Alabama Trucker 4th Quarter 2011

Officers Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bill Ward Vice Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jack Brim Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bruce MacDonald Immediate Past Chairman . . . . .Gail Cooper

ALABAMA TRUCKER

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 Tim Frazier, CDS, Asst. 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

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S S U E

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Vonderau Retires

Later this month, Alabama Trucking Association Director of Safety & Member Services Gene Vonderau steps away from a long and distinguished career in fleet safety management. He hands over the reins to the next generation officially December 30, 2011, but he leaves the Association’s safety department much stronger than it was when he took over a dozen years ago.

8

ATA Golf Classic

ATA’s annual golf tournament sets another record, generating more than $183,000 on behalf of the Alabama Trucking Association’s political action committee TRUK PAC. According to Association officials, after expenses this year’s event will net $150,000 for industry political action.

State of the Industry Complete coverage of American Trucking Associations President & CEO Bill Graves’ address to attendees at October’s Management Conference & Exhibition.

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E P A R T M E N T S

President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Safety Insights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Trucking News Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 ATA Events and New Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Buyers’ Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 The Last Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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 • 4 TH Q UARTER 2011

1

From the President

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following letter was written by ATA President & CEO Frank Filgo and presented to longtime ATA Director of Safety & Member Services on the occasion of his pending retirement effective Dec. 30, 2011. Gene has served as the Association’s top safety official since 1999.

8, 2011 November 1

to hire ht. That was g ri g in th e n least did o ments. rmen that I at my finest mo f ai o ch e t n o as p as ’s w A it ation, you by one of AT , admit that ucking associ o ed tr to d e in I, at m st r. e re to th ec en r I’m oft egree of bership Dir director fo ticipate the d ety and Mem tion as safety an af si I S o p ’s id e A d T th le A tt in as li you u that e positive ama. But entioned to yo safety in Alab id I foresee th d ay r o w n h , ig n h Early on I m io n at o pact and associ profound im the industry to er tion for d n could have a re ld as the reputa u wou h yo n e io ic at rv ci se o ss ry tory gA exempla d state regula uld generate. ama Truckin o an b w la al it A er e d at fe th th g s at n and amo to safety th to your responsivenes the industry r dedication ll know, due in u A h . yo it f w ed o g er se in sp d au ro It’s bec ublic has p s, ATA’s stan the general p t thing”. Thu d h ig an led “r , e ia th ed g m doin gham, which ers, the ty first. in fe ak m sa m ir ts B cy u d li p n o n u p lic in and aro y the g Associatio agencies, pub lan to remed ama Truckin etal coil spills p b t m la e in A o th e -p g th n in te at lv a ions. vo influence, th you put forth recommendat e situation in r y, th u tl ll yo en ca f u o q re I se n , b o le ester plementati be done. Su As an examp of the H. Ch spills since im something to er il r n co fo in w al ry e et tc u th m o lection as erving. ave been no to a public ented. Your se one more des line: There h m o m n cu o o f o d tt o l k B el in . w n th situatio for you is ve years. es. I can speaks volum r the last twel s’ admiration 0 ve 1 o 0 y day 2 ce in an e id u ic g Our member l and Almighty ever hed serv se e is n u u th g n co k ti r an is u d th yo r I fo k you for ership that Webb Award I want to than ociation lead , ss te A o e n th al n ll te so will en I On a per your example the truth wh at k th ea w . sp o g n I k in at th And please been a bless Please know Association. u truly have o is Y th . r au fo er e d n n o o you have d ation. for Gene V u for all that ucking associ tr yo e k at an st th is , th n f Agai irection o fluence the d in to e u n ti n co Sincerely,

Dear Gene:

Frank Filgo CEO President &

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A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2011

Saying Goodbye Longtime ATA safety expert Gene Vonderau readies for retirement.

By Ford Boswell

L

ater this month, Alabama Trucking Association Director of Safety & Member Services Gene Vonderau steps away from a long and distinguished career in fleet safety management – one that has spanned significant changes from the fast and loose days of trucking in the 1970s, to deregulation of the industry in the 1980s, to sweeping federal regulatory changes of last year’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability program.

While this is sad news for an Association that has leaned heavily on the 67-year-old’s expertise and leadership for more than a decade, Vonderau says he’s looking forward to slowing down a little and spending more time with his family. He hands over the reins to the next generation officially December 30, but he leaves the Association’s safety department much stronger than it was when he took over in 1999.

Vonderau has been involved with trucking for more than 40 years, starting in driver training and

Career highlight: Former ATA Chairman Harold Sorrells (left) presents Vonderau with the 2010 Webb Award.

Gene Vonderau

then overseeing safety departments for some of Alabama’s largest and most successful trucking firms. Over the years he worked to improve member participation and improve the Association’s stature among local, state and federal regulatory agencies and law enforcement.

According to ATA President and CEO Frank Filgo, Vonderau has always taken a proactive, realworld approach to safety. “He is respected by his peers and served on numerous executive boards and coalitions that promote responsible driving practices of commercial and noncommercial drivers, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and several Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) programs and initiatives, such as the Ticketing Aggressive Cars & Trucks program.”

Vonderau is also a regular contributor to state and federal highway policy and is often called upon by local media representatives to comment on behalf of the trucking industry.

For seven consecutive years, the Washington D.C.-based American Trucking Associations, the

Vonderau served on numerous executive boards and coalitions that promote responsible driving practices of commercial and non-commercial drivers.

nation’s leading commercial vehicle trade group, named the Alabama Trucking Association among the nation’s top groups for fostering and promoting highway safety programs.

By all accounts, the Association’s many accolades are a direct result of Vonderau’s twelve years of leadership and vision. But according to him, the main reason the Association is a leader in highway and fleet safety is the professionalism and dedication of the member firms and their fleet managers.

“There are so many talented people working in this industry, especially here in Alabama,” he says. “I’ve always been blown away by the support and participation of our members and their employees.

Anytime I needed help with the SMMC’s various projects and events, I got it. I grew to count on a lot of folks for help through the years, and I’ve always appreciated that. I may be leaving, but this Association is in very good hands.”

Background Growing up in Indiana on a small family farm, Vonderau learned how to operate heavy machinery and trucks. After high school he earned a degree for computer programming in the late 1960s, and quickly accepted a job with the former Zollner Corp. of Fort Wayne, Ind. Zollner supplied pistons to major manufacturers such as Ford, General Motors, International Harvester (now Navistar), John Deere and Outboard Marine.

In 1971, after a few years at Zollner under his belt, some old college friends asked Vonderau to invest in a truck driver training school they were starting. Vonderau threw in $1,500, and became the school’s director of training. Then in January 1978 he had an epiphany after a particularly bad winter storm blew through the Midwest.

“The whole area shut down,” he said. “It was miserable, as bad as I have ever seen. It took me 5 days to dig our trucks out of the snow and ice. I came home one evening and told my wife, Mary Lou, that I’m sending my resume to every company I can find south of the Mason-Dixon Line, and we’re getting the hell out of here.”

Vonderau eventually got a call from Bill Johnson from the former Poole Truck Lines in Evergreen, Ala. wanting to meet with him to discuss overseeing safety and driver training. “They flew me down, and kept me for a couple of days while we got to know each other,” he recalls. “This all took place in early February. One afternoon, I was sitting by the pool at the hotel where I was staying, and it was sunny and 75 degrees — it was 4 degrees back home in Indiana when I left. I called Mary Lou and told her that if they offer me the

job, I was going to take it.”

He worked for Poole until the company was sold in the late-1980s, and then moved around a few times working for major trucking fleets, including Schilli Transportation Services in Remington, Ind. and later with the now defunct Deaton, Inc. in Birmingham.

It was with the latter when Vonderau first became involved with ATA, serving on several committees for the group’s Safety & Maintenance Management Council (SMMC). In 1994, he was named Safety Manager of the Year at the SMMC’s Annual Fleet Safety Awards.

“As I became more acquainted with SMMC, I found it to be a great networking tool and really enjoyed being around others in my field,” he says. “I got more involved over time, and was elected chairman of the Alabama Truck Driving Championships in 1997, and then chairman of the Birmingham SMMC chapter in 1998.

That’s when I really got a firsthand look at how ATA and SMMC operated.”

That year, he retired from Deaton to work part-time helping motor carriers respond to federal compliance reviews. One client was ATA’s Filgo, who asked him to serve part-time as the Association safety manager after former safety director Pat Patterson stepped down. Not long after, Vonderau accepted an offer to work full-time for the Association as it Director of Safety and Member Services.

Lasting Impact Looking back over his time with ATA, there have been many highlights for Vonderau, but most of the ones he brings up are accomplishments by others within the SMMC ranks, such as 2005 National Truck Driving Championships Grand Winner Alphonso Lewis, now a manager/driver with YRC Corp. in Montgomery, and a member of the American Trucking Associations’ America’s Road Team.

“From the first day I competed at the Alabama TDC to being named a Grand Champion at nationals, and now as an America’s Road Team Captain, Gene has always been supportive and offered advice and encouragement,” said Lewis. “He will be missed by all the drivers who have competed at TDC through the years. I am truly thankful for all his support and advice to us all.”

But perhaps his greatest contribution to the state’s trucking community is the valuable advice and guidance he has given members of the Association through the years, particularly in terms of staying compliant with the local, state and federal regulations.

In his first year with ATA, Vonderau assisted more than 50

Over the years he worked to improve member participation and improve the Association’s stature among local, state and federal regulatory agencies and law enforcement.

separate member firms prepare for compliance change one thing. “I have had a great career and reviews, most minor offenses, but a few were made some great friends along the way,” he says. quite severe. “As we got our folks in compliance “I’m going to miss it, but I’m ready to see more and working toward a more proactive approach of the grandkids, do some fishing, take some to fleet safety, the numbers started to trail off motorcycle trips — just goof around, mostly. But with each passing year,” he says. ”Last year, I the first thing Mary Lou and I are going to do is may have done a dozen; this year, so far, maybe take a trip to Maui – we’ve wanted to do that for three. Our members are doing an excellent job a long time.” with compliance. I’m proud of the level of comWhen he returns, he says he wants to stay in mitment our member firms and their employees touch with the industry, and expects he will do have – and that’s all across the board from the occasional consulting job, but it will be on his CEOs, to terminal and safety managers, all the time. “I’m looking forward to retirement,” he says. way to the thousands of drivers who make it all “This Association will be fine without me. Our Vonderau is a regular contributor to state and feder- safety department is in great hands now with my happen. We have some of the best folks and al highway policy, often called upon by local media safest fleets in the country.” replacement Tim Frazier.” representatives and expert panels to comment on beHowever, when asked about his crowning That may be, but for everyone at the Alabama half of the trucking industry. achievement in 40 years of trucking, Vonderau Trucking Association — the staff, the members, points to his H. Chester Webb Award in 2010. the hundreds of fleet managers, and the thou“I never, ever would have thought that a lowly safety guy would be sands of drivers who Vonderau has counseled through the years, the eligible for something like that,” he says. “Even as l look at the trothought of not having him around is a sad one. For those who know phy as it sits in my office, I’m still stunned. I thought people who him best, Gene Vonderau has been the heart and soul of this Associwork for the Association just didn’t win that award. That thing was ation for years – and he will be sorely missed. for the people who own and manage strong trucking businesses.

“Hiring Gene is one of the best decisions I’ve made during my Even as former chairman Harold Sorrells described my accomplishtime as president of this Association,” says Filgo. “He has completely ments at that podium at the Chairman’s Dinner during Convention molded our safety department, and this Association for that matter.

(2010), I had no idea he was about to hand me that award.”

He has had a profound impact on highway safety in Alabama, and Looking back over his 40 years, Vonderau says he would not his example will continue to influence for many years to come.”

Specializing in all levels of CSA audits

P.O. Box 382105 Birmingham, AL 35238-2105 www.jptsc.com

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JON O. COOK Safety Consultant Phone 256-249-4731 Cell 205-329-8183 Fax 256-249-1161 email: jcook@jptsc.com

PAUL DILLARD Safety Consultant Phone 205-408-0780 Cell 205-329-8182 Fax 205-408-3995 email: pdillard@jptsc.com A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2011

Continued Success ATA’s annual golf tournament sets another record, generating more than $183,000 on behalf of TRUK PAC.

By Ford Boswell

I

n October, the Alabama Trucking Association’s 23rd annual Golf Classic presented by Marmon Highway Technologies, once again set an event record by netting more than $183,000 in pledges from more than 82 trucking related businesses.

This year’s tournament was held at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Capitol Hill Course in Prattville, Ala., which ranks among the top 50 courses in America, according to Golf magazine. It is also home to the Navistar LPGA Classic held each October.

In his second year as Classic Chairman, Kevin Savoy of Greenbush Logistics spearheaded a strong stable of industry players to facilitate fundraising.

Those on Savoy’s Classic Finance Committee included Ray Brock of Star Leasing; Will Bruser of Kenworth of Alabama & Mississippi; John Collier of Transport Trailer Center; Rodger Collins of Industrial Warehouse Services; Russ Elrod of Arab Cartage & Express; Tom McLeod of McLeod Software; Brook Meadows of AON Trucking Practice; Tommy Neely of Ross Neely Systems, Inc./Neco, Inc.; Ronnie Stephenson of Southland International Trucks; and Bill Ward of Ward International Trucks, LLC. “I’m pleased to announce that this year’s event tops all previous ATA Golf Classics,” Savory told the 235 golfers as they prepared to take the course. “Thanks to all of our many sponsors, my committee, everyone here today. Your support and dedication made a difference

Classic Chairman Kevin Savoy and Marmon Highway Technologies’ Larry Stone

in making the 2011 Golf Classic a success. Your donations will be used to bolster Alabama’s business climate and the state’s trucking industry.”

This year’s major sponsor Marmon Highway Technologies committed $15,000, which served as the catalyst for record membership participation. According to Association officials, after expenses this year’s event will net $150,000 for industry political action committee TRUK PAC. Other major contributors included ATA Workers’ Comp Fund, which sponsored lunch and dinner; J & M Tank Lines, Inc., putting green sponsor; Southland International Trucks, driving range sponsor; Ward International Trucks, LLC, hole-in-one sponsor on the Judge Course; McLeod Software, hole-in-one sponsor on the Legislator Course; Greenbush Logistics, patron bag sponsor; Kenworth of Alabama & Mississippi longest drive sponsor; and ACS/PrePass, closest to the pin sponsor. Each of the aforementioned businesses contributed $5,000.

Likewise, more than 37 businesses gave $2,000 and donated various items for patron bags, 40 firms donated $1,000; and 27 firms participated at the $500 level. The remaining funds came from golfer registration.

“These funds are earmarked to support pro-trucking candidates in future state elections,” said Savoy. “The businesses that supported our golf tournament are really supporting the Association’s mission of ensuring a bright future for trucking, an industry that provides our state with jobs and keeps our nation’s economy going.”

Next year’s tournament is set for October 2, 2012. For more information, contact Jane Nixon at 334-834-3983.

LEGISLATOR SPONSORS Action Resources B & G Supply Company, Inc. B. R. Williams Trucking, Inc. Baggett Transportation Company BancorpSouth Equipment Finance Barnett Transportation BBVA Compass/Commercial Billing Service Best Drivers Best One Tire & Service Billy Barnes Enterprises, Inc. Boyd Bros. Transportation, Inc. Buddy Moore Trucking Carrier Transicold South Coleman World Group Cummins MidSouth, LLC Equipment Logistics, Inc. FleetPride, Inc. Four Star Freightliner Great Dane Trailers Industrial Warehouse Services, Inc. Liberty Truck Sales, Inc. McGriff Tire Co. Moundville Warehouse, LLC MSJ Trucking, Inc. PeopleNet QUALCOMM, Inc. R. E. Garrison Trucking, Inc. Regions Bank Star Leasing Company The McPherson Companies ThermoKing of Birmingham/ Thermo King of

Montgomery Thompson/Caterpillar Turner & Hamrick LLC Utility Trailer Sales of Alabama, LLC Wal-Mart Transportation, LLC White Oak Transportation, Inc. Wiley Sanders Truck Lines, Inc. JUDGE SPONSORS AAA Cooper Transportation ABC Transportation, Inc. Alabama Motor Express, Inc. Avizent Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC Ball, Ball, Matthews & Novak, P.A. Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions Church Transportation & Logistics, Inc. Coffman International Trucks Continental Tire the Americas, LLC Cottingham & Butler Deep South Freight Eaton Corp/Roadranger Field Marketing Evergreen Transport, LLC Fish Nelson LLC Freightliner Trucks/Daimler Trucks N.A. GCR Tire Centers Golden Flake Snack Foods, Inc.

Gulf City Body & Trailer Works Gulf Coast Truck & Equipment Company J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. McGriff, Seibels & Williams, Inc. Meritor, Inc. Michelin North America Navistar, Inc. Peterbilt of Montgomery & Birmingham LLC Ross Neely Systems Rushing Enterprises, Inc. ServisFirst Bank Shoreline Transportation of Alabama Southeast Logistics, Inc. TMW Systems, Inc. Transport Enterprise Leasing Transport Trailer Center Transportation and Logistical Services, Inc. Transportation Safety Services W. W. Williams Watkins Trucking Co., Inc. Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, Inc. XATA Corporation

ErgoScience Friedman, Leak, Dazzio, Zulanas & Bowling, P. C. G.E. Capital Equipment Finance Gateway Management Services Heritage Freight Warehouse & Logistics Highland Technical Services Karmak Operating Tax Specialists Osborn Transportation, Inc. Ox Bodies, Inc. Palomar Insurance Corporation People's United Equipment Finance Corp.

Reed Hauling, Inc. Regions Insurance Storey Trucking Company Vernon Milling Company, Inc. Volvo Financial Services Welborn & Associates, Inc. Wise Consulting, LLC Zieman, Speegle, Jackson & Hoffman, LLC

PATRON SPONSORS Action Truck Center, Inc. AON-Trucking Practice Arab Cartage & Express Avondale Trucking Baldwin Transfer Co., Inc. Carl Carson Truck Center, Inc. Dana Transport, Inc,

CONTRIBUTORS Childersburg Truck Service, Inc. D T & Freight Co., Inc. Fleet Air Technologies, Inc. J P Transportation Safety Consulting, LLC

ATA 22nd ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC WINNERS October 11, 2011 Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Capitol Hill Courses Prattville, Ala. LEGISLATOR COURSE:

1st Place, Legislator: Richard Broughton, Jason King, Jason Hopper, and John Griffin

Closest to the Pin: Ricky Willoughby Longest Drive: Gibb Fox 1st Place Team: Richard Broughton, Jason King, Jason Hopper and John Griffin 2nd Place, Legislator: Gibb Fox, Gary Franklin, Scott Davidson, and Buford Hedden

2nd Place Team: Gibb Fox, Gary Franklin, Scott Davidson, and Buford Hedden JUDGE COURSE: Closest to the Pin: Billy Campbell Longest Drive: Matthew Granlund

1st Place, Judge: Paul Averitt, Bill Waechter, Richard Teal, and Randal Ward (not pictured).

1st Place: Randal Ward, Paul Averitt, Bill Waechter, and Richard Teal 2nd Place: Henry Zaiontz, Billy Campbell, Bruce MacDonald, and Steve Maune 2nd Place, Judge: Steve Maune, Billy Campbell, Bruce MacDonald, and Henry Zaiontz.

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A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2011

State of the Industry EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is American Trucking Associations President & CEO Bill Graves’ address to attendees at October’s Management Conference & Exhibition held near Dallas, Tex. Portions of the text have been edited for style and space. A full version is available at www.truckline.com.

G

ood Morning. It’s great to see such a wonderful crowd joining us here in Grapevine. I appreciate all the time, energy and expense you’ve Gov. Bill Graves gone to in order to be with us and trust you’ve enjoyed the first few days of our meeting. We’ve packed a lot into four days in keeping with your request that we work hard (most of the time) and play hard when time allows.

(At last year’s meeting) I told you that we could count on bigger and better things by the time we met in (Grapevine). Little did I know that “bigger” was going to be the size of the federal debt; “bigger” was going to be the unemployment rate; and “bigger” would characterize the number of government regulations our industry would be facing. And “better”, well “better” is apparently caught up in some sort of political traffic jam and just hasn’t been able to get here yet.

A week ago, I went out for a run, trying to think of what to say this morning. And after being out for about 20 minutes, my pace started to slow, my head dropped a little, and I found my focus was down looking at every crack and crevice, every pot hole, and every imperfection in the road. But when I looked up all I could see was the road stretching out before me, and it looked as smooth and uniform as a baby’s bottom. It was my “ah-ha” moment—the symbolism I was looking for—the metaphor that so appropriately explains our industry today.

We (and by we, I mean the entire ATA federation with a special emphasis on our state partners) are dealing every day with a myriad of policy and regulatory cracks and crevices that threaten to overwhelm us. And we have no choice but to devote tremendous time, energy and money in an effort to fix them, so we can achieve posi-

tive near-term results for our industry. But at the same time, we need to be careful not to become so obsessed with the challenges of the moment that we give up on the opportunity of the future. During this time of economic uncertainty, it’s easy to misjudge the opportunity that’s on the trucking industry’s horizon. Lord knows that we have a myriad of challenges. Nearly 1,000 of you participated in the 2011 American Transportation Research Institute’s Top Industry Issues Survey and told us what they are: the economy; hours of service; driver shortage; CSA; fuel; congestion; infrastructure funding, tort reform, onboard truck technology; and truck size and weight. I can’t tell you how the last nine will end up, but I can tell you that the economy will recover. When it does, the trucking industry is going to be one of the first in line beneficiaries.

I really believe we are blessed with a country, with a people, and with an economy that is capable of surviving anything our government can throw at it. Government is not supposed to solve all our problems - but at this point, we’d be thrilled if government could just figure out how to not be the problem. I thought about our current frustration with our government when our own Mary Phillips was making her presentation yesterday at lunch. She projected an image on the screen of the Capitol Hill weekly legislative update, which I encourage you to sign up to receive. One of the things I like about Mary’s weekly recap is the political humor she adds at the end of each recap. About a week ago she included a quip by Jay Leno who said, “A new poll shows that only 3 percent of Americans strongly approve of the job Congress is doing, with a margin of error of 4 percent. So it’s possible that less than no one thinks they’re doing a good job.”

With consumer confidence at its lowest point since the recession ended in June 2009, unemployment still stuck at more than 9 percent, and the federal government simply incapable of meaningful action. It’s no wonder the prevailing sentiment of most American’s is uncertainty. And when people and businesses are uncertain, they tend to sit on the economic sidelines.

But there is an inviting, long road ahead for trucking. In almost every speech I make, I point out the expected population growth of America—expected to grow from 300 million people in 2006 to 400 million by 2050—something on the order of adding a city the size of Houston or Chicago each and every year.

Four hundred million people will need a lot of “Good Stuff,” and

most of time, we’ll be bringing it. For us, “Keep on Truckin’” is not just a slogan, it’s an economic imperative.

Consider these facts, based on ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello’s most recent U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast, trucks share of total freight tonnage will raise from 67.2 percent in 2010 to 70 percent in 2022. And that’s from a tonnage pie that grows from just less that’s nine billion tons of freight to over 11.5 billion tons. And during that same period of time, the corresponding trucking revenue pie grows from $563 billion to $937 billion. Surely y’all can split up $374 billion in revenue growth and get along and be happy?

Yogi Berra, once said, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll probably end up somewhere else.” Well, our job at ATA is to help you navigate the policy and regulatory road that’s beneath your feet, while at the same time, working to assure that the road on the horizon is, in fact, smooth and inviting.

There are many players on ATA’s team of all-stars who get up every day and work to make a positive difference for you and this industry. But I’d like to take a moment and recognize the contribution of one very special ATA employee. Bob Digges has been working for you for 27 years. As General Counsel, he’s been the steady hand that’s guided us through legal battle after legal battle.

Most recently he beat back Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villagarosa and the Teamsters in the Port of LA. Just a few days ago, I was able to participate with Bob (along with Dave Osiecki and Rob Abbott) when we were given the opportunity to make our case against the proposed Hours of Service changes to a gathering of key White House policy aides.

As always, Bob was fully prepared, articulate and persuasive.

While Bob’s not planning to run out the door right away, there is a good possibility (more likely an absolute possibility) that this will be the final MCE that Bob participates in as an ATA employee. Bob, we appreciate you and all you’ve done for this industry (and ATA).

I also want to say thanks to our state Association partners they’re another reason that the road for the long run looks pretty good. Now, more than ever-with the Federal Government in gridlock, many states are moving forward with policy and regulatory initiatives that will impact our industry. That means states are forced to fight more battles on your behalf.

My thanks to the great group of state association executives and to all of you who participate as members of your state associations — we appreciate working with you.

One of the most visible elements of the strong partnership between ATA and the states is the Call on Washington program. In the past year we’ve had 32 states make a Call on Washington, that’s 32 states bringing a total of 316 trucking executives to Washington,

to tell our industry concerns to 358 members of Congress is advocacy as effective as you’ll find anywhere. Now, more than ever our Call on Washington program forms the basis of our advocacy effort on Capitol Hill.

Nothing is more persuasive than a real constituent, in your case a voter and a trucking executive, who provides real jobs (to more real voters), making the trip to Washington to talk about the opportunities and challenges that our industry faces. Those states have answered the call, and I ask that any of you from any of the remaining 18 states that aren’t joining us in this effort to please give serious consideration to making a Call on Washington in 2012.

Since our renovated facility re-opened earlier this year, we’ve had a non-stop stream of Congressional members come to ATA for their special events. Those of you who were at our TruckPAC event on Saturday night heard Congressman Bill Shuster say what a great facility we’ve got and how it’s immediately become the “must go-to” location for Congressional events. And let me make one final comment about the renovated Capitol Hill space.

The ultimate compliment we’ve received about our new facility is the fact that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the leading business advocacy organization in America, has chosen to lease all our available space and co-locate their advocacy shop with us. We just got our lease signed in the past couple of days and it’s a good deal financially for ATA and a great deal in terms of raising ATA’s profile and stature on Capitol Hill.

Now that we’re bringing our ATA-state association advocacy efforts up to full speed, one additional challenge is to grow the Capitol Hill advocacy staff in order to support all this activity. In that regard, I want to take a moment to thank and compliment the membership of the Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference.

Many of you might not be aware that the previous executive director of AFTC left ATA for another position. But rather than simply fill that vacancy and continue doing things the way we’d been doing them (with their executive director working out of our Arlington, Va., headquarters), the AFTC leadership decided to interview and hire someone who could handle their specific issues. When time and opportunity allowed, we’d have the skill set to supplement the efforts of Mary Phillips’ advocacy team on Capitol Hill.

So I’m very pleased to tell you that John Samson has joined ATA to serve as executive director of AFTC, but will be working from the new Capitol Hill office as an additional member of our advocacy team. That’s a “win-win” that allows us to add an additional lobbyist to our already wonderful team on Capitol Hill.

My final request is for you to give us some help with signing up Continued on page 14

State of the Industry Continued from page 13

new members to the ATA. We all know that there are thousands of carriers and allied suppliers that don’t belong to a state association; and, in turn, don’t belong to the ATA. That’s not right; it’s not fair to you; and it’s hurting the industry’s chances of winning the policy and regulatory battles that we’re fighting.

So you ask, “What can I say to someone who works for a fleet or supplier that doesn’t belong to a state association or the ATA”? First of all, tell them we need their involvement. Then tell them we need their energy and their ideas; tell them we need their financial support; and most importantly, tell them you’re tired of carrying the load for them, and it’s time they pitched in and did their part. There are a lot of trucking companies and allied suppliers who take a free ride on your back. And it’s especially true if you’re buying products or services from someone who doesn’t support the very industry that you’re trying to be successful in.

The tools it takes to be successful in our advocacy efforts aren’t free, and they’re not cheap. The truth is we need more policy and regulatory staff and more lobbyists working the halls of Congress if we’re going to truly fulfill the mission of the ATA. And that mission is: To serve and represent the interests of the trucking industry with one united voice. To influence in a positive manner federal and state government actions; to advance the trucking industry’s image, efficiency, competitiveness and profitability; to provide educational programs and industry research; to promote safety and security on our nation’s highways and among our drivers; and to strive for a healthy business environment.

Our mission statement is a tall order during good economic times, but has certainly been a challenge during the past three years.

14

Today, ATA is smaller, but stronger and more focused on advocacy than ever. Just like your companies, we’re going to be very cautious about how and when we add advocacy capacity to our organization. But trust me, we’re going to continue to work hard, but we’re really focused on working smarter.

Those instructions have come through loud and clear from your industry leadership — leadership that continues to find ways to be more engaged and more active than ever before. As one year closes and another begins, I want to offer a special thanks to our outgoing Chairman of the Executive Committee, Tommy Hodges, to our outgoing Chairman of the Board (and new Chairman of the Executive Committee) Barbara Windsor, and to the incoming Chairman of ATA Dan England. They are but a few of the really great team of industry leadership who are giving significant amounts of time and energy to this industry.

In closing, I want to say that it’s hard to believe that I’m about to begin my tenth year with ATA. When I was elected Governor of Kansas (in 1995), I had a full head of dark hair. When I came to ATA I had a full head of “salt and pepper” hair. Now I’ve got a rapidly evaporating head of silver hair. But I still love what I do, and I love working with, and for, all of you. While so much has changed, this is still the industry of my grandfather and father. Not a day goes by that I don’t ask myself, “If my dad were still alive would he be satisfied with the effort I’m making — that ATA’s making on behalf of the industry?”

More often than not the answer is yes—but I’m also willing to admit that there are moments when I know we can, and must, do better.

I’m committed to this organization and to this industry. And as always, I appreciate you giving me the opportunity lead ATA. I hope you have a wonderful day. Thanks for your attention.

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2011

Safety Insights

Fantastic Ride W

Gene Vonderau, CDS ATA Director of Safety and Member Services

‘Thank you all for a fantastic time in a great industry. I might be retiring, but I don’t intend to disappear completely because trucking has been my life, so I’m sure we will see each other on down the road.’

16

hen I became an employee of the Alabama Trucking Association twelve years ago, I had no idea it would be such a great ride! Accolades must go to Frank Filgo first and foremost. Frank’s management style suited me perfectly, because he tells us (the ATA staff ) what he wants done, then he steps aside, and lets us do it. He is there if we need guidance, of course, but he is not there watching everything we do, and I believe that is why we are able to accomplish so much.

I appreciate the ATA staff and the support they provide. Never once has a request for assistance been turned down. Jane Nixon is our senior staff member and is very good at organizing conventions, golf tournaments, board meetings — and the list goes on.

Lynn Thornton has been super easy to work with since she took over the bookkeeping duties for the association nearly 10 years ago. Her work is error-free, which means the financial reports for our SMMC chapters and the Truck Driving Championships are accurate and easy to understand.

As you know, Ford Boswell has produced this great magazine for several years, but it is his behind-the-scenes knowhow of computers, cell phones and photography that has made our jobs much easier. If Ford wasn’t there to fix my computer when it decides to do its own thing, I’m not sure I would have made it this far.

And finally, Brandie Norcross, our administrative assistant, has the uncanny ability to somehow figure out what I am thinking most of the time and has the documents and the projects ready and waiting, most times even before I ask for them.

These five people have really made me look good, and I thank them for that. So now, it’s time to turn responsibility of the safety department over to Tim Frazier.

For me, this is pretty easy to do, since I have known Tim for about fifteen years and have seen his work firsthand. In fact, when I discussed with Mr. Filgo my intention to retire at the end of 2011, he was ok with that, but I had to get Tim Frazier to take my place, or I wouldn’t be allowed to leave.

Tim joined the Association last August, so we have had plenty of time to get him acclimated. He is great at public speaking and has that rare ability to relate to both management and drivers.

Over the past twelve years, I have met many people and consider most of them my friends. We were able to get the work done and learn something about each other at the same time. I can’t start the list now because the magazine isn’t big enough to mention every single person that has made an impact on me.

There is one, however, who deserves all the credit, my wife, Mary Lou. Many of you know her and understand how she could be a great motivator. We celebrated 46 years of marriage this year, I’m really surprised she stayed this long but I’m glad she did just the same. We have 10 grandchildren ranging in age from 22 to 2, each one is in dire need of spoiling, and I am just the person to handle it.

Thank you all for a fantastic time in a great industry. I might be retiring, but I don’t intend to disappear completely because trucking has been my life, so I’m sure we will see each other on down the road.

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2011

roundup T ru c k i n g i n d u s T ry

CSA affects SMMC roadside inspections In October, two chapters of the Alabama Trucking Association’s Safety & Maintenance Management Council held their biennial roadside inspections, and according to Association officials, it could be the last ones the group is able to perform — at least in their current form.

According to ATA’s assistant director of safety Tim Frazier, the inspections are more complicated and time consuming under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) Safety Measurement System, which requires that trooper or other law enforcement agent to perform at least a formal inspection.

Also, SMMC of members can no longer perform much the vehicle inspections alone.

They can still work alongside troopers with Department of Public Safety Motor Carrier Safety Unit, as they had under the old SafeStat system, but now SMMC members can only examine logs, medical card, etc. while a law enforcement official performs a full inspection.

“This takes considerably longer,” Frazier noted, “and results in less trucks being examined.”

In fact, between the two chapters’ October inspections, only 70 trucks were processed, about a third of the total from inspections held a year before.

“Next year, we’re going to have to get together with the SMMC leadership to determine how we can continue to hold our roadside inspections,” Frazier said. “The roadside inspections are a popular event, and a great opportunity for our members to see how an inspection is conducted.”

Industry economist predicts a mixed bag for truckers going into 2012 American Trucking Associations’ Chief Economist Bob Costello told attendees at his group’s annual meeting in October that the outlook for trucking was muddled at best, with the industry facing softening demand and rising costs, but said capacity should continue to remain tight.

“Right now, freight demand is moving 18

Dan England named National ATA’s 67th Chairman Before adjourning their annual meeting, the Board of Directors of American Trucking Associations elected Dan England, chairman of C.R. England Inc., Salt Lake City, as the trucking federation’s 67th chairman.

“I’m honored to have been chosen by my peers in this great industry to represent America’s motor carriers, drivers, independent contractors and employees,” England said. “The last few years have been difficult for our industry and our nation, but I’m confident that regardless of our challenges, trucking and ATA will continue to lead the country toward economic recovery.

Dan England England said that despite the industry’s diversity, the challenges facing trucking were so great that fleets needed to stay united to overcome them.

“We’re faced with a possible change to the hours-of-service rule, a long overdue highway bill and a mounting stack of regulations on top of a sluggish economic recovery,” England said. “In order to meet these challenges, we need to speak with one voice, remembering that there is more that unites our industry than divides it.”

“Dan is the quintessential trucker. He is a credit to his family, his business and his industry,” ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said. “ATA is lucky to have Dan as our ambassador for the coming year, just as we were lucky to have Barbara Windsor represent us this past year.”

England takes over for Barbara Windsor, president and CEO of Hahn Transportation Inc., New Market, Md. “It has been an incredible experience serving as ATA’s chairman this past year,” Windsor said. “I’d like to thank my fellow ATA members for the opportunity and wish Dan well, though I’m confident he’ll do an outstanding job as chairman.” sideways, rather than falling off a cliff like it did in 2008,” Costello said during a panel discussion at National ATA’s Management Conference & Exhibition at Grapevine, Tex. “That indicates to me that we might just skirt by another recession.”

In general, Costello said large fleets were seeing stronger volumes than smaller ones, likely because of their relationships to larger shippers.

“No one is doing great, but it feels like larger companies and shippers are outperforming small businesses right now,” he said.

In addition, Costello said that cost pressures on fleets were “significant,” with the inflation rate for items like fuel, equipment and driver wages exceeding the inflation rate for the broader economy.

Despite higher costs, Costello said that truck and equipment manufacturers should continue to see solid sales figures “because there’s a significant amount of pent-up demand for new trucks to renew aging fleets.”

Even set against this backdrop, Costello

said fleets should continue to see solid revenue per mile as capacity stays tight.

“There has been some growth in capacity, but supply and demand remain close to equilibrium,” he said. “However, fleets did a good job ‘right-sizing’ during the recession, so capacity should remain tight – and continue to tighten as the driver shortage worsens.”

Survey says truckers losing sleep over economy, proposed HOS changes The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the trucking industry’s not-for-profit research institute, recently unveiled its annual list of critical issues facing the North American trucking industry.

The state of the economy tops the list for the third consecutive year in ATRI’s survey of more than 4,000 trucking industry executives. Complete results were released at the 2011 Management Conference and ExhibiContinued on page 22 A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2011

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tion of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) meeting in Grapevine, Tex. ATRI’s Top Industry Issues report also solicited and tabulated specific strategies for addressing each issue.

Proposed changes to federal commercial driver hours-of-service rules caused that issue to climb in this year’s survey to the number two spot. In contrast to concerns over the economy, a driver shortage is affecting parts of the industry, causing that issue to rise to the third position on the list. While many stakeholders believe that the impacts of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) program may be a contributing factor to the driver shortage, a growing understanding and acceptance of CSA led it to drop two places to number four on the list.

The ATA-commissioned survey results and proposed strategies will be utilized by the ATA Federation to better focus its advocacy role on behalf of the U.S. trucking industry and ATA Federation stakeholders.

“ATRI’s annual survey of industry con-

State Public Safety Dept. names examiner of the year The Alabama Dept. of Public Safety recently tapped Patricia South as its Examiner of the Year for 2011. South is currently assigned to the Cullman Driver License Office.

DPS officials stated in a release that South has been with the department for 22 years, “[putting] forth every ounce of energy possible in the department’s mission of courtesy and service, and exhibits the Examiner’s Creed in her tasks every day.”

Alabama Trucking Association DirecFrom left, ATA’s Gene Vonderau, Patricia South and ATA’s tor of Safety & Member Services Gene Tim Frazier Vonderau served as a judge for this year’s contest, as he has for nearly a decade. “One of the more interesting things I found with Ms. South’s credentials, especially from a trucking viewpoint, is her specific training as a commercial driver license monitor,” Vonderau said. “She has a terrific work ethic, takes pride in her work, and is very efficient in her job for DPS.” cerns provides ATA, and all of trucking, a blueprint for identifying the top issues we need to take up with our elected leaders and policymakers across the country,” said ATA Chairman Barbara Windsor, president and CEO of Hahn Transportation, Inc. “As we navigate these increasingly chal-

lenging times, it is critical for our industry leaders to advocate for policies that make it easier for them to deliver life’s essentials safely and efficiently,” ATA president and CEO Bill Graves said. “In order to be effective advocates, we must base our arguments Continued on page 24

Feds ban hand-held cell phones for commercial drivers On Nov. 23, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued its long-awaited final rule prohibiting interstate commercial truck and bus drivers from using hand-held cell phones while operating their vehicles. As of this printing, the ruling goes into effect January 3, 2012.

Drivers who violate the rule face federal civil penalties up to $2,750 for each offense and possible disqualification from operating a commercial motor vehicle for multiple offenses. Additionally, states will suspend a driver’s commercial driver’s license after two or more serious traffic violations. Commercial truck and bus companies that allow their drivers to use handheld cell phones while driving will face a maximum penalty of $11,000.

“When drivers of large trucks, buses and hazardous materials take their eyes off the road for even a few seconds, the outcome can be deadly,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “I hope that this rule will save lives by helping commercial drivers stay laser-focused on safety at all times while behind the wheel.”

The new rule does not include phones equipped with wireless capability or push-to-talk devices such as CBs. The rule goes into effect 30 days after it enters the Federal Register -- no official word on when that will be.

The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that about four million commercial drivers will be affected by the final rule. “It’s just too dangerous for drivers to use a handheld cell phone while operating a commercial vehicle,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro. “Drivers must keep their eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and head in the game when operating on our roads. Lives are at stake.”

The Alabama Trucking Association announced its approval of the final rule. “We completely support this ruling,” said Alabama Trucking Association Director of Safety Gene Vonderau. “In years past, we have advocated at the state level for texting bans for commercial drivers. But this is a necessary next step to ensuring that profession drivers always maintain a high level of alertness and concentration when behind the wheel of a large commercial vehicle. We must always hold ourselves to a high standard with regard to highway safety.”

FMCSA said that while driver distraction studies have produced mixed results, its own research has shown that using a handheld cell phone while driving requires a commercial driver to take several steps beyond what is required for using a hands-free mobile phone, including searching and reaching for the phone. Commercial drivers reaching for an object, such as a cell phone, are three times more likely to be involved in a crash or other safety-critical event, according to FMCSA, and dialing a hand-held cell phone makes it six times more likely that commercial drivers will be involved in a crash or other safety-critical event.

In September 2010, FMCSA issued a regulation banning text messaging while operating a commercial truck or bus.

22

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2011

in sound research and in common sense.

The results of ATRI’s survey not only give us the tools to do that, but should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers nationwide.”

A copy of the survey results is available from ATRI’s Web site, www.atri-online.org.

Nextran acquires Premier Truck Centers Nextran Corp. has purchased Premier Truck Centers, with locations in Birmingham, Tuscumbia and Madison, Ala. Nextran’s Truck Center will assume the former Premier location, in Fultondale, a suburb of Birmingham. According to Nextran officials, that location provides truck sales, parts and service support for Volvo, Mack, Mitsubishi and UD trucks, as well as being a service provider for GMC medium duty trucks. Meanwhile, its Madison and Tuscumbia branches will continue to sell and support Mack, Volvo & UD trucks.

In a release announcing the merger, Nextran president and CEO Jon Pritchett stated that he is proud to add the Premier locations to the fold, and looks forward to working with the Premier staff. “(Since inception in 1992), we have grown to fourteen truck centers located on major routes throughout Florida, Georgia

and Alabama,” he stated. “We are delighted T. J. Willings, president of Premier, will continue in the commercial vehicle business with Nextran as vice president, Alabama operations. The former Premier employees joining Nextran will enhance our many years of experience delivering outstanding customer service. They are a welcome addition to the Nextran family.”

CARB diesel particulate filter deadline approaching The California Air Resources Board Oct. 21 issued a reminder to owners of heavy diesel trucks that they need to act now to comply with California’s Truck and Bus regulation, which has its first diesel filter deadline in January 2012.

“Fleet owners need to plan now to equip their trucks with diesel particulate filters in order to be ready in January,” said Erik White, assistant chief of Mobile Sources, noting the process of ordering and installing equipment can take a few months. “We continue to make tools available to help truckers better understand the regulation, as well as figure out which options make the most sense for their businesses. There are also several options available for funding.”

The regulation provides owners of heav-

ier trucks and buses (those with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 26,000 pounds) with two options to reduce diesel emissions. They can follow a staggered implementation schedule that requires 19961999 model engines be retrofit with a DPF

by Jan. 1, 2012.

They can also use a flexible phase-in option that requires any 30 percent of vehicles in the fleet to have a DPF. This option requires fleet owners to report information about all their heavier vehicles to CARB by Jan. 31, 2012. Fleets that report also can take advantage of credits and special provisions.

Owners of small fleets—which CARB defines as one to three trucks with a GVWR greater than 14,000 pounds—can postpone the January 2012 compliance requirement for their heavier trucks until 2014, but must report their fleet information to CARB by Jan. 31, 2012, to receive the extension. Lighter diesel trucks with a GVWR of 14,001 to 26,000 pounds have no compliance requirements until 2015.

Business owners may find funding opportunities to upgrade their fleets through either the Carl Moyer Program, which offers incentive grants for buying cleanerthan-required engines yielding early or extra Continued on page 26

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FMCSA doesn’t meet HOS final rule deadline The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said that it is unable to meet today’s court-settled deadline to issues its final hours-of-service rule. The agency said it is continuing to work toward a final, but did not say when one would be issued.

According to Transport Topics, the agency said plaintiffs in the HOS lawsuit — including the Teamsters union and the group Public Citizen — agreed to extend the deadline. However, a status report is expected by Nov. 28.

“FMCSA will continue to work toward publishing a final rule as quickly as possible,” an agency spokeswoman said Friday.

American Trucking Associations officials said the expected the delay. Both National ATA and the Alabama Trucking Association favor the HOS rule in its current form, citing the trucking industry’s safety record.

26

Alabama unemployment tax increases A recent report by The Tax Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank that collects data and publishes research studies on tax policies at the federal and state levels, warns that employers in most states should anticipate increases in unemployment compensation taxes this year.

Saddled by a slow economy and high unemployment, states’ unemployment benefits systems are stressed. To compensate, most have borrowed money from the federal government over the past couple of years to keep their funds solvent and avoid raising taxes.

Now the Federal government is requiring states that have not paid off their loans to pay interest on them. This will cause up to 33 states to will most likely raise unemployment taxes.

In August, the Alabama Dept. of Industrial Relations informed employers statewide of a 0.07 percent unemployment tax assessment on their 2010 taxable wages to repay interest owed to the federal government.

The state has been borrowing money from the U.S. Treasury to pay unemployment benefits for almost two years, and the interest on those loans came due Sept. 30. State law requires that the interest be repaid by an assessment on employers.

According to the state officials, the assessment totals approximately $5.60 per employee. A 0.3 percent loss of FUTA credit would cost employers approximately $21.00 per employee if the interest is not repaid.

“While we’re not surprised by the delay, we hope the agency uses this extra time to consider the overwhelming feedback they have received from professional truck drivers, safety professionals and law enforcement officials that the current rules are working and not fix what clearly isn’t bro-

ken,” Sean McNally, ATA’s vice president of communications told Transport Topics.

According to reports, FMCSA wants to cut driving hours back to 10 from 11 and modify the rule’s 34-hour reset provision so that it include two rest periods of at least Continued on page 28

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six hours and mandating that they fall between midnight and 6 a.m.

DMVs to begin verifying medical certification in 2012 The days of truckers telling state licensing agencies that their medical certifications are current are just about over because of a new regulation going into effect in January.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a final rule in 2008 that changes the way states must verify the medical certification for truckers either renewing or applying for a CDL. Phased-in compliance deadlines for states, motor carriers and truckers start kicking in on Jan. 30, 2012.

Some states such as Illinois are already sending letters out to CDL holders alerting them of the change.

Once everything is up and running on the state level, truckers will be required to present either the original or a copy of the current medical examiner’s certificate. The state agency must then date stamp the certification card and return it to the trucker.

The date-stamped card will be sufficient to prove medical certification for 15 days.

Within 10 days of stamping the card, the state licensing agency must enter the information into the Commercial Drivers Li-

cense Information System, according to the new requirement.

States will be required to keep a copy of the stamped card for three years from the date the CDL is issued.

Once the information is entered in the CDLIS system, truckers won’t be required to present the valid medical card for inspections or employment.

Instead, inspectors will have access to the electronic information. Motor carriers won’t even be able to use the medical card anymore to prove a driver’s fitness.

Starting Jan. 30, 2012, the motor carriers must keep a copy of the current CDLIS motor vehicle record documenting medical certification status in the driver’s qualification file before allowing the driver behind the wheel.

Truckers will have to stay on top of their medical certification because of the new requirement.

If the certification expires before the CDL, states will be required to update the driver’s CDLIS file to reflect the driver as “not certified.” The driver’s CDL will be downgraded after 60 days of the expiration of the medical certification.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association filed comments in early 2007 when FMCSA pitched the proposed

rulemaking for comment. The Association did not challenge the requirement for proving medical certification, but did attempt to restrict states from requiring the “long form” in place of the certification card.

—Jamie Jones for Land Line magazine.

FMCSA will not fight ruling, moving ahead on new EOBR mandate According to published reports, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will not appeal a court order to vacate the rule requiring electronic logs for carriers with significant Hours of Service violations.

FMCSA’s decision was included as part of an Oct. 7 official notice regarding an upcoming meeting of the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee. That meeting had been called to discuss technical details related to electronic on-board recording devices and paperless logging systems. Even with the 2010 EOBR rule to be removed from federal regulatory code, the committee will continue its work in support of an EOBR rule applicable to all interstate carriers using Records of Duty (RODS) logbooks. FMCSA proposed the broader rule last January.

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FTR forecast: Driver shortage to worsen

Full enforcement of Alabama Metal Coil Law begins Jan.1 The Alabama Dept. of Public Safety’s Motor Carrier Safety Unit says beginning Jan. 1, 2012, it will begin full enforcement of the Alabama Metal Coil Law of 2009, which requires drivers of vehicles carrying large metal coils to be trained and certified in FMCSA load securement requirements and procedures.

Currently, State troopers with the motor carrier unit say that unless there is a major violation or accident, they are only warning “uncertified” drivers. However, soft enforcement will end December 31st and thereafter violators will be fined.

Under the new law, no motor carrier may initiate or terminate in Alabama the commercial transport of metal coils unless the commercial vehicle operator is trained and certified in proper load securement. Certification is conducted according to standards published by the Alabama Department of Public Safety (DPS).

According to DPS standards a motor carrier driver may obtain certification in one of three ways. A driver may take an online course and pass its test, be certified by another state, or be self-certified by the motor carrier.

Motor carriers may self-certify drivers by mailing DPS a notarized affidavit from the carrier’s safety compliance officer. The affidavit must state that the motor carrier requires its drivers to be trained in metal coil securement as prescribed by federal regulations.

Upon receipt of the affidavit, DPS will mail or email a letter to the motor carrier providing information needed to input their drivers on the “driver certified” database.

The Alabama Trucking Association’s argument throughout the debate of the new law was that the federal securement standards were sufficient. Attempts to weaken these proven standards were reviewed by the ATA as a step backward.

“The state now has the toughest load securement legislation in the nation,” said former Alabama Trucking Association Chairman T.J. Willings, who, with the rest of his executive board, was a key player in drafting the law. “It targets those within the trucking industry who refuse to make safety a priority. Now commercial drivers are required to seek training and certification to haul steel coils in Alabama.”

Association officials note that since the rule was enacted, there have been no metal coils to fall from a trailer in the Birmingham area.

30

Eric Starks, president of FTR Associates, Nov. 8 said that although trucking is in a growth period, carriers need to keep an eye on the global economy and its potential impact on freight demand. Starks spoke during a presentation at Commercial Carrier Journal’s Fall Symposium in Scottsdale, Ariz.

In the short term, Starks projects the economy to remain on a slow-growth track, but the long-term outlook poses some significant downside risks, including uncertainty in the European market, a potential slowdown in the Chinese economy and slow U.S. gross domestic product growth.

FTR anticipates an average GDP growth of 2.5 percent over the next six quarters.

“We are less pessimistic than we were just several months ago, but there is still a lot of uncertainty in the market,” Starks said.

One positive indicator for the trucking industry is historically low inventory-tosales ratios. “As the economy starts to heat up and manufacturers begin ordering more goods, we’re sitting in a good spot relative to the inventory situation,” Starks said.

While customer orders for Class 8 power units softened in the last few months, FTR is predicting orders to begin to rise. As peak shipping season hits, carriers are starting to place orders for next year, and Starks expects that to continue in November and December.

Potential changes to the hours-of-service rules, including the possibility that drive time will be reduced from 11 hours to 10 hours, will magnify the impact of the current driver shortage. “More drivers will be needed, and lower productivity will require more equipment to move the same amount of freight,” Starks said. FTR’s forecast is for the driver shortage to be much worse than what the industry experienced in 2004 and 2005.

The outlook for freight remains positive, growing at a rate of 2.5 percent to 4 percent over the next several years. Freight capacity is tight with roughly 95 percent utilization and could be driven higher with the implementation of changes to hours of service.

“From a rate standpoint, fleets over the last several years have pricing power and have finally figured out how to take that power and make it work to their advantage,” Starks said.

—Max Kivedra for Overdriveonline.com

FMCSA report shows sharp decline in fatal truck crashes Statistics recently released by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration show a sharp decline in fatal accidents involving large A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2011

commercial trucks, the American Trucking Associations said Wednesday, Nov. 16.

Based on its review of the FMCSA’s 2009 Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts, fatal crashes involving a large truck fell 31 percent from 2007 to 2009, and crashes resulting in injury fell 30 percent in that same time frame.

In addition, the report states the large truck fatal crash rate fell to 1.0 crashes per 100 million miles in 2009 from 1.1 crashes per 100 million miles traveled in 2008.

Since 2000, the fatal crash rate for large trucks has fallen 54.5 percent -- more than twice as much as the passenger vehicle fatal crash rate, which dropped just 25 percent in the same time period.

American Trucking Associations president and CEO Bill Graves praised the efforts of the nation’s truck drivers, safety directors and law enforcement officers for contributions to the continued progress in the industry’s safety record.

“These safety gains,” Graves said, “are the result of many things, sensible regulation, improvements in technology, slower more fuel efficient driving, the dedication of professional drivers and safety directors as well as more effective enforcement techniques that look at all the factors involved in crashes, not just a select few.”

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2011

REMINDER: Full write-offs expire 12/31 Currently, federal tax law allows businesses of all sizes to take a full write-off (termed 100% bonus depreciation) of almost any capital equipment, including rolling stock, placed into service during calendar year 2011. But this provision expires at the end of December, and Congress may not extend it. As it stands now, the law will allow smaller businesses to take only a 50-percent bonus depreciation on new equipment next year, and there are certain limits on that.

Economist encouraged by October’s near 6% increase in tonnage The American Trucking Associations said that October’s near 6 percent year-over-year increase in its seasonally adjusted (SA) ForHire Truck Tonnage Index is an encouraging indicator that the U.S. economy will avoid another recession.

ATA’s index increased 0.5 percent in October after rising a revised 1.5 percent in September 2011. September’s increase was slightly less than the 1.6 percent gain ATA

reported on October 25. The latest gain put the SA index at 116.3 (2000=100) in October, up from the September level of 115.8.

Meanwhile, the not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 118.5 in October, which was 0.8 percent below the previous month.

Compared with October 2010, SA tonnage was up 5.7 percent. In September, the tonnage index was 5.8 percent above a year earlier. Further, October’s tonnage reading was just 4.4 percent below the index’s alltime high in January 2005.

“Tonnage readings continue to show that economy is growing and not sliding back into recession,” ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said. “Over the last two months, tonnage is up nearly 2 percent and is just shy of the recent high in January of this year.”

Costello added that he expects freight and the economy to increase at a slower pace next year, but that truck tonnage can outpace GDP growth.

“Manufacturing output has been the primary reason why truck freight volumes are increasing more than GDP. The industrial sector should slow next year, but still Continued on page 32

31

grow more than GDP, which means truck tonnage can increase faster than GDP too,” he said.

Texas removing nighttime truck speed limits signs The Texas Department of Transportation has begun work to remove the 65mile per hour nighttime speed limit and all truck speed limit signs on Lubbock District roadways.

House Bill 1353, which took effect on September 1, eliminated the 65-mile per hour nighttime speed limit and all truck speed limits on Texas roadways.

“This week, contractors began removing 950 nighttime and 1050 truck and truck nighttime speed signs in the Lubbock District’s 17 county area,” said Doug Eichorst, P.E., Lubbock District Engineer. “This should be a relatively fast moving operation and we anticipate that it will take approximately four weeks to remove all the signs in our district.”

Work crews began the sign removals in the district’s northern counties, and will work their way south. Motorists are asked to drive with caution through the various work zones, be on the lookout for workers and avoid distractions for their own safety and the safety of the workers, Eichorst added.

HB 1353 legislation has also allowed TxDOT to create a 75-mile per hour speed limit on any state highway found to be reasonable and safe through a speed study.

TxDOT will be reviewing existing 70-mile per hour speed limits to determine where a 75-mile per hour speed limit may be safely posted. The complete evaluation of the state highway system and posting of all new 75mile per hour speed limits should be complete by early 2013.

Navistar International expands Alabama operations Navistar International Corp. has announced plans to lease a large manufacturing facility in Northwest Alabama from the Retirement Systems of Alabama. The facility would become Navistar’s third manufacturing plant in the state. The company opened an engine plant in Huntsville in 2002 and expanded with a second engine plant there in 2008.

According to the Birmingham News, Navistar could collect as much as $50 million in cash incentives from the state for remaking a little-used rail car plant in Colbert County into a manufacturing facility that could employ about 2,200 workers.

As part of the deal, the News reports, the

state will give the Illinois-based company as much as $40 million in cash payments over a period of time as the company hits employment benchmarks. The document says Navistar can collect $10 million for site work at the one-mile-long facility.

Navistar hasn't announced how it will use the rail car plant, though company officials have said it will support and augment its two diesel engine plants in Huntsville.

However, according to state documents, the purpose of the lease is for Navistar to engage in its "business of motor vehicle and related product manufacture and assembly."

The facility was built in 2007 to much fanfare by National Alabama, a rail car manufacture. RSA loaned $625 million to National Alabama, which said it would create 1,800 jobs at the rail car plant. The project fell on hard times with the nation's economic downturn and was only producing a trickle of rail cars as of mid-2010.

Gov. Robert Bentley says the agreement with Navistar has the “potential to be one of the largest economic development projects in the United States and will transform northwest Alabama.”

“I have been working together with RSA, local, and state officials on this project for a long time,” Gov. Bentley stated in a release.

“It has been a long road for this area be-

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tween the railcar plant groundbreaking and today’s announcement. This project will bring a large number of high paying jobs that the people of northwest Alabama need and deserve.”

Navistar officials said Alabama is a great place for the company to grow its business and intends to maximize the facility’s under-utilized fabrication equipment and other assets to cost effectively expand manufacturing capabilities and options in North America.

Southland International celebrates 25 years In November, Southland International Trucks, Inc. celebrated a quarter century of business at its branch in Homewood, Ala. In attendance was Navistar International President & CEO Dan Ustian, who spoke of the exceptional commitment Southland has made to Alabama’s trucking industry since incorporating in November 1986.

More than 200 past and present employees were also attendance. Southland President and former Alabama Trucking Association Chairman, Drew Linn was presented with appreciation awards from Navistar Inc. and Navistar Financial Corp.

In accepting those awards, Linn acknowl-

edged the dedication and hard work of employees past and present who helped pave the way in making Southland International Trucks leading truck dealer and community leader. “Our commitment to 100 percent customer satisfaction is the reason why we are still here,” Linn told attendees, “and I urge all you to commit to extraordinary customer service for the next 25 years.”

After working a summer for International Harvester Birmingham warehouse back in the early 1970s, Linn worked his way through various sales positions with the former Tuscaloosa Truck and Tractor. In 1982, he and a partner bought the dealership. In 1986, he bought out his partner and purchased two International dealerships (one in Birmingham and one Montgomery), combining them under the name Southland International Trucks, Inc. In 2009, Linn was given ATA’s top award for a member, the H. Chester Webb Award for Distinguished Service.

No highway bill until new year Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) said this week he will not introduce a highway bill until next year, with the latest extension for transportation spending scheduled to run out March 31.

Mica — who chairs the House Transportation Committee and had planned to introduce his bill by the end of the year — announced the delay during a gathering of transportation experts at the University of Virginia on Tuesday.

He said the House schedule did not allow him enough time to present a bill this month.

Mica spokesman Justin Harclerode said: “Republican leadership and the committee remain committed to moving this important infrastructure jobs bill early next year, likely in January or February.”

Mica assured those at the transportation gathering that lawmakers “could still complete action in the House and move to conference with the Senate on a timely basis,” said John Horsley, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

“He also stated that he thought that as far as he was concerned the March 31 deadline was a hard deadline and that would force the House and Senate to take action by the deadline,” Horsley said.

Once it adjourns for the holiday season, however, the House is not back in session until Jan. 17 and has scheduled one-week recesses in both February and March.

The House and Senate have been workContinued on page 34

Visit Our Website @ www.alabamatrucking.org

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2011

33

ing separate tracks for a highway bill, with a key Senate panel passing a two-year reauthorization measure, while Mica and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) have said they will propose a five-year highway bill.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a recent interview with the Peoria (Ill.) Star-Journal, that Congress must pass a highway bill before the end of the year or states will be unable to hire workers in time for the 2012 construction season.

A reauthorization bill “really translates into jobs for America,” LaHood told his hometown newspaper.

Meanwhile, House Democrats, led by the minority’s ranking member on the Transportation Committee, Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W. Va.), introduced a bill Wednesday that would require such things as steel for transportation and other infrastructure projects to be made in America.

--By Michele Fuetsch for Tranport Topics

Ice and snow removal chemicals increase wheel corrosion may The life expectancy of heavy-duty truck wheels depends primarily on where a truck runs, with regions where roads are subjected to chemicals that are used to reduce ice and snow creating the biggest problems, according to a report by Transport Topics.

Ryder System Inc. is “definitely seeing corrosion of wheels and other components in areas where they are using magnesium and other chlorides,” said Scott Perry, vice president of supply management for the company’s fleet management solutions division. “As they moved away from salt to more advanced chemicals, there’s been more adhesions to vehicles” — and more damage.

Ryder, Miami, has about 165,000 vehicles at 850 locations in the United States and Canada.

“Our fleet is in all areas — the good and the bad,” Perry said, referring to weather conditions. In some places, a new wheel might last 10 years, while “in areas where [chemicals] are used heavily for snow and ice, it could be as short as three years,” Perry said.

Colorado was “the canary in the mine” that alerted the trucking industry to the dangers of these chemicals, said Robert Braswell, technical director of American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council. The state was an early adopter of aggressive de-icers such as magnesium chloride to clear roads. Since the late 1990s, the battle against icy roadways

has translated into an industrywide attempt to find ways to protect wheels and prolong their lives, Braswell said.

However, Steve Nolan, maintenance supervisor at Alaska West Express Inc., Anchorage, Alaska, said his company is not worried about wheel corrosion. The carrier — a unit of Lynden Inc., which ranks No. 32 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers — uses aluminum wheels on its 85 power units and steel wheels on its trailers.

“Wheel maintenance is not an issue for us,” Nolan said. “Sure, they get corroded and unsightly, but they work. I cannot remember [the last time] we pulled a wheel because of corrosion.”

Nolan said that AWE does not have its wheels refurbished. Instead, the carrier replaces them.

“If we were to replace a wheel, it would be due to cracking,” he said, adding that approximately 12 aluminum wheels and six steel wheels are replaced a year.

Nolan also said that summer causes more damage to the carrier’s wheels than winter.

“Very seldom do they put anything on the road to combat snow and icing,” said Nolan, who works out of the carrier’s main terminal in Fairbanks. “Normally, when it’s cold, the roads become sticky because [as] the tires warm up [from the rotation], they make the road sticky, and you get pretty good traction.”

What’s more, he said, “In the winter, we prefer snow on the roads, and they actually pour water on them” in order to keep the roads—which are made of dirt and gravel— smoother.

In the summer, Alaskan roads are covered with calcium chloride for dust control, Nolan said.

“Our corrosion [problem] is because of the gravel, which will chip the powder coating off the wheels, he said, adding that the Dalton Highway — a primary trucking route — is half gravel in the summer.

But aside from Alaska’s peculiarities, manufacturers echoed the belief that winter de-icing solutions are responsible for the bulk of corrosion problems.

Dale Overton, who is manager of corporate product integrity for the wheels business unit of parts supplier Accuride Corp., Evansville, Ind., said the life of an original wheel depends upon location. Accuride’s products include commercial vehicle wheels, wheelend components and assemblies.

“I saw a 28-year-old wheel in Jacksonville

[Fla.]. I saw one on a snow plow in South Dakota [that lasted only a year. So concern about corrosion] doesn’t apply to all wheel customers,” said Overton, who is based in Henderson, Ky. He also said, “All wheels aren’t created equal. Different manufacturers [provide] different levels of [protective] coating.”

Ryder’s Perry said wheel manufacturers are testing a variety of products to fight the chemicals.

“We’ve been involved in special factoryfinished pretreatments to help combat corrosion. We’re seeing good success,” he said, adding that, for proprietary reasons, he could not identify which manufacturers were working with Ryder.

Perry did say, however, that Ryder also has tested various types of vehicle washes in an attempt to remove the chemicals.

“A lot of work is being done with different washes, soaps and detergents that are supposed to help,” he said, but so far, “We’ve not seen definitive evidence that we have a solution that could be used in any market.”

Once the chemicals have penetrated the finish of an original factory-produced wheel, the wheel needs to be shot blasted and repainted. However, the chemicals take their toll on these refinished wheels as well.

Perry said Ryder’s refinished wheels used to last about five years. Now, he said, a refinished wheel that uses a zinc pretreatment lasts about two years and a wheel without the pretreatment may only last a year.

Most refinishing processes shot blast the wheel, then apply a powder coat to finish, Overton explained.

Surface preparation matters too.

Refinished wheels also “need more paint to make them look pretty,” said Asa Sharp, an engineer, consultant and transportation industry veteran. But “too much paint causes all sorts of problems.”

For example, if the paint film is too thick, it affects the lugs and “there’s a risk of the wheel coming off,” he said.

Wheels refinished in the aftermarket “are never as good as the original,” Sharp said.

“New wheels have a multistage process to protect the bare steel from the elements.”

He said a few places have set up a longer, more expensive refinishing process that includes a primer under the powder coat.

Wheel refinishing is done by retread processing facilities or by the truck tire centers of major tire manufacturers, Sharp said.

—by Stephenie Overman, Transport Topics

GOT NEWS? Send to Ford Boswell at fboswell@AlabamaTrucking.org 34

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2011

“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 # _________________ Freq_____________________

ACT ____________________

BC ____________________

Check # __________________

Exp Date__________________

ATU ____________________

DC ____________________

Dues Amt ________________

Nxt Bill Date _______________

MAG __________________

400 ____________________

Mbr Class ________________

AL Sen___________________

MC ____________________

WCSIF __________________

GC ____________________

CONTACT SHEET __________

Mbr Type _________________

AL Hse___________________

YR ____________________

WINFAX ________________

Dues Cat _________________

CG Dist __________________

Date_____________________

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2011

LTR/PLQ ________________

35

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 $420 480 540 600

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.

36

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2011

ATA

new members & evenTs

ATA & Industry Events

New Members (8/25/2011 to 12/2/2011)

SMMC Fleet Safety Awards March 26, 2012 Bessemer Civic Center Bessemer, Ala.

American Eagle Moving & Transport Peter O’Brien Chelsea, Ala. 205-623-2150

ATA Annual Convention & Meeting April 26-28, 2012 Beau Rivage Resort & Casino Biloxi, Miss.

Alabama Truck Driving Championships June 1-2, 2012 Bessemer Civic Center Bessemer, Ala. ATA Board of Directors Meeting & Officer Installation June 26, 2012 Alabama Trucking Association Headquarters Montgomery, Ala. National Truck Driving Championships August 7-11, 2012 Orlando, Fla.

BDR, LLC Roger Rogers Louisville, Ala. 334-397-2177 Bradley Screening, LLC Debbie Bradley Montgomery, Ala. 334-272-3539

A

Buford’s Tree Inc. Matt Pearce Anniston, Ala. 256-820-0481

Manning Trucking Inc. Bill Benton Pascagoula, Miss.

228-769-6577

Grace Logistics, LLC. Roland Pace Muscle Shoals, Ala. 256-248-0944

Siskin Steel & Supply Co. James Morgan Birmingham, Ala. 205-326-6826

K and B Transportation, LLC Kevin Long Montgomery, Ala. 334-239-8698

SuperMovers Inc. David Ward Fultondale, Ala. 205-637-0201

D V E R T I S I N G

ATA Annual Golf Classic October 2, 2012 Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Capitol Hill Course Prattville, Ala. American Trucking Associations Management Convention & Expo October 7-10, 2012 Pheonix, Ariz.

SMMC Christmas Celebration December 10, 2012 Bessemer Civic Center Bessemer, Ala.

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2011

N D E X

ADVERTISER

PG. NO.

PH. NO.

ATA WCSIF

BC

(334) 834-7911

www.atacompfund.org

Barksdale Insurance

32

(800) 807-1412

www.barksdalebonding.com

The Baxter Agency

25

(800) 873-8494

www.baxteragency.com

Carrier Transicold South

19

(205) 328-7278

www.trucktrailer.carrier.com

ErgoScience, Inc.

31

(866) 779-6447 ext. 211

IBC

(800) 383-0094

www.greatdanetrailers.com

Great West Casualty Co.

11

(800) 228-8053

www.gwccnet.com

International Trucks

IFC

(800) 844-4102

www.navistar.com

JP Transportation Safety Consulting

6

(205) 329-8183

www.jptsc.com

J.J. Keller

7

(888) 473-4638 ext. 7892

Palomar Insurance

14

(800) 489-0105

www.palomarins.com

PrePass

23

(800) 773-7277

www.prepass.com

Regions Insurance

28

(800) 807-1412

www.regionsinsurance.com

Ritchie Bros.

15

(205) 837-9033

www.rbauction.com

Thompson Cat

3

(205) 849-4288

www.thompsontractor.com

Trucking Partners

24

(256) 737-8788

www.truckingpartners.com

Turner & Hamrick

26

(888) 385-0186

www.turnerhamrick.com

WH Thomas Oil Co.

20

(205) 755-2610

www.thomasoil.com

UPS

29

(800) 325-7000

www.ups.com

W.W. Williams

17

(800) 365-3780

www.wwwilliams.com

Great Dane

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week September 16-22, 2012

I

WEB ADDRESS

www.ergoscience.com

www.jjkellermobile.com

37

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 PeopleNet (888) 346-3486 www.peoplenetonline.com QUALCOMM, Inc. (770) 271-3654 www.qualcomm.com/qwbs EDUCATION & TRAINING J.J. Keller & Assoc., Inc. (920) 722-2848 www.jjkellerservices.com JP Transportation Safety Consulting, LLC (205) 329-8182 (205) 329-8183 www.jptsc.com

Thompson/Caterpillar (205) 849-4365 www.thompsontractor.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 Truck & Trailer Leasing Corp.

(256) 831-6880 EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING BigBee Steel (256) 383-7322 www.bigbee.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 Ancra International, LLC (334) 306-4372 www.ancra.com Dothan Tarpaulin Products, Inc. (800) 844-8277 www.dothantarp.com

Messerschmidt Safety Consulting (205) 444-0071 www.mscrecon.com

Fleet Air Technologies, Inc. (256) 754-0034 www.fleetairtech.com

National Trucking Safety Consultants, LLC (850) 939-8926 www.expertwitness.com/brown

FleetPride, Inc. (205) 322-5621 www.fleetpride.com

Imperial Supplies LLC (920) 494-7474 Transportation Safety Services www.imperialsupplies.com (251) 661-9700 www.transportationsafetyservices.com Kinedyne Corp.

(334) 365-2919 Trucking Partners, LLC www.kinedyne.com (256) 737-8788 www.truckingpartners.com Metro Trailer Repair Co., Inc. (205) 323-2877 USA Driver-s, Inc. www.metrotrailer.net (205) 661-0712 www.usadrivers.com Paccar Parts/Kenworth (205) 679-7925 Wise Consulting, LLC www.kenworth.com (256) 796-5291 ENGINE MANUFACTURERS Cummins Mid-South, LLC (901) 488-8033 www.cummins.com

38

Southern Truck & Equipment, Inc. (251) 653-4716 www.southerntruck.net

Thermo King of B’ham-Thermo King of Montgomery-Thermo King of Dothan (205) 591-2424 www.midstatetk.com

Avizent (205) 581-9283 www.avizentrisk.com

Zurich (800) 553-3055 www.zurichna.com/zdu

The Baxter Agency (334) 678-6800 www.baxteragency.com

MEDICAL/DRUG & ALCOHOL SERVICES Alabama Specialty Clinic (256) 736-1460 www.ascoccupationalhealth.com

BB & T Insurance Services (912) 201-4706 Benton & Parker Insurance Services (770) 536-8340 www.bentonandparker.com

Thompson/Caterpillar (205) 849-4365 www.thompsontractor.com

Caribou Insurance Agency, Inc. (205) 822-7577 www.caribouins.com

W.W. Williams (205) 252-9025 (334) 279-6083 www.wwwilliams.com

Cobbs, Allen & Hall (205) 414-8100 www.cobbsallenhall.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 BancorpSouth Equipment Finance (205) 422-7111 www.bxsequipmentfinance.com BBVA Compass (205) 297-3349 www.bbvacompass.com Freight Capital (800) 775-0391 www.freightcapital.com GE Capital Solutions aka GE Commercial Finance Transportation Finance-Morrow, GA (770) 960-6307 www.getransfin.com KSM Transport Advisors, LLC (317) 580-2324 www.ksmta.com People’s Capital & Leasing Corp.

(205) 856-9354 www.peoples.com People’s United Equipment Finance Corp.

(205) 664-9374 www.financialfederal.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 INSURANCE AON – Trucking Practice (501) 374-9300 www.aon.com Aronov Insurance, Inc. (205) 907-9622 www.aronovinsurance.com

Cottingham and Butler (407) 850-0896 www.cottinghambutler.com Great West Casualty Co. (865) 670-6573 www.gwccnet.com Hudgens Insurance, Inc. (334) 289-2695 Johnson-Locklin & Associates (205) 980-8008 www.johnson-locklin.com Liberty Mutual Group (804) 380-5169 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 Palomar Insurance Corp.

(334) 270-0105 www.palomarinsurance.com Regions Insurance, Inc. (501) 661-4880 www.regions.com

Bradley Screening (334) 272-3539 www.bradleyscreening.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 Jack Green Oil Co., Inc. (256) 831-1038 Major Oil Company, Inc. (334) 263-9070 www.unitedfoodandfuel.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

Attorneys: Albrittons, Clifton, Alverson, Moody & Regions Insurance/Barksdale Bonding Bowden P.C. (334) 222-3177 (334) 808-9441 www.albrittons.com www.barksdalebonding.com Reliance Partners, Inc. (877) 668-1704 www.reliancepartners.com

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

Sentry Insurance (800) 610-4888 www.sentry.com

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C. (205) 328-0480 www.bakerdonelson.com

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

Ball, Ball, Matthews & Novak, P.A. 334-387-7680 www.ball-ball.com Carr, Allison, Pugh, Howard, Oliver & Sisson (800) 582-3793 www.carrallison.com

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2011

Guide 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 Haskell, Slaughter, Young & Rediker, LLC (205) 251-1000 www.hsy.com Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart (205) 328-1900 www.ogletreedeakins.com James M. Sizemore, Jr. (256) 409-1985 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 George L. Edwards & Assoc.

(334) 745-5166 FleetMatics USA, LLC (847) 463-7677 www.fleetmatics.com J.J. Keller & Assoc., Inc. (920) 722-2848 www.jjkellerservices.com Jeffers Trucking, Inc. (205) 808-1112

(as of November 17, 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

Carroll Truck Repair, Inc. (205) 983-3375

Equipment Logistics, Inc. (256) 739-9280

Childersburg Truck Service, Inc. (256) 378-3101 www.childersburg-truck.com

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

Coffman International Trucks (334) 794-4111 www.coffmaninternationaltrucks.com

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

Eufaula Trucking Co., Inc. (334) 687-0391

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

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

Payroll Management, Inc. (800) 243-5604 www.pmipeo.com

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

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

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

Quality Vehicle Processing, LLC (205) 507-2758

Rowe Management Corp.

(205) 486-9235 www.rowemachinery.com

Securance Group, Inc. (334) 272-1200 www.securancegroup.com

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

Spectrum Environmental Services, Inc. (205) 664-2000 Thompson/Caterpillar www.specenviro.com (205) 849-4365 www.thompsontractor.com Teletrac, Inc. (714) 897-0877 W.W. Williams www.teletrac.net (205) 252-9025 (334) 279-6083 ThinkTrade, Inc. www.wwwilliams.com (866) 245-3918 www.thinktradeinc.com TIRE DEALERS & MANUFACTURERS Best-One Tire & Service TMW Systems, Inc. (615) 785-2834 (216) 831-6606 www.bestonetire.com www.tmwsystems.com Bridgestone/Bandag Tire Solutions Transportation Billing Solutions, LLC (800) 681-6245 (205) 788-4000 www.trucktires.com Transportation Compliance Services, USA (228) 872-7160 www.dottrucksafety.com

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

GCR Tire Centers (205) 914-6818 Transportation Safety Services (251) 661-9700 Integrated Waste Services, LLC www.transportationsafetyservices.com (205) 620-5812 Transportation Support, Inc. (205) 833-6336 www.transportationsupport.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

Snider Tire, Inc. (404) 361-0130 www.snidertire.com

Wilks Tire & Battery Service, Inc. Birmingham Frame & Alignment, LLC (256) 878-0211 (205) 322-4844 www.wilkstire.com birminghamframeandalignment.com Carl Carson Truck Center, Inc. (205) 592-9966 www.carlcarson.com Carrier Transicold South (404) 968-3130 www.ctsouth.com

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2011

TRAILER DEALERS/ MANUFACTURERS C & C Trailers, Inc. (334) 897-2202 Empire Truck Sales, LLC (601) 939-1000 www.empiretruck.com

Gulf Coast Truck & Equipment Co. (251) 476-2744 www.gulfcoasttruck.com R C Trailer Sales & Service Co., Inc. (205) 680-0924 www.rctrailersales.net 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 TRUCK DEALERS, MANUFACTURERS Action Truck Center (334) 794-8505 www.actiontruckcenter.com Capital Volvo Truck & Trailer (334) 262-8856 www.capitalvolvo.com Coffman International Trucks (334) 794-4111 www.coffmaninternationaltrucks.com

Mack Trucks, Inc. (678) 201-4770 www.macktrucks.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 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

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

TRUCKSTOPS Love’s Travel Stops, Inc. (405) 202-4451 www.loves.com

Four Star Freightliner (334) 263-1085 (Montgomery) www.alabamafreightliner.com

Oasis Travel Center, LLC (251) 960-1148

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

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

39

word The LAsT

CSA: N A Year Later ‘It is evident most carriers and drivers have a far better understanding of the program today than when we first began training almost two years ago for the January 2011 debut’.

Tim Frazier, Assistant Director of Safety & Member Services Alabama Trucking Association

40

ow that we’ve had a year to see the Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) program in practice, what’s the result? While visiting with several carriers over the past few months it appears the dreaded results many were expecting have not come to pass.

Overall it is evident most carriers and drivers have a far better understanding of the program today than when we first began training almost two years ago for the January 2011 debut. Most all the rumors and misunderstandings as to how the scores were affected and calculated have been dispelled, realizing the roadside inspection process totally affects the carriers score, good or bad. That stated, I believe we have seen a positive impact regarding equipment condition and driver compliance throughout our industry.

Our Safety & Maintenance Management Council conducts several roadside inspections, teaming with the Alabama Department of Public Safety Motor Carrier Safety Unit.

These inspections are conducted throughout the state at various rest areas. During our inspections this year we streamlined our process in order to provide inspections that would impact carrier’s scores. It was apparent that equipment was better maintained and drivers seemed to have far less compliance issues. It was especially notable to see the drivers’ concern for the impact the inspection would have on the CSA score. We were able to conduct Level II inspections on approximately 80 vehicles and drivers during our sessions.

There was great concern when the CSA program kicked off that there would be major impact on the driver force. Predictions were made that many drivers would have to seek new career opportunities due to the impact of the scores. According to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), a sample of 695 carriers has only purged 5 percent due to poor performance. It does appear hiring a

new driver has become more of a challenge.

Due to the increased scrutiny now required to hire a skilled, quality driver, carriers are utilizing the Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP), which allows carriers to see a driver’s performance regarding inspections.

This process has made the air-waves, and now drivers are more careful than ever in protecting their driving history. As with any compliance program, some folks just don’t seem to get the message and a professional career can be damaged or even stopped.

According to ATRI, overall carriers say they have not seen significant changes in their operations since CSA’s inception. Many carriers have updated and upgraded systems that allow better in-house monitoring of their safety performance. Monitoring every roadside inspection report is vital to a company’s CSA score. Believe it or not, we do see errors from time to time that need to be challenged and corrected through the DATA-Q process.

It appears truckload carriers are seeing more of a negative impact with the highest number of CSA problems, followed by private carriers and then LTL carriers. Also, small to mid-sized carriers self-reported fewer BASIC’s above a threshold than did larger fleets.

Overall, it is my opinion the CSA program has had a positive impact on our industry.

While there are still areas we would like to see improved, such as carrier categories, and information hitting the system quicker, it is what we have to work with today. Now that we have a year behind us to review which violations cause concern, we can better monitor these areas and be prepared to respond when given the opportunity.

I encourage each of you to get involved anytime there is a comment period offered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Only through our involvement and efforts can we see changes made to protect and improve our industry.

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2011