Alabama Trucker, 4th Quarter 2018

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Growing demand for technicians Published quarterly by the Alabama Trucking Assn., P.O. Box 242337, Montgomery, AL 36124-2337. www.alabamatrucking.org or call 334-834-3983 PUBLISHER Ford Boswell fboswell@alabamatrucking.org EXECUTIVE EDITOR Frank Filgo ffilgo@alabamatrucking.org CREATIVE DIRECTOR Cindy Segrest csparks67@gmail.com PRODUCTION EDITORS Jane Nixon, Brandie Norcross CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tim Frazier, Dan Shell ADVERTISING Ford Boswell fboswell@alabamatrucking.org

PRESIDENT & CEO Frank Filgo, CAE DIRECTOR OF SAFETY & MEMBER SERVICES Tim Frazier, CDS EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT Jane Nixon DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Ford Boswell MANAGER OF MEMBER RELATIONS Brandie Norcross ATA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Steve Aronhalt, Dennis Bailey, Nic Balanis, Joe Black, Gary Bond, Jack Brim, Greg Brown, Will Bruser, Billy Campbell, Dan Carmichael, Fenn Church, J.J. Clemmons, Mark Coffman, Jeff Coleman, John Collier, Rodger Collins, Driscoll Colquett, Brent Cook, Chris Cooper, Jerry Davis, Ranny Davis, Amy DeFee, Joe Donald, Edmund Doss, Mack Dove, Wesley Dunn, Jack Fricks, Kevin Henderson, Beau Holmes, Steve Johnson, Brian Kilpatrick, Terry Kilpatrick, Jason King, Mark Knotts, Jerry Kocan, Drew Linn, Hunter Lyons, Jeff McGrady, Barry McGriff, Bruce MacDonald, Tom McLeod, Rollins Montgomery, Buck Moore, E.H. Moore, Jr., Ross Neely, Jr., Tommy Neely, Butch Owens, David Padgett, Clay Palm, Kelly Robinson, Kevin Savoy, Bill Scruggs, Danny Smith, Ronnie Stephenson, Steve Stinson, Paul Storey, Harold Sumerford, Jr., Tim Tucker, Bill Ward, Bo Watkins, Wayne Watkins, Taylor White, David Wildberger, T.J. Willings, Keith Wise, Daniel Wright.

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America’s trucking industry has made a lot of its need for truck drivers – and rightly so. However, a similar situation is growing in fleet maintenance shops across the nation. The upshot is the industry needs diesel technicians nearly as badly as it needs drivers. According to Bureau of Labor statistics, trucking will require an estimated 67,000 new technicians, as well as 75,000 new diesel engine specialists by 2022.

ATA Golf Classic raises $268k for political action

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In September, ATA’s Golf Classic raised more than $268,600, surpassing all previous tournaments in terms of money raised and participation. The event drew 144 sponsorships from ATA member firms and other trucking related businesses and stakeholders and hosted more than 350 golfers who filled all three courses at the RTJ Capitol Hill in Prattville, Ala.

ATA calls on Washington

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Alabama Trucking Association leaders were at our Nation’s Capitol in October for the annual Call on Washington, a legislative affairs program of the American Trucking Associations that affords state trucking association leadership an opportunity to discuss issues affecting the industry with members of Congress, key congressional staff and federal regulators.

Cover photo courtesy of Kenworth.

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E P A R T M E N T S

President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Safety Insights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 SMMC Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Trucking News Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Buyers’ Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 ATA Events and New Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Advertising rates are available upon request.

An Affiliate of the American Trucking Associations

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From the President

The State of the Industry Chris Spears President American Trucking Associations

EDITOR’S NOTE: In lieu of Frank Filgo’s regular column, we are publishing American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spears’ State of the Industry address delivered during his group’s recent 2018 Management Conference and Exhibition in Austin, Tex. It has been edited for space.

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ood morning.

For 85 years, we have come together at MCE to celebrate our accomplishments. It is here where ATA members set our agenda. And it is here where we now channel our collective will to win.

This is our federation’s strength, and why unity matters.

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MCE affords us the opportunity to embrace the universal values we share as an industry. Our unyielding commitment to safety. Hard work and playing by the rules.

Faith, family, compassion. Our love of country. All shaping who we are and how we’re perceived.

It’s been said that trucking is a hightouch business. Indeed, and it’s these values that make ATA a partner of choice. And it’s why the President of the United States turned to us when launching the legislative phase of his tax reform initiative, a top campaign promise.

We answered that call and led, helping deliver the first tax reform bill to the President’s desk in over three decades. That’s your money. You earned it and it belongs to you, not the government. And with more of it in your pocket, you are now investing in your employees.

You are now purchasing safer, more environmentally friendly equipment, technologies and services. That’s something the folks in this jam-packed convention hall like to hear! Tax reform is a measurable victory for you and our industry and its passage is now fueling our nation’s economy.

Speaking of the economy, have you noticed it’s booming? With the unemployment rate below 4 percent and more job openings than unemployed people, we are at full employment. As a result, household consumption is rising. When people buy

more, we transport more.

Add in good construction and factory activity, you have for-hire truck tonnage, up nearly 8 percent year-to-date. American Trucking Trends shows the U.S. trucking industry generated more than $700 billion in economic activity last year, a 3.5 percent increase year over year. That’s 79 percent of the nation’s freight bill.

We are ordering a lot of new equipment.

At current build rates, it would take North America’s heavy truck manufacturers nine months to build all the Class 8 units in backlog. We are now witnessing the fastest growth the trucking industry has experienced in 20 years.

While tax reform was a significant win and we’re enjoying all the benefits of a bustling economy, we have unfinished business in Washington. Our foes continue to sow the seeds of distrust and mistruths, spreading their own narrative about our industry.

That’s what’s happened with F4A. Over four years, we’ve fought this Californiaborn battle on Capitol Hill…with what could be best described as trench warfare.

We’ve witnessed a nexus between lawmakers’ willingness to do their job and Congress becoming a sanctuary for obstruction.

Having exhausted every legislative option available, last month ATA filed a petition with the Secretary of Transportation, seekContinued on page 31 A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2018

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Industry Priority: Technician Development Both carriers and dealerships are looking for more service techs.

By Dan Shell here’s no doubt about it: In today’s improving economy almost all employers are looking for additional and better employees to help their businesses grow. While truck driver shortages have been covered extensively in the trucking industry and media, there’s also a growing demand for diesel technicians, and many employers are seeking ways to expand their reach in recruiting new service talent.

Looking ahead in Alabama, the demand for diesel technicians in-state is expected to increase roughly 10 percent between now and 2026, from the 4,980 mechanics in 2016 to almost 5,500 eight years from now.

Using federal Bureau of Labor data, the occupational web site onetonline.com reports

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2017 compensation for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists was $22.29/hr. and $46,360 annually. As of 2016 there were 279,000 such jobs in the U.S., with more than 28,000 projected new diesel technician job openings through 2026.

In Alabama, according to onetonline.com, the median annual compensation for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in 2017 was $40,550 while median hourly wages were $19.50. Entry-level pay is better than many other employment sectors, and top talent in major markets can command compensation of more than $60,000 annually, according to labor reports.

Nationwide, the trucking transportation industry (18 percent) and wholesale diesel trade (14 percent) are responsible for employing roughly a third of diesel service tech-

nicians and mechanics, followed by automotive repair and maintenance (15 percent that includes self-employed mechanics) and local governments and institutions (9 percent).

Eddie Spann, senior diesel technology instructor at Lurleen B. Wallace (LBW) State Technical College’s Opp campus, is well aware of the growing demand for quality diesel service technicians and related personnel, and he works closely with a variety of trucking industry vendors and organizations in developing curriculums and programs for the school. (He’s also a member of ATA’s Safety & Maintenance Management Council’s Steering Committee.)

Currently, the job market is just not able to fill all the positions available, Spann says, noting that in the past 20-plus years the program has grown from eight students in A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2018

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Spann adds that students tend to gravitate to either the traditional mechanic program or more of the electronics-troubleshooting side of the business, and the school provides an electronics certification program as well. A natural gas engine program was also recently added.

Get Involved

Eddie Spann

For diesel service shop operators who are looking to hire and develop young technicians, getting involved with local schools and training programs is a critical step toward finding the service help they need.

“Get involved with your local schools, either high school or college,” Spann says.

That can include not only working with program instructors, but also participating in any type of career day program. And for school systems that don’t have vo-tech programs, make sure and contact career counselors and provide information about the industry, he adds.

For those who do get involved, Spann says, “If you want to see some future mechanics’ eyes light up, just show up with a big new Peterbilt and fire that engine up.”

Asked what’s the single best thing a fleet operator can do to attract new service talent, Spann believes being part of an entrylevel training program is important. “If you can come up with a good co-op or apprentice-type program, those companies tend to get the most skilled talent and those with the best work ethic.”

Flexibility is important, and Spann says he’s seen lots of work-training arrangements, including standard part-time work, students who go to class four hours and work four hours a day, and students who alternate working a semester and going to school for a semester.

1996 to 75 students now. The program has worked with students from the 10th grade and up, starting with high-schoolers who are interested in a trades career, all the way up to advanced students into their 20s. According to the curriculum page on the LBW web site, the diesel and heavy equipment mechanics program boasts an 88 percent placement rate.

Thanks to the traditional (though fading) negative stereotypes of greasy, dirty-fingernail mechanic work – and the reality that it’s not that easy of a curriculum, and ongoing training is critical to career longevity – “It’s not necessarily that easy to recruit young people into the industry,” Spann says. “But if you can find the right person and give them good information, they quickly realize it’s a challenging, rewarding career that pays good.”

The big ongoing trend for diesel mechanics is the movement away from mechanically controlled diesel engines to electronically controlled engines with multiple sensors.

Even currently employed, experienced mechanics have had to learn a whole new way of diagnostics and troubleshooting.

Spann notes that while someone still has to get dirty doing brakes, dropping oil pans and pulling engines, diesel shop work isn’t near as hard as it used to be, thanks to better tools and equipment and better work environments. He says he sees demand for not only the traditional wrenchturning mechanics but also trainers, troubleshooters and other support personnel.

“There’s a need for all of it,” he says.

The trucking industry needs 75,000 new diesel technicians by 2022.

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By working with local schools and training programs, trucking company operators looking for young technicians can not only identify potential new employees but also help shape curriculums to better meet realworld needs on the shop floor.

Spann cites the critical support from industry, including multiple ATA members, that helps in developing programs and getting students the information they need to compete and excel in the marketplace and satisfy future employers.

Take Action One company that’s taken Spann’s advice to heart is Four Star Freightliner in Montgomery, which operates six dealerships in Alabama, Georgia and Florida and employs several dozen diesel technicians.

Jerry Kocan, Four Star Freightliner President and General Manager, says the company has several employees at the Dothan store who went to the program at LBW. Closer to home, Four Star Freightliner also works with the Autauga and Elmore county schools’ vocational programs, participating in career days and on an advisory board.

The company has done the same with a tech school near its Tallahassee, Fla. store, Kocan adds.

“We donate stuff like engine blocks, and try to let the schools see more of the current technology,” he says, adding that it’s tough for most diesel technician programs to gain funding to acquire the latest engine systems and service equipment.

“We partner with a lot of different groups, so we always have job candidates, and at the high school level we try to get kids more interested in diesel than automotive,” Kocan says. “We’re trying to expand our reach, and the message we have to parents is this isn’t the old days when everyone was all greasy.

The first thing we do is plug into a computer.”

Kocan adds one point he tries to make to parents is, unlike students at a much more expensive four-year college, a diesel technology student begins earning many times as soon as they start school, and has usually been working fulltime two years before the fouryear student has even begun to look for a job. Diesel tech degrees also come with very little debt compared to four-year school costs.

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He also emphasizes there are multiple career paths possible with Four Star Freightliner. “There are a lot of ways to go,” Kocan says. “Some people gravitate more toward electronics and troubleshooting, others are fixers who like to fix things.”

An example of the company’s effort to attract new service techs is Four Star Freightliner’s laptop ownership program: Each new service tech gets to buy his own laptop – with all technical and diagnostic software included – over a year-long payroll deduction plan.

“It gives them more of a sense of pride when they own their own laptop, and it works out well for us because more parts these days are ordered from and delivered directly to the bay,” Kocan says.

Service Shift Carriers who cannot find the techs they need may increasingly turn to including pre-paid maintenance programs when they buy new rigs, says Craig Clayton, Vice President of Maintenance at B.R. Williams Trucking.

“It can be hard for a lot of companies to compete (for technicians) with the larger dealerships,” Clayton says. “Dealer networks have better access to all the continu-

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ous updates and ongoing training and computer software and programs.”

Another benefit with pre-paid maintenance programs is scheduling: Drivers on long hauls can have oil changes and other routine maintenance done at the nearest dealership rep instead of waiting until they are back at headquarters.

Clayton says B.R. Williams works with the nearby Gadsden State Community College’s diesel mechanic program and have employed several graduates over the years.

He’d like to see industry work with even younger students, possibly even in middle school, Clayton says. “I’d like to see us get to them before they start deciding what they don’t want to do.”

He adds that engine work is becoming more technical and less dirty all the time: “There’s plenty of times where a technician will fix (an issue) without even opening a toolbox. It’s all done on computer.”

Clayton adds that emissions and software update issues cause many service headaches.

“Trucks are really dependable mechanically for the most part, but you have these constant software updates, and if you change out a part you have to reset the computer.”

Diesel technician service “is a much more technology-based profession now, and that requires strong computer skills and diagnostic skills,” Clayton says.

Developing new service talent should be a big priority for all of industry, since technicians keep rigs rolling for carriers and for dealerships like Four Star Freightliner, Kocan says, “Technicians are the guys who makes sure the customer stays happy by doing the job right the first time.”

Dan Shell is a writer and editor with more than 30 years of B2B publishing experience. He can be reached at dan@hattonbrown.com.

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Finding Success at the Shop Young technicians tell how a career in truck service and maintenance is brimming with opportunity.

Articles and Photos by Ford Boswell n recent years, America’s trucking industry has placed a spotlight on its need for truck drivers – and rightly so. With the average age of a driver at close to 50 years, there’s a sizeable gap between drivers in the last phase of their careers and those who’ve just started out. For trucking businesses across the country, that’s a problem. There simply are not enough drivers to meet demand.

But as badly as the industry needs more drivers, a similar situation is growing in fleet maintenance shops. The upshot is the industry needs diesel technicians nearly as badly as it needs drivers.

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, trucking will require an estimated 67,000 new technicians as well as 75,000 new diesel engine specialists by 2022. Historically, it’s a hard sell to bring young people into the trucking industry. Perception is the industry’s worst enemy. Conventional thinking is that being a service tech is a dirty, thankless job with long hours and no room for advancement. But that just not the case.

Technicians these days work more traditional hours, are home every night, and earning very competitive salaries and benefits. And all the while, they are enjoying these perks without being saddled with large amounts of student debt.

Still, outside the industry at high schools across the country, the push has been to keep young students focused on a traditional four-year degree. To a lot of parents and high school guidance counselors, a college degree is the only true path to finding gainful, rewarding employment.

Yet, for many kids, especially those who must pay for their own college education with student loans or even those with mild learning disadvantages such as attention deficit disorder (ADD) or Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a career as a diesel service technician can be a great match and a pathway to a rewarding and lucrative career.

All kinds of vehicles and equipment are powered with diesel engines: oil rigs, power plants, hydraulic systems, locomotives, cargo ships, farming equipment, construction vehicles, mining equipment, and, of course, diesel trucks. Once you identify a

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kid who has excellent mechanical skills or a knack for troubleshooting and problem solving, trucking businesses must compete with other industries for top talent.

Fortunately, here in Alabama, there are several exceptional two- and four-year colleges and trade schools offering diesel technology programs consistently churning out incredibly talented, well-rounded technicians. Each semester those schools send hundreds of candidates to fleet maintenance operations and truck and tractor dealerships that are more than happy to nurture their careers, placing them on individualized training regimens to help them develop and prosper. It’s a win-win for students and businesses.

But what brings kids to trucking’s service side of things? And once they get there, how do they like the work? We asked several young technicians these questions at some of the most successful trucking businesses in Alabama. Some started right out of high school as shop apprentices or laborers, some chose the field while in school, others knew early on what they wanted to do, but each of them tells of high job satisfaction and incredible advancement opportunity in a field overlooked by many of their peers.

Josh Nichols, 27 Service Tech Four Star Freightliner Montgomery, Ala. Attending high school in Mississippi, Josh Nichols, now 27, was a good kid doing slightly more than the bare minimum to get by in his classes. He wasn’t a trouble maker, but by his own admission, he was just a “bit of a knot head,” probably focused too much on having a good time with his buddies and not really concentrating fully on schoolwork – or his future.

After earning his diploma, his step-father Tony Snead, who works at Four Star Freightliner in Montgomery, Ala. as a service manager, offered him an entry-level job working in the dealership’s shop doing odd jobs, oil changes and minor vehicle repairs.

“I started in the grease pit, changing oil and taking out the trash,” Nichols says. “I

did that for three years or so, and then they hired a guy to replace me, and then all the sudden it seemed like (the managers) started giving me more responsibility.”

With age comes maturity, and Nichols settled into his new responsibilities fully. He says he felt pride in helping his company and the customers he served. Meanwhile, Four Star started sending him to instructorled training at its facility in Dothan, where he sat for courses on Freightliner-based electronics, air brakes, and the like. He even attended a three-month course in Wisconsin for Detroit Diesel engines, which are now his specialty.

He immersed himself in his work. In fact, he began to enjoy pushing himself to learn as much as he could, as quickly as he could. He realized that he is actually a very good student when he is interested in the topic.

Along with the course work and training, he asked questions, watched veteran techs, and never shied from a difficult task or repair order. If he got into bind with a difficult job, he didn’t give up; he pushed harder.

As a result, his workload increased – and so did his pay. He says he began to consider being a service tech as a career. He enrolled in online courses on through various OEM training programs, completing more than 200 modules to date. He was finally offered his own work bay, which for him was a milestone.

“But it didn’t become real for me until I made my first major tool purchase,” he says. “That’s when I realized that I was in this for good. I don’t know why, but that was big deal for me. I guess because I spent about $5,000 with the Snap-on rep. I’ve since paid all that off and have upgraded my stuff a few times since then. I am on my third tool box now.”

Meanwhile, Nichols is engaged to his girlfriend, Hayley Robbins. “We’ll probably get married in a year or so…or whenever she tells me,” he laughs.

But as far as his future in the service field with Four Star, he says, he is very happy with his career choice. “I don’t plan on going nowhere – I like working here,” he smiles. “I honestly love what I do – and I mean that. I enjoy coming to work every day – as far as I can tell, not everyone can say that.”

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Josh Nichols

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Clae Milstead

Clae Milstead, 23 Service Tech Southland International Trucks & Trailers Montgomery, Ala. From an early age, Clae Milstead, 23, of Hope Hull, Ala., showed an affinity for repairing power equipment, dirt bikes, fourwheelers, and the like. His father, Toby, a career truck driver, enjoyed building racing cars on the weekends and would bring his young son with him to local tracks. It was there that a passion for working on machines, particularly engines, became an obsession for Milstead. By junior high, he knew he’d found his life’s calling.

“I was always fixing something growing up,” he said. “Actually, I was really good at fixing smaller things like weed eaters and four wheelers. That was what I liked to do best in my spare time. When I was old enough to drive, I had an old ’91 Ford 350 10

pickup truck with a diesel engine, and I liked to run it at the mudhole by the house for fun. I was pretty rough on it, and because it was so old, I was always working on it.”

After graduating from Highland Home High School in 2015, he worked a few odd jobs trying to figuring out what he wanted to do. He started working with a local trucking company as a general laborer, mostly cleaning trailers and equipment. He wanted more experience and hounded the shop foreman for more substantial service work and training. Things moved slowly, so he started putting feelers out for other opportunities.

Through a tool salesman he’d met, he learned of an entry-level service tech position with Southland International Truck and Trailer’s Montgomery location. That afternoon he applied for the position in person.

Southland Service Manager Wesley Mathews was the person who Milstead interviewed with. He hired him on the spot.

“I just instantly saw something in Clae,” he recalls. “He was quiet, and still is to a de-

gree, but I could tell he knew what he wanted to do. He didn’t have classroom training, but I saw that he had the basic abilities and skills to do this kind of work.

He just needed someone to give him the right training.”

What impressed Mathews the most about Milstead is his constant drive to learn. “Within six months of starting here, he was doing his first engine swap.” Mathews says. “He is as talented as any tech who has come through here, but it’s his attitude that makes him such a great tech. He’ll tackle whatever you give him. He’s focused and never stops trying to improve.”

With regards to pay, Milstead says he believes he’s doing as well or even better than a lot of his friends his age. He and his wife, Jamie, are expecting their fist child soon, and he feels great about their future. “I just want to keep learning and get more training to be great at my job,” he says. “There’s a lot of opportunity here, and I really want to be good at this.”

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Julia Tupper, 28

Julia Tupper

Heavy Duty Shop Foreman Truckworx Kenworth Birmingham, Ala. A basketball point guard’s primary job on the court is to facilitate scoring opportunities for his/her teammates. The player is usually a skilled ball handler who sees the big picture, acting as a coach on the floor. Most importantly, the point guard is also someone who distributes the ball to the teammate who presents the best chance to score – it’s arguably the most crucial position on the court.

Truckworx Kenworth Heavy Duty Shop Foreman Julia Tupper, 28, is the Birmingham location’s point guard in the shop. She spends her days making sure the dozen or so highly skilled service technicians at her shop have the right tools, parts, supplies and information needed to get a customer’s truck back on the road as quickly as possible. She also is the first face most customers see when they bring in their vehicle for repair.

Tupper’s journey to Truckworx began 42 miles to the north at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Ala. A high school basketball standout from a small town in Upstate New York, she accompanied her AAU basketball coach to Hanceville to try out for the school’s basketball team. Impressed with her skill and maturity, coaches offered her a scholarship after only one tryout.

From 2008-2010, she played guard for the WSCC Lady Lions, averaging 7.7 points and 4.3 rebounds – and even led the team in steals during her freshman season.

While at Wallace State she took core classes, and eventually transferred to Elmira College in New York, but after only a year there her father, Russell, developed throat cancer, and Tupper came home to help with the rigorous treatment program.

After months of chemotherapy and radiation, Russell’s health improved, and he eventually returned to work as a truck driver. Julia, who had put her education on hold, decided she wanted to return to Wallace State to enroll in the school’s diesel technology program, a move that more than pleased her father.

“He’s been a truck driver for years and always told me that there is a lot opportunity in trucking,” she says. “He really wanted me to go back to school, and we talked about things I could do in this industry. I mentioned the idea of being a service tech, and we agreed that it was a good idea and that I’d probably enjoy working in diesel technology.”

She admits she was apprehensive about joining the program, concerned mainly about being in a program heavily dominated by males. She settled in, and with the help of her instructor Jeremy Smith, she quickly earned the respect of her instructors and classmates. She just wanted to show them that she was there for the same reasons they were there. She didn’t want to be different; she just wanted a job with a future.

Back on campus, Smith welcomed her with open arms. “We are all on the same team and part of the same family down here,” he says. “We didn’t treat Julia any differently. Male or female, all I know is I’ve got students, and I’m trying to get them ready to go to work. Everything in this world is changing. What once was a considered a male-dominated profession is now open for everyone. If you think you can do it, we encourage you to try it. All technical programs are that way. We try to do our best to make sure anyone can succeed in what they do.”

Tupper blazed through her courses. After graduating in May 2014, she accepted her current job with Truckworx Kenworth.

Company managers recognized her leadership abilities and easygoing demeanor and created a position for her as triage technician – A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2018

a type of pivot position that serves as a mediator between the customer and the service tech working on the truck.

“I love what I’m doing,” she says. “I think what intrigues me the most about this job is that it changes all the time. It’s not repetitive, and I like that. I like being challenged every day with something different. Sure, it’s a lot of the same (issues each day), but it’s not the same situation. I’m not the kind of person who can just sit still and do the same thing over and over again. I like the pace of this kind of work.”

Tupper was recently appointed service manager for Truckworx’s new dealership in Tuscaloosa. She plans to move there next spring with her fiancé John Wells, an IT manager at the University of Alabama.

“This field isn’t for everyone because it’s not an easy job,” she says.

“But there are unlimited options. It’s not just working on engines and transmissions. You can work on all kinds of equipment, small trucks, big trucks, tractors and heavy equipment. And if you want to get into the managerial side, there’s opportunity there, too. And as a woman, I’m kind of a unicorn in this field, but it’s a great job for anyone who wants to work learn and work hard. If someone is thinking about going into this field, I can tell you from experience, it’s worth it. You will never have a problem finding good paying work.”

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Grant Crabill, 27 Service Tech Four Star Freightliner Montgomery, Ala. Grant Crabill has been working as a service tech since graduating from WyoTech in Laramie, Wyo. in March 2012 with a degree in advanced diesel technology. He came back to Alabama and worked for a Mack dealership in Dothan, Ala. After a couple of years there, he landed his current job with Four Star Freightliner to move closer to family.

With experience and training, he’s become a certified Cummins engine specialist. “I’d say about ninety percent of what I do is just work on Cummins engines,” he says. “It’s my favorite thing to do. I love to solve problems and helping a customer get their truck back on the road, so they can make money. That’s what my job is all about.”

Crabill says Four Star has put him through additional training in the three years he’s been with the dealership. “Like most places, they start guys off doing a little bit of everything in the shop, so they can determine what you’re good at,” he says. “Then, they develop your talents.

Grant Crabill Like in my case, I had the Cummins experience when I started here, so my current boss sent me to the manufacturer’s courses to build on that. They also sent me to courses on other engines and other parts of the vehicle like the transmission. A lot of different types of engines come through our shop, and it’s a lot better to have several guys who are experts on one of type of engine than to have a bunch of techs who just have only a good understanding of all of them. It’s good to have people in the shop who are more specialized.”

Overall, Crabill is pleased with where his career is currently, but he knows that one day he wants to move into management.

“For the age I’m at, I do very well for myself,” he says. “There’s a

lot of room to grow in this (field). I’m happy where I am, but my long-term goal is to one day run a shop. It would be nice to sit in the service manager’s office. I know I have a lot of years before I get to that point. It’s going take a lot of hard work and training, but that’s the thing about this business, there are a lot of different things you can do once you get in it.”

For now, he enjoys being part of a team. “The main thing I love about working in the shop is we are always helping each other out,” he says. “I like to work by myself mostly, but it’s still nice to have other guys here who can help you if you get stuck on something.”

John Dempsey, 25 Service Technician Truckworx Kenworth Birmingham, Ala. Another Wallace State alum, 25-yeard-old John Dempsey came to Truckworx right out of tech school.

He’d always been a car guy and spent a lot time working on them in high school. “My buddies and I liked to work on Hondas and Acuras,” he says. “We were always meeting up and tinkering with them for fun, and every now then we’d take them to the track to drag – but I don’t do that anymore; it’s too expensive.”

After graduating from Clay-Chalkville High School in Clay, Ala., he spent a year working at a restaurant before enrolling at Wallace State’s diesel program. “I’ve always had a mechanical mind and always liked to take things apart to see how they work. Once I started looking at schools and talked to the instructors, I Continued on page 28 12

John Dempsey A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2018

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ATA Golf Classic raises $268,000+ for TRUK PAC

I

n September, the Alabama Trucking Association held its annual ATA Golf Classic at the gorgeous Robert Trent Jones Capitol Hill Courses in Prattville, Ala. The event’s mission is to raise funding for ATA’s political action committee, TRUK PAC, which supports political candidates in local and state elections.

Spearheaded by tournament Chairman Nic Balanis of ServisFirst Bank and his finance committee, this year’s event raised more than $268,600, surpassing all previous Classics in terms of money raised and participation. The tournament drew 144 sponsorships from ATA member firms and other trucking related businesses and stakeholders and hosted more than 350 golfers who filled all three courses at the RTJ Capitol Hill.

Vertical Alliance Group served as the Presidential Sponsor of the 2018 Classic, donating $15,000. Organizers said that donation helped spur a record amount of sponsorship revenue and served as a catalyst for increased membership participation this year.

In addition to that, there were 17 firms that contributed $5,000 or more, including ATA Comp Fund; B.R. Williams Trucking; Birmingham Freightliner; Boyd Bros. Transportation; Buddy Moore Trucking; Church Transportation & Logistics; Davison Fuels & Oil; Fitzgerald Peterbilt; Gulf City Body & Trailer Works; Greenbush Logistics; J & M Tank Lines; Marmon Highway Technologies; McLeod Software; Southland International Trucks; Truckworx; Watkins Trucking Co.; and Wiley Sanders Truck Lines.

By the numbers, this year’s Classic had 51 $2,000 sponsors; 54 $1,000 sponsors; and 19 $500 sponsors. After expenses, the event net-

ted more than $200,000, placing the ATA’s PAC with an estimated $1 million to disperse to campaigns of state and local elected officials who understand and respect trucking’s integral role in Alabama’s economy.

“As you know, these funds are earmarked to support pro-truck candidates in our state elections,” Balanis said during his opening remarks to attendees and guests. “By supporting our Golf Classic, you are supporting political candidates who understand the vital role that trucking plays in our state, and you are supporting efforts to defeat those who do not understand the impact we have to move Ala-

bama forward. Thanks to each of our 2018 Golf Classic sponsors, and thanks to every one of you here today. Your support and dedication made the 2018 ATA Classic an incredible success, and it will benefit Alabama’s business climate and the state’s trucking industry for years to come.”

Balanis also thanked his ATA Golf Classic Finance Committee for its hard work.

Committee members included, Will Bruser, Truckworx; Fenn Church, Church Transportation & Logistics; Mark Coffman, Coffman International; Wesley Dunn, RangeWay Carriers; Andrew Linn, Southland International Trucks; Bill Waechter, Gulf City Body & Trailer Works; Wayne Watkins, Watkins Trucking Co.; Taylor White, Alabama Motor Express; and Daniel Wright, Wright Transportation.

ATA Comp Fund sponsored lunch and dinner.

Allan Hicks, Nic Balanis and Fenn Church

Golfers filled all three courses at RTJ Capitol Hill.

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More than 350 golfers representing 144 firms participated in this year’s tournament.

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AAA Cooper Transportation n Action Volvo n AMX n B & G Supply Co., Inc. n Baldwin Transfer Co. n Billy Barnes Enterprises, Inc. Carrier Transicold South n Coleman Worldwide Moving n Cummins Sales & Service Gulf Region n Deep South Freight n EFS LLC n Empire Truck Sales Evergreen Transport, LLC n FleetPride Truck & Trailer Parts n Four Star Freightliner n Heritage Freight Warehouse & Logistics, LLC n IBERIABANK International Trucks n Love’s Travel Stops n McGriff, Seibels & Williams, Inc. n McGriff Tire Co. n McPherson Oil n Michelin North America Mid State Thermo King n Montgomery Transport n National Bank of Commerce n Neely Coble n Nextran Truck Centers n Palomar Insurance Corp.

Penske Truck Leasing n Pilot Flying J n PNC n Progress Bank n PS Logistics n R. E. Garrison Trucking, Inc. n RangeWay Carriers n Robbie D. Wood, Inc. Ross Neely Systems, Inc. n ServisFirst Bank n Southeast Logistics, Inc. n Star Leasing Company n Storey Trucking Co. n Summerford Truck Line, Inc. Tyson Foods /// River Valley n Turner & Hamrick n UPS n Utility Trailer Sales of Alabama, L.L.C. n Wal-Mart Transportation, Inc. Ward International Trucks, LLC n Warren Averett n Wright Transportation, Inc.

Action Resources n American Trucking Associations n Baggett Transportation Co. n Ball, Ball, Matthews & Novak n Bank of America n Benny Whitehead, Inc. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama n Bridgestone Commercial Solutions n BXS Insurance a subsidiary of Bancorp South Bank Capital Volvo Truck & Trailer n Carr Allison n Coffman International Trucks n Comdata Corporation n Complete Tire & Service n Corporate Billing Dolphin Line, Inc. n Dunn Building Co. n Eaton / Roadranger n Equipment Solutions LLC n Farris Evans Insurance Agency, Inc. n Great Dane Trailers Gulf Coast Truck & Equipment Co. n Hill, Hill, Carter, Franco, Cole & Black P.C. n Hornady Transportation, LLC n J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. Kenworth Truck Company n Mack Trucks n McGriff Insurance Services n Meritor, Inc. n Orbcomm n Ox Bodies n PACCAR Parts People’s United Equipment Finance Corp. n Premier Trailer Leasing n Quantum Logistics, LLC n Renasant Bank – Equipment Finance n Rushing Enterprises, Inc. S and M Transportation, Inc. n Service One Transport, Inc. n Shell Lubricants n Shoreline Transportation of Alabama, LLC n Southern Tire Mart n Southern Truck Center Star Truck Parts n Taylor & Martin, Inc. n Thompson Carriers, Inc. n Thompson/Caterpillar n Transcraft Corporation n Transport Trailer Center Travel Centers of America/Petro n Wilks Tire & Battery Service, Inc. n WTI Transport n York Risk Services Group

Avondale Trucking n BB & T n Carlisle Medical, Inc. n ErgoScience, Inc. n Highland Technical Services Holman Freight Transport, LLC n J P Transportation Safety Consulting, LLC n Long Lewis Western Star PeopleNet n RelaDyne n Southern Intermodal Xpress LLC n Suit, LLC n Transport Enterprise Leasing LLC Transportation and Logistical n Services, Inc. n Transportation Compliance Services Volvo Trucks North America LLC n WilMar Trucking LLC n Woodstock Trucking Co., Inc. n Yokohama Tire Corp.

Fuller Warehouse & Gin, Inc. Hand Arendall Harrison Sale, LLC Moundville Warehouse LLC

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ATA 2018 Call on Association leaders promote trucking, key issues to Alabama’s Congressional delegation.

Article and photos by Ford Boswell WASHINGTON D.C. – In October, Alabama Trucking Association leaders were at the Nation’s Capitol for Call on Washington, a legislative affairs program of the American Trucking Associations that affords state trucking association executives, leadership, business leaders, and staff an opportunity to discuss legislation and regulations affecting the industry with members of Congress, key congressional staff, federal regulators, and fellow industry leaders.

ATA has participated in the program the past two years, sending dozens of members who are constituents in key Alabama Congressional districts. This year’s delegation included ATA Chairman Fenn Church; Gary Bond, Past Chairman and Board Director; Greg Brown, Past Chairman and State Vice President to the American Trucking Associations; Joe Donald, Board Director; Wesley Dunn, Board Director; Beau Holmes, Board Director; Terry Kilpatrick, Immediate Past ATA Chairman and Board Director; Barry McGriff, Past Chairman and Board Director; Danny Smith, Board Director; Harold Sumerford, Jr., National ATA Vice Chairman and Board Director; Bo Watkins, Board Director; Collins White, ATA Foundation Officer and LEAD ATA member; and Frank Filgo and Ford Boswell of the ATA staff.

With the House of Representatives in recess until after the November mid-term elections, most House members were back home for the break; however, the Senate was still in session working on major to-do list items, including funding for the federal government and, of course, confirming Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

The Call on Washington delegation included Bo Watkins, Board Director; ATA Chairman Fenn Church; Gary Bond, Past Chairman and Board Director; Greg Brown, Past Chairman and State Vice President to the American Trucking Associations; Joe Donald, Board Director; Terry Kilpatrick, Immediate Past ATA Chairman and Board Director; Barry McGriff, Past Chairman and Board Director; Wesley Dunn, Board Director; Danny Smith, Board Director; Beau Holmes, Board Director; ATA President Frank Filgo; Harold Sumerford, Jr., National ATA Vice Chairman and Board Director; and Collins White, ATA Foundation Officer and LEAD ATA member (not pictured).

Fenn Church (left), Wesley Dunn and Gary Bond 16

Terry Kilpatrick and Joe Donald A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2018

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Washington ATA leaders meeting with Alabama Sen. Doug Jones.

Fenn Church, Greg Brown and Barry McGriff discuss policy with Rep. Robert Aderholt.

From left, Frank Filgo, Bo Watkins, Harold Sumerford, Gary Bond, Fenn Church, Joe Donald, Greg Brown, Barry McGriff, Rep. Robert Aderholt, Wesley Dunn, Beau Holmes, Collins White, and Danny Smith A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2018

After a briefing for key issues and talking points from National ATA’s Legislative Affairs and Lobbying team, the group spent two days on Capitol Hill pounding the pavement between the Russell Senate Office Building, the Cannon House Office Building, and the Rayburn House Building visiting with top staffers for Rep. Bradley Byrne; Rep. Gary Palmer; Rep. Mike Rogers, Rep. Martha Roby; Rep. Terri Sewell; and Sen. Richard Shelby.

ATA leaders met face-to-face with Sen. Doug Jones and Rep. Robert Aderholt for Alabama’s 4th District to express trucking’s key concerns and support for various legislation. Jones, a junior Democratic Senator from Birmingham, won a special election last year to replace the seat vacated by former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, while Rep. Aderholt has served his district since 1997.

Both men had an impressive grasp of issues facing trucking, and the group specifically highlighted transportation infrastructure funding, which the trucking industry has been on record for years in support of sustainable, long term funding for the federal-aid highway program through increased fuel taxes at both the state and federal level.

The group also promoted measures for workforce development, including H.R. 3889, which expands the FAST Act pilot program for interstate truck drivers to include drivers under 21 with previous military experience and civilian drivers under 21 who have a CDL and meet other minimum qualification standards.

ATA leaders further described the industry’s support for the creation of an apprenticeship program that would train 18-21year-old CDL holders to drive trucks in interstate commerce. ATA supports efforts aimed at reducing states’ CDL skills-testing delays and creating career pathways in trucking for veterans and youth who are neither in school or work. Other topics covered included autonomous vehicles and platooning technology.

ATA Chairman Church said that National ATA’s Call on Washington was created to help educate elected officials on important matters for trucking.

“Congress hears the voice of the trucking industry on Capitol Hill every day from National ATA’s talented team of lobbyists,” he said. “Congress needs to hear its constituents’ voice, as well. Hearing from the folks back home who are most impacted by policy these leaders create and vote on is a powerful means of growing support for legislation that truly matters.”

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Four Star’s Montgomery team, from left, JB Edwards, Amanda Granger, Jim Kim, Mike Ellifritz, Suzy Herring, Courtney Riddle, Chad Norris, Tony Snead, Scott Dixon, Jerry Kocan, Demichael McKee, David Turner, Joel Love, Judson Coburn, Otis Davis and Scott Stephens

Four Star Freightliner wins national trade magazine’s top award The dealership was selected for investments in employee education and development, community activism and support of the dealer market and trucking industry.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. our Star Freightliner was recently given the 2018 Successful Dealer Award by Successful Dealer magazine, a trade journal published monthly by Randall-Reilly for truck dealers, service departments and parts distributors.

Editor Lucas Deal, along with award sponsor reps from Automann, Premium 2000/National Truck Protection and Interstate Billing, presented Four Star Freightliner president Jerry Kocan the award at the 2018 Randall Reilly R-Squared Marketing Summit in Tuscaloosa, Ala. last October.

Four Star Freightliner earned this year’s award after being a finalist for the first time in 2017.

Founded through the merging of Freightliner of Montgomery and Freightliner of Dothan in 2000, Four Star Freightliner has grown into a six-location dealer group serving customers throughout Alabama, Georgia and the Florida panhandle. Elite Support certified by Freightliner at all locations.

Four Star also sells Western Star and Fuso trucks and is a NationaLease partner.

“It is humbling just to be nominated – it really is,” says Kocan. “We started out from two little stores in Alabama to receive recognition with dealers who are much bigger than we are. I take it as a compliment

F

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to my people and what they have done.”

Four Star Freightliner was selected from a list of finalist candidates due to its investments in employee education and development, community activism and support of the dealer market and trucking industry at large.

The dealership group donates heavily to technical education, providing scholarship funds, training materials and curriculum guidance to multiple regional programs.

Four Star Freightliner also supports regional programs that assists veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless or who are currently homeless to provide housing and career opportunities. Coupled with the company’s Zachary Sizemore memorial scholarship – named for a former employee who died from cancer at age 32 – Kocan and the Four Star Freightliner team continues to invest heavily in their employees and their community.

“We believe it is important that we invest in the communities in which we operate because that’s where our people are and that’s where our customers are,” says Kocan. “It is so much more rewarding to our employees.”

Kocan tries to reward them in turn with an engaging and inviting corporate culture that encourages employee commitment, rewards strong work ethic and promotes in-

ternal career path development.

“My theory is if you treat your people well, they will treat your customers well, and that’s what we want to do every day,” he says.

Four Star Freightliner joins TEC Equipment (2013), Truck Centers Inc. (2014), Freightliner of St. Cloud (2015), River States Truck and Trailer (2016) and Inland Kenworth (2017) as the sixth winner of the Successful Dealer Award. Other finalists this year included past winner River States Truck and Trailer, as well as Gordon Truck Centers, The Larson Group and Truckworx Kenworth.

Jerry Kocan A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2018

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WH Thomas Oil Co. Clanton, AL 205-755-2610 Decatur, AL 256-351-0744 www.thomasoil.com

ATA_4Q18.qxp_11751 ATA 12/11/18 7:36 AM Page 21

Think of us as your lubrication experts for the long haul.

As your Chevron Distributor, we do more than just offer high quality motor oils, transmission fluids and gear lubricants for your fleet. We provide effective lubrication solutions that can reduce your operating costs and improve your bottom line.

Whether it’s performing an oil analysis, helping with inventory management or any other service, we’re always ready to help minimize downtime, extend maintenance intervals and the life of your engines so your entire business is always in high gear.

And that’s good for your bottom line

ATA_4Q18.qxp_11751 ATA 12/11/18 7:36 AM Page 22

SAFETY & MAINTENANCE Safety Insights

‘Behind a well-trained driver, properly functioning brakes are the most important safety feature of a commercial vehicle.’

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Mind Your Brakes

By Ford Boswell

D

uring the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance recent Brake Safety Week, Sept. 16-22, law enforcement personnel in 57 jurisdictions throughout the U.S. and Canada inspected more than 35,000 commercial motor vehicles during the weeklong safety blitz.

Of those, nearly 5,000 commercial vehicles were placed out of service for critical brake problems. I’m not talking about minor maladjustments, either. These were serious violations that inspectors deemed dangerous enough to remove the vehicles from the road until the condition(s) could be corrected.

Think about that for a second. While most vehicles inspected had no brake-related outof-service conditions, inspectors found critical issues in the brake systems of 4,955 of them (or 14.1%). Could there a be a more glaring example of a poor maintenance program than to have one of your trucks placed out of service because of poorly maintained or malfunctioning brakes? Frankly, it’s embarrassing.

What’s more, enforcement officials say they have noticed a growing trend of bad brake violations in recent years. For instance, brake violations were found to be the top vehicle out-of-service violation during CVSA’s International Roadcheck 72hour enforcement initiative last June.

And, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s data snapshot as of Sept. 28, out of 2.38 million total inspections in 2018, 1.04 million were cited for brake-related violations. And that’s not all. Brake Safety Week data also captured antilock braking systems violations, indicating how well ABS are maintained in accordance with federal regulations. In total, the event found that: l Of the 26,143 air-braked power units that required ABS, 8.3% (2,176) had ABS violations; l Of the 17,857 trailers that required ABS; 12.5% (2,224) had ABS violations; and l Of the 5,354 hydraulic-braked trucks

that required ABS, 4.4% (234) had ABS violations.

It has become so bad that, after mining that data from Brake Safety Week, CVSA experts are offering several strategies to help trucking operations mind their brakes more effectively, and thus, make North America’s highways safer.

First is Prevention. Since the dates of Brake Safety Week are announced well in advance, this gives motor carriers and drivers ample opportunity to ensure their vehicles are proactively checked and properly maintained and to correct any issues found. Everyone wants the vehicles that are inspected to pass inspection. A vehicle that passes inspection increases overall safety.

Next is Education. Brake Safety Week is an opportunity for law enforcement personnel to educate drivers and motor carriers on the inspection procedure with a focus on the vehicle’s mechanical components, especially the brake systems. Education and awareness are key in prompting preventive action to ensure each commercial motor vehicle is safe and roadworthy.

And lastly, Action. Inspectors who identified commercial motor vehicles with critical brake issues during the inspection process were able to remove those dangerous vehicles from the roadways. If a vehicle has brake-related critical inspection items, it’s law enforcement’s duty and responsibility to place that vehicle out of service, safeguarding the public.

Behind a well-trained driver, properly functioning brakes are the most important safety features of a commercial vehicle. It’s essential that fleet owners, maintenance professionals and drivers communicate freely about the importance of brake maintenance.

The upshot is the trucking industry must get these brake violations down. Enforcement officials agree that trucking must be more vigilant to prevent accidents through prevention, education, outreach and action to ensure only the safest commercial motor vehicles are rolling on the roadways.

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E MANAGEMENT COUNCIL NEWS Nearly 5,000 trucks removed from roadways during Brake Week During Brake Safety Week, Sept. 16-22, enforcement personnel in 57 jurisdictions throughout Canada and the U.S. conducted 35,080 inspections on commercial motor vehicles and captured and reported data on brake violations.

Most vehicles inspected did not have any brake-related out-of-service conditions; however, inspectors found critical vehicle inspection items in the brake systems of 4,955 (14.1 percent) of the vehicles inspected and placed those vehicles out of service until the condition(s) could be corrected.

Brake violations were the top vehicle outof-service violation during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) International Roadcheck 72-hour enforcement initiative back in June 2018. And according to the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) data, out of 2.38 million inspections, there were 1,045,335 brake-related violations in federal fiscal 2018, with a portion of those accounting for seven of the top 20 vehicle violations. In an effort to address brake system violations, jurisdictions throughout North America participated in this year’s Brake Safety Week.

The goal of this week-long brake safety enforcement and outreach initiative is to reduce the number of crashes involving brake-related problems by raising awareness throughout the motor carrier community of the importance of properly functioning brake systems and by conducting roadside inspections to identify and remove vehicles with critical brake violations from our roadways.

Brake Safety Week data also captured antilock braking systems (ABS) violations, indicating how well ABS are maintained in accordance with federal regulations. ABS help the vehicle to stop in the shortest possible distance under many conditions and to maintain steering control in situations when tires may slip. Many participating jurisdictions surveyed ABS compliance. ABS violations were counted when the malfunction lamp did not illuminate or stayed on, indicating an issue of some kind. The findings are as follows: 1.) 26,143 air-braked power units required ABS; 8.3 percent (2,176) had ABS violations; 2.) 17,857 trailers required ABS; 12.5 percent (2,224)

had ABS violations; 3.) 5,354 hydraulicbraked trucks required ABS; 4.4 percent (234) had ABS violations; and 4.) 651 motorcoaches/buses required ABS; 2 percent (13) had ABS violations.

Transportation Safety Services adds to staff Transportation Safety Services recently added two experts to its staff of fleet safety and workplace consultants. The new hires, Stephen Day and Scott Stratton, represent a combined 60-plus years of fleet and workplace safety experience.

Certified Safety Professional (CSP) Stephen Day joins Stephen Day Transportation Safety Services as the firm’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration expert following his recent retirement after more than 20 years with the agency.

According to TSS President Lane Van Ingen, Day brings a broad range of experience and expertise in general industry, construction and maritime occupational safety and health settings providing litigation as Scott Stratton well as consultation services to clients.

Originally from Dothan, Ala., Day is a 1984 graduate of Auburn University. He is also a veteran having served in the United States Marine Corps and the United States Air Force Reserve, retiring from the latter following 23 years of service.

He and his wife Karen have been married for 30 years and have two sons, Ryan, 27, a pilot in the United States Air Force, and Garrett, 22, a college senior. The Days make their home in Spanish Fort, Ala. Meanwhile, Scott Stratton joined TSS following his retirement from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). He will serve as a USDOT/FMCSA Subject Matter Expert offering more than 20 years of regulatory experience inspecting commercial motor vehicles and the motor carriers who

operate them.

His last assignment was as the State of Alabama’s Program Manager for their U.S. DOT Compliance Program, where he oversaw arresting officers and civilian staff tasked with the duties of investigating motor carriers across the state. Besides his experience as a manager and auditor, Stratton brings nearly 30 years of experience as an accident investigator who has investigated countless crashes involving commercial and non-commercial vehicles. He will be able to provide a broad range of services to TSS clients, including litigation, consultation services, mock DOT Audits, and commercial vehicle inspections.

Stratton is a 1991 graduate of Jacksonville State University where he majored in Forensic Sciences. He is also a combat veteran having served in the U.S. Army during Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Scott and his wife have been married for 23 years and have one son and one daughter; Cole, 25 a graduate from Auburn University and successful businessperson in the Atlanta, Ga. area and Katie, 15, a high school sophomore. Scott and his wife Amy make their home in Prattville, Ala. Transportation Safety Services is a full-service DOT, FMCSA and DOT consulting firm offering a wide variety of services to trucking fleets of all types and sizes. Built on the expertise of former DOT regulators, we exist to provide accurate, affordable safety and compliance solutions to the trucking industry.

Alabama Road Team adds three new members The Alabama Trucking Association recently added three new Alabama Road Team members to its team of professional truck drivers and driver safety experts. The new members are Richard Pratt of FedEx Freight, Inc.; Charlie Salter FedEx Freight, Inc.; and Tom Culpepper, Walmart Transportation, LLC. The additions bring the Team to seven members – the most active members in the program’s 20-year history.

The trio joins veteran Road Team members Dan Thompson, FedEx Freight; Rusty Continued on page 24

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2018

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zier at 334-834-3983 or tfrazier@alabamatrucking.org.

News Holmes, UPS Freight; Rodney Cosper, UPS Freight; and Lloyd Howell, Inc. ATA’s Road Team is composed of professional drivers selected for an outstanding safety record and an ability to communicate with audiences from many different walks of life. These individuals are ambassadors for the trucking industry and take a few days each month away from their regular driving duties to speak to civic organizations, classrooms, businesses and media.

In the coming weeks, the new drivers will come to the Association office in Montgomery for training and tips on public speaking.

The Alabama Road Team is a free service to the public and available upon request to any group needing a speaker to inform or entertain. Presentations include Share the Road demonstrations, driver safety, industry promotion, and a variety of other topics.

For more information, contact Tim Fra-

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ELD exemption requests from 10 groups denied by FMCSA Matt Cole of Commercial Carrier Journal reports that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently denied 10 ELD exemption requests from various trade organizations and associations.

According to CCJ, In a Federal Register notice published Friday, Dec. 7, the FMCSA announced the denial of 10 electronic logging device exemption requests the following groups: Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association: OOIDA asked the agency for a five-year exemption for small trucking businesses that do not have an “unsatisfactory” safety rating and have no at-fault crashes.

FMCSA said in its denial that the association’s request challenged the basis of the ELD rule itself rather than justifying an exemption and provided no consideration “of the significant difficulty that would be encountered in trying to identify and validate drivers who meet the proposed exemption criteria, especially during roadside inspections.”

Power and Communication Contractors Association: PCCA requested that carriers and drivers operating trucks in the power and

communications construction industry be allowed to use paper logs instead of ELDs. The group said these drivers spend considerable time off-road on varying jobsites, and a single truck may have multiple drivers each day, moving the truck short distances around a jobsite. The group added that the drivers spend a limited time driving on public roads.

FMCSA’s denial said the agency couldn’t ensure the exemption would provide a requisite level of safety.

Western Equipment Dealers Association: WEDA requested an ELD exemption on behalf of several organization and their members that would eliminate the requirement for agricultural equipment dealers to install ELDs in their trucks. The group said equipment dealer operations in agriculture “present unique circumstances that warrant the requested exemption and that the failure to grant it would pose an undue burden” on dealers and their customers.

FMCSA denied the exemption because it could not ensure an adequate level of safety.

Association of Energy Service Companies: The requested exemption would have, if granted, allowed drivers of well service rigs to use paper logs instead of ELDs when exceeding the short-haul exemption requirements. The group said complying with the Continued on page 26

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News ELD mandate would be “overly burdensome” for well service rig contractors who spend little time on public roads.

FMCSA again said the it could not ensure that the exemption would provide an adequate level of safety in its denial.

Cudd Energy Services: Cudd’s exemption request was for its “specially-trained drivers of specially-constructed” trucks used in oilfield operations. It would have, if granted, allowed the drivers to use paper logs instead of ELDs. FMCSA denied the request because it couldn’t ensure it would meet safety requirements.

SikhsPAC and North American Punjabi Trucker Association: These groups sought an ELD exemption on behalf of their fresh produce shippers and small truck business members. The exemption would have allowed members to delay using ELDs for one year from the Dec. 18, 2017, compliance date.

The groups said the exemption would give

26

the marketplace time to develop cost-effective and practical solutions for ELDs. FMCSA denied the request because the information provided “failed to distinguish the drivers who would be included under the exemption” and that it failed to show how the exemption would meet the same level of safety as using ELDs. American Disposal Service: The trash hauling and recycling company sought an exemption from both ELDs and paper logs because it doesn’t believe ELDs can accurately record driving time when the truck makes constant short movements with the driver often exiting the truck. The company normally operates under the multiple stop rule, treating all stops in a town as one, and the 100 air-mile radius short-haul exemption.

However, its drivers sometimes exceed the 12hour driving limit eight days out of 30, which would require the company to install ELDs. FMCSA said ADS did not clearly explain how its non-use of ELDs and its discontinued use of paper logs would be as safe as operating under hours of service rules.

Towing and Recovery Association of America: TRAA requested a five-year exemption of drivers of trucks owned or leased to providers of towing, recovery and roadside repair services while performing those services.

The group said its operations warrant an

ELD exemption, and that it planned to continue using paper logs and reviewing the logs to verify their accuracy.

FMCSA’s denial said that would have provided a comparable level of safety provided by paper logs before the ELD mandate, but it is not equivalent to the safety that ELDs provide.

National Electrical Contractors Association: This group requested an ELD exemption for those who install, repair and maintain the infrastructure of electrical utilities. The group said in its request that it believes ELDs would burden its members unnecessarily, and it proposed to continue using paper logs.

FMCSA said it was unable to determine from the request whether operations under the exemption would equal the safety benefits of ELDs. Agricultural Retailers Association: ARA requested the exemption for its members who are retailers and distributors of farm-related products and services. It said in its request its members rely on commercial vehicles to deliver products and services to farms, and that its members were not prepared to meet the Dec. 18, 2017, deadline and sought postponement of the ELD mandate.

FMCSA said it couldn’t determine if the same level of safety would be achieved with the exemption as with ELDs.

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Dempsey Continued from page 12 knew I wanted to get into heavy equipment. I was drawn to the power of diesel machinery, but more than anything, it just seemed like it would be the better career choice for me and lead to more opportunity.”

In diesel school, Dempsey concentrated on truck engines, keeping his course load geared towards that. He finished his degree in 18 months and was recommended for a job with Truckworx by his diesel program instructors. He was placed on the second shift, working under the guidance of a more experienced technician Keith Simpson.

“Keith taught me nearly everything I know,” Dempsey recalls.

“He’s really great at troubleshooting electrical wiring, which is difficult, and he helped me while I was going through training here. My first bay was next to his, and we worked side-by-side for about a year. If I had questions or needed help, he was right there, so that worked out really well for me as I was getting started here.”

Today, Dempsey’s niche is Paccar engines, which, he says, along with Cummins and Caterpillar, is all the dealership services. “I can work on all of them,” he says. “I can also do bumper-to-bumper work and I’m certified in a lot of it, but the Paccar engine work is what I do mostly now because of my training.”

Working second shift takes some time to grow accustomed to. A typical workday for Dempsey starts when he arrives at the dealership around 2 p.m. He changes from his street clothes into his uniform and work boots in the locker room and clocks in by 2:30 p.m.

He tries to grab two to three jobs at a time, pulling the trucks into his bay to get started on his tasks for the day. “The longer you do this,

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the more tricks and steps you learn to maximize your time,” he says.

Most nights he leaves work by 11:30 p.m., but occasionally, he’ll stay later to finish a job if the shop is backed up or a customer needs a rushed repair.

Second shift has its advantages and disadvantages, he says, but he’s used to the schedule. Spending time with his wife, Brittany, is harder during the week, since she works, too, but they manage their time accordingly.

“She’s usually asleep when I get home, and I’m asleep when she leaves in the mornings, so we don’t see each other a lot during the week,” he explains. “Neither of us work weekends, so we spend time together then,” he says. “We catch up on chores around the house.

For fun, we play paintball at a course near the house. We have a team of friends who we play with, some of them work here, and we all travel around the state about twice a month to play in big events.

It’s just a way to relax and have a good time for us.”

As far as his career choice, Dempsey says he’s more than pleased with the diesel service industry. “I’m not meant for a desk job; I would not be able to stand that for long,” he says. “This is a great fit for me. I’m not built to stay still for long periods of time – which is actually an advantage in this field.”

Another advantage, he tells, is his education investment compared to earnings potential. “I took out student loans to pay for college, and after only a few years I’ve nearly paid them all back,” he says. “My sister graduated five years ago in nursing from the University of Alabama, and she still has a lot left on her loans to repay – and as far as pay goes, we’re both making about the same money. Trade jobs are not for everyone, but these days they seem to be a great choice for a lot of kids. The trades shouldn’t be overlooked.”

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ROUNDUP T RU C K I N G I N D U S T RY

TRUK PAC-backed candidates win 66 of 67 contested races in recent General Election

Last month’s election was an incredible success for the Alabama Trucking Association’s political arm, TRUK PAC. The 2018 General Elections saw all but one of the 67 TRUK PAC candidates win their respective races. In all, ATA’s political action committee spent $939,500 during the 2018 election cycle including the primaries, run-offs and general election, with 86 cents of every dollar spent on the winning candidates.

In statewide races, TRUK PAC was on the winning side in the contests for Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Treasurer and Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries. Furthermore, TRUK PAC candidates won most of the seats on the State’s Courts. Regarding the State Legislative races, TRUK PAC endorsed candidates won 29 of the 35 Senate seats (83 percent) and 79 of the 105 House seats (75percent).

“Trucking moves more than 80 percent of the state’s manufactured goods and provides 1-out-of-every-14 jobs in the state,” said ATA President and CEO Frank Filgo.

“Given the election results, the Alabama Trucking Association is confident that these elected officials understand the vital role trucking plays in the state’s economy, and they will work to help our industry provide the safest and most efficient goods movement system possible. Further, adequately funding Alabama’s highway infrastructure will be a priority for our Association, and we also believe these candidates will provide the best opportunity to move our state forward with better and safer roads for all.”

ATRI compiles annual Industry’s Top 10 Concerns List The American Transportation Research Institute, the trucking industry’s not-forprofit research institute, today unveiled its Top Industry Issues report, which includes the list of the top ten critical issues facing the North American trucking industry. For the second year in a row, the driver shortage is the top-ranked issue.

The need to recruit qualified truck drivers 30

State Republicans to push gas tax increase next session

Mike Cason of Al.com writes that fresh off a successful election, Alabama’s Republican governor and the leaders of the Alabama House and Senate will promote a gas tax increase as part of a plan to upgrade roads, bridges and other infrastructure across the state.

Cason reported that Gov. Kay Ivey, House Speaker Mac McCutcheon and Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh all agree that improving and adding capacity to the state’s highway system and replacing hundreds of bridges is at or near the top of their priorities.

“We’ve talked about this for three years,” McCutcheon told Al.com. “The traffic congestion on our major arteries is getting to the point that it’s holding up travel times. So, at the end of the day, we’ve got to address this.”

Alabama has not increased its gasoline tax since 1992, when it added a nickel a gallon.

Proponents of an increase say the money raised by the 18-cents per gallon state tax has lagged demands for road construction and maintenance.

A 2017 proposal to raise the tax by 4 cents a gallon that year, 2 cents in 2019 and 3 cents in 2024 failed to muster enough support for a vote on the House floor.

The federal gasoline tax, 18.4 cents per gallon, has not changed since 1993.

“It (the state tax) hasn’t changed in 26 years,” Marsh said. “We’ve got people driving more efficient cars, putting more miles on the road. And we’ve got serious infrastructure concerns. We’ve got 400 bridges of the state slated for repair or replacement. We’ve got major highways that need repair right now. All we’re able to do is just basically a repaving program.”

Republicans added to their already dominant majorities in the House and Senate. They now hold 77 of 105 seats in the House and 27 of 35 in the Senate.

The new Legislature meets in an organizational session in January and begins the regular session in March 2019. is not a new issue for the industry. In fact, the Driver Shortage has been a top-three issue in 12 out of the 14 years that ATRI has conducted this survey. However, the driver shortage has held firm as the number one issue as strong freight demand and an aging workforce increase pressure on motor carriers to recruit and retain the best talent The complete results of the annual survey, which generated more than 1,500 responses from motor carriers and commercial drivers, were released today at the 2018 American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference and Exhibition in Austin, Texas. The ATRI Top Industry Issues report also includes prioritized strategies for addressing each issue.

The number two issue in this year’s survey is the Hours-of-Service rules, driven in large part by the industry’s call for increased flexibility in the rules, particularly the sleeper berth provision. Reflecting the industry’s challenges in recruiting and retaining professional drivers, this year’s number three issue is Driver Retention, up two spots from last year.

Industry concern over the ELD Mandate

has abated some since the final rule went into effect last December, as evidenced by a drop in ranking from the number two issue in 2017 to the number four issue this year. The lack of available truck parking rounds out this year’s top five but remains as the number two issue among commercial drivers.

“I’ve spent the past year traveling the country as ATA Chairman and everywhere I go, people talk about how we’ve got to resolve our workforce challenges if we’re going to keep this nation’s economy moving forward,” said Dave Manning, TCW, Inc. President. “ATRI’s annual analysis lays out the industry’s preferred strategies for not only addressing our workforce issues, but HOS, truck parking, and congestion as well.”

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

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From the President Continued from page 2

ing preemption on the grounds that California’s redundant meal and rest breaks impede federal safety standards. The sheer lack of available parking alone has forced our drivers to park in unsafe conditions, putting themselves and the motoring public at an elevated risk.

Obstruction is no substitute for the truth. Approval of ATA’s petition will put safety first, preserve interstate commerce, and deliver justice on behalf of our industry. And I am confident that justice will soon prevail.

For the last two years, ATA has been at the table on trade, educating negotiators on how 76 percent of NAFTA freight relies on trucking, supporting more than 47,000 U.S. trucking employees, including more than 31,000 dedicated U.S. truck drivers.

And, NAFTA freight generated $6.6 billion in revenue for our industry just last year.

We want to increase those numbers and having a revised agreement that provides sustainable growth for our industry is key.

We commend the President and his team of negotiators for reaching an agreement

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with Mexico – holding U.S. investments in Mexican trucking companies harmless – and bringing terms with Canada to a close.

The new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement will govern nearly $1.2 trillion in trade, bring certainty to our industry and the American economy; and, allow this Administration to now fully focus on reaching new agreements with Europe and China.

Meanwhile, our commitment to safety is unmatched, nearing $10 billion a year in training and technology investments. The ELD fight was one of the toughest fought battles. I’m proud of ATA for holding the line. The rule is now in effect and with less than one percent of drivers inspected being cited for not having an ELD when required, Hours of Service violations have now reached an all-time low.

Now is the time for the FMCSA to make sensible changes to the federal HOS regulations. ELDs make more data available to the industry than before, enabling ATA to advocate common-sense improvements to these rules and allowing us to tighten the reigns on detention time.

Coupled with ATRI’s recent report on Hours of Service Flexibility, we now have the tools to produce measurable results.

ATA commends Administrator Martinez for his leadership, his willingness to listen to

our industry and for acknowledging the need for flexibility. We look forward to helping his agency shape this outcome in the coming months.

Both ATA and FMCSA are working together to further develop the Department of Transportation’s 3.0 Automated Vehicle guidance, released earlier this month. Commercial vehicles have a say in this debate, where improvements in safety, efficiency and productivity can accelerate voluntary adoption of driver-assist technologies.

Since joining the Safety Spectrum Coalition, ATA locked arms with the auto industry as a strategic partner of the Automotive Information Sharing and Analysis Center, or Auto ISAC, developing cybersecurity protocols. I had the privilege this year to address the General Assembly of the International Road Transport Union in Geneva, sharing the policies produced by ATA’s Automated Truck Subcommittee and how we’re working with the DOT to establish an innovation-based federal framework.

The opportunity also revealed how far ahead the U.S. is in this process compared to the rest of the world, underscoring why leadership and benchmarking matters.

We’ve seen nine states and Canada legalize recreational marijuana, all while the naContinued on page 32

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tion fights the tragic spread of opioid use.

This reality points again to our values and how this great industry can advocate a safe and drug-free workforce. ATA is working with federal regulators to finally allow hair testing as an alternative means of employment screening.

We call on the FMCSA to press forward with the Drug Clearinghouse and make sensible, corrective changes to CSA. And ATA is asking the FMCSA and Congress to grant us access to our nation’s youngest talent pool. When a young person choses drugs, the result is most often irreversible.

We need to be in the schools, recruiting our future workforce at the earliest age possible giving them a path and purpose with an industry that can provide a solid career and long-term prosperity.

With a strong economy, our industry’s challenges just got bigger. The chronic driver and technician shortages are now topfold, national news, fueled by consumer confidence, a well above-average retirement age, and erroneous claims that our trucks will soon be driverless.

Our Workforce Development Policy Committee wasted no time producing a menu of legislative and regulatory initiatives that will help shore up the shortage. And beyond all the social goodwill that comes

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from engaging our nation’s youth, the truth of the matter is… we need them.

Forty-eight states already allow an 18year-old to drive intrastate. That works well in Texas and California, but not so great in states like New Hampshire or Vermont.

Building on FMCSA’s pilot project that allows 18- to 21-year-olds with military truck driving experience to drive trucks as civilians in interstate commerce, ATA is advocating the Drive-Safe Act. This federal legislation would require 400 hours of on-duty, apprenticeship-based training, including 240 hours of drive-time with an accompanying experienced driver in the cab in order for an 18- to 21-year-old to operate across state lines.

Moreover, all trucks used for training in this program would need to be equipped with safety technology, including active braking collision mitigation systems, a video event capture system, and a speed governor set at 65 miles per hour or below.

Despite all that, some of the so-called safety groups oppose this proposal outright.

Where do these same obstructionists stand on sending an 18-year-old off to fight our wars to defend our freedom? If they’re paying attention, they’d know that our nation’s military is largely made up of 18- to 21-year-olds, including my 19-year-old son.

This past summer, I had the privilege to fly out and spend a couple days on the USS Abraham Lincoln, a $4.7 billion aircraft carrier. While on the captain’s deck, I watched an 18-year-old female sailor at the helm take orders to steer a vessel that’s 104,000 tons of displacement, 1,092 ft. in length, housing 90 aircraft worth up to $30 million apiece and two nuclear reactors.

When deployed, the Lincoln is home to 5,500 souls. Why can this young, talented sailor be trusted to steer this massive warship, but not be allowed to drive across state lines in a truck? The answer is simple.

Training. We can no longer afford to wait until drivers come our way. We must be allowed to compete for the same talent as other industries and teach them to safely and responsibly operate this equipment.

Leveraging ATRI’s Younger Driver Assessment Tool, ATA is also working to streamline state credentialing requirements, hire more veterans and exiting servicemen and women and help our federal, state and city officials channel urban talent into our industry – with an emphasis on minorities and women.

With an average driver salary of $55,000, a figure that continues to climb, ours is an immediate, barrier-free path to the middle class – without having to obtain a college de-

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gree and the debt that often comes with it.

It’s for all these reasons I’m so pleased and honored to announce here today that Mack Trucks has approved the addition of yet another Mack Anthem model to our ATA fleet.

This amazing truck will be driven by the same professional truck drivers, our Share the Road professional truck drivers, who are also the heart of the Mack-sponsored Share-TheRoad effort, in honor and support of military veteran recruiting, hiring and training.

ATA is now well-positioned for an infrastructure debate, which we expect to occur in 2019. The premise of our Build America Fund now has the support of the business community, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as the most conservative and immediate way to fund and fix our nations’ ailing roads and bridges. Trucks are four percent of all vehicles on our nation’s highways, we pay half the tab into the Highway Trust Fund and we’re willing to pay $340 billion more over the next 10 years. The Build America Fund is real money, not fake funding like P3’s and asset recycling. Our proposal is less than one cent on the dollar to administer, shores up the near-broke Trust Fund and doesn’t add a dime to our nation’s deficit.

This debate couldn’t come at a more critical time. ATRI’s latest Cost of Congestion report shows 1.2 billion hours of lost indus-

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try productivity – or 425,533 truck drivers sitting idle for an entire year. That’s a $74.5 billion hit to our industry. Congress must have the courage to vote in favor of funding their constituents’ roads and bridges. It’s our responsibility to remain engaged, put these facts squarely on the table and hold our elected officials accountable. If we’re going to win this fight, we must accept it for what it is: a full contact sport.

Our voice is not only being heard on Capitol Hill, but also in the courts. This year, ATA and three carriers filed suit in U.S. District Court against the State of Rhode Island, arguing that the state’s truck-only tolls are unconstitutional. Here’s what the state DOT had to say: “The tractor-trailer tolling program is meeting or exceeding our performance and revenue expectations.

It will benefit the users of Rhode Island’s bridges and ensure that they are repaired and paid for in a fair and equitable manner.” Let me reiterate that last part: “fair and equitable?”

The RhodeWorks program discriminates against our industry and is entirely designed to cover up the state’s own budgetary mismanagement and shortfalls.

Truck tolling schemes are now being considered in several states, including Connecticut and Virginia.

Indiana’s governor recently announced a 35 percent toll increase for trucks only on a privately owned, Indiana Toll Road.

In return, the state gets a $1 billion, sweetheart loan for non-infrastructure projects, leaving the trucking industry on the hook to pay it all back.

It is worth noting that this comes just months after the industry endorsed a major statewide fuel tax increase to fund infrastructure. That’s extortion and it must stop.

ATA has an obligation to flank our state association executives and protect the federation from flawed, and potentially contagious tolling policies that could eventually have national implications. To that end, it’s ATA’s intention to ramp up its Litigation Center and leverage our full ability to influence outcomes.

And with the growing number of state actions threatening seamless interstate commerce, ATA is working closer than ever with its state association executives and members to combat senseless policies put forth by special interest groups.

To that end, ATA will be announcing this week the Independent Contractor Ambassadors Program. These Ambassadors will represent independent truckers before key decision makers…explaining first-hand why Continued on page 34

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they choose this entrepreneurial path that provides them flexibility, the opportunity to build their own business, and to spend more time with family.

And ATA is taking steps to strengthen its relationship with our partners in the law enforcement community. This year, ATA and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance combined the National Truck Driving Championships with the North American Inspectors Championship for what turned out to be a resounding success.

We held our first Law Enforcement Summit to identify and pursue solutions to issues ranging from human and sex trafficking to cargo theft.

Now let me bring it all back to those values. Last year, we announced the formation and funding of ATA’s Trucking Cares Foundation. The Foundations’ Board of Directors has since been appointed and thanks to the generous support of member companies and individuals, Trucking Cares is now ready to support several initiatives that will impact the lives of many who need our help.

Trucking Cares Foundation is also about recognizing the contributions many of you make without any notice or fanfare…people who are all about giving back.

Herschel Evans is with us this morning.

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For over three decades, Herschel has worked as a driver-trainer for – Holland, is a certified heavy-duty technician and a proud America’s Road Team Captain.

Herschel has accumulated three million accident-free miles and was awarded CVSA’s 2018 International Driver Excellence Award. He is also a six-time competitor at National Truck Driver Championships and a 12-time competitor at the state level and just last year, he was Georgia’s Grand Champion. Like many of Herschel’s professional colleagues he’s a warrior.

Yet today, we recognize Herschel for something more… for going that extra mile to make a difference in the lives of others.

Three years ago, Herschel started a truck rodeo called the Safety Drive for a Cure, a truck safety and skills competition benefiting the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

Hundreds of drivers traveled from across the country to compete at the Atlanta Holland terminal, improving their safety skills and supporting a cause. Last year, Safety Drive for a Cure raised $30,550 with 116 drivers competing from 21 states with 31 sponsors.

Herschel is also involved in the Convoy of Care, helping deliver critical supplies to families affected by major natural disasters, such as the flooding in Baton Rouge, torna-

do victims in southern Georgia, flood victims in Houston, Texas and most recently with Florence and Michael relief.

And with this award, ATA’s Trucking Cares Foundation is providing Herschel a check in the amount of $5,000, made out to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

Congratulations Herschel, and well done, warrior.

Ladies and gentlemen, there are countless others like Herschel out there. And next year, it could be you who is being recognized for going that extra mile. Thank you.

GOT NEWS? Send to Ford Boswell at

fboswell@AlabamaTrucking.org

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

Application For Membership Motor Carrier: ___

Private: ___

Household Goods: ___

Allied Industry: ___

Your Dues Amount: $ __________________ (please fill in by using dues chart) Firm Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________ Address: (Box)________________________________(Street) ____________________________________________ City, State & Zip: ________________________________________________________________________________ DOT Number: ______________________________________ Number of Trucks: __________________ __________ Telephone: (______) ____________________ Fax (______) ____________________ 800/ ______________________ Website Address:

________________________________________________________________________________

Type of Business: ________________________________________________________________________________ Official Representative : ________________________________Title: ______________________________________ Email address:

__________________________________________________________________________________

Alternate Representative: ________________________________Title: ______________________________________ Email address:

__________________________________________________________________________________

Signed: ________________________________Date: ________Referred by: ________________________________ CONTRIBUTIONS OR GIFTS TO THE ALABAMA TRUCKING ASSOCIATION, INC., ARE NOT DEDUCTIBLE AS CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS. HOWEVER, A PORTION OF YOUR DUES ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE AS ORDINARY AND NECESSARY BUSINESS EXPENSES.

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY CODE # _________________ Date _________________________

Mbr Type ____________________

Nxt Bill Date __________________

Check # ______________________

Dues Cat _____________________

AL Sen ______________________

Dues Amt ____________________

Freq _________________________

AL Hse ______________________

Mbr Class ____________________

Exp Date _____________________

CG Dist ______________________

MAG ______ MC ______ GC ______ YR ______ LTR/PLQ ______ RSL ______ BC ______

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Schedule of Membership Dues (Effective July 1, 2017)

A. For-Hire Motor Carriers (Membership dues are based on truck count; maximum of $4,000) $500 plus $20 per truck

B. Private Carriers (Schedule based on miles traveled in Alabama) $300 ..............................for up to 1 million miles $600 ..............................for 1,000,000 up to 4 million miles $900 ..............................for 4,000,001 up to 7 million miles $1,200 ...........................for 7,000,001 up to 10 million miles $1,500 ...........................for 10,000,001 up to 13 million miles $1,800 ...........................for 13,000,001 miles up to 16 million miles $2,100 ...........................for 16,000,001 up to 19 million miles $2,400 ...........................for 19,000,000 up to 21 million miles $2,800 ...........................for 21,000,000 up to 24 million miles $3,100 ...........................for over 24 million miles

C. Household Goods Carriers (Schedule based on intrastate revenue only) $420 ..............................for under $100,000 $480 ..............................for $100,001 up to $150,000 $540 ..............................for $150,000 up to $200,000 $660 ..............................for $201,001 up to $250,000 $780 ..............................for $250,001 up to $300,000 $900 ..............................for $300,001 up to $400,000 $1,200 ...........................for $400,001 and over

D. Allied Industry (Those who service and equip the trucking industry) $600 annually

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.

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2018 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.

Alabama Trucking Assn.’s Buyer’s Guide lists those companies that have taken an active role in supporting Alabama’s trucking industry by becoming members of the Association. We ask that each time you plan a purchase that you consult this guide and give ATA members the opportunity to gain your business. These companies proudly support your association and deserve your support, as well.

ADVERTISING/PUBLISHING Randall-Reilly (205) 349-2990 www.randallreilly.com

ENGINE MANUFACTURERS Cummins Sales & Service (901) 488-8033 www.salesandservice.cummins.com

AUTO DEALER (SERVICE OR REPAIR) Faucett Motors of Boaz, Inc. (256) 593-7162

EQUIPMENT LEASING CB Repair & Trailer Maintenance, Inc. (205) 338-0943

BUS SALES & SERVICE Southland International Trucks, Inc. (205) 942-6226 www.southlandtrucks.com Transportation South, Inc. (205) 663-2287 www.thebuscenter.com Ward International Trucks, LLC (251) 433-5616 www.wardintltrucks.com

CHEMICAL PRODUCTS Rushing Enterprises, Inc. (334) 693-3318 www.rushingenterprises.com COMMUNICATIONS/ELECTRONICS Blackberry Radar (678) 429-3900 www.blackberry.com/radar J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. (920) 722-2848 www.jjkellerservices.com Omnitracs, LLC (615) 594-7565 www.omnitracs.com Orbcomm, Inc. (703) 433-7763 www.orbcomm.com Peloton Technology (650) 395-7356 www.peloton-tech.com PeopleNet (888) 346-3486 www.peoplenetonline.com SmartDrive Systems (858) 225-5551 www.smartdrive.net

DRIVER STAFFING TransForce, Inc. (205) 916-0259 www.transforce.com Transportation Support, Inc. (205) 833-6336 www.transportationsupport.com

EDUCATION & TRAINING J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. (920) 722-2848 www.jjkellerservices.com JP Transportation Safety Consulting, LLC (205) 329-8182 (205) 945-8550 www.jptsc.com Transportation Safety Services (251) 661-9700 www.transportationsafetyservices.com USA Driver-s, Inc. (205) 661-0712 www.usadrivers.com Vertical Alliance Group, Inc. (205) 585-3895 www.infinitiworkforce.com

KLLM/Equipment Solutions LLC (205) 515-1478 www.equipmentsolution.com Metro Trailer Rental (205) 985-8701 www.metrotrailer.com Southern Truck & Equipment, Inc. (251) 653-4716 www.southerntruck.net Southland International Trucks, Inc. (205) 942-6226 www.southlandtrucks.com

BMO Transportation Finance (770) 960-6307 www.BMOTF.com Comdata, Inc. 615-376-6917 www.comdata.com Commercial Credit Group, Inc. (704) 731-0031 www.commercialcreditgroup.com Corporate Financial Services, LLC (334) 215-4499 www.cfs401k.com Crestmark Bank 615-620-3509 www.crestmark.com Electronic Funds Source, LLC (615) 777-4619 www.efsllc.com

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

Carlisle Medical, Inc. (251) 344-7988 www.carlislemedical.com

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

ErgoScience, Inc. (205) 879-6447 www.ergoscience.com

Dozier Insurance Agency LLC (334) 420-3798 www.doziertruckinsurance.com

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

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

Safety First-Div. of Behavioral Health Systems (205) 443-5450 www.bhs-inc.com

Great West Casualty Co. (865) 392-3752 www.gwccnet.com Hudgens Insurance, Inc. (334) 289-2695 www.hudgensinsurance.com Hudson Insurance Company (317) 810-2038 www.hudsoninsgroup.com JH Berry Risk Services, LLC (205) 208-1238 www.jhbrisk.com

First Tennessee Bank (615) 734-6046

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

Trailer Sales of Tennessee A Fleet Equipment Co. (615) 259-3301 www.trailersalesoftennessee.com

IBERIABANK (251) 345-9676 www.IBERIABANK.com

Liberty Mutual Group (804) 380-5169 www.libertymutual,com

National Bank of Commerce (205) 422-7111

EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING Daehan Solution Alabama, LLC (334) 301-3498

People’s Capital & Leasing Corp.

(205) 856-9354 www.peoples.com

Lyon Fry Cadden Insurance (251) 473-4600 www.lyonfrycaden.com

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

Eaton Corp./Roadranger Field Marketing People’s United Equipment Finance Corp.

(334) 398-1410 (205) 664-9374 www.roadranger.com www.puefc.com EQUIPMENT PARTS/ACCESSORIES Renasant Bank Allison Transmission, Inc. (334) 301-5955 (678) 367-7011 www.renasantbank.com www.allisontransmission.com

Workforce QA dba EDPM (205) 326-3100 www.edpm.com

NON-PETROLEUM FUEL PRODUCTS GAIN Clean Fuel – Div. of US Oil (804) 291-7892 www.gainfuel.com Pivotal LNG (404) 783-3550 www.pivotallng.com

PETROLEUM PRODUCTS Davison Fuels & Oil (251) 544-4511 Jack Green Oil Co., Inc. (256) 831-1038 Kimbro Oil Company (615) 320-7484 www.kimbrooil.com Major Oil Company, Inc. (334) 263-9070 www.unitedfoodandfuel.com

McGriff Insurance Services (334) 674-9810 www.regionsinsurance.com

Myers Oil Company, Inc. (954) 938-7211

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

RelaDyne (205) 384-3422 www.reladyne.com

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

Shell Oil Products US (601) 529-7244 www.shell.com

Dothan Tarpaulin Products, Inc. (800) 844-8277 www.dothantarp.com

Santander Bank. N.A. (205) 414-7554 www.santanderbank.com

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

The McPherson Companies (205) 661-4400 www.mcphersonoil.com

Hwaseung Automotive America Holdings, Inc. (334) 348-7516

ServisFirst Bank (205) 949-3433 www.servisfirstbank.com

One Beacon (609) 613-0010 www.onebeacontransportation.com

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

Imperial Supplies LLC (920) 496-4334 www.imperialsupplies.com

Signature Financial, LLC (423) 290-9986

Palomar Insurance Corp.

(334) 270-0105 www.palomarinsurance.com

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

Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems 334/798-0080 www.arvinmeritor.com

Trucking Partners, LLC Sales Agency & Factoring (256) 737-8788 www.truckingpartners.com

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

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

Wells Fargo Equipment Finance (314) 374-2165 www.wellsfargo.com

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

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

INSURANCE Aon Risk Solutions (501) 374-9300 www.aon.com/transportation

Trans Con Assurance, LTD (205) 978-7070 www.transconassurance.com

Star Truck Parts (205) 324-4681 Thermo King of B’ham-Dothan-MobileMontgomery-Chattanooga (205) 591-2424 www.midstatetk.com W.W. Williams (205) 252-9025 (334) 279-6083 www.wwwilliams.com

FINANCIAL SERVICES BB & T Commercial Banking (205) 445-2464 www.bbt.com

Aronov Insurance, Inc. (205) 414-9575 www.aronovinsurance.com BancorpSouth Insurance Services, Inc. (334) 386-3317 www.bxsi.com The Baxter Agency (334) 678-6800 www.baxteragency.com Benton & Parker Insurance Services (770) 536-8340 www.bentonandparker.com

TransRisk, LLC (334) 403-4114 www.transriskllc.com

Katz, Sapper & Miller, LLP (317) 580-2068 www.ksmcpa.com Parker, Gill, Eisen & Stevenson, P.C. (334) 387-9813 www.pgescpa.com Warren Averett (256) 739-0312 www.warrenaverett.com

Turner & Hamrick L.L.C. (334) 566-7665 www.turnerhamrick.com

Attorneys: Adams and Reese LLP (205) 250-5091 www.adamsandreese.com

York Risk Services Group (205) 581-9488 www.yorkrsg.com

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

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

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

ATA_4Q18.qxp_11751 ATA 12/11/18 7:47 AM Page 39

(Current as of 11-27-18) Ball, Ball, Matthews & Novak, P.A. 334-387-7680 www.ball-ball.com

Max Coating, Inc. (205) 849-2737 www.maxcoating.com

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

Great Dane (205) 324-3491 www.greatdane.com

Peterbilt Motors Company (770) 330-7014 www.peterbilt.com

Burr-Forman LLP (205) 458-3393 www.burr.com

MCG Workforce (251) 652-5244 www.mcgworkforce.com

Eufaula Trucking Co., Inc. (334) 689-8586

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

Rush Truck Center-Mobile (251) 459-7300 www.rushofmobile.com

Carr, Allison, Pugh, Howard, Oliver & Sisson, P.C. (251) 626-9340 www.carrallison.com

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

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

SelecTrucks of Alabama (205) 322-6695 www.selectrucksofalabama.com

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

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

Southeast Trailer Mart, Inc. (404) 361-6411 www.stmtrailers.com

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

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

Truckworx Kenworth - Birmingham (205) 326-6170 www.TRUCKWORX.com

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

Truckworx Kenworth – Dothan (334) 712-4900 www.TRUCKWORX.com

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

Truckworx Kenworth – Montgomery (334) 263-3101 www.TRUCKWORX.com

DeLashmet & Marchand, P.C. (251) 433-1577 www.delmar-law.com Dodson Gregory, LLP (205) 834-9170 www.dodsongregory.com Ferguson, Frost, Moore & Young LLP (205) 879-8722 www.ffmylaw.com Fisher & Phillips, LLP (404) 231-1400 www.laborlawyers.com Friedman, Dazzio, Zulanas & Bowling, P.C. (205) 278-7000 www.friedman-lawyers.com Hand Arendall Harrison Sale LLC (251) 432-5511 www.handarendall.com Hill, Hill, Carter, Franco, Cole & Black, P.C. (334) 834-7600 www.hillhillcarter.com James M. Sizemore, Jr. (334) 215-9330 Porterfield, Harper, Mills, Motlow, Ireland PA (205) 980-5000 www.phm-law.com Speegle, Hoffman, Holman & Holifield, LLC (251) 694-1700 www.speeglehoffman.com Starnes Davis Florie LLP (205) 868-6000 www.starneslaw.com

Other Services: ACTS/Anytime Consulting Transportation Services (334) 405-4971 Allstate Beverage (251) 476-9600 Ext. 1231 C Cross Logistics, LLC (205) 759-1818 Corporate Billing, LLC (256) 584-3600 www.corpbill.com Drivewyze (780) 461-3355 www.drivewyze.com

Metro PictureWorks, Inc. (205) 252-0304 www.metropictureworks.com Motor Carrier Safety Consulting (205) 871-4455 North American Commercial Vehicle Show (416) 459-2365 www.nacvshow.com Porter Billing Services LLC (205) 397-4079 www.porterbillingservices.com Power South Energy Cooperative (334) 427-3207 www.powersouth.com

Mann Automotive Diesel, Inc. (334) 792-0456 Rowe Management Corp.

(205) 486-9235 www.rowemachinery.com Southern Truck Center, Inc. (205) 226-0880 www.southerntruckcenter.com Star Leasing Co. (205) 763-1280 www.starleasing.com W.W. Williams (205) 252-9025 (334) 279-6083 www.wwwilliams.com

QuikQ LLC (678) 591-4675 www.quikq.com

TIRE DEALERS & MANUFACTURERS Utility Trailer Sales of Alabama LLC Best One Tire & Service (334) 794-7345 (615) 244-9611 www.utilityalabama.com www.bestonetire.com

Spectrum Environmental Services, Inc. (205) 664-2000 www.specenviro.com

Bridgestone Commercial Solutions (205) 514-8341 www.trucktires.com

Swift Supply, Inc. (251) 929-9399 www.swiftsupply.com

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

Tax2290.com/ThinkTrade Inc. (866) 245-3918 www.tax2290.com

Columbus Tire Company dba Complete Tire and Service (706) 321-8133 www.columbustireco.com

Team One Logistics (770) 232-9902 www.teamonelogistics.com

Continental Tire North America (662) 549-7570 www.continental-truck.com

TMW Systems, Inc. (440) 721-2260 www.tmwsystems.com

GCR Tire Centers (407) 466-5907 www.gcrtires.com

Transportation and Logistical Services, Inc (205) 226-5500 www.tlsincorp.com

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (708) 557-3406 www.goodyeartrucktires.com

Transportation Billing Solutions, LLC (205) 788-4000

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

Transportation Compliance Services, USA (228) 872-7160 www.dottrucksafety.com

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

Transportation Safety Services (251) 661-9700 www.transportationsafetyservices.com Trucking Partners, LLC Sales Agency & Factoring (256) 737-8788 www.truckingpartners.com

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

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

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

Birmingham Frame & Alignment, LLC (205) 322-4844 birminghamframeandalignment.com

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

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

Lytx DriveCam, Inc. (858) 430-4000 www.lytx.com

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

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

Michelin North America (859) 661-0855 www.michelintruck.com Wilks Tire & Battery Service, Inc. (256) 878-0211 www.wilkstire.com Yokohama Tire Corp.

(317) 385-2611 www.yokohamatire.com

TRUCK DEALERS, MANUFACTURERS Action Truck Center (334) 794-8505 www.actiontruckcenter.com Alabama Freightliner (205) 322-6695 www.birminghamfreightliner.com Birmingham Freightliner (205) 322-6695 www.birminghamfreightliner.com Capital Volvo Truck & Trailer (334) 262-8856 www.capitalvolvo.com Coffman International Trucks (334) 794-4111 www.coffmaninternationaltrucks.com Daimler Trucks NA LLC (803) 554-4831 www.freightlinertrucks.com Empire Truck Sales, LLC (601) 939-1000 www.empiretruck.com Fitzgerald Peterbilt (205) 379-8300 www.fitzgeraldpeterbilt.com Four Star Freightliner (334) 263-1085 (Montgomery) www.fourstarfreightliner.com Long Lewis Western Star (205) 428-0161 www.longlewistrucks.com Mack Trucks, Inc. (678) 201-4770 www.macktrucks.com

TRAILER DEALERS/ MANUFACTURERS C & C Trailers, Inc. (334) 897-2202

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

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

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

Fleetco, Inc. (615) 256-0600 www.fleetco.net

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

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

Performance Peterbilt of West Florida (850) 352-9901 www.performancepeterbilt.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 Volvo Trucks North America (336) 508-4950 www.volvotrucks.volvo.com Ward International Trucks, LLC (251) 433-5616 www.wardintltrucks.com

TRUCK & EQUIPMENT AUCTIONEERS Insurance Auto Auction, Inc. (478) 319-8574 www.iaai.com Jeff Martin Auctioneers, Inc. (601) 450-6200 www.jeffmartinauctioneers.com Taylor & Martin, Inc. (662) 262-4613 www.taylorandmartin.com

TRUCKSTOPS Love’s Travel Stops, Inc. (405) 202-4451 www.loves.com Oasis Travel Center, LLC (251) 960-1122 Pilot Flying J Centers (865) 207-3874 www.pilotflyingj.com TravelCenters of America/Petro Shopping Centers (678) 591-4675 www.Ta-Petro.com

VEHICLE LEASING Penske Truck Leasing (205) 942-9577 www.gopenske.com Southland International Trucks, Inc. (205) 942-6226 www.southlandtrucks.com Ward International Trucks, LLC (251) 433-5616 www.wardintltrucks.com

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ATA

NEW MEMBERS & EVENTS

New Members (from 9-15-2018 to 12-7-2018) All My Sons Moving & Storage of Pensacola, LLC 6208 North 9th Ave. Pensacola, FL 32504 469-461-5000 Angelica Mijares

Corporate Financial Services, LLC P.O. Box 240098 Montgomery, AL 36124-4499 334-215-4499 Malcomb Massey

AMC Transport dba/Motivated Movers 1505 Panorama Drive Birmingham, AL 35216 205-966-0645 Matt Cross

Ham Ground Dervices 3180 Spring Hill Ave. Mobile, AL 36607 251-300-1252 Jordan Anez

C Cross Logistics, LLC P.O. Box 1998 Tuscaloosa, AL 35403 205-759-1818 Beau Wicks

MCG Workforce 308 Saint Michael Street Mobile, AL 36602 251-652-5244 T.J. Etheridge N.G. Whatley Trucking, LLC 175 West Blvd.

Montgomery, AL 36108 334-676-1645 Neal Whatley

PHB, Inc. 4500 Salisbury Road Jacksonville, FL 32216-8057 904-570-9948 Robert Browning

Southeast Trailer Mart, Inc. P.O. Box 810 Ellenwood, GA 30294 404-361-6411 James Veres

RWH Trucking P.O. Box 890 Cullman, AL 35056 866-914-4953 Annette Munger

STACK Corp dba/Motivated Movers 1969 Chandalar Drive, Suite B Pelham, AL 35124 251-621-0063 Coy Elliott

Shell Oil Products US 239 Cockrell Rd Vicksburg, MS 39180 601-529-7244 Kevin Mahoney

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

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

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

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

D V E R T I S I N G

I

N D E X

ADVERTISER

PG. NO.

PH. NO.

ATA WCSIF

BC

(334) 834-7911

www.atacompfund.org

AT&T

3

(888) 809-4432

att.com/pushtotalknow

The Baxter Agency

24

(800) 873-8494

www.baxteragency.com

Birmingham Freightliner

IBC

(205) 322-6695

www.birminghamfreightliner.com

Carrier Transicold South

33

(205) 328-7278

www.ctsouth.com

Counteract

20

(800) 572-8952

www.counteractbalancing.com

FourStar Freightliner

15

(800) 239-8785

www.fourstarfreightliner.com

R.E. Garrison

29

(800) 643-3472

www.regarrison.com

Great West Casualty

23

(800) 228-8053

www.gwccnet.com

Infinit-i

9

(866) 427-8219 www.VAGBootCamp.com/Training

International Trucks

WEB ADDRESS

IFC

(800) 844-4102

www.navistar.com

McGriff Insurance

7

(334) 674-9803

www.McGriffInsurance.com

Nextran Truck Center

21

(800) 292-8685

www.nextrancorp.com

Palomar Insurance

25

(800) 489-0105

www.palomarins.com

Pivotal LNG

25

(713) 300-5116

www.pivotallng.com

Southland Trailer Div.

28

(888) 844-1821

www.southlandtrucks.com

Transportation Safety Services

27

(251) 661-9700

transportationsafetyservices.com

Truckworx Kenworth

11

(800) 444-6170

www.truckworx.com

Turner & Hamrick

22

(888) 385-0186

www.turnerhamrick.com

18-19

(205) 755-2610

www.thomasoil.com

30

(800) 476-6841

www.wardintltrucks.com

WH Thomas Oil Co. Ward International Trucks

40

Unlimited Deliveries LLC dba/MK-Trucking 517 West North St. Suite C Pass Christian, MS 39571 609-892-8037 Mike Kalyn

Shelton Trucking, LLC 1927 1st Ave No., Suite 701 Birmingham, AL 35203 205-788-4000 Brian Barze

A

Wright’s Produce Trucking LLC 1667 Federal Drive Montgomery, AL 36107 334-279-8074 Rodney Wright

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2018

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