Alabama Trucker, 3rd Quarter 2018

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Published quarterly by the Alabama Trucking Assn., P.O. Box 242337, Montgomery, AL 36124-2337. www.alabamatrucking.org or call 334-834-3983

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Meet ATA’s Chairman Fenn Church The Alabama Trucking Association’s new Chairman of the Board, Fenn Church, is a self-made trucking executive who’s never been one to settle for average.

Everything he’s accomplished in his 30 years of fleet management has been a means to an end for his business, customers, employees and the industry he loves.

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

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Golf Classic Putts for Cash With more than $260,000 raised, it’s another fundraising record for the ATA Golf Classic, ATA’s annual golf tournament benefiting its political action committee, TRUK PAC. For a full list of sponsors see page 9.

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

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R.E. Garrison’s New Hero Truck R.E. Garrison recently unveiled a stunning new Freightliner Cascadia truck featuring a red, white and blue color custom wrap with images of the U.S. Constitution, military helicopters and jets in action, plus additional images of the graves of veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

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, Nick Balanis, Rhonda Bees, Joe Black, Gary Bond, Jack Brim, Greg Brown, Will Bruser, Dan Carmichael, Fenn Church, Mark Coffman, Jeff Coleman, John Collier, Rodger Collins, Driscoll Colquett, Brent Cook, Gail Cooper, Al Cox, Norman Crow, Jerry Davis, Ranny Davis, Amy DeFee, Joe Donald, Edmund Doss, Mack Dove, Wesley Dunn, Jack Fricks, Kevin Henderson, Beau Holmes, 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, Clay Palm, Mike Pursley, Kelly Robinson, Kevin Savoy, Bill Scruggs, Danny Smith, Ronnie Stephenson, Steve Stinson, Paul Storey, Harold Sumerford, Jr., John Summerford, Tim Tucker, Bill Ward, Wayne Watkins, Taylor White, David Wildberger, T.J. Willings, Keith Wise, Pat Wright.

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Cameras Don’t Lie Like many other fleet owners across the country who are fed up with accident fraud and insurance claims, Evergreen Forest Products is rolling with a new video-based safety system for added safety and protection for drivers and equipment.

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President’s Message. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Safety Insights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SMMC Update. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Trucking News Roundup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Buyers’ Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 ATA Events and New Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

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An Affiliate of the American Trucking Associations

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334-834-3983 • www.alabamatrucking.org 1

From the President

Charting Our Road Ahead

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Frank Filgo, CAE President and CEO Alabama Trucking Association

‘Thank you, ATA members, for your continued support of this great Association, as we set forth on this transitional year.’

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t the close of the 2018-’19 fiscal year, I will step down as President and CEO of the Alabama Trucking Association, a job I have held for 23 years. So, with this next year (leading up to July 1, 2019) being the final leg of my time with ATA, it’s important that our Association carefully plots its route to ensure this Association continues to deliver the goods for the future of Alabama’s trucking industry. Surely, there will be roadblocks along the way, but if we keep our hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, I am certain ATA will deliver as usual.

To begin the trip, ATA is kicking the tires to ensure that the trucking industry will continue to influence public policy-makers to ensure our roads stay open. Currently, ATA is preparing for its annual Golf Classic that benefits its political action arm, TRUK PAC. The objective of TRUK PAC is to elect politicians who understand and appreciate trucking’s vital role in Alabama’s economy. To date, Classic sponsors total more than $260,000, and the event is on course to top all previous Classics. A special thanks goes to Classic Chairman Nic Balanis for his guidance and leadership, and we also owe a special debt of gratitude to Vertical Alliance Group for its Presidential Sponsorship. Vertical Alliance has been a very special supporter of this Association and its mission for many years.

The success of this year’s Golf Classic is important because revenue generated helps to ensure that TRUK PAC has the resources ($1 million) to influence the 2018 state election results. All state constitutional offices, along with 140 state legislative seats, are up for grabs.

With that leg of our trip behind us, ATA will then turn its focus towards road funding.

As you know, it has been more than a quarter of a century since Alabama addressed its crumbling highway infrastructure. When the State Legislature convenes next March for its 2019 Legislative Session, road funding will be at the top of the agenda. For years, ATA has been on record supporting an increased state fuel tax, because we believe it is the most effective, efficient highway user fee. Details of road funding legislation are being hashed out.

What is left to be determined is exactly how many additional cents-per-gallon are required

to meet Alabama’s road and bridge demands.

Even though trucks pay nearly 40 percent of all highway fees, we know that we must invest additional funds if we are to have an Alabama highway infrastructure that will allow trucks to safely deliver freight on time.

There will be other obstacles. What if an increased fuel tax is not enough? Will the State Legislature turn to additional increases on automotive registration fees, rental tax, scrap tire environmental fees, title fees, etc.?

We already know that the state Dept. of Revenue has run some numbers on these. To negotiate this roadway, your ATA will be at the table to ensure that increases are justifiable and equitable.

What’s comforting about my final run with ATA is knowing that we have a strong leader in our current Chairman of the Board Fenn Church, of Church Transportation and Logistics. Fenn will build and rally the membership base, emphasizing increased participation and lead the effort to identify and train future industry leaders for tomorrow. (See his feature article on page 4).

To help carry the load, we now have the ATA Foundation. Spearheaded by Terry Kilpatrick, the Foundation will provide charitable services to supplement the Association’s mission. Planned Foundation activities include efforts to educate teens to share the road with trucks through the Teens & Trucks program; provide scholarships to encourage young adults to seek a truck related career; and provide additional capital to improve the image of trucking through various media campaigns and public relations programs.

This time next year, we intend to look back and say that this Association delivered the goods. Among our accomplishments will be: The election of public policymakers who understand the vital role of trucking; adequately funded roads and bridges; future industry leaders identified; increased member participation; and an improved industry image.

Thank you, ATA members, for your continued support of this great Association, as we set forth on this transitional year. As always, our mission is to serve your interests, provide leadership for the industry, and work to improve funding for a safe and secure goods movement system for Alabama.

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A Love for Trucking ATA’s new Chairman has the passion to lead the trucking industry to great things.

By Ford Boswell • Photos By Cary Norton BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Alabama Trucking Association’s new Chairman of the Board, Fenn Church, is a self-made trucking executive who’s never been one to settle for average. Everything he’s accomplished in his 30 years of fleet management has been a means to an end for his business, customers, employees and the industry he loves.

A bit of a workaholic, Church is known to work long and hard for things he cares about. In high school, he was known for carefully plotting his course to achieve results. But he wasn’t stubborn about it. If a situation didn’t feel right, he remained flexible, adjusted, and revised the course. That’s what great leaders do, and that’s been his style for most of his adult life, and it’s exactly the type of leader the Alabama Trucking Association (ATA) needs in a very transitional year.

ATA’s Board of Directors elected Church, President and founder of the Birminghambased Church Transportation and Logistics, Inc., as its Chairman for fiscal year 2018’19. His term began last July and runs to June 30, 2019.

morning with a loaded truck, and then head straight to Barrentine Fish and Oyster Market (a Dothan landmark that’s still in business) to grab a couple of their famous chilidogs before starting our run for the day. We talked a lot while we were together.

He taught me so much about dealing with people and just life in general. We’re still pretty close friends.

“Robert, on the other hand, had a military background. He was very sharp with an incredible work ethic – he could outwork anyone. I really had to try to keep up with his pace. The truth is, more than anyone, those men made me respect truck drivers and all the things they must do to keep a business going. They are probably the reason I am where I am today.”

After high school, Church’s father, Bill, pushed him to study engineering at Auburn.

“Frankly, it was the only degree he’d pay for,” Fenn laughs. “I spent my freshman year on the engineering track, but I found out pretty

Port of Mobile,” he explains. “My job was cutting big creosote pilings with a chainsaw.

It was the hardest, most physical work I had ever done in my life, but I stuck with it the entire summer.”

A part of the job that particularly caught his attention was the process of moving the massive cranes and equipment by truck.

Some of the larger cranes required up to 15 trucks to break down and move. He found himself chatting up the drivers of those trucks a lot. The process of loading and unloading them fascinated him. He was hooked; he knew then trucking held his future.

“I went home one weekend to tell my father that I wasn’t going to study engineering anymore, and that I was going to go back to college and enroll in the business school to study transportation and physical distribution,” Church says. “To my surprise, Dad said that he thought it was a great idea.”

Days later, Church contacted a former executive with AAA Cooper Transportation in

Background A native of Dothan, Ala., Church, 52, grew up around transportation and logistics, working part time for the family business, Houston Paper Co., a paper products distributor serving small grocery stores in south Alabama’s Wiregrass Region and the Florida Panhandle. While in high school, he worked afternoons and summers for Coffman International Trucks, a local commercial truck and heavy equipment dealership, before enrolling at Auburn University in the mid-1980s. He says as a kid he always idolized truck drivers.

“When I was old enough, and not in school, I worked at the paper company as a helper on the trucks,” he said. “I just loved it. I had a child labor permit at 12, and I thought I had died and gone to heaven earning minimum wage (then about $2.65 an hour). I worked with two truck drivers, Roy Mills and Robert Knight, who probably shaped my views of the trucking industry, especially from a driver’s point of view.

They showed me the value of an honest day’s work. They were both excellent drivers who always worked hard and excelled at delivering top customer service.”

Church was particularly close to Mills.

“He made the job fun,” he says. “The only way he’d get any work out of me was to feed me. So we’d leave the warehouse each A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2018

Church enjoys spending time at his cabin on the banks of the Cahaba River.

quick that I was in way over my head with all the calculus and chemistry and physics. Eventually, my grades began to slip, and my father wasn’t really happy about it.”

The following summer, Church took a job in Mobile with Jordon Pyle Driving, Inc. working as a general laborer. It was hot, grueling work, but living expenses during the workweek were paid, and he enjoyed the quick pace and camaraderie with the other workers. Most importantly, he was around heavy mechanical equipment, which allowed him to determine if a career in engineering was a good fit. “They put me on a tugboat fitted with a 250-ton crane used in repairing the U.S. Steel dock at the

Dothan to secure an internship the following summer. That move solidified his father’s approval of the new direction, Church says. “I think the fact that I had a plan impressed him, and it was probably the main reason he felt so good about my decision,” he says.

Church interned two summers with AAA, one at the company’s Jacksonville, Fla. terminal working as a dockhand, and the next in Atlanta shadowing external salesmen based from that location. While still enrolled at Auburn, on the recommendation of a friend, Church visited the University of Tennessee in Knoxville to learn about graduate opportunities in supply chain management. While he 5

was extremely impressed with the program, he wanted a break from school and opted to go to work after college. The internships at AAA led to a full-time sales job, so Church spent a few years in Atlanta working in outside sales, developing contacts, building his skill set and developing a reputation as a hardworking, tenacious salesman. With a few years of experience under his belt, he was ready to head to Knoxville to pursue an MBA at the University of Tennessee. There, he studied with some of the most respected leaders in supply chain management and logistics. In fact, professors there had even written a few of his textbooks from his undergraduate studies at Auburn.

In his late 20s with an MBA in transportation and logistics and several years of experience in sales, Church began to establish himself as a talented fleet manager working with a few large and small carriers with stints in Louisiana, Tennessee, Florida and Georgia for Saia Motor Freight. It was during his time with Saia that Church really 6

hit his stride as a manager. He opened a new terminal in Nashville, operating it for five years, then was selected to enroll in a two-year terminal efficiency training program for the company’s top performing managers. “That was a great experience,” he says. “All my living expenses were paid while I was in the program. I studied freight volume reports learning how to limit downtime and effectively staff the docks to handle peak volumes. We trained to determine which routes could be combined for better profitability. Plus, the whole time I was in the program, I was saving and investing my earnings.”

It was also during this time that he met his wife, Susanne, an elementary school teacher living in Birmingham. After completing the training program, Saia officials offered a terminal manager position in Knoxville, but Church wasn’t sure it was the right move at the time. He was about to get married and a little burned out from working 75-hour weeks and living out of a suit-

case. Frankly, he was ready to settle down.

So, in the spring of 1999, after seven years with Saia, Church stepped down from his job to concentrate on his next move.

“Susanne and I spent that whole summer together.” he says. “She has always been so supportive of me. It took me 34 years to realize that a Wiregrass person has to marry another Wiregrass person – and it’s certainly paid off for me. I appreciate her support and the time she allowed me to figure out what I was going to do. To this day, I still wonder how in the world her parents allowed their only daughter to marry an unemployed trucker.”

Building an Operation Church took an extended vacation, living off savings. His long-term plan was to eventually start a trucking operation, but he needed to lie low for a while at a slightly slower pace while he devised a business plan. He spent a short time with a 75-truck A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2018

refrigerated fleet hauling exempt commodities out of South Alabama. The plan was to help the owners reorganize operations and eventually buy them out when they retired.

However, he found running refrigerated cargo was totally different than he expected.

Frankly, it was a bad fit, and he resigned only after a year. There were too many variables in hauling exempt commodities, and he admits he wasn’t prepared to deal with it.

“I helped the owners reorganize and cut operations to maximize existing profits, but I just didn’t have the sales contacts in exempt commodities to bring in enough new business to fix their revenue problems.”

Church then looked at other operations to purchase before deciding he should start making moves to build his own business. In the spring of 2000, he bought a single truck and hired Dennis Anderson, a driver whom he worked with at another carrier. Church signed his truck on as an owner-operator with a couple of operations. Anderson drove the truck and Church handled sales and loA LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2018

gistics. “We did that for a year, but the company we were working with went out of business,” he says. “I finally realized that once you buy your first truck, you might as well have 10, because one truck is going to give you the same headaches that 10 will. I figured once I started down this road there’s no backing up.”

Over the next several years, Church added trucks and drivers, slowly growing the business to meet demand. Meantime, he moved to Birmingham and took a consulting job with a non-profit public transportation service called Clastran that provides low-cost transportation for handicap and elderly individuals in Birmingham and the surrounding areas. “I wasn’t taking a salary from my trucking business yet, so I needed something to supplement my household income,” he explains. “I felt I could be of service to Clastran helping them streamline existing routes. I worked for Clastran during the day and then went home in the evening to prepare invoicing

and payroll until midnight.”

By 2003, the operation had six trucks, had opened its first office on Finley Blvd., added additional drivers and trucks and had even hired a full-time dispatcher. By 2006, Church was able to quit his job with Clastran to go into trucking full time. “It’s still an organization that is near and dear to my heart,” he says.

Church Transportation and Logistics has grown steadily through the years. It moved to its current location which houses corporate offices and its maintenance facility in 2006. The company has also expanded services, adding dedicated transportation offerings, and a 30,000 sq. ft. warehousing/ cross-dock facility to go with its current mix of 70 tractors and 125 trailers. Annual revenue is $11 million. The management team includes General Manager Gene Sweeney; Controller James Taylor; Vice President of Sales Richard Ivey; and Director of Dispatch Operations John Majerik.

These talented managers have allowed 7

The Church Tean, front row: James Taylor, Christy Bice, David Vernon, Laura Aitken, Chip Loftis, James St. John, Gene Sweeney, John Majerik, Fenn Church, Rich Ivey. Back row: Mike Epps, Mike Maxey, Trey Walters, and David Butler

Church to feel more confident in delegating things, and that’s allowed him to take time to relax occasionally with family and friends – something he hasn’t regularly done for himself in a long time. “I enjoy going down to the Cahaba River to just relax when I can.

We have a cabin there, and one of my favorite things to do is to work out in the field cutting grass or spend the day by the river waving at canoers as they float by.”

After nearly 18 years in business, he’s finally comfortable where his operation is.

The company’s mission is to offer consistent customer service through continued growth, but to also remember where it all started, and never lose sight of customers’ needs and expectations.

“I am satisfied with what we’ve accomplished,” he says. “Of course, I’d love to grow this to about 100, 200, maybe even 500 trucks. But I want to expand in a way that works best for us and our customers.

For me, being successful in trucking is about producing a great product that your customers are willing to pay for. We still don’t haul certain exempt or low-value commodities just to keep trucks rolling. We want to move freight that requires top service and work for the type of customers who don’t mind paying for that extra service.”

and his presence will be felt immediately in furthering the Association’s mission of protecting and promoting the state’s trucking industry. “For more than a decade, Fenn has been among our most effective members, serving multiple leadership roles for Association events and membership programs,” Filgo said. “His experience and dedication are why our Board selected him chief elected officer. Major decisions will be addressed this year, and I am confident

Face of the Industry According to ATA President and CEO Frank Filgo, Church brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Association, 8

Church Transportation prides itself on excellent equipment maintenance.

Fenn’s leadership will be a great asset.”

Church says the industry’s most pressing concern is the lack of adequate highway funding, and he pledges to work with Association leaders and state lawmakers to devise appropriate, substantive means for funding the state’s crumbling infrastructure.

“Alabama motor carriers have the responsibility of delivering more than 80 percent of the state’s manufactured goods and natural resources – the things we all need to sustain and provide for our families,” he says.

“Unfortunately, due to road congestion and aging infrastructure, trucking is at a disadvantage in doing so efficiently. ATA will work with legislators and other business organizations to push for an increase in the state fuel tax to provide funding for better roads and bridges.”

The last time Alabama increased its fuel tax was 1992.

Meanwhile, Church identified additional goals for ATA to include developing a leadership advancement program that identifies and trains future leaders of Alabama’s trucking industry; and increase current Association membership participation in the Association’s events and overall mission.

“We need to bring more carriers of all types and sizes into the ranks to create a stronger, better focused industry,” he says.

“I am proud to serve this industry and this Association. I am going to make sure that I lead us to better things for the future of our businesses, our employees, and the customers we serve.”

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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

Head Turner R.E. Garrison Trucking dedicates stunning new truck to military vets.

By Ford Boswell CULLMAN, Ala. — Against the most poignant backdrop of Cullman Veterans Memorial Park, R.E. Garrison Trucking, Inc. officials unveiled the newest addition to its fleet: a stunning 2019 Freightliner Cascadia truck featuring a red, white and blue color custom wrap with images of the U.S. Constitution, military helicopters and jets in action, plus additional images of the graves of veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Mike May stands with his new ride.

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At a public event and attended by city and county officials, local military veterans, and members of the Cullman Police Dept. and Cullman County Sheriff’s Office, R.E. Garrison Vice President of Driver Relations Shawn Nelson showed off the new Freightliner, dedicating it to those “who served and died fighting for our county.”

Company owners Donovon Lovell and Wyles Griffith presented the keys to its driver Mike May, a longtime R.E. Garrison employee and former Army military police officer. May has worked for the company

for more than 20 years and served in the U.S. Army from 1973-1976 at Fort Carlson, Colo. He said learning that he was selected from the hundreds of other company drivers was a surprise. “I’m honored to be chosen to drive this truck,” May said. “I’ve been with the company a lot of years. It’s a great company to drive for. The owners, the staff, and all the other employees are great people. They really care about drivers. I’m really proud of this truck.”

May added that he normally isn’t one to seek attention to himself, but he knows driving his new truck will change that. “It’s definitely a head turner,” he said. “I won’t be able to fly under the radar anymore.”

Nelson said the truck was purchased from Lonestar Truck Group, and company managers worked with Lonestar on a custom wrap’s theme and eventual design.

“There are 150 people who work at the company’s Cullman campus and 700 drivers,” Nelson said, “and this is a way for those employees to show their support for the military and the people who served. That’s 850 people who wanted to dedicate this truck to all … veterans,” he said.

Nelson said that this truck will not be the last featuring a special themed wrap, and the company managers have several more special trucks in the pipeline, including one honoring active duty military members and one for the Stephen K. Griffith Memorial Fund for mental health awareness that the company recently established.

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Under Surveillance Evergreen Forest Products is rolling with a video-based safety system for added safety and protection for drivers and equipment.

By Ford Boswell MONTGOMERY, Ala. – There are no guarantees in fleet safety. No amount of training, experience or preventative maintenance can completely protect your drivers and equipment from accidents. Even your best driver can have an accident.

A well-planned and executed safety program, coupled with an experienced driver pool, are always a fleet’s best defense against mishaps. Regardless of how prepared your drivers and your operation are, or how well maintained your equipment is, accidents can and will happen. And, the results can be costly.

Those gratuitous trial attorney television ads during the local evening news broadcast Evergreen managers chose the SmartDrive camera system at a cost of about $1,000 per truck, plus monthly service fee. won’t tell you that recent studies show most car-truck accidents are caused by a car driving those types of facilities means drivers must the truck driver and go after a hefty insurer not the truck driver. For instance, a 2013 be proactive and defensive. Evergreen manance settlement or lawsuit payout. ProtectUniversity of Michigan Transportation Reagers say their drivers are in and out of the ing drivers is exactly what pushed managers search Institute study of 8,309 fatal cartruck a lot, driving in very tight spaces, and at Evergreen Forest Products, a 149-truck truck crashes showed that 81 percent of the travel many high-traffic roads. Still, the comoperation based in Greenville, Ala., to look time, car drivers were assigned at fault. Anpany excels at preventing on-the-job injuries to telematics and on-board cameras to exother by the National Highway Traffic Safefrom “slips, trips and falls”. And for its efforts, onerate the company and its drivers from ty Administration studied more than the company even won the ATA Comp false claims from accidents.

10,000 fatal accidents and found that “cars Fund’s Engineers’ Award as the Fund’s safest Overall, Evergreen has a solid over-the-road were responsible 91 percent of the time fleet in 2016. safety record for an operation its size and for during head-on crashes, 91 percent of the the type hauling it performs — which is The Montgomery terminal’s 15-truck fleet time in opposite-direction sideswipes, 71 has proven to be at a much higher risk of acmostly moving forest industry byproducts percent of rear-end crashes and 77 percent cidents than other locations because it sits on such as wood chips, bark and sawdust. Servof same-direction sideswipes.” a very high traffic roadway (the old Further, the Federal Motor Carrier Birmingham Hwy. near Maxwell Air Safety Administration looked at 6,131 Force Base, between Montgomery and fatal car-truck crashes over a three-year Prattville, Ala.). The roadway is a busy period in 2007, 2008 and 2009. In thoroughfare for commuters from 2007 and 2008, cars were assigned Prattville who work in the city. fault in 85 percent of crashes and 81 “This location has much higher inpercent in 2009. stances of crashes than any of our other Still, determining fault for an accident terminals, and the majority of those accican ultimately come down to your drivdents are caused by passenger vehicles er’s word against that of the other driver. running into our trucks at no fault of And if you find yourself in court, juries our own,” says terminal manager Travis can be extremely unpredictable.

Liles. “Of course, defending the compaAnother problem is accident fraud. ny and our drivers is difficult because a There are documented incidences of lot of times it is our word against that of motorists initiating a collision with a the driver. After going through that a few truck with the intent to shift blame to Jim Benefield, standing left, and Travis Liles 12

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2018

In and out truck cab camera configuration

Cameras are mounted on side mirrors to monitor entire flank of truck and trailer.

after a while, you forget you have them on.” times, we wanted a way to protect ourselves There is also the benefit of monitoring from claims against us.” driver behavior. “It’s all risk related,” Liles exAfter a lengthy research period, the complains. “Even if a driver is doing something pany installed SmartDrive video safety syslow risk such as smoking in the cab, I get an tem this past summer across its entire alert. Or maybe he’s texting while driving, Montgomery fleet. Fleet managers started which is probably the most high-risk thing the process about a year ago, looking at you can do, I get an alert. Our drivers know about 20 camera systems, then narrowing that if they are nodding off or following anthe selection to a few vendors that offered other vehicle too closely, I’m going to receive not only dashboard cameras, but also caman alert almost instantly, and we will be able eras on the mirrors to monitor the sides and to see what is happening. We can use that as back of the vehicles. a teaching and training tool to correct bad Evergreen’s Safety and Special Projects Dihabits and risky behavior. It is promoting rector Jim Benefield led the company’s resafe driving habits.” search process. “We went through hours of Results since the install have been extremedemos and presentations with all the major ly encouraging, Liles says. “Honestly, it’s providers, talking to lots of people who were going really well overall,” he says. “We’re still familiar with nearly everything that’s currently getting acclimated, but we have definitely noavailable. We settled on SmartDrive for price ticed coachable incidences have decreased and the fact that the system covered so many since we added the cameras. From my side of angles (views of the truck). Our total investthings, just to be able to take a 20 second clip ment is about $1,000 per truck for equipof an incident, sit the driver down and show ment and install with an additional monthly him what was recorded has been so useful … fee of about $33 per month per truck.” it helps management and the driver see exactThe system is always on, even while parked. It uses algorithms to monitor habits and patterns, learning the style of each driver. It also picks up on other things like fast starts, sudden vehicle shifts and hard stops. It even picks up on seat belt use. If something is amiss, it sends a short clip to the driver’s manager. The system is not live feed or continuous.

“We only see an alert when there is an incident or (perceived) violation,” Benefield says. “Naturally, we had a few drivers who were apprehensive about having cameras recording their every move, but most tell me that after a while they forget the cameras are even there. It’s like wearing glasses: Managers are immediately sent 20-second clips of each incident.

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2018

ly what needs to be corrected.”

For instance, some of the short-term advantages have been minor things like increased seat belt use or less reports of trucks following other vehicles too closely. “A lot of times, it only takes one reminder to correct an issue,” Liles says, “It’s become a handy tool for us to reinforce our expectations of drivers.”

And Evergreen’s drivers are thrilled with it, so far. “We have not lost a single driver because of the new cameras,” Liles says.

“Our drivers know I cannot look in on a live feed of any of them. I receive an alert based on some sort of incident, hard braking, drastic changes in speed, seat belt not engaged, etc. Once we got past that, the drivers realized this could actually protect them and their jobs, and enough of them here have had experiences with someone blaming them for an accident when it wasn’t their fault. I would say that alone sold our drivers on the system completely.”

Liles adds that it will likely take at least another six months before the company can determine if the system will be installed across its entire fleet.

Evergreen’s experience echoes what many trucking operations have reported in recent years: Camera-based safety systems are becoming an invaluable tool for fleets to train drivers more effectively and can legally protect an operation or driver in the event of an accident. Even the National Transportation Safety Board has recommended heavy truck and bus fleets use video recorder technology, claiming that it could reduce fatal and injury crashes by 20 percent and 35 percent, respectively.

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SAFETY & MAINTENANCE Safety Insights

Stay focused on driver training ‘The components of the safety rules for both DOT and non-DOT fleets are the same: the company must hire safe drivers, train them to be safe, and supervise them so they will remain safe and take corrective action to make them safe drivers.’

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By Paul Dillard

S

afety rules for trucking operations come from many sources, including traffic and safety laws, regulations, industry standards, and customary practices.

Often, they are simply unwritten norms that develop over many years, becoming accepted over time and recognized as standards of care and customs.

Of course, rules change, usually the result of driver procedures or practices that results in crashes and injures. Statistics on crashes and studies showing defensive driving techniques reducing crashes have led to the current safety rules for U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and non-DOT fleets. In fact, because of the number of crashes and attempts to reduce this number, even the word “accident” has fallen out of favor to describe a crash, collision or wreck.

The federal government has pushed for crash awareness and has launched campaigns to get drivers thinking about crashes.

The campaign is directed against the use of the word “accident” to describe a crash, collision or wreck because it wrongfully promotes the concept that that incident is just something that happens.

Crash statistics play an important role in the development of safety rules for driver fleets. The crash statistics show that almost every crash is preventable unless there is some act of God or positively no way to avoid the crash. Over time, driver safety training has changed and now uses words like crash, wreck or collision rather than an accident.

Drivers must be trained that, with very few exceptions, all crashes are preventable by following safety rules and using ordinary care. Crash statistics are also a major component to driver safety training programs because they inform drivers of the degree and frequency of harm caused by failing to follow safety rules of the road. It is generally accepted that driver safety programs reduce the number of crashes, just like it is well known and accepted that defensive driving courses reduce the number of vehicle crashes.

The contention that a driver’s license is all the training needed to produce a safe driver is simply not true and is not the accepted belief of fleet safety experts. A valid driver’s license is only a starting point just as it is with commercial vehicles. Companies that use our roadways to conduct their business have an obligation to place only safe drivers on roadways which includes having in place and following all the safety rules for driver safety programs.

The components of the safety rules for both DOT and non-DOT fleets are the same: the company must hire safe drivers, train them to be safe, and supervise them so they will remain safe and take corrective action to make them safe drivers. The benefit of these safety rules is that not only the drivers will be safer, but that everyone using the roadways has a reduced risk of being involved in a crash.

Paul Dillard, CDS, is co-founder of JP Transportation Safety Consulting of Birmingham, Ala. He may be reach at pdillard@jptsc.com.

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MANAGEMENT COUNCIL NEWS ATRI: New Hours-of-Service Split Rest Periods Could Benefit Drivers, Carriers

By David Cullen, Heavy Duty Trucking A new study indicates there are “potential benefits” to allowing truck drivers more flexibility when taking required hours-ofservice breaks, according to the American Transportation Research Institute.

ATRI said on Aug. 28 that, using empirical truck GPS data to model the application of split rest beyond the 8- and 2-hour increments allowed under the existing HOS rules, its analysis found that drivers could spend less time and money while driving the same distances.

Under current HOS rules, drivers are required to rest for at least 10 hours before starting a new 14-hour work day. With one exception, the 10 hours must be consecutive. As a result, drivers who take a break to avoid congestion may lose available work hours, ATRI noted.

However, ATRI pointed out, there are “innovative HOS concepts that, if implemented, would enable drivers to avoid congestion by taking strategic periods of rest; a rest period of 3 or more hours that qualifies toward the daily 10-hour rest requirement could effectively help drivers avoid slowmoving peak travel periods.”

The study made use of a representative “freight-significant” 40-mile stretch of urban highway in Atlanta to quantify the operational impacts of congestion. The initial assessment using the truck GPS data showed that the time it took to traverse the congested corridor ranged from a low of 40 minutes to over 90 minutes during rush hours— which amounts to a more than doubling of driving time and related operational costs.

Operational truck GPS data was used to identify a sample of 3,600 truck trips that traversed the study corridor. Average speeds and travel times by hour of day were calculated for each trip – which quantified significant congested periods that lasted well beyond 2 hours. Lost time and operational costs were calculated for each hour of the day; the peak period calculations were found to be more than double the time and cost of off-peak travel.

“Not surprisingly,” states ATRI, “the results indicate that AM and PM peak travel

times (when commuters have the greatest demand for urban interstate highways) had the lowest average speeds and highest average travel times across the 40-mile study area.” Travel times indicate a fastest travel time of 39.9 minutes to traverse the corridor from 1:00 to 1:59 am and a slowest travel time of 1 hour and 33.4 minutes to traverse the corridor when trips start between 4:00 and 4:59 pm. “Thus, there is a range of 53.5 minutes between the best and worst travel times, indicating that the 40mile trip could take nearly one hour longer to complete depending on the time of day travel commences.”

ATRI said it then modeled scenarios in which a “representative driver” operated under the current HOS rules and a “flexible” 6/4 split rest time. Under the flexible hours, the driver was able to avoid congestion, and completed a 585 mile trip with 45 fewer minutes of drive time. Similar results were also found for 7/3 and 5/5 split scenarios.

Per ATRI, the analysis modeled two scenarios with a driver traveling across a heavily congested 40-mile urban corridor as part of a 585-mile trip using current and flexible HOS options. Using the flexible option, traversing the 40 miles required 45.5 minutes less driving time “because a 4-hour rest break allowed the driver to avoid a relatively small (40-mile) segment of urban interstate during peak travel times.”

If only 25 truck trips per day avoided the congested weekday time period presented on the study segment, ATRI added, “truck drivers would drive 4,700 fewer hours annually to move the same goods the same distance. This equates to operational cost savings of more than $300,000 per year for the 25-truck sample at that single location.”

The study results replicated across the industry, according to ATRI, “a conservative estimated savings in annual drive time of more than 2.3 million hours could be realized with flexible HOS options,” along with over $150 million in annual operational cost savings.

ATRI said the analysis provides “an assessment of how flexible HOS rules could be applied to enable a single representative driver the ability to avoid congestion in a single

study area.” The group noted there hundreds, if not thousands, of “severe chokepoints” in the nation where these rules could be applied

by HOS-regulated drivers.

“The time savings, cost savings, and decreased drive time that could result from implementation of a 7/3, 6/4 or 5/5 split sleeper berth rule, while unknown, are likely quite large,” said ATRI. “One of our biggest challenges with the HOS rules is the lack of flexibility,” commented said Gary Helms, an over-the-road driver for Covenant Transport and an America’s Road Team Captain. “Under the current rules, when traveling through congested cities, I really have no choice but to sit stuck in traffic and watch my available hours tick away. As ATRI’s study shows, with flexibility in the HOS, I could choose to rest during the worst congested times and make my delivery schedules with less time behind the wheel.”

The research group said the study was undertaken, in part, in response to ongoing discussions by industry stakeholders, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, on how flexibility in sleep and rest time could benefit drivers.

ATA accepting nominations for new Alabama Road Team captains The Alabama Trucking Association is asking for driver nominations to add two new Road Team captains later this fall.

There is no limit to the number of drivers each company may nominate. Applicants will come to the Association office in Montgomery in November for an audition before a panel of independent judges. Nominees will speak for approximately five minutes on any subject they choose, after which they will answer questions from the judges.

Nominees must be currently employed as full-time truck drivers with an outstanding safe driving record. They must be able to clearly and convincingly communicate their message of commitment to safety and courtesy. They must also agree to be available for speaking engagements and public appearances up to twice a month. This can include occasionally bringing a tractor-trailer on location for a Share the Road and/or Teens & Trucks presentation at area high schools, colleges, or civic organizations.

Employer must be a full dues-paying Continued on page 16

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2018

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member of the Alabama Trucking Association and agree to allow the driver adequate time for personal appearances. They must also agree to pay the driver equivalent earnings for the time away from their regular job and reimburse their expenses during the time he/she is presenting.

Judging is set for Tuesday November 14, 2018. Nominations must be received in the Association office by close of business on Friday, November 9.

Please contact Tim Frazier at the association office, 334-834-3983 or 256-735-6675 with any questions concerning the requirements for becoming a member of Alabama’s Road Team.

of Safety. Viso will be responsible for leading safety initiatives while maintaining Boyd Bros.’ high safety standards.

Viso comes to Boyd with twenty-six years of transportation experience, focused on safety, recruiting, and accounting. Within the industry, Viso has held the positions of Vice President of Safety for U.S. Xpress, Inc. and most recently, he was Vice President of Safety at Total Transportation of Mississippi, LLC. “We are excited to add Bob to our safety team,” stated Boyd COO, Dwight Bassett.

“His past success in safety and vast knowledge of compliance and training is guaranteed to take our commitment to safety to the next level, and is critical in achieving Boyd’s growth strategy.”

“The first value listed in our mission statement states that we will operate safely and legally,” commented Boyd CEO, Chris Cooper. “Safety is a core value at Boyd. By adding someone of Bob’s character and expertise to the team, we are ensuring that the Boyd Bros. mission is being fulfilled to the highest standard.”

Boyd Bros. Names Robert Viso, Jr. Vice President of Safety Boyd Bros. is pleased to announce and welcome Robert (Bob) Viso, Jr. as Vice President

Canadian government approves roadside drug test In what could be an indicator of things to come for U.S. law enforcement agencies,

News

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the Canada Parliament in June passed legislation paving the way for the use of roadside saliva tests to detect the presence of drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana. The Liberal Party of Canada (which currently controls Parliament) has pledged $161 million in funding for police training and drug−testing equipment over the next five years, as well as a public awareness campaign about the perils of driving while high.

Following that legislation, Canadian Justice Minister Jody Wilson−Raybould in September approved the Drager DrugTest 5000 as the first saliva screening equipment to be used by law enforcement to test for THC, the main psychoactive agent in cannabis. The equipment will be made available to police forces across the country, but Canadian government officials say it will still be up to police forces to decide what testing equipment they want to use.

Manufacturers have told the government that they could meet demand for roadside saliva testing equipment within four to six weeks. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police said last month that it is unlikely to reach its goal of having 2,000 officers trained to spot drug−impaired drivers when marijuana becomes legal later this year.

Continued on page 20

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

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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

News Cannabis will become legal for recreational use on Oct. 17.

ATRI launches online driver survey on detention impacts The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released an online data collection initiative to solicit commercial driver perspectives on how they are affected by customer detention. The driver feedback will be utilized to better understand how excessive delays at shipper/receiver facilities impacts driver productivity, safety and hours-of-service compliance.

This survey is part of an ongoing study

by ATRI on the impacts of detention on overall industry productivity and safety.

Data collected in this latest driver survey will be compared to driver surveys collected in 2014 to evaluate how detention impacts may have changed since the ELD mandate

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went into effect earlier this year.

ATRI launched this latest data collection at the 2018 Great American Trucking Show (GATS), collecting several hundred driver surveys. The online version of the same survey conducted at GATS will allow larger numbers of professional drivers to weigh in with their experiences with customer detention.

FMCSA announces under-21 military CDL pilot program FMCSA is requesting a 60-day public comment period to determine whether drivers under age 21 with military experience should operate commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce.

The program, which will be posted in the Federal Register on July 6, is part of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act 2015 (FAST Act). During the three-year period, FMCSA will study crashes, moving violations, inspection violations, and safety critical events as available of drivers under the age of 21 with military experience.

FMCSA initially proposed this pilot and solicited public comment on Aug. 22, 2016. The prior 60-day notice sought comment on program operations, including whether any additional safeguards are needed to ensure that the pilot provides a level

of safety equivalent to current safety levels.

According to the agency, the FAST Act requires the establishment of a data collection program to collect and analyze data regarding crashes involving drivers participating in the pilot program and drivers under the age of 21 operating CMVs in intrastate commerce. A report detailing the findings will be submitted to Congress no later than a year after completing data collection.

The plan for the data collection task is to have approximately 50 motor carriers participating in the pilot program at a time who will then identify and employ at least one under-21 military CDL driver and report their safety and activity data to FMCSA. FMCSA said it expects to include an average of 600 drivers in the study per year.

Because of high driver turnover in commercial trucking and given that many participating drivers will turn 21 through the course of the program, the agency noted participating carriers must work with the project team to add additional drivers to the program over time.

Throughout the program, FMCSA will collect the following information: A carrier application (completed once at the time of application) for participation in Continued on page 22

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participating driver choosing to leave the pilot program, a participating driver leaving the carrier, or a participating driver failing a random or post-crash drug/alcohol test.

News the pilot program will provide the project team with the carrier’s contact information and demographic data.

Each participating driver will need to complete a driver background information form and sign an informed consent form, which the carrier will submit on the driver’s behalf.

This is a one-time task for each driver.

On a monthly basis, carriers will submit data on driver activity (e.g., duty hours, driving hours, off-duty time, restart breaks), safety outcomes (e.g., crashes, violations, and safety-critical events) and any additional supporting information (e.g., OBMS logs, investigative reports from previous crashes).

Carriers will be required to notify FMCSA within 24 hours of: any injury or fatality crashes involving a participating driver, a participating driver receiving an alcohol-related citation (e.g., driving under the influence, driving while intoxicated), a

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FMCSA to hold listening session on proposed HOS changes FMCSA is seeking comment on the split sleeper-berth rule to allow drivers to split their required time in the sleeper berth.

(Lippert Components Inc.) The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has planned a public listening session this month to discuss several proposed changes to the commercial motor vehicle driver hours-of-service regulations.

FMCSA’s Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Aug. 23 sought comment on four specific aspects of the HOS rules the agency is considering changing. They are: the shorthaul HOS limit, the HOS exception for adverse driving conditions, the 30-minute rest break provision and the split sleeper-berth rule to allow drivers to split their required time in the sleeper berth.

Vendors of electronic logging devices are encouraged to participate to address potential implementation issues should changes to the HOS rules be made, the agency said.

In its proposal, FMCSA said it is seeking answers from stakeholders to 25 specific questions in four general areas: l Should the agency expand the current 100 air-mile “shorthaul” exemption from 12 hours on-duty to 14 hours on-duty, to be consistent with the workday rules for longhaul truck drivers? l Is there adequate flexibility in the adverse driving exception that currently expands driving time by up to two hours? l If the 30-minute rest break after eight hours of driving did not exist, would drivers obtain adequate rest breaks throughout a daily driving period to relieve fatigue? l Do you have information that would support reinstating the option for splitting up the required 10-hour off-duty rest break for drivers operating trucks with sleeperberth compartments?

2018 Roadcheck out-of-service rate declines from last year More than one of every five trucks that received comprehensive Level I inspections during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s International Roadcheck this summer were taken out of service, CVSA reported on Sept. 12.

Continued on page 24

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A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2018

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News CVSA said that the out-of-service rate for the 45,400 Level I inspections was 21.6 percent, a decrease from last year’s 23 percent rate.

Likewise the rate of drivers placed out of service for all Level I, II and III inspections was 3.9 percent, a decline from last year’s rate of 4.7 percent.

CVSA’s annual three-day safety blitz was conducted June 5-7. The focus was on hours-of-service compliance since the inspections were conducted only two months after electronic logging device out-of-service enforcement began.

Despite the improving out-of-service rate, CVSA Executive Director Collin Mooney said the numbers may not actually indicate that the nation’s highways are any safer this year than last year.

Some in the industry want to see the rate of out-of-service violations climb because it

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would mean inspectors have chosen the industry’s bad actors and selected the right location to set up their enforcement blitz, Mooney said.

Of the total 67,502 combined roadside Level I, II and III inspections on large trucks and buses, 11,897 vehicles had outof-service conditions and 2,664 drivers had out-of-service conditions. Out of the 67,502 vehicles inspected, 66,766 were large trucks.

CVSA said the top vehicle out-of-service conditions were for brake systems (4,536), tires and wheels (3,058) and brake adjustment (2,612). The top driver out-of-service conditions were for hours of service (1,326), wrong class license (648) and false record of duty status (308).

Hours-of-service violations represented 43.7 percent of all driver out-of-service conditions. However, of the total number of inspections conducted during International Roadcheck, fewer than 2 percent of drivers were placed out of service for hours-of-service violations.

During an inspection, if an inspector identifies critical inspection items on a vehicle with specific violations, he or she will render the vehicle out of service, which means mechanical defects must be corrected

in order for the vehicle to be permitted to proceed. A driver found to be in violation of the conditions in the out-of-service criteria will be placed out of service until the condition can be rectified, CVSA said.

A total of 60,321 inspections were conducted in the U.S. while 7,181 were done in Canada. There were also more than 730 motorcoaches inspected.

Birmingham Freightliner has hired Johnnie Danner as parts manager Danner joins the organization from MHC Leasing in Gainesville, Ga., where he served as the service manager for the past year.

While working for MHC Leasing, he worked his way up from apprentice to manager in four and a half years. Prior to that Danner worked in motorsports in positions with an NHRA Pro Stock team, ALMS and Short Track Asphalt. “I am excited to work with the great team Birmingham Freightliner has here, as well as the entire Peach State Truck Centers dealer family in Alabama and Georgia,” says Danner. “I look forward to training up our parts staff so that they are as knowledgeable as possible to help our great customers get the parts they need as soon as possible.”

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

Boyd Logistics promotes two executives

Boyd Companies recently promoted Chad Rhodes to Logistics Manager of Business Development and Scott Orazine to General Manager of Boyd Logistics.

Orazine will be responsible for the daily operations while Rhodes will build logistics opportunities across the U.S. “While these promotions are strategic in nature, they allow us to meet an immediate market demand from our customers,” said Boyd Companies CEO, Chris Cooper. “We have seen an exponential increase in a need for full services logistics solutions. Chad and Scott are an unstoppable team that understands how to move freight effectively.

This move is a game changer for us.”

Rhodes began his 5-year, Boyd career in the intermodal division and quickly transitioned to Boyd Logistics. “I enjoy working with customers to find the right solution,” said Rhodes. “Boyd Companies offerings paired with Daseke 3PL/TMS resources and asset resources allows us to meet our customer’s logistics needs fundamentally different than our competitors. I’m excited about the impact we will make over the next few years.”

Orazine’s path to General Manager includes expertise in operations, logistics, sales, and dedicated services. “I feel like my background has positioned me to successfully lead our logistics efforts,” said Orazine. “I can’t wait to help our customers grow their footprint with the Boyd Companies and Daseke.”

“Promoting Rhodes and Orazine allows us to leverage the growth potential in logistics,” commented Boyd Companies COO, Dwight Bassett. “This team will expand our market share and enhance our service offerings to both our drivers and customers.”

Miss Alabama talks persistence at Southland International Trucks A three-year journey to being crowned Miss Alabama was no easy feat—it took determination, persistence and motivation.

This story of tenacity is one Oak Mountain High School graduate Callie Walker shared recently with the staff of Southland International Trucks in Homewood.

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Alabama-based fleets make ‘Transport Topics Top 100’ list

Two Alabama-based carriers, AAA Cooper Transportation and P&S Transportation, have been placed on Transport Topics’ ‘2018 Top 100 For-Hire Carriers’ list published in the industry trade journal’s July 16 edition.

AAA Cooper, the highest ranked Alabama-based carrier on the list this year, moved up three spots from 2017 to reach number 50. The Dothan-based company employs 5,000 people at locations across the Southeast, Southwest, Midwest and Puerto Rico with coverage into Canada and Mexico. It generated $665 million in annual revenue last year with 3,000 company tractors and 6,500 trailers. The company offers regional and interregional LTL and TL, tank/bulk, dedicated contract carrier, port services, freight brokerage, ocean freight forwarding, and truck maintenance and repair.

Meanwhile, the Birmingham-based P&S Transportation came in as the 55th top carrier with 2017 revenue reaching more than $595 million. P&S employs 3,000 with 2,415 tractors and 2,223 trailers. Its services include flatbed/heavy specialized, refrigerated TL, freight brokerage, and transportation management.

UPS Inc. was once again the top carrier holding off rival FedEx Corp. Rounding out the Top 10 in order are XPO Logistics, J.B. Hunt Transportation Services, Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, YRC Worldwide, Schneider, Hub Group, TFI International, and Landstar System.

TT ranks carriers based on data received directly from company management or from financial reports filed with governmental agencies in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. For more information visit www.ttnews.com.

“Persistence,” Walker said. “You just have to keep pushing forward no matter what.”

Winning Miss Alabama’s Outstanding Teen Pageant in 2012, Walker was one of the youngest girls to be Walker crowned.

When she participated in the Miss Alabama pageant for the first time, she said she wasn’t heartbroken when she was named first runner-up. According to Walker, she just wasn’t ready.

The next year, though, Walker won the title.

“Rather than wanting to serve as Miss Alabama for the state of Alabama, I wanted to win the competition,” Walker said. “That mentality, looking back this past year, was wrong. It wasn’t the right mindset.”

After feeling like she’d done everything she could have to prepare, Walker was named first runner-up again. After leaving the competition, Walker said she didn’t want to compete again, thinking it wasn’t mean to be.

Ultimately, Walker decided to compete one

last time despite having an additional five years of eligibility to participate. This time when practicing, she took a new approach.

“Prepare. Prepare. Prepare, so you can go into whatever you’re pursuing and just enjoying,” Walker said.

According to Walker, there was a calmness to her this year. She said she felt ready for any question the judges could ask her during the interview portion, and she’d perfected her talent. For her, the week of Miss Alabama was enjoyable.

“At the end of the week, we got to the top five again, and they called out my name this time,” Walker said. “It was very special—a really rewarding moment—and it showed all the hard work and preparation does pay off.”

FMCSA plans to alter carrier registration fee The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is currently working to alter Unified Carrier Registration fees in 2019 and 2020.

In the upcoming registration year, for which collection begins around Oct. 1, 2018, carriers with one and two trucks will pay $63; $187 for three to five trucks; $372 A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2018

for between six and 20 trucks; $1,299 for carriers with 21-100 trucks; $6,190 for 101-1,000-truck carriers; and $60,441 for fleets with more than 1,000 trucks.

Regulations require UCR fee adjustments when annual revenues exceed the maximum allowed ($112 million). The UCR Plan board estimates that by Dec. 31, 2018, total revenues will exceed the statutory maximum for the 2017 registration year by approximately $9.17 million. Registration fees were reduced for the 2018 registration year for the same reason.

In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published recently in the Federal Register, FMCSA proposes to lower fees for the 2019 registration year (with collection beginning on or around Oct. 1, 2018) by approximately 17.59 percent below the 2017 fee level “to ensure that fee revenues do not exceed the statutory maximum, and to account for the excess funds held in the depository.”

Proposed fees for the 2020 registration year, with collection beginning on or around Oct. 1, 2019, would be reduced by approximately 9.5 percent from the 2017 level.

The UCR Plan board requested that the adjusted fees be adopted by Aug. 31 to enable states and the UCR Plan board to reflect the new fees when collections for 2019 registrations begin.

Comments on the NPRM can be made for 10 days following its publication Tuesday in the Federal Register. Comments can be made by searching Docket No. FMCSA2018-0068

Lawmakers search for a path forward to bring the FAA reauthorization In July, Senate Commerce Chairman John Thune (R-SD) and Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL) continued to work to reach a deal on floor time for the FAA Reauthorization, with the latest extension set to expire on September 30th. While speaking to the press, Thune indicated that he is not interested in a short-term extension and is actively working through all possible scenarios to meet the Sept 30th reauthorization deadline.

In addition, one of the several issues still being discussed by Thune, Nelson and their staff, is language addressing the trucking industry’s F4A meal and rest break issue. Chairman Thune reiterated that this remains a priority for a lot of members, both Republican and Democrats, who support the F4A provision which was unanimously approved by the committee last summer as part of the committee-passed bill. While Chairman Thune A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2018

ATA release events schedule for FY2018-2019 The Alabama Trucking Association has released its calendar of events and meetings for the 2018-19 fiscal year, serving up educational and networking opportunities for trucking industry stakeholders from truck cab to board room.

Marquee events include the upcoming ATA Golf Classic, which supports the Association’s political action committee, TRUK PAC; SMMC Fleet Safety Awards, ATA Convention & Meeting; and the Alabama Truck Driving Championships, to name a few.

There are also ample training opportunities for all segments of the industry, including fleet safety management seminars, safety management certification through the North American Transportation Management Institute (NATMI), ATA safety council membership meetings, meet ups and roadside inspections, plus lots more.

ATA Events Calendar at a Glance: ATA Golf Classic (September 25, 2018); Call on Washington (October 2-4, 2018); American Trucking Associations MC&E (October 27-31, 2018); ATA SMMC Christmas Celebration (December 10, 2018); ATA Board Meeting (January 29, 2019); SMMC Safety Awards (March 25, 2019); ATA Annual Convention (April 25-28, 2019); Truck Driving Championships (May 31, 2019); and ATA Board Meeting & Officer Installation (June 25, 2019) For locations and registration information, please visit the Events Page at the ATA Web site here or call Jane Nixon at 334-834-3983. and Ranking Member Nelson continue to work through the outstanding issues on the bill, ATA is closely communicating with our Senate champions and Senate Leadership on the importance of keeping our F4A legislative fix in the FAA Reauthorization, and bringing the bill to the floor for consideration without an extension.

The FAA Reauthorization continues to be the best vehicle to resolve ATA’s top legislative issue, F4A. The Senate FAA Reauthorization bill currently includes language to address the meal/rest break portion of F4A, while the House-passed bill includes language addressing both the meal/rest break portion and the effective date. Moving the Senate bill in the near term will allow the two bills to be conferenced, and

potentially be sent to the President to be signed into law later this fall. Our expectation, should that legislative process play out, is that an F4A fix will be included in a bill presented to President Trump later this year. Moving forward, ATA will continue to press for the Senate’s consideration of the FAA Reauthorization.

Birmingham Freightliner adds to sales staff Birmingham Freightliner has announced Britt Caple as the newest addition to the new truck sales team. Over the past year, Birmingham Freightliner—which is owned

by Peach State Truck Centers, one of the largest volume Freightliner truck dealers in North America—has been solidifying a team of experienced managers and truck professionals to better serve the company’s customers, as well as potential new customers, according to an announcement.

Caple brings to the dealership more than 30 years of experience serving truck fleets.

Caple started his career in customer service with Fontaine Fifth Wheel in 1989.

“In my career I have worked with a long list of major fleets throughout the United States, and I look forward to bringing that experience to the great team that’s been put in place here at Birmingham Freightliner,” says Caple. “I want our customers to know that we’re here to support them in every way that we can and that we’re backed by the great Peach State Truck Centers name that’s been in the business of selling and servicing mediumand heavy-duty trucks for over 40 years.”

To meet the demands of its customers, Birmingham Freightliner has increased its focus on the customer experience by putting together a strong dealership team. Recently the dealership has hired a new general manager, parts manager, service manager, body shop manager and a newly-created fleet service advocate.

“We want to make sure our customers know that we are committed to excellence in every aspect of our business, and we’re very excited about the addition of Britt to our team, as well as the other changes we’ve made in 2018,” says Birmingham Freightliner General Manager Chris Bisanz, who joined the company in March. “Birmingham Freightliner is an Elite Support certified dealer, meaning our service is unmatched in the industry, and our parts and truck sales teams we’ve put together have incredible experience. We’re here to serve our customers, and we’re excited about what the future holds for Birmingham Freightliner and Peach State Truck Centers.”

Continued on page 28 27

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

Palomar Insurance unveils new online technology

Palomar Insurance recently announced the addition of new website technology – PalomarOnline – that offers easy access to policy information along with the ability for customers to make online premium payments using E-pay.

“We are thrilled to offer this service to our customers,” said Justin Smitherman, Information Technology Director. “The website will allow easy access to download automobile identification, policy information, certificates of insurance, and report claims. This service will be extremely useful to our clients in the transportation industry whose drivers need access routinely,” adds Smitherman.

PalomarOnline not only offers customers easy access to download their own policy documents, but also to request policy changes and make inquiries with the click of a mouse at www.PalomarIns.com.

With the addition of these new technology offerings, PalomarOnline provides the

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tools for all of your insurance needs with the latest technology 24/7.

New freight forecast projects continued growth for trucking The American Trucking Associations recently released the latest edition of its Freight Forecast – freight volumes are projected to increase 4.2 percent in 2018 and increase 35.6 percent by 2029.

“Freight Forecast is our look at the future of the freight economy – how it is growing, how it is changing and how it is both affecting and being affected by the economy at home and abroad,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “The movement of goods is such a critical component of our economy, and the growth we’re projecting in freight demand is a reflection of its strength.”

This edition of ATA Freight Forecast 2018 to 2029 was released at ATA’s second annual Economic Summit.

Among the report’s findings: Total tonnage transported will reach nearly 16 billion tons in 2018 – a figure that should rise 35.6 percent to 21.7 billion tons in 2029.

Truck volumes are expected to grow 2.3 percent per year from 2019-2024 and 2.2 percent annually for the next five years.

Changes in demand for commodities – no-

tably commodities moved by pipeline – will alter trucking’s share of freight volumes.

While in 2018, trucks are projected to move 70.2 percent of total tonnage, that share is expected to sink to 65.9 percent in 2029.

Nonetheless, the trucking industry will remain the single largest mover of freight.

The transport of freight by rail, including intermodal, will account for 12.6 percent of tonnage this year – but that figure is expected to drop to 10 percent in 2029 – again, due to strength in pipeline, not falling rail volumes.

“Projected increases in freight volumes demand we act now on important issues facing trucking and the rest of the supply chain like workforce development and infrastructure investment,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “More freight means we’ll need more trucks and more drivers to continue safely delivering our nation’s goods.”

ATA Freight Transportation Forecast is available for purchase at www.atabusinesssolutions.com or by calling 866-821-3468.

Trucking revenue surpassed $700 billion last year Truckers moved more 70.2 percent of all domestic freight tonnage in 2017, helping the industry reach $700.1 billion in annual revenue, American Trucking Associations (ATA)

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2018

reported.

The group’s “American Trucking Trends 2018” also found trucks moved 10.77 billion tons of freight a year ago, including 69.1 percent of all trade between the U.S. and Mexico, and 57.7 percent of Canada-U.S. trade.

ATA president and CEO Chris Spear commented “trucking is literally the driving force behind our great economy. Safe, reliable and efficient motor carriers enable businesses throughout the supply chain to maintain lean inventories, thereby saving the economy billions of dollars each year.”

ATA announced details of the report the same day research firm FTR said its trucking conditions index for June continued to show extremely tight freight capacity. While conditions for truckers remained very favorable through the end of July, FTR projected some stabilization due to added capacity and productivity enhancements during the second half of the year.

“Given strong manufacturing and construction activity, stimulus from government spending and tax cuts, and a very tight labor market, trucking conditions for the next year should remain stronger than at any point from 2015 through 2017,” said Avery Vise, FTR’s vice president of trucking.

Meanwhile, ATA’s report said about 7.7 million people were employed in jobs relat-

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2018

ed to trucking activity last year, including 3.5 million drivers. About 1.7 million of those drivers operate heavy trucks and tractor-trailers.

However, the number of active truckers in the U.S. decreased to 3.506 million in 2017, according to the Department of Labor. This was a decrease of 36,000, or 1 percent, from 2016. Prior to last year, the number of truck drivers had increased annually since 2011.

Based on the latest available figures, there were about 35 million trucks registered for commercial use in 2016, including about 3.67 million Class 8 vehicles.

BB&T Insurance Services rebrands as McGriff Insurance Services BB&T Insurance Services, a subsidiary of BB&T Insurance Holdings, will begin doing business as McGriff Insurance Services on June 25, 2018.

The new name comes from affiliate McGriff, Seibels & Williams, which provides property and casualty insurance, employee benefits, life and pension plans, financial services and surety products, as well as specialty insurance programs. BB&T Insurance Services of California and BridgeTrust Title are not included in this initial rebranding.

“Since our founding in 1922, BB&T Insurance has never wavered in our commitment to provide highly personalized client service,” said David Pruett, vice chairman and CEO of BB&T Insurance Services. “The McGriff name goes back to 1886, and we are excited to build on the brand equity and longstanding recognition associated with this industry leader while remaining committed to the outstanding client service we have provided for years.”

Pruett added with McGriff’s pending acquisition of Regions Insurance Group, the timing was right for the name change. “The combined company will have even greater client-facing resources and industry knowledge under a single united brand that is recognized and respected by the insurance industry and clients,” he said.

Expanded client services include business and individual insurance, employee benefits, risk management with specialty offerings in agribusiness, construction, behavioral health care, architecture and engineering, and entertainment. The brand transition includes a new logo with an updated version of the McGriff name, as well as an updated color palette, fonts and other design elements.

The rebranding is occurring just prior to the scheduled close of the acquisition of ReContinued on page 30

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

gions Insurance Group, which has 31 offices across the Southeast, Texas and Indiana. The deal is expected to be completed early in the third quarter.

R.E. Garrison Trucking founder dies at 96 Roy E. Garrison, founder of Cullman’s R.E. Garrison Trucking, has passed away. The company announced Garrison’s passing on its Facebook page Thursday evening. Garrison passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018.

“We are saddened to announce to our R.E Garrison Family, and to the Cullman community, that Mr. Roy E. Garrison, founder, namesake and friend, has died, August 8th, 2018, at age 96.

“Roy E. Garrison founded R.E. Garrison Trucking in 1958 on the principles of hard work, honesty, and fair play. He led the company with great success, forging such strong relationships with customers and drivers that when Wyles Griffith and Donovon Lovell purchased the company in 1996, they kept the company name the same as it had been

30

since Mr. Garrison put signs on his first truck, some 30 years earlier.”

Wyles and Donovon paid tribute to Roy Garrison today by stating, ‘We are deeply saddened by the passing of our friend, Roy Garrison. He exemplified the true entrepreneurial spirit. He was a visionary in the trucking industry and used hard work and dedication to succeed. Roy Garrison was incredibly proud of the company that bears his name and was always reminding us to put the drivers first and treat people right.”

Roy E. Garrison was a loving husband and father, and one of the last living veterans of the greatest generation, fighting in World War II bravely from November of 1942 to December of 1945, under the inspiring leadership of General George S. Patton.

“The employees and drivers of R.E. Garrison Trucking express our sympathies to his family, and we will be forever grateful for the legacy he has left us all.”

Volvo Trucks honors Action Truck Center for excellence Volvo Trucks North America recently recognized Action Truck Center of Dothan as its Southeast Region Dealer of the Year. The award honors the dealership for outstanding performance in a number of key areas, in-

cluding new truck sales, parts sales, market share, customer satisfaction, dealer operating standards and franchise investments. For more than 35 years Action Truck Center has provided sales and service to the Tri-State region. The award was based on Action doubling their truck sales objective in 2017 by selling across the full model line of Volvo Trucks. This included trucks used for long haul, pick up and delivery, dump trucks, refuge trucks and many other applications.

Volvo Trucks provides complete transport solutions for professional and demanding customers, offering a full range of heavy duty trucks. In 2017, more than 112,000 Volvo Trucks were delivered worldwide. Volvo Trucks is a part of the Volvo Group, one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment, and marine and industrial engines.

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

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2018

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.

CODE # _________________

Date_________________________

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Mbr Type ____________________

Nxt Bill Date__________________

Check #______________________

Dues Cat _____________________

AL Sen______________________

Mbr Class____________________

Exp Date_____________________

CG Dist______________________

Dues Amt ____________________

Freq_________________________

AL Hse______________________

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

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2018

31

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.

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

Vertical Alliance Group, Inc. (205) 585-3895 www.infinitiworkforce.com

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

BMO Transportation Finance (770) 960-6307 www.BMOTF.com

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

Comdata, Inc. 615-376-6917 www.comdata.com

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

Commercial Credit Group, Inc. (704) 731-0031 www.commercialcreditgroup.com

Metro Trailer Rental (205) 985-8701 www.metrotrailer.com

Crestmark Bank 615-620-3509 www.crestmark.com

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

Electronic Funds Source, LLC (615) 777-4619 www.efsllc.com

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

First Tennessee Bank (615) 734-6046

COMMUNICATIONS/ELECTRONICS Star Leasing Co. Blackberry Radar (205) 763-1280 (678) 429-3900 www.starleasing.com 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 Rand McNally (865) 856-0584 www.randmcnally.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

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

Trailer Sales of Tennessee A Fleet Equipment Co. (615) 259-3301 www.trailersalesoftennessee.com Trico Trailer Leasing & Sales (205) 759-2484 www.trico.com EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING Daehan Solution Alabama, LLC (334) 301-3498

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

Benton & Parker Insurance Services (770) 536-8340 www.bentonandparker.com Caribou Insurance Agency, Inc. (205) 822-7577 www.caribouins.com Cottingham and Butler (563) 587-5521 www.cottinghambutler.com Dozier Insurance Agency LLC (334) 420-3798 www.doziertruckinsurance.com Farris Evans Insurance Agency, Inc. (901) 274-5424 www.farrisevans.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 Johnson-Locklin & Associates (205) 980-8008 www.johnson-locklin.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

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

People’s Capital & Leasing Corp.

(205) 856-9354 www.peoples.com

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

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

People’s United Equipment Finance Corp.

(205) 664-9374 www.puefc.com

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

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

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

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

Palomar Insurance Corp.

(334) 270-0105 www.palomarinsurance.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

National Bank of Commerce (205) 422-7111

Renasant Bank (334) 301-5955 Eaton Corp./Roadranger Field Marketing www.renasantbank.com (334) 398-1410 www.roadranger.com Santander Bank. N.A. (205) 414-7554 EQUIPMENT PARTS/ACCESSORIES www.santanderbank.com Allison Transmission, Inc. (678) 367-7011 ServisFirst Bank www.allisontransmission.com (205) 949-3433 www.servisfirstbank.com Dothan Tarpaulin Products, Inc. (800) 844-8277 Signature Financial, LLC www.dothantarp.com (423) 290-9986

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

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

Trucking Partners, LLC Sales Agency & Factoring (256) 737-8788 www.truckingpartners.com Wells Fargo Equipment Finance (314) 374-2165 www.wellsfargo.com

INSURANCE Aon Risk Solutions (501) 374-9300 www.aon.com/transportation Aronov Insurance, Inc. (205) 414-9575 www.aronovinsurance.com Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc. (205) 414-2655 www.ajg.com BancorpSouth Insurance Services, Inc. (334) 386-3317 www.bxsi.com The Baxter Agency (334) 678-6800 www.baxteragency.com

Joe Morten & Sons, Inc. (865) 392-3844 www.joemorten.com S. S. Nesbitt (205) 262-2620 www.ssnesbitt.com

RelaDyne (205) 384-3422 www.reladyne.com The McPherson Companies (205) 661-4400 www.mcphersonoil.com W.H. Thomas Oil Co., Inc. (205) 755-2610 www.whthomasoil.com

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Regions Insurance, Inc. (501) 661-4880 www.regions.com Reliance Partners, LLC (877) 668-1704 www.reliancepartners.com Trans Con Assurance, LTD (205) 978-7070 www.transconassurance.com TransRisk, LLC (334) 403-4114 www.transriskllc.com Transure Services, Inc. (336) 584-9494 www.transure.com Turner & Hamrick L.L.C. (334) 566-7665 www.turnerhamrick.com York Risk Services Group (205) 581-9488 www.yorkrsg.com

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

Attorneys: Adams and Reese LLP (205) 250-5091 www.adamsandreese.com Austill, Lewis & Pipkin, P.C. (205) 870-3767 www.maplaw.com Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C. (205) 328-0480 www.bakerdonelson.com

(Current as of 9-7-2018) Ball, Ball, Matthews & Novak, P.A. 334-387-7680 www.ball-ball.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Great Dane (205) 324-3491 www.greatdane.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 City Body & Trailer Works, Inc. (251) 438-5521 www.gulfcity.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Truckworx Kenworth – Mobile (251) 957-4000 www.TRUCKWORX.com

Utility Trailer Sales of Alabama LLC (334) 794-7345 www.utilityalabama.com

Truckworx Kenworth – Huntsville (256) 308-0162 www.TRUCKWORX.com

Vanguard National Trailer Corp.

(219) 253-2000 www.vanguardtrailer.com

Truckworx Kenworth – Thomasville (334) 636-4380 www.TRUCKWORX.com

TRUCK DEALERS, MANUFACTURERS Action Truck Center (334) 794-8505 www.actiontruckcenter.com

Volvo Trucks North America (336) 508-4950 www.volvotrucks.volvo.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 Webster, Henry, Lyons, White, Bradwell & Black, P.C. (334) 264-9472 www.websterhenry.com

Other Services: Alliance Secondary (205) 821-5478 www.alliancesecondary.com Allstate Beverage (251) 476-9600 Ext. 1231 Corporate Billing, LLC (256) 584-3600 www.corpbill.com Drivewyze (780) 461-3355 www.drivewyze.com George L. Edwards & Associates (334) 745-5166 HELP, Inc. Provider of PrePass (931) 520-7170 www.prepass.com J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. (920) 722-2848 www.jjkellerservices.com JP Transportation Safety Consulting, LLC (205) 329-8182 (205) 329-8183 www.jptsc.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) 322-5442 www.porterbillingservices.com Power South Energy Cooperative (334) 427-3207 www.powersouth.com QuikQ LLC (678) 591-4675 www.quikq.com Spectrum Environmental Services, Inc. (205) 664-2000 www.specenviro.com

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

TIRE DEALERS & MANUFACTURERS Best One Tire & Service (615) 244-9611 www.bestonetire.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 Co., Inc. (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 Transportation Compliance Services, USA (228) 872-7160 www.dottrucksafety.com Transportation Safety Services (251) 661-9700 www.transportationsafetyservices.com Trico Trailer Leasing (205) 242-6908 Trucking Partners, LLC Sales Agency & Factoring (256) 737-8788 www.truckingpartners.com

Repairs: Big Moe Spring & Alignment of B’ham, Inc. (205) 780-0290 www.bigmoespring.com Birmingham Frame & Alignment, LLC (205) 322-4844 birminghamframeandalignment.com Carrier Transicold South (404) 968-3130 www.ctsouth.com Childersburg Truck Service, Inc. (256) 378-3101 www.childersburg-truck.com

McGriff Tire Co. (256) 739-0710 www.mcgrifftire.com McGriff Treading Co., Inc. (256) 734-4298 www.mcgriffindustries.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

TRAILER DEALERS/ MANUFACTURERS C & C Trailers, Inc. (334) 897-2202 Empire Truck Sales, LLC (601) 939-1000 www.empiretruck.com Equipment Logistics, Inc. (256) 739-9280 Fleetco, Inc. (615) 256-0600 www.fleetco.net

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

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

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

TRUCK & EQUIPMENT AUCTIONEERS Insurance Auto Auction, Inc. (478) 319-8574 www.iaai.com

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

Jeff Martin Auctioneers, Inc. (601) 450-6200 www.jeffmartinauctioneers.com

Daimler Trucks NA LLC (803) 554-4831 www.freightlinertrucks.com

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

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

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

Fitzgerald Peterbilt (205) 379-8300 www.fitzgeraldpeterbilt.com

Oasis Travel Center, LLC (251) 960-1122

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

Pilot Flying J Centers (865) 207-3874 www.pilotflyingj.com

Long Lewis Western Star (205) 428-0161 www.longlewistrucks.com

TravelCenters of America/Petro Shopping Centers (678) 591-4675 www.Ta-Petro.com

Mack Trucks, Inc. (678) 201-4770 www.macktrucks.com Navistar (813) 382-3113 www.internationaldelivers.com Neely Coble Co. (256) 350-1630 www.neelycoble.com Nextran Truck Corporation (205) 841-4450 www.nextrancorp.com Performance Peterbilt of West Florida (850) 352-9901 www.performancepeterbilt.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

ATA

NEW MEMBERS & EVENTS

New Members (as of 9-14-2018) 4Green Forestry, Inc. P.O. Box 640609 Pike Road, Ala. 36064 334-300-0387 Tom Gilpin

American Metal Logistics, LLC 290 Lower Bon Air Road Sylacauga, AL 35150 205-433-6686 Bruce Gohn Averett Trucking, LLC 86 Misty Forest Dr. Phenix City, AL 36869 334-614-1845 Charlie Averett Bolt Movers 4030 Balmoral Dr. SW Ste. B Huntsville, AL 35801 256-203-9008 James Bolton

CMX, LLC 16401 U.S. Hwy 231 Titus, AL 36080 334-850-4255 Donna Matthews

I Move LLC 7404 Brampton Court Montgomery, AL 36117 334-451-4801 Preston Jennings

Penn Tran 114 Rainbow Industrial Blvd.

Rainbow City, AL 35906 256-417-6971 John Pennington

Suit, LLC P.O. Box 8289 Gadsden, AL 35902 256-305-5421 Andy Key

Davis Ice Cream Alabama, LLC 1226 24th Avenue Hueytown, AL 35023 866-476-6604 Nathan Davis

Jeff Martin Auctioneers, Inc. P.O. Box 16809 Hattiesburg, MS 39404 601-450-6200 Britney Ross

Penske Truck Leasing 226 Oxmoor Circle Homewood, AL 35209 205-942-9577 Matthew Porter

TAG Transport Solutions, LLC 209 Deer Range Road Montgomery, AL 36117 334-398-3895 Terry Grimes

GTT Transport 923 Whistler Street Prichard, AL 36610 251-463-4684 Joseph Holland

RelaDyne 1002 Old Birmingham Hwy. Jasper, AL 35501 205-384-3422 James Eidson

Metro Picture Works, Inc. P.O. Box 380726 Birmingham, AL 35238 877-739-0856 David Adams

Strickland Paper Co., Inc. 481 Republic Circle Birmingham, AL 35214 205-798-3000 Zachary Thornton

Faucett Motors of Boaz, Inc. P.O. Box 612 Boaz, AL 35957 256-593-7162 Vicki Johnson Foster Freight LLC 2553 Hwy. 30 Clayton, AL 36016 334-695-0060 Adam Evans

A ADVERTISER

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

36

D V E R T I S I N G

I

N D E X

PG. NO.

PH. NO.

Action Truck Center

23

(800) 793-8505

www.actionvolvotrucks.com

ATA WCSIF

BC

(334) 834-7911

www.atacompfund.org

AT&T

3

(888) 809-4432

att.com/pushtotalknow

The Baxter Agency

22

(800) 873-8494

www.baxteragency.com

IBC

(205) 322-6695

www.birminghamfreightliner.com

R.E. Garrison

29

(800) 643-3472

www.regarrison.com

Great West Casualty

21

(800) 228-8053

www.gwccnet.com

Infinit-i

33

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

International Trucks

IFC

(800) 844-4102

J.J. Keller

25

(888) 473-4638 ext. 7892

McGriff Insurance

16

(334) 674-9803

www.McGriffInsurance.com

Nextran Truck Center

11

(800) 292-8685

www.nextrancorp.com

Palomar Insurance

23

(800) 489-0105

www.palomarins.com

Pivotal LNG

28

(713) 300-5116

www.pivotallng.com

Southland Trailer Div.

30

(888) 844-1821

www.southlandtrucks.com

Truckworx Kenworth

17

(800) 444-6170

www.truckworx.com

Turner & Hamrick

20

(888) 385-0186

www.turnerhamrick.com

18-19

(205) 755-2610

www.thomasoil.com

24

(800) 476-6841

www.wardintltrucks.com

Birmingham Freightliner

WH Thomas Oil Co. Ward International Trucks

WEB ADDRESS

www.navistar.com www.jjkellermobile.com

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2018