SEPTEMBER 23-26, 2021 HILTON SANDESTIN BEACH GOLF RESORT & SPA | DESTIN, FL
WELCOME TO
ATA’S 82ND ANNUAL CONVENTION I am excited to welcome you to the Alabama Trucking Association’s 82nd Annual Convention and Meeting. So much has happened since we last gathered here back in 2019, but I am grateful for your patience and understanding as we navigated the constraints and logistics of holding a large live event during a pandemic. Through it all, our main concern has been ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our attendees. On the following page, you will find details of our efforts and our recommendations to keep everyone safe. Planning for this weekend has been a lengthy process, but one that I have enjoyed tremendously. The ATA Convention Committee, Board Members, and staff have all invested a lot of time and effort to make this meeting a success. Please know that your attendance and continued support are very much appreciated. More importantly, I want to acknowledge the incredible support of our many Convention sponsors. This year topped all previous ATA Conventions for sponsorship money raised. Our convention team brought its A-game to make sure the financial success of this meeting is secure. We are very grateful for each sponsor’s contributions. A full list of these businesses is available on the inside back cover. As you look it over, you will see familiar names and logos. Many, if not all, are regular supporters of this Association and its many endeavors that make Alabama Trucking a powerful force. Each is a credit to our industry and a very important participant in Alabama’s vibrant economy. The next several days will be packed with informative meetings, exciting events and top-notch entertainment. We hope you find your experience here to be worthwhile and enriching. Our meeting agenda focuses on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for trucking. We’ll discuss politics, roadway and workplace safety, nextgen workforce development and the overall future of this great organization. Together, we will find solutions that will benefit each of us no matter the niche you fill or the business sector you serve. We are all in this together, and the success of the entire industry is for the good of us all – and that success starts here in Destin. So buckle up, it’s going to be a great ride. If you have questions, concerns, or suggestions, please find me or an ATA staff member, and we will do everything we can to assist you. In the meantime, the following pages provide the information you need to make the most of your Convention. We’re glad you’re here, and thanks for supporting your Alabama Trucking Association.
WILL BRUSER
2021 ATA Convention Chairman Truckworx
THANKS FOR AT TENDING OUR MEETING
YOUR SAFETY IS OUR GREATEST CONCERN As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and the Delta variant virus continue to have an increased impact on our community, we feel it is important to inform you of the steps we are taking to help keep our guests and team members safe and healthy.
In terms of our meeting environment, we have taken the following measures: While it’s not required, we strongly encourage attendees to mask up whether vaccinated or not. We request those who have flu-like symptoms seek medical care and stay home. While on-site, the Hilton Sandestin staff is providing additional cleaning measures, including disinfecting surfaces that come into contact most frequently -- phones, keyboards, door handles, desks, etc.
As situations change and more information becomes available, we will continually evaluate and adjust our response. ......................................................................................................................................
MEETING AGENDA
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 2:00pm - 5:00pm
OPEN REGISTRATION | TOUR LOBBY ......................................................................................................................................... 4:00pm - 4:45pm
TRUK PAC BOARD MEETING (Board Members Only) | SANDPIPER ROOM .......................................................................................................................................... 5:00pm - 7:00pm
WELCOME RECEPTION | BAREFOOT DECK Join us for drinks and heavy hors d’oeuvres on the beautiful Barefoot Deck located directly behind the hotel, overlooking the Gulf. You can’t ask for a better setting to kick off Convention and network with your friends and colleagues.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 ..
................................................................................................................................... 7:00am - 8:00am
BREAKFAST SERVED | EMERALD BALLROOM FOYER A full breakfast buffet is provided by Benny Whitehead, Inc., Hornady Transportation, Mid State Thermo King, Palomar Insurance Corp., Progress Bank and Walmart Transportation, LLC
.................................................................................................................................... 8:00am
MEETING OPENS (Door Prize Drawing) | EMERALD BALLROOM We have a great collection of door prizes this year for attendees. We will hold drawings during our meetings and events, but you must be present to win. Prizes include a YETI backpack cooler and accessories, electronics and gift certificates. The spouse and significant other drawing is made possible by R.E. Garrison Trucking, Inc. Speakers are made possible by the Act I sponsors.
..................................................................................................................................... 8:10am - 8:35am
TRUCKING ECONOMIC OUTLOOK | EMERALD BALLROOM As the trucking industry continues its strong rebound from the pandemic, what are the prospects for the industry that fleet owners should expect going into 2022 and beyond?
Presenter: KEN HOEXTER, Managing Director | Bank of America
....................................................................................................................................... 8:40am - 9:45am
PANEL DISCUSSION: TRUCKING’S FUTURE WITH AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES | EMERALD BALLROOM Over the last five years, automated trucks have been in development and successfully deployed by several leading organizations. The technology is coming fast, and it’s coming sooner rather than later. Trucking now needs to be at the forefront when it comes to regulating and employing this exciting emerging technology. This panel discussion will focus on trends and how trucking can best ensure the usefulness, safety and viability of AVs.
Moderator: DUSTIN KOEHL, Senior Vice President of Sales | U.S. Xpress, Inc. Panel To Include: GARY MCCARTHY, Senior Manager of Fleet Safety & Law Enforcement | Locomation JAMES MURPHY, Vice President of Government Affairs | Locomation DR. LADONNA THORNTON, Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Management | Auburn University
......................................................................................................................................... 9:45am - 10:00am
BREAK & DOOR PRIZE DRAWING (Spouses)
| EMERALD BALLROOM
.......................................................................................................................................... 10:05am
ATA FOUNDATION: TRANSFORMING THE FUTURE OF ALABAMA TRUCKING | EMERALD BALLROOM Created in 2018, the ATA Foundation is the 501(c)3 charitable arm of the Alabama Trucking Association. Its work signifies our Association’s ongoing objective to advance the industry’s needs for a sustained and qualified workforce and promoting and protecting our public image. Among trucking’s greatest challenges, especially over the past few years, have been recruiting and retaining qualified truck driver candidates and well-trained service technicians. Foundation President Terry Kilpatrick will provide an update on the work the Foundation has been doing in workforce development.
Presenter: TERRY KILPATRICK, President | ATA Foundation
............................................................................................................................................ 10:15am - 10:35am
RAMPING UP FOR THE LONG HAUL: ATA’S WORKFORCE INITIATIVE | EMERALD BALLROOM The ATA Foundation has partnered with strategic marketing company Markstein to assist the development and execution of a new strategic plan to attract the next generation workforce for Alabama’s trucking industry. As a dedicated partner of the Alabama Trucking Association, Alan will unveil exciting details and restive concepts of this plan that focus on recruiting commercial truck drivers and diesel technicians.
Presenter: ALAN ALEXANDER, Associate Director | Markstein
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 ....................................................................................................................................... 10:40am - 11:25am
PANEL DISCUSSION: THE WALLACE STATE DIESEL BY DISTANCE PROGRAM | EMERALD BALLROOM According to experts, Alabama’s trucking industry will need more than 3,000 qualified services techs over the next six years to meet demand. Learn how Wallace State Community College’s innovative distance-learning program, Diesel By Distance, could be part of the solution to bringing more qualified service technicians to the trucking industry.
Moderator: BHARANI RAJAKUMAR, Founder & CEO | TRANSFR Panel To Include: DR. VICKI KAROLEWICS, President | Wallace State Community College JEREMY SMITH, Department Chair of Diesel Technology Program | Wallace State Community College
.......................................................................................................................................... 11:30am - 11:45am
INTRODUCING THE ATA FOUNDATION TITAN PROGRAM | EMERALD BALLROOM Since its inception, the ATA Foundation has been graciously received by our membership. With financial support from key members and organizations and a continuous revenue stream from the elected apportionment of dues from members, the Foundation has enjoyed consistent growth and wins to push trucking ahead. But without a consistent funding plan, the Foundation’s work has been sporadic and limited. With ATA leaders now focusing efforts on creating an industry-leading, next-generation workforce development initiative, the need for a more formal plan and financial consistency has finally emerged. Learn how your support can help the Foundation create a stronger industry for future generations.
Presenter: MARK COLSON, President & CEO | Alabama Trucking Association
............................................................................................................................................ 11:45am
MEETING CLOSE (Door Prize Drawing) | EMERALD BALLROOM ............................................................................................................................................. 1:00pm - 4:00pm
POOLSIDE CABANAS | HOTEL SPA POOL Love’s Travel Stops has reserved several poolside cabanas so you can cool off, have a drink, and spend the afternoon hanging with your trucking buds. Hospitality is made possible by Best-One Tire & Service, CommerceOne Bank, Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies, Utility Trailer Sales of Alabama and Ward International Trucks.
.............................................................................................................................................. 5:00pm - 7:00pm
ATA COMP FUND RECEPTION | EMERALD BALLROOM Before heading out for dinner, come through the ATA Comp Fund’s Hospitality Reception. If you’re familiar with the Fund, you know that its events are always top-shelf and a lot of fun. There will be no shortage of entertainment, fellowship and door prizes. There’s even a special drawing for a pair of 2021 Iron Bowl tickets with all proceeds going to the ATA Foundation. Register for the drawing by Friday, Sept. 25 at 3 p.m. To do so, visit the ATA Convention Registration Desk for more info or visit atacompfund.org.
................................................................................................................................................ 9:30pm
LATE NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT WITH THE EMERALD GOLD BAND | EMERALD BALLROOM Come hear your favorite songs performed by one of the Gulf Coast’s best live acts, the Emerald Gold Band. These guys do it all -- Motown, R&B, Soul, Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Country -- and they do it well! A full bar will be provided. This event is made possible by the Act I sponsors
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2021 .................................................................................................................................... 7:00am - 8:00am
BREAKFAST SERVED | EMERALD BALLROOM FOYER A full breakfast buffet is provided by B&G Supply Co., Inc., Michelin North America, Penske Truck Leasing, River Valley Ingredients, South State Bank and Trimble Transportation.
..................................................................................................................................... 8:00am
MEETING OPENS (ATA Golf Classic Leadership Recognition) | EMERALD BALLROOM ...................................................................................................................................... 8:15am - 8:50am
AMERICAN TRUCKING ASSOCIATIONS UPDATE & STATE OF THE INDUSTRY
| EMERALD BALLROOM
The American Trucking Associations is the largest and most comprehensive national trade group for the trucking industry. It is an 86-year-old federation with state trucking association affiliates in all 50 states. It represents every sector of the industry, from LTL to truckload, agriculture and livestock to auto haulers, and from large motor carriers to small mom-and-pop operations. Among its duties as the preeminent federal advocate for the industry, National ATA’s staff provides data that is crucial to trucking companies, industry suppliers, logistics providers, analysts, public policy decision-makers, and many others.
Presenter: SHERRIE GARNER BRUMBAUGH, Chairman | American Trucking Associations
......................................................................................................................................... 8:50am - 9:45am
ATA COMP FUND PRESENTATION | EMERALD BALLROOM ATA Comp Fund leadership will showcase why it’s considered among the best and most comprehensive workers’ compensation self-insurance funds in the country. For nearly 30 years, the Fund has provided trucking businesses of all sizes and types with stable, competitive services and a comprehensive benefits program to keep operational costs down and productivity high with benefits such as preferred pricing discounts, loss control, risk management, claims management, and individualized deductibles.
Presenter: KIMBLE COAKER, CEO & Fund Administrator | ATA Comp Fund And Various ATA Comp Fund Staff & Experts
........................................................................................................................................... 9:45am - 9:50am
DOOR PRIZE DRAWING (Spouses) | EMERALD BALLROOM ............................................................................................................................................
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2021 ........................................................................................................................................ 9:50am - 10:30am
FEDERAL & STATE INDUSTRY REGULATIONS UPDATE | EMERALD BALLROOM Hear ATA’s Tim Frazier moderate this session with FMCSA and ALEA representatives to discuss the latest updates for regulatory guidance, roadside inspection data and documentation requirements that drivers and motor carriers are required to maintain for safety compliance.
Moderator: TIM FRAZIER, Vice President of Safety & Compliance | Alabama Trucking Association Panel To Include: CAPT. BRENT MCELVAINE, Operations Manager | Alabama Law Enforcement Agency CLINTON SEYMOUR, State Division Administrator | Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
.......................................................................................................................................... 10:35am - 10:55am
IMPROVING DRIVER HEALTH & FITNESS | EMERALD BALLROOM Driving a commercial vehicle is a rewarding and lucrative career, but because of the sedentary nature of the work, truck drivers are prone to occupational hazards such as poor diet and lack of exercise, which can lead to weight gain, developing multiple comorbidities like diabetes or hypertension, and having a decreased life expectancy. Learn how to teach your drivers to make healhty choices out on the road with diet and exercise.
Presenter: MARK MANERA, Founder | The Trucking Fitness Co.
............................................................................................................................................ 11:00am
MEETING CLOSE (Door Prize Drawing)
| EMERALD BALLROOM
............................................................................................................................................. 11:30am - 5:00pm
ATA CONVENTION GOLF TOURNAMENT
| BAYTOWNE GOLF CLUB
Join us for our annual ATA Convention Golf Tournament, sponsored by Wright Transportation. The Baytowne Golf Club’s course is revered as one of the finest creations by renowned designer Tom Jackson. Twice hailed by Golf Digest as one of the “Best Places to Play” with 4.5 stars. Teams will be assigned before play. Lunch provided by PNC Equipment Finance; and prizes provided by Mack Trucks.
............................................................................................................................................... 1:00pm - 4:00pm
POOLSIDE CABANAS | HOTEL SPA POOL Love’s Travel Stops is providing another afternoon to cool off, have a drink, and spend the afternoon watching college football or hanging with your trucking buds. Hospitality is provided by Robbie D. Wood, Inc.; Servis1st Bank; Thomas Truck Lines; and Truckworx-PacLease
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2021 ....................................................................................................................................
6:30pm - 7:00pm
ATA CHAIRMAN’S RECEPTION (Honoring Tom McLeod) | EMERALD BALLROOM FOYER This reception is sponsored by Billy Barnes Enterprises, Inc.; Davison Fuels & Oil; EFS (Wex Inc.); Evergreen Transport, LLC; Kenworth; McGriff Insurance Services; MHC Carrier Transicold; Navistar – International Truck; and Volvo Trucks.
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7:00pm
DOORS OPEN (Opening Remarks) | EMERALD BALLROOM
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7:15pm - 7:45pm
DINNER SERVED | EMERALD BALLROOM The Chairman’s Dinner is made possible by the Gold Sponsors. Dinner wine is provided by Action Truck Centers.
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7:45pm - 8:05pm
RECOGNIZING THE ATA 2019 DRIVER OF THE YEAR & THE 2020 DRIVER OF THE YEAR | EMERALD BALLROOM Since we weren’t able to meet last year to properly celebrate the 2019 Alabama Driver of the Year Rosko Craig of Montgomery Transport, we made sure to bring him and his wonderful wife, Hope, along this year to give him the recognition he deserves! That also means that we will double the recognition for the 2020 Driver of the Year Nathan Heflin of LB3, Inc., and his lovely wife, Leah. Both of these men represent the best of the trucking industry, and we’re glad to celebrate them.
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2021 ........................................................................................................................................
8:10pm - 8:25pm
H. CHESTER WEBB AWARD PRESENTATION | EMERALD BALLROOM A highlight of our Convention is the presentation of the H. Chester Webb Award for Distinguished Service, which recognizes the leadership and community involvement by an individual of the state’s trucking industry. Criteria are based on the nominee’s record of service in three categories: service to the industry, to the Alabama Trucking Association, and their local community. Fifty-three individuals have been honored with a Webb Award since its creation in 1958. Recent winners include Tom McLeod (2016); Bill Ward (2017), Greg Brown (2018), and Kimble Coaker (2019) — no award was given in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Presenter: KIMBLE COAKER, 2019 Webb Award Winner
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8:25pm - 8:40pm
RECOGNIZING THE LEADERSHIP OF PAST CHAIRMAN TOM MCLEOD
| EMERALD BALLROOM
Over the last two years, Tom McLeod’s leadership has been immeasurable to the Alabama Trucking Association. Since he took the reins of ATA back in 2019, he has guided our organization through a transition in Association leadership and led us through the challenges caused by the ongoing pandemic. Through it all, Tom has been an avid supporter of ATA starting from the day he joined in the early 1990s to its current stature as a leading state-level business advocacy group. Thanks to his dedication and guidance our organization remains on solid footing to fully address the needs of an ever-changing industry.
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8:45pm
ATA FOUNDATION TITANS DRAWING
| EMERALD BALLROOM
If you’ve signed up to become an ATA Foundation TITAN then you’re eligible to have your name added to the mix for drawings for a NASCAR Driving Experience at Talladega International Speedway and a Porsche Track Experience at Barbers Motorsports Park.
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9:00pm
BLACK JACKET SYMPHONY PRESENTS THE ROLLING STONES’ STICKY FINGERS
| EMERALD BALLROOM
The Black Jacket Symphony offers an amazing concert experience by recreating classic albums in a live performance setting with first-class lighting and video production. Hear this amazing collection of top touring musicians from across the Southeast as they perform The Rolling Stones’ classic album, Sticky Fingers in its entirety. Originally released on April 23, 1971, Sticky Fingers is considered to be among the legendary band’s best albums, and it was recorded in our home state at the legendary Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Muscle Shoals, Ala. Following the album performance and a brief intermission, the Black Jacket Symphony returns to the stage to perform a collection of the Stones’ greatest hits. Whatever you do, don’t miss this show! This special presentation is made possible by the ACT I sponsors.
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PRESENTERS & SPEAKERS Alan Alexander MARKSTEIN
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Alan oversees the Markstein agency’s workforce development practice. He serves as the lead strategist for developing and implementing integrated marketing campaigns designed to increase awareness of career, training and education opportunities within high-demand industries, such as commercial trucking, commercial construction, and commercial aviation.
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Sherri Garner Brumbaugh AMERICAN TRUCKING ASSOCIATIONS CHAIRMAN
Sherri Garner Brumbaugh has more than 30 years of experience in the trucking industry, beginning her career in 1991 at her family-owned and operated truckload carrier business, Garner Trucking, Inc. of Findlay, Ohio. She became the company owner in July 2012, which in recent years has received recognition as a Best Fleets To Drive For five years consecutively; named a Top Trucking Company for Women to Work by the Women in Trucking Association; and FleetOwner magazine’s Flashiest Fleet winner. She is currently Chairman of the Board of the American Trucking Associations, the largest national trade association for the trucking industry.
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Will Bruser TRUCKWORX KENWORTH PRESIDENT
Will Bruser rarely slows down. From the moment his feet hit the floor in the morning to when his head hits the pillow at night, he’s constantly thinking of ways he can help improve Alabama’s trucking industry. He officially took the reins of the Alabama Trucking Association in July as its new Chairman of the Board, but for more than a decade, the President of the Birmingham, Ala.-based Truckworx has been an integral part of the Alabama Trucking family lending his resources, talent and support to any cause or initiative to benefit trucking.
Mark Colson
ALABAMA TRUCKING ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT & CEO
Since taking the reins of the Alabama Trucking Association in June 2019, Mark Colson has worked to share the news of Alabama Trucking’s vibrancy delivering more than 80 percent of all goods rolling into and out of the state while providing 1 in 15 jobs to its citizens. As one of Alabama’s top trucking executives, Mark travels across the country building relationships that grow and foster the industry’s mission while enhancing its public image. He also works closely with policymakers in Montgomery and Washington D.C. to ensure they understand the important role trucking plays in Alabama’s economy and its impact on the daily lives of all Alabamians.
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Kimble Coaker ATA COMP FUND
CEO & FUND ADMINISTRATOR
Kimble Coaker joined the ATA Comp Fund as its Chief Executive Officer in December of 1995. As CEO, he continues to oversee the expansion of the program from its beginning to its current annual revenue. His primary expertise while practicing were nonprofit entities, trade associations and association-based self-insurance programs. For his industry leadership and value to Alabama Trucking Association and the state’s industry, he was named the 2019 recipient of the H. Chester Webb Award for Distinguished Service.
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Rosko Craig
MONTGOMERY TRANSPORT, LLC PROFESSIONAL TRUCK DRIVER
In April 2020, ATA’s Safety & Maintenance Management Council tapped Rosko Craig as its 2019 Alabama Truck Driver of the Year for his blend of experience, confidence and passion for highway safety. In 21-plus years of driving, the Silas, Ala.-resident has logged more than 3-million miles of accident-free driving earning numerous accolades from his employer. Additionally, he serves as an adviser for workplace and highway safety policy for his employer, Montgomery Transport.
Tim Frazier
ALABAMA TRUCKING ASSOCIATION VICE PRESIDENT OF SAFETY & COMPLIANCE
Tim Frazier is a true veteran of the industry with 35+ years of experience in fleet safety and maintenance management including stints at Walmart Transportation and the former McGriff Transportation. He’s managed some of the largest and safest fleets in the country earning a reputation as a leading fleet safety professional. He joined ATA in 2011 with primary responsibilities of assisting and advising the president in the operation of varied member services, programs and activities. He manages all SMMC programs and chapters and also serves as the Association’s liaison to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
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Nathan Heflin LB3, LLC
PROFESSIONAL TRUCK DRIVER
Nathan Heflin embodies the best of Alabama’s trucking industry. The veteran truck driver has logged nearly 2-million accident-free miles in 15 years with close attention to detail and commitment to safety. He’s earned numerous awards from his company, LB3, LLC, of Wedowee, Ala., and was recently selected as the organization’s top driver -- an award chosen by his fellow drivers. Last March, ATA named him the 2020 Alabama Truck Driver of the Year. He was also a recent winner of the Alabama Virtual Truck Driving Championships.
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Ken Hoexter BANK OF AMERICA MANAGING DIRECTOR
Ken Hoexter is a managing director for Bank of America covering Airfreight & Surface Transportation and Shipping (marine transportation). He is co-head of the Industrial & Basic Materials sectors. His regular research reports include the weekly Transport Tracker and the proprietary bi-weekly Truck Shipper Survey. He is based in New York.
Vicki Karolewics, Ed.D. WALLACE STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRESIDENT
Dr. Vicki Karolewics has transformed Wallace State Community College in rural Hanceville, Ala. into one of the top community colleges in the nation, as recognized by the Aspen Institute, Community College Week, Southern Business and Development Magazine, among others. Under her leadership, Wallace State has won numerous national awards for excellence and ranks among the South’s top education institutions for workforce development. Wallace State was also selected as one of 30 colleges in the nation to lead the American Association of Community Colleges Pathways Project and is listed among Community College Week’s Fastest Growing Community Colleges in the U.S. with enrollment exceeding 5000.
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Terry Kilpatrick BILLY BARNES ENTERPRISES PRESIDENT
Terry Kilpatrick attended his first Alabama Trucking Association event more than 25 years ago. He recalls being in awe of the great Alabama Trucking legends who were there, men like Dempsey Boyd and Walter Poole, successful businessmen who willingly offered great advice and knowledge of trucking. Now with his own successful business, Billy Barnes Enterprises in Frisco City, Ala., Kilpatrick is giving back to the industry through the ATA Foundation he helped create in 2018. Since then, he’s worked on outreach programs to bring younger workers to the industry and help the public understand trucking’s purpose and value to the state’s economy.
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Dustin Koehl
U.S. XPRESS OF CHATTANOOGA, TENN SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Dustin Koehl is a dynamic industry leader passionate about value creation, change management, and identifying new resources that drive opportunities for trucking organizations. He currently serves as Senior Vice President for U.S. Xpress of Chattanooga, Tenn. Before that, he served 12 years at Total Transportation of Mississippi in sales, communications, customer service, and pricing. He brought key contributions to the U.S. Xpress team including the facilitation of its partnership with the Massachusetts Institution of Technology and leading work with TuSimple, a global autonomous trucking technology company.
Mark Manara THE TRUCKING FITNESS CO. FOUNDER & CEO
As a Doctoral student of Physical Therapy set to graduate in December of 2021, Mark Manara is on a mission to change the way the trucking industry thinks about drivers’ health. His company helps trucking fleets develop healthier and happier drivers behind the wheel for zero cost to their bottom line.
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Gary McCarthy TUSIMPLE
SENIOR MANAGER OF FLEET SAFETY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
Gary McCarthy is a former law enforcement officer and transportation official who now spearheads TuSimple’s efforts to educate law enforcement agencies about autonomous vehicles. McCarthy started his law enforcement career in 1994, working through the ranks, and was eventually promoted to bureau chief. He later worked for the Arizona Dept. of Transportation where he retired and joined TuSimple in March 2020. He is a graduate of Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command Class No. 208.
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Capt. Brent McElvaine
ALEA HIGHWAY PATROL & MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY UNIT OPERATIONS MANAGER
Capt. Brent McElvaine is currently assigned as the operations manager for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Highway Patrol Division assisting the Highway Patrol Chief in overseeing operations including the Motor Carrier Safety Unit. He has spent his career in various assignments and ranks throughout the Alabama Dept. of Public Safety and ALEA. When those two agencies merged in 2015, he was assigned as the Commander of the ALEA Training Unit and the Alabama Criminal Justice Training Center in Selma.
Tom McLeod MCLEOD SOFTWARE FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
Tom McLeod has long been active in the American Trucking Association, the Truckload Carriers Association, and the Alabama Trucking Association, and has held leadership positions in the same. He is a thought leader in the transportation industry, specifically on the use of current and emerging information technology to support trucking and brokerage operations. Last July, McLeod completed a rare two-year term as ATA’s Chairman of the Board while the trucking industry led the charge to keep our nation going during the pandemic.
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James Murphy LOCOMATION
VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
James Murphy has worked in the trucking sector for nearly two decades. He received his Class A CDL at the age of 17, and still maintains it today. He also has more than a decade of government affairs experience gained from his time in the public and private sectors, starting his career on Capitol Hill as a staffer for the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee before taking on senior positions in the U.S. House of Representatives. He later worked as an in-house lobbyist for Motorola Solutions where he was responsible for advancing the company’s priorities at the federal, state, and local levels. In 2018, he founded Daybreak Strategies, a D.C.-based government affairs firm.
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Bharani Rajakumar TRANSFR
FOUNDER & CEO
Bharani Rajakumar is on a mission to create alternative pathways to career success through intuitive learning methods so more people can succeed and be upwardly mobile. This is Rajakumar’s second technology company with its sights set on transforming the way people learn and achieve. He was the co-founder of math tutoring software company LearnBop, which was acquired in 2014 by online learning company K12 Inc.
Clinton Seymour
FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION STATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATOR
Clinton Seymour is a leading expert on federal commercial carrier safety regulations. Before coming home to Alabama in his current position in 2019, Seymour served as the FMCSA Division Administrator and Regional Director for the Southern Region states for eight years. He has been a longtime advocate for not only public safety but also an ardent advocate of the trucking industry. He and his team at the Alabama Division have a vision for transportation and roadway safety based on building relationships, partnerships, and sharing of key information with the trucking industry for the benefit of safety and a vibrant transportation economy.
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Jeremy Smith
WALLACE STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEPARTMENT CHAIRMAN OF DIESEL TECHNOLOGY
Jeremy Smith began his journey in trucking while working with his father on heavy-duty trucks and machinery at the family business, Lavon Smith Trucking. His passion for the work continued when he enrolled in the Diesel Technology program at Wallace State in 1990. After graduation, he began his career at a dealership while exploring other avenues of the trucking world such as long-haul truck driving, dump truck driving, and becoming a business owner, all the while continuing his work as a technician building numerous credentials and skills. In 2009, he returned to Wallace State to lead the school’s Diesel Technology program where he has now served for 12 years.
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LaDonna Thornton, Ed.D. AUBURN UNIVERSITY ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Dr. LaDonna Thornton is an Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Management at the Harbert College of Business at Auburn University. She received her doctorate in 2013 from the University of Tennessee. Her current research focuses on diversity, social dynamics, and employee well-being within the supply chain. She has been published in Decision Sciences, Journal of Business Logistics, Journal of Supply Chain Management, and the International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management. Before academia, she worked in the industry for seven years in distribution and logistics.
The Answer Is In The Data For 20 years, ATRI’s thoughtful research and analysis is making the trucking industry better, safer and stronger.
BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP! We rely on charitable contributions to support our research that improves the industry’s safety and productivity.
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FOR THE L ADIES:
H COMPLIMENTARY H
SPA SESSION
All registered lady attendees are welcome to enjoy a complimentary spa session. Choose any of the spa selections by going to the hotel spa website serenitybytheseaspa.com and clicking on spa services. Pick any of the selections up to $130 (Anything above that is your responsibility). You must make your reservation yourself. To do so, contact Serenity By The Sea at 866-622-9595 or 850-622-9595. You may also call the hotel main line at 850-267-9500 and ask for spa reservations (Be sure to identify your affiliation with the Alabama Trucking Association). Appointments will be scheduled for Friday, Sept. 24 and Saturday, Sept. 25, and will be on a first come, first served basis, so act quickly to reserve your time slot. Please note: You must be a fully registered ATA Convention attendee and be at least 20 years old. Spa treatments are made possible by AMG Driver Recruitment; Deep South Freight; Fleetguard; Summerford Truck Line, Inc.; and Thompson Tractor Co.
IRON BOWL TICKETS Drawing Benefitting the ATA Foundation The ATA Comp Fund will be raffling a pair of tickets to the 2021 Iron Bowl! Raffle tickets are $20 each with proceeds going to the ATA Foundation. A winner will be drawn during the ATA Comp Fund Welcome Reception on Friday, September 24. You do not have to be present to win. Tickets are available in person at the ATA Convention Registration Desk and must be purchased by 3 p.m. on September 24th.
ATA COMMITTEE LIST
2021 ATA CONVENTION FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BRUSER
CHRIS COOPER
KEVIN SAVOY
EDMUND DOSS
GENE SWEENEY
McLeod Software ATA Past Chairman of the Board
STEVE DUPUIS
GAINES THOMAS
NIC BALANIS
JIM JENKINS
WAYNE WATKINS
BEN LEACH
DANIEL WRIGHT
Truckworx Convention Chairman ATA Chairman of the Board
Boyd Bros. Transportation, Inc. Deep South Freight
TOM MCLEOD
Nextran Truck Centers Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC
Servis1st Bank
FENN CHURCH
Church Transportation & Logistics, Inc.
J. J. CLEMMONS
Progress Bank
Greenbush Logistics, Inc. Church Transportation & Logistics, Inc. Evergreen Transport, LLC Watkins Trucking Co., Inc. Wright Transportation, Inc
ZAC PALM
Summerford Truck Line, Inc.
Utility Trailer Sales of Alabama
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