Alabama Trucker, 4th Quarter 2014

Officers Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wayne Watkins Vice Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Greg Brown Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bruce MacDonald Immediate Past Chairman . . . . .Kevin Savoy

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

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Published quarterly by the Alabama Trucking Assn., P.O. Box 242337, Montgomery, AL 36124-2337.

ADVERTISING RATES: Quoted upon request.

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For the second straight year, trucking industry stakeholders rank current hours-ofservice rule restrictions and their uncertainty as the top concern in the American Transportation Research Institute’s annual survey. The study, commissioned by the American Trucking Associations, serves as a yearly barometer to assist the trade group at its state affiliates as they work to shape the course of the industry.

Another Record

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ATA members once again raise the bar to deliver more than $180,000 after expenses to the Alabama trucking industry’s political action committee TRUK PAC. The funds positioned ATA’s PAC to help deliver big wins for “pro-truck” candidates during the recent elections.

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

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

H I S

Industry Expresses Concern

ATA Staff

ATA WCSIF Staff

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E P A R T M E N T S

President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Safety Insights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SMMC Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Trucking News Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 ATA Events and New Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Buyers’ Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Alabama Trucking Association

Alabama Trucking Association 334-834-3983 • www.alabamatrucking.org A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2014

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From the President

TRUK PAC plays major role in recent elections Frank Filgo, CAE President and CEO Alabama Trucking Association

‘Alabama 2014 state elections came to an end with the final votes cast on November 4 — the results: We won!’

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he Alabama Trucking Association’s political action committee, TRUK PAC, spent $1,029,500 supporting selected “pro-truck” candidates for statewide offices and state legislative district seats.

Eighty-four cents out of every dollar spent went to winners.

State-wide winners included candidates for Governor, Lt. Governor, and a pair of seats on the State Supreme Court. In State Senate contests, TRUK PAC-supported candidates won 25 seats, and lost only two.

In the House, our candidates won 48 seats, and lost nine.

The Republican primary and run-off elections last summer, proved to be the most challenging. The powerful state teachers’ union, the Alabama Education Association (AEA), recruited Republican candidates to challenge sitting Republican incumbents, spending more than $11 million dollars on their behalf. TRUK PAC, along with other pro-business groups, met the challenge and successfully defeated most challengers with the exception of a handful of State House contests.

The results of the primary and run-off elections set up several hotly contested November general election races. Again, AEA poured additional millions into selected contests, supporting Democratic challengers to incumbent Republicans. An example is former state senator Larry Means (D) opposition to incumbent Senator Phil Williams (R-Gadsden). Means received more than $350,000 directly from AEA’s PAC. While in the Senate, Means sponsored a bill to restrict trucks to one lane on multi-

lane highways. TRUK PAC made the reelection of Senator Phil Williams - and the defeat of Means - a priority, contributing $50,000 to his campaign. Williams won with 52 percent of the vote.

When final votes were counted, AEA did not win a single targeted November contest.

Groups like Organizing for Action, formerly President Obama’s campaign operation; Empower Alabama, an engagement group manned by former Obama staffers; and Southern Progress Action, an Arkansasbased liberal group bent on returning Democrats to power in the South, all followed AEA’s lead in Alabama, only to see their money and efforts wasted.

Conversely, TRUK PAC endorsed candidates prevailed by winning 33 of 36 general election contests (a 92 percent winning percentage).

Republicans added to their super majorities in both the House and Senate – a gain of six House seats for a total of 72 (of 105) and 3 seats in the Senate, from 23 to 26 (of 35). Alabama may well be the reddest of the red states.

Members of the Alabama Trucking Association have worked long and hard to fund a million dollar PAC, one that fittingly signifies the importance of our industry sector in Alabama. That goal was accomplished, and the PAC trustees judiciously spent its funds to affect election results and build political influence. Consequently, our industry and this Association are better positioned to advocate sound transportation policies to maintain a safe, responsible and efficient Alabama transportation goods movement system.

Well done ATA members!

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Concerns over lost productivity from the current hours-ofservice rules once again topped the survey’s list. Responders specifically lamented the limits to the 34-hour restart provision and the mandatory 30 min. rest break requirement.

Expressing Concerns

Infrastructure funding and highway congestion reached seventh on the list. ATRI estimates congestion costs the industry 9.2 million annually.

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Continued attention to HOS rule also brought awareness to a shortage sixth overall.

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According to ATRI’s annual survey, industry stakeholders are still stressed over Hours of Service rule.

By Rebecca Brewster

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or the past decade, the American Trucking Associations has turned to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) to survey trucking industry stakeholders to identify the top issues of concern. The dynamic shifting of industry priorities during the past ten years demonstrates the complexity of operating in an industry so vital to the economy yet so impacted by forces outside of our immediate control.

of safe and available parking for truck drivers. That issue ranked A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2014

In the early years of the survey, the rising cost and limited availability of fuel registered as a top concern, along with the driver shortage. With the onset of the Great Recession, the economy first emerged as an industry concern in 2008 and spent three years as the number one industry issue from 2009 to 2011. Other issues in the survey’s early years but which have since dropped off the top 10 list include truck security, driver training, insurance costs and environmental issues. While still representing significant challenges for the industry, these issues have been eclipsed by emerging concerns including the lack of available truck parking, the upcoming Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate and commercial driver health and wellness.

In the survey’s first six years, industry concern over the growing scope of federal and state oversight of trucking was captured as one issue, Government Regulations, which peaked in 2009 at the number two spot on the survey. However, that concern disaggregated into several stand-alone issues in more recent years, among them hours-ofservice and the deployment of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program. CSA first appeared on the top industry issues list in 2010, ranking second overall and it has continued to rank in the top five issues since.

One issue has been on the list, and among the top five concerns annually, since the survey started in 2005. The hours-ofservice (HOS) rules continue to dominate the collective industry’s concern and that level of concern has been closely tied to the impacts of federal rulemaking, regulation

2014 Top Industry Issues 1. Hours-of-Service 2. Driver Shortage 3. CSA 4. Driver Retention 5. Electronic Logging Device Mandate 6. Truck Parking 7. Infrastructure/Congestion/ Transportation Funding 8. Driver Health/Wellness 9. Economy 10. Driver Distraction

changes, rule vacating and the most recent changes to the rules, which went into effect in 2013.

In 2014 the HOS rules were once again the top ranked issue by survey participants as the supply chain continues to experience negative impacts from the changes to the rules which limit the use of the 34-hour restart provision and mandate a 30-minute rest break before driving after eight hours.

Among the impacts being experienced by the industry are 80 percent of surveyed motor carriers in ATRI’s research, Operational and Economic Impacts of the New Hours-of-Service Rules, who indicated a loss of productivity attributable to the new rules.

Coming in as a very close second place this year is the Driver Shortage which, like the HOS rules, continues to plague the supply chain at large as motor carriers struggle to find qualified drivers to meet

Driver health and wellness ranked eighth, appearing on the list for the third straight year.

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With fuel prices at their lowest in years, concerns over fuel supply and costs have quelled slightly.

freight demand. Anecdotally, numerous carriers are now turning away revenue and loads due exclusively to the driver shortage, which could have an impact on economic growth as well as inflation.

Rounding out the top three this year is CSA, reflecting continued industry concern over the way that carrier safety performance is evaluated under CSA. Number four on the list is Driver Retention, closely tied to the Driver Shortage, as carriers struggle to identify strategies for maintaining their best drivers while simultaneously searching for qualified new entrants.

Rounding out the top five issues in the annual survey is the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate. The emergence of the mandate as an industry concern coincided

with the passage of MAP-21 in 2012, which included a requirement that FMCSA issue a final rule on ELD use for HOS tracking. Earlier this year, FMCSA issued a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to address a number of concerns identified by industry stakeholders in the first ELD proposed rule, but the industry continues to await the issuance of the ELD Final Rule.

Issues 6-10 in the 2014 annual survey are all critical and impact motor carriers on a day-to-day basis and the inter-connectivity of the issues is unmistakable. Truck Parking (#6) has received increased attention as the new HOS rules brought heightened awareness to the dramatic shortage of safe and available parking. In many locations around

The FMCSA’s looming final rule for electronic logging devices was on the mind of many respondents, ranking the issue fourth.

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the country, the scarcity of truck parking can sometimes create a dangerous dilemma for drivers who must choose between continuing to drive beyond allowable HOS rules to find safe parking or park the vehicle in an undesignated location.

Number seven on this year’s list is a combination of issues that impact the trucking industry’s workplace – Infrastructure/Congestion/Transportation Funding. In 2013 ATRI identified trucking industry costs of $9.2 billion associated with congestion on the Interstate system. The negative impacts of congestion, crumbling infrastructure and the expiration of MAP-21 and the need for a long-term transportation funding solution ensure that these issues will remain a top concern for the foreseeable future.

The number eight issue, Driver Health and Wellness, is appearing on the top ten list for the third year in a row. Given the concerns over driver retention and the driver shortage, as well as potential health issues related to truck driver lifestyle challenges, there has been a concerted effort to make the trucking industry healthier.

No issue experienced a larger drop in ranking than this year’s number nine issue, the Economy. It first appeared on the top ten list in 2008 and for three years it remained the number one issue (2009 – 2011). However, as the economy has continued to recover, it has been dropping in ranking and this year it dropped from number four to number nine on the list.

This year there was a new entrant to the list of top ten concerns. Coming in at number ten, Driver Distraction reflects the growing attention on the dangers of texting and driving by all drivers and their impact on highway safety.

The Top Industry Issues Survey provides an important indicator of where the industry’s attention is focused and which issues may rise to prominence in the near future.

It’s an important tool for providing direction to industry groups at the state and national levels in terms of the issues and strategies that motor carriers believe will have the most impact on the industry for years to come. Armed with this information, state trucking associations and the American Trucking Associations are better equipped to address the issues more broadly and proactively.

Rebecca Brewster is President and COO of the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI). ATRI is the trucking industry’s 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research organization engaged in critical research relating to freight transportation’s essential role in maintaining a safe, secure and efficient transportation system. A copy of the 2014 Top Industry Issues Survey analysis report is available from ATRI at www.atri-online.org A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2014

Alabama fleet managers also express their concerns

State Top Industry Issues Report 2014 Alabama

1 Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)

1 Push for a crash accountability determination process that removes non-preventable crashes from carrier scores.

2 Advocate for FMCSA to remove from public view scores in all categories until they are strongly predictive of individual carrier crash risk.

3 Leverage Inspector General and Government Accountability Office study findings to advocate for needed data and methodology improvements.

6 Transportation Infrastructure/ Congestion/Funding

1 Create a new funding program to focus federal resources on truck bottlenecks on major freight routes.

2 Utilize the Congressionally-mandated National Freight Policy and National Freight Network as tools to ensure adequate investment in critical highway infrastructure.

3 Advocate for fuel tax increases to efficiently fund the surface transportation system and ensure those funds are not diverted to non-highway projects.

2 Driver Shortage

1 Research and quantify successful recruitment strategies for commercial drivers.

2 Work with state and federal authorities to consider a graduated CDL program to safely attract new and younger drivers.

3 Continue work to streamline the transition from a military CDL to a civilian CDL in order to attract more veterans to the trucking industry.

7 Fuel Supply/Fuel Prices

3 Hours-of-Service

8 Driver Distraction

1 Suspend restart provisions implemented July 1, 2013 until true safety and economic impacts are documented and understood.

2 Advocate for increased flexibility in the current sleeper berth provision.

3 Obtain independent review of the cost benefit analysis used to justify the new HOS changes.

1 Advocate for a federal ban on hand-held cell phone use and texting for all motorists.

2 Continue to promote research to better understand the size of the distracted driving problem.

3 Encourage harsher penalties and more aggressive enforcement of distracted driving violations for drivers of all vehicle types.

4 Driver Retention

9 (Tie) Truck Parking

1 Help improve work/life balance, healthy lifestyles and family relationships for drivers.

2 Research the relationship between driver compensation models and driver productivity.

3 Study the effectiveness of carrier retention programs that financially incentivize drivers for safe driving performance.

1 Support and encourage investment in new truck parking facilities and work to reopen closed public rest facilities.

2 Educate the public sector on the safety consequences resulting from closing public parking facilities.

3 Research the role and value of real-time truck parking information availability and truck parking reservation systems.

5 Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandate

9 (Tie) Driver Health/Wellness

1 Encourage FMCSA to issue the Congressionally-mandated ELD Final Rule in a timely fashion.

2* Advocate for FMCSA to grandfather existing devices installed by early adopters for an appropriate length of time.

2* Ensure that the ELD mandate does not require that devices be capable of creating hard-copy printed HOS records.

1 Encourage increased availability of exercise facilities and healthy food choices at truck stops/travel plazas.

2 Research and disseminate commercial driver health and wellness program best practices.

3 Promote research that quantifies the return-on-investment potential of driver health and wellness programs.

1 Continue to support expanded use of domestic energy sources to improve the reliability of our energy supply.

2 Support effective technologies and proven methods for improving fuel efficiency that could lower fuel costs.

3 Research the potential impacts on the price of diesel from the lifting the ban on crude oil exports.

* indicates tie for strategy ranking

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Keeps Getting Better ATA’s annual fundraiser grosses nearly a quarter of million dollars for industry political action.

PRATTVILLE, Ala.— t was a great day for golf but an even better day for the Alabama Trucking Association’s political action committee, TRUK PAC. The Association once again showcased its strong member support raising nearly a quarter of million dollars at the group’s annual ATA Golf Classic, held here September 30 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Capitol Hill Course.

With continued generous support from marquee sponsor McLeod Software and more than 120 other member firms, ATA’s annual golf tournament continued its trend of growth and improvement grossing a record $223,000 to net more than $180,000 for TRUK PAC. Tournament chairman Will Bruser of Truckworx Kenworth said there were 124 trucking related firms sponsoring this year’s event.

“That is a record,” he told the more than 300 golfers who played in this year’s tournament. “We are especially appreciative to McLeod Software for its role as the presenting sponsor of this year’s classic.”

This marks the third year that McLeod has been the primary sponsor. ATA official said the software firm’s commitment of

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$15,000 served as a catalyst for increased participation from the membership.

In addition, there were more than 11 firms to contribute $5,000 each and another 100 or so donated the balance. Senator Level sponsors ($5,000) were ATA Workers’ Comp Fund; Action Resources; B.R. Williams Trucking; J&M Tank Lines; Wiley Sanders Truck Lines; Greenbush Logistics; Southland International Trucks; Truckworx Kenworth; Mormon Highway Technologies; and Golf City Body & Trailer Works.

There were also 48 $2,000 level sponsors; 47 $1,000 sponsors; 13 $500 sponsors; and three contributors of less than $500 (See full list of sponsors on page 12) “It’s amazing to watch each year as this tournament continues to grow and improve,” said ATA Chairman of the Board Wayne Watkins. “It seems every year we raise a record amount of funds. That’s a testament to the dedication of our members; the leadership of our executive board; and to the continued support of sponsors like McLeod Software and Mormon Highway Technologies, who have both individually stepped to the plate more than once to deliver an astounding amount of money for this tournament.”

Association officials report that funds raised from the event are earmarked to support pro-business candidates in state elections. ATA’s PAC is traditionally ranked among the largest political funds in the state with more than $1 million in reserves.

That amount was used in the recent general election and last summer’s state primary races, according to ATA officials.

“By supporting this event, you are supporting candidates who understand the vital role that our industry plays in our state’s economy,” Bruser said, “and at the same time, you are supporting efforts to defeat those who do not understand that.”

Bruser also thanked his tournament finance committee composed of Joe Black, McGriff Tire; Gary Bond, BancorpSouth Equipment Finance; Jack Brim of B.R. Williams Trucking; Fenn Church, Church Transportation & Logistics; John Collier, Transport Trailer Center; Hunter Lyons, Gulf City Body & Trailer Works; and Keith Wise, R.E. Garrison Trucking.

Meanwhile, the tournament drew more than 300 golfers playing in teams of four and filling all three courses at RTJ’s Capitol Hill Course. Those courses are said to be the “Crown Jewel” of the Robert A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2014

With its stunning view of the Alabama River Region, Hole No. 1 on the RTJ Capitol Hill Judge Course is considered the signature hole of the entire Trail.

Trent Jones Golf Trail, routinely garnering rave reviews from golfers and golf writers alike. Golf Magazine called the Judge course one of the 10 public courses in America worthy of hosting the U.S. Open and the Zagat Survey of America’s Top Golf Courses ranked it among the top 50 courses in America. The Senator course was named among the Top 10 New Courses in the nation by Golf Magazine and is the host course for the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic.

ATA president Frank Filgo praised members for their participation in the Golf Classic, helping it to continue growing.

“Thanks to them, it just keeps getting better,” he said. “Our group is a member-led organization by design. A few years back, Kevin Savoy of Greenbush Logistics approached the Board with ideas to improve the tournament, and each year, members continue to build upon that foundation.

Will Bruser’s leadership as event chairman the past two years has been outstanding. In 2013 he broke the event record for fundraising by almost $20,000. We all kind of joked that it would be hard to beat that.

Well, here we are a year later with another record amount raised.”

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More than 300 golfers played in this year’s tournament. The group filled all three courses at the RTJ’s Capitol Hill location.

Tom McLeod of McLeod Software, Tournament Chairman Will Bruser of Truckworx Kenworth, and ATA Chairman Wayne Watkins of Watkins Trucking

Bruser delivers opening remarks.

Lunch and 19th Hole Party refreshments were supplied by ATA Workers’ Comp Fund.

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SAFETY & MAINTENANCE Safety Insights

Tim Frazier, CDS ATA Director of Safety and Member Services

Keeping our best drivers ‘When it comes to driver retention it’s best to remember the Golden Rule.’

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raveling throughout the state visiting with our members provides me the opportunity to see various size and shaped carriers.

Yet, no matter the operation, every carrier has the same urgent question, “Where can I find drivers and how do we keep them?” We’ve talked about this issue for years, and it appears the issue has turned into a real nightmare for some. It’s not uncommon these days to visit a carrier and find 10 percent or more power units parked on the fence due to the driver shortage. Parked units do not generate revenue yet the cost of the vehicle continues.

While attending the American Trucking Associations’ Safety Management Council meeting in Orlando in October, the subject was on the mind of those present.

For a driver’s perspective of the issue, I’ve taken the opportunity the past few months to stop by a few truck stops and visit personally with drivers. We get all type of publications telling us why drivers leave their present company or what makes them stay. While this information is most often pretty accurate, I wanted to hear drivers’ answers to these questions.

There are a couple thoughts we must all clearly understand first and foremost. First, the babyboomers will retire in vast numbers over the next few years. These drivers are the ones who have many years of experience, and are very familiar with the way we’ve all done business the past decades.

I believe industry expert Dan Baker refers to this group as the “Ol’ Moss Backs.” They are familiar with how a trucking business runs, staying on the road for a couple weeks at a time, and how the freight system works. As I’ve listened to some of the more seasoned drivers, their concerns have not changed very much over the years. They continue to say, pay me a fair wage, treat me with respect, tell me the truth, and listen to me when I have concerns. These drivers feel we have lost the ability to utilize their knowledge, vast experience, and common sense, since we have become so technology driven. When these practices and principles break down, you can safely bet these drivers will lose confidence in your operation and will eventually leave you.

Second, it’s often said that, “the definition of insanity is to keep doing what you’re always done and expect a different result.”

Visiting with drivers one-on-one and hearing from many professionals at our recent

meeting, one resounding fact is clear: We must adapt to a cultural shift in our industry if we are to be successful.

So let's consider the new crop of drivers— those considered by analysts to be Generation X and their younger cohorts, the Millennials.

The new driver says, “Get me home often; I’m not driving old equipment; pay me fair and for every mile I run; and provide me with the latest technology — and did I say GET ME HOME OFTEN?” One other fact that every younger driver and every trucking official I’ve ever talked to agree upon is, the possibility of seeing employees in general staying with the same employer for 10, 20, or 30 years-plus is very unlikely.

The new driver says, “I’m always on the lookout for how I can do better for myself.”

Whether we like or dislike this fact, loyalty does not have the same importance as it used to.

So, what do we do to be successful in the future and keep our trucks filled with quality people?

Listening to carriers that have the least turnover, it was amazing to hear of some of the innovative ideas. With the national turnover rate for truckload carriers hovering near 100 percent, it was interesting to hear from carriers in the 25- to 35-percent range. They have focused on retention, and this has become the culture of these successful companies.

Of all the programs, policies, and other things we incorporate to retain drivers, the key ingredient seemed to be consistant contact — whether by email, phone or in person, drivers are contacted on a daily basis. Contacts are made to be sure drivers have the tools they need, pay issues corrected, off time scheduled, and most of all, personal issues resolved.

It’s still amazing to sit in a dispatch office and hear this type conversation: Phone rings— “Hello, what’s your driver number?” No good morning, how can I help you, how’s the family, or any personal touch.

In summary, I challenge any carrier to review their programs and processes. Again, if you’re still doing the same old thing hoping to be successful in this new culture, best wishes.

But after listening to many drivers and a number of successful companies, it is my opinion those that are innovative and proactive will be successful. When it comes to driver retention, it’s best to remember the Golden Rule: “Treat others how you wish to be treated.”

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MANAGEMENT COUNCIL NEWS Area safety managers begin NATMI certification Each fall a handful of fleet safety professionals start the process to earn the Certified Director of Safety (CDS) distinction through the North American Transportation Management Institute (NATMI).

Candidates sit for a five-day workshop at our headquarters with a written exam wrapping the week. If they pass, they then must submit an exhibit detailing their accomplishments in the field of fleet safety to be reviewed and judged by experts at NATMI. According to ATA Directory of Safety, Tim Frazier, this isn’t some cushy course where you pay a fee, do the time, throw together a folder of photos and pages of previous awards and you’re just given the distinction.

“It’s incredibly time consuming,” he says, “and not every candidate completes the process. We have a really experienced group this year, so I expect most, if not all, of the candidates to follow through and complete the certification process.”

NATMI fleet safety candidates, from left, Larry Mitchell of Dean Foods, Mike Boudreaux (course instructor); Joe Dunn, P&S Transportation, Randy Watson, J&M Tank Lines; Robert Lovelady, Heritage Freight Warehousing Logistics; Don Anchors, ATA Workers’ Comp Fund, Ben Ball, Jowin Express, Inc.; and Mark Ward, Wal-Mart Transportation.

TMC, NATMI want stronger maintenance certification American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council and the North American Transportation Management Institute have partnered to strengthen and increase the visibility of the Certified Director of Maintenance certification (CDM/E) and Certified Supervisor of Maintenance certification (CSM/E).

As part of its five-year strategic plan, TMC sought a certification program that would educate, test and recognize maintenance directors, managers and supervisors.

TMC selected the CDM/E and CSM/E programs based on their strong reputation as the premiere certifications in fleet maintenance management, as well as their wellestablished, back-end operation and university accreditation.

Beginning in October, TMC’s Education Subcommittee and NATMI’s Oversight Committee will collaborate on examining, updating and enriching all aspects of the A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2014

program, including certification requirements, scope, class schedules and locations, and educational content.

“Having the trucking industry’s most knowledgeable and experienced maintenance and technology professionals engaged in the continuous review and expansion of this well-established program will help ensure the courses and requirements remain current and relevant, and the credentials remain the most respected measure of maintenance management expertise,” said Jeffrey Arnold, NATMI’s executive director.

CDM/E and CSM/E candidates are fulltime administrators who have ably demonstrated their expertise and leadership in establishing programs, policies, setting standards, and mastering new technologies and systems. There are education and experience certification requirements as well.

“Today’s fleet maintenance managers oversee more than vehicle maintenance, they are responsible for managing the lifecycle of multiple types of vehicles and parts, maximizing

fuel efficiency and user productivity, supervising the training and usage of sophisticated instrumentation and data systems, staying up-to-date on regulations and compliance, budgeting, and so much more,” added Carl Kirk, ATA’s vice president of maintenance, information technology & logistics. “These programs will insure a consistent quality of training and recognition.”

The enhanced program is anticipated to be rolled out in February 2015.

Additional information on the CDM/E and CSM/E programs may be obtained from Jeff Arnold at 720-259-1354 and Carl Kirk, at 703-838-1766.

Recent poll shows public recognizes trucking’s commitment to safety A national poll released last September found that the American public believes professional truck drivers are among the safest drivers on the road.

The poll, conducted in September by Public Opinion Strategies, surveyed 800 registered voters on their attitudes about politics, the trucking industry, and the state of the nation’s infrastructure. Among the highlights: 80 percent believe truck drivers are safer than passenger vehicle drivers while only 7 percent believe truck drivers are more likely than passenger vehicle drivers to drive unsafely.

Furthermore, 90 percent of respondents believe passenger vehicle drivers are more likely to speed than truck drivers, and 74 percent of respondents think in accidents involving a car and a truck, the passenger vehicle driver is at fault.

Lawmakers: Medical trainers over-pushing apnea tests for truckers Land Line’s David Tanner recently reported that U.S. lawmakers are concerned that some organizations that train certified medical examiners are skirting the law by telling examiners to test truckers for sleep apnea.

In a letter to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in October, U.S. Reps. Larry Bucshon, R-Ind., and Dan Lipinski, D-Ill., refer to HR3095, a bill passed

by Congress and signed by the president in October 2013 that prohibits the FMCSA from “implementing or enforcing a requirement providing for the screening, testing or Continued on page 16 15

News treatment of individuals operating commercial motor vehicles for sleep disorders only if the requirement is adopted pursuant to the rulemaking proceeding.”

The lawmakers state that the language in the law is clear: There is to be no mandate or guidance for apnea testing without going through the formal rulemaking and public comment process.

“It has come to my attention, however, that organizations that provide training for certified medical examiners are circumventing HR3095,” the lawmakers stated in the letter addressed to acting FMCSA Administrator Scott Darling.

“Specifically, the instructions they are providing clearly indicate that examiners should follow the obstructive sleep apnea guidance originally published by FMCSA on April 20, 2012 (and subsequently rescinded on April 27, 2012).”

The FMCSA’s National Registry of Cer-

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tified Medical Examiners went live on May 21 of this year, requiring truckers to obtain their driver physicals and medical cards from a certified examiner.

According to Land Line, the official publication of the Owner-Operators Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) that since last spring many drivers that their medical examiners are ordering sleep tests based on a driver’s weight, body-mass index, neck size, overbite, snoring and other criteria.

Bucshon and Lipinski point out in their letter how some medical training organizations are associated with sleep labs.

The lawmakers state that a company called REM Sleep Labs out of Southern California provides “DOT Guidelines for sleep apnea” and it instructs examiners to order sleep tests based on a dozen criteria such as neck size or “family history of sleep apnea.”

The lawmakers say the FMCSA has a responsibility to fully vet the organizations that train the examiners and make sure everyone follows the directive of Congress.

Bucshon and Lipinski are urging the FMCSA to take steps to correct problems, including 1) communicate to all approved training organizations that examiners are not to be instructed to follow any specific steps with respect to sleep apnea testing and treatment; 2) instruct approved training organiza-

tions to remove all references to MRB, MCSAC and FMCSA recommendations on sleep apnea from their training materials; and 3) provide specific instructions to examiners who have already been trained to correct the previous training they received.

“It is imperative that FMCSA address these issues as soon as possible,” the lawmakers stated. “These faulty training courses are keeping qualified drivers off the road.

We would request a written response as to how FMCSA plans to address these issues and their progress in this endeavor.”

Feds seek to create registry of e-log manufacturers With electronic logging device requirements looming for truckers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is taking steps to make sure the manufacturers will meet specifications in anticipation of a final rule expected next year.

The agency announced Oct. 27 that it is seeking permission from the Office of Management and Budget to create a registry of technology vendors who make elogging devices.

If granted, the FMCSA will ask vendors to “self-certify” that their devices will meet specs proposed in a supplemental notice of Continued on page 20

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Alabama updates parts of its CDL skills test

News proposed rulemaking issued earlier this year.

The final specifications eventually will be detailed in a final rule. FMCSA has yet to release a timeline reflecting when a final rule may be issued.

The FMCSA published a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking on March 28 to help develop performance and design standards for devices that can log a trucker’s driving time while making sure shippers, receivers, dispatchers and brokers cannot use the devices to harass drivers.

The supplemental notice in March was a direct result of two actions – a U.S. Court decision from 2011 that prohibits the use of ELDs to harass drivers, and a 2012 highway bill passed by Congress that requires the FMCSA to issue a final regulation for e-logs.

FMCSA was forced to vacate its first elog rule in 2011 after industry groups challenged the administration in court claiming the rule was a form of driver harassment.

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The Alabama Dept. of Public Safety announced that it has made changes to its commercial driver license test to better reflect recent updates to the applicant manual. These changes went into effect Nov. 1, 2014.

According to DPS’s Cpl. Brian Duke with the agency’s driver’s license division, changes to the test were made according to the current manual dated April 2012.

Duke said notable changes were made to the pre-trip vehicle inspection (Sec. 11 in the manual) where a driver must perform all three air brake checks correctly in order to receive credit. If a driver fails to do any one part correctly it is scored as an automatic failure for the inspection test. Additions were also made to basic the vehicle skills portion of the test (Section 12), including a straight line backing test (fig. 12.1 in the manual); offset back/right (fig. 12.2); and Student driver maneuvers his rig through a gate obstacle. alley dock (fig. 12.5).

DPS warns that an applicant will be limited to the number of times they can exit the drivers’ seat to check vehicle position. For example, the maximum times an applicant may exit the seat are two instances during the alley dock and off-set backing exercises; and only one for the straight line backing exercise.

Lastly, if applicant tests in a non-fifth wheel combination vehicle, they will be restricted from driving a fifth wheel equipped combination vehicle.

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NTSB to FMCSA: Ban hands-free phone use Truck drivers should not use hands-free phones while driving, says the National Transportation Safety Board.

The board’s recommendation was one of several changes it wants the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to make in the wake of a 2013 truck-train crash that caused a derailment, hazmat fire and explosion. The crash occurred May 28, 2013, in Rosedale, Md., when a truck driver failed to make sure there was no train on the tracks he was crossing.

The driver was severely injured and several of the 15 cars that were knocked off the tracks contained hazardous material that burst into flames and exploded, damaging property as far as a half-mile away.

The Board found in its investigation that the driver, who made that crossing regularly, was in the habit of relying on the sound of a train’s horn to determine if it was coming.

The train engineer blew his horn three times as he approached the crossing but the driver said he did not hear it. Vegetation and the curve of the road made it hard for the driver to see if a train was approaching, but the board found that if he had stopped at the tracks he could have seen it coming.

One key contributing factor was that the

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driver was distracted by a call that came in on his hands-free phone just as he was approaching the tracks, the board said.

NTSB said the current FMCSA ban on drivers using hand-held phones does not go far enough.

“Current laws may mislead people to believe that hands-free is as safe as not using a phone at all,” said Acting Board Chairman Christopher Hart. “Our investigations have found over and over that distraction in any form can be dangerous behind the wheel.”

Several other factors contributed to the crash, the board said.

The trucking company, a new entrant called Alban Waste, had a long record of noncompliance with safety regulations – a record that should have triggered agency action.

Among other shortcomings, Alban did not maintain driver qualification files, did not have a complete drug and alcohol testing program and did not keep thorough track of driver hours.

The company and the agency went through several cycles of enforcement and corrective action, but the board found that the agency did not do enough.

“We continue to be concerned with FMCSA’s new-entrant program,” said Hart.

“Problem operators keep falling through the cracks.”

James Spann to deliver keynote address at SMMC holiday event Birmingham television personality and Chief Meteorologist for ABC 33/40 James Spann will deliver the keynote address at the ATA Safety and Maintenance Management Council’s James Spann annual holiday party set for Monday, Dec. 8 in Pelham, Ala. The event draws more than 200 industry professional from across the state and serves as a celebration of the safety council’s accomplishments for the year.

Also, officers for the upcoming year are elected. For more information call Brandie Norcross at 334-834-3983 or visit www.alabamatrucking.org.

The board recommended that the agency conduct a full compliance review on new entrants that fail a safety audit or a Continued on page 22

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Honor your safest and best employees with SMMC’s Annual Fleet Safety Awards

News

The Alabama Trucking Association’s Safety and Maintenance Management Council’s Annual Fleet Safety Awards are set for March 23, 2015 with a dinner and banquet at the Pelham Civic Complex in Pelham, Ala. These annual awards provide an excellent opportunity to emphasize your company’s commitment to safety and give your employees a pat on the back for their efforts. Showcasing Alabama’s safest fleets, drivers and industry professionals, the contest honors the state’s best fleets and several individual awards including: Fleet Safety Contest: Based on accident frequency, measured by the number of accidents per million miles in which your drivers were involved in 2013. Only accidents that occurred in Alabama and miles run in Alabama are considered in the computation.

Driver of the Year: Every ATA trucking company member has drivers who are deserving of recognition by their company, whether they win the contest or not. The prestige of simply being nominated goes a long way toward improved driver morale and retention. The winning driver is presented with a trophy and is invited to be our guest at the 2015 Annual Meeting in Sandestin, Florida.

Safety Professional of the Year: This award goes to the individual who, in the opinion of the judges, has done the most to promote highway safety within his/her company, community, state and the Alabama Trucking Association.

Maintenance Professional of the Year: This award is presented to the individual who effectively supervises the maintenance department of a member company while improving efficiencies and lowering maintenance costs.

Fleet Manager of the Year: This award is presented to the individual that has a proven track record in managing a fleet of drivers who consistently exceed expectations of the fleet as a whole.

An independent panel of judges is composed of employees from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Alabama Department of Public Safety. The judges are impressed by the number of nominations for professional awards, as well as the number of safety contest entries, so it is important that everyone is involved.

For more information call Brandie Norcross at 334-834-3983 or visit www.alabamatrucking.org.

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corrective action plan, or are issued an expedited action letter.

Another problem was that the driver had severe, untreated sleep apnea that likely affected his alertness, the board said. The driver did not disclose this on his medical exam forms, and his physician reportedly certified him to drive even though he knew about the sleep disorder.

The board recommended that the agency develop a way to tell medical examiners about violations FMCSA investigators have found that could result in medical disqualification.

The board also said that private rail crossings need more oversight.

“Efforts to improve safety at private grade crossings have been inadequate,” Hart said. “We need states, railroads, and landowners to address problems before serious collisions occur.”

FMCSA clarifies rule on hearingimpaired drivers Safety rules say that truck drivers must be able to adequately read and speak English, but that does not mean that hearing-impaired drivers who do not speak are barred from driving, said the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

In a guidance published in the October 1, 2014 Federal Register, the agency said it has heard from the National Association of the Deaf that some state licensing officials have told drivers who do not speak that they do not meet the English requirement.

The agency will exempt a hearing-impaired driver from its standards provided he can safely do the work. If an exempted driver cannot speak, but can read and write in English, he is qualified to drive, the agency said.

“This guidance us intended to address the perceived conflict between the exemptions and the manner in which FMCSA regulations are being applied to hearing impaired drivers,” the agency said.

National ATA’s TMC 2015 annual meeting to focus on fuel technology The American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council’s 2015 Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition, themed ‘Fueling the FuA LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2014

ATRI identifies top states for industry safety and enforcement performance The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the trucking industry’s not-for-profit research organization, today released a follow-up technical report to its previously released Enforcement Disparities study. In the new technical report, Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement – Top 10 High-Performance States, ATRI researchers identified the top 10 states that demonstrate superior safety and enforcement performance.

In this comparative analysis, ATRI researchers developed a weighted formula for identifying the “Top 10” high-performance states across 11 metrics highlighted in the Enforcement Disparities study. This analysis highlights the Best Practices of leading safeture,’ will be held February 16-19 at the Music City Center in Nashville, Tenn.

The event, which will be highlighted by important discussions about fuel economy standards, alternate fuels, asset utilization and tire deployment strategies, will be the most important meeting of the year for trucking professionals interested in fuel and equipment, as well as maintenance practices to improve the efficiency and profitability

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ty innovators in the enforcement community — providing direct benefits to both industry and enforcement partners.

ATRI’s analysis identified and rank-ordered the following states as the “Top 10” High-Performers: Connecticut Maryland Washington New Mexico Nevada California Rhode Island South Dakota Montana Iowa In addition, several of the “Top 10” states were also recognized as Top Tier states in ATRI’s 2005 and 2011 Crash Predictor studies. In the Crash Predictor studies, states were evaluated and ranked based on effective enforcement countermeasures of their fleets now and in the future.

“Each year, thousands of trucking professionals attend TMC’s annual meeting to learn the latest in trucking technology and maintenance practices,” said Carl Kirk, vice president of maintenance, information technology & logistics and TMC executive director, “and 2015 will be no different. With fleets more conscious than ever about the bottom line, getting the most out of your

relative to crash rate outcomes. The overlap of six states across the three lists not only validates the findings, but provides further evidence that certain states exemplify superior safety and enforcement performance.

“These 10 states epitomize what we would like to see in all 50 states in terms of commercial motor vehicle enforcement – a balanced approach that recognizes the importance of traffic enforcement and a focus on driver behaviors that have a relationship to truck crashes,” commented Annette Sandberg, former FMCSA Administrator and former Chief of the Washington State Patrol. Ms. Sandberg currently serves as a member of the ATRI Board of Directors. equipment is of paramount importance and TMC can help you do just that.”

Earn discounts on registration as a firsttime attendee or for registering before the early registration deadline of January 23.

More information on TMC’s 2015 Annual Meeting – as well as a calendar of future TMC events – for both registrants and exhibitors is available at http://tmc.trucking. org or by calling 703-838-1763.

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UPS expects holiday shipping to rise 11 percent UPS Inc. expects holiday shipping volume to rise 11 percent to 585 million packages from last year, enough packages to circle the earth 4.5 times.

UPS said seasonal hiring is under way to handle the increase and projects to reach about 95,000 workers by late November.

The company also is setting up 15 so-call-

ed “mobile delivery villages,” modular units with loading doors and connected conveyors.

Each village can dispatch between 60 and 90 additional vehicles.

“The holiday season is a major retail sales opportunity for our customers, and we have worked closely with many of our shippers to plan delivery volumes. Our objective is to ensure that all of our year-round business and retail shippers can take maximum advantage of expanded UPS capacity during this impor-

tant period,” Alan Gershenhorn, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, said in a statement.

UPS expects its peak delivery day to be Dec. 22, when more than 34 million packages worldwide are likely to be shipped worldwide.

Six days are likely to surpass last year’s single-day delivery record of 31 million packages. On a typical day, UPS delivers about 17 million packages.

State of the Industry Address: National ATA streamlines focus on industry safety, infrastructure Source: Heavy Duty Trucking’s www.truckinginfo.com American Trucking Associations President and CEO Bill Graves committed ATA to a focus on safety and improving the nation’s infrastructure in his annual “State of the Industry” address here Monday at the ATA Management Conference and Exhibition.

The state of the industry is certainly better than it was at last year’s MC&E in Orlando, and Graves said “the possibility for continued improvement outweighs the risk of slipping backwards.”

However, he said, “the crystal ball is murky” thanks to the lack of infrastructure investment, the driver shortage, and the uncertainty around the cost versus benefit of government regulations, said Graves, who just agreed to a contract extension with the federation to remain as ATA’s president and CEO, a job he has held since 2003.

Graves said a large part of why the industry is better off than it was a year ago was reorganization and refocusing by ATA on a few key areas.

Dave Osiecki was promoted to executive vice president with leadership responsibility for all ATA’s advocacy efforts.

“Placing command and control with Dave of how and why ATA formulates its policy, regulatory and legal positions, and then determining what resources need to be utilized … is at the heart of why this change was made.”

In addition, Jeff Mason was added as executive vice president for communications and image.

“It’s been apparent to me for some time that we were failing to fully coordinate our communication efforts and simply not providing the advocacy team the support they needed to be successful,” Graves said. “We also had both external and internal communications opportunities available to us that we simply didn’t pursue because of that old, ‘that’s just now how we do things’ mentality.”

Another part of the reorganization put Karla Hulett in place as executive vice president with responsibility for finance and operations, with the job of generating and collecting the revenue needed to do this, especially non-traditional, non-dues revenue.

That reorganization, Graves said, will help ATA put a greater emphasis on winning advocacy battles, “be more focused and strategic in which battles we fight and keep hammering on initiatives that make our industry safer.”

That means a new vision and mission statement, “a very understandable and functional road map for what ATA should aspire to be and how to get there.”

A key part of that is an elevated emphasis on safety. “Everything 24

we do, or try to do, on Capitol Hill somehow or another revolves around the issue of safety. We’ve recognized that, we’ve acknowledged that and now we’re going to embrace that fact in our planning efforts,” he said.

“This is not just a recommitment to safety, but an elevated game plan designed to make the entire trucking industry safer.”

“Now I don’t want anyone leaving here thinking I just said we’re planning to be in favor of every safety idea that raises its head — that’s not what this is about. What we’re going to do embrace safety in a more holistic way.”

Graves pointed to the industry’s drive to correct the hours-of-service rules as “a great template for our future efforts.”

Efforts, he said, that needed to extend to raising revenues to improve the nation’s infrastructure.

“Just below the banner of safety, this is the issue I view as our top priority,” Graves said.

“Everybody knows what we need to do, everybody knows how important it is to this country, but everyone wants someone else to pay for it,” Graves said. “Infrastructure is not free and it’s not cheap, and it’s not going to be repaired, be built and be expanded by osmosis. That’s why it’s so critical that our national leaders start leading on the issue and stop politically pandering and posturing – posturing that is having the very negative and unintended consequence of fooling Americans into believing that there really are ‘pennies from heaven.’”

Specifically, Graves called out conservatives in Congress supportive of cutting back the federal highway program and pushing the responsibility to the states.

“The most damaging element of that type of approach is those members of Congress who have been suggesting that ‘devolving’ the program to the states is the answer. Devolution is simply code for ‘passing the buck’ or in this case ‘passing the responsibility for raising a buck’ to someone else,” he said.

While congressional efforts to improve highway safety and the nation’s infrastructure were the focus of many ATA efforts, Graves said the industry was also threatened by the specter of overregulation by the federal government.

“What challenges our industry is not the Congress. What challenges our industry – for at least the next two years – is the power of the president and his administration to mis-regulate our industry,” Graves said. “Regulations, per se, are not bad; in fact there are a number of things we think the government should do to make the trucking industry safer and more profitable.”

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“We expect the additional operating days and expanded capacity to smooth out what is expected to be record volume. UPS also has nearly 50 additional sorting shifts around the country in our hubs and delivery centers to provide the increased processing capacity and flexibility to handle more packages,” Gershenhorn said.

Coleman World Group awards $22,000 college scholarships Coleman World Group recently awarded the Virginia M. Coleman Memorial Scholarship to 22 students attending higher education institutions across six states and one U.S. territory.

To qualify for the scholarship, students must have been a son, daughter, or grandchild to a Coleman World Group employee. Since the inception of the scholarship, Coleman World Group has given $161,000 to deserving children and grandchildren of its associates. The scholarship recipients’ education aspirations range from two year technical degrees such as welding up through difficult medical programs at prestigious U.S. medical schools.

The Virginia M. Coleman Memorial

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Scholarship honors longtime matriarch of the Coleman family and Coleman World Group.

“I know that my grandmother would be proud that she is being honored through the education of our company and country’s future,” said Jeff Coleman, CEO of Coleman World Group and who recently finished a term with the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. “With the continuing inflation towards the cost of education, we feel that this is one great way to give back to our associates and their loved ones.”

Tool allows fleets to gauge how their driver pay stacks up against others American Trucking Associations will offer a benchmarking tool to let carriers knew exactly where they stand with the upcoming release of the 2014 Driver Compensation Study.

As previewed at the recent ATA MC&E, the study is a comprehensive evaluation of the way fleets pay their drivers, including details ranging from base packages to whether or not companies lump together vacation days and sick days as part their drivers’ PTO. Laurel Leitner, a research assistant in the ATA economics department, noted that she came to ATA earlier this year, and has a back-

ground that includes research related to executive compensation.

“I thought performance-based pay for executives was complicated, but I learned very quickly that driver pay was equally as complex,” she said.

Because of the complexity and the level of detail sought in the study, the process was “time consuming and challenging,” for participants.

Still, the survey covered 125 fleets and 135,000 drivers, a “great response,” Leitner said.

They were grouped into four “buckets,” and ATA developed a company, employee driver, and employee benefits profile. Basepay, bonus and incentive data was split out further: private fleets – van and non-van; TL – trailer type and non-drayage independent contractor; LTL – region, then OTR and local; and drayage – employee driver and independent contractor The median age for the U.S. labor force is 42, Leitner pointed out, noting that an aging driver population is something the industry continues to struggle with.

As for base pay, “as you’d expect, there is quite a range,” Leitner said: The 2013 median pay for national, irregular route van drivers was just over $46,000 compared to a Continued on page 26

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private fleet van drivers at $73,000.

Somewhat surprising, however, the survey found that driver pay isn’t just based on mileage, with 3 in 4 fleets paying drivers in multiple ways.

The study looks at that “diversity” in base pay and goes into further detail with base pay rates for inexperienced employee drivers and those with 3 years’ experience, and discusses how many years on average it takes to reach max base pay.

ATA also investigates bonus pay incentives across the four segments and goes into great detail on benefit plans.

FMCSA makes first move toward attempt to raise insurance requirements The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently launched on an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking that lays out the agency’s consideration to seek increased minimum insurance required of motor carriers.

Land Line reported that the agency submitted the ANPRM to the Office of Management and Budget on Oct. 1 – a day later

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than the agency projected. However, FMCSA projects the advanced notice will clear OMB on Oct. 12 and to publish in the Federal Register on Oct. 22. That’s a pace far faster than the typical 30- to 60day time period allotted for OMB review.

While the abstract of the ANPRM at OMB is void of any information, the agency has been toying with the idea of raising the minimum insurance requirements since earlier in the year when it released a report on financial responsibility.

In the report the agency noted that the current minimum insurance requirements of $750,000 for general freight and $1 million for hazmat were set in 1985. The report states that minimum insurance for general freight coverage would be $1.7 million now factoring in the cost of medical inflation, based on the medical consumer price index.

In the agency’s report on significant rulemakings, the agency did not state it was seeking to raise the minimum insurance levels.

Rather the agency reports it is “considering” a rulemaking.

“The FMCSA announces that it is considering a rulemaking to increase the minimum levels of financial responsibility for motor carriers, including liability coverage for bodily injury or property damage in the case of freight and passenger motor carri-

ers,” the report states.

Trucking groups, including the OwnerOperator Independent Drivers Association have been opposed to raising the minimum insurance levels and to the way some of the conclusions were reached in a recent report being used by the agency to justify an increase.

The report does confirm that the number of crashes costing more than the current $750,000 minimum liability insurance for interstate operations is very small, a stance that OOIDA has taken since the first mention of increasing insurance minimums was raised.

National ATA elects North Carolinian as new chairman The American Trucking Associations Board of Directors recently elected Duane Long, chairman of Longistics, Raleigh, N.C., as the federation’s 69th chairman.

“I am honored that my fellow ATA members have shown tremendous faith in me to trust me with such a remarkable opportunity,” Long said. “Our industry and our association are both poised for great things in the coming years and I’m humbled to have been chosen to lead ATA through this time.”

“I have great faith in Duane and tremen-

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dous confidence that he will be an outstanding chairman,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “His energy and enthusiasm will serve ATA and our industry very well this year.”

Long replaces Phil Byrd, president of Bulldog Hiway Express, Charleston, S.C., as chairman.

“This past year has been the experience of a lifetime for me and my family,” Byrd said.

“I’d like to thank the ATA staff, the state association executives and my fellow industry executives for all you’ve done to make these past 12 months so remarkable and to wish Duane the best of luck. I believe he’ll be an excellent representative of our industry.”

Darling vows to defend 34-hour restart it in place Transport Topics’ Eugene Mulero writes that acting administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Scott Darling says he is committed to keeping the agency’s hours-of-service rule intact.

“There is still a lot of misinformation out there about the HOS rule that went into effect in July 2013,” Darling said in the exclusive interview with Transport Topics in October.

“We know from research and experience

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that a fatigued driver is a dangerous driver.

That’s why we remain concerned about attempts to increase, even temporarily, the number of maximum hours a truck driver could work from today’s 70-hour maximum,” said Darling, who was tapped for the position after Anne Ferro left the agency.

Darling told TT the main challenge during his tenure is to avoid a suspension of the restart provision of the HOS rule.

During the post-election lame-duck session, transportation observers say they expect Congress to consider legislation that would suspend for a year the restrictions to the 34hour restart provision. The proposal also would require the agency to justify to Congress the rule’s safety claims.

Despite FMCSA’s objections, the proposal has considerable bipartisan support in the House of Representatives and Senate.

Darling also explored the major items on the agency’s agenda, such as the issuance of a final rule on electronic logging devices and the implementation of the Unified Registration System, an online streamlining of the agency’s registration process that will take effect Oct. 23, 2015.

“We will continue to build upon the progress that has been made to raise the bar to enter the motor carrier industry, maintain high safety standards to remain in the indus-

try, and remove high-risk carriers, drivers and service providers from operation,” Darling he told TT. There’s broad speculation the White House will nominate a full-time administrator after the November midterm elections. Darling declined to say whether he is being considered for the permanent role.

ATA member appointed to new small business commission Last September, Gov. Robert Bentley announced that his office was creating a new advisory council to address the needs and concerns of small business owners and entrepreneurs.

The Alabama Holmes Small Business Commission serves as an advisory body in formulating policies, encouraging innovation, and discussing issues critical to the economic growth of small businesses. The Commission promotes policies to assist new business startups and the expansion of existing businesses.

Continued on page 28

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The Commission is composed of Alabamabased small and independent business owners.

For the purposes of this Commission, the definition of a small business will be 50 or fewer employees. Gov. Bentley also created the Alabama Small Business Advisory Committee to provide technical and informational resources to the Commission.

Rosemary Elebash, State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business was tapped to chair the commission and advisory committee.

The group’s first meeting was held in October, and the commission will be asked to present an annual report to the Governor at the end of each calendar year beginning December 2015.

The governor asked several key business associations, including the Alabama Trucking Association, to nominate individuals to represent each sector on the commission. ATA board of directors nominated Beau Holmes, president of the Montgomery, Ala.-based Quantum Logistics, LLC. Holmes will serve with 25 other business leaders for a two-year term.

Holmes is resident of Montgomery, Ala.

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and a graduate of Auburn University and the Jones School of Law. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are approximately 400,000 small businesses in Alabama. In 2011, more than 5,000 jobs were created by small businesses. Small businesses create an estimated 75 percent of all jobs in Alabama.

“Small businesses are the engines of job growth and an integral part of the framework that makes up the American economic system,” Gov. Bentley said. “Alabama’s continued economic progress depends on the prosperity of our small businesses. The creation of the Alabama Small Business Commission will encourage innovation, discuss issues critical to economic growth of small business and promote policies to assist new business start-ups and expansion of existing businesses.”

ALLiEd nEWs Linn completes dealer academy course Andrew Linn, a customer solutions manager for Southland International Trucks, Inc., recently graduated from the American Truck Dealer (ATD) Academy in McLean,

Va. The year-long program consists of classroom sessions at ATD headquarters combined with in-dealership assignments and covers all segments of dealership operations.

“The Academy has provided me an opportunity to associate with representatives of other truck manufacturers as well as International dealer representatives,” said Linn. “It has given me a chance to better understand various departments throughout the dealership. After each session we were able to return to the dealership and implement the processes and actions to help maximize the potential of our team so the end result is a great customer experience.”

Linn, a 2007 graduate of the University of Alabama, worked for Navistar, Inc. (manufacturer of International Trucks) for three years in Chicago, Ill. As a vocational sales manager, he worked with dealers and municipalities through the Midwest. As Customer Solutions Manager for Southland, he is responsible for working on a business-to-business basis to utilize all the tools and programs offered by Southland to increase the efficiency and cost savings for clients using trucks in their operations.

Originally from Tuscaloosa, he and his wife Tiffany now live in Homewood, Ala.

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Four Star Freightliner showcases remodeled Montgomery branch

2015 Unified Carrier Registration is open

Nearly 200 people attended Four Star Freightliner’s grand reopening and open house event October 28 to celebrate the dealer’s remodeled Montgomery, Ala. branch.

Jerry Kocan Company president Jerry Kocan and staff welcomed customers, vendors, local dignitaries and industry representatives for a ribbon cutting ceremony and catered lunch. The dealer also set up the lot trade show style to showcase some of Freightliner’s latest products and features.

Trucks displayed, included the Western Star 5700, which is the same type truck used in the fourth installment of the Transformers movie franchise. Other displays included a CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) truck and fuel tank, and Freightliner’s Cascadia Evolution, which is an advanced highway truck that, according to the manufacturer, offers increased engine efficiency, advanced aerodynamics, fleet management tools to deliver up to a 7-percent increase in fuel economy over its first-generation EPA 2010-compliant Cascadia model.

The 2015 Unified Carrier Registration is now open and due. Fee schedule remains the same as that of 2014 and enforcement begins Jan. 1, 2015.

The UCR Agreement applies to the following types of operations of passenger and property in interstate commerce: motor carrier, motor private carrier, freight forwarder, broker, or leasing company.

All registrants are required to submit an annual filing of information required within the UCR Agreement. In many states, the penalty for failure to file is much higher than the fee, so motor carriers with trucks registered need to pay before the end of the year.

Fees are determined by number of trucks.

Fees range from $76 for less than two trucks to more than $73,000 for 1,000 or more trucks.

Motor carriers can now register and pay for their Unified Carrier Registration using a smart phone at any time. This mobile version also allows enforcement officers to verify the registration on the road anytime, anywhere.

It’s available through the UCR official depository located in Indiana.

To get the mobile app, simply visit Indi-

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2014

ana’s UCR website while using a mobile device. The mobile version will automatically pop up.

The following 41 states currently participate: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

If your base state does not participate in the program, you are required to pay your UCR fee through a neighboring participating state.

Highway congestion costs expected to rise Congestion on the nation’s highways will cost Americans $276 billion annually by 2020, according to a new report from the BlueGreen Alliance, a coalition of labor and environmental groups.

“Congestion affects commuters as well as companies transporting goods across the country,” said the Oct. 24 report, a call to the

29

Roundup T Ru c k i n g i n d u s T Ry

nation to invest in its infrastructure from roads to schools to water systems.

The Alliance cited the American Society of Civil Engineers 2013 report card that said 42% of American’s major urban highways are congested.

“Congestion in 2011 in urban regions caused Americans to spend 5.5 billion extra hours in traffic — costing $121 billion, wasting 2.8 billion gallons of fuel and pumping 25 [metric million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent] into the atmosphere during congestion” the alliance said.

The American Transportation Research Institute, which tracks trends in the trucking industry, has made similar findings.

Traffic congestion in 2013 alone cost the trucking industry more than $9.2 billion in operational expenses, ATRI said in its April congestion report.

“Delay totaled over 141 million hours of lost productivity, which equated to over 51,000 truck drivers sitting idle for a working year,” ATRI said.

The BlueGreen Alliance consists of the United Steelworkers, the Sierra Club and 13 other labor and environmental groups.

The alliance report said repairing the nation’s infrastructure could create 2.7 million jobs and increase the national Gross Domestic Product by $377 billion.

While the need to repair and replace infrastructure has been mounting in recent years, public investment has fallen “precipitously,” to its lowest level since the late 1970s, the report said.

“America has more than 4 million miles of public roads facilitating the movement of people and goods,” the report said.

“Maintenance, as well as capital investment for improved conditions and performance is needed to sustain this crucial network.”

—Michele Fuetsch, Transport Topics

Trucking operational costs on the rise The American Transportation Research Institute says findings of its 2014 update to An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking show that costs are rising. The research, which identifies operational costs from 2008 through 2013 derived directly from fleets’ financial and operational data, provides motor carriers with an important high-level benchmarking tool and government agencies with real world data for future infrastructure improvement analyses.

The average marginal cost per mile in 2013 was $1.68, an increase from the $1.63 found in 2012. After the Great Recession and a sharp decline in fuel prices resulted in decreased industry costs between 2008 and 2009, costs steadily rose through 2010 and 2011, with a slight decline in 2012. The increase in average operating costs in 2013 is attributed to the ongoing driver shortage and the resulting wage increases by motor carriers to ensure retention of experienced, qualified drivers.

“Carriers have experienced significant increases in equipment and labor costs, as well as second-level line items like tolls and health care benefits. Given tightening capacity and strengthening freight demand, ATRI’s operational costs report enables carriers to evaluate business opportunities wisely,” commented Andrew Boyle, Executive Vice President of Boyle Transportation and a member of ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee.

Since its original publication in 2008, the Operational Costs of Trucking reports continue to be one of the most requested ATRI reports among industry stakeholders. In addition to average costs per mile, ATRI’s report documents average costs per hour and includes cost breakouts by industry sector. Also new this year, ATRI is publishing a one-page fact sheet with the key findings of the report.

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Troy, AL Mark Knotts 800-807-1412

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Nashville, TN Sean Dickerson 800-600-0991 A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2014

“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 2014

LTR/PLQ ________________

31

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Annual Dues $420 480 540 660

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

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

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

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

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

32

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2014

ATA

nEW mEmbERs & EvEnTs

New Members (as of 11-10-2014) Adkins Trucking LLC 8316 Old Tuscaloosa Rd Parrish, AL 35580 Phone (205) 522-5971 Fax (205) 686-0411 harleyadkins@yahoo.com Mr. Chris Adkins

Collmar Express, LLC 506 Pine Circle Thomasville, AL 36784 Phone (334) 636-9471 Fax (334) 636-9471 collmarexpress@yahoo.com Mr. William J. Collmar, Sr.

Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. 111 Congressional Blvd. Suite 500 Carmel, IN 46032 Phone (317) 452-7413 Fax (317) 452-7360 jsilvey@baldwinandlyons.com Mr. Jeffrey Silvey

Highly Trusted Transport, Inc 321 Meridian Ridge Ct Tallahassee, FL 32312 Phone (850) 597-8148 Fax (800) 517-7647 highlytrusted78@gmail.com Mr. Zack Howard

Chilly’s LLC 25275 Friendship Road Daphne, AL 36526 Phone (251) 621-1186 Mr. Steve Seward

J. Brandt Recognition 2816 W. Lancaster Ave Fort Worth, TX 76107 Phone (800) 435-5749 Fax (817) 877-0516

alicia.brandt@jbrandt.com Ms. Alicia Brandt Lytx, Inc 8911 Balboa Ave San Diego, CA 92123 Phone (858) 430-4000 Fax (858) 430-4001 csilver@lytx.com Mr. Chris Silver

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

Tri Lex Transport LLC 401 Paul Road Montgomery, AL 36108 Phone (334) 676-1645 Fax (334) 676-1675 lee@trilextransport.com Mr. Lee Whatley

Southeastern Logistics, LLC 3197 Co Rd 6618 Banks, AL 36005

D V E R T I S I N G

I

N D E X

ADVERTISER

PG. NO.

PH. NO.

Pivotal LNG

13

(713) 300-5116

www.pivotallng.com

ATA WCSIF

BC

(334) 834-7911

www.atacompfund.org

The Baxter Agency

26

(800) 873-8494

www.baxteragency.com

Bell & Co.

25

(501) 753-9700

bellandcompany.net

Carrier Transicold South

17

(205) 328-7278

www.trucktrailer.carrier.com

Great West Casualty Co.

27

(800) 228-8053

www.gwccnet.com

Greenbush Logistics

16

(877) 585-4749

www.greenbushlogistics.com

Infiniti-i

28

(205) 585-3895

Ahicks0604@bellsouth.net

International Trucks

IFC

(800) 844-4102

www.navistar.com

Ira Phillips

21

(800) 673-6256

www.iraphillips.com

Johnson Locklin

20

(251) 947-3015

www.johnson-locklin.com

J.J. Keller

8

(888) 473-4638 ext. 7892

Nextran Truck Center

3

(800) 292-8685

www.nextrancorp.com

Palomar Insurance

22

(800) 489-0105

www.palomarins.com

Regions Insurance

30

(800) 807-1412

www.regionsinsurance.com

36-37

(205) 849-4288

www.thompsontractor.com

Truckworx Kenworth

9

(800) 444-6170

www.truckworx.com

Turner & Hamrick

29

(888) 385-0186

www.turnerhamrick.com

18-19

(205) 755-2610

www.thomasoil.com

Thompson Cat

WH Thomas Oil Co. A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2014

Stephens Insurance LLC 111 Centers Street Little Rock, AR 72201 Phone (601) 605-5681 Fax (601) 605-5680 tburwell@stephens.com Mr. Taylor Burwell

Preferred Precision Group P. O. Box 1848 Pell City, AL 35125 Phone (205) 338-4148 Fax (888) 704-6959 Mr. Keith Pressley

A

Alabama Trucker (AT), the official publication of the Alabama Trucking Association (ATA), is an award-winning trade publication highlighting the Association's activities while documenting the business environment of the day.

AT is published quarterly and distributed to more than 2,500 trucking executives, regulatory officials, and political figures.

Want to reach decision makers at more than 1,500 Alabama-based trucking firms? Consider this: Advertising in AT reaches the most concentrated readership of trucking professionals in the state. Our rates are affordable, but on top of that, your helping ATA send positive messages about one of the state's largest employers.

Phone (334) 243-5284 Fax (334) 243-4063 joe@selllc.com Mr. Joe Senn

WEB ADDRESS

www.jjkellermobile.com

33

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

Benton & Parker Insurance Services (770) 536-8340 www.bentonandparker.com

Alabama Trucking Assn.’s Buyer’s Guide lists those companies that have taking an active role in supporting Caribou Insurance Agency, Inc. Alabama’s trucking industry by becoming members of the Association. We ask that each time you plan a (205) 822-7577 purchase that you consult this guide and give ATA members the opportunity to gain your business. These www.caribouins.com companies proudly support your association and deserve your support, as well.

ADVERTISING/PUBLISHING Randall-Reilly Business Media & Information (205) 349-2990 www.rrpub.com The Trucking Summit (917) 502-0139 www.truckingsummit.com BUS SALES & SERVICE Southland International Trucks, Inc. (205) 942-6226 www.southlandtrucks.com

ENGINE MANUFACTURERS Cummins Mid-South, LLC (901) 488-8033 www.cumminsmidsouth.com Thompson/Caterpillar (205) 849-4365 www.thompsontractor.com Westport HD div. of Westport Innovations, Inc. (251) 635-7143 www.westport.com

Transportation South, Inc. (205) 663-2287 www.thebuscenter.com

EQUIPMENT LEASING H.E.C. Leasing, LLC (615) 471-9300 www.hecleasing.com

Ward International Trucks, LLC (251) 433-5616 www.wardintltrucks.com

KLLM/Equipment Solutions LLC (205) 515-1478 www.equipmentsolution.com

CHEMICAL PRODUCTS Rushing Enterprises, Inc. (334) 693-3318 www.rushingenterprises.com

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

Southland International Trucks, Inc. COMMUNICATIONS/ELECTRONICS (205) 942-6226 www.southlandtrucks.com CarrierWeb LLC (770) 289-8005 Star Leasing Co. www.carrierweb.com (205) 763-1280 www.starleasing.com J.J. Keller & Assoc., Inc. (920) 722-2848 Transport Enterprise Leasing LLC www.jjkellerservices.com (423) 463-3390 www.transportenterpriseleasing.com Omnitracs, Inc. (770) 232-9541 www.omnitracs.com EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING BigBee Steel PeopleNet (256) 383-7322 www.bigbee.com (888) 346-3486 www.peoplenetonline.com Eaton Corp./Roadranger Field Rand McNally Marketing (334) 398-1410 (501) 835-1585 www.roadranger.com www.randmcnally.com SmartDrive Systems (858) 225-5550 www.smartdrive.net

Phillips Industries (706) 202-5348 www.phillipsind.com

Star Truck Parts (205) 324-4681

Cottingham and Butler (563) 587-5521 www.cottinghambutler.com

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

Farris Evans Insurance Agency, Inc. (901) 274-5424 www.farrisevans.com

Thompson/Caterpillar (205) 849-4365 www.thompsontractor.com W.W. Williams (205) 252-9025 (334) 279-6083 www.wwwilliams.com

Great West Casualty Co. (865) 670-6573 www.gwccnet.com

Hudgens Insurance, Inc. (334) 289-2695 ESTATE AND BUSINESS PLANNING Christian & Small LLP Interstate Motor Carriers/Capacity (205) 795-6588 Agency, LLC www.csattorneys.com (251) 490-3190 FINANCIAL SERVICES BancorpSouth Equipment Finance (205) 422-7111 www.bxsequipmentfinance.com Comdata 615-376-6917 www.comdata.com Electronic Funds Source LLC (615) 777-4619 www.efsllc.com GE Capital (770) 960-6307 www.ge.com People’s Capital & Leasing Corp.

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

(205) 664-9374 www.financialfederal.com PNC Financial Services Group (251) 441-7286 www.pnc.com

Renasant Bank EQUIPMENT PARTS/ACCESSORIES (334) 301-5955 Dana www.renasantbank.com (734) 516-8032 www.dana.com ServisFirst Bank (205) 949-3433 Transportation Support, Inc. Delco Remy www.servisfirstbank.com (205) 833-5855 (205) 515-7330 www.transportationsupport.com Wells Fargo Equipment Finance (314) 374-2165 Dothan Tarpaulin Products, Inc. EDUCATION & TRAINING (800) 844-8277 www.wellsfargo.com J.J. Keller & Assoc., Inc. www.dothantarp.com INSURANCE (920) 722-2848 American Claims Service, Inc. www.jjkellerservices.com Imperial Supplies LLC (205) 669-1177 (800) 558-2808 JP Transportation Safety Consulting, LLC www.imperialsupplies.com Aon Risk Solutions (205) 329-8182 (501) 374-9300 (205) 945-8550 Kinedyne Corp. www.aon.com www.jptsc.com (334) 365-2919 www.kinedyne.com Aronov Insurance, Inc. Transportation Safety Services (205) 414-9575 (251) 661-9700 Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems www.aronovinsurance.com www.transportationsafetyservices.com 334/798-0080 www.arvinmeritor.com Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. Trucking Partners, LLC (317) 452-7413 (256) 737-8788 Metro Trailer Repair Co., Inc. www.baldwinandlyons.com www.truckingpartners.com (205) 323-2877 www.metrotrailer.net BancorpSouth Insurance Services USA Driver-s, Inc. (334) 272-1200 (205) 661-0712 NAPA Auto Parts www.bxsi.com www.usadrivers.com (205) 510-2900 DRIVER STAFFING TransForce, Inc. (205) 916-0259 www.transforce.com

Vertical Alliance Group, Inc. (903) 792-3866 www.lmstrucking.com

First Guard Insurance Company (941) 485-6210 www.1stguard.com

Paccar Parts/Kenworth (206) 898-5541 www.kenworth.com

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

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

BB & T Insurance Services (912) 201-4706

York Risk Services Group (205) 581-9283 www.yorkrsg.com MEDICAL/DRUG & ALCOHOL SERVICES Alabama Specialty Clinic (256) 736-1460 www.ascoccupationalhealth.com Carlisle Medical, Inc. (251) 344-7988 www.carlislemedical.com Employers Drug Program Mgmt., Inc. (205) 326-3100 www.edpm.com ErgoScience, Inc. (205) 879-6447 www.ergoscience.com J.J. Keller & Assoc., Inc. (920) 722-2848 www.jjkellerservices.com Safety First-Div. of Behavioral Health Systems (205) 443-5450 www.bhs-inc.com

Johnson-Locklin & Associates (205) 980-8008 www.johnson-locklin.com

PETROLEUM PRODUCTS Blu (Transfuels LLC) (251) 421-5757 www.blulng.com

J.R. Prewitt & Associates, Inc. (205) 397-5118 www.jrprewitt.com

Clean Energy Fuels (423) 341-1779

The Kennion Group, Inc. (205) 969-1155 www.kennion.com Liberty Mutual Group (804) 380-5169 www.libertymutual,com Liberty Truck Insurance (205) 352-2598 Lyon Fry Cadden Insurance Agency, Inc.

Corridor Clean Fuels, LLC (256) 894-0098 Davison Fuels & Oil (251) 544-4511 GAIN Clean Fuel – Div. of US Oil (804) 291-7892 www.gainfuel.com Green Buffalo Fuel (716) 768-0611

(251) 473-4600 www.lyonfrycaden.com

Jack Green Oil Co., Inc. (256) 831-1038

Marvin Johnson & Associates, Inc. (812) 372-0841 www.mjai.com

Kimbro Oil Company (615) 320-7484 www.kimbrooil.com

McGriff, Siebels & Williams, Inc. (205) 252-9871 www.mcgriff.com

Major Oil Company, Inc. (334) 263-9070 www.unitedfoodandfuel.com

Joe Morten & Sons, Inc. (865) 392-3844 www.joemorten.com

Pivotal LNG (404) 783-3550 www.pivotallng.com

S. S. Nesbitt (205) 262-2620 www.ssnesbitt.com

Slidell Oil (334) 262-7301 www.slidelloil.com

Palomar Insurance Corp.

(334) 270-0105 www.palomarinsurance.com

The McPherson Companies, Inc. (888) 802-7500 www.mcphersonoil.com

Regions Insurance, Inc. (501) 661-4880 www.regions.com

Trillium CNG (678) 358-1365 www.trilliumcng.com

Regions Insurance (334) 808-9441 www.regionsinsurance.com

W.H. Thomas Oil Co., Inc. (205) 755-2610 www.whthomasoil.com

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

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Accounting Firms: Aldridge, Borden & Co. (334) 834-6640 www.aldridgeborden.com

Stephens Insurance LLC (601) 605-5681 www.stephens.com Trans Con Assurance, LTD (205) 978-7070 Turner & Hamrick L.L.C. (334) 566-7665 www.turnerhamrick.com

Katz, Sapper & Miller, LLP (317) 580-2068 www.ksmcpa.com Attorneys: Adams and Reese LLP (205) 250-5091 www.adamsandreese.com Austill, Lewis & Pipkin, P.C. (205) 870-3767 www.maplaw.com

(as of 11/17/2014) Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Help, Inc. Provider of PrePass Berkowitz, P.C. (931) 520-7170 (205) 328-0480 www.prepass.com www.bakerdonelson.com J. Brandt Recognition Ball, Ball, Matthews & Novak, P.A. (800) 435-5749 334-387-7680 www.jbrandt.com www.ball-ball.com J.J. Keller & Assoc., Inc. Carr, Allison, Pugh, Howard, Oliver & (920) 722-2848 Sisson, P.C. www.jjkellerservices.com (205) 822-2006 www.carrallison.com Jeffers Trucking, Inc. (205) 808-1112 Christian & Small, LLP (205) 795-6588 JP Transportation Safety www.csattorneys.com Consulting, LLC (205) 329-8182 DeLashmet & Marchand, P.C. (205) 329-8183 (251) 433-1577 www.jptsc.com www.delmar-law.com Lytx, Inc. Ferguson, Frost, Moore & Young, LLP (838) 430-4000 (205) 879-8722 www.lytx.com www.ffdlaw.com McLeod Software Fisher & Phillips, LLP (205) 823-5100 (404) 231-1400 www.mcleodsoftware.com www.laborlawyers.com Motor Carrier Safety Consulting Friedman, Dazzio, Zulanas & (205) 871-4455 Bowling, P.C. (205) 278-7000 Pegasus TransTech & ACS Advertising www.friedman-lawyers.com (801) 349-2433 www.pegasustranstech.com Hand Arendall LLC (251) 432-5511 Power South Energy Cooperative www.handarendall.com (334) 427-3207 www.powersouth.com Hill, Hill, Carter, Franco, Cole & Black, P.C. Preferred Risk Services (334) 834-7600 (334) 836-0358 www.hillhillcarter.com www.premployerinc.com James M. Sizemore, Jr. (256) 409-1985 McDowell Knight Roedder & Sledge, LLC (251) 432-5300 www.mcdowellknight.com Porterfield, Harper, Mills,Motlow & Ireland PA (205) 980-5000 www.phm-law.com Starnes Davis Florie LLP (205) 868-6000 www.starneslaw.com Webster, Henry, Lyons, White, Bradwell & Black, P.C. (334) 264-9472 www.websterhenry.com Zieman, Speegle, Jackson & Hoffman LLC (251) 694-1700 www.ziemanspeegle.com Other Services: Ahern & Associates LTD (602) 242-1030 www.ahern-LTD.com Alaplex Management, Inc./APLS, LLC (205) 871-0230 BTI Transportation Services, Inc. (205) 242-6908 C & C Graphics (256) 727-5049 Delta Distributors, LLC (334) 222-3671 Direct Chassislink (704) 571-5408 www.chassislink.com Drivewyze (780) 461-3355 www.drivewyze.com George L. Edwards & Associates (334) 745-5166

Carrier Transicold South (404) 968-3130 www.ctsouth.com

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

Nextran Truck Corporation (205) 841-4450 www.nextrancorp.com

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

Equipment Logistics, Inc. (256) 739-9280

Peterbilt Motors Co. (615) 208-1800 www.peterbilt.com

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 Lazzari Truck Repair, Inc. (251) 626-5121 www.lazzaritruckrepair.com Metro Trailer Repair Co., Inc. (205) 323-2877 www.metrotrailer.net Rowe Management Corp.

(205) 486-9235 www.rowemachinery.com Star Leasing Co. (205) 763-1280 www.starleasing.com Thompson/Caterpillar (205) 849-4365 www.thompsontractor.com

W.W. Williams (205) 252-9025 (334) 279-6083 Spectrum Environmental Services, Inc. www.wwwilliams.com (205) 664-2000 TIRE DEALERS & MANUFACTURERS www.specenviro.com Best One Tire & Service (615) 207-9079 Tax2290.com/ThinkTrade Inc. www.bestonetire.com (866) 245-3918 www.tax2290.com Bridgestone Commercial Solutions (770) 317-5777 TMW Systems, Inc. www.trucktires.com (216) 831-6606 www.tmwsystems.com Butler Industrial Tire Center, Inc. (334) 376-0178 Todd & Sons (334) 794-0111 Columbus Tire Co., Inc. (706) 321-8133 Transportation and Logistical www.columbustireco.com Services, Inc (205) 226-5500 www.tlsincorp.com McGriff Tire Co. (256) 739-0710 Transportation Billing Solutions, LLC www.mcgrifftire.com (205) 788-4000 McGriff Treading Co., Inc. Transportation Compliance (256) 734-4298 www.mcgriffindustries.com Services, USA (228) 872-7160 www.dottrucksafety.com Michelin North America (864) 201-6177 Transportation Safety Services www.michelintruck.com (251) 661-9700 www.transportationsafetyservices.com Snider Fleet Solutions (404) 361-0130 Trucking Partners, LLC www.snidertire.com (256) 737-8788 www.truckingpartners.com Wilks Tire & Battery Service, Inc. (256) 878-0211 Real Estate: www.wilkstire.com Mary Lou’s Team RE/MAX, Inc. (205) 566-5911 Yokohama Tire Corp. www.marylousteam.com (317) 385-2611 www.yokohamatire.com Repairs: Big Moe Spring & Alignment of TRAILER DEALERS/ B’ham, Inc. MANUFACTURERS (205) 780-0290 C & C Trailers, Inc. www.bigmoespring.com (334) 897-2202 Birmingham Frame & Alignment, LLC Dorsey Trailer (205) 322-4844 (334) 897-2525 birminghamframeandalignment.com www.dorseytrailer.net Carl Carson Truck Center, Inc. (205) 592-9966 www.carlcarson.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 www.transporttc.com Utility Trailer Sales of Alabama LLC (334) 794-7345 www.utilityalabama.com TRUCK DEALERS, MANUFACTURERS Action Truck Center (334) 794-8505 www.actiontruckcenter.com

Peterbilt of Montgomery & Birmingham LLC (800) 264-4555 www.peterbilttruckcenters.com Rush Truck Center-Mobile (251) 459-7300 www.rushofmobile.com Southland International Trucks, Inc. (205) 942-6226 www.southlandtrucks.com Taylor & Martin, Inc. (662) 262-4613 www.taylorandmartin.com Thompson/Caterpillar (205) 849-4365 www.thompsontractor.com Truckworx Kenworth - Birmingham (205) 326-6170 www.TRUCKWORX.com Truckworx Kenworth – Dothan (334) 712-4900 www.TRUCKWORX.com Truckworx Kenworth – Montgomery (334) 263-3101 www.TRUCKWORX.com Truckworx Kenworth – Mobile (251) 957-4000 www.TRUCKWORX.com Truckworx Kenworth – Huntsville (256) 308-0162 www.TRUCKWORX.com Truckworx Kenworth – Thomasville (334) 636-4380 www.TRUCKWORX.com

Birmingham Freightliner (205) 322-6695 www.birminghamfreightliner.com

Truckworx Kenworth – Tuscaloosa (205) 752-2886 www.TRUCKWORX.com

Capital Volvo Truck & Trailer (334) 262-8856 www.capitalvolvo.com

Volvo Trucks North America (336) 393-2975 www.volvotrucks.volvo.com

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

Ward International Trucks, LLC (251) 433-5616 www.wardintltrucks.com

Daimler Trucks NA LLC (404) 368-6860 www.freightlinertrucks.com

TRUCK & EQUIPMENT AUCTIONEERS Taylor & Martin, Inc. (662) 262-4613 www.taylorandmartin.com

Empire Truck Sales, LLC (601) 939-1000 www.empiretruck.com Fleetco, Inc. (615) 256-0600 www.fleetco.net Four Star Freightliner (334) 263-1085 (Montgomery) www.fourstarfreightliner.com Long Lewis Western Star (205) 428-6241 www.longlewistrucks.com Mack Trucks, Inc. (678) 201-4770 www.macktrucks.com

TRUCKSTOPS Love’s Travel Stops, Inc. (405) 202-4451 www.loves.com Oasis Travel Center, LLC (251) 960-1148 Pilot Flying J Centers (865) 207-3219 www.pilotflyingj.com TravelCenters of America/Petro Shopping Centers (678) 591-4675 www.tatravelcenters.com

Navistar (813) 382-3113 www.internationaldelivers.com

VEHICLE LEASING Southland International Trucks, Inc. (205) 942-6226 www.southlandtrucks.com

Neely Coble Co. (256) 350-1630 www.neelycoble.com

Ward International Trucks, LLC (251) 433-5616 www.wardintltrucks.com