Opening Remarks

Mark Colson

President and CEO Alabama Trucking Association

‘(ATA is) willing to be part of a solution, but we believe any funding solution should be fair and equitable to all stakeholders.’ Mobile needs an I-10 bridge, but truckers shouldn’t be the only ones to pay for it

By the time this goes to print, the Mobile and Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) will have added the I-10 Mobile River Bridge project back to their long-range plans and transportation improvement plans.

This step was expected and needed to secure $125 million in federal funds designated for this project and allows for studies to be conducted using federal money to identify solutions for the project. As both MPOs met, the Alabama Trucking Association was there to advocate for our members. (By the way, MPOs are basically committees made up of local politicians such as mayors, city councilmen and county commissioners who make decisions on infrastructure-related projects that use federal money. This process is required by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation).

I want to bring you up to speed on the processes now in place, ATA’s official stance, and how we plan to be a part of the solution.

In adding this project back to their lists, the MPOs have adopted a loosely formed and unsubstantiated concept developed by the Alabama Dept. of Transportation (ALDOT) that proposes paying for the first phase of the $2.1 billion project by tolling large trucks (46 ft.plus) only.

There is universal agreement that a bridge is needed to relieve congestion from the Wallace Tunnel on I-10 in Mobile. And, as the MPOs have met, it has become clear that most of the members of the MPOs and other bridge advocates agree that the truck-only toll concept doesn’t make sense. The floating of this truck-only toll concept by ALDOT allowed for this project to be resurrected by the MPOs and avoid the public backlashes they faced in the past regarding tolling local residents.

However, to bring this project to life, real solutions to pay for the project, other than a truck-only toll, must be studied and identified. Pursuing this current concept any further is a failed approach.

There seems to be a broad acknowledgment of this, but there is still much work to be done (by all stakeholders) to find a real solution. For us, it is a bit odd to speak in “opposition” to something that you support, which is constructing a bridge to relieve congestion on I-10. But how do we pay for it?

In early June, ATA filed public comments with the Mobile MPO on behalf of the trucking industry that outlines our support for finding a solution to pay for the bridge; our concerns with the current proposal; and the many important questions that the current truck-only toll bridge concept presents.

State and local leaders must understand that the trucking industry supports the con struction of a bridge on I-10 to relieve congestion. We are willing to be part of a solution, but we believe any funding solution should be fair and equitable to all stakeholders. Currently, the trucking industry is being asked to pay the same as the state and federal governments combined. Placing 100 percent of the private investment on trucking while we are only 10 percent or less of traffic is not a fair and equitable solution.

Going forward, as local MPOs study solutions to construct and pay for the bridge, we strongly encourage them to take our concerns to heart, and let’s work collaboratively to find real solutions that are fair and not detrimental to local economies and businesses nor put an unfair burden on a single business sector.

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

ATA Driver of the Year Nathan Heflin believes an ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.

By Ford Boswell

WEDOWEE, Ala.—When it gets down to it, there is an inherent difference between your job and your work. That is to say, a job is a thing you leave at the end of the day while your work is the result of your labor—or in other words, the work you do that inspires or improves the lives of others.

ATA’s Professional Driver of the Year Nathan Heflin loves his job and his work.

The 40-year-old veteran truck driver embodies the best of Alabama’s trucking industry—he’s a driven, experienced professional with an unassuming demeanor that belies his full value to his employers at LB3, LLC, a fast-growing 20truck outfit hauling mostly chickens and other refrigerated items for export markets since 2014.

Heflin has logged close to 2-million accident-free miles in 15 years with laser-point attention to detail and unwavering commitment to safety. His no-nonsense, getthe-job-done work ethic boosts not only his career but also the careers of the people he works most closely with, inspiring them to step up their game when it matters.

Along with his regular duties running several loads of fresh chicken a week to a cold storage facility in Savannah, Ga., Heflin mentors new drivers, connects well with customers, and is mindful that his job is as much about ensuring the safety of those around him as it is about delivering a timely load. And folks take notice of his efforts.

Over the past few years, he’s earned numerous awards from his company and was recently selected as LB3’s top driver for 2020—an award chosen by his coworkers. Last March, ATA’s Safety & Maintenance Management Council tapped Heflin its 2020 Driver of the Year, highlighting the SMMC Annual Fleet Safety Awards Banquet. ATA’s Driver of the Year award is sponsored by Southland Trans portation Group.

“The most important thing for me as a professional driver is paying attention to my surroundings,” he says. “It starts with the pre-trip inspection where I ensure my equipment is ready for the day. Once I am on the road, I’m mindful of everything and everyone around me. The truth is, my goal is always to spend more time with my family, and I want to safely return to them while also making sure everyone else on the road does the same.”

LB3 founder and President Brian Lindley says that

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

Trucking Brotherhood: Nathan Heflin (left) and Jason Webber have worked together for more than a decade. They now serve as senior drivers for LB3, LLC training and advising new drivers and staff.

what sets Nathan apart is his consistency and attention to the small things that matter most in operating safely. “He is one of the most meticulous people I have ever met,” Lindley says. “He is con scientious about the vehicle and equipment to the point that sometimes I wonder if he is a little too nitpicky. Truth be told, he’s usually right, and I would rather have drivers who care about attention to detail. Those are the ones you want to retain, and those are the ones who will ultimately make you look good.”

Pathway to Trucking

Heflin was born in 1981 in Roanoke, Ala. He lived with his family in the same house from the time he was born until the time he left at the age of 19 (He later bought the family’s homeplace and lives there with his own family today).

He and his four sisters were home school ed by their mother, and for the most part, they enjoyed a happy and healthy existence together for several years. That all changed in 1993 when his father, James, succumbed to brain cancer (glioblastoma multiforme) that doctors believed was a result of exposure to Agent Orange, a tactical herbicide and defo liant chemical widely known for its use by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War.

Devastated, the family struggled to cope with the loss of their dad. Over time, relationships with his siblings were damaged—irreparably in some instances— and for Nathan, there was residual hurt and anger about the collapse of his family.

Around the age of 15, he found a passion for cars and trucks, and it became an obsession for him. He had always noticed that he had an innate ability for working with machines. They just made sense to him and turning wrenches seemed natural, perhaps a personality trait handed down from his father.

With $800 he saved, he bought a friend’s 1988 Ford Mustang equipped with a 4cylinder engine. The car was a beater and not much to look at, but it ran well enough to drive it home, and he and a buddy cleaned it up and worked on it for weeks to get it running better. Looking back now, Heflin believes working on that car was something he could control in the chaos that surrounded him.

His love for cars eventually led him to Gadsden State Community College to study auto collision repair technology. He breezed through the course work in 18 months and was working for area body shops by the age of 19. He bounced around jobs for several years rising through the ranks and learning the trade, but sometime around 2006, he wanted a career change.

“Honestly, I had plateaued in that field, especially in the area where I live,” he explains. “I had offers for managerial positions in larger markets like Birmingham or Atlanta—ones that could advance my career, but I wanted to stay here. I also

knew that trucking jobs in the area were plentiful, so I had it in the back of my mind that one day I might try trucking.”

He says he always had a love and respect for truck drivers. “I wanted to be a truck driver when I was a kid,” he explains. “I can remember being like five years old and being fascinated by big trucks.”

A good friend of his father was a truck driver. One afternoon he let Nathan ride along on a local delivery of large HVAC units. “I remember almost everything from that ride,” he recalls, “being high up and seeing everything around us, the sounds, the smells, even the truck itself. It was a brown Kenworth truck—to this day, I still prefer a Kenworth.”

Years later, on a whim one afternoon after work, Heflin stopped in at Truck Driving Institute in Oxford, Ala. to inquire about the school’s commercial driver’s license program, and ended up enrolling for the 15-day course to earn his Alabama CDL. “My impressions were the instructors cared deeply about doing things the right way and focused not only on the skills I would need to earn a CDL but also on vehicle maintenance and highway safety.”

After earning his CDL, he drove for a large national carrier with a distri bution center in Anniston, but quickly found a distaste for the impersonal culture and pay scale. “To be honest, I took a pay cut to become a truck driver, but I knew trucking offered a much higher ceiling. I could tell pretty quickly that I didn’t want to work for a large carrier.”

He started looking for work with local smaller carriers. A friend convinced him to join the private fleet of Wellborn Cabinets, a family-owned cabinet manu facturer based in Ashland, Ala. All things considered, he really enjoyed his time there and credits the company with solidifying his transition to trucking.

“I learned a lot there,” he says. “I gained a lot of experience and was getting great miles and making decent money. I doubled my old salary in two years. (Wellborn) is a great company to work for because their safety culture is among the best I have ever seen. It is a much more hands-on approach from top to bottom, and I can appreciate that. I credit them for my attention to safety.”

When the housing market weakened in 2011, Heflin got antsy and felt it might be time to move on from that sector. He bounced around jobs with a couple of local carriers, gathering more experience at each stop, but always kept his options open for other opportunities.

He had gotten word of the newly founded LB3, LLC through a former coworker, and had even had casual conversations with a recruiter there about joining their fleet as an independent contractor, but, at the time, he was in a comfortable situation and politely declined the offer.

Looking back, Heflin says even then he recognized LB3’s growth potential and the respect the owners had for drivers. He even sent his friend Jason Webber to go work there (Coin ci dentally, Webber was ATA’s Driver of the Year Runner Up this year).

When he was ready to make his own move to LB3, he called his buddy Webber to ask for Brian’s cell number. The men talked business, and he was hired on the spot.

Heflin visits a local high school to promote trucking.

Trusted Leader

The day Heflin arrived at LB3, it was still just a small company going through the expected growing pains as it found its footing in the local market. Over time, with the help of him and other more experienced drivers, LB3 managers focused on getting the safety program in shape.

“To be honest, we were doing whatever it took to get the loads delivered on time,” Heflin laughs. “I’m not sure some of those tactics would work nowadays with e-logs and whatnot. Back then, we were just your stereotypical chicken hauler. We were growing so fast that our safety program wasn’t able to keep up. But the owners began changing the culture from the top down. Brain and Valerie are such great people, and they were willing to learn how to operate safely. Once the mindset changed at the top, it didn’t take long to get every one working on our safety and driver program to push us ahead.”

As a senior employee, Heflin says his role a is now more than just driving. He con sults company managers on best practices and DOT requirements and serves as a mentor to newer drivers as they become more acclimated to the LB3 way of doing things.

“We are family here,” he says. “The success of this operation depends on all of us. We are small enough that everybody here works well as a unit. Sometimes new drivers are shocked by the closeness of the operation. They are surprised by the things we will do for each other, and the way we work together. Drivers will always come and go, but this kind of culture does a lot to keep the good ones around.”

LB3’s Webber has known Heflin for about 10 years. The pair worked together at another carrier for years and have been great friends ever since. He says Nathan is known as the guru for the operation.

“If anyone has questions about safety or equipment, we all know we can call him, and he will walk us through it,” he says. “Nathan knows DOT and LB3 safety standards and always goes above and beyond helping his fellow drivers. The first time I met Nathan, he helped me unload my truck without hesitation. He didn’t know me at all, and he didn’t have to do it. He just did it because that’s kind of person he is.”

Director of Operations Valerie Lindley says Nathan’s experience and expertise have made her a better manager, especially in terms of safety and regulations.

“Nathan is such an asset to our com pany,” she says. “He’s very conscientious of safety and is a leader for our company. I’ve even learned from him. Of course, he’s been doing this longer than I have been in the trucking industry. He’s always reading and learning new standards and policies. He stays up to date and is willing to do what ever it takes to make sure things are done right.”

Looking back, Heflin knows he made the right move to become a trucker. He says the key to his success is a willingness to work hard to get the job done no matter what.

“It’s really that simple,” he explains. “My job is important to me, and I want to always have the willingness to do the things that no one else wants to do—and do it well. I am dedicated to trucking, but I am also dedicated to my family, and I want to spend as much time at home with them as possible. That’s probably the biggest motivator for me as a professional truck driver.”

CELEBRATING INDUSTRY SAFE

The Alabama Trucking family recently celebrated the state’s

By Ford Boswell

PELHAM, Ala. — The Alabama Trucking Association and the ATA Comp Fund celebrated dozens of the state’s safest fleets, managers, and employees during the ATA’s Annual Fleet Safety Awards Banquet held here on March 22 at the Pelham Civic Complex.

ATA’s awards program follows the American Trucking Associations’ criteria for fleet safety recognition. To create total impartiality, candidates are judged by an independent panel of experts from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) who pore over safety stats and parameters based on miles operated within the state. The can didates’ identities are also hidden from the judges.

TY & INDIVIDUAL EXCELLENCE

safest fleets and individuals at annual awards banquet.

Driver of the Year

The evening’s big winner was LB3, LLC, veteran truck driver Nathan Heflin of Lineville, Ala., who earned Professional Truck Driver of the Year for an exceptional driving career and a dedication to safety excellence (Read his full story starting on page 4).

Heflin has driven for LB3 for five years and during his 15-year career has successfully logged nearly 2-million safe driving miles. LB3 officials say that Heflin quickly emerged as a leader who consistently sets the example with a commitment to details and professionalism. For that effort, he’s earned the company’s 4- and 5-year safe driving awards and was recently selected as its top driver, an award chosen by fellow LB3 drivers. Heflin also serves as a road test examiner for the company assessing and training all new hires.

“The most important thing for me as a professional driver is paying attention to my surroundings,” he says. “It starts with the pre-trip inspection. I make sure my equipment is ready for the day. Once I am on the road, I am mindful of everything and everyone around me.”

LB3 co-founder and President Brian Lindley says what sets Heflin apart

is consistency. “He is one of the most meticulous people I have ever met,” Lindley says. “He is conscientious about the vehicle and equipment to the point that sometimes I wonder if he is a little too nitpicky. Truth be told, he’s usually right, and I would rather have drivers who care about attention to detail. Those are the ones you want to retain, and those are the ones who will ultimately make you look good.”

Heflin says the key to his success in trucking is a willingness to work hard to get the job done. “It’s that simple,” he says. “My job is important to me, and I want to always have the willingness to do the jobs that no one else wants to do — and do it well. I am dedicated to trucking, but I am also dedicated to my family, and I want to spend as much time at home with them as possible. That’s probably the biggest motivator for me.”

The Professional Driver of the Year Runner Up is Jason Webber also of LB3. Webber has logged 2.8 million miles in 20 years. He has also become a trusted leader for LB3, helping with new-hire training and mentoring. Company managers say his work ethic and dedication in inspiring.

Away from work, Webber volunteers with his local fire department. Where he serves his local community with safety and first aid skills he acquired as a truck driver. That training has been useful in many emergencies. He’s pulled individuals from crashed vehicles, blocked traffic at crash scenes to protect first responders and victims, and never shies away from an opportunity to assist with tire changes or provided food and shelter for stranded motorists. (There will be a full story on Mr. Webber in a future issue).

ATA’s Driver of the Year and Driver of the Year Runner Up awards are sponsored by Southland Transportation Group.

Safety Professional

Valerie Lindley doesn’t seek the spotlight. She is a no-nonsense fleet manager who prides herself on staying behind the scenes and paying close attention to the details others might miss. In her view, the granular tasks of trucking add up to build a successful safety program. And the one she has built at LB3, LLC is among the state’s best.

In 2014, she left a successful career as a teacher to help her husband Brian start a trucking company from scratch. She had no experience in trucking, other than occasionally helping out with bookkeeping or other administrative tasks for the family’s old poultry farm business. Yet, she was a quick study, smartly used her resources, and has been instrumental in the company’s meteoric growth and success.

Most safety directors serve several roles for a trucking business, ATA recognized dozens of member fleets that have displayed top safety records or improved safety metrics for the previous calendar year. Hazardous Materials Georgia Tank Lines Tank Truck J & M Tank Lines Private Carrier Under 1 Million Miles Golden Flake Snack Foods Private Carrier 3 to 5 Million Miles Publix Super Markets Private Carrier Over 5 Million Miles River Valley Ingredients Miscellaneous Category 1 to 3 Million Miles Massey Hauling Co. Household Goods Changing Spaces Moving Heavy Haulers Under 1 Million Miles Scott Bridge Co. Heavy Haulers 1 to 3 Million Miles RM Logistics General Commodities Local Under 100,000 Miles Montgomery Transport General Commodities Local under 1 Million Miles New South Express General Commodities Local 1 to 3 Million Miles Buddy Moore Trucking General Commodities Local 3 to 5 Million Miles Greenbush Logistics General Commodities Local 5-10 Million Miles Evergreen Transport General Commodities Linehaul Under 1 Million Miles New South Express General Commodities Linehaul 1 to 3 Million Miles ABF Freight General Commodities Linehaul 3 to 5 Million Miles Shelton Trucking General Commodities Linehaul 5 to 10 Million Miles Boyd Bros. Transportation General Commodities Linehaul over 10 Million Miles Walmart Transportation General Commodities Combined Under 1 Million Miles New South Express General Commodities Combined 1 to 3 Million Miles Buddy Moore Trucking General Commodities Combined 3 to 5 Million Miles Greenbush Logistics General Commodities Combined 5 to 10 Million Miles Wright Transportation General Commodities Combined over 10 Million Miles Southeastern Freight Lines General Commodities Combined Over 20 Million Miles AAA Cooper Transportation

For a full list of winners, please visit www.alabamatrucking.org.

but Valerie is without question the lifeblood for hers. Leaning on her experience in the classroom and her Bachelor’s and a Master’s degrees from Jacksonville State in Education, she handles all the small trucking company’s administrative duties, including payroll, bookkeeping, safety compliance, personnel, and other tasks.

Valerie is active and participates regularly in ATA and ATA Comp Fund functions, including SMMC meetings, TDC’s, training sessions, conventions, and roadside inspections — experiences she says have afforded her extensive regulatory knowledge about the industry and built valuable relationships with other industry professionals.

She is also a dedicated mother and community leader, and her time away from the office is just as impressive as her professional work. She and Brian share the homeschooling of their three daughters, Maggie, Ella, and Claire. She is also very active with her church, serving as a Deacon’s wife, church pianist, couples’ retreat coordinator, and foster care fundraiser participant.

ATA’s Safety Professional of the Year Runner Up is Curtis Roberts of Montgomery Transport, LLC.

The Safety Professional of the Year award is sponsored by Four Star Freightliner.

Maintenance Professional

LB3, LLC maintenance director Todd Martin has worked in trucking for more than 23 years and is among the state’s most technically trained maintenance pros. Through the years, he has received dozens of certifications in various maintenance and leadership programs; holds a Diesel Technology degree; and possesses a current Class-A CDL.

He began his career as a Tech 1 mechanic and worked his way to becoming service manager and safety coordinator at a branch location with a leading truck rental organization. His extensive training and experience have provided LB3 a 20-percent reduction in vehicle inspection violations.

LB3 owner Brian Lindley says Martin is the kind of manager who always takes pride in his work and is an asset to the team.

“Because of Todd’s leadership, our equipment and drivers are safer than we have ever been,” he says. “If you ask him about the importance of his role as maintenance director, he’ll tell you that safety is his main focus.”

Martin lives in Ashville, Ala. where, in his spare time, he enjoys riding motorcycles, most everything outdoors, and is said to be a pretty good cook.

The Maintenance Professional of the Year award is sponsored by Truckworx Kenworth.

The ATA Comp Fund also announced during the program. Winners were selected by Fund employees based on “a willingness to instill a culture of safety, a commitment to implement the group’s risk management model and overall loss ratio.”

This year’s winners are:

Small Fleet Safety Award - Bay Lines Medium Fleet Safety Award - Busby Trucking Large Fleet Safety Award - Watkins Trucking Co. Allied Services Safety Award - Gulf City Body & Trailer Works Moving & Storage Services Safety Award - American

International Movers Safety Excellence Award - Atomic Transport

For more on the ATA Comp Fund and its awards program, please visit www.atacompfund.org.

Fleet Manager

ATA’s Fleet Manager of the Year Alan Howard has worked in the trucking industry for more than 21 years, working with his current employer Blair Logistic of Birmingham since 2015.

He currently manages 33 drivers who collectively have helped Blair Logistics earn several accolades for safety and compliance, including the company’s Clean Inspection award six times, Top Revenue Fleet three times, and twelve winners of the Contractor of the Month award. Howard even has three drivers on his team who have each reached more than 1-million safe miles.

His supervisor, Jeff Loggings, Vice President of Safety for Blair Logistics says, “In order for someone to be successful, I believe they help those around them to be successful. Alan is a great coworker and is well-deserving of this award for his work inside and outside the office”.

Howard enjoys going to concerts, playing video games, following Formula 1 racing, and supporting Auburn University football in his leisure time.

The Fleet Manager of the Year is sponsored by Vertical Alliance.

President’s Award (Alabama’s Safest Fleet)

New South Express, Inc. of Mobile, Ala. earned the 2020 ATA President’s Award as ATA’s safest overall fleet for miles driven by company drivers within the state of Alabama. The award is sponsored by McGriff Tire & Service.