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Officers Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bill Ward Vice Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jack Brim Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bruce MacDonald Immediate Past Chairman . . . . .Gail Cooper
ATA Board of Directors Dennis Bailey, Robert Barnett, Aubrey Baugh, Rhonda Bees, 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, Al Cox, Jerry Davis, Phil DeSimone, Joe Donald, Edmund Doss, Mack Dove, Russ Elrod, Dean Flint, Jack Fricks, Clay Halla, Terry Kilpatrick, Mark Knotts, Jerry Kocan, Drew Linn, Alan Love, Jeff McGrady, Barry McGriff, Tom McLeod, Shane McMinn, Buck Moore, E.H. Moore, Jr., Ross Neely, Jr., Tommy Neely, George Overstreet, Butch Owens, Clay Palm, Jim Pickens, Mike Pursley, David Rouse, Kevin Savoy, Bill Scruggs, Harold Sorrells, Ronnie Stephenson, Paul Storey, Wayne Watkins, Bill Watson, Scott White, David Wildbrger, Skip Williams, T.J. Willings, Keith Wise.
ATA Staff J. Frank Filgo, CAE, President & CEO Gene Vonderau, CDS, Dir. of Safety & Member Services Jane Nixon, Executive Assistant Lynn Thornton, Bookkeeper Ford Boswell, Communications Manager Brandie Norcross, Administrative Assistant
ATA WCSIF Staff Kimble Coaker, CEO & Fund Administrator Debra Calhoun, Office Manager Kimberly Best, Account Representative Rick Hunter, LSP, CDS, Director of Loss Control Harold Smith, ESQ, Legal Counsel Scott Hunter, MS, CDS, Loss Control Engineer Duane Calhoun, CDS, Loss Control Engineer Kim Sims, Administrative Assistant Kim Campbell, Underwriter Coordinator
ALABAMA TRUCKER I
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Q&A with ATA Chairman Bill Ward
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Bill Ward began his stint as ATA’s top elected official July 1, replacing outgoing Chairman Gail Cooper of Boyd Bros. Transportation. Ward says leading the state’s trucking association is among the highlights of his career, and a position he isn’t taking lightly. Alabama Trucker recently sat down with the newly appointed Chairman to get to know him and find out his plans and ideas for moving the Alabama’s trucking industry forward.
Getting in Step with CSA
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They say it takes about a year to learn a new job, and the following year to get good at it. Less than a year since the FMCSA fully implemented its CSA safety monitoring program, there still seems to be confusion and misconception about the program. But as fleet managers begin to fully embrace and adjust their tactics to conform to the new system, most are finding that the program will yield a better, safer trucking industry.
D
E P A R T M E N T S
President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Safety Insights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Trucking News Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 ATA Events and New Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Buyers’ Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 The Last Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Published quarterly by the Alabama Trucking Assn., P.O. Box 242337, Montgomery, AL 36124-2337. ADVERTISING RATES: Quoted upon request. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to: Alabama Trucking Association, P.O. Box 242337, Montgomery, Alabama 36124-2337.
Alabama Trucking Association
Alabama Trucking Association 334-834-3983 • www.alabamatrucking.org A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2011
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From the President
New Year, New Leadership, New Opportunities Frank Filgo President and CEO Alabama Trucking Association
“With our new leadership and renewed focus, opportunities will abound to better serve your needs and those of your business interests.”
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W
ith the installation of its new officers (effective last July 1), your Alabama Trucking Association begins its 73rd year of service to the state’s trucking industry. Already, your new Chairman of the Board, Bill Ward of Ward International Trucks, is beginning to make his mark. Having worked for a number of ATA Chairmen, I can say that each made a unique contribution to the success of the Association, and I’m confident that Bill will do the same. He has laid out his thoughts on where this Association has been and where it’s heading beginning on page 4. Also, I’d like to formally announce the addition of Tim Frazier, formerly of HB Logistics of Cullman, Ala., to our staff. Tim has had a long and distinguished career in truck safety, and we are very fortunate to have him on the team. He will serve as assistant to Director of Safety & Member Services Gene Vonderau, who recently announced his intent to retire in December. Tim will assume Gene’s responsibilities at that time, but in the meantime, the two are working together to ensure a smooth transition. To be clear, in hiring Tim, we send a message that safety comes first for the state’s trucking association. Meanwhile, who would have thought that the 2011 Golf Classic (scheduled for October 11) could potentially top last year’s record success? Well, Classic Chairman Kevin Savoy of Greenbush Logistics and his tournament committee are poised to break the record again. As of this writing, Classic sponsors total more than $138,000, which is 85 percent of our goal. That is well ahead of sched-
ule. Due to the hard work of Kevin and his committee, TRUK-PAC, ATA’s political arm, will be well-funded for the 2012 and 2014 election cycles. The Classic is among this Association’s most important annual events, and the future of our industry hinges on its success. Remember the words of U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Tom Donahue who recently said, “If you don’t have a political arm, you don’t count.” This statement rings true even at the state political level. I’d also like to remind members that they will soon receive a request to update their company data for publication in ATA’s 2012 Membership Directory and Shipping Guide. As is our custom, we present the information in a number of ways to best demonstrate the freight hauling capabilities of our member firms. ATA motor carriers represent the safest and most efficient trucking firms in the state. Finally, with the next regular session of the Alabama Legislature to begin in February 2012, your ATA is busy formulating its legislative agenda. Tort reform, highway safety initiatives, unfair business practices are among the issues to be considered for action. This State Legislature promises to be a plus for business and for trucking, and we intend to push hard for matters that will improve Alabama’s business climate. Thank you members for your continued support of the Alabama Trucking Association. Because of you, ATA remains a strong, unified voice for trucking. It is our intent to make the most of the new fiscal year. With our new leadership and renewed focus, opportunities will abound to better serve your needs and those of your business interests.
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Q&A Session With New ATA
ATA Chairman Bill Ward
EDITOR’S NOTE: Earlier this summer, the Alabama Trucking Association tapped Mobile businessman Bill Ward of Ward International Trucks to lead its board of directors for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. Ward began his stint as ATA’s top elected official July 1, replacing outgoing Chairman Gail Cooper of Boyd Bros. Transportation in Clayton, Ala. He will serve a one-year term. Alabama Trucker recently sat down with the new Chairman to get to know him and find out his plans and ideas for moving the Association forward.
What is your professional, trucking industry background? I graduated in 1968 from the University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Business with a degree in personnel and industrial relations. I also was in the U.S. Army Reserve during that time, and after school I went active for a year. After leaving the Army in 1969, I went to work for International Harvester Co. (now Navistar) in Memphis as a sales promotion clerk, handling co-op advertising claims. I was fortunate enough to get into their management training
program and was moved and promoted about eight times over the next decade or so — my longest and last stop was in Kansas City managing national leasing accounts. Then in 1985, I was offered an opportunity to partner with International to purchase the dealership here in Mobile. International was the majority partner, and I bought them out over time.
How has your business progressed over the years? When we took over, the previous owners were more suited to servicing other industries, so we knew we were basically rebuilding the trucking side of the dealership. We worked to expand the operation into Pensacola, which we did in 1986. We continued to grow, adding employees and expanding our market, and about five years ago, we added a third branch in Tallahassee, Fla. We now have about 120 employees at the three branches. We also partner with two dealerships in Mississippi to help us better serve customers there. Our locations allow us to serve our customers along the Gulf Coast from the Mississippi/Louisiana state line, through Alabama’s Gulf Coast and Florida panhandle, all the way to I-75.
How long have you been a member of the Alabama Trucking Association, and how has membership improved your business? We joined not too long after we started Ward International, so we’ve been around the Association for right at 25 years. International encourages its dealers to be involved with industry organizations, especially at the local and state level. It’s a great way to meet and get to know our customers and the needs of their businesses. Obviously, it’s a great networking tool for someone in my business. We’ve certainly met many businesses outside of our normal trade area whose vehicles travel through our area on a regular basis.
What do you see as the primary role of a state trucking association?
Ward International’s Pensacola, Fla. branch
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Of course, the reason the Association exists in the first place is to protect the interests of Alabama’s trucking industry. There are many things that the Association does for the betterment of the industry; but without question, its most important role is to be the foremost advocate for the industry and highway safety in the state. A case in point happened a few years ago when a rash of accidents in and around Birmingham involving metal coil haulers caused injuries and damaged area infrastructure. The accidents touched off public outcry and increased scrutiny on the industry, particularly in the Birmingham area. The Association’s leadership at the time was very proactive in pulling together industry, regulators, politicians and the local media
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Chairman Bill Ward Which recent accomplishments of this association have most impacted Alabama trucking businesses?
Metal coils can weigh up to 50,000 lbs.
to address a very serious problem — one that could have resulted in loss of life. Certainly, we in trucking, especially those carriers in the Birmingham area, recognized that the public was going to put us on the end of a spear and set us on fire if we didn’t do something about the problem quickly. It was a great example of business, political leaders and law enforcement agencies working together to solve a complex highway safety issue. Fifty thousand pounds of coiled steel falling from the back of a flatbed trailer just cannot happen. We addressed the issue head on, and the result was one of the toughest laws in the country regulating those who transport metal coils within the state of Alabama. To our credit, it appears we’ve fixed that problem (According to ATA safety officials, there hasn’t been an accident involving an improperly secured metal coil leaving a trailer since 2006 when the state enacted its Alabama Metal Coil Law of 2009, which increased fines for those who drop metal coils. There have been coils dropped since then, but it was determined that those were caused by faulty equipment rather than securement issues). That whole process took years to bring about change. I can remember several years ago (then ATA Chairman) T.J. Willings standing at a press conference (at U.S. Steel’s complex) in Birmingham with our board of directors, key political leaders and members of state and federal regulatory officials while former Governor Bob Riley signed the Metal Coil Bill into law. Since then, through our training program, we’ve trained thousands of drivers on how to properly secure these coils to the backs of flatbed trailers. It’s our duty as an industry association to work toward lowering trucks related crashes on our state’s roadways. For more than a decade, Alabama has realized some significant reductions in the commercial vehicle accident rate.
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Along with our accomplishments in fostering highway safety in Alabama, another area where we had an impact is in the political arena. Our Association’s CEO Frank Filgo serves as our main lobbyist, and has been very effective bringing our concerns as an industry to the forefront of discussion in Montgomery, but he is only one person. When we linked him with members from Huntsville, Birmingham, Mobile and other areas of the state to engage state legislators and congressmen about issues that concern (trucking related businesses), we’ve been surprised at how receptive they have been to our industry’s needs. In the last state and local election cycle, candidates our political action committee (PAC) supported scored major election victories, including the governor’s race, three seats on Alabama’s State Courts, and a majority of seats in the Alabama State Legislature. Our PAC trustees, ATA Golf Classic supporters (which raises money for our PAC), and ATA members at large deserve special recognition for this industry accomplishment. Another example was an effort I was involved in last year. Alabama trucking executives from the Mobile area met with our Congressman Jo Bonner (R-Mobile) to discuss support for proposed federal legislation that could reduce the cost of newer, more efficient trucks and trailers by deferring upfront taxes and fees imposed on new equipment. Our discussion focused on fuel emissions mandates and burdensome tax regulations imposed by the federal government that add tens-of-thousands of dollars to the final cost of new trucks, trailers and other equipment. These are financial burdens that are saddling businesses and have caused some truckers to hold off on muchneeded upgrades and additions because these added costs have made equipment purchases unaffordable. (Continued on next page)
Ward employs 120 at three branches including Mobile, Pensacola and Tallahassee, Fla.
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BIOGRAPHY William A. (Bill) Ward Born:
Work History: International Harvester Company
August 10, 1946 Meridian, Mississippi
Education:
(International Truck and Engine Company) 1969-1985
Graduate of Meridian Public Schools, 1964 Ward International Trucks, LLC, 1985-2011 Mobile, AL (since 1985) Pensacola, FL (since 1986) Tallahassee, FL (since 2003)
Graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi, 1968
Military:
United States Army, 1968-1969
Industry Awards AWARD
AWARDING ORGANIZATION
DATE(S)
NATURE OF THE AWARD
Circle of Excellence
International Truck and Engine Corporation
14 times, including 2009
Award for overall dealership sales and operating excellence
Outstanding Financial Achievement
International Finance Group (Navistar Financial Corporation)
1993, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007
Award for financial performance
Quota Busters
Isuzu
1998, 1999, 2000, 2009
Sales award
Truck Dealer Of The Year
American Truck Dealers (Division of NADA)
2000
See Attached
Industry Leadership and Contributions
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ORGANIZATION
LEADERSHIP POSITION COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT
DATE(S)
Alabama Trucking Association
*Member *Board Member *Vice Chairman *Chairman
1985-2011 1997-2011 2010-2011 2011-2012 (current)
Roadbuilder’s of Mobile County, AL
Member
1996-2011
Roadbuilder’s of Baldwin County, AL
Member
1985-2011
ATD 20 Group (TN02-02)
Member
1993-2011
International Truck Dealer Council
*Member *Vice Chairman *Chairman *Past Chairman *Regional Representative
1985-2006 1996 1997 1998 1995-1998
Dealer Advisory Board
*Used Truck / F&I *Executive Board *Finance Board
1992-1995 1996-1998 2000
Idealease
Member
1992-2011 A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2011
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Q&A
Continued from page 5
We proposed deferring these taxes with fuel taxes over the life of the truck. When you sell a $100,000 truck with $12,000 federal excise tax and $6,000 worth of sales tax, suddenly that truck costs the trucker almost $120,000. If we paid that with a fuel tax instead on a per mile basis, you can stretch that $18,000 over a five-year period. Deferring taxes always help small businesses. I’m not so sure for the fate of that proposal with all the uncertainty in the economy at this time, but it is definitely something to think about.
We have a great mix of business leaders. I think it’s a good thing that our Association allows an allied member to be Chairman every few years. I think it increases the viability of the Association in that it gives us a look from all segments of the industry. Regardless of the type business they came from, every single chairman we have ever had in some part contributed to the success of the Alabama Trucking Association. My goal is to continue building upon the solid foundation that my predecessors built.
What are your goals as Chairman of ATA?
How do you see the future of trucking in Alabama and beyond?
We have great participation and support from our board of directors, but one thing I’d like for us to do better is to pull the membership into the Association a little deeper, exposing them to what all we can do for them. We can accomplish this by visiting the members more often, and seeking and recruiting new businesses to join ATA and getting more members to attend events like our convention, our golf classic, and the various Safety & Maintenance Management Council meetings and events. I think that our leadership board is the Association’s greatest asset.
I see the future of trucking being very bright going forward. Trucking is the only way to economically and efficiently move freight, both short and long distances, and we do it every day. Now granted, we’ll never move coal from Wyoming to the Port of Mobile, but for the most part trucking is the most efficient way to move goods. It’s truly amazing what trucking does for this nation’s economy. I think we should be proud of where we’ve been and be proud of where we are going. Compiled and edited by Ford Boswell
Specializing in all levels of CSA audits
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Transportation Safety Consulting, LLC A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2011
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A Systematic Approach to CSA While it has been less than a year since the FMCSA fully implemented its CSA safety monitoring program, there still seems to be confusion and misconception about the program. But as fleet managers adjust their safety practices to conform to the new system, they will find that the program will yield a better, safer trucking industry. By Allen Hicks, CDS
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sessing a company’s safety management practices and make improvements where necessary. Putting the SMC in place begins with identifying and incorporating safety into almost every process (practice) of the company’s operation. While CSA scores may highlight day-to-day issues, they usually stem 1. Policies and from one or more of Procedures the safety practices outlined in the SMC. In fact, the way the SMC is intended to be used is to overlay it on each of the BASICs categories to examine where 2. Roles and weaknesses exist in Responsibilities the business that are causing a violation. The remainder of this article outlines each section of the Safety Management Cycle in more detail for ideas on how to use it to systematically address CSA scores and safety performance.
he Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) 6. Meaningful new safety monitoring proAction gram: Compliance, Safety, & Accountability (CSA) was rolled out in late last year, and already many carriers are feeling the effects of this new rules 5. Monitoring in terms of a higher level of enforcement and Tracking than the former SafeStat system. Carriers are feelSafety ing the effects of this Management new rule in terms of Cycle a higher level of enforcement than the former SafeStat system. CSA is enabling 4. Training and FMCSA to take a more Communication proactive approach to monitoring and interacting with carriers, which in turn is leading more carriers to examine their internal practices for managing safety better. 3. Qualification Most carriers have started by lookand Hiring ing at their safety scores based on the CSA’s Behavior Analysis and Safety ImproveKnow Your Tools: FMCSA’s Safety Management Cycle Policies & Procedures Source: FMCSA ment Categories, or BASICs. While this is an important first step to strengthening a carrier’s safety rating, this This section of the safety management cycle highlights the imporshouldn’t be the only consideration when strengthening and imtance of documentation to outline how a carrier ensures fleet safety. proving safety performance and CSA scores. Carriers should also Policies and procedures are typically organized around a carrier’s core look to the safety practices that drive these results such as those business processes such as safety, hiring, training and maintenance. outlined in the FMCSA’s Safety Management Cycle which inDocumentation is often organized into different levels beginning cludes policies and procedures, roles and responsibilities, qualificawith the safety policy as the highest level which would make reference tion and hiring, training and communication, monitoring and to procedures that support the safety policy and which would in turn tracking, and meaningful action. make reference to more detailed safety-related instructions and forms. It is important that fleet managers understand how their safety For example, the safety process may include a general safety procedure practices contribute to their safety problems. The Safety Managewhich could make reference to more detailed work instructions such ment Cycle (SMC) can be an important tool in systematically asas those for conducting a proper pre-trip inspection. 8
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Roles & Responsibilities This section ensures that any and all responsibilities relating to safety are clearly defined and known. Roles and responsibilities for safety are usually defined within the company’s core procedures. An effective approach for defining responsibilities within core procedures is using a flowchart which shows the sequence of activities and who is responsible for each of these activities. It is also helpful to summarize the responsibilities for safety within the individual procedures themselves and in other documents used during training and hiring such as in a driver’s manual or in job descriptions.
Qualification & Hiring This section covers practices that are helpful in qualifying and hiring drivers and staff for key positioning affecting safety. These practices could include pre-screening tests and any others up to and including road tests prior to offering the incumbent a job. This typically includes establishing acceptable levels of competency for key positions affecting safety such as the number of years of driving experience and the limit and severity of past violations for drivers.
Training & Communication This section deals with an important component of an effective safety program. Training for key positions affecting safety includes specific job-related training as well as safety issues including applicable safety regulations and training on CSA. A training matrix is often used, and typically combined with job descriptions, as a simple way to organize all required training to each role in the company. Following training, there is usually ongoing feedback as well as post-training activities to familiarize employees with changes in safety regulations, customer needs, or new practices. Training aids such as videos and e-learning tools are often used to further simply and enhance the effectiveness of training.
Monitoring & Tracking This section deals with the feedback loop to the carrier and driver to monitor fleet safety. The FMCSA provides metrics for each of their BASICs categories which are then used as a means of enforcement activities which range from letters to a carrier potentially losing their operating authority. Monitoring activities that impact a carrier’s CSA scores, such as poor driving behavior, is a common way to address safety in a proactive manner. Data drawn from a carrier’s electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs) provides a wealth of information that if properly analyzed and organized can become a powerful tool for monitoring and improving safety performA LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2011
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ance. Other monitoring could include a regular review of a carrier’s safety processes and the effectiveness of the carrier’s safety management system in general.
Meaningful Action This section relates to actions a carrier takes to address safety-related concerns and opportunities for strengthening overall safety performance. These actions can take many forms and occur in many areas and levels of the organization. A common action is reviewing and analyzing when incidents and accidents occur, or when processes are not followed, to prevent their reoccurrence. Another common practice is holding regular safety meetings, which may include involvement from members of the senior management team and/or a cross section of the organization to review and address known issues and problems as well as progress towards safety objectives. Allen Hicks, CDS, is Director of Safety for B.R. Williams Trucking in Oxford, Ala. To learn more about the background behind this article and upcoming CSA workshops contact him at 205-585-3895 or ahicks0604@bellsouth.net. Allan Hicks is partnered with Fleetmetrica in the presentation of this article and presentation of the workshops. Visit them at Fleetmetrica.com.
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Safety Insights
Smooth Transition
Tim Frazier, CDS Assistant Director of Safety and Member Services
‘I realize I have big shoes to fill – and many of our members remind me of this on a daily basis, but it is my goal to earn the respect of our members and provide the same top-notch service they expect and deserve.’
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Last spring, longtime Alabama Trucking Association Director of Safety & Member Services Gene Vonderau announced his intentions to retire at the end of calendar year 2011, thus bringing to an end a 40-year career of fleet safety management and overseeing safety departments for some of the state’s largest and most successful trucking firms. In 1999, he assumed the reins of ATA’s safety efforts, and has since made the Association the state’s foremost advocate for fleet and highway safety. His replacement is Tim Frazier, who himself bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to this Association. He started August 1, and his tenure will overlap Vonderau to ensure a smooth transition. What follows is his introduction to the membership.
L
ooking back over the 20 plus years I have in the trucking industry, I realize just how great trucking has been to me and my family. Over the years, I’ve worked with some great companies and fantastic people, and whether it was in the maintenance, safety, or dispatch arenas, I’ve had the privilege to work alongside some of the best executives, managers, drivers and service techs in the business. I am eternally grateful to those who helped me learn and grow — and especially those who I considered mentors. It has been especially meaningful to get to know literally hundreds of drivers who make it all possible. My dad was a professional driver who took his job very seriously. He drove for a large fleet and was one of those spitshined men. When he left the house, with his starched company uniform, he looked like an airline pilot or businessman. I always respected the pride he took in his line of work. To be honest, most drivers are like that.
They love what they do and will take the time to do things professionally – they are our industry’sV greatest asset. I will always remember and appreciate what the driving profession means to each of us. Without the professional driver doing his or her job on a daily basis, how would we have that coffee on our table every morning? Over the next weeks and months I will have the opportunity to work with Gene Vonderau, whom I consider one of my mentors and also one of the best safety professionals in the industry. Now with my first few weeks at the Association completed, it has become more evident than ever what an impact Gene has made in our industry and in our Association. I’ve had the opportunity to meet with several of our members, and it is clear the confidence and trust each one has in Gene. Working with Gene will provide the opportunity to gain tons of knowledge, contacts, and experience. Most of all, this will allow for a smooth transition for our members as Gene approaches retirement. I realize I have big shoes to fill – and many of our members remind me of this on a daily basis, but it is my goal to earn the respect of our members and provide the same top-notch service they expect and deserve. I want to take this opportunity to thank Frank Filgo, Gene, and our board of directors for the opportunity to serve as your next Director of Safety & Member Services. Thank you for the many calls and words of encouragement, which has given me much confidence for the task ahead. Please feel free to contact me at any time and I look forward to serving. Gene Vonderau will return next issue with his final Safety Insights column.
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roundup T ru c k i n g i n d u s T ry
Ward elected to lead Alabama Trucking Association
a sales trainee in Memphis. Over time, he held a variety of sales and managerial positions with the division and went through with eight relocations before purchasing his dealership in 1985. Since then, Ward International has added two more branches, one in Pensacola and one in Tallahassee, and offers as two affiliate dealerships in Mississippi. The company’s growth has positioned it among the most successful truck dealerships on the Gulf Coast’s I-10 Corridor, by focusing on customer service and satisfaction through the application of new technology.
Bill Ward accepts the Chairman’s gavel from Gail Cooper.
In July, the Alabama Trucking Association tapped Mobile business owner Bill Ward of Ward International Trucks to lead its board of directors for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. Ward began his stint as ATA’s top elected official July 1, replacing outgoing Chairman Gail Cooper of Boyd Brothers Transportation in Clayton, Ala. He will serve a one year term. “I am honored to accept this position for Alabama’s trucking industry,” Ward said. “Trucking is the lifeblood of on nation’s economy; and as (ATA’s) chairman, I will work to improve our public image by continuing our longstanding commitment to highways safety and ensure that we serve our members’ needs as they delivering the goods that the public relies on each day.” Ward also pledged to increase the Association membership numbers. “The past few years have been tough on trucking, and there were many trucking related businesses that didn’t make it through the last recession,” he said. “We now need to focus on the ones that are still around and thriving, because they are among the most dedicated and well-managed businesses in Alabama. Their ranks will only make us stronger and more capable as a leader in Alabama’s economy.” ATA president and CEO Frank Filgo praised Ward’s can-do attitude and leadership abilities. “We are very fortunate to have Bill Ward as our chief elected officer,” he said. “His get-it-done management style will serve him well as he relates to the needs of our members and industry.” Ward has worked in the trucking for more than 40 years, starting his career 1969 at International Harvester (now Case IH) as 20
Industry survey show drivers’ CSA concerns Truck drivers have concerns with the government’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability program, according to a new survey. The American Transportation Research Institute report details CSA’s influence on the daily lives of commercial drivers, based on survey data collected from more than 4,500 U.S. truck drivers. ATRI said many drivers do not have a solid understanding of what CSA is and does, adding that more than three-quarters of drivers incorrectly believe trucking companies inherit past violations from new hires. Nearly two-thirds of drivers said they were “somewhat or extremely concerned that they will lose their jobs as a result of CSA,” the group said. ATRI offers recommendations for enhancing driver knowledge and support through multiple training and education sessions, as well as other sources of familiarization. To request a copy of the report, visit ATRI’s website, www.atri-online.org.—Transport Topics
ATA hires new fleet safety and maintenance professional The Alabama Trucking Association recently hired industry veteran Tim Frazier as Assistant to the Director of Safety & Member Services. Frazier began his tenure Monday, Aug. 1 and will eventually replace longtime Safety Director Gene Vonderau, who retires at the end of this year. Frazier brings more than two decades of fleet safety and maintenance management experience to the Association, most recently
serving as Vice President of Safety and Human Resources with McGriff Transportation in Cullman, Ala. Prior to that, he held several posts for Wal-Mart Transportation’s maintenance, safety and distribution departments. Frazier is a certified safety director (CDS), an elite professional distinction awarded by the National American Transportation Management Institute (NATMI), and has been active in the Association’s Safety and Maintenance Management Council (SMMC), serving as chairman of its Birmingham Chapter in 2004. He has also chaired the Alabama Truck Driving Championships (TDC), and spearheaded ATA’s Annual Roadside Inspection Team since 2001. He was named ATA’s Safety Professional of the Year in 2002. Association officials say his tenure will overlap Vonderau to ensure a smooth transition. “We are excited to have Tim on board as a member of the ATA staff,” said ATA President Frank Filgo. “Due to his experience and close working relationship with Alabama’s truck safety and maintenance professionals, we believe he is perfect fit to build on the foundation set by Gene Vonderau in his decade of heading ATA’s safety department. Tim’s responsibilities will include assisting in the planning, organizing, and directing the Association’s safety program and activities.”
ATA adds two members to its executive board The Alabama trucking Association recently installed Jeff McGrady and Rodger Collins to its executive board. McGrady has been in transportation for 34 years and is currently President of Heritage Freight Warehousing & Logistics LLC, a dry van and flat bed hauling company based in Sylacauga, Ala. Prior to that, he worked 31 years for the former Floyd & Beasley Transfer Co., serving as its president for 8 years before starting his own company. He currently serves on the board of directors of Sycamore Federal Credit Union having served on the boards of Frontier National Bank, Regions Bank, Truckload Carriers Assn., Sylacauga City Schools Foundation and the Talladega Career Center. McGrady is a native of Talladega County A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2011
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and married to Cheryl, with whom he has two adult children Deven and Candice. Collins has worked in transportation for more than 30 years and is currently General Manager of Industrial Warehouse Services, a dry bulk and general freight hauler. He attended Greensboro High School, Shelton State Community College and the University of Alabama. He and wife Lisa have four adult children, Constance, Lee, Candace, and Chelsea. He has also has 4-year-old grandson, Dakota. Both men were referred to the ATA Nominating Committee by Mike Callahan of Premier Truck Centers.
with the industry to recognize drivers for the outstanding service and contributions.” National ATA has released its official line of 2011 National Truck Driver Appreciation Week gifts for professional truck drivers, include hats, t-shirts, water bottles, travel tumbler, duffel bags, and playing card sets and cases — all featuring the 2011 National Truck Driver Appreciation Week logo. In addition, celebration banners are available for organizations sponsoring events. For more information or to order, visit www.atabusinesssolutions.com or call 866-821-3468. For more information on NTDAW activities, visit www.truckline.com/Programs/ntdaw.
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is set for Sept. 11-17
McLeod Software user conference set for September
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week will be celebrated September 11-17, 2011. During this time, America honors all professional truck drivers for their hard work and commitment in tackling one of our economy’s most demanding and important jobs. “Much of the success of the trucking industry depends on the professionalism of drivers,” said American Trucking Associations president and CEO Bill Graves. “We encourage all ATA members and all others involved
Birminghambased McLeod Software’s annual users’ conference is set for Sept. 25-27 at the Sheraton Chicago Towers in Chicago. The event will feature training classes, trade show, keynote speakers, and breakout sessions for brokers and carriers. Speakers include Gary Salisbury, president and CEO of Fikes Truck Line, Inc., Hope, Ark.; and Robert Voltmann, president
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and CEO of Transportation Intermediaries Association, Alexandria, Va. The trade show will feature more than vendors. Brokers and carriers may also participate in specialized breakout sessions, where attendees can find detailed information pertinent to their businesses. Conference opens with a golf outing on Sunday, Sept. 25. For more information visit www.mcleodsoftware.com.
Southland International adds new employees, trailer service center Southland International Trucks, Inc. has opened a new service center for its trailer division, located at 2563 Commerce Circle in Tarrant, Ala. The facility offers five service bays and specializes in trailer service and repair for all makes and models. According to Southland officials seven new employees were hired, including branch manager Charles Young and a staff of customer support and factory trained trailer technicians who can perform any task from minor repair to complete rebuilds and refurbishing. In addition, Southland offers a trailer pickup and delivery service. The trailer sales office will remain at 214 10th Street South in Birmingham offering new trailers including Tran-
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scraft, Benson, Hyundai, and XL Specialized. Services and repairs provided include, brake systems, suspension, electrical systems, landing gears, axles and wheel end, roof and panels, trailer body/upper coupler, door repair and replacement, wreck repair, insurance work, FHWA inspections and warranty repairs. Meanwhile, the company has also hired Andrew Linn to its professional staff of Southland International Trucks, Inc. as Customer Solutions Manager, working directly with truck users throughout the entire dealership coverage area to help them identify and implement processes to operate with the lowest overall cost of ownership as well as streamline fleet management and efficiency. While attending the University of Alabama Linn worked at the Southland’s Tuscaloosa dealership in various departments including Idealease Rental and Lease and New Truck Sales. Upon graduation in 2007, he was employed by Navistar Truck Group in Chicago, Ill. as a Vocational Sales Manager specializing in the governmental and municipality segments. In this capacity he was responsible for commercial truck sales in the Midwest Region. For more information on Southland International Trucks visit www.south landtrucks.com
State safety directors seek CDS distinction
ATA's 2011 candidates for certified director of safety (CDS) accreditation conducted by North American Transportation Management Institute. From left, Robert Folk of Cobbs, Allen & Hall; Kent Williams of R.E. Garrison; Stephen Murray of Dupre Logistics; Tonya Wilson of Barnett Transportation; NATMI instructor Mike Connelly; and Connel Coggins of Buddy Moore Trucking. Training was held in July; candidates are expected to finish this fall.
Safety group wants rollover protection for tankers The National Transportation Safety Board wants more done to make tanker trailers less prone to rollovers, including mandatory stability control systems, following its investigation of a 2009 rollover accident involving a tractor and tanker trailer. In 2009, a late model tractor pulling a cargo tank semitrailer rolled over about 10 miles northeast of downtown Indianapolis.
The tanker was loaded with 9,001 gallons of liquefied petroleum gas, which escaped, formed a vapor cloud, and ignited. The rollover occurred on a connection ramp at the junction of I-69 south and I-465 south. According to Heavy Duty Trucking magazine, an investigation revealed that the truck driver, who was negotiating a left curve from the right lane of the connection ramp, began to encroach upon the left lane that was occupied by a passenger car. The truck driver responded to the car’s presence
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by over steering his vehicle, which caused it to veer to the right and onto the paved right shoulder. Moments later, the truck driver steered counterclockwise to redirect the truck from the right shoulder and back to the right lane. This series of driver inputs, steering hard to the right and then back to the left, led to the cargo tank rolling over, detaching from the truck, penetrating a steel guardrail, and colliding with and entirely displacing a bridge pier column that supported the I-465 overpass. As a result of the accident and post-accident fire, the truck driver and the driver of the passenger car sustained serious injuries. Three occupants from other passenger vehicles traveling on I-465 received minor injuries from the post-accident fire. The NTSB determined the cause of the crash was the driver’s excessive and rapid evasive steering maneuver after he began to encroach upon the occupied left lane. Contributing to the rollover was the driver quickly steering the combination unit from the right shoulder to the right lane; the reduced cross slope of the paved right shoulder; and the susceptibility of the combination unit to rollover because of its high center of gravity. The board noted that loaded cargo tank motor vehicles provide little tolerance for operator error, and the rollover training received by the truck driver was not effective in preventing this accident. Although a rollover prevention program will not eliminate all rollovers due to driver errors, it can be effective for identifying ways for cargo tank motor vehicle drivers and management to work collaboratively to prevent rollover accidents. In addition, the NTSB said, a stability control system on the combination unit may have prevented this accident. “The NTSB has been concerned about the integrity of cargo tanks carrying hazardous materials for more than 40 years,” said NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman. “There are more than 1,300 rollovers a year involving cargo tank motor vehicles. These accidents pose a significant safety risk to both the vehicle driver and to the motoring public.” The NTSB has no regulatory power itself, but it issued 20 safety recommendations to other agencies, including several regarding mandatory stability control/antirollover systems. The board recommended that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Implement a comprehensive rollover prevention program. It recommended that the FMCSA to require all in-use cargo tank trailers with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 10,000 26
obiTuaries Former ATA Chairman Don Upton dies at 72 Former Alabama Trucking Association Chairman of the Board Don Upton died July 31 after a brief illness. He was 72. Upton was general manager of Bee Line Express of Albertville and was elected Chairman of the Board of the Alabama Trucking Association in 1982. He continued to serve the Association until his retirement. He is survived by his wife Edna; daughter Lesa; son Tod; sisters Karen (John) Monroe, Susan (Rickey) Galloway; brothers Mike (Elaine) of Birmingham; Pat Don Upton (Lynn) of Guntersville and four grandchildren.
Lawson Trucking founder Charles Lawson dies Charles Lawson, longtime ATA member and founder of the Hope Hull-based Charles G. Lawson Trucking, died Saturday, April 30, 2011. Funeral services were held on May 3 at the Mt. Hilliard United Methodist Church with Rev. Kent Deny officiating. He was preceded in death by his parents Vernon and Myrtle Green Lawson; brothers Billy Lawson and Jerry Lawson. He is survived by his wife Mae Pritchett Lawson; daughters Pam Thompson of Montgomery, Patti Wilhite of Mathews, and Pennie Smith of Mathews; grandchildren Hunter Smith, Hollan Smith, James Wilhite, Alli Wilhite, Joseph Wilhite, Rebekah Wilhite, Michael Wilhite, Derrick Thompson, Dejie Guerrier; great-grandchildren Ava Grayce Guerrier, Asa Thompson; brother Johnny Lawson of Punta Gorda, Fla. Memorials may be made to Ramah Baptist Church, c/o Averyt Walker, 2104 County Road 6631, Banks, Ala. 36005 or Mt. Hilliard United Methodist Church, c/o Mrs. Greg Powell, 2856 County Road 14, Union Springs, Ala. 36089.
ATA Workers’ Comp Fund mourns untimely death of Nick Tolleson On April 13, 2011 the Alabama Trucking Association Workers’ Comp Fund lost long time Board member and friend, Nick Tolleson. He was 44. Tolleson was first elected to WCSIF’s Board in 2003 and served its Chairman from 2007-2009. According to Fund officials Tolleson led investment policy committee through the mortgage bond crisis of 2007, avoiding the 50-60 percent loss of principal seen by many workers’ compensation funds. WCSIF under Tolleson’s lead, diversified its investment portfolio skillfully and experienced minimal impact on principal. Nick Tolleson Friend, colleague and current ATA Treasurer Bruce McDonald said Tolleson was the type of Board member and friend who always put the Fund and his colleagues ahead of any personal objectives or desires. “Nick was never one to skip a meeting or avoid a challenge, his leadership by example and talent for bringing together others for a common goal was definitely an inspiration to the Board as well as all members,” McDonald said. “He will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.” pounds be retrofitted with a rollover stability control system. The NTSB recommended that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration develop stability control system performance standards for all commercial motor vehicles and buses with a GVWR over 10,000 pounds, and that it establish minimum performance standards for new cargo tanks and
require the installation of stability control systems on all newly manufactured commercial vehicles. It recommended that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration work to identify cargo tank designs that are susceptible to failure so it can develop accident performance standards for new cargo tanks. —Heavy Duty Trucking A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2011
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ATRI survey seeks to identify CSA’s impact on trucking
information. The results of the carrier and driver surveys will be available later this year.
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) is seeking input from motor carriers to identify CSA impacts on trucking operations, as well as carrier perceptions and attitudes toward FMCSA’s new regulatory program. The brief on-line survey asks carriers for information on how operations have changed or been affected since the full deployment of CSA in December of last year. The survey also seeks to capture attitudes toward the program and general understanding of its key components. Motor carriers are encouraged to provide input on through ATRI’s secure Web site, www.atri-online.org. Your answers are confidential, and ATRI will not share your
Lawson Trucking honored for safety Great West Casualty Co. has for the second straight year named Charles G. Lawson Trucking one of safest fleets in the nation. The Hope Hull, Ala.-based trucking company won Great West’s Platinum Award by as part of the 2010 National Fleet Safety Awards Program. Great West’s National Safety Awards program recognizes truckload and less-thantruckload fleets for their year-end preventable accidents results. Companies are rated Platinum, Gold, Silver or Participatory. The Fleet Safety Award Program drew more
Californian wins National TDC grand prize
Phillip is Grand Champ, Alabama gets shutout.
ORLANDO — Con-way Freight’s Paul Phillips, a professional truck driver from Coarsegold, Calif., won the 2011 Bendix National Truck Driving Championships Grand Champion. Phillips’ driving skills and knowledge of transportation and truck safety information topped those of 428 other professional drivers from all across the U.S. during the American Trucking Associations’ 74th annual Truck Driving Championships, held in Orlando, Fla. In route to the title, Phillips logged 35 years as a professional truck driver, with more than 1.6 million miles behind the wheel. He began competing in his state truck driving championships in 2004, and this year made his second trip to Nationals. The contestants were the state champions in nine truck types from all 50 states. Collectively, they have driven 595,155,665 accident-free miles. In their respective classes, drivers tested their expertise in the driving skills they use daily. The competition course inside the Orange County Convention Center challenged their knowledge of safety, equipment and the industry. The skills course tested drivers’ ability to judge distances, maneuver tight spaces, reverse, park, and position their vehicle exactly over scales, before barriers or around curves. “The National Truck Driving Championships showcase the industry’s commitment to safety,” said ATA president and CEO Bill Graves. “I applaud all the competitors for their efforts in making 28
than 800 entries from across the country. Carriers were recognized for achieving a low preventable accident frequency per million miles of operation. According to Lawson Director of Safety Debbie Henderson, the honor comes on the heels of the recent death of company the company found Charles Lawson, who died unexpectedly in April. “We are saddened that Mr. Lawson couldn’t share in this honor,” she said. “We are very committed to doing things right, and are heavily invested in our safety program and proud to receive this honor.” Lawson Trucking is a long-time Alabama Trucking Association member-fleet, offering more than 145 power units, with a mix of more than 230 trailers, including tankers, refrigerated vans, and dry vans.
our highways safe, and congratulate Paul for demonstrating how a dedication to safe driving skills can make you a Grand Champion.” Phillips also won the individual straight truck driving competition. Joining him as champions in their respective classes were: Straight Truck: CA - Paul Phillips, Con-way Freight, Coarsegold, Calif. Three-Axle: PA - John Hazlett, ABF Freight System, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa. Four-Axle: KS - Gary Harms, Wal-Mart Transportation LLC, Olathe, Kan. Five-Axle: GA - Hershel Evans, Holland, Bremen, Ga. Flatbed: OR - Edward Hawkins, Leavitt’s Freight Service, Springfield, Ore. Tank Truck: PA - Leo Flack, A. Duie Pyle, Inc., West Chester, Pa. Twins: UT - Jeffrey W. Payne, Reddaway, Cedar City, Utah Sleeper Berth: OR - Joshua Carr, Wal-Mart Transportation LLC, McCall, Idaho Step Van: TN - James Sheehan, FedEx Ground, Hendersonville, Tenn.
National TDC Notes Alabama Grand Champ Ross Garner, placed ninth out of 43 in the 3-Axle class. His was the best showing by a competitor from Alabama. Michael Andrews, a driver for HEB from Valley Mills, Texas, was named the 2011 National Rookie of the Year after competing in the Three-Axle division. The Michigan state truck driving championship team won honors as the highest scoring state team, followed by Pennsylvania and Utah, respectively. Michael Barnes, a driver for Wal-Mart Transportation, LLC from Verona, Va. won the Vehicle Condition Award. Barnes participated in the Twins competition. Laurier R. Dumont, a driver for YRC from Rochester, N.H. was awarded the Neill Darmstadter Professional Excellence Award. Dumont participated in the Five-Axle competition. Marking his 20th year as a NTDC volunteer, Gary Tunsky from Minnesota was awarded the Life-Time Volunteer Award. During his career, Tunsky has competed and volunteered also at the state level and in 2000, was awarded the Minnesota Trucking Association’s Herb Ney Memorial Outstanding Service Award. A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2011
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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.
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY CODE # _________________ Date_____________________
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ACT ____________________
BC ____________________
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Exp Date__________________
ATU ____________________
DC ____________________
Dues Amt ________________
Nxt Bill Date _______________
MAG __________________
400 ____________________
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AL Sen___________________
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GC ____________________
CONTACT SHEET __________
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A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2011
LTR/PLQ ________________
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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
Annual $200 250 360 510 640 750 870 960 1,040 1,150 1,250
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
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
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
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 $420 480 540 600
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. 32
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aTa
new members & evenTs
ATA & Industry Events
New Members (6/15/2011 to 8/24/2011)
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week September 11-17, 2011
Tommy Adams Logistics, Inc. Tommy Adams Deatsville, Ala. 334- 365-3487
Hollingsworth Oil Co. Tom Griffin Bessemer, Ala. 205-424-5823
Freddie Payne, LLC Freddie Payne Wedowee, Ala. 256-357-4152
AMX Dedicated Fleet Services, Inc. Jim Franklin Ashford, Ala. 334-793-4315
Hunt Transportation Ray Dunn Omaha, Neb. 402-339-3003
Payroll Management, Inc. Dan Robertson Fort Walton Beach, Fla. 850-275-5474
Midstates Petroleum Co., LLC Richard Mayers Vernon, Ala. 205-695-0018
Railroad Resource Transportation LLC. Michael Wilson Bay Minette, Ala. 251-937-9786
ATA Annual Golf Classic October 11, 2011 Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Capitol Hill Course Prattville, Ala. American Trucking Associations Management Convention & Expo October 15-18, 2011 Grapevine, Tex. SMMC Christmas Celebration December 5, 2011 Bessemer Civic Center Bessemer, Ala.
ASF Intermodal, LLC Michael Smith Mobile, AL 36608 251-287-8150
ATA Annual Convention & Meeting April 26-28, 2012 Beau Rivage Resort & Casino Biloxi, Miss.
For Advertising Info Call Ford Boswell 334-834-3983 A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2011
Montgomery Transport LLC Rollins Montgomery Birmingham, Ala. 205-320-6000
First Klass Movers, LLC Bryan Craven Montgomery, Ala. 334-277-6010
A
D V E R T I S I N G
I
Teletrac, Inc. Dennis Hollingsworth Garden Grove, Calif. 714-897-0877
N D E X
ADVERTISER
PG. NO.
PH. NO.
ATA WCSIF
BC
(334) 834-7911
www.atacompfund.org
ATA MC&E
30
(703) 838-1756
mce.truckline.com
The Baxter Agency
23
(800) 873-8494
www.baxteragency.com
Detroit Diesel
11
(800) 592-3413
www.wwwilliams.com
ErgoScience, Inc.
22
(866) 779-6447 ext. 211
www.ergoscience.com
IBC
(800) 383-0094
www.greatdanetrailers.com
Great West Casualty Co.
15
(800) 228-8053
www.gwccnet.com
International Trucks
IFC
(800) 844-4102
www.navistar.com
JP Transportation Safety Consulting
7
(205) 329-8183
www.jptsc.com
J.J. Keller
25
(888) 473-4638 ext. 7892
Palomar Insurance
10
(800) 489-0105
www.palomarins.com
Peoplenet
17
(888) 346-3486
www.peoplenetonline.com
PrePass
29
(800) 773-7277
www.prepass.com
Regions Insurance
24
(800) 807-1412
www.regionsinsurance.com
Ritchie Bros.
21
(205) 837-9033
www.rbauction.com
Thompson Cat
3
(205) 849-4288
www.thompsontractor.com
Turner & Hamrick
14
(888) 385-0186
www.turnerhamrick.com
WH Thomas Oil Co.
18
(205) 755-2610
www.thomasoil.com
UPS
27
Great Dane
(800) 325-7000
WEB ADDRESS
www.jjkellermobile.com
www.ups.com 33
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2011 ATA BUYER’s 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.
Alabama Trucking Assn.’s Buyer’s Guide lists those companies that have taking an active role in supporting Alabama’s trucking industry by becoming members of the Association. We ask that each time you plan a purchase that you consult this guide and give ATA members the opportunity to gain your business. These companies proudly support your association and deserve your support, as well. ADVERTISING/PUBLISHING Fastline Publications (502) 222-8357 www.thetruckbook.com Randall-Reilly Publishing Co. (205) 349-2990 www.rrpub.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 COMMUNICATIONS/ELECTRONICS J.J. Keller & Assoc., Inc. (920) 722-2848 www.jjkellerservices.com
Wise Consulting, LLC (256) 796-5291 ENGINE MANUFACTURERS Cummins Mid-South, LLC (901) 488-8033 www.cummins.com Thompson/Caterpillar (205) 849-4365 www.thompsonpowersystems.com EQUIPMENT LEASING H.E.C. Leasing, LLC (615) 324-3538 www.hecleasing.com National Semi-Trailer Corp. (205) 520-0050 www.nationalsemi.com Southern Truck & Equipment, Inc. (251) 653-4716 www.southerntruck.net Southland International Trucks, Inc. (205) 942-6226 www.southlandtrucks.com Star Leasing Co. (205) 763-1280 www.starleasing.com
PeopleNet (888) 346-3486 www.peoplenetonline.com
Truck & Trailer Leasing Corp. (256) 831-6880
QUALCOMM, Inc. (770) 271-3654 www.qualcomm.com/qwbs
EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING BigBee Steel (256) 383-7322 www.bigbee.com
Sprint Nextel (334) 414-5842 www.sprint.com XATA Corp. (501) 835-1585 www.xata.com EDUCATION & TRAINING J.J. Keller & Assoc., Inc. (920) 722-2848 www.jjkellerservices.com
Eaton Corp./Roadranger Field Marketing (205) 601-8440 www.roadranger.com EQUIPMENT PARTS/ACCESSORIES Airgas Specialty Products - DEF (205) 515-5498 www.airgasDEF.com
Avizent (205) 581-9283 www.avizentrisk.com
Southern Truck & Equipment, Inc. (251) 653-4716 www.southerntruck.net
The Baxter Agency (334) 678-6800 www.baxteragency.com
Thermo King of B’ham-Thermo King of Montgomery-Thermo King of Dothan (205) 591-2424 www.midstatetk.com
BB & T Insurance Services (912) 201-4706
W.W. Williams (205) 252-9025 (334) 279-6083 www.wwwilliams.com ESCORT SERVICE ESTATE AND BUSINESS PLANNING Christian & Small LLP (205) 795-6588 www.csattorneys.com FINANCIAL SERVICES Aliant Bank (334) 270-3000 www.aliantbank.com
Benton & Parker Insurance Services (770) 536-8340 www.bentonandparker.com Caribou Insurance Agency, Inc. (205) 822-7577 www.caribouins.com Cobbs, Allen & Hall (205) 414-8100 www.cobbsallenhall.com Cottingham and Butler (407) 850-0896 www.cottinghambutler.com Great West Casualty Co. (865) 670-6573 www.gwccnet.com
Trans Con Assurance, LTD (205) 978-7070 Turner & Hamrick L.L.C. (334) 566-7665 www.turnerhamrick.com Zurich (800) 553-3055 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 Hollingsworth Oil Co. (205) 424-5823 www.hoclubes.com
BancorpSouth Bank (205) 437-2705 www.bancorpsouthonline.com
Hudgens Insurance, Inc. (334) 289-2695
BancorpSouth Equipment Finance (205) 422-7111 www.bxsequipmentfinance.com
Johnson-Locklin & Associates (205) 980-8008 www.johnson-locklin.com
Jack Green Oil Co., Inc. (256) 831-1038
BBVA Compass (205) 297-3349 www.bbvacompass.com
Liberty Mutual Group (804) 380-5169
Major Oil Company, Inc. (334) 263-9070 www.unitedfoodandfuel.com
Comdata (615) 370-7778 Freight Capital (800) 775-0391 www.freightcapital.com
JP Transportation Safety Consulting, LLC (205) 329-8182 (205) 329-8183 www.jptsc.com
Ancra International, LLC (334) 306-4372 www.ancra.com Dothan Tarpaulin Products, Inc. (800) 844-8277 www.dothantarp.com
KSM Transport Advisors, LLC (317) 580-2324 www.ksmta.com
Messerschmidt Safety Consulting (205) 444-0071 www.mscrecon.com
Fleet Air Technologies, Inc. (256) 754-0034 www.fleetairtech.com
People’s Capital & Leasing Corp. (205) 856-9354 www.peoples.com
National Trucking Safety Consultants, LLC (850) 939-8926 www.expertwitness.com/brown
FleetPride, Inc. (205) 322-5621 www.fleetpride.com
People’s United Equipment Finance Corp. (205) 664-9374 www.financialfederal.com
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Aronov Insurance, Inc. (205) 907-9622 www.aronovinsurance.com
Paccar Parts/Kenworth (205) 679-7925 www.kenworth.com
GE Capital Solutions aka GE Commercial Finance Transportation Finance-Morrow, GA (770) 960-6307 www.getransfin.com
Imperial Supplies LLC Transportation Safety Services (920) 494-7474 (251) 661-9700 www.imperialsupplies.com www.transportationsafetyservices.com Kinedyne Corp. Trucking Partners, LLC (334) 365-2919 (256) 737-8788 www.kinedyne.com www.truckingpartners.com Metro Trailer Repair Co., Inc. USA Driver-s, Inc. (205) 323-2877 (205) 661-0712 www.metrotrailer.net www.usadrivers.com
INSURANCE AON – Trucking Practice (501) 374-9300 www.aon.com
Power Funding (256) 606-1546 www.powerfundingltd.com Warren, Averett, Kimbrough & Marino, LLC (256) 739-0312 www.wakm.com Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, Inc. (615) 587-9032 www.wellsfargo.com
Liberty Truck Insurance (205) 322-6695 Marvin Johnson & Associates, Inc. (812) 372-0841 www.mjai.com McGriff, Siebels & Williams, Inc. (205) 252-9871 www.mcgriff.com Joe Morten & Sons, Inc. (865) 670-6544 www.joemorten.com S. S. Nesbitt (205) 262-2620 www.ssnesbitt.com
The McPherson Companies, Inc. (888) 802-7500 www.mcphersonoil.com W.H. Thomas Oil Co., Inc. (205) 755-2610 www.whthomasoil.com PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Accounting Firms: Aldridge, Borden & Co. (334) 834-6640 www.aldridgeborden.com Katz, Sapper & Miller, LLP (317) 580-2068 www.ksmcpa.com
Palomar Insurance Corp. (334) 270-0105 www.palomarinsurance.com Regions Insurance, Inc. (501) 661-4880 www.regions.com
Attorneys: Albrittons, Clifton, Alverson, Moody & Bowden P.C. (334) 222-3177 www.albrittons.com
Austill, Lewis & Pipkin, P.C. Regions Insurance/Barksdale Bonding (205) 870-3767 www.maplaw.com (334) 808-9441 www.barksdalebonding.com Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C. Reliance Partners, Inc. (205) 328-0480 (877) 668-1704 www.bakerdonelson.com www.reliancepartners.com Sentry Insurance (800) 610-4888 www.sentry.com
Ball, Ball, Matthews & Novak, P.A. 334-387-7680 www.ball-ball.com
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Guide Carr, Allison, Pugh, Howard, Oliver & Sisson (800) 582-3793 www.carrallison.com Christian & Small, LLP (205) 795-6588 www.csattorneys.com DeLashmet & Marchand, P.C. (251) 433-1577 www.delmar-law.com Ferguson, Frost & Dodson, LLP (205) 879-8722 www.ffdlaw.com Fisher & Phillips, LLP (404) 231-1400 www.laborlawyers.com Friedman, Leak, Dazzio, Zulanas & Bowling, P.C. (205) 278-7000 www.friedmanleak.com
(as of August 19, 2011)
JP Transportation Safety Consulting, LLC (205) 329-8182 (205) 329-8183 www.jptsc.com McLeod Software (205) 823-5100 www.mcleodsoftware.com Mobile Asphalt Co., LLC (251) 408-0770 Motor Carrier Safety Consulting (205) 871-4455 Payroll Management, Inc. (800) 243-5604 www.pmipeo.com
Carrier Transicold South (404) 968-3130 www.ctsouth.com
Equipment Logistics, Inc. (256) 739-9280
Carroll Truck Repair, Inc. (205) 983-3375
Fontaine Fifth Wheel NA (205) 421-4300 www.fifthwheel.com
Childersburg Truck Service, Inc. (256) 378-3101 www.childersburg-truck.com
Great Dane Trailers (205) 324-3491 www.greatdanetrailers.com
Coffman International Trucks (334) 794-4111 www.coffmaninternationaltrucks.com
Gulf City Body & Trailer Works, Inc. (251) 438-5521 www.gulfcity.com
Eufaula Trucking Co., Inc. (334) 687-0391
Gulf Coast Truck & Equipment Co. (251) 476-2744 www.gulfcoasttruck.com
H & M Trailer Repair, Inc. (334) 262-0692
Power South Energy Cooperative (334) 427-3207 www.powersouth.com
Lazzari Truck Repair, Inc. (251) 626-5121
Quality Vehicle Processing, LLC (205) 507-2758
Metro Trailer Repair Co., Inc. (205) 323-2877 www.metrotrailer.net
Haskell, Slaughter, Young & Rediker, LLC (205) 251-1000 www.hsy.com
Securance Group, Inc. (334) 272-1200 www.securancegroup.com
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart (205) 328-1900 www.ogletreedeakins.com
Spectrum Environmental Services, Inc. (205) 664-2000 www.specenviro.com
Star Leasing Co. (205) 763-1280 www.starleasing.com
James M. Sizemore, Jr. (256) 409-1985
Teletrac, Inc. (714) 897-0877 www.teletrac.net
W.W. Williams (205) 252-9025 (334) 279-6083 www.wwwilliams.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 Other Services: ACS Expedited Solutions (800) 489-4585 www.acsexpeditedsolutions.com ACS State and Local Solutions, Inc. (931) 520-7170 www.prepass.com Ahern & Associates LTD (602) 242-1030 www.ahern-LTD.com Ball & McGough Engineering, LLC (205) 345-6399 www.ballandmcgough.com Best Drivers (205) 916-0259 www.bestdrivers.com Direct ChassisLink (704) 571-2618 www.chassislink.com The Earl Dove Co., LLC (334) 793-7117 FleetMatics USA, LLC (847) 463-7677 George L. Edwards & Assoc. (334) 745-5166 J.J. Keller & Assoc., Inc. (920) 722-2848 www.jjkellerservices.com Jeffers Trucking, Inc. (205) 808-1112
ThinkTrade, Inc. (866) 245-3918 www.thinktradeinc.com TMW Systems, Inc. (216) 831-6606 www.tmwsystems.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
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 Transport Trailer Center (334) 299-3573 Utility Trailer Sales of Alabama LLC (334) 794-7345 www.utilityalabama.com
TIRE DEALERS & MANUFACTURERS Best-One Tire & Service TRUCK DEALERS, (615) 785-2834 MANUFACTURERS www.bestonetire.com Action Truck Center (334) 794-8505 Bridgestone/Bandag Tire Solutions www.actiontruckcenter.com (800) 681-6245 www.trucktires.com Capital Volvo Truck & Trailer (334) 262-8856 Butler Industrial Tire Center, Inc. www.capitalvolvo.com (334) 376-0178 Coffman International Trucks GCR Tire Centers (334) 794-4111 (205) 914-6818 www.coffmaninternationaltrucks.com Integrated Waste Services, LLC (205) 620-5812
Transportation Safety Services (251) 661-9700 www.transportationsafetyservices.com McGriff Tire Co. (256) 739-0710 Transportation Support, Inc. www.mcgriffindustries.com (205) 833-6336 www.transportationsupport.com McGriff Treading Co., Inc. (256) 734-4298 Trucking Partners, LLC www.mcgriffindustries.com (256) 737-8788 www.truckingpartners.com Michelin North America, Inc. (864) 201-6177 Welborn & Associates, Inc. www.michelintruck.com (423) 822-1608 www.transportcap.com Snider Tire, Inc. (404) 361-0130 Repairs: www.snidertire.com Big Moe Spring & Alignment of B’ham, Inc. Wilks Tire & Battery Service, Inc. (205) 780-0290 (256) 878-0211 www.wilkstire.com Birmingham Frame & Alignment, LLC TRAILER DEALERS/ (205) 322-4844 MANUFACTURERS birminghamframeandalignment.com C & C Trailers, Inc. (334) 897-2202 Carl Carson Truck Center, Inc. (205) 592-9966 Empire Truck Sales, LLC www.carlcarson.com (601) 939-1000 www.empiretruck.com
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R C Trailer Sales & Service Co., Inc. (205) 680-0924 www.rctrailersales.net
Empire Truck Sales, LLC (601) 939-1000 www.empiretruck.com Four Star Freightliner (334) 263-1085 (Montgomery) www.alabamafreightliner.com Freightliner Trucks/Daimler Trucks North America (770) 963-1460 www.freightlinertrucks.com International Truck & Engine Corp./Navistar (813) 382-3113 www.internationaldelivers.com Kenworth of Alabama (205) 326-6170 www.kenworthofalabama.com Kenworth of Huntsville, Inc. (256) 308-0162 www.kenworthofalabama.com Liberty Truck Sales, Inc. (205) 322-6695 www.libertytrucksales.com
Mack Trucks, Inc. (678) 201-4770 www.macktrucks.com Neely Coble Co. (256) 350-1630 www.neelycoble.com Nextran Truck Center – Bham (205) 322-2534 www.nextrancorp.com Peterbilt Truck Centers LLC (800) 264-4555 www.peterbilttruckcenters.com Peterbilt Motors Co. (615) 208-1800 www.peterbilt.com Premier Truck Centers, Inc. (205) 841-4450 www.premiertrucks.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 Volvo Trucks North America (336) 393-2975 www.volvotrucks.volvo.com Ward International Trucks, LLC (251) 433-5616 www.wardintltrucks.com TRUCK & EQUIPMENT AUCTIONEERS Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (770) 304-3355 www.rbauction.com 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 National Semi-Trailer Corp. (205) 520-0050 www.nationalsemi.com Southland International Trucks, Inc. (205) 942-6226 www.southlandtrucks.com Ward International Trucks, LLC (251) 433-5616 www.wardintltrucks.com
Long-Lewis Sterling Truck Sales (205) 428-6241 www.longlewistrucks.com
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word The LasT
It Just W Takes One ‘Just one workplace accident can cause drastic and immediate consequences for your company.’ By Rick Hunter LSP, CDS
e all understand and respect the importance of protecting our employees from workplace injury, but today’s fast pace environment can distract us from making the necessary changes required to create and maintain a safe and healthy work environment. Achieving that balance doesn’t happen overnight; it takes careful implementation of a solid plan. Being open to change is the most important thing you can do to keep your business accident free. Even though a change in mindset or process can create a safe workplace environment, it is sometimes met with skepticism and resentment by your employees. Once a decision is made to take the first step and commit to creating a safe workplace free of hazards, then the program becomes a little easier to manage and your staff will begin to buy in to your vision. Here are some things to ponder as you consider changes in your business in terms of workplace safety: It just takes one minute to create a safety rule and add to your list of guidelines for employees to follow and understand what is expected of them. It just takes one hour to conduct a safety meeting emphasizing management’s commitment to safety and discuss important issues that affect employee safety.
It just takes one week to create a safety program with workplace safety controls and commitment to the reduction of workplace injuries and to the safety and health of your employees.
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It just takes one month to implement a safety program reflecting management’s commitment, controls and policies and guidelines and training. It just takes one year to receive the Certified Safety Program Award that recognizes your commitment to workplace safety and health for all your employees. It just takes one second for one accident to destroy it all.
‘Being open to change is the most important thing you can do to keep your business accident free.’ Accidents with injuries happen every day, but minimizing the risk is the name of the game. Managing the potential for accidents is achieved through creating rules, training programs and exhibiting your management staff ’s commitment to protecting employees from injury. Your employees are your greatest investment; protect them with education, engineering and enforcement. Rick Hunter is Director of Safety & Loss Control for the ATA Workers’ Compensation Fund. He may be reached at rhunter@ataworkerscomp.org
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