Alabama Trucker, 3rd Quarter 2020

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Emerging Leader Published quarterly by the Alabama Trucking Assn., P.O. Box 242337, Montgomery, AL 36124-2337. www.alabamatrucking.org or call 334-834-3983 EDITOR Ford Boswell fboswell@alabamatrucking.org CREATIVE DIRECTOR Cindy Segrest csparks67@gmail.com PRODUCTION EDITORS Adrian Bone, Brandie Norcross CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Adrian Bone, Mark Colson, Tim Frazier ADVERTISING Ford Boswell fboswell@alabamatrucking.org

Daniel Wright represents a new guard for the ATA: A talented, young high-achiever ready to lead the Association to the next level. The 34-year-old fleet owner just led the Association’s largest, most successful ATA Golf Classic ever -- and he did it in the midst of one of the most turbulent epochs in the Association’s 82-year history.

Trucking Delivers During Pandemic

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Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, truckers ensured the nation’s essential needs for necessities, supplies and raw materials were consistently met. An industry of more than 3.5 million hard-working, dedicated professionals never stopped going the extra mile while putting themselves in harm’s way.

ALABAMA TRUCKING ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT & CEO Mark Colson VICE PRESIDENT OF SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE Tim Frazier DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP & EVENTS Brandie Norcross DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION Cindy York SENIOR ADVISOR Ford Boswell INTERN Dylan Powell

ATA Foundation Report

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Part of the ATA Foundation’s mission is promoting the industry as a major contributor to the nation’s economy through supply chain support, infrastructure funding through business taxes and job creation.

Over the past year, the Foundation provided funding for several industry awareness campaigns across varying media outlets, including network television, digital media, roadside billboards and social media marketing.

COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING FELLOW Adrian Bone ATA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Steve Aronhalt, Dennis Bailey, Nic Balanis, Joe Black, Gary Bond, Jack Brim, Greg Brown, Will Bruser, Billy Campbell, Dan Carmichael, Fenn Church, J.J. Clemmons, Mark Coffman, Jeff Coleman, John Collier, Driscoll Colquett, Brent Cook, Chris Cooper, Bo Cross, Jerry Davis, Ranny Davis, Amy DeFee, Joe Donald, Edmund Doss, Mack Dove, Wesley Dunn, Jack Fricks, Beau Holmes, Steve Johnson, Bryan Kilpatrick, Terry Kilpatrick, Mark Knotts, Jerry Kocan, Andrew Linn, Drew Linn, Hunter Lyons, Jeff McGrady, Barry McGriff, Bruce MacDonald, Tom McLeod, Buck Moore, E.H. Moore, Jr., Tommy Neely, Butch Owens, David Padgett, Clay Palm, Kelly Robinson, Kevin Savoy, Bill Scruggs, Harold Smith, Ronnie Stephenson, Steve Stinson, Paul Storey, Harold Sumerford, Jr., Gaines Thomas, Tim Tucker, Bill Ward, Bo Watkins, Wayne Watkins, Taylor White, Keith Wise, Daniel Wright.

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Chairman’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Safety Insights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 SMMC Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Trucking News Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Buyers’ Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 ATA Events and New Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Advertising rates are available upon request.

An Affiliate of the American Trucking Associations

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

President’s Message

Truck Drivers Always Deliver for Alabama I

Mark Colson President and CEO Alabama Trucking Association

‘Celebrating our industry’s most valuable resource for only a week isn’t enough. If you see a truck on the highway or a driver taking a break at a rest stop, take a moment to just say “thanks.”’

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t should go without saying that truck drivers are the backbone of America’s economy. But sometimes America’s 3.5 million truck drivers are taken for granted. Visit any grocery store, business, or medical facility in Alabama, and it becomes immediately obvious: Truckers move America.

Whether you’re buying clothing at a retail store or filling the tank at a gas station, nearly all aspects of our lives are impacted by the work of professional truck drivers. Even in the midst of a pandemic — one in which we have faced unforeseen hardships and challenges — those professionals behind the wheel came through for America when we needed it most.

And despite numerous risks to their personal health and safety, store shelves remained stocked.

Professional truck drivers haul more than 10 billion tons of freight every year, which accounts for 70 percent of total U.S. freight tonnage, and more than 80 percent of U.S. communities rely exclusively on trucks to deliver their freight.

Most importantly, America’s professional truck drivers are committed to doing their jobs safely, because they too are mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, and friends and neighbors. The next time you speak with a professional truck driver, ask them how many safe miles he or she has, but don’t be surprised if the answer is in the millions.

Can you imagine what our lives would be like if groceries, medicine or gasoline weren’t readily available? We appreciate the hard work and sacrifices truck drivers and their families make every day so that we never have to find out.

Earlier this month (Sept. 13-19), we celebrated National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.

It was an opportunity for the public to extend a “thank you” to the men and women who drive America’s economy and keep our communities supplied.

Like other brave frontline workers, such as doctors, nurses, law enforcement officers, and store clerks, it is important to acknowledge those who step up daily to help ensure our way of life remains intact. Celebrating our industry’s most valuable resource for only a week isn’t enough. If you see a truck on the highway or a driver taking a break at a rest stop, take a moment to just say “thanks” – at the very least recognize that the driver is most likely in the middle of delivering the goods that keep America moving forward.

Let’s keep it fresh in our hearts to always recognize the important role that truck drivers have in keeping our communities supplied and stocked with the critical goods that we take for granted.

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Servant Leader Daniel Wright represents the next generation of leaders for the Alabama Trucking Association: A young, talented, high-achiever ready to lead the Association to the next level.

By Ford Boswell

together with the full support of the membership and ATA staff, he pulled off a highly successful, socially distanced tournament that MOBILE, Ala. — It’s been a long, strange and stressful year. For will provide proceeds to help state trucking businesses of all types many nonprofit organizations, 2020 has also been a string of canand sizes achieve their goals though well-funded political action to celled events and lowered expectations. So when Alabama Trucking improve the state’s business climate.

Association leaders decided to push ahead with the ATA Golf It’s important to note that ATA’s annual golf tournament is the Classic, its lone political fundraiser, they sought someone who could sole fundraiser for TRUK PAC, the state’s only pro-trucking step in right away and get things moving quickly. Fortunately, political action committee. Funds are earmarked to support proDaniel Wright answered that call — and delivered big time. truck candidates in state and local elections. So, ATA’s Classic is Wright, 34, president of Wright Transportation, a trucking firm more than just a fun event or a simple round of golf — it’s for the founded by his now-retired father, Pat, in 1999, and one he coimprovement of the industry. manages with his brother, Cameron, just led the Association’s TRUK PAC has a strong reputation in the state and is considered largest, most successful ATA Golf Classic ever — and he and his among the largest state business PACs. It raises more than $1 team did it in the midst of one of the most turbulent epochs in the million each quadrennium, and its supported candidates had a 91 Association’s 82-year history. percent win rate in the last election cycle (2018) with 86 cents from every PAC dollar going to a winning candidate.

Over time, through its PAC, and with help from protrucking legislators, ATA has won major legislative victories, such as last year’s Rebuild Alabama Infrastructure Plan and the recent easing of CDL restrictions that allow those under 21 to operate a commercial vehicle in intrastate commerce, a move that on the surface doesn’t immediately ease driver recruitment needs, but it will certainly provide a well-trained driver pool for years to come.

Simply stated,TRUK PAC’s missions are to support political candidates who understand the vital role that trucking plays in our state.

With that in mind, Wright and his team began the initial steps to determine what kind of event they could host with the U.S. still in the throes of the Coronavirus pandemic, its economy emerging from a near standstill, and trucking businesses of all types and sizes doing all they could to stay on track while keeping their employees and customers safe. But even with all that Socially distanced, but staying connected: Wright Transportation driver Chuck Burns and Daniel Wright share a working against them, Wright and his team raised a laugh in the company yard. record amount of more than $371,000, smashing the With state restrictions on large gatherings due to COVID-19 previous record (set in 2019) by more than $41,750. pandemic, ATA was forced to cancel the lion’s share of its signature An amazing accomplishment, to be sure, but throughout the events for 2020, including its annual meeting, its truck driving pledge drive process, Wright believed in his industry, his peers at contests, and scads of other professional development and Alabama Trucking, and most importantly, his own leadership. networking events.

Working closely with him was his tournament committee of Will Wright knew serving as Classic Chairman was an important job Bruser, Truckworx; Fenn Church, Church Transportation & — one that requires a considerable personal time investment — and Logistics, Inc.; Ben Leach, Progress Bank; Mike Limbaugh, White reaching financial goals would be difficult, especially following a Oak Transportation; Andrew Linn, Southland Transportation tense summer of economic uncertainty and social unrest. But once Group; Tom McLeod, McLeod Software; Tommy Neely, Ross Neely he’d signed on, he didn’t waste time or resources. He met with Systems; Zac Palm, Utility Trailer Sales of Alabama; Emmett Association leaders, devised a plan, recruited the right team, and Philyaw, Bay Lines; Bo Watkins and Wayne Watkins, Watkins 4

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Trucking Co.; and Taylor White, Alabama Motor Express.

“We owe a great debt of gratitude to the Classic Finance Committee for its hard work and effort throughout this process,” Wright says. “They were amazing, and they drove the mission to making the 2020 ATA Classic a success! Of course, the real heroes of this effort are the 129 member firms that made financial contributions. ATA has no shortage of dedicated people who understand how important the industry’s political standing is to its survival.”

As a leader, Wright is driven and determined. No roadblock will stand in his way, says Mark Colson. “Daniel has inspired me and our Association to dream bigger,” he says. “He has also been a servant leader to take the courageous first step towards these big dreams.”

Colson adds that it was evident as Wright began assembling his fundraising committee and the immediate sense that he had that he had a strong strategy and the will to implement it.

“Our event is the sole fundraiser for TRUK PAC, which is one of the largest business political action committees in the state,” Colson says. “Hitting our fundraising goal during COVID was no easy task, especially given the fact that we were limited to 230 golfers when normally golfers exceed 350. Daniel didn’t flinch at this challenge. He put it on his shoulders and marched down the field. The end result was setting an all-time record for fund-

raising, which is a testament to his leadership and the resolve and resilience of Alabama truckers.”

Wright has also shown this same tenacity as a member of the ATA Foundation Board, TRUK PAC Board and ATA Board of Directors. “Whenever his number is called, he always answers and delivers,” Colson says.

Surviving a Crisis Meanwhile, as the Classic was ratcheting up, Wright and his team at Wright Transportation team were navigating their own operations issues with all the obstacles and uncertainty during the pandemic. Like most trucking fleets, driver issues, logistical breakdowns and manufacturing shutdowns hampered operations.

“Early on, we had to scramble a bit,” he recalls. “I can remember thinking back in March as the situation began to take a turn for the worse and everything was shutting down, that we could be facing a really difficult situation — but not necessarily a long term one. I sent everyone home here at the office and said, We have to figure out a way to work from home and do everything we can to get our work done. And they did just that! Our staff was amazing.

We kept things going as best we could without any real issues.”

As the realities of the pandemic began to reveal themselves, it was obvious that the trucking industry, especially its driver force, was facing serious challenges and

disruptions to how it normally operates.

“You had individual states shutting down all non-essential businesses and facilities, so we had to improvise to keep our drivers safe,” he says.

To rally the team, he spent an entire week making personal phone calls to every Wright Transportation driver and employee (more than 220 calls) thanking them for their professionalism and dedication to the company and to also get a sense of their needs and concerns. “I felt it was important for me to personally talk to each employee to let them know how much we appreciate them and also to hear directly from me how we were going to deal with the crisis.”

Wright admits April and May were a struggle. There was uncertainty in the market, but by June, as things began to reopen, freight volume picked up and things settled back to some sense of normalcy. “(Since) the end of June, we’ve actually seen volumes surge,” he reports. “Obviously, there’s still a pandemic going around, but it’s sort of noise in the background.

Things are different, but we’re excited about where (the industry) seems to be going.”

Emerging Leader What shapes great leaders are temperament, experience and training. Wright has completed industry leadership programs at both state and national level, including the American Trucking Associations’ Lead ATA

As Chairman of the 2020 ATA Golf Classic, Daniel Wright and his team managed the most successful fundraising effort in the event’s 30-plus-year history.

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Mikhal Thabit is among 190 Wright Transportation drivers. During the first week of the pandemic lockdowns in Alabama, Daniel Wright called every employee to check on them and offer his appreciation for their hard work and dedication.

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program and was also tapped to serve on the Alabama Trucking Associations Emerging Leaders panel.

As is the case in most industries, forward-leaning leaders are needed to face future challenges. According to the American Trucking Associations, it started its LEAD ATA program to prepare and transform the industry’s best and brightest to become its leaders of tomorrow. Participants gain realworld experience and in-depth industry insights not available through any other program. By selecting a diverse group of candidates, the program represents the many different segments, regions and fleet sizes.

Members gather in Washington D.C. quarterly to attend training sessions designed to highlight the many facets of ATA and learn how to more effectively utilize the tools available to better serve themselves and the companies they manage.

After completing the program. Wright says he has a better understanding of the regulatory and legislative processes, how they directly affect his business, and what role ATA plays in that process. The yearlong program also sharopens presentation skills, project management, and introduces problem solving techniques for business owners and high-level managers.

Further, Wright says, it helps leaders develop a network of industry peers, enhanced leadership and management skills, and provides a thorough understanding of the ATA and the industry it represents.

“It was a very positive experience for me,” he says. “I learned firsthand all that the American Trucking Associations offers the industry and its members. It’s been very useful for my own business.”

Meanwhile, at the state level, Wright and several other young ATA board members were tapped to take part in ATA’s Emerging Leaders program, a sort of junior board created by former ATA Chairman Fenn Church. This program taps younger fleet executives working at ATA member firms to introduce them to state and local politicians, as well as key government and regulatory officials.

For ATA, Wright’s emergence as a strong, passionate leader willing to put all his talents and experience to work for his industry has been a blessing. ATA’s Colson says that operating a trucking firm is a tough business, and so is running a family business. “Daniel has all the right qualities as a leader: caring, tough, determined, friendly — just pick an adjective,” he says.

“But one thing is clear: He’s a winner. We’re thankful to have him on our side.”

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Survive and Advance As the nation succumbed to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the trucking industry continuously prevailed.

By Adrian Bone

hroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, one industry made sure that the nation’s essential needs for necessities, supplies and raw materials were consistently met.

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An industry of more than 3.5 million hard-working, dedicated professionals made sure store shelves stayed stocked. An industry that through all we’ve been through in the last seven months never stopped paying it forward.

That industry is the trucking industry.

It’s well known, trucking is not just drivers, it’s also business owners, fleet managers, software engineers, service technicians, fleet safety engineers, dispatchers, and so much more.

While delivering vital items and supplies, trucking has given people hope. Hope at the beginning of the pandemic; hope at its 10

peak; and hope as we all work through the process of recovery—and we’ll continue to give hope long after the pandemic has run its course.

When the world and nation slowed down, trucking did not. We kept moving forward for our nation to survive and advance.

An Affected Industry You may be tired of hearing the news regarding this situation, but COVID will inevitably be around for a while. There are still experts who predict a second wave may come this fall.

Various people within the industry have been helped through this disease, however.

For some, the effects of the pandemic have been somewhat of a blessing in disguise. The disease made for a high demand for truckers. This, in turn, made a higher need for service techs, logistic staff and the others within the industry. It generated alltime high records for some companies such as N.G Whatley in Montgomery and LB3 Trucking in Wedowee.

Neal Whatley of N.G. Whatley Trucking says, “Honestly, our business spiked when the pandemic started. It made a high de-

mand for stores to stay stocked consistently.

(It) kept our drivers busy.”

Brian Lindley of LB3 agreed, “We saw a decrease in the freight needed to our restaurants; however, we saw a spike in our grocery pickup. (In some ways,) it’s been a blessing in disguise for us.”

While carriers may have been affected, Alphonso Lewis, a driver from YRC Worldwide, gave a different perspective. He says the pandemic seemed to change the public’s perceptions of the industry, particularly that of truck drivers. “For the first time in a long-time truckers were celebrated as heroes,” he says. “I had an older woman blow her horn at me consistently just to roll down her window to tell me ‘thank you!’”

He does go on to mention some of the hardships that came along with it as well.

“It was hard for us drivers,” he explains.

“We could not get out of our vehicles at delivery areas, and still can’t at some places today. It was hard finding places to eat and use the bathroom. It was hard to obtain sanitizing essentials, as well.”

ATA board member, Will Bruser of Truckworx Kenworth, a dealership based in Birmingham, says the pandemic forced businesses to rethink how they served cusA LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2020

tomers. “Everything we did had to change,” he explains. “Some people didn’t want to come in contact with people. Some employees were nervous. We had to make accommodations to satisfy people’s needs.”

He mentions that all his locations adapted, though. “We changed the ways we did things,” he says. “We took the business outside, we started making contactless deliveries sales, we became more sanitized.”

The industry witnessed hardships and some benefits, just like everyone else. The difference, though, was trucking never stopped.

meet the demand.

Whatley says, “We have upgraded our technologies, stocked on sanitation supplies, and gained valuable experience.” He adds that if another wave hits, his team and his operation are more than capable to meet the demand again.

Truckworx’s Bruser adds his business will never be the same. “The adaption of changes we have made will stay the same,” he says. “We have become cleaner, more precise, and more effective because of COVID.”

Moving Forward

Meanwhile, the Alabama Trucking Association is also more than ready to help its members make quick adjustments. The initial shock brought about a bunch of unexpected changes, but ATA leaders quickly adapted and made adequate changes needed.

ATA President Mark Colson says trucking fleets and their employees have reacted wonderfully during the pandemic. “They did the heavy lifting, and the public noticed their efforts,” he says. “The least ATA could do was to make sure that truckers have adequate needs taken care of at the state and local level. Whether it was lobbying on behalf of the industry to keep state rest areas and restaurants open, to working with legislators to provide liability protections for businesses and more.” He goes on to mention that from a local to a nationwide standpoint, this was something new.

“Everyone was in a problem-solving mode.

No one made excuses for the transportation industry. We just rolled up our sleeves and went to work for America. That’s pretty much how truckers roll.”

With all the uncertainty surrounding the nation, trucking offers stability. Truckers have a story to tell. We are the wheels that keep the economy rolling. It is our job not only to supply the demand but to also create hope. We must continue to be the beacon of hope that people search for. Hope not only for people within our communities but hope for the nation.

One of the hopes that most, if not all, businesses within the trucking industry have is that people have a different perception—people within our communities, people in government, people in the courtroom, and more. As we transition from the crisis phase to recovery, we see the light on truckers perhaps begin to dim. However, as we possibly begin to transition from the recovery phase back into the defense phase, truckers will be back in the spotlight.

Giving Back As the effects began to trickle down from nationwide to the local level of communities, many businesses and farmers wanted to give back. For instance, the Alabama Dept. of Agriculture had thousands of donated eggs from a state producer it needed to quickly deliver to food banks. Several ATA members, including LB3 Trucking, N.G. Whatley and R.E Garrison Trucking stepped up to deliver the eggs at no charge to state food banks.

Lindley says, “The trucking association has done so much for us the past years. We have come from knowing not much about the trucking industry to winning the presidential award this year! When they reached out to us, it was the least we could do.”

Lindley also had a personal connection to the cause. He was an egg farmer for 25 years before getting involved with the trucking industry.

YRC’s Lewis says that the other companies and private citizens also began to step up.

“There were people at the rest stops that offered food,” he says. “Businesses started making sandwiches and made it a priority to make sure we had sanitary essentials.”

Some trucking companies took matters into their own hands. “My wife transitioned from making essential oils to making hand sanitizer for our drivers,” Lindley says. “We also made sandwiches each week for our drivers.”

Staying Prepared Alabama truckers, however, are more than ready to take on the task again, if needed. Some businesses learned from the response, gathered resources, streamlined operations, and are now better equipped to A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2020

Adrian Bone is a recent graduate from Troy Univerisity with a degree in economics. He served as a marketing and communication fellow at the Alabama Trucking Association for the Summer of 2020, working alongside the ATA staff and our members in Adrian Bone various and meaningful roles and learning more about trucking than he ever imagined. We’re grateful for his enthusiasm, talent and dedication to showcasing our industry in a more positive light. We wish him well in his future endeavors and expect big things from him in the months and years to come.

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LEGISLATOR SPONSORS Alabama Media Group Baggett Transportation Co. Baldwin Transfer Co. BBVA Compass Benny Whitehead, Inc. Billy Barnes Enterprises Business Council of Alabama CenterState Bank Corporate Billing Eaton/Roadranger Evergreen Forest Products Evergreen Transport Heritage Freight Warehouse & Logistics Hornady Transportation International Trucks Kenworth Truck Company McGriff Tire Co. Merrill Lynch

Michelin North America Neely Coble People’s United Equipment Finance Corp.

Porter Freight Funding Premier Trailer Leasing ProBilling & Funding Service PS Logistics R.E. Garrison Trucking RangeWay Carriers RELADYNE Renasant Bank ServisFirst Bank Storey Trucking The Boyd Companies Transport Trailer Center Trimble Transportation Ward International Trucks Warren Averett

JUDGE SPONSORS Action Truck Center Bay Lines BlueCross and BlueShield of Alabama Bridgestone Americas Coffman International Trucks CommerceOne Bank Dana Dunn Building Company Fine Geddie & Associates Fleetguard Friedman, Dazzio, Zulanas & Bowling Great Dane Trailers Highland Technical Services J. Smith Lanier & Co. LB3 Mack Trucks Meritor

Orbcomm PNC Bank Quantum Logistics Reliable Trailer Sales Robbie D. Wood, Inc. Ross Neely Systems S and M Transportation Safety 1st – Div. of Behavioral Health Systems Service One Transport Shell Oil Strickland Companies Summerford Truck Line Transcraft Corp.

Transportation Compliance Services Wabash National Financial Services Walmart Transportation Yokohama Tire

PATRON SPONSORS B & G Equipment and Supply Carlisle Medical Continental Tire the Americas Cordele Intermodal Services Empire Truck Sales ErgoScience Farris Evans Insurance Agency Hand Arendall Harrison Sale

Pitts Media Rushing Enterprises Skinner Printing Company SmartDrive Systems Southern Intermodal Xpress Thompson Carriers W.H. Thomas Oil Woodstock Trucking

CONTRIBUTOR SPONSORS JP Transportation Safety Consulting

2020 ATA Foun Seizing on the public’s improved perception following the trucking industry’s heroic performance through the recent pandemic, ATA Foundation leaders focused on the industry’s contributions to push a pro-trucking message in Alabama.

By Ford Boswell

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What We Did art of the Alabama Trucking Association Foundation’s mission is promot-

SEC Football Television Campaign (September to December 2019)—We placed 30-second ads preceding kickoff of each week’s CBS Sports SEC Football Game of the Week (AKA the CBS 2:30 pm game). Our ads ran from September to December and appeared in

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ing the industry as a major contri-

butor to the nation’s economy through supply chain support, infrastructure funding through business taxes and job creation. Over the past year, the Foundation provided funding for several industry awareness campaigns across varying media outlets, including network television, digital media, roadside billboards and social media marketing.

With that funding, the ATA staff placed television spots on local CBS affiliates during CBS Sports’ SEC College Football Game of the Week last fall that reached millions of viewers in some of the state’s larger television markets, including Birmingham, Dothan, Mobile, and Montgomery. Those ads touted the vital role of trucking in our state’s economy, as well as showcasing the industry’s commitment to safety and as a provider of great-paying jobs.

Then, last spring, as the coronavirus pandemic spread across the U.S., the trucking industry did what it always does: it delivered the goods. Truckers dutifully soldiered through the crisis moving millions of loads of essential goods and supplies to some of the country’s most dangerous hot spots for the COVID-19 virus. It wasn’t easy, but industry workers carried the nation through the greatest human health crisis of our lifetime and delivered faithfully.

The public was suddenly made aware of the service and sacrifice of the nation’s 3.5 million truck drivers make every day.

Seizing on that goodwill, the Foundation embarked on a diversified marketing campaign and a media blitz that reinforced the message that truckers were risking their lives to provide the items we all need to feed and clothe our families. Our efforts made favorable impressions of the trucking industry to millions of Alabamians, showcasing our mission to provide the safest and most efficient goods movement system available.

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the state’s largest television market including Birmingham, Dothan, Mobile, and Montgomery. Check out the ad at https://vimeo.com/358345042 Thank A Truck Digital Media Campain (March 2020)—As the coronavirus pandemic spread quickly across the country, the public became aware of the heroic efforts of trucking industry employees, particularly the nation’s truck drivers who delivered essential goods and supplies to some of the country’s most

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dation Report dangerous hot spots for the COVID-19 virus. With most people at quarantining during the state’s Stay-At-Home orders in March and April, we planned and executed a digital ad campaign across a variety of news websites (Al.com, Yahoo, Fox News, CNN and others) thanking truckers for their heroic efforts and reinforced the industry’s commitment to keeping our economy rolling. In the first week alone (March 20-25), our ads made nearly 700,000 impressions with a click-through rate of 50.98%—twice the industry average!

Fleet Safety Awards Promotion (May and June 2020)—With the cancellation of our Safety Council’s popular Fleet Safet Awards Banquet, Tim Frazier and his SMMC Steering committee called an audible and held their awards live on Facebook April 30. If you missed the program, it is still posted on the ATA Facebook page.

It was well-executed and well received by our safety council members. To gain more exposure for the winners, we devised another digital ad campaign with Alabama Media Group (parent company of Al.com) that targeted people 18-65 years old who work or have an interest in the trucking industry.

Our ads ran not only on Al.com but also on thousands of similar news-driven websites making more than 730,000 impressions and 40,000 views of our Fleet Safet Wrap Up article posted on Al.com, which alone, garnered more than 2,000 individual visits to the ATA website with a click-through rate of 28%. The campaign also contained a social media marketing component that generated an additional 88,000 impressions and reached 37,696 people on Facebook. Overall, the campaign yielded 123,907 minutes of awareness for ATA.

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Donate

Thank A Trucker Highway Billboards—In partnership with the American Trucking Associations’ Trucking Moves America Forward campaign, the Foundation selected and bought several billboards along busy interstates routes through Birmingham and

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Montgomery. The billboard designs featured Alabama Driver of the Year Rosko Craig and J&M Tank Lines driver Darrien Henderson, a finalist for the National Tank Carriers Association Driver of the Year.

Going Forward As the industry continues to support the recovery efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, the ATA Foundation’s mission into this next fiscal year focuses on celebrating essential contributions made by truckers to lead the economic recovery.

In the short term, our marketing department has developed a 30second digital ad to run on hundreds of news sites and on ATA’s social media accounts during the National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, September 13-19, 2020. To hold down costs, our team is using video content from previous campaigns and working with ATA allied member Alabama Media Group (publisher of Al.com) to place ads at a reduced rate.

Meanwhile, looking ahead, with many Alabamians out of work or underemployed at the moment, our team will seek new ways to show the many great-paying jobs this industry offers. We are working on a plan with an outside agency that will tap various outlets to reach as many of these people as possible, including television, digital and social media, radio, billboards, and others.

Ultimately, our goal is to promote and protect the trucking industry.

Collectively, the Alabama Trucking Association and its Foundation are making a difference as we continue to serve the membership in a variety of ways, as well as advancing the trucking industry in Alabama.

ATA Foundation Board Members:

To make your donation to the ATA Foundation, please use the form on page 16 and return to us by mail, fax or email to:

Fax: 334-262-6504

Mail:

ATA Foundation Alabama Trucking Association P.O. Box 242337 Montgomery, AL 36124

Email: mcolson@alabamatrucking.org

*Your contribution is tax-deductible.

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Terry Kilpatrick, President Billy Barnes Enterprises, Inc. Monroeville, Ala.

Leigh Breal Ward International Trucks Mobile, Ala.

Daniel Wright, Vice President Wright Trucking Co. Mobile, Ala.

Will Bruser Truckworx Kenworth Birmingham, Ala.

Collins White, Treasurer Alabama Motor Express Ashland, Ala.

Chris Hornady Hornady Transportation LLC Monroeville, Ala.

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Leadership Sponsor—$100,000 and up: Listing as a Leadership-level donor in the annual report and the ATA Foundation website; your name listed at ATA Foundation presentations; a profile feature in the annual report; induction into the ATA Leadership Circle at the ATA Annual Membership Meeting; a thank-you dinner with the ATA Foundation Chairman and the ATA Foundation Board; and a banner on all ATA Foundation emails signifying your support. A distinctive Benefactor Sponsorship plaque in your honor will be displayed at the ATA Headquarters.

Benefactor Sponsor—$50,000 and up: Listing as a Benefactor-level donor in the annual report and the ATA Foundation website; your name listed at ATA Foundation presentations; a profile feature in the annual report; induction into the ATA Benefactor Circle at the ATA Annual Membership Meeting; and a thank-you dinner with the ATA Foundation Chairman and the ATA Foundation Board. A distinctive Benefactor Sponsorship plaque in your honor will be displayed at the ATA Headquarters.

Platinum Sponsor—$25,000 and up: Listing as a Platinum-level donor in the annual report and the ATA Foundation website; your name listed at ATA Foundation presentations; a profile feature in the annual report; induction into the ATA Foundation Platinum Circle at the ATA Annual Membership Meeting. A distinctive Platinum Sponsorship plaque in your honor will be displayed at the ATA Headquarters.

Gold Sponsor—$10,000 and up: Listing as a Gold-level donor in the annual report, the ATA Foundation website; your name listed at ATA Foundation presentations.

Silver Sponsor—$5,000 and up: Listing as a Silver-level donor in the annual report, the ATA Foundation website.

Bronze Sponsor—$2,500 and up: Listing as a Bronze-level donor in the annual report and the ATA Foundation website.

Patron Level—$1,000 and up: Listing as a Patron-level donor in the annual report. (Donor’s sponsor level is determined by cumulative donations received).

ATA FOUNDATION PLEDGE FORM

Contact Name: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Company Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City: ____________________________________________________State:___________ Zip: ____________________________________________ Phone: _________________________________ E-mail: __________________________________________________________________________ Amount of Sponsorship: $_______________________________ Payment Method: ____ Please invoice me ____ Check enclosed (Payable to ATA Foundation) ____ Credit Card (Fill out information below) Charge My: ____ American Express ____ Visa ____ Master Card CVV Authorization Code on Card ____________________________________ Cardmember Name: _____________________________________________________ Expiration Date _________________________________________ Account Number: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Billing Address of Card: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Signature: ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Questions? Contact Mark Colson - 334/834-3983 • Fax: 334/262-6504 • Email: mcolson@alabamatrucking.org Return to: Alabama Trucking Association Foundation, P.O. Box 242337, Montgomery, AL 36124

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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.

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And that’s good for your bottom line

SAFETY & MAINTENANCE Safety Insights

How quickly we adapt to change determines our success.

Tim Frazier Vice President of Safety & Compliance

‘Trucking companies, employees, and especially our drivers, have faced the challenge of change as much if not more so than any industry.’

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L

ooking back over the first half of 2020, I can truly say that we haven’t seen anything like it for generations.

While our country and our industry have faced many challenges in the past, I can’t recall a time in our history where we were shut down, confined to our homes, or placed under strict public restrictions. As we’ve seen businesses, towns, cities, and schools all but stopped functioning, one industry that has kept functioning and faced the challenge is trucking.

Trucking companies, employees, and especially our drivers, have faced the challenge of change as much if not more so than any industry. As 2020 kicked off, I don’t recall anyone having “Pandemic Preparedness” on their to-do list. As the year started to unravel, our industry met the challenge head-on as we always do. Trucking companies adapted to the challenges to keep the freight moving, especially food on our tables. Other than toilet paper (I still can’t figure this one out) and paper towels, we haven’t gone without any necessities of life. Thanks especially to our drivers who made the deliveries facing many of the obstacles on the road. One thing is clearer today than ever before, trucking is essential. Without trucks not only do we run out of toilet paper, but store shelves would be empty, gasoline supply would stop, medical supplies deliveries wouldn’t arrive, etc., etc., etc., all in just a few days.

As I’ve stated in a previous article, the trucking industry is one of the most everchanging professions there is. As we work through these days of change and challenge, it’s obvious those companies and individuals that are adaptable to change will continue to be successful.

Due to the craziness, we’ve all worked with and through this year so far, many of our companies and employees are better prepared to face challenges in the days ahead. As never before many have plans in place today to address catastrophes. It’s been said before, being complacent will allow the slip-ups to happen. If nothing else, 2020 has taught us to be prepared for change and to always be proactive in our thinking.

In the days ahead we will likely face issues that could cause us to change many of the ways of doing business. Many of those we can prepare for. When we’re hit with the unexpected challenge how well we react and adapt will determine the winners.

Take care and safety always.

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MANAGEMENT COUNCIL NEWS USDOT requests public comment on a pilot program for additional Hours of Service flexibility The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is seeking public comment on a pilot program to allow additional hours of service regulatory relief by allowing participating drivers to pause their on-duty driving period with one off-duty period up to three hours.

“Truckers are American heroes — they keep our supply chain moving; they carry essential goods we need to maintain our daily lives. The Department is seeking public comments on providing additional flexibility for truckers as they work to serve our country during this public health crisis,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.

FMCSA requests public comments on a new pilot program to allow drivers one offduty break of at least 30 minutes, but not more than three hours, that would pause a truck driver’s 14-hour driving window, provided the driver takes 10 consecutive hours off-duty at the end of the work shift.

Participation in this pilot program would be limited to a certain number of commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders who meet the criteria specified for participating. This pilot program—scheduled to operate for three years or less—would gather statistically reliable evidence to analyze the safety and feasibility of such a modification to the hours-of-service rules.

“FMCSA wants to hear directly from drivers about the possibility and safety of an hours-of-service pause pilot program. The Agency remains committed to exploring ways to improve safety on our roadways while increasing flexibility for truckers. We encourage drivers, motor carriers, and interested citizens to review the proposed pilot program and provide substantive public comments for FMCSA to review,” said FMCSA Deputy Administrator Jim Mullen.

Under Secretary Chao’s leadership, FMCSA has worked to improve safety and add flexibility for commercial drivers. In May 2020, the Agency published a final rule updating existing hours-of-service regulations to provide greater flexibility, allow drivers more control over their workdays, and reduce regulatory burdens by $273 million annually. The updated hours-of-service rules will go into effect on Sept. 29, 2020.

The comment period is open for 60 days.

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New HOS rule goes into effect Sept. 29 The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Hours-of-Service Final Rule takes effect at midnight ET, Tuesday, Sept. 29.

Drivers and motor carriers should continue operating under the current rules until the clock strikes midnight on the East Coast. The May 2020 Final Rule introduces new flexibilities to current driver hours of service. These flexibilities include provisions that: l Extend short-haul drivers’ maximum on-duty period from 12 to 14 hours, and lengthen the air-mile radius for short-haul drivers from 100 to 150 air miles; l Modify the adverse driving conditions exception by extending the maximum onduty driving window by 2 hours under certain conditions; l Permit drivers to take a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving time and in an onduty not-driving status; and l Allow drivers using sleeper berths to take their required 10-hours off duty in a 7 and 3 split, in addition to 8 and 2.

The Final Rule does not change anything else in Part 395 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Drivers and motor carriers must continue to comply with the FMCSRs. The Final Rule can be read in its entirety at FMCSA’s website. The Agency is also working on FAQs to address common questions. ATA experts suggest motor carriers check with their ELD or AOBRD provider to address questions relating to eRODS documentation.

To review the proposed pilot program, visit www.fmcsa.dot.gov

tinue to work without interruption during the current National Emergency created by the COVID-19 virus.

TSA extends HME endorsement to Oct. 29 The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has approved another extension of its Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) exemption that allowed states to issue an extension of up to 180 days for HMEs expiring between March 1, 2020 – July 31, 2020.

The new 90-day extension carries the exemption period to October 29, 2020.

TSA will provide an update with a link to the actual exemption posted to the Federal Register when it becomes available.

Below are some frequently asked questions (FAQ) on the exemption.

Please contact TSA Hazmat at HME. Question@tsa.dhs.gov if you have questions not answered in the FAQ.

Q: Has the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration provided guidance for states, CDL holders and interstate drivers operating commercial motor vehicles?

A: Yes. On March 24, 2020, FMSCA granted a waiver from certain regulations applicable to commercial driver’s license and learner’s permit holders. DOT’s waiver extended the maximum period of CDL validity and waived knowledge or skills test as well as certain medical examinations and certifications for drivers. For more information, please visit www.fmcsa.dot.gov.

Q: Why is TSA granting this exemption?

A: TSA determined it is in the public interest to grant an exemption from certain process requirements in 49 CFR part 1572 related to STA HMEs, given the need for commercial drivers with an HME to con-

Q: Do drivers need to take any action(s) to extend their Security Threat Assessment?

A: Drivers should refer to their state driver’s license entity for more information or questions regarding their CDL validity. A state may grant an HME extension of up to 180 days to an individual who had a current, valid HME STA as of March 1, 2020.

Also, a state must notify each individual Continued on page 22 21

ATA, AG Office to hold virtual event to end human trafficking

News holding an HME that expired on or after March 1, 2020, that the state is extending the expiration date of the HME. Notification may be via a state website in some instances determined by different circumstances in each state.

Q: Does this exemption compromise national or transportation security?

A: The risk to transportation security associated with this exemption is low. TSA maintains the ability to recurrently vet HME holders and take action to revoke an HME if derogatory information becomes available, regardless of the expiration date.

Q: Where can I find more information on TSA’s temporary exemption?

A: The exemption will be posted to the Federal Register in the coming days. For additional information, states may contact the

The Alabama Trucking Association seeks your assistance and support in confronting a growing problem of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. You’re invited to participate in a special virtual briefing cohosted by ATA, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall; Busing on the Lookout; and Truckers Against Trafficking Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

You will learn about law enforcement issues related to child sexual exploitation and human trafficking and briefed on the harsh realities of domestic sex trafficking, and the critical role our industry serves in fighting it.

Our goal is to build a cohesive network that will merge trucking’s leadership and resources to train truck drivers and other industry employees to help law enforcement more effectively protect exploited men, women and children. We know your time is valuable, but we encourage you to make time to attend.

Meeting agenda includes topics such as Human Trafficking 101; Sex Trafficking — A Survivor’s Perspective; Law Enforcement Panel Discussion, and Breakout sessions including Creating Local Partnerships to Combat Human Trafficking; Trucking and Truck Stop Industry Stakeholders and Law Enforcement; Bus Industry Stakeholders and Law Enforcement To RSVP, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApd-ugrzkpGtDLyIwB NfXZSWzv2aFBpuU

Continued on page 24

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News TSA Hazardous Materials Threat Assessment Program at HME.Question@tsa.dhs.gov.

ASCE Report: Underfunded infrastructure will seriously impact the economy A new report from the American Society of Engineers states that failure to properly invest in the nation’s deteriorating surface transportation infrastructure will inflict significant negative consequences on the economy.

ASCE released the preliminary findings, packaged in a report titled “Failure to Act,” during a virtual event Sept. 23. The findings come from a yearlong analysis conducted by EBP, a firm that specializes in economic research to support planning and policy. ASCE President Kancheepuram “Guna” N. Gunalan said a final report based on these preliminary findings will be released later this year.

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The report states the nation’s surface transportation infrastructure has been underfunded for years and continues to experience deterioration in its condition and capacity to perform. Some $4.1 trillion will be needed from 2020 through 2039 to sustain surface transportation infrastructure nationwide, according to the research. During this period, about $2 trillion in spending is projected, leaving an investment gap of $2.1 trillion.

The report indicates certain industries will be heavily impacted by infrastructure inefficiencies. Such inefficiencies include congestion; between 2012 and 2017, the report says truck congestion delay costs increased by 35 percent. In 2039, the truck transportation sector will have a projected direct cost impact of $40 billion because of deficient infrastructure.

According to the analysis, the federal-aid highway system is reasonably maintained but will experience gaps in the future due to the difference between spending estimates and what actually is required to be spent to rehabilitate pavement. Over the next 20 years, some $53 billion annually will be required to rehabilitate pavement and other operational conditions, such as highway geometry. However, projected spending is estimated to be $41 billion annually. This $12 billion annual funding gap means spending must increase

29 percent over current levels.

The report notes that if investment in highways, bridges and transit systems continues at current levels, businesses and households will incur about $2 trillion in extra costs over 20 years. If industry costs are passed down to consumers, costs per household could be even higher.

Costs incurred by households and businesses eventually will ripple outward, increasing prices and decreasing profits of services provided by businesses, which will in turn lead to reductions in wages and disposable income. Meanwhile, households will have to divert more money from other purchases to offset transportation costs. The analysis estimates that $6.2 trillion in national gross output will be lost from 2020 through 2039.

Panelists indicated that increased, sustainable funding is key to addressing the country’s infrastructure problems. Kristina Swallow, director of the Nevada Dept. of Transportation, said an increase to the federal fuel tax rate would help state departments of transportation keep up with their programs.

The federal fuel tax, which supports the Highway Trust Fund, has stagnated at 24.4 cents a gallon for diesel and 18.4 cents a gallon for gasoline since 1993.

“The federal fuel tax has remained flat for

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2020

almost 30 years,” Swallow said. “We can’t build our way out of congestion. At some point, we still need to provide for the increased growth of our cities, and that will require increased revenue.”

Four Star Freightliner opens new facility in Valley, Ala. After two postponements caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Four Star Freightliner was finally able to hold the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newest location in Valley, Ala. The brand new $4 million facility is located just off I-85 on Exit 77 at 1051 Four Star Dr. It is the dealership network’s seventh location.

Joining Four Star principal Jerry Kocan and his wife Nancy for the ribbon cutting on Sept. 10 was State Rep. Debbie Wood, Valley Mayor Leonard Riley, members of the Greater Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, Chambers County Development Authority, Four Star Freightliner staff, customers and supporters.

“It was very exciting to be able to acknowledge and celebrate all of the hard work and perseverance that went into launching this new facility in this great community of Valley, Alabama,” Kocan said. “The community has been so welcoming and sup-

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2020

Photo caption: L to R: Debra Riley, Chambers County Commissioner, State Rep. Debbie Wood, Jerry Kocan, Four Star Freightliner Dealer Principal, Nancy Kocan, Valley Mayor Leonard Riley, Cedric McKenzie, Four Star Freightliner Valley Service Manager, Ricky Smith, Four Star Freightliner Valley Parts Manager

portive and our team there is such a great group of people. We are so excited to finally be able to commemorate the opening of this new dealership to add to our Four Star Family.”

The new branch unofficially opened in December 2019 with 16 employees with plans to hire more workers.

The Valley service department is headed by trained, certified diesel technicians, including one road truck technician for emergency service. The parts department makes deliveries while also offering a fully stocked warehouse.

There is also a full-time sales staff available to assist customers with purchasing or leasing heavy and medium-duty trucks.

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Governor Ivey honors Alabama Truck Driver of the Year at the Capitol steps The ceremony kicked off National Truck Driver Appreciation Week in Alabama MONTGOMERY, Ala. — To kick off National Truck Driver Appreciation Week in Alabama (Sept.13-19), Gov. Kay Ivey honored one of the state’s most accomplished professional truck drivers, Rosko Craig of Silas, Ala., during a brief ceremony at the foot of the state Capitol steps, Monday, Sept. 14.

Craig, 50, a truck driver for the Birmingham, Ala.-based Montgomery Transport, LLC, was recently named the Alabama Trucking Association’s Driver of the Year, sponsored by Nextran Truck Centers, for his dedication to professionalism and safety and his 3 million career miles driven without an accident.

Governor Ivey invited Craig to stop by the Capitol to meet her and her staff and to ATA Driver of the Year Rosko Craig (left) meets with Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to kickoff National Truck Driver Appreciation discuss the trucking industry’s key role in Week 2020. the state’s economy, as well as the crucial role truck drivers, have filled to keep stores grandson—they are my rock and my drivers are taken for granted But visit any and other facilities well-stocked with backbone. I couldn’t do this without them.” grocery store, business, or medical facility in essential items and supplies during the Mark Colson, president of the Alabama Alabama, and it becomes obvious that coronavirus pandemic.

Trucking Association, thanked Ivey for truckers move America,” Colson said.

Craig pulled his rig at the steps of the recognizing the importance of the trucking “Most importantly, America’s professional Capitol and even offered onlookers a blast of industry. truck drivers are committed to doing their his truck’s horn. Gov. Ivey then presented “Sometimes America’s 3.5 million truck jobs safely, because they too are mothers Craig an official commendation recogand fathers, sons and daughters, and nizing him as Alabama’s Truck Driver friends and neighbors. of the Year and to honor the trucking “The next time you speak with a industry’s importance as the state’s professional truck driver, ask them premier goods movement network. how many safe miles he or she has, “Rosko certainly has a positive but don’t be surprised if the answer is attitude and a proven track record in the millions.” over his 20-plus-year trucking career,” Also in attendance was Craig’s boss Ivey said. “Our hats go off to Rosko Rollins Montgomery, president of and all our truckers who keep Montgomery Transport, who added Alabama moving!” that Craig represents the best of the Craig told the governor that for trucking industry. “I wish I had 100 him the keys to success in trucking Roskos working for the company,” he are safety, hard work and said. “We’re so honored to be here determination. “I love trucking today to celebrate and recognize his because it was a childhood dream of outstanding achievement. We are so mine,” he said “I support my family, thankful to have him on the Craig has driven a truck for more than 20 years, gaining more than 3 million acmy wife, my son, my daughter, my Montgomery Transport team.” cident-free miles.

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Photos Courtesy of the Governor’s Office/Hal Yeager

By Ford Boswell

Industry leaders pleased with effort to safely expand driver pool In September, the American Trucking Associations thanked the Trump administration, including Secretary Elaine Chao, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for moving ahead with a proposed pilot program to allow in-state licensed commercial drivers between the ages of 18 and 20 to operate commercial vehicles across state lines.

“This is a significant step toward improving safety on our nation’s roads, setting a standard for these drivers that is well beyond what 49 states currently require,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “This is an amazing block of talent with unlimited potential. If our freedom can be defended from tyranny around the world by our men in women in uniform, many well-below the age of 21, then it’s quite clear that we can train that same group how to safely and responsibly cross state lines in a commercial vehicle.”

FMCSA’s announced pilot program is modeled on the bipartisan DRIVE Safe Act, legislation strongly supported by ATA and more than 90 other industry groups and currently co-sponsored by 144 congressmen and 34 senators.

“For years, ATA has made the case to the Transportation Department and lawmakers that trucking can safely bring these younger professional drivers into our industry fully,” said ATA Executive Vice President for Advocacy Bill Sullivan. “With strong support from both sides of the aisle and on and off the Hill, it is clear that moving forward with a pilot program is an important step to bringing 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds into our industry safely and responsibly.”

“As an industry, we need to find new ways to connect with potential new drivers,” said ATA Chairman Randy Guillot, president of Triple G Express and Southeastern Motor Freight. “By providing young people the opportunity to fully participate in the financially rewarding and dynamic world of trucking, we will be in a better position to bring in a new generation of valuable talent to our industry.”

“Using good data, not emotions is an important part of good policymaking,” Spear said. “We appreciate Secretary Chao and Deputy Administrator Deck proposing this pilot program and asking for comments on their proposal so we can have good data on this important issue. The proposal has a 60 day comment period, and ATA will be providing supportive comments on FMCSA’s proposal.”

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Joint research confirms COVID-19 impact on trucking The American Transportation Research Institute and the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association Foundation today released important research on impacts that the COVID pandemic is having on all aspects of trucking operations, including deliveries, travel times, detention and truck parking. Most importantly, the research provides recommendations and guidance on future strategies should another national disaster strike. “The trucking industry has weathered national disasters in the past, and is doing so again through the current COVID crisis,” said ATRI President and COO Rebecca Brewster. “However, this latest data quantifies the challenges motor carriers and drivers are facing during this pandemic to keep essential goods moving.”

Key findings include: l Long-haul trips are down considerably as container imports at ports dried up. At the same time, local trips under 100 miles increased by more than 100 percent. l While certain segments of the industry, such as medical devices, perishable foods and paper products, saw solid COVID-related increases in truck traffic – nearly 50 percent of respondents described freight levels as “somewhat” to “much” lower due to COVID. l Nearly 70 percent of specialized and tank truck operations were negatively impacted.

In nearly every instance, smaller fleets reported greater negative impacts than larger fleets. l More than 40 percent of respondents said that truck parking was not any worse due to the COVID pandemic, but by fleet size, the larger fleets did describe truck parking as more difficult to find during the pandemic. l The research confirmed that driver detention generally did not change due to COVID; however, owner-operators and small fleets experienced much worse detention delays relative to larger fleets. l In terms of disaster planning, almost 80 percent of owner-operators and small fleets do not have any plan in place for managing operations during natural disasters. l The trucking industry generally has a favorable attitude towards state and federal responses, policies and programs set up to address the pandemic, with the federal response viewed as more favorable than the state responses. l The trucking industry’s perceptions about the country’s economic situation over the next several months lean slightly pessimistic – both in terms of freight movement and consumer spending.

“This research puts solid numbers to what we otherwise only suspected,” said Andrew King, Research Analyst for the OOIDA Foundation. “While we may be turning the corner on the COVID pandemic, we’re not out of the economic woods yet.”

Intermodal truckers demand an end to exploitation by foreignowned ship lines The American Trucking Associations’ Intermodal Motor Carrier Conference recently filed suit with the Federal Maritime Commission, alleging foreign-owned ocean shipping lines engaged in unjust and unreasonable conduct in violation of the Shipping Act. Their unlawful actions have overcharged truckers and their customers for intermodal container chassis at ports and inland terminals throughout the United States.

“For more than a decade, these foreignowned companies have worked together to take advantage of hard-working American trucking companies,” said Bill Sullivan, ATA’s executive vice president for advocacy.

“By denying truckers choice of equipment providers at port and inland locations, these unscrupulous companies have been forcing

American truckers and American consumers to subsidize their costs to the tune of nearly $1.8 billion—over the last three years alone.

“This must end, and after several attempts to come to a mutually beneficial resolution, we are now asking the FMC to resolve it,” Sullivan said.

IMCC filed its complaint with the FMC on August 17, alleging that the Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association and 11 ocean carriers have denied trucking companies’ choice when leasing this essential equipment, forcing unjust and unreasonable prices upon trucking companies. Hoping to avoid legal action, IMCC sent a Cease and Desist letter to OCEMA and to the ocean carriers in May, but OCEMA failed to address the violations that were raised.

“By denying motor carriers their choice of chassis provider to haul goods in and out of ports, OCEMA’s overseas members have Continued on page 28 27

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held U.S. motor carriers hostage and forced them to subsidize the shipping lines,” said ATA Chairman Randy Guillot, and president of Triple G Express and Southeastern Motor Freight. “So far OCEMA and its members have rejected all of our attempts to reach a fair and equitable arrangement, but we believe they’ll have less success ignoring the FMC.” In its complaint, IMCC outlined a number of ongoing violations of the Shipping Act and is seeking injunctive relief against OCEMA and the shipping lines.

New research documents the scale of nuclear verdicts in the trucking Industry The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has released comprehensive research that confirms that large verdicts against trucking fleets are increasing dramatically, both in number and in size of awards.

ATRI’s research is partially based on a newly

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created trucking litigation database that provides detailed information on 600 cases between 2006 and 2019. In the first five years of the data, there were 26 cases over $1 million, and in the last five years of the data, there were nearly 300 cases.

This study was identified as the highest research priority for the industry by ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee in 2019.

In response to arguments that nuclear verdicts reflect real-world cost increases, the research documents that from 2010 to 2018, the size of verdict awards grew 51.7 percent annually at the same time that standard inflation grew 1.7 percent and healthcare costs grew 2.9 percent.

The research also surveyed and interviewed dozens of defense and plaintiff attorneys as well as insurance and motor carrier experts, and generated a qualitative analysis for why the litigation landscape has changed, recommendations for modifying pretrial preparations, litigation strategies and mediation approaches, and how large verdict awards impact both safety and insurance.

“This issue has had a stifling impact on motor carriers and industry stakeholders – well beyond those involved in a truck crash”, said Rob Moseley, Founding Partner

with Mosely Marcinak Law Group. “ATRI’s research on litigation provides important guidance on leveling the playing field between truckers and trial lawyers, both in and outside of the courtroom.”

“Runaway verdicts are increasing in both size and numbers. This study documents a frequency in excessive awards that, while not surprising, tells us that the trial system has gotten off track. Foundational changes are needed in the way we determine noneconomic and punitive damages,” said Clay Porter, Partner at Porter Rennie Woodard and Kendall.

The report, “Understanding the Impact of Nuclear Verdicts on the Trucking Industry”, is available for download on ATRI’s website at www.truckingresearch.org.

Court denies Rhode Island’s latest attempt to derail industry’s truck-only toll challenge Back in July, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island rejected another attempt by RIDOT to insulate its discriminatory, truck-only tolls from review.

In a motion for judgment on the pleadings Continued on page 30

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filed in March, RIDOT argued that when Congress authorized states to toll bridges without losing federal highway funds when they replace or reconstruct them, it had removed tolls from any scrutiny under the Commerce Clause whatsoever. The court disagreed, holding that the statute in question does not relieve states of the obligation to ensure that highway tolls do not discriminate against interstate commerce and represent a fair approximation of the use of the tolled facility.

In the same order, the court also settled in the American Trucking Association’s favor a dispute over statements by Gov. Raimondo and other key officials indicating that they explicitly designed the RhodeWorks scheme to favor in-state commercial interests. In ATA’s view, these statements are highly probative of the discriminatory intent that pervades the scheme; RIDOT argued that the statements were irrelevant and inadmissible and that the court should evaluate discriminatory intent solely with reference to legislative findings in the text of the RhodeWorks statute.

The court agreed with ATA, holding that the statements are relevant and that news

Former NFL journeyman joins Palomar Insurance Palomar Insurance has hired Austin Golson to their expanding sales team as an account executive, specializing in the transportation industry. His knowledge of the industry and personalized service will help clients understand the risks for their specific industry and company and will help shape our insurance products to best meet their needs.

Golson was an All-SEC football standout for Auburn University and was named Captain his senior year. He also played several years in the NFL for the New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens and the Minnesota Vikings.

“We’re pleased to welcome Austin to the team,” said Palomar CEO Tony Craft. “Austin will add tremendous value to our Golson commercial and transportation clients.” accounts reporting them will be admissible if the officials in question do not make themselves available to testify about them.

ATA’s motion for a preliminary injunction against toll collection remains pending, as are several motions to quash subpoenas ATA issued to Gov. Raimondo and other lawmakers. In the meantime, we are busy preparing for an expedited, full trial on the merits scheduled for January 2021.

Trial preparation is, of course, a costly endeavor under the best of circumstances, and between the compressed time frame and RIDOT’s aggressive efforts to drag matters out as much as possible, our

Dylan Powell joins ATA as a fall intern We’d like to extend a slightly belated welcome to our fall intern Dylan Powell of Moulton, Ala. Dylan is a senior at Huntingdon College in Montgomery pursuing a degree in Finance with plans to graduate in December.

He attended Lawrence County High School where he was a standout in baseball and football, which led him to Huntingdon to play football for the Hawks. He lettered the past three years and also led the team in sacks last year as a linebacker. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, Huntingdon canceled its 2020 football season, which would have been his senior year.

“We’re excited to bring Dylan on board this fall,” says ATA President Mark Colson. “He has shown amazing maturity and character handling himself during his college career. On the football field, he’s a strong leader with an acute ability to read a situation quickly and react decisively and appropriately. We look forward to furthering his professional experience here Powell at ATA. He is well-rounded and hardworking and is

expenses are significantly outpacing the budget. At stake in this important case is not only whether Rhode Island can itself continue to cost the trucking industry millions of dollars in toll collections every year, but whether other states will be emboldened to treat the trucking industry as a piggy bank to avoid difficult revenue and spending decisions.

And with Congress unwilling to close the loopholes that allow states to evade restrictions on highway tolling, litigation is our last line of defense against these practices.

Please consider a financial contribution to help us sustain this crucial effort.

prepared to become a successful professional.”

Dylan interned last year at the Alabama Securities Commission working in its licensing department, and with no football this fall, he chose to take another internship to further prepare himself to enter the workforce. His future plans include finding work in financial planning and eventually start his own financial service to help rural residents better manage their personal wealth.

“Where I come from there are many folks who really don’t know a lot about personal money management,” he says. “I have seen people in my hometown, and even some of my own family members, lose life savings due to bad financial decisions that could have most likely been avoided. I want to help people do better for themselves.”

He adds that he has always found trucking interesting since many of his family members, including his father and grandfather, have driven trucks professionally at some point in their careers.

“I’m looking forward to getting to know this industry and the people who work in it,” he says.

GOT NEWS? Send to Ford Boswell at fboswell@AlabamaTrucking.org 30

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2020

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

Application For Membership Motor Carrier: ___

Private: ___

Household Goods: ___

Allied Industry: ___

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

________________________________________________________________________________

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

__________________________________________________________________________________

Alternate Representative: ________________________________Title: ______________________________________ Email address:

__________________________________________________________________________________

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

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY CODE # _________________ Date _________________________

Mbr Type ____________________

Nxt Bill Date __________________

Check # ______________________

Dues Cat _____________________

AL Sen ______________________

Dues Amt ____________________

Freq _________________________

AL Hse ______________________

Mbr Class ____________________

Exp Date _____________________

CG Dist ______________________

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

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2020

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.

2020 ATA Buyer’s Guide

We make every effort to ensure this list is correct. For changes or corrections to your company’s listing, contact

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 Pitts Media (205) 792-1280 www.pittsmedia.com

AUTO DEALER (SERVICE OR REPAIR) Faucett Motors of Boaz, Inc. (256) 593-7162 BUS SALES & SERVICE Southland Transportation Group (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

EQUIPMENT LEASING CB Repair & Trailer Maintenance, Inc. (205) 338-0943 KLLM/Equipment Solutions LLC (205) 515-1478 www.equipmentsolution.com Metro Trailer Rental (205) 985-8701 www.metrotrailer.com Premier Trailer Leasing (205) 680-3184 www.premiertrailerleasing.com Reliable Trailer Sales, Inc. DBA Storage Trailers of Alabama (205) 808-0042 www.storagetrailersal.com Southern Truck & Equipment, Inc. (251) 653-4716 www.southerntruck.net Southland Transportation Group (205) 942-6226 www.southlandtrucks.com Star Leasing Co. (205) 763-1280 www.starleasing.com

CenterState Bank (205) 422-7111 Comdata (615) 376-6917 www.comdata.com Commercial Credit Group, Inc. (704) 731-0031 www.commercialcreditgroup.com Corcentric (856) 406-3745 www.corcentric.com Corporate Financial Services, LLC (334) 215-4499 www.cfs401k.com Crestmark Bank 615-620-3509 www.crestmark.com Electronic Funds Source, LLC (615) 777-4619 www.efsllc.com FirstBank (256) 970-1618 www.firstbankonline.com First Horizon Bank (615) 734-6046 www.firsthorizon.com

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

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

Netradyne (833) 476-9663 www.netradyne.com

Vacuum Truck Rentals, LLC (205) 277-6190 www.vactruckrental.com

Omnitracs, LLC (615) 594-7565 www.omnitracs.com

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

Orbcomm, Inc. (703) 433-7763 www.orbcomm.com

EDUCATION & TRAINING Central Alabama Community College (256) 215-4301 www.cacc.edu

Eaton Corp./Roadranger Field Marketing People’s United Equipment (334) 398-1410 Finance Corp. www.roadranger.com (205) 664-9374 EQUIPMENT PARTS/ACCESSORIES www.puefc.com Dothan Tarpaulin Products, Inc. PNC Bank N.A. (800) 844-8277 (205) 421-2764 www.dothantarp.com www.pnc.com Imperial Supplies LLC ProBilling and Funding Service (920) 490-6707 (256) 736-4349 www.imperialsupplies.com www.probfs.com Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems Progress Bank 334/798-0080 (205) 527-5692 www.arvinmeritor.com www.myprogressbank.com Paccar Parts/Kenworth Renasant Bank (206) 898-5541 (334) 301-5955 www.paccarparts.com www.renasantbank.com www.trpparts.com

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

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

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

JP Transportation Safety Consulting, LLC (205) 329-8182 (205) 945-8550 www.jptsc.com

Star Truck Parts (205) 324-4681

Trustmark Bank (205) 995-4615 www.trustmark.com

SmartDrive Systems (858) 225-5551 www.smartdrive.net Trimble Transportation (407) 347-5121 www.mobility.trimble.com

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

Transportation Safety Services (251) 661-9700 www.transportationsafetyservices.com TRW Solutions, LLC (251) 362-2275 Vertical Alliance Group, Inc. (205) 585-3895 www.infinitiworkforce.com

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

Hancock Whitney Bank (251) 665-1667 www.hancockwhitney.com IBERIABANK (251) 345-9676 www.IBERIABANK.com People’s Capital & Leasing Corp.

(205) 856-9354 www.peoples.com

The Baxter Agency (334) 678-6800 www.baxteragency.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 Farris Evans Insurance Agency, Inc. (901) 274-5424 www.farrisevans.com Great West Casualty Co. (865) 392-3752 www.gwccnet.com Hudson Insurance Company (317) 810-2038 www.hudsoninsgroup.com Liberty Mutual Group (804) 380-5169 www.libertymutual,com Lyon Fry Cadden Insurance (251) 473-4600 www.lyonfrycaden.com McGriff Insurance Services (334) 674-9810 www.mcgriffinsurance.com McGriff, Siebels & Williams, Inc. (205) 583-9641 www.mcgriff.com Joe Morten & Sons, Inc. (865) 392-3844 www.joemorten.com Palomar Insurance Corp.

(334) 270-0105 www.palomarinsurance.com PR Companies (334) 836-1377 www.partnerwiththeexperts.com Reliance Group, LLC (205) 504-4841 www.reliancegroupins.com Reliance Partners, LLC (877) 668-1704 www.reliancepartners.com TransRisk, LLC (334) 403-4114 www.transriskllc.com True North Companies (319) 364-5193 www.truenorthcompanies Turner & Hamrick L.L.C. (334) 566-7665 www.turnerhamrick.com York Risk Services Group (205) 581-9488 www.yorkrsg.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

FINANCIAL SERVICES Bank of America Merrill Lynch (205) 298-7467 www.fa.ml.com/RPM

Aronov Insurance, Inc. (205) 414-9575 www.aronovinsurance.com

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

BancorpSouth Insurance Services, Inc. (334) 386-3317 www.bxsi.com

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

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

Safety First-Div. of Behavioral Health Systems (205) 443-5433 www.safetyfirstdrugtesting.com

NON-PETROLEUM FUEL PRODUCTS Pivotal LNG (404) 783-3550 www.pivotallng.com PETROLEUM PRODUCTS Citgo Petroleum Corporation (941) 981-2588 www.citgolubes.com Davison Fuels & Oil (251) 544-4511 www.davisonoil.com Jack Green Oil Co., Inc. (256) 831-1038 Major Oil Company, Inc. (334) 263-9070 www.unitedfoodandfuel.com Myers Oil Company, Inc. (954) 938-7211 RelaDyne (205) 384-3422 www.reladyne.com Shell Oil Products US (601) 529-7244 www.shell.com W.H. Thomas Oil Co., Inc. (205) 755-2610 www.whthomasoil.com

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Accounting Firms: Aldridge, Borden & Co. (334) 834-6640 www.aldridgeborden.com Katz, Sapper & Miller, LLP (317) 580-2068 www.ksmcpa.com Warren Averett (256) 739-0312 www.warrenaverett.com

Attorneys: Adams and Reese LLP (251) 650-0861 www.adamsandreese.com Ball, Ball, Matthews & Novak, P.A. 334-387-7680 www.ball-ball.com Burr-Forman LLP (205) 458-3393 www.burr.com Carr, Allison, Pugh, Howard, Oliver & Sisson, P.C. (251) 626-9340 www.carrallison.com Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophette, LLP (205) 252-9321 www.constangy.com DeLashmet & Marchand, P.C. (251) 433-1577 www.delmar-law.com Ferguson, Frost, Moore & Young LLP (205) 879-8722 www.ffmylaw.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

(Current as of 9-25-20)

Brandie Norcross at bnorcross@alabamatrucking.org.

Hill, Hill, Carter, Franco, Cole & Black, P.C. (334) 834-7600 www.hillhillcarter.com Porterfield, Harper, Mills, Motlow, Ireland PA (205) 980-5000 www.phm-law.com Speegle, Hoffman, Holman & Holifield, LLC (251) 694-1700 www.speeglehoffman.com Starnes Davis Florie LLP (205) 868-6000 www.starneslaw.com

Other Services: Allstate Beverage (251) 476-9600 Ext. 1231 AMG Driver Recruitment (256) 683-4499 www.amgdriverrecruitment.com AngelTrax (334) 692-4600 www.angeltrax.com C Cross Logistics, LLC (205) 759-1818 Corporate Billing, LLC (256) 584-3600 www.corpbill.com Enterprise Holdings, Inc. (205) 823-4599 www.enterpriseholdings.com Drivewyze (780) 461-3355 www.drivewyze.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 Lytx DriveCam, Inc. (858) 430-4000 www.lytx.com M & N Transport, Inc. (256) 657-5161 Max Coating, Inc. (205) 849-2737 www.maxcoating.com

PrePass (931) 520-7170 www.prepass.com

Rowe Management Corp.

(205) 486-9235 www.rowemachinery.com

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

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

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

Southern Truck Center, Inc. (205) 226-0880 www.southerntruckcenter.com

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

Ryder Vehicle Sales LLC (205) 492-2428 www.usedtrucks.ryder.com

SET Logistics, Inc. (205) 849-6309 www.setlogistics.net

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

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

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

Soar Payments LLC (888) 225-9405 https://www.soarpay.com/movingcompany-merchant-account/

Thompson Tractor Company (205) 244-7812 www.thompsontractor.com

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

Southland Transportation Group (205) 942-6226 www.southlandtrucks.com

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

Reliable Trailer Sales, Inc. DBA Storage Trailers of Alabama (205) 808-0042 www.storagetrailersal.com

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

TIRE DEALERS & MANUFACTURERS Best One Tire & Service (615) 244-9611 www.bestonetire.com

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

Trojan Industries, Inc. dba Lyncoach Truck Bodies (334) 566-4330 www.lyncoach.com

Southland Transportation Group (205) 942-6226 www.southlandtrucks.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Michelin North America (859) 661-0855 www.michelintruck.com

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

Wilks Tire & Battery Service, Inc. (256) 878-0211 www.wilkstire.com

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

Snider Fleet Solutions (336) 691-5499 www.sniderfleet.com

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

Southern Tire Mart (251) 457-9915 www.stmtires.com

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

Yokohama Tire Corp.

(317) 385-2611 www.yokohamatire.com

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

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

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

Southern Mississippi Trading LLC (601) 671-3211 www.smtmiss.com Spectrum Environmental Services, Inc. (205) 664-2000 www.specenviro.com Stamps Transport, LLC (205) 233-5326 www.stampstransport.com Swift Supply, Inc. (251) 929-9399 www.swiftsupply.com Tax2290.com/ThinkTrade Inc. (866) 245-3918 www.tax2290.com Team One Logistics (770) 232-9902 www.teamonelogistics.com TMW Systems, Inc. (440) 721-2260 www.tmwsystems.com Transportation and Logistical Services, Inc (205) 226-5500 www.tlsincorp.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 Vomela Specialty Company (651) 228-2200 www.Vomela.com

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

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

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

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

Motor Carrier Safety Consulting (205) 871-4455

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

Pitts Media (205) 792-1280 www.pittsmedia.com PM Environmental, Inc. (205) 986-0270 www.pmenv.com

Childersburg Truck Service, Inc. (256) 378-3101 www.childersburg-truck.com Coffman International Trucks (334) 794-4111 www.coffmaninternationaltrucks.com

Porter Billing Services LLC (205) 397-4079 www.porterbillingservices.com

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

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

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

PR Companies (334) 836-1377 www.partnerwiththeexperts.com

Mann Automotive Diesel, Inc. (334) 792-0456 www.mannautomotivediesel.com

Bridgestone Commercial Solutions (205) 514-8341 www.commercial.bridgestone.com Butler Industrial Tire Center, Inc. (334) 376-0178 Columbus Tire Company dba Complete Tire and Service (706) 321-8133 www.columbustireco.com Continental Tire North America (662) 549-7570 www.continental-truck.com

Dorsey Trailer, LLC (334) 897-2525 www.dorseytrailer.net Empire Truck Sales, LLC (601) 939-1000 www.empiretruck.com Fleetco, Inc. (615) 256-0600 www.fleetco.net Fontaine Fifth Wheel NA (205) 421-4300 www.fifthwheel.com

Long Lewis Western Star (205) 428-0161 www.longlewistrucks.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 Centers (205) 841-4450 www.nextrancorp.com

Truckworx Kenworth – Thomasville (334) 636-4380 www.TRUCKWORX.com Volvo Trucks North America (336) 508-4950 www.volvotrucks.volvo.com Ward International Trucks, LLC (251) 433-5616 www.wardintltrucks.com

TRUCK & EQUIPMENT AUCTIONEERS Taylor & Martin, Inc. (662) 262-4613 www.taylorandmartin.com TRUCKSTOPS Love’s Travel Stops, Inc. (405) 202-4451 www.loves.com Pilot Flying J Centers (865) 207-3874 www.pilotflyingj.com TravelCenters of America/Petro Shopping Centers (678) 591-4675 www.Ta-Petro.com

VEHICLE LEASING Penske Truck Leasing (757) 603-2853 www.gopenske.com Southland Transportation Group (205) 942-6226 www.southlandtrucks.com Vacuum Truck Rentals, LLC (205) 277-6190 www.vactruckrental.com Ward International Trucks, LLC (251) 433-5616 www.wardintltrucks.com

ATA

NEW MEMBERS & EVENTS

New Members (as of 9-21-20) B&B Trucking Monroeville, Ala. Wyatt Broughton

GFY Towing & Maintenance LLC Slocomb, Ala. Pamela Yeomans

Old Trail Trucking, Inc. Abbeville, Ala. Jill Murphy

Backwoods Trucking, LLC Heflin, Ala. Rodney Pate

Moore Coal Co., Inc. Bessemer, Ala. Judy Mathis

TRW Solutions, LLC Monroeville, Ala. Randy Watson

Bearden Transportation Co. Douglas, Ala. Durand Bearden

Nichols Concrete Holdings, LLC Saginaw, Ala. Rusty Hicks

Thomas Truck Lines Inc. Donalsonville, Ga. Ronnie Miller

Events Please note: Due to restrictions on large gatherings caused by the coronavirus pandemic, event locations and dates are subject to change. Please contact Brandie Norcross at bnorcross@alabama trucking.org or visit www.alabamatrucking.org for updates and changes.

Fleet Safety Regulatory & Guidance 101 October 7, 2020 ATA Headquarters

Truckers Against Trafficking Coalition Build October 22, 2020 Virtual Event

ATA Foundation Board Meeting December (TBA) Virtual Event

American Trucking Associations MC&E Oct 26-28, 2020 Virtual Event

SMMC Christmas Party December 14, 2020 Pelham, Ala.

ATA Call on Washington December 1, 2020 Virtual Event

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

36

ATA Annual Convention April 22-26, 2021 Destin, Fla. Alabama Truck Driving Championships May 28, 2021 Pelham, Ala.

ATA Board of Directors Meeting Jan. 28, 2021 Virtual Event

A

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

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

Want to reach decision makers at more than 1,500 Alabama-based trucking firms?

Consider this: Advertising in AT reaches the most concentrated readership of trucking professionals in the state. Our rates are affordable, but on top of that, your helping ATA send positive messages about one of the state's largest employers.

SMMC Fleet Safety Awards March 2021 (TBA) Pelham, Ala.

D V E R T I S I N G

I

N D E X

ADVERTISER

PG. NO.

PH. NO.

ATA WCSIF

BC

(334) 834-7911

www.atacompfund.org

The Baxter Agency

24

(800) 873-8494

www.baxteragency.com

IBC

(205) 322-6695

www.birminghamfreightliner.com

Great West Casualty

9

(800) 228-8053

www.gwccnet.com

International Trucks

IFC

(800) 844-4102

www.navistar.com

McGriff Insurance

16

(334) 674-9803

www.McGriffInsurance.com

Nextran Truck Center

17

(800) 292-8685

www.nextrancorp.com

Palomar Insurance

3

(800) 489-0105

www.palomarins.com

R.E. Garrison

28

(800) 643-3472

www.regarrison.com

Southern Tire Mart

29

(877) STM-TIRE

Southland Transportation Group

25

(205) 254-1821 southlandtransportationgroup.com

Truckworx Kenworth

7

(800) 444-6170

www.truckworx.com

Turner & Hamrick

22

(888) 385-0186

www.turnerhamrick.com

18-19

(205) 755-2610

www.thomasoil.com

Birmingham Freightliner

WH Thomas Oil Co.

WEB ADDRESS

STMTires.com

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 3 RD Q UARTER 2020