishes official crash statistics that include a truck-involved breakout, but it has not released 2013 totals yet.

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 1 ST Q UARTER 2014

NHTSA said in November that 3,921 people died in truck-involved crashes in 2012, a 3.7 percent increase from the prior year. —Transport Topics

FMCSA clarifies rest break requirements for short haulers Last month, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a notice clarifying the rest break requirements for short-haul drivers who occasionally exceed the distance or time limits to use one of the short-haul exemptions in 395.1(e). Though usually exempt from the rest break requirements, short-haul drivers who find themselves unable to meet the required distance or time limits for unforeseen reasons (e.g., during the course of the workday) will not be considered in violation if they have been on-duty for eight or more consecutive hours at the time. However, a driver in this case must take a 30-minute break at the earliest safe opportunity to do so and note in the remarks section of his/her record of duty status why the rest break was not taken earlier. J&M honors Million-Mile drivers with Caribbean cruise J&M Tank Lines, Inc. of Birmingham, Ala. has added six drivers to its Million Mile Club, which comprises of 15 percent of all J&M drivers. According to J&M Chief Operating Officer Jim Pickens, to be inducted into the Million Mile Club, a driver must log 1 million accident-free miles for the company. Recent additions to the Million Mile Club are James Vasser (Sylacauga Ala.); Tommy Smith (Barnesville, Ga); Rodney McGruder (Holly Springs, Ga); Anthony Young (Holly Springs, Ga); Richard Allen (Barnesville, Ga); and Jasper Evans (Barnesville, Ga). These drivers, along with seven other drivers who had recently completed additional million-mile increments, and five long-term J&M employees were rewarded a Caribbean Cruise in honor of their achievement. J&M Tank Lines’ Million Mile Club has 45 active members. Twenty-one are “One Million Milers”, fifteen are “Two Million Milers”, seven are “Three Million Milers”, and two are “Four Million Milers”. J&M Tank Lines, Inc. is a dry bulk carrier operating 300 power units from 12 terminals located throughout Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma and Texas. Continued on page 16 15

News Field study proving benefit of restart rule draws criticism A field test of the 34-hour restart provision of the new hours of service rule shows that the restrictions improve safety. The test found that the provision, which requires drivers to take two successive periods off between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. during their once-a-week restart, is more effective at combating fatigue than the earlier rule, said the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The restart is the most controversial part of the new hours of service rule the agency implemented last July, and early reaction to the study was negative. American Trucking Associations fought the restart in court and lost, then took the fight to Capitol Hill, enlisting legislators to propose bills that would suspend it pending an assessment by the Government Accountability Office. Those bills are awaiting action. ATA’s contention has been that the provi-

sion cuts into productivity without improving safety. A key ATA complaint is that the agency did not have scientific justification for the restart restriction. The agency relied on a laboratory study when it should have tested those results in the field, ATA said. At the Association’s urging, Congress in the 2012 highway bill ordered the naturalistic field study that the agency released Thursday. The study compared drivers who had one nighttime period of rest rather than the two required in the rule. It found that the former had more lapses of attention, were sleepier, particularly toward the end of their shifts, and showed more lane deviations. “This new study confirms the science we used to make the hours-of-service rule more effective at preventing crashes that involve sleepy or drowsy truck drivers,” said agency chief Anne Ferro in a statement. “For the small percentage of truckers that average up to 70 hours of work a week, two nights of rest is better for their safety and the safety of everyone on the road.” Ferro has said that about 15 percent of all drivers fall into this category, and that the provision will prevent 1,400 crashes and save 19 lives a year. The study, conducted in the first six months of last year,, involved 106 drivers from three companies, 100 men and six

women, who covered almost 415,000 miles. The researchers, Hans Van Dongen and Daniel Mollicone of Washington State University, said this study is among the largest of its kind. The drivers’ ages ranged from 24 to 69 years, and their experience ranged from less than a year to 39 years. Most (103) were employees of carriers in a variety of businesses, including intermodal, dedicated, flatbed, temperature control and truckload. The other three were owner-operators contracted to a carrier. Their operations were roughly divided into three categories: local, regional and overthe-road. The drivers tracked their hours with electronic logs and wore wrist monitors to gauge their wakefulness and sleep patterns through a variety of restart schedules. Fatigue levels were measured three times a day through a Psychomotor Vigilance Test, and the trucks were equipped with lane tracking systems. The researchers said the field study bears out the results of the laboratory study FMCSA used to justify the restart rule. “These results indicate that having at least two nighttime periods from 1 a.m. until 5 a.m. in the restart break helps to mitigate fatigue, providing evidence in support of the efficacy of the new restart rule,” they said.

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Rep. Richard Hanna, R-N.Y., author of a House bill that would suspend the restart provision, panned the study and said it only underscores the need to suspend it. “Considering the study arrived four months late, I expected a robust report, but the study is worthless,” he said in a statement. He complained that the study looked at too small a sample and added that it does not address “perhaps the most serious issue that could change the entire outcome of the study – forcing truckers to work in the morning rush hour when roads are most congested and dangerous.” “This half-baked study only underscores the need to legislatively delay the rule and have GAO conduct an independent analysis of the study so we can get a credible account of what this rule will truly mean for the safety of truckers, commuters and businesses.” ATA’s response was more measured but still negative. “We appreciate FMCSA releasing the results of its restart field study,” said Dave Osiecki, ATA executive vice president and chief of national advocacy. “However, in many respects this short report is lacking critical analyses on several important issues.” Specifically, Osiecki said the study found “incrementally slower reaction times” among drivers with less rest and that FMCSA was

cautious in suggesting how important these findings are. He also said the study does not look at a second feature of the provision, the one limiting it to once-a-week use. And, like Hanna, he noted that the study does not look at the effect of the rule on traffic congestion. “While the study includes some findings favorable to certain portions of the new restart rule, the incomplete nature of the analysis and the lack of justification for the once-weekly use restriction is consistent with the flawed analyses that led the agency to make these changes in the first place,” Osiecki said. —Truckinginfo.com

outstanding safe driving record; be able to clearly and convincingly communicate their commitment to safety and courtesy; and agree to be available for speaking engagements and public appearances up to twice a month, and on occasion bring a tractor-trailer for a “Share the Road” presentation at an Alabama high school, college or civic organization. The employer must be a full dues-paying member of the Alabama Trucking Association; agree to allow the driver adequate time for personal appearances; and pay the driver equivalent earnings and reimburse expenses during the time he/she is off work in order to accommodate a personal appearance. Contact Tim Frazier at 334-834-3983 for more info.

ATA seeks Alabama Road Team members The Alabama Trucking Association is seeking nominations for two vacant spots on its Road Team. There is no limit to the number of drivers each company may nominate. Drivers will be required to come to the association office in Montgomery for an audition before a panel of judges. ATA officials will ask them to speak for approximately five minutes on any subject they choose, after which they will answer questions posed by the judges. Requirements: Nominees must be currently employed as full-time truck drivers; have an

Providers see shift, not increase, in maintenance due to CSA Sean Kilcarr of Fleet Owner magazine wrote recently that Compliance Safety Accountability (CSA) program implemented by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) nearly four years ago is driving a shift in focus but not necessarily an increase in maintenance within trucking. “The maintenance requirements have not truly changed under the CSA, just the management requirement and increased CSA inspections have changed,” David Pardue, VP Continued on page 18

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News of aftermarket business development for Mack Trucks, told Fleet Owner magazine. “Keeping track of timely PM services and repairs will only assist with improved CSA scores and vehicle uptime.” “CSA has not changed maintenance requirements, but it has placed a greater focus on adherence to those requirements,” added Terry Dubowick, national account lease manager for Volvo Truck Leasing System (VTLS). In his view, CSA is reinforcing the need to make proper vehicle maintenance and recording a priority for fleet managers. Monica Truelsch, director of marketing for TMW Systems, added that CSA “has put the spotlight” on the entire maintenance process and extensive maintenance record keeping, leading fleets to re-evaluate the means they use to mitigate inspection risks and potential safety citations under CSA. That’s why Michael Riemer, VP of products and channel marketing for Decisiv, Inc.,

believes fleet maintenance record-keeping practices and not necessarily maintenance volume itself needs to change the most in order to stay compliant with CSA. “Since the Maintenance BASIC accounts for as much as 82 percent of CSA violations, shippers and others now have a clear view of how well you maintain your vehicles – and they will definitely steer clear of fleets with ugly maintenance records,” Reimer noted in a recent blog post. “That’s why it’s more important than ever to have good process and systems in place to ensure regular inspections, high levels of PM compliance and timely completion of needed repairs,” he stressed. “Trying to stay on top of maintenance and repairs using a manual system or multiple non-integrated systems is almost certain to result in things slipping through the cracks.” Though the reliability of CSA scores have been called into question, especially when it comes to CSA being a reliable predictor of crashes, is almost beside the point, Reimer emphasized. “Whether or not the data is conclusive from a crash risk perspective, insurance companies, shippers, partners and customers are using them to make business decisions,” he pointed out. That’s one reason why VTLS’ Dubowick

believes that the expanding capabilities of connected truck technology holds tremendous promise for fleets in dealing with CSA issues as it will help better target “predictive repairs” while improving vehicle uptime. “Connected vehicle technologies will help improve predictability, which in turn helps a fleet budget for vehicle maintenance,” he said.

TMC accepting technician scholarship applications American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council is accepting applications for its 2014 scholarship programs available for diesel technician studies at WyoTech, the University of Northwestern Ohio, and Lincoln Technical Institute/Lincoln College of Technology/Nashville Auto Diesel College. The scholarships, administered by TMC’s Professional Technician Development Committee, are part of the council’s effort to promote and enhance the professionalism of commercial vehicle technicians. “We’re grateful to these schools for their generosity and commitment to technicians and the trucking industry,” said PTDC Chairman Bonne Kairm. “The scholarships they provide are helping to fill the demand for skilled technicians for increasContinued on page 22

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ingly complex truck technologies. WyoTech is offering two scholarships, each awarded for 1500 clock hours attendance to one of two WyoTech schools, located in Laramie, Wyo. and Blairsville, Penn. Students may select from one of two start dates: June 26 or September 25, 2014. The UNOH scholarship is for an amount not to exceed $25,000 and/or 180 credit hours in the College of Technologies for Automotive/Diesel Technology and/or the College of Business for Specialized Studies in Automotive Management. Lincoln Technical Institute/Lincoln College of Technology/Nashville Auto Diesel College is offering four half scholarships. Each half-scholarship is awarded for a 1200-1560 hour program, depending on location, attendance to one of six Lincoln Technical Institute/Lincoln College of Technology/Nashville Auto Diesel College locations in Denver; In-

dianapolis; Nashville, Tenn.; Grand Prairie, Texas; East Windsor, Conn.; and South Plainfield, N.J. Students may select from one of five class start dates in June, July, August, September, and October 2014. Scholarship applicants must have a sponsor who is a current dues-paying member of TMC or is employed/contracted by a company with at least one current dues-paying TMC member. Applicants must include a letter of recommendation from their sponsor, must be graduating from an accredited high school or vocational school and have a transcript sent showing the most recent three years of academic performance. Applications must be received by April 1 and scholarship recipients will be notified by May 1. Application forms are available on TMC’s website at tmc.trucking.org. For more info contact TMC at 703-838-1763.

FDA proposes new rules for transporting food The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will officially propose a rule that would require certain shippers, receivers, and carriers who transport food by motor or rail vehicles to take steps to prevent the contamination of human and animal food during transportation. Part of the implementation of the Sanitary

Food Transportation Act of 2005, the proposal marks the seventh and final major rule in the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act’s central framework aimed at systematically building preventive measures across the food system. “This proposed rule will help reduce the likelihood of conditions during transportation that can lead to human or animal illness or injury,” said Michael R. Taylor, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine. “We are now one step closer to fully implementing the comprehensive regulatory framework for prevention that will strengthen the FDA’s inspection and compliance tools, modernize oversight of the nation’s food safety system, and prevent foodborne illnesses before they happen.” The proposed regulation would establish criteria for sanitary transportation practices, such as properly refrigerating food, adequately cleaning vehicles between loads, and properly protecting food during transportation. The proposed rule would apply to shippers, carriers, and receivers who transport food that will be consumed or distributed in the United States and is intended to ensure that persons engaged in the transportation of food that is at the greatest risk for contamination during transportation follow appropriate Continued on page 24

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SMMC Calendar

P = Pelham Civic Complex

News sanitary transportation practices. For example, the proposed rule would require that shippers inspect a vehicle for cleanliness prior to loading food that is not completely enclosed by its container, such as fresh produce in vented boxes, onto the vehicle. It would also apply to international shippers who transport food for U.S. consumption or distribution in an international freight container by air or by oceangoing vessel and arrange for the transfer of the intact container onto a motor vehicle or rail vehicle in the United States. The proposed rule would not cover shippers, receivers, or carriers engaged in food transportation operations that have less than $500,000 in total annual sales. In addition, the requirements in the proposed rule would not apply to the transportation of fully packaged shelf-stable foods, live food animals, and raw agricultural commodities when transported by farms.

—

M = Montgomery, ATA Office

January, 2014 .......................................NO MEETING M-February 27, 2014.............................Combined Meeting – All Three Chapters ...............................................................CSA/Ins. Underwriters P-March 24, 2014..................................Awards Banquet April 10 & 17, 2014................................Roadside Inspections ...............................................................Locations TBD P-May 13, 2014 .....................................Hiring Procedures/PSP/Drug & Alcohol P-June 5&6, 2014..................................TDC M-July, 8, 2014 ......................................Combined Meeting – All Three Chapters ...............................................................CVSA/Shop Environmental August, 2014 .........................................NO MEETING P-September 9, 2014 ............................Trucking Litigation/ACC Investigation/ Tire Technology October 9 & 16, 2014 ............................Roadside Inspections – Locations TBD M-November 13, 2014...........................Combined Meeting – All Three Chapters ...............................................................FMCSA/Audit Prep P-December 8, 2014 .............................Christmas Banquet January, 2015 ........................................NO MEETING Combined Meetings will be held at the ATA Conference Room in Montgomery The requirements would also not apply to shippers, receivers, or carriers who are engaged in transportation operations of food that is transshipped through the United States to another country, nor to food that is imported for future export and that

is neither consumed nor distributed in the United States. The FDA is proposing staggered implementation dates for the proposed rule based on business size, ranging from one to two years after publication of the final rule.

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 1 ST Q UARTER 2014

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Alabama motor carriers to receive a significant tax break In February, the Circuit Court of Talladega County rendered its judgment limiting the collection of Alabama property taxes on Alabama motor carriers involved in interstate commerce to miles driven in the state. According to the Alabama Trucking Association, that ruling will result in significant tax savings for Alabama motor carriers that log miles outside the state. Preliminary analyses by ATA attorneys indicate that that some Alabama motor carriers could save more than $100,000 a year. The ruling applies to the taxes collected in arrears for 2012 and 2013, and for taxes to be collected for 2014 forward. The judgment comes as the result of a suit brought by Georgia based motor carrier, B-H Transfer Co., which has a terminal in Alabama. ATA joined the suit to ensure that the Court’s findings would apply correspondingly to all Alabama based carriers involved in interstate commerce. Association officials have long maintained that the property tax on Alabama based vehicles involved in interstate commerce is unconstitutional because the tax is not apportioned. The Association sought to resolve the issue through a legislative solution, but the Alabama Dept. of Revenue had unexpectedly rejected its proposal. ATA Chairman of the Board Kevin Savoy of Greenbush Logistics called the ruling "a major victory for the trucking industry in Alabama." "This ruling is a testament to the worth of your return on investment of your ATA membership dues," he wrote in an internal memo to ATA members. "ATA values your support, and we will continue to work on your behalf providing quality member services." ATA President Frank Filgo said his group now sets its sights on ending the state Dept. of Revenue's practice of appraising the value of trucks and trailers based on the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price, as opposed to their Fair Market Price. A favorable ruling will provide for additional tax savings for the Alabama motor carrier.

American Trucking Associations reorganizes operation In January, the American Trucking Associations announced it was reorganizing and streamlining a number of its core functions. “We have a long history of successes on behalf of our members, from legislation requiring electronic logging devices and the creation of a clearinghouse for drug and alcohol test results, to beating back toll initiatives at the state level and getting one of the very few laws passed through Congress last year to require regulators use the appropriate process, not ‘guidance’ to address the important issue of sleep apnea,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “But we know our members expect and demand even more success in the future, and that’s why after examining our organization from top to bottom, we have chosen to consolidate a number of our divisions to meet those expectations. “As our members are acutely aware, these challenging economic times require organizations to be more agile and responsive to changes—whether they are changes to the 26

business environment or changes on Capitol Hill,” Graves said, “and by streamlining our organization, we can be more nimble in responding to the challenges facing our industry.” Under ATA’s new organizational structure, all of the association’s functions would fall into one of three areas: National Advocacy, Communications and Public Affairs and Finance and Operations, each headed by an executive vice president. With these changes, Graves announced that Dave Osiecki, formerly senior vice president of advocacy and regulatory affairs will be ATA’s new executive vice president and chief of national advocacy; Jeff Mason, formerly senior vice president of image and communications will be the group’s executive vice president of communications and public affairs; and Karla Hulett, formerly CFO and senior vice president of finance and administration will be ATA’s COO and executive vice president of finance and operations. “ATA will continue to be the most powerful voice on behalf of the trucking industry on Capitol Hill, in the media and in the

public,” Graves said. “These changes will allow us, however, to more effectively serve our members and respond to our rapidly changing world. “I have full faith that Dave, Jeff and Karla, as well as the rest of the hard-working and professional staff at ATA will continue to be effective advocates on behalf of the industry that drives this nation’s economic success,” he said. “As members of ATA, we are lucky to have such strong and well-respected representation in Washington, and in every state capital across the country,” said ATA Chairman Phil Byrd, president and CEO of Bulldog Hiway Express, Charleston, S.C. “By simplifying ATA’s organization, we are strengthening the association and enhancing the professional staff ’s ability to represent motor carriers of all stripes.” Osiecki added, “I am pleased and humbled that ATA’s members and Gov. Graves have shown the confidence in me to lead this new advocacy unit. By bringing our legislative affairs, regulatory and legal affairs and federation relations groups together, I believe we can do even more to represent our members’ interests in Washington and beyond.” “Our members consistently say that promoting and improving the image of the trucking industry is among their top priorities,” Mason said. “This new organization will allow us to better leverage all our resources to continually remind the policy makers and the public that it is trucking, more than any other industry, that moves America forward.” “After making it through the Great Recession, our members are more focused than ever on the bottom line,” Hulett said. “By bringing together the bulk of our revenue-producing units, including membership, marketing and finance, we can keep a better eye on ATA’s bottom line and make sure our financial resources are going where they are most needed.”

IFTA amendment on CNG adopted Voting closed in January on current proposals to amend the International Fuel Tax Agreement. Only three ballots were up this time for the states and provinces to vote on. Two got the requisite 75 percent apA LABAMA T RUCKER • 1 ST Q UARTER 2014

FMCSA proposes drug and alcohol testing clearinghouse Agency says proposed database would assist fleets in hiring drug- and alcoholfree drivers, and monitor those who fail tests. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced in February that it has proposed a rule to establish a drug and alcohol clearinghouse for all national commercial driver license (CDL) holders. FMCSA officials said a clearinghouse “would improve roadway safety by making it easier to determine whether a truck or bus driver is prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle for failing to comply with federal drug and alcohol regulations, including mandatory testing.” “Safety is our highest priority, and we will continue to embrace new tools and opportunities that protect the travelers on our nation’s roads,” said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “(The) proposal will help ensure dangerous drivers stay off the road, while encouraging the employment of the many safe drivers who follow our drug and alcohol requirements.” Current federal regulations require employers to conduct mandatory pre-employment screening of a CDL driver’s qualifications based upon his or her driving record. However, there has not been a single federal repository recording positive drug and alcohol tests by CDL holders that employers would be able to search to ensure that the driver is able to perform safety-sensitive duties. As proposed, the rule would create such proval for adoption, and one failed. Those passing were the critical amendment for IFTA to adopt a standard conversion factor for a gallon of compressed natural gas. The amendment defines a CNG gallon for purposes of IFTA reporting at 126.67 cubic feet of gas at standard temperature and pressure, or 5.66 pounds of gas (and the metric equivalents). These are the same factors used by the federal Internal Revenue Service, and represent an amount of CNG that contains the energy in a standard gallon of gasoline. Without such a standard, the reporting of CNG for IFTA would be practically impossible. The new definition becomes effective July 1, 2015. The other proposal that was adopted prescribes certain features and data that jurisdictions must have for their on-line IFTA reporting systems. That amendment was also needed, but doesn’t go quite far enough, as it omits to A LABAMA T RUCKER • 1 ST Q UARTER 2014

a repository and require employers to conduct pre-employment searches for all new CDL drivers and annual searches on current drivers. “We are leveraging technology to create a one-stop verification point to help companies hire drug and alcohol-free drivers,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro. “This proposal moves us further down the road toward improving safety for truck and bus companies, commercial drivers and the motoring public everywhere.” Under the proposed rule announced, FMCSA-regulated truck and bus companies, Medical Review Officers, Substance Abuse Professionals, and private, third party DOT drug and alcohol testing laboratories would be required to record information about a driver who fails a drug and/or alcohol test; refuses to submit to a drug and/or alcohol test; and/or successfully completes a substance abuse program and is legally qualified to return to duty. Private, third-party DOT drug and alcohol testing laboratories also would be required to report summary information annually. This information would be used to help identify companies that do not have a testing program. To ensure the privacy of drivers, a CDL holder would need to provide his or her consent before an employer could access the clearinghouse. Drivers who refuse to provide this information could still be employed by the truck or bus company; however, they could not occupy safety-sensitive positions, such require states and provinces to provide some means for an IFTA licensee to report nontaxed or non-receipted fuel. The ballot which failed would have altered the definition of a “qualified motor vehicle,” in an attempt to clarify for a few states just what configurations are subject to IFTA reporting. Evidently many of the jurisdictions felt this change would be ill-advised. Earlier this fall, a fourth ballot, proceeding under a different IFTA procedure, was defeated. It would have allowed an IFTA jurisdiction to provide its licensee carriers with electronic credentials.

High rates on pass-through income A recent report issued by the Tax Foundation indicates how important it will be for those reforming the federal tax system to con-

as operating a commercial motor vehicle. It is a violation of federal regulations to drive a truck or bus under the influence of controlled substances or alcohol. Federal safety regulations require that truck and bus companies that employ CDL drivers conduct random drug and alcohol testing programs. Carriers must randomly test 10 percent of their CDL drivers for alcohol and 50 percent of their CDL drivers for drugs each year. According to federal statistics, in 2013, on 2,095 occasions, or in 0.23 percent of the unannounced inspections, a CDL holder was immediately placed out-of-service and cited for violating federal regulations governing alcohol consumption. In 2012, FMCSA records show that there were 2,494 violations of this regulation. In 2013, on 1,240 occasions, or in 0.13 percent of the unannounced inspections, a CDL holder was placed immediately outof-service and cited for violating federal regulations governing controlled substances. In 2012, FMCSA records show that there were 1,139 violations of this regulation. In addition to random testing, truck and bus companies are further required to perform drug and alcohol testing on new hires, drivers involved in significant crashes, and whenever a supervisor suspects a driver of using drugs or alcohol while at work. The proposed rule announced last month was directed by Congress in the most recent transportation bill, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act. sider reducing tax rates on individuals, as well as on corporations. The report points out that from 1980 to 2010 the number of pass-through entities tripled while the number of corporations declined; and that over the same period, net income of pass-throughs – sole proprietorships, limited liability corporations, closely held corporations, and partnerships – came to exceed that of traditional corporations. It cannot be assumed, says the Foundation, that increasing rates on the relatively small number of high-income taxpayers, as some propose, would have little effect on business income and the cost of capital. The majority of business income, it points out, especially income from partnerships and subchapter S (closely held) companies, actually goes to taxpayers earning more than $200,000 a year. The report goes on to compile the top Continued on page 28 27

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marginal rates for pass-throughs in each state (including local taxes). In California, Hawaii, and New York, sole proprietors in the top brackets currently pay over 50 percent on income from their businesses. The full report is available at the Tax Foundation’s website, taxfoundation.org.

Winter storms pushed tonnage index down in January The American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 4.3 percent in January, after edging 0.8 percent lower in December. In January, the index equaled 124.4 (2000=100) versus 130.0 in December. The all-time high was in November 2013 (131.0). Compared with January 2013, the SA index increased 1.2 percent. The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 122.3 in January, which was 0.3 percent below the previous month (122.7). ATA recently revised the seasonally adjusted index back five years as part of its annual revision. For all of 2013, tonnage was up 6.3 percent, slightly better than the 6.2 percent originally reported. In 2012, the index increased 2.3 percent. “Like most economic indicators, truck tonnage was negatively impacted by bad winter weather in January,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “The thing about truck freight is that it’s difficult to catch up. Drivers are governed by hours-of-service regulations and trucks are limited to trailer lengths and total weights, thus it is nearly impossible to recoup the days lost due to bad storms.” As a result, Costello said January will be a tough month to gauge. “January wasn’t just one storm, it was several across a large part of the country. Therefore, I wouldn’t panic from the largest monthly drop in two years,” Costello said. “I’ve heard from many fleets that freight was good, in-between storms. The fundamentals for truck freight still look good.”

National ATA urges Obama to proceed judiciously with fuel efficiency plan Leaders of the American Trucking Associations, while supporting the goal of improved fuel efficiency of large trucks, pressed the 28

Obama Administration to proceed cautiously with the setting of new standards. “We stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the President and his administration in 2011 when the historic first fuel efficiency standards were set for heavy-duty vehicles,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “As we begin this new round of standards, ATA hopes the administration will set forth a path that is both based on the best science and research available and economically achievable.” “Trucking is a very diverse industry,” said ATA Chairman Phil Byrd, president of Bulldog Hiway Express, Charleston, S.C. “and as such, whatever standards the administration sets should reflect that diversity and whatever tests are devised should accurately reflect what drivers face on the roads every day.” In 2008, ATA released a series of sustainability recommendations including a national speed limit of 65 miles per hour, increased participation in SmartWay for fuel efficiency, improving truck productivity and reductions in idling. In 2011, ATA supported the historic first round of fuel efficiency standards. At its most recent Executive Committee meeting, ATA drafted a set of guiding principles for evaluating future emissions standards. Those principles included items like harmonization with existing California Air Resources Board rules, economic and scientific feasibility and recognition of trucking’s diversity in the use of equipment. “Fuel is one of our industry’s largest expenses, so it makes sense that as an industry we would support proposals to use less of it,” Graves said. “However, we should make sure that new rules don’t conflict with safety or other environmental regulations, nor should they force specific types of technology onto the market before they are fully tested and ready.”

Study says 34-hour restart break is working, industry leaders disagree The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on Jan. 30 released findings from a recent independent study that the agency says provides further scientific evidence that the 34-hour restart provision in the current hours-of-service rule for truck drivers is more effective at combatting fatigue than the prior version. The provision requiring drivers to take two successive periods off between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. during their restart is more effective at combatting fatigue than the earlier rule, according to the field test, the agency said. “Safety is our top priority, and this new study shows more data-driven evidence that

our safety standards help truckers stay wellrested, alert and focused on the road,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “The hours-of-service rule is helping to reduce truck driver fatigue and making every traveler on our highways and roads safer.” Scientists measured sleep, reaction time, sleepiness and driving performance in the study. They found that drivers who began their work week with just one nighttime period of rest, as compared to the two nights in the updated 34-hour restart break exhibited more lapses of attention, especially at night; reported greater sleepiness, especially toward the end of their duty periods; and showed increased lane deviation in the morning, afternoon and at night. “This new study confirms the science we used to make the hours-of-service rule more effective at preventing crashes that involve sleepy or drowsy truck drivers,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro. “For the small percentage of truckers that average up to 70 hours of work a week, two nights of rest is better for their safety and the safety of everyone on the road.” The study was conducted by the Washington State University Sleep and Performance Research Center and Philadelphiabased Pulsar Informatics, Inc. It is one of the largest real-world studies ever conducted with commercial motor vehicle drivers, and included 106 participants, 1,260 days of data and nearly 415,000 miles of driving that were recorded by the truck-based data acquisition systems. In response, the American Trucking Associations issued a release stating that the study was short on detail and didn’t take into account the impact the rule has in traffic congestion. “We appreciate FMCSA releasing the results of its restart field study,” said Dave Osiecki, ATA executive vice president and chief of national advocacy. “However, in many respects this short report is lacking critical analyses on several important issues.” According to Osiecki, the research found that drivers with fewer nighttime rest periods may have incrementally slower reaction times for example as short as one-third of one second and a modest increase in lane deviations. FMCSA is cautious, though, in suggesting how important these findings are regarding the rule’s efficacy. He added that the report failed to evaluate the safety effects or efficacy of the once-perweek restart restriction, commonly called the 168 hour rule. Similarly, the study did not address the real-world safety implications of putting more trucks on the road during dayContinued on page 30 A LABAMA T RUCKER • 1 ST Q UARTER 2014

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ALLiEd nEWs Truckworx Kenworth showcases new truck Truckworx Kenworth Birmingham recently celebrated the arrival of Kenworth’s new Speed Orange T880 Day Cab and Dump Truck with an open house. More than 400 employees and customers were able to climb in the cab, see under the hood, and get a firsthand experience of the advancements Kenworth has made with visibility, serviceability, and much more. Eleven vendor booths gave employees and customers the opportunity to pick up literature and have questions answered about all their products and services. Kenworth’s latest features were showcased in the tour trailer where all were invited to try out the driver’s seat. Live music provided Truckwork’s very own talented employees, Greg Franklin (Corporate Sales Coordinator) and his band kept spirits high. Guests were able to choose from a wide variety of delicious food, from hot sandwiches and soups to shrimp tacos and po’ boys from local food truck vendors, Off the Hook and The Melt. The day concluded with drawing the winners of many prizes including gift cards, a flat screen TV, and $1,000 prize

Four Star Freightliner hires new fleet services manager Four Start Freightliner has hired Scott Dixon to focus on maintenance and parts solutions for its local and national fleet customers. In his new role as a Fleet Services Manager, Dixon will have a range of duties to include searching for service and parts opportunities and providing additional leasing and mobile maintenance solutions. “One thing that Four Star does is offer a complete solution to a customer,” Dixon said. “We can service the whole truck, offer leasing Scott Dixon whatever the customer needs, we can provide.” Although Dixon will be based out of the Tifton, Ga. location, his goal is to increase sales for all locations including Montgomery, Ala., Tallahassee, Fla., Valdosta, Ga. and Dothan, Ala. He will work with all Four Star service managers at all Four Star locations. “This job was a good opportunity to do something on a broader level,” he said. “I want customers to know that Four Star is always available to help. We can work after hours and around their schedules to make sure they’re never down and without a truck.”

Transportation Safety Services hires former FMCSA veteran Fleet safety compliance firm Transportation Safety Services in Daphne, Ala. has added former Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration special agent Leander Pickens to its staff of fleet safety experts and consultants. Pickens spent seven years with FMCSA performing various types of compliance reviews, vehicle inspections, and consulting motor carriers on how to improve compliance with the federal safety regulations. Prior to that, he spent four years with the U.S. Marines Corp. as a transportation ordinance technical crew supervisor, spearheading an Leander Pickens eight-person crew in the preparation, execution, and monitoring of multiple aviation and ground transportation operations. During his career he has received the numerous awards and certifications for outstanding service, including the Navy Marine Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Mast Award, Marine of the Quarter, and Second in Class-Ordinance Training Award. A graduate of Greenville High School, Pickens holds a Bachelor’s degree from Auburn University at Montgomery, and has received continuing education training in transportation and aviation ordnance, and corrosive control and hazardous materials with special emphasis on cargo tank facility reviews. For more info visit transportationsafetyservices.com. 30

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time hours, a time when more passenger vehicles are also on the road. “The study acknowledges that the two or more night restart periods result in more trucks on the road during the day, but it does not address the corresponding safety or congestion impacts,” Osiecki said. Additionally, the study does nothing to evaluate health benefits of the restart changes which were used to justify the rule change. “While the study includes some findings favorable to certain portions of the new restart rule, the incomplete nature of the analysis and the lack of justification for the onceweekly use restriction are consistent with the flawed analyses that led the agency to make these changes in the first place,” Osiecki said.

ATRI report focuses on how CSA affects drivers and law enforcement The American Transportation Research Institute has released Compliance, Safety Accountability: Assessing the New Safety Measurement System and Its Implications – 2013 Update, which expands on ATRI’s previous CSA impacts research among commercial drivers and enforcement personnel. On average, drivers responded to the CSA knowledge test with 42.4 percent accuracy, suggesting that after three years of implementation drivers do not have a clear understanding of CSA. However, on a more positive note carrier-provided CSA training has increased steadily since 2011. Furthermore, driver job security concerns due to CSA have decreased by almost 10 percent over the three-year period. Among enforcement personnel, respondents performed with 66.5 percent accuracy on the CSA knowledge test. For more information, please contact ATRI Executive Director Rebecca Brewster at rbrewster@trucking.org.

GAO highlights shortcomings in CSA program The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s CSA safety enforcement program has been successful in some respects but needs improvements, says the Government Accountability Office. CSA, which stands for Compliance, Safety, Accountability, has helped the agency expand its reach, among other benefits, but because of data shortcomings it is not as strong a predictor of crash risk as it could be, the watchdog agency said. A LABAMA T RUCKER • 1 ST Q UARTER 2014

According to Heavy Duty Trucking Magazine’s Oliver Patton, the GAO believes the FMCSA should revise the Safety Measurement System that is a core CSA component, and it should take the limitations of the system into account when it installs the pending safety fitness regime. GAO undertook the analysis at the request of Senators concerned about the effectiveness of the system. American Trucking Associations praised the review, noting that GAO’s findings echo concerns it has expressed for some time. The review is “comprehensive, thoughtful and balanced,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves in a statement. “While ATA has long supported CSA’s objectives, we can’t help but agree with GAO’s findings that the scores produced by the program don’t represent an accurate or precise assessment of the safety of many carriers.” The association’s conclusion is that FMCSA should remove carriers’ CSA safety scores from public view. “Since scores are so often unreliable, third parties are prone to making erroneous judgments based on inaccurate data, an inequity that can only be solved in the near term by removing the scores from public view,” said Dave Osiecki, ATA executive vice president and chief of national advocacy.

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GAO said the safety agency faces two challenges in assessing safety risk with CSA. First, the regulations the agency uses to calculate safety scores are not violated often enough to strongly associate them with crash risk for individual carriers. And second, there is not enough data to reliably compare most carriers’ performance with their peers. “Most carriers operate few vehicles and are inspected infrequently, providing insufficient information to produce reliable SMS scores,” GAO said. One result is that FMCSA has identified many carriers rated as “high risk” that were not involved in a crash. Those ratings may cause the agency to miss opportunities to intervene with carriers that were involved in crashes. GAO’s proposed solution is for the safety agency to score only the carriers that have more information. GAO noted, however, that this approach comes with a trade-off. Fewer carriers would have SMS scores, but those scores would be more reliable predictors of risk. In revising its SMS methodology, the agency should identify the limitations caused by the quantity of data and by variability in the carrier population, GAO said. It also should identify limitations in the precision and reliability of the data.

GAO noted that the safety agency is preparing a rule for determining safety fitness using a carrier’s safety data. The agency should consider the limitations in that data while it drafts that rule, GAO said. FMCSA had “significant and substantive disagreements” with GAO during the drafting of the report, which led to a rewrite in which GAO made it clear it is recommending that the agency do a formal analysis of its SMS methodology rather than prescribing changes. Meanwhile, FMCSA officials pointed to other independent research that supports the Safety Measurement System (SMS) as more effective at identifying commercial bus and truck companies of all sizes for targeted enforcement than the system it replaced. Researchers for that study analyzed the association between historical carrier data and future crash involvement by taking two years of pre-SMS safety data for a subset of carriers, running it through the system’s algorithm, and then following those companies’ crash records for eighteen months. Results show that the companies the SMS would have identified for interventions, such as roadside inspections, warning letters and on-site investigations, had a future crash rate of more than double the national average. In addition, 79 percent of the carriers that Continued on page 32

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SMS would have ranked as high risk in at least one of the seven safety categories it monitors, had higher future crash rates compared to those it would not have identified. SMS is a component of the agency’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability program, which was launched in 2010 to identify and prioritize motor carriers that pose the highest threat to public safety for enforcement interventions. The study was conducted by the Volpe Center and peer-reviewed by independent experts.

Trailer orders up for third consecutive year Citing figures released by ACT Research Co, Transport Topics reports that new trailer orders in December totaled 29,164, the highest level of 2013, pushing the annual figure above 230,000 for the third consecutive year. Although the December figure was down 4.5 percent from the final month of 2012, it was up 13.6 percent from November’s total of 25,664, ACT said. Orders have been “surprisingly stable over the last three years,” ACT analyst Frank Maly said. “That’s unusual because

this is a pretty cyclical business. ‘Stable’ is not a term often used.” Net orders totaled 231,728 in 2013, a 1.8 percent decline from the 235,998 ordered in 2012. In 2011, orders were 233,680. The past three years have been the trailer industry’s best since the recession, which bottomed out at about 85,000 in 2009. However, the current figure remains short of the most recent peak in 2006, when orders surpassed 286,000. ACT anticipates that 2014 will bring more of the same, with total trailer shipments rising perhaps 1 percent to 2 percent, Maly said. January figures were not available, but manufacturers generally reported high demand during the month. “All in all, we’ve set a decent foundation for 2014,” Maly said. He also said December’s order activity was driven by large carriers moving forward with plans to replace their older trailers, but commitments from small and medium-size fleets remained subdued. Another factor that could have boosted orders was the expiration of bonus depreciation at the end of 2013, but Maly said “discussions seemed to indicate that not a whole lot of that happened.”

“Most of those who wanted to take advantage of it had already done so,” he said. December’s order intake boosted industry backlogs to just over five months’ worth of production at current build rates, which is right in the “sweet spot” for manufacturers, Maly said. “Overall backlogs are stretching out for van and refrigerated trailers, and production rates are similar to late last year,” said Craig Bennett, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. He also said Utility saw a fairly steady increase in orders during December and January. Several large fleets moved forward with orders after delaying decisions in the third quarter, Bennett said. Larry Roland, Utility’s marketing director, said the company closed out 2013 with a record production year of more than 38,000 trailers. Chris Hammond IV, vice president of dealer and international sales at Great Dane Trailers, said January is “off to a good start,” with strong demand for dry vans and reefers, but the company expects 2014 to be another relatively flat year. “The good news is that the industry is level at a relatively high production rate Continued on page 34

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when compared to a few years ago,” he said. Meanwhile, Hyundai Translead had a “strong” December following a “softer than usual” November, said Glenn Harney, the company’s chief sales officer. “The trend we have seen to replace but not grow seems to be continuing,” he said. David Giesen, vice president of sales and marketing at Stoughton Trailers, said many of his company’s large customers that often place their orders in December waited until early 2014 instead. As a result, January and February “are both going to be very strong months,” he said. Giesen said year-to-year stability in orders can help manufacturers better plan their production, but only if it aligns with expectations. That wasn’t the case in 2013 because early predictions for the past year called for additional growth that never materialized, he said. Harney of Hyundai Translead said the order figures from recent years “seem to indicate a healthy market that reflects the discipline carriers are applying in the replacement-only purchases.”

Wabash National Corp. declined to comment due to the proximity of its quarterly report. ACT’s Maly said dry van orders were virtually flat in 2013 from the previous year, reefers declined about 5 percent and platform trailers slipped about 3 percent. Liquid trailers dropped 30 percent from a year earlier, but dry bulk orders doubled, he said. Cancellation rates have been “surprisingly low” during the past few months, indicating that the orders on the books are firm commitments, Maly added. —Transport Topics

New research examines effectiveness of driver simulator training A new research white paper examining safety impacts of simulator training for truck drivers released by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) states that drivers who received the targeted simulator training had fewer safety incidents initially, but those effects dissipated within a year. The report, Safety Impacts of Truck Driver Simulator Training, investigated the effectiveness of using customized truck driving simulators to target specific driving behav-

iors that have been associated with increased crash risk. This study incorporated driving behaviors previously identified in ATRI’s Predicting Truck Crash Involvement report. The study developed a series of “targeted” training scenarios for use in driving simulators. ATRI then partnered with motor carriers to collect driver safety and training data for drivers trained on both general and ATRI-customized scenarios. Finally, the safety performance differences between drivers were analyzed at 6- and 12months post-training based on the type of simulator training received. The initial results at 6-months post-training suggested that drivers who received the targeted simulator training had fewer safety incidents over time, but those effects dissipated at the 12-month mark. While driver turn-over may play a role in the declining significance, the white paper suggests that carriers examine the frequency of sustainment training for drivers. Truck driving simulators provide carriers with the ability to offer a wide variety of training exercises to drivers from the safety and convenience of a classroom. By focusing training efforts on correcting behaviors that have a known correlation to crash risk, carriers can take a proactive step towards preventing future crashes.

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“Trucking’s Voice in Alabama”

PO Box 242337 • Montgomery, AL 36124-2337 • Phone: (334)834-3983 • Fax: (334)262-6504

Application For Membership DIVISION Motor Carriers: ❑ Domiciled In Alabama ❑ All other For-Hire ❑ Household Movers ❑ Private Carriers

Allied Industry: ❑ Local and State Suppliers ❑ Nat’l Concerns, small items ❑ Nat’l Concerns, major items

Your Dues Amount: $ __________________ (see schedule on reverse) Firm Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: (PO Box) ____________________________________(Street)__________________________________________________ City __________________________________________State __________________________ Zip ________________________ Telephone: __________________________________Fax ______________________________800/ __________________________ Email address: ________________________________________Website Address: __________________________________________ Type of Business: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Official Representative : __________________________________________________Title: __________________________________ Alternate Representative: __________________________________________________Title: __________________________________ Signed: ______________________________________Date: ____________Referred by:____________________________________

CONTRIBUTIONS OR GIFTS TO THE ALABAMA TRUCKING ASSOCIATION, INC., ARE NOT DEDUCTIBLE AS CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS. HOWEVER, THEY MAY BE TAX DEDUCTIBLE AS ORDINARY AND NECESSARY BUSINESS EXPENSES.

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A LABAMA T RUCKER • 1 ST Q UARTER 2014

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Schedule of Membership Dues A. Motor Carriers Domiciled in Alabama 1) Gross Annual Revenue Under and not over 1,000,000 and not over 5,000,000 and not over 10,000,000 and not over 15,000,000

$999,999 4,999,999 9,999,999 14,999,999 19,999,999

Annual Dues $500 600 900 1,200 1,500

2) Gross Annual Revenue 20,000,000 and not over 25,000,000 and not over 30,000,000 and not over 35,000,000 and not over 40,000,000 and over

$24,999,999 29,999,999 34,999,999 39,999,999

Annual Dues $1,800 2,100 2,400 2,700 3,000

B. All Other For-Hire and Private Carriers Schedule based on miles traveled in Alabama From 0 500,001 1,000,001 2,000,001 3,000,001 4,000,001 5,000,001 6,000,001 7,000,001 8,000,001 9,000,001

To 500,000 1,000,000 2,000,000 3,000,000 4,000,000 5,000,000 6,000,000 7,000,000 8,000,000 9,000,000 10,000,000

Annual $200 250 360 510 640 750 870 960 1,040 1,150 1,250

From 10,000,001 11,000,001 12,000,001 13,000,001 14,000,001 15,000,001 16,000,001 17,000,001 18,000,001 19,000,001 20,000,001

To 11,000,000 12,000,000 13,000,000 14,000,000 15,000,000 16,000,000 17,000,000 18,000,000 19,000,000 20,000,000 25,000,000

Annual $1,320 1,410 1,495 1,575 1,650 1,720 1,795 1,865 1,950 2,030 2,500

C. Allied Industry – Annual Dues • Local and State Suppliers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $300 • National Concerns (distributors or manufactuers of accessories, parts and small equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $400 • National Concerns (distributors or manufacturers of major equipment, integrated product lines, leasing companies and companies marketing statewide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $600 D. Household Movers Based on intrastate revenue only - includes tariff participation 1) Gross Annual Revenue Not Over 100,001 and not over 150,001 and not over 200,000 and not over

$100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000

Annual Dues $420 480 540 660

2) Gross Annual Revenue 250,001 and not over 300,001 and not over 400,001 and not over

Annual Dues $780 $300,000 900 400,000 1,200 500,000

Payment Schedule (Dues payable in advance) Below $500...................................................................Annually $500 - $1,200 ......................................................Semi-Annually

Above $1,200 ................................................................Monthly

CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT – The amount of dues paid by individual members of the Alabama Trucking Association is confidential information and is not subject to publication. Dues information can only be released by ATA to the principal representative of the member in question, and requests by other persons or parties will not be honored. Members are strongly urged to honor this privacy statement and to not share their confidential dues information with other ATA members or the general public. 36

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 1 ST Q UARTER 2014

2014 ATA Buyer’s Guide We make every effort to ensure this list is correct. For changes or corrections to your company’s listing, contact Jane Nixon at jnixon@alabamatrucking.org.

The Baxter Agency (334) 678-5900 www.baxteragency.com

Alabama Trucking Assn.’s Buyer’s Guide lists those companies that have taking an active role in supportBB & T Insurance Services ing Alabama’s trucking industry by becoming members of the Association. We ask that each time you (912) 201-4706 plan a purchase that you consult this guide and give ATA members the opportunity to gain your business. Benton & Parker Insurance Services These companies proudly support your association and deserve your support, as well. ADVERTISING/PUBLISHING Randall-Reilly Business Media & Information (205) 349-2990 www.rrpub.com The Trucking Summit (917) 502-0139 www.truckingsummit.com BUS SALES & SERVICE Southland International Trucks, Inc. (205) 942-6226 www.southlandtrucks.com Transportation South, Inc. (205) 663-2287 www.thebuscenter.com Ward International Trucks, LLC (251) 433-5616 www.wardintltrucks.com CHEMICAL PRODUCTS Rushing Enterprises, Inc. (334) 693-3318 www.rushingenterprises.com

ENGINE MANUFACTURERS Cummins Mid-South, LLC (901) 488-8033 www.cumminsmidsouth.com Thompson/Caterpillar (205) 849-4365 www.thompsontractor.com EQUIPMENT LEASING Eagle Equipment Leasing LLC (205) 999-5410 H.E.C. Leasing, LLC (615) 471-9300 www.hecleasing.com KLLM/Equipment Solutions LLC (205) 515-1478 www.kllm.com Southern Truck & Equipment, Inc. (251) 653-4716 www.southerntruck.net Southland International Trucks, Inc. (205) 942-6226 www.southlandtrucks.com

COMMUNICATIONS/ELECTRONICS CarrierWeb LLC (770) 289-8005 www.carrierweb.com

Star Leasing Co. (205) 763-1280 www.starleasing.com

Fleetmatics (727) 674-2838 www.fleetmatics.com

Transport Enterprise Leasing LLC (423) 463-3390 www.transportenterpriseleasing.com

J.J. Keller & Assoc., Inc. (920) 722-2848 www.jjkellerservices.com

Truck & Trailer Leasing Corp. (256) 831-6880

Omnitracs, Inc. (770) 232-9541 www.omnitracs.com PeopleNet (888) 346-3486 www.peoplenetonline.com Rand McNally (501) 835-1585 www.randmcnally.com DRIVER STAFFING Best Drivers (205) 916-0259 www.bestdrivers.com Transportation Support, Inc. (205) 833-5855 www.transportationsupport.com EDUCATION & TRAINING J.J. Keller & Assoc., Inc. (920) 722-2848 www.jjkellerservices.com JP Transportation Safety Consulting, LLC (205) 329-8182 (205) 945-8550 www.jptsc.com Transportation Safety Services (251) 661-9700 www.transportationsafetyservices.com Trucking Partners, LLC (256) 737-8788 www.truckingpartners.com USA Driver-s, Inc. (205) 661-0712 www.usadrivers.com Vertical Alliance Group, Inc. (903) 792-3866 www.lmstrucking.com

EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING BigBee Steel (256) 383-7322 www.bigbee.com

Paccar Parts/Kenworth (205) 679-7925 www.kenworth.com Southern Truck & Equipment, Inc. (251) 653-4716 www.southerntruck.net Star Truck Parts (205) 324-4681 Thermo King of B’ham-Dothan-MobileMontgomery (205) 591-2424 www.midstatetk.com Thompson/Caterpillar (205) 849-4365 www.thompsontractor.com W.W. Williams (205) 252-9025 (334) 279-6083 www.wwwilliams.com ESTATE AND BUSINESS PLANNING Christian & Small LLP (205) 795-6588 www.csattorneys.com FINANCIAL SERVICES BancorpSouth Equipment Finance (205) 422-7111 www.bxsequipmentfinance.com Comdata (615) 376-6824 www.comdata.com Electronic Funds Source LLC (615) 777-4619 www.efsllc.com

Freight Capital (800) 775-0391 Eaton Corp./Roadranger Field Marketing www.freightcapital.com (334) 398-1410 www.roadranger.com GE Capital (770) 960-6307 Phillips Industries www.ge.com (706) 202-5348 People’s Capital & Leasing Corp. www.phillipsind.com (205) 856-9354 EQUIPMENT PARTS/ACCESSORIES www.peoples.com Ancra International, LLC (334) 306-4372 People’s United Equipment Finance Corp. www.ancra.com (205) 664-9374 www.financialfederal.com Dana (734) 516-8032 PNC Financial Services Group (251) 441-7286 www.dana.com www.pnc.com Dothan Tarpaulin Products, Inc. Renasant Bank (800) 844-8277 (334) 301-5955 www.dothantarp.com www.renasantbank.com GFA, Alabama ServisFirst Bank (205) 481-1090 (205) 949-3433 www.gfany.net www.servisfirstbank.com Imperial Supplies LLC Wells Fargo Equipment Finance (800) 558-2808 (314) 374-2165 www.imperialsupplies.com www.wellsfargo.com Kinedyne Corp. INSURANCE (334) 365-2919 American Claims Service, Inc. www.kinedyne.com (205) 669-1177 Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems Aon Risk Solutions 334/798-0080 (501) 374-9300 www.arvinmeritor.com www.aon.com Metro Trailer Repair Co., Inc. Aronov Insurance, Inc. (205) 323-2877 (205) 414-9575 www.metrotrailer.net www.aronovinsurance.com NAPA Auto Parts (205) 510-2900

(770) 536-8340 www.bentonandparker.com Brett Rucker AFLAC (423) 503-9628 www.aflac.com

Caribou Insurance Agency, Inc. (205) 822-7577 www.caribouins.com Cottingham and Butler (563) 587-5521 www.cottinghambutler.com Custard Insurance Adjusters, Inc. (770) 729-8160 www.custard.com Great West Casualty Co. (865) 670-6573 www.gwccnet.com Hudgens Insurance, Inc. (334) 289-2695 Interstate Motor Carriers/Capacity Agency, LLC (251) 490-3190 Johnson-Locklin & Associates (205) 980-8008 www.johnson-locklin.com The Kennion Group, Inc. (205) 969-1155 www.kennion.com Liberty Mutual Group (804) 380-5169 www.libertymutual,com Liberty Truck Insurance (205) 352-2598

York Risk Services Group (205) 581-9283 www.yorkrsg.com Zurich (704) 506-1951 www.zurichna.com/zdu MEDICAL/DRUG & ALCOHOL SERVICES Alabama Specialty Clinic (256) 736-1460 www.ascoccupationalhealth.com Carlisle Medical, Inc. (251) 344-7988 www.carlislemedical.com Employers Drug Program Mgmt., Inc. (205) 326-3100 www.edpm.com ErgoScience, Inc. (205) 879-6447 www.ergoscience.com J.J. Keller & Assoc., Inc. (920) 722-2848 www.jjkellerservices.com Safety First-Div. of Behavioral Health Systems (205) 443-5450 www.bhs-inc.com PETROLEUM PRODUCTS Clean Energy Fuels (423) 341-1779 Corridor Clean Fuels, LLC (256) 894-0098 Davison Fuels & Oil (251) 544-4511 GAIN Clean Fuel – Div. of US Oil (804) 291-7892 www.gainfuel.com Green Buffalo Fuel (716) 768-0611

Jack Green Oil Co., Inc. Lyon Fry Cadden Insurance Agency, Inc. (256) 831-1038 (251) 473-4600 Kimbro Oil Company www.lyonfrycaden.com (615) 320-7484 www.kimbrooil.com Marvin Johnson & Associates, Inc. (812) 372-0841 Major Oil Company, Inc. www.mjai.com (334) 263-9070 www.unitedfoodandfuel.com McGriff, Siebels & Williams, Inc. (205) 252-9871 Slidell Oil www.mcgriff.com (334) 262-7301 www.slidelloil.com Joe Morten & Sons, Inc. (865) 670-6544 The McPherson Companies, Inc. www.joemorten.com (888) 802-7500 www.mcphersonoil.com S. S. Nesbitt (205) 262-2620 W.H. Thomas Oil Co., Inc. www.ssnesbitt.com (205) 755-2610 www.whthomasoil.com Palomar Insurance Corp. (334) 270-0105 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES www.palomarinsurance.com Accounting Firms: Aldridge, Borden & Co. Regions Insurance, Inc. (334) 834-6640 (501) 661-4880 www.aldridgeborden.com www.regions.com Regions Insurance (334) 808-9441 www.regionsinsurance.com

Katz, Sapper & Miller, LLP (317) 580-2068 www.ksmcpa.com

Reliance Partners, Inc. (877) 668-1704 www.reliancepartners.com

Attorneys: Austill, Lewis & Pipkin, P.C. (205) 870-3767 www.maplaw.com

Trans Con Assurance, LTD (205) 978-7070 Turner & Hamrick L.L.C. (334) 566-7665 www.turnerhamrick.com

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C. (205) 328-0480 www.bakerdonelson.com Ball, Ball, Matthews & Novak, P.A. 334-387-7680 www.ball-ball.com

(as of 3/3/2014) Carr, Allison, Pugh, Howard, Oliver & Sisson, P.C. (205) 822-2006 www.carrallison.com Christian & Small, LLP (205) 795-6588 www.csattorneys.com

JP Transportation Safety Consulting, LLC (205) 329-8182 (205) 329-8183 www.jptsc.com

Coffman International Trucks (334) 794-4111 www.coffmaninternationaltrucks.com Eufaula Trucking Co., Inc. (334) 687-0391

McLeod Software (205) 823-5100 www.mcleodsoftware.com

H & M Trailer Repair, Inc. (334) 262-0692

Mobile Asphalt Co., LLC (251) 408-0770 www.mobileasphalt.com

Lazzari Truck Repair, Inc. (251) 626-5121 www.lazzaritruckrepair.com

Ferguson, Frost & Dodson, LLP (205) 879-8722 www.ffdlaw.com

Motor Carrier Safety Consulting (205) 871-4455

Metro Trailer Repair Co., Inc. (205) 323-2877 www.metrotrailer.net

Fisher & Phillips, LLP (404) 231-1400 www.laborlawyers.com

Power South Energy Cooperative (334) 427-3207 www.powersouth.com

Friedman, Dazzio, Zulanas & Bowling, P.C. (205) 278-7000 www.friedman-lawyers.com

PRCompanies (334) 836-1377 www.premployer.inc

DeLashmet & Marchand, P.C. (251) 433-1577 www.delmar-law.com

Hand Arendall LLC (251) 432-5511 www.handarendall.com James M. Sizemore, Jr. (256) 409-1985 McDowell Knight Roedder & Sledge, LLC (251) 432-5300 www.mcdowellknight.com Porterfield, Harper, Mills,Motlow & Ireland PA (205) 980-5000 www.phm-law.com Starnes Davis Florie LLP (205) 868-6000 www.starneslaw.com Webster, Henry, Lyons, White, Bradwell & Black, P.C. (334) 264-9472 www.websterhenry.com Zieman, Speegle, Jackson & Hoffman LLC (251) 694-1700 www.ziemanspeegle.com

Spectrum Environmental Services, Inc. (205) 664-2000 www.specenviro.com Tax2290.com/ThinkTrade Inc. (866) 245-3918 www.tax2290.com TMW Systems, Inc. (216) 831-6606 www.tmwsystems.com Todd & Sons (334) 794-0111 Transportation and Logistical Services, Inc (205) 226-5500 www.tlsincorp.com Transportation Billing Solutions, LLC (205) 788-4000 Transportation Compliance Services, USA (228) 872-7160 www.dottrucksafety.com

Rowe Management Corp. (205) 486-9235 www.rowemachinery.com Star Leasing Co. (205) 763-1280 www.starleasing.com Thompson/Caterpillar (205) 849-4365 www.thompsontractor.com W.W. Williams (205) 252-9025 (334) 279-6083 www.wwwilliams.com

Columbus Tire Co., Inc. (706) 321-8133 www.columbustireco.com GCR Tire Centers (205) 914-6818

Alaplex Management, Inc./APLS, LLC (205) 871-0230 BancorpSouth Insurance Services (334) 272-1200 www.bxsi.com

Welborn & Associates, Inc. (423) 822-1608 www.transportcap.com

Snider Fleet Solutions (404) 361-0130 www.snidertire.com

Delta Distributors, LLC (334) 222-3671

Real Estate: Mary Lou’s Team RE/MAX, Inc. (205) 566-5911 www.marylousteam.com

Tire Centers, LLC (205) 252-3150 www.tirecenters.com

J.J. Keller & Assoc., Inc. (920) 722-2848 www.jjkellerservices.com Jeffers Trucking, Inc. (205) 808-1112

Ventech USA (707) 499-7765 www.ventechusa.com Wilks Tire & Battery Service, Inc. (256) 878-0211 www.wilkstire.com

Birmingham Frame & Alignment, LLC (205) 322-4844 www.birminghamframeandalignment.com Yokohama Tire Corp. (317) 385-2611 www.yokohamatire.com Carl Carson Truck Center, Inc. (205) 592-9966 TRAILER DEALERS/ www.carlcarson.com MANUFACTURERS C & C Trailers, Inc. Carrier Transicold South (334) 897-2202 (404) 968-3130 www.ctsouth.com Dorsey Trailer (334) 897-2525 Carroll Truck Repair, Inc. www.dorseytrailer.net (205) 983-3375 Childersburg Truck Service, Inc. (256) 378-3101 www.childersburg-truck.com

Southland International Trucks, Inc. (205) 942-6226 www.southlandtrucks.com Star Leasing Co. (205) 763-1280 www.starleasing.com Tennessee Valley Recycling LLC (256) 353-6351 www.tvrllc.com

TRUCK DEALERS, MANUFACTURERS Action Truck Center (334) 794-8505 www.actiontruckcenter.com

Michelin North America (864) 201-6177 www.michelintruck.com

Help, Inc. Provider of PrePass (931) 520-7170 www.prepass.com

R C Trailer Sales & Service Co., Inc. (205) 680-0924 www.rctrailersales.net

Butler Industrial Tire Center, Inc. (334) 376-0178

Trucking Partners, LLC (256) 737-8788 www.truckingpartners.com

George L. Edwards & Associates (334) 745-5166

Gulf Coast Truck & Equipment Co. (251) 476-2744 www.gulfcoasttruck.com

Utility Trailer Sales of Alabama LLC (334) 794-7345 www.utilityalabama.com

McGriff Treading Co., Inc. (256) 734-4298 www.mcgriffindustries.com

Drivewyze (780) 461-3355 www.drivewyze.com

Gulf City Body & Trailer Works, Inc. (251) 438-5521 www.gulfcity.com

Bridgestone Commercial Solutions (770) 317-5777 www.trucktires.com

TripPak SERVICES & ACS Advertising (801) 349-2433 www.acsexpeditedsolutions.com

Repairs: Big Moe Spring & Alignment of B’ham, Inc. (205) 780-0290

Great Dane Trailers (205) 324-3491 www.greatdanetrailers.com

Transport Trailer Center (334) 299-3573 www.transporttc.com

McGriff Tire Co. (256) 739-0710 www.mcgrifftire.com

Direct Chassislink (704) 571-5408 www.chassislink.com

Fontaine Fifth Wheel NA (205) 421-4300 www.fifthwheel.com

TIRE DEALERS & MANUFACTURERS Best One Tire & Service (615) 207-9079 www.bestonetire.com

Transportation Safety Services (251) 661-9700 www.transportationsafetyservices.com

Other Services: Ahern & Associates LTD (602) 242-1030 www.ahern-LTD.com

Equipment Logistics, Inc. (256) 739-9280

Empire Truck Sales, LLC (601) 939-1000 www.empiretruck.com

Birmingham Freightliner (205) 322-6695 www.birminghamfreightliner.com Capital Volvo Truck & Trailer (334) 262-8856 www.capitalvolvo.com Coffman International Trucks (334) 794-4111 www.coffmaninternationaltrucks.com Daimler Trucks NA LLC (404) 368-6860 www.freightlinertrucks.com Eagle Equipment Leasing LLC (205) 999-5410 Empire Truck Sales, LLC (601) 939-1000 www.empiretruck.com Fleetco, Inc. (615) 256-0600 www.fleetco.net Four Star Freightliner (334) 263-1085 (Montgomery) www.fourstarfreightliner.com Long Lewis Western Star (205) 428-6241 www.longlewistrucks.com Mack Trucks, Inc. (678) 201-4770 www.macktrucks.com Navistar (813) 382-3113 www.internationaldelivers.com Neely Coble Co. (256) 350-1630 www.neelycoble.com

Nextran Truck Corporation (205) 841-4450 www.nextrancorp.com Peterbilt Motors Co. (615) 208-1800 www.peterbilt.com Peterbilt of Montgomery & Birmingham LLC (800) 264-4555 www.peterbilttruckcenters.com Rush Truck Center-Mobile (251) 459-7300 www.rushofmobile.com Southland International Trucks, Inc. (205) 942-6226 www.southlandtrucks.com Taylor & Martin, Inc. (662) 262-4613 www.taylorandmartin.com Thompson/Caterpillar (205) 849-4365 www.thompsontractor.com Truckworx Kenworth - Birmingham (205) 326-6170 www.TRUCKWORX.com Truckworx Kenworth – Dothan (334) 712-4900 www.TRUCKWORX.com Truckworx Kenworth – Montgomery (334) 263-3101 www.TRUCKWORX.com Truckworx Kenworth – Mobile (251) 957-4000 www.TRUCKWORX.com Truckworx Kenworth – Huntsville (256) 308-0162 www.TRUCKWORX.com Truckworx Kenworth – Thomasville (334) 636-4380 www.TRUCKWORX.com Truckworx Kenworth – Tuscaloosa (205) 752-2886 www.TRUCKWORX.com Volvo Trucks North America (336) 393-2975 www.volvotrucks.volvo.com Ward International Trucks, LLC (251) 433-5616 www.wardintltrucks.com TRUCK & EQUIPMENT AUCTIONEERS Taylor & Martin, Inc. (662) 262-4613 www.taylorandmartin.com TRUCKSTOPS Love’s Travel Stops, Inc. (405) 202-4451 www.loves.com Oasis Travel Center, LLC (251) 960-1148 Pilot Flying J Centers (865) 207-3219 www.pilotflyingj.com TravelCenters of America/Petro Shopping Centers (404) 231-4142 www.tatravelcenters.com VEHICLE LEASING Southland International Trucks, Inc. (205) 942-6226 www.southlandtrucks.com Ward International Trucks, LLC (251) 433-5616 www.wardintltrucks.com

ATA

nEW mEmbERs & EvEnTs

New Members (as of 2-28-2014)

For Advertising Info Call Ford Boswell 334-834-3983

Barnett Millworks, Inc P. O. Box 389 Theodore, AL 36590 (251) 443-0032 Mr. Dan Barber

Freight Commander Inc P. O. Box 2201 Muscle Shoals, AL 35662 (256) 702-4285 Ms. Cindy Walker

Plaza Trucking LLC P. O. Box 98 Centre, AL 35960 (256) 927-7828 Mr. Jeff Chester

Dana 45 Arrow Pointe Youngsville, NC 27596 (734) 516-8032 Mr. Tom Hammond

GAIN Clean Fuel 425 Better Way Appleton, WI 54915 (404) 291-7892 Mr. Erick Johnson

Quick Shot Trucking Inc P. O. Box 991 Semmes, AL 36575 (251) 649-8997 Mr. Chris McIlwain

Delco Remy 940 Mountain Branch Dr Birmingham, AL 35226 (205) 515-7330 Mr. Britt Caple

Interstate Motor Carriers 1515 Oak Dr. Dothan, AL 36303 (251) 490-3150 Mr. Wint Smith

SJA Enterprises, Inc 12655 River Road Selma, AL 36703 (334) 872-4646 Mr. Sammy Anderson

Dove Transportation, LLC P. O. Box 127 Lincoln, AL 35096 (205) 763-2977 Mr. Thomas M. Canada

J A Logistics Inc 466 S. Cloverdale Rd Greenville, AL 36037 (334) 371-5506 Ms. Amanda Acreman

Todd & Sons P.O. Box 5546 Dothan, AL 36302 (334) 794-0111 Mr. William Todd

Everwood Treatment Co., Inc P.O. Box 7500 Spanish Fort, AL 36577 (251) 626-2080 Mr. Jay Hudson

NAPA Auto Parts 701 N 39th Street Birmingham, AL 35222 (205) 510-2900 Mr. Bill Jenkins

Trillium CNG 1671 Hemingway Dr Lawrenceville, GA 30043 (678) 358-1365 Ms. April Dents

A Alabama Trucker (AT), the official publication of the Alabama Trucking Association (ATA), is an award-winning trade publication highlighting the Association's activities while documenting the business environment of the day. AT is published quarterly and distributed to more than 2,500 trucking executives, regulatory officials, and political figures. Want to reach decision makers at more than 1,500 Alabama-based trucking firms? Consider this: Advertising in AT reaches the most concentrated readership of trucking professionals in the state. Our rates are affordable, but on top of that, your helping ATA send positive messages about one of the state's largest employers.

Contact Ford Boswell at fboswell@alabamatrucking.org or 877-277-TRUK (8785) For More Information 40

ADVERTISER ATA WCSIF The Baxter Agency Bell & Co. Great Dane Great West Casualty Co. Green Buffalo Fuel Greenbush Logistics Infiniti-i International Trucks Ira Phillips Johnson Locklin J.J. Keller Nextran Truck Center Palomar Insurance Regions Insurance SIFMA Thompson Cat Transportation Safety Services Truckworx Kenworth Turner & Hamrick WH Thomas Oil Co. W.W. Williams

D V E R T I S I N G

N D E X

PG. NO. PH. NO. WEB ADDRESS BC (334) 834-7911 www.atacompfund.org 31 (800) 873-8494 www.baxteragency.com 33 (501) 753-9700 bellandcompany.net IBC (800) 383-0094 www.greatdanetrailers.com 33 (800) 228-8053 www.gwccnet.com 29 (716) 768-0611 www.GreenBuffaloFuel.com 32 (877) 585-4749 www.greenbushlogistics.com 37 (205) 585-3895 Ahicks0604@bellsouth.net IFC (800) 844-4102 www.navistar.com 34 (800) 673-6256 www.iraphillips.com 18 (251) 947-3015 www.johnson-locklin.com 23 (888) 473-4638 ext. 7892 www.jjkellermobile.com 9 (800) 292-8685 www.nextrancorp.com 29 (800) 489-0105 www.palomarins.com 17 (800) 807-1412 www.regionsinsurance.com 16 (334) 261-4445 www.sifma.com 12-13 (205) 849-4288 www.thompsontractor.com 25 (251) 661-9700 transportationsafetyservices.com 3 (800) 444-6170 www.truckworx.com 22 (888) 385-0186 www.turnerhamrick.com 20 (205) 755-2610 www.thomasoil.com 19 (800) 365-3780 www.wwwilliams.com A LABAMA T RUCKER â&#x20AC;˘ 1 ST Q UARTER 2014