Florida Truck News - Winter 2022

To Lead is to Serve

Currlin takes the helm as Chairman of the Board

800.228.8602

gwccnet.com

Values Drive Performance

Shared Values Can Lead to Organizational Excellence

We understand you are in business to make a profit. Our Value-Driven® Company modules can help you reduce losses and increase profits by focusing on influencing employee behavior, changing culture, improving communication, and managing risk successfully.

We believe it is everyone’s job to do what they can to prevent losses. We have developed a variety of training tools to help get all employees involved in safety. From seminars and webinars to Self-Service e-Tools and FAQs, we have solutions to fit your operations.

We see “Critical Crashes” as a risk to your company. Our Value-Driven® Driving program focuses on helping drivers do what they can to prevent these types of accidents: rear-end, loss of control, lane change, and run under. All of our driver training programs are FREE to our insureds and can be accessed 24/7 on Great West’s Online Learning Library.

GREAT WEST CASUALTY COMPANY – No matter where the road takes you, you will discover that at Great West, The Difference is Service®.

Eric J. Francis

Step up – Show up

All eyes are on Florida. Politically, economically, and in trucking.

One of the major takeaways after American Trucking Associations’ MCE in San Diego is that industry leaders can’t wait to see what we do next. 2022 was a huge year for FTA. It’s hard to believe that it was just a few months ago we successfully led the fight in a Florida Supreme Court opinion on paid medical damages. We were one of the first (of two) to secure federal funding for truck parking from USDOT. We’ve met with Secretary Pete Buttigieg, FMCSA Administrator Robin Hutcheson, Governor DeSantis, FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue and Florida House and Senate leaders. We’re just getting started.

FTA has big plans for 2023, but to reference the feature article on Board Chair Carlos Currlin, you can’t just talk the talk, we need you to walk the walk. American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) sent out a short survey, asking the industry—from drivers to suppliers, shippers, managers, executives and everyone in between, what the biggest issues are for trucking. We sent it out to you. Do you want to guess how many non-drivers in Florida responded?

39.

Now, not to go all schoolmarm on you, but that just doesn’t cut it. And I know that my last President’s message (and maybe even the one before that) was focused on engagement. Florida is big—800 people move here every day. We’re 22 million+ strong. The state lives and breathes and depends on trucking and what you do.

Our partnerships with federal and state agencies are the envy of others—members can make a call and get solutions before the sun sets. But we’re in trouble if we get complacent. FTA is positioned to be the voice, and face, of tort reform. We’re (as the kids say these days) … influencers.

Step up. Show up. Let’s make history in 2023.

Alix Miller, PhD

Alix@Floridatrucking.org

WHEREVER THE ROAD TAKES YOU WE’RE ALONG FOR THE RIDE

AmFed is proud to partner with the Florida Trucking Association to provide a fully endorsed workers’ compensation insurance program to FTA’s members.

FTA and FDOT Secure Truck Parking Grant

IIJA-funded grant will build 120 parking spaces near Plant City

By Steve Brawner Contributing Writer

AmFed provides the full spectrum of workers’ compensation insurance products and services, including guaranteed cost, deductible and dividend policies.

Our partnership will help support and further FTA’s mission of promoting and protecting the interests of Florida’s trucking and transportation industry.

AM BEST A- EXCELLENT RATED CARRIER

“We are proud that we were the first to receive this state funding, and I’m not surprised by it. Florida Department of Transportation has always been a leader when it comes to innovation and creative solutions, and they have always been a wonderful partner to us.

A $15 million federal grant will construct approximately 120 badly needed parking spaces near Plant City.

The grant will pay for parking on a busy Interstate 4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando that carries an average of 18,000 trucks per day, according to American Trucking Associations. Electric charging stations will be included.

DEDUCTIBLE AND DIVIDEND POLICIES

The grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation is part of the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) program. Funding

came from the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed into law last year.

Tennessee also was awarded a $22.6 million grant to build approximately 125 parking spots on I-40 in Smith County. The two were the first parking projects to receive grants under the new funding structure.

The entire I-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando was labeled an area of concern in a 2020 Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Statewide Truck Parking Study because

of the amount of unauthorized truck parking and because of the high utilization rates of existing parking facilities. Other areas of concern included urban areas such as the Miami and Jacksonville areas.

Alix Miller, Florida Trucking Association’s president and CEO, said the east-west corridor is a trucking hub with a lot of warehousing space.

Miller said FTA is “always advocating on behalf of our drivers for safe parking” and quickly recognized the opportunity the grant would provide.

—Alix Miller, president & CEO, Florida Trucking Association

ISN’T IN OUR VOCABULARY.

HANDLING AND DELIVERY ARE CRITICAL PARTS OF THE PRODUCTION PROCESS FOR ANY BUSINESS.

Whether your enterprise needs basic short-haul transport or complex inter-modal service with unique security or climate specifications, Paddock Transport International has the equipment and skills to deliver. Businesses trust Paddock not only to manage their freights expertly, but to help them solve supplychain challenges and streamline operations.

CASE STUDY: THE ART GALLERY OF ONTARIO FRANK GEHRY STAIRCASE PADDOCK DELIVERS

The staircase may be dramatic but, thanks to Paddock, moving it was not. Paddock first transported the staircase from Mariani’s location in Etobicoke to Bolton, Ontario, for sandblasting and painting. Next, the Paddock team moved the 22 freshly finished pieces safely to their new home in the heart of Toronto. It took careful, creative planning and flawless execution to ensure the large, fragile staircase sections were safely secured for transport and delivered according to strict timelines to their final, high-traffic downtown destination, including obtaining permits and police escorts.

“When the grant announcement came through for truck parking, we immediately reached out to FDOT, and they immediately submitted the grant proposal, and we were one of the first to get the grant money, so that was a successful effort to start,” she said. She praised FDOT for its quick response to the grant announcement.

“We are proud that we were the first to receive this state funding, and I’m not surprised by it,” she said. “Florida Department of Transportation has always been a leader when it comes to innovation and creative solutions, and they have always been a wonderful partner to us..”

The grants to Florida and Tennessee represent small steps in addressing a nationwide problem. The parking issue was described in a letter dated Feb. 18 to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg that was jointly written by the ATA’s president and CEO, Chris Spear, and Todd Spencer, president and CEO of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. It noted that the United States Department of Transportation’s 2019 Jason’s Law Report found that 98 percent of drivers regularly have problems finding a safe place to park, compared to 75 percent in 2015. The result is that 70 percent have been forced to violate federal hours-of-service rules, Spear and Spencer wrote. Drivers lose an average of 56 minutes of driving time each day, costing them $5,500 in lost income, or the equivalent of 12 percent of their annual pay.

They also park in unsafe locations such as interstate ramps. Eighty-four percent of drivers feel unsafe when parking in these unauthorized areas. Jason’s Law is named for Jason Rivenburg, a truck driver who was murdered while parked at an abandoned gas station in 2009.

It’s no wonder that “Truck Parking” ranked first among truck drivers in the American Transportation Research Institute’s annual “Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry” survey, which attracted more than 4,200 responses from drivers, motor carrier executives and others. It ranked as the third most critical issue overall, behind fuel prices and the driver shortage.

“It’s unfortunate that we didn’t get the dedicated funding because now parking has to compete with everything else, and there are more needs than money in the highway space, but at least there’s the potential for addressing this problem with all the new money that’s out there,” said Roth.

—Darrin Roth, vice president highway policy, American Trucking Associations

The FDOT’s Statewide Truck Parking Study identified 10,093 truck parking spaces in Florida, 30 perent of which were provided by the public sector and 70 percent offered by private sector truck stops. The FDOT also solicited input from internal and external stakeholders and conducted an online survey that generated 136 responses, the majority coming from the trucking industry. Respondents said parking is lacking in metropolitan areas.

The study was part of an effort by FDOT to establish a statewide truck parking program to replace its past project-by-project approach. It says parking improvements should be funded at $10 million per year for at least five years.

Currently, four other truck parking projects are

funded through 2027 with $58 million in National Highway Freight Program funds. Parking projects on or near the National Highway Freight Network are eligible for such funding.

Michael Williams, FDOT deputy communications director, said the department seeks to strategically direct resources to the network, with projects selected based on freight mobility factors. The study also calls for continuing to develop the state’s Truck Parking Availability System. The system currently alerts truck drivers as to the number of spots available among 2,352 spaces at rest areas, weigh stations and welcome centers.

It also calls for developing public-private partnerships. Darrin Roth, American Trucking Associations’ vice president of highway policy, said a number of private developers have become interested in providing parking services in parts of the country.

The five-year Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act did not include any additional funding dedicated solely to truck parking, but it made money available for INFRA grants like this one. It also increased highway funding by 38 percent, and state and local governments can use highway funding formula money to improve parking facilities.

“It’s unfortunate that we didn’t get the dedicated funding because now parking has to compete with everything else, and there are more needs than money in the highway space, but at least there’s the potential for addressing this problem with all the new money that’s out there,” said Roth.

Miller said the U.S. Department of Transportation is aware of the truck parking issue, which she noted is a major concern for female drivers but also all drivers who deserve a safe place to park.

“I think people understand the supply chain better than ever after the pandemic and after the supply chain crisis, so they’re understanding that there are logistical challenges and needs that need to be met,” she said. “This is not just an issue of safety, but one of recruiting and retaining the next generation in the industry— particularly women.” FTN

industry. Trucking is an interstate industr y, so Floridabased carriers likely will eventually drive through Rhode Island. Other areas of the country could adopt discriminatory tolling policies.

Rhode Island’s Toll Victory Also Florida’s Victory

Defeat of Rhode Island truck-only toll a victory for entire industry

By Steve Brawner Contributing Writer

A court decision declaring a Rhode Island truck-only tolling scheme unconstitutional came after the trucking industry, including FTA, banded together in opposition.

District Judge William Smith ruled Sept. 21 that the RhodeWorks plan tolling only Class 8 trucks at selected bridge sites violated the U.S. Constitution’s dormant commerce clause because it was discriminatory in intent, discriminatory in effect, and didn’t approximate fair use by charging all bridge users.

Smith permanently enjoined the state from continuing the program, though he did not require it to reimburse truckers for tolls already paid. The state quickly closed its toll-collecting facilities. Rhode Island appealed to the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals Oct. 19.

Chris Spear, American Trucking Associations president and CEO, declared victory in a press release, saying, “We told Rhode Island’s leaders from the start that their crazy scheme was not only discriminatory, but illegal. We’re pleased

“We speak as one voice. The trucking industry is more powerful when we all come together. The Rhode Island tolling is not an aberration. It’s how we operate day-in, day-out working together when there are challenges, and the industry is facing headwinds.”

—Alix Miller, president & CEO, Florida Trucking Association

the court agreed. To any state looking to target our industry, you better bring your A-game because we’re not rolling over.”

Rhode Island Trucking Association

President Chris Maxwell said the court victory demonstrated the power of a unified truck ing industry.

“This really shows the might of how a federation works,” he said. “The country’s smallest state was attacked, and we fought like hell locally knowing that in the end, the

federation would close ranks, and the ATA would do what it did, which was fight on behalf of all 50 states. We will continue to do so whether it’s truck-only tolling or any other issue.”

Alix Miller, FTA’s president and CEO, said the association financially supported ATA’s litigation center. While there’s been no movement toward truck-only tolling in Florida, she said it’s important for FTA to support other states when an issue affects the trucking

“We speak as one voice,” she said. “The trucking industry is more powerful when we all come together. The Rhode Island tolling is not an aberration. It’s how we operate day-in, day-out working together when there are challenges, and the industry is facing headwinds.”

In his 91-page ruling, Smith wrote RhodeWorks was intentionally discriminatory. An early version based on a consultant’s recommendation would have included Class 6 and 7 trucks, but those classes were dropped in a second draft that also addressed repeat per-day visits to a particular toll gantry. Lawmakers and state officials said those changes occurred because of local businesses’ concerns and to reduce the impact on local industries. Second, RhodeWorks was discriminatory in effect because 80 percent of toll-paying trucks were from out of state, while state-based trucks benefited more from toll caps. Finally, RhodeWorks didn’t approximate fair use because only 3 percent of users paid 100 percent of the tolls.

“Thus, RhodeWorks operates by design in a way that exempts not only most users, but nearly all users,” he wrote in his ruling. “Without looking much deeper, a system that places the entire toll burden on an extreme minority of users is inherently unfair and fails the test.”

Rhode Island’s Maxwell said winning on all three counts increased the likelihood that trucking will win the case on appeal.

“We only had to prove one of those three, and we proved all three, so it’s nearly impossible that the First Circuit is going to overturn a judge’s very, very, very thorough opinion,” Maxwell said.

Rich Pianka, American Trucking Associations general counsel, said courts of appeals usually defer to a lower court’s finding of fact but are more willing to overturn on findings of law.

state officials would shift tax burdens to out-of-state residents who couldn’t hold them accountable in elections. Instead of having a robust national market for goods and services, the nation could be divided into 50 economic units imposing retaliatory economic measures on each other.

“The judge laid out the facts very clearly, and there’s really no question that Rhode Island developed this program with the intent of shifting its revenue burdens to out-of-state commercial users and all the while protecting its own residents from being burdened,” he said.

“The judge laid out the facts very clearly, and there’s really no question that Rhode Island developed this program with the intent of shifting its revenue burdens to outof-state commercial users and all the while protecting its own residents from being burdened. That’s exactly the kind of concern the commerce clause was included in the Constitution to avoid.”

—Robert Pianka, general counsel, American Trucking Associations

The state of Rhode Island must clear a high hurdle if it wants to accomplish that task.

Pianka said the Constitution’s commerce clause was written so that Congress would govern interstate commerce. Otherwise,

“That’s exactly the kind of concern the commerce clause was included in the Constitution to avoid.”

Rhode Island became the only state with a policy of tolling only Class 8 trucks in 2015 when then-Gov. Gina Raimondo and the General Assembly created RhodeWorks. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation projected tolls would fund about 10% of the state’s needed bridge repairs. It included a maximum toll cap of $20 for large commercial trucks traveling on I-95 from Connecticut to Massachusetts. A truck could be charged no more than $40 per day. The toll system collected $40 million annually after expenses. The plaintiffs – Cumberland Farms, Inc.; M&M Transport Services, Inc.; New England Motor Freight; and the American Trucking Associations – sued in 2018, leading to a 12day trial in May and June this year. Cumberland Farms, a Massachusetts-based company that services gas stations and convenience stores in New England states, saw its operating costs increase by $100,000, Smith wrote in his ruling. Pianka said the ruling sent a message to other states that were considering singling out trucks to raise revenues.

“I just think people should bear in mind this was certainly about what Rhode Island was doing, and that was important in and of itself,” he said.

“But it was also about the fact that the trucking industry is not a piggy bank for states to try and solve their revenue problems out of.”

Photo credit: FLICKR

Truck Crash Predictors

ATRI study finds yield, turn signal failures predict future crashes

By Steve Brawner Contributing Writer

How can motor carriers reduce the likelihood that one of their drivers will be involved in a future crash? Train them to yield the right-of-way and to use their turn signal.

That’s according to the American Transportation Research Institute’s recently released study, “Predicting Truck Crash Involvement: 2022 Update.”

Researchers analyzed 583,805 truck drivers who had 38,797 FMCSA-reported crashes between Jan. 1, 2017 and Dec. 31, 2018. ATRI conducted previous crash predictor studies in 2005, 2011 and 2018.

This most recent report saw an increase in the strength of the relationship between driver history and crashes.

It found that a failure to yield the right-ofway violation was associated with a 141% increase in the likelihood of a future crash. That was a 39.6% increase in likelihood over the most recent report in 2018.

Three other behaviors were associated with a future crash likelihood increase of more than 100%. Second was failure to use/improper signal conviction. It increased crash likelihood by 116%, which was a 41.5% increase from 2018. A past crash was associated with a 113% increase, which was an increase of 28.4%. A reckless driving violation was associated with a 104% increase, which was an 8.8% decrease from 2018.

The rest of the top 10 statistically significant predictors of future crash involvement included the following behaviors:

• Failure to obey traffic sign conviction: 85%

• Failure to keep in proper lane conviction: 78%

• Improper or erratic lane changes conviction: 77%

• Reckless/careless/inattentive/negligent driving conviction: 62%

• Improper lane/location conviction: 61%

• A failure to obey traffic signal/light conviction: 55%

Dan Murray, ATRI’s senior vice president and the report’s co-author, said there weren’t any surprises in this year’s top 10 list. This year’s most predictive behavior, a failure to yield the right-of-way violation, was the second most likely predictor of a future crash in 2018.

“Those truck drivers who have these behaviors and then have multiple crashes sometimes, it’s really sort of almost a level of conscientiousness or lack thereof because they’re just egregious enough that you sort of get nervous about the top behaviors,” he said.

“Can those behaviors be trained out of a driver? It’s hard to say. Most of them can, and that’s where there’s hope.”

A failure to use/improper signal conviction was the second most predictive behavior in 2022 after it was fourth in 2018 and first in 2011. Murray said that behavior is indicative of a larger attitude toward safety.

”I think it’s carelessness or lack of conscientious that’s sort of wired into the driver,” he said. “You know, who cares about a turn signal? It’s not that big a deal, but it generates crashes, and so think it’s critical that we rewire a driver’s attitude about what’s important and what makes a difference. And somebody who just doesn’t think a turn signal, for instance, is a big deal, that’s somebody who either needs to stop driving a truck or needs to get retrained.”

Combining the four reports starting in 2005, reckless driving was the most stable predictor at 114%, followed by failure to use/improver signal conviction at 89%, past crash at 88%, failure to yield right-of-way violation at 85%, and improper or erratic lane changes conviction at 79%. A past crash and an improper or erratic lane changes conviction have ranked in the top 10 in all four ATRI studies, the report said.

Other high-ranking crash predictors were as follows:

• Disqualified driver violation: 53%

• A false or no log book violation: 49%

• Speeding 1 to 15 miles over the speed limit conviction: 48%

• Hours-of-service violation: 47%

• Speeding violation: 47%

• Any conviction: 46%

• Improper turn conviction: 45%

• Following too close violation: 44%

• Any moving violation: 43%

• A speeding more than 15 miles over the speed limit conviction: 40%

The report found that of the 38,797 crashes analyzed, 65.6%, or 25,451, were towaway crashes, while another 32.3%, or 12,538, were

"In a matter of weeks,

- Shawn Nelson

Executive Director of Safety & Recruitment

R.E. Garrison Trucking Inc.

injury crashes and 2.1%, or 808, involved a fatality.

The report comes as fatal truck-involved crashes have increased 7.2% since 2016, while fatal truck-involved crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled have increased 2.8%. Fatal large truck-involved crashes had fallen to about 3,000 per million vehicle miles traveled in 2009, but they have been on an upward trajectory since then, reaching 4,479 in 2019. That number was higher than the average of 4,334 between 1975 and 2019.

Murray noted that the vast majority of truck drivers – nearly 94% – were not involved in a crash during the two-year period studied, while 5.8% were involved in one and .32% were involved in two. Eighty-nine drivers were involved in three or more crashes. Murray noted that most crashes involving a passenger vehicle are not the fault of the commercial truck driver.

He said that of the hundreds of federal motor carrier safety regulations on the books, only a small number are statistically related to safety and crash preventability. The report tells fleets what behaviors they should really care about and how they should focus their training. Ideally, the report also should inform regulators about which rules are really necessary, he said. Elsewhere, the report found that drivers under age 21 were statistically less likely than drivers over age 24 to be involved in a crash. It found 42 of the 1,723 drivers under age 21, or 2.4%, were involved in a crash, compared to 6.9% of the 475,052 drivers over 24 years old. Murray said drivers ages 21-24 were not included to create a buffer between the two groups being compared.

The results invite further study because

the sample size of younger drivers is small. However, Murray said the research shows promise for an industry dealing with a driver shortage. Drivers’ average age in the report is 46, which is three years older than the average age in the 2005 report utilizing data from 200104. In this latest report, 52.7% of the drivers were ages 41 to 60.

Murray said other data has shown that young drivers of four-wheelers are more likely than older ones to take risks and act impetuously. But that’s not what the data says for young truck drivers, who already can legally drive intrastate in most states but generally are barred from crossing state lines. Looking at those numbers, Murray said, “The safety concern seems to be more emotional than it is empirical, to be honest.”

Murray said that combining those numbers with the active safety systems being pushed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration could allow younger drivers to be “some of the shining stars on the road in the right driving conditions.” Meanwhile, the report found that female

2022

drivers were 14% less likely than males to be involved in a crash. At the same time, females were less likely than males to be guilty of 12 behaviors. Males were 221% more likely to have an improper lane conviction, 91% more likely to have a medical certificate violation, 76% more likely to have a seat belt violation, and 57% more likely to have a driving too fast for conditions conviction.

Among the other behaviors males were more likely to be involved in were the following:

– Failure to obey traffic sign conviction: 51%

– Hours-of-service violation: 42%

– Failure to obey traffic light or sign conviction: 39%

– Any out-of-service violation: 34%

– False/no logbook violation: 33%

– Failure to obey traffic control device violation: 29%

– Any conviction: 23%

– Speeding more than 15 miles over speed limit conviction: 19%

Female drivers were 14% less likely than males to be involved in a crash. At the same time, females were less likely than males to be guilty of 12 behaviors. Males were 221% more likely to have an improper lane conviction, 91% more likely to have a medical certificate violation, 76% more likely to have a seat belt violation, and 57% more likely to have a driving too fast for conditions conviction.

—ATRI Crash Predictor Study

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF ATRI

This year ATRI celebrates 20 years of leadership in critical data and analysis to improve the trucking industry’s safety and productivity. From the truck stop to the executive suite, to the state house and Capitol Hill, ATRI’s reputation for providing objective industry analyses means data-driven decision making on the industry’s biggest issues.

IMPROVING SAFETY AND LOWERING RISK

On topics as wide-ranging as predicting future crash involvement to safety technology cost-benefit analyses to obstructive sleep apnea, ATRI’s research provides a blueprint for managing risk and improving roadway safety.

OPERATIONAL DATA YOU CAN COUNT ON

Whether you’re looking to route your drivers around congestion or benchmark your costs against your peers in the industry, ATRI’s analyses combine real-world data with a deep understanding of industry operations.

LEADING WITH DATA, NOT EMOTION

ATRI’s research uses data and analyses to dissect the true impacts of policies and regulations across a range of critical topics including Hours-of-Service, autonomous vehicles, CSA, tolling, and nuclear verdicts.

WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD

ATRI has a long history of research focused on the issues and concerns of professional truck drivers. From involvement in over 40 national, state, and regional truck parking studies to quantifying the impacts of detention, ATRI’s analyses provide a key input to advancing the safety and productivity of the industry’s workforce.

We rely on YOU to make our research successful. Help secure ATRI’s future for the next 20 years with a charitable contribution from you or your organization! Visit us today online at TruckingResearch.org to learn more about our research and commit to supporting ATRI through a charitable contribution.

There was no statistical difference in six behaviors in which women were safer in 2018: reckless/careless/negligent driving conviction; speeding 1 to 15 miles over the speed limit conviction; following too closely conviction; improper lane or location conviction; speeding violation; and any moving violation.

While women were 14% less likely to be involved in a crash in this most recent update, they were 20% less likely in the 2018 report. Murray said the gap appeared to have closed because women had fallen back, not because male drivers were catching up.

Still, the 14% difference is significant. Women are a mostly untapped labor pool of statistically safer drivers, but to attract them to the industry, more safe truck parking with fencing, lighting and convenient bathrooms is needed, Murray said.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that in 2019, females comprised 6.7% of U.S. truck drivers, but they comprised only 2.7% of the inspected drivers in 2019 that were used for ATRI’s analysis. ATRI researchers looked at hundreds of thousands of inspection records and considered numerous theories – that female drivers work for safer carriers; that they

are waved through at inspection stations more frequently than males; that they drive bettermaintained trucks; that they avoid winter conditions; and that they are more cautious. The research didn’t seem to support any of these theories.

Instead, the most likely explanation is the type of routes females drive. ATRI’s data found that females made up only 2.69% of drivers who operate on roadways involving inspection stations. Instead, women were more likely to hold Class B licenses (5.1%) and Class C licenses (4.3%). ATRI along with the Women in Trucking Association collected surveys from 92 female drivers along with 21 male drivers. According to survey responses, female drivers were more inclined to seek jobs where they would be home at the end of the day.

The report measured changes in violation%ages between the 2018 report, which utilized data from 2013-14, and the 2022 report, which used data from 2017-18. Traffic enforcement violations increased 288.3%, vehicle suspension violations increased 125.5%, and wheels/studs/clamps violations increased 35.5%. Hours-of-service violations fell between the two results. State/local hoursof-service violations decreased 87.5%, from

7,291 to 911, while 60/70/80 hours violations decreased 59% and 10/15 hours violations decreased 50.7%. “No log book – log not current” violations fell 31.8%. Overall, hours-ofservice violations fell from 268,801 to 203,532. In this most recent report, the most common violation involved lighting, which accounted for 16.3% of all violations. However, lighting violations fell 17.6%, from 352,928 in the 2018 report to 290,899 in this most recent one. The report theorized that the increased use of longer-lasting LED lights could be an explanation.

Brake violations also decreased. “Brakes – out of adjustment” violations fell 15.3%, while brakes – all others fell 6.2%. The report theorized that the increased use of disc brakes, which are harder to inspect, may be a reason why violations have fallen.

Alix Miller, Florida Trucking Association’s president and CEO, said FTA will incorporate the study’s findings in the training opportunities it offers.

“ATRI’s studies always inform what we do at an association level in training and communicating with our members,” she said. “They always provide vital information to keep the industry strong.” FTN

To Lead is to Serve Currlin takes the helm as Chairman of the Board

By Eric J. Francis Contributing Writer

“I grew up here, studied here, got married here, have friends here – I consider the Miami area home. I like the warm weather, the diversity in the area.”

—Carlos Currlin, manager director, Rechtien International

Trucks

As he begins his term as chairman of the board of Florida Trucking Association, Carlos Currlin knows he’s following in some well-respected footprints.

Currlin is managing director of Rechtien International Trucks, the South Florida dealership founded 40 years ago by Dick Rechtien, who also served as FTA chairman.

“Rechtien International was always a member of FTA. Dick Rechtien had been involved with the board and had been chair, as well,” said Currlin. “I always wanted to serve and be a part of the industry as well – I believe to lead is to serve, not just your employees and your customers but your industry.”

Currlin walked that walk, joining the board and serving as treasurer and secretary, before stepping into the role as board chair.

Photography By Norma Lopez Molina

Currlin’s mission

Currlin is quick to lay out what he sees as the Association’s mission: Advocate, communicate, and educate.

“We advocate and work on trying to advance public policy in the interest of the trucking industry,” he said.

And he knows what one of his top priorities will be, not just at the state level but also for the industry at the federal level.

“Right now, the key focus is working on lawsuit abuse reform, working at the state level and with industry stakeholders,” Currlin said. “That’s a major impact on trucking and distributors and the industry in general. Florida is considered one of the worst legal climates in the country because of the amount of frivolous lawsuits and excessive verdicts. It’s significantly impacting the cost of insurance, and all citizens and consumers are paying for that.”

He also wants to build on the membership growth efforts of the past and see how FTA can improve engagement among its members, too. It’s a key ingredient in the association’s advocacy efforts, said Currlin: “The more people you get involved, the louder your voice, the more impact you have with the state.”

“More companies need to understand what a great team and resource the FTA staff members are in Tallahassee, available to help any carrier with a variety of everyday challenges, from regulatory issues to licensing to plates and more. There are also opportunities to serve on committees, as well as the networking and education available at conferences.

“It’s all about getting involved,” he said. “We have a 2.0 Leadership committee as well, where if you have young leaders in your company who have high potential, you get them exposure to the entire industry.”

And, of course, you can’t be an executive in the trucking industry today without having part of your brain focused continuously on perennial issue of employee recruitment and retention. It’s not surprising that, as a truck dealer, Currlin hears this from his customers regularly.

“The other priority we have right now is a trucking industry recruitment initiative and public safety campaign, with a grant allocated by the Florida legislature this year,” said Currlin. “We’re working to highlight these high-paying,

great jobs and opportunities that exist in transportation – whether it’s drivers, technicians, logistics – there are a lot of highly rewarding jobs and we’re trying to raise awareness.”

Backing from the state is going to be critical to such endeavors and Currlin said Gov. Ron DeSantis has been supporting recruitment and training efforts, including securing dedicated funds to help with expansion at private CDL training schools. There’s also a digital and social media marketing campaign highlighting opportunities in the industry.

“There’s a whole plan to expand the number of CDL schools going on right now,” he said.

“You’ve got to attract people when they’re young into the industry, because once they’ve selected a certain job, they go down a different career path. We need to be attracting 18- to 21-year-olds, and military veterans with a lot of experience who might have CDLs or mechanical experience already.”

Certainly not least on his to-do list is

continuing to educate the public on the central role of trucking in the economy.

“More than 80 percent of goods are transported by a truck,” noted Currlin.

“The general public may not realize that. I think that was actually highlighted – and the trucking industry really shone – during the COVID pandemic and the supply chain crisis. The industry in general rose to the occasion, continuing to deliver goods around the country and the economy growing.”

It was much the same after Hurricane Ian hit the Fort Myers area in October.

“Trucking companies were already positioned beforehand with trailers and trucks that were available to transport supplies and materials to start helping people and helping the rebuilding efforts” he said.

FTA President and CEO Alix Miller said the association is excited to have Currlin stepping into the role of chairman of the board.

“He has great energy,” she said, “and it’s important to have representation from the Miami area, South Florida being a region where the association wants to grow membership.”

Leadership style

What is Currlin’s leadership style apt to be during his tenure? One person who’s got insight on that question is Millie Mejia, who has worked with Currlin for 25 years.

In fact, she can answer that question with just four words: “He leads by example.”

“He is a class act,” said Mejia, who is director of Business Operations and Administration at Rechtien. The standard that he sets for himself in business dealings emanates throughout the office.

“If you’re going to write an email really quickly, and you’re having one those days and you’re going to write back something, you say, ‘Would Carlos write this email?’” she said. “You always have him in the back of your mind. He’s very ethical, very respected in the business world, a true gentleman.”

The two have a very close relationship in leading Rechtien, despite what Mejia describes as fairly disparate personalities.

“I’m a quick person, very, ‘Let’s just do it!’ He’s

“He’s very ethical, very respected in the business world, a true gentleman. Everybody just loves him here in the office.”

—Millie Mejia, director of business operations & administration, Rechtien International Trucks

and a focus on people.” As it happens, the number of people he’s focusing on doubled back in the spring, when Rechtien completed its acquisition of Carolina International Trucks. With its six locations in South Carolina that brings the total number of dealerships to 11 and the employee count to 450.

But even though the company is now twice the size it was last year, Currlin doesn’t feel like a lot is really going to change: They’ll still focus on being a trusted partner for their customers and a great place to work for their employees.

“Every year we participate in the Great Place to Work Institute’s employee satisfaction and trust index survey,” he said. “All employees

are surveyed on different competencies to measure culture in the company, and you’re scored in different areas. We publish those results so that our employees can see where we’re doing well and where we can keep improving. We have a great group of employees, a great team, highly dedicated, working every day really hard to serve our customers.”

And what is the lesson he takes from those survey results? The same lesson he took to heart when he got into the trucking business. “It is a journey about building relationships and trust while adding value by serving others.” FTN

more analytical, he kind of waits first,” said Mejia. But while he takes his time when considering business decisions, that doesn’t mean he’s cooling his heels, she added. He has a penchant for not standing still.

That suits his reputation as a dedicated boss and a workaholic, but Mejia said it’s important for people to know his other side – that of an equally dedicated family man. When he was working as managing director of Navistar Mexico in Mexico City, she said, Currlin made a point to go home every weekend to be with his family in Chicago.

“His son was real young, his daughter had recently been born,” she said. “I’ll never forget knowing that he’d be going home on Friday and travel back to see his family. He did this for like three years.”

One of the biggest strengths Currlin will bring to his FTA term, said Mejia, is his penchant for in-depth research.

“He is so in tune with everything going on in the industry,” she said. “He’s always informed. He’s going to read a lot, research a lot, and he’s going to understand the issues and the market. He’s going to be phenomenal because he doesn’t go in blind.”

Establishing roots

Currlin and his wife Gloria have been married for 20 years and have a son, Alexander, and daughter, Giselle. They live in city of Weston near Ft. Lauderdale. It’s familiar territory, since from his mid-teens on his family lived in the Miami area. Born in California “where Silicon Valley is now

but before it existed,” his parents – Francis and Dolores Currlin – moved the family to El Salvador when he was 10 and to Miami when he was 16.

“I grew up here, studied here, got married here, have friends here – I consider the Miami area home,” said Currlin. “I like the warm weather, the diversity in the area.”

A graduate of the University of Miami, where he studied Finance, Currlin started out as a commodities broker specializing in options on futures contracts. But after a couple of years, he decided it wasn’t for him.

“I wanted to focus on selling tangible products that added value to operations, and on working with people,” he said.

So, he joined Komatsu, a Japanese manufacturer of construction and mining machinery, starting in sales and eventually managing equipment sales in Latin America. And after seven years with Komatsu, he joined Navistar, where he spent his first 18 years in the trucking industry.

Over that time the job would take Currlin and his family far and wide, including his three years in Mexico City. They also spent seven years in the Chicago area, while he worked at the Navistar headquarters. Life in the Chicago suburbs was a great experience, he said.

“Our daughter was born there,” he pointed out. “We consider that our second home and go back at least twice a year. My kids actually miss it so much – they prefer the changing seasons and, if you ask them, they’d like to live there again.”

Eventually, though he enjoyed international

sales, he felt it was time to establish roots and have an impact in the community where he lived.. His experiences working with dealers around the country had given him an inkling that he’d like to try that side of the business.

Currlin joined Rechtien in 2014 when the company was acquired by a privately held diversified conglomerate, Bepensa. What was the big change like, going from the manufacturing to the dealership side of things?

“Most of my career was working with global markets,” he said. “I was vice president of global sales and distribution, so we handled sales of trucks with dealers outside of North America – in Latin America, Asia Pacific, Africa, the Middle East. I worked with dealers and competed with other manufacturers from around world. It was a great experience.

“But always felt like wanted to be able to establish roots in my community,” he added.

“To work in the community and feel like I had more of an immediate impact in what I was doing. worked with dealers around the world and I always liked the pace in a dealership, and most especially the relationships. The trucking industry is all about relationships with your customers and becoming a trusted partner by adding value and helping them succeed. Being part of the community as well. I wanted to have that.”

That includes building on the strong company culture at Rechtien, what he calls a “high-performance culture with strong values

“He is so in tune with everything going on in the industry. He’s always informed. He’s going to read a lot, research a lot, and he’s going to understand the issues and the market. He’s going to be phenomenal because he doesn’t go in blind.”

—Millie Mejia, director of business operations & administration, Rechtien International Trucks

FTA’s Florida Truck News reaches more than 10,000 leaders in transportation throughout Florida and beyond. That makes advertising in Florida Truck News an excellent business decision.

If you want to reach this highly targeted and influential group of industry decisionmakers and ask them to consider purchasing your products or services, then you’ll want to place an ad in every edition of Florida Truck News .

Please

The Times They Are a Changin’

Common sense leads to recruiting female drivers

By Tra Williams Guest Writer

The first time I visited Washington D.C., I was in my late teens and filled with youthful rebellion. The pomp and circumstance of it all made me think of Bob Dylan’s lyrics, “Come senators, congressmen please heed the call. Don't stand in the doorway; don't block up the hall. For he that gets hurt will be he who has stalled.” I stood next to the Washington Monument and was underwhelmed. It felt blank and stale and boring. Over the days that followed, I became aware that no matter where was in the city, I could still see the Washington Monument, even when other icons were hidden from view. It pierced the horizon from every borough and served as a marker for orienting myself.

In my mind, what I had at first thought to be a boring, blank monolith grew into the benchmark by which measured everything else. I had simply stood too close to it at

“Women comprise only 13% of the transport and logistics industry. This means that among the 3.5 million commercial drivers in the U.S., less than half a million are female.”

—Tra Williams, president, FleetForce Truck Driving School

first to truly appreciate its significance. This happens to us all. When we are too close to something, we cannot fully perceive it, and we allow our inherent and unconscious biases to skew our perspective. won’t use the old forest for the trees adage, but the message rings true. Familiarity breeds complacency, and immersion eliminates perspective.

There are roughly 160 million people in the American workforce. Which means there are roughly 80 million females and 80 million males. However, women comprise only 13 percent of the transport and logistics industry. This means that among the 3.5 million commercial drivers in the U.S., less than half

continues

a million are female. This is not news; it has always been this way.

In fact, 13 percent is the highest level of female participation the industry has ever seen.

The quick math tells us that 79.5 million females in the American workforce either haven’t been attracted to or let into the industry. And logistics and transport aren’t the only trades with this disparity.

Today in America, women represent just 8 percent of electricians, 5 percent of linemen, and 3 percent of diesel mechanics. The homogeny of it is both reassuring and self-perpetuating. We are all immersed in it, so we don’t really notice it.

However, the landscape of workforce participation is evolving, and employers must evolve with it. We can’t sustainably eliminate half of the U.S. workforce and expect to meet our recruitment goals. I’m not

suggesting that any of us is consciously eliminating women based on their gender. What I am saying is that we have not effectively communicated the merits of this industry to everyone in the workforce. And that narrative has hamstrung our ability to attract, train, recruit, hire, and retain drivers. So, how do we change that narrative?

As with the Washington Monument, we must step back and see the opportunity for what is from every angle to truly appreciate its significance.

The male labor participation rate of prime working age, those age 25 to 54, is roughly 88 percent. Females comprise 75 percent. Among

those females who have children 17 years old or younger, 67 percent still participate in the workforce. That’s more than 22 million potential drivers who are mothers. So, the idea that women with children can’t or don’t work is just a myth. Also, you may not be aware of this, but the workforce participation rate for men has declined substantially since the 1960s. The decline has even begun to accelerate in recent years. As you might expect, the economic consequences of men’s nonparticipation in the labor force are dire.

From 1996 to 2016, the nonparticipation rate increased the most for younger men, those age 25 to 34. Each year, fewer and fewer men on the younger end of the prime working age spectrum are participating in the workforce. By 2029, participation rates of men are expected to decline the 2 percent. That may not sound like a lot, but it means 1.6 million fewer male workers. This does not bode well for recruitment within a growing, male-dominated industry.

Fortunately, female participation rates are expected to climb by 2 percent. In fact, participation rates in women of all ages are on the rise. More women are working, and they are working much later in life. This is exactly the type of trend that serves an

industry which appeals to those seeking a second or third career.

CDL training is short relative to other careers with similar entry-level compensation. I t varies greatly by lifestyle, accommodating virtually every preference in one way or another. And professional driving is not regional or seasonal. It is the great connector, the golden ticket. Anyone with a CDL license can move to just about any town in America and quickly find a job. As a result, many of those who were deemed unessential during the pandemic found a home behind the wheel, and millions of former desk-jockeys left their cubicle behind last year during the great resignation. Still, the number of CDL holders in

Florida has declined year-over-year. Ironically, our industry simultaneously took the blame for and benefited from the empty shelves brought on by pandemicinduced panic. People became aware of just how vital professional drivers are to our dayto-day lives. Some joined us; others still plan to. But to bring about the comfort they need to take that plunge, we need to mold the narrative. We need to embrace that the world isn’t what it was just two years ago. COVID changed everything. It opened the eyes of many who discovered their job stability was a house of cards. People of

ASK ABOUT THE FTA MEMBER DISCOUNT

Weigh station bypassing and toll payment solutions that save you time, money, and fuel. Trust PrePass — Over 700,000 truckers already have.

“Collectively, we need to recognize that stereotypes are inherently limiting and that the methods by which we once operated must evolve as the world evolves. Any employer who lacks the willingness to evolve will eventually go extinct.”

—Tra Williams, president, FleetForce Truck Driving School

all ages and genders are actively seeking empowerment to avoid that kind of liability in the future. And having a CDL license is true empowerment.

We have a landmark opportunity before us right now. An opportunity to tap into and leverage the shifting social fabric of our great nation. Millions upon millions of eager, female, aspiring drivers are knocking on our door. But we must open it…we have to let them in. Collectively, we need to recognize that stereotypes are inherently limiting and that the methods by which we once operated must evolve as the world evolves. Any employer who lacks the willingness to evolve will eventually go extinct.

Female job seekers represent the largest previously untapped recruitment opportunity for the transport industry. Each week, 1200 professional drivers retire. The ATA estimates that we need 1.1 million drivers in the next ten years. During that time, 1.6 million fewer men will be participating in the workforce. The answer to our driver shortage (at least in part) is obvious when you aren’t standing too close, when you aren’t immersed in it. When you step back and see it from every angle, the enormity of the opportunity becomes apparent. We must immediately and aggressively start recruiting female entry-level drivers. As Bob Dylan said, “Your old road is rapidly agin'. Please get out of the new one if you can't lend your hand for the times they are a-changin'.” FTN

"Anyone with a CDL license can move to just about any town in America and quickly find a job. As a result, many of those who were deemed unessential during the pandemic found a home behind the wheel, and millions of former desk-jockeys left their cubicle behind last year during the great resignation."

-—Tra Williams, president, FleetForce Truck Driving School

FTA’s 2022 Annual Conference

The Westin Cape Coral at Marina Village was sold out—with every room booked by members of FTA. The 2022 Annual Conference had record attendance, with top leaders in the industry taking to the lectern to share their knowledge.

The event began with our Golf Tournament, where teams gathered together at Palmetto Bay to network and outshine one another on the links. At the same time, early-birds gathered at Marina Village to fish. As members began to arrive in Cape Coral, they were able to attend committee meetings, a new program to engage and recruit members into their areas of expertise.

Dr. Bill Kanasky offered a special seminar on lawsuit abuse, sharing his knowledge on deposition and trial preparation, as the industry mobilizes to combat settlement mills and nuclear verdicts.

After FTA’s Board of Directors convened, first-time attendees got to know each other at their reception, hosted by Wabash of Florida and Netradyne, before moving on to the Chairman’s party on the lawn, overlooking the marina, hosted by Shelton Trucking and TenStreet. Frozen drinks, flip-flops and a live musician got members in the spirit of Annual Conference, with a laid-back atmosphere.

Friday started early with a full program. First up was American Trucking Associations’ President and CEO Chris Spear, who shared the industry’s recent successes, and reiterated the important role FTA has in the Federation. State agency partners FDOT Jared Perdue and FHP Troy Thompson and Jeff Dixon provided briefings on what the future holds for Florida.

As FTA members prepare for the 2023 legislative session, a panel imparted the importance of a multi-prong approach to moving positive growth in trucking by combining Politics + Public Relations. Moderated by Holly Brooks, ATA’s Bill Sullivan and Sue Hensley joined The Southern Group’s Chris Dudley on what FTA members can do to help.

Lunch was served and the crowd was thoroughly entertained by CEO of Stuckey’s, Stephanie Stuckey. She told the story of her multigenerational family business and how she bought the business back and has successfully rebranded and grown their famous pecan logs.

After Tra Williams presented FleetForce Truck Driving School’s scholarship, Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell, who brought his father-in-law (recently retired from driving for Publix Super Markets) provided Florida Department of Education’s plans

to continue to grow the state’s Workforce and the Talent Pipeline.

Wiley Deck from Plus updated membership on autonomous trucking and the regulatory landscape, before local state representative Bob Rommel spoke to the crowd.

Despite the long day, members, families and the Westin staff crowded into the ballroom for a standing-room only keynote by Governor Ron DeSantis, who joined FTA for the third conference in a row.

Members gathered for a casino night and enjoyed it so much staff started folding up tables before the crowd left for the evening. 2022 Annual Conference was bursting at the seams throughout the event—calling for extending the event to ensure committees can meet, leaders can present and members can network. Next year, we’re back to The Breakers in Palm Beach. We’ve got a lot of fun already planned, including adding an extra day and shifting the golf tournament to Saturday morning. But we don’t think you’ll mind—it is The Breakers, after all! Stay tuned for the hotel link—we anticipate selling out early and offering an overflow hotel. The word is out on our Annual Conference. People know this is the place to be in July. FTN

Miller presents outgoing Chair Scott Perry with his magazine cover Scott Perry with outgoing SMC Chair Laura Lamson

The Passing of the Gavel--Scott Perry hands the Chairmanship over to Carlos Currlin

Governor DeSantis with members of the Florida Road Team-Annual Conference

FTA Members at the Golf Tournament Mimosa Morning at the Pool during Annual Conference

Alix Miller and former FHP Chief Derek Barrs of HNTB at the first-timer reception

MOVES AND NEWS Update on people and places in FTA membership

FLEET ADVANTAGE

Fleet Advantage is Proud to Announce Three Female Leader Recipients of Supply & Demand Chain Executive’s 3rd Annual Women in Supply Chain Award

Award Honors Top Female Supply Chain Leaders and Executives Whose Accomplishments, Mentorship and Examples Set a Foundation for Women In All levels of a Company’s Supply Chain Network

Fleet Advantage, a leading innovator in truck fleet business analytics, equipment financing, and life cycle cost management (LCCM), announced today that Vice President of Marketing and Business Development, Katerina Jones, Senior Fleet Transaction Analyst and Project Manager, Jackie Jacobs, CLFP, and Marketing Manager, Elizabeth Gomez, were recipients of the Supply & Demand Chain Executive’s 2022 Women in Supply Chain Award.

Every year, the Women in Supply Chain Award honors female supply chain leaders and executives whose accomplishments, mentorship and examples set a foundation for women in all levels of a company’s supply chain network. This year’s list includes individuals across multiple industries, including trucking and transportation, who have all helped supply chain clients and the supply chain community at large prepare to meet many of today’s—and tomorrow’s—challenges.

WALPOLE INC.

Ryan Walpole, Director of Maintenance and Purchasing

Some people fall into trucking, and others grow up in it. As a fourth-generation “trucker” Ryan Walpole has spent his entire life caring deeply about trucking and wanting to see the industry succeed. But more than that, he wants people outside of the world of trucking to understand and care about it too. When he’s at work he’s the director of maintenance and purchasing for family-owned and -operated Walpole Inc., and when he’s not at work he’s proudly representing the industry.

He is a graduate of the American Trucking Associations’ LEAD class — a program designed to develop the next generation of trucking leadership, sits on the Martin County Metropolitan Planning Organization, and is actively involved in the Florida Trucking Association. He’s a board member, the founding member of the association’s 2.0 Leadership class — which supports emerging leaders in the industry, and serves as FTA’s vice president to the ATA.

Source: Originally published in Heavy Duty Trucking, Oct. 11, 2022, https://www.truckinginfo.com/10182982/ meet-the-2022-hdt-emerging-leaders

LAKE TRUCKING

Based on the performance of Lake Trucking Company’s freight transportation operations, EPA has named your company a 2022 SmartWay High Performer for the second year in a row. Lake is rated in the top 10 out of 4000 SmartWay members for 2022.

For the sixth year, EPA will publish a list of SmartWay High Performers, and I’m pleased that Lake Trucking Company made the list. A complete list of all 2022 SmartWay High Performers, and the criteria for making

The Business Growth Awards Program, presented by Cascade Capital Corporation, recognized TDI and the other honorees that have achieved superior growth in sales and/or employment over the past five years at the Business Growth Awards on October 18, 2022, at John S. Knight Center. All were also featured in a special editorial report in the October edition of Smart Business Northeast Ohio

$10,000 to Local Teachers

the list, are available on the SmartWay website: https://www.epa.gov/smartway/ smartway-high-performer-lists.

“We are working very hard to reduce our carbon footprint as a company. We have reduced it by 45 percent in the last 5 years. “– Ted Brozanski, owner, president/COO, Lake Trucking

You can view, print, and save your SmartWay High Performer Acknowledgement using the SmartWay Portal. You can login into the SmartWay Portal by going to https://app4. erg.com/smartwayweb/portal/login.cfm and entering the email address of your SmartWay Working Contact or Executive Contact and your company’s SmartWay ID: 01030524. For security purposes, enter the four-digit random number displayed into the empty box below it. The Working or Executive contact will receive an email from SmartWay with a secure link to the Partner Portal. Once you have logged into the SmartWay Portal, select the “High Performer Acknowledgement” option, which will display the document in your browser as a PDF file.

Again, congratulations. EPA commends Lake Trucking Company for its continued efforts as a SmartWay Partner and its contribution to a more efficient, productive, and sustainable freight industry.

If you have any questions or suggestions about SmartWay’s High Performer recognition, please contact Joann Jackson-Stephens at (734) 214-4276 or jackson-stephens.joann@epa.gov.

TOTAL DISTRIBUTION, INC.

TDI was recognized for the 2022 Family Business Achievement Award with the other honorees at the Family Business & Business Longevity Conference on September 29, 2022, and featured in a special editorial report in the September edition of Smart Business Northeast Ohio

“On behalf of Total Distribution, Inc, we are so grateful for all of our employees that have demonstrated their dedication and exceptional skills, and became part of our family,” said Doug Sibila. “Having such incredible employees is the key to the success of family-owned businesses. We are so honored to receive these awards.”

Douglas Sibila, a third-generation family member and President and CEO of TDI, has first-hand experience in knowing what it takes for a family business to become successful. In 1914, Ray Sibila purchased the company in Massillon, OH as a moving. Today, TDI operates in eight states, with 47 different warehouses dedicated to providing 3PL services that specialize in handling chemicals, plastics, food grade, and consumer goods. Throughout the years, the Sibila family has been active in many community services. Whether it is volunteering or sitting on boards in the community or in trade associations, they have had continuous representation and leadership roles in local development agencies for decades. These include the Stark Development Board Team NEO, The Massillon Development Foundation, American Trucking Association, Stark County Port Authority, Stark State College, The Boy Scouts of America and NEOTEC – just to name a few.

For more information, visit www.peoplesservices.com.

The start of a new school year brings excitement for students, parents, and teachers. But in the midst of the excitement, teachers usually themselves digging deep into their personal pockets to purchase classroom supplies.

Four State Freightliner’s mission statement specifies that the company has a responsibility to be good stewards and leaders. Recognizing the teachers’ need for assistance, Four Star Freightliner wanted to honor its commitment to the communities where its businesses are located which includes seven cities in three states.

Jerry Kocan Four Star Freightliner’s dealer principal, authorized the donation of more than $10,000 worth of gift cards to local teachers in school systems near Montgomery, Dothan, Valley, Ala., Albany, Valdosta, Tifton, Ga., and Midway, Fla. Forty-two teachers were selected in total, and each given a $250 gift card.

Kocan’s goal was to help local teachers and students, but to also honor educators in his own family that made an impact on so many people.

My wife’s grandfather, Stacey Hughes was a teacher and principal,_Kocan recalls. “His daughter and my mother-in-law, Bonnie Ely was an educator and so was my godmother, Charlotte Sirianni know the personal dedication that it takes in the way of time, resources, and their own money to supply their classrooms.”

Laura Hartley who is entering her 15th year of teaching, said she thankful for what she describes as “much needed help.

“School funding is always limited, and a lot of the expense of classroom supplies and cleaning products fall on the teachers and parents,” Hartley said. “Having this help from Four Star Freightliner will do so much with providing a safe, clean environment for the students along with the supplies they need to learn and enjoy learning.”

Total Distribution, Inc. (TDI) has been honored with a 2022 Business Growth Award and Family Business Achievement Award by Smart Business Magazine.

FOUR STAR FREIGHTLINER

Four

Teachers completed a form online and were randomly selected as winners. Four Star was also able to help teachers who have a personal connection to Four Star Freightliner. Visit us online at www.fourstarfreightliner.com.

USDOT Pete Buttigieg meets with FTA drivers after Hurricane Ian.

Star Freightliner Donates More than

Baley Fowler

Laura Hartley

Lynn Etheredge, Mary Beth Morris & Michelle Brooks

FTA’s 2022 Fall Round-Up

By FTA Staff

FTA’s 2022 Fall Round-Up in Lake Mary started earlier than usual, as veteran and potentially new Florida Road Team members were able to reconnect during the selection process. The group started on Monday afternoon at a local high school for a Share the Road presentation, and then were able to get to know one another during dinner at Tin & Taco.

The next morning started bright and early for presentations and a regulatory interview with FDOT’s Paul Clark and FHP’s Captain Amos Santiago The finalists were an impressive bunch—both in personality and commitment to safety. Just minutes after the final interview, managers and drivers were contacted to announce that all six finalists were invited to be a part of the 2022-2025 Florida Road Team. (Their names and bios are below.)

As members started to arrive for Fall RoundUp, the new 2.0 Leadership Class gathered

together under the helm of co-chairs Lori Ann Chaussinand of Pilot and Mike Wojcik of Oakley Transport. The record number of emerging leaders are an impressive and energetic group: Byron Hamilton (Pilot), Jennifer Levesque (Quality Carriers), Savanah Campioni (Florida East Coast Railway/Raven), Liliana Baquero Calvera (Quality Carriers), Bryan Nelson (Taylor Johnson PL), Caitlyn Salters (Exxact Transport), Josh Campbell (Ajax Paving), Joshua Schleicher (Walmart), Jessica Minaya (C.H. Robinson), Ryan Parker (Whitney Logistics), and Samantha Hauser (Quality Carriers).  Wednesday morning started with a hearty Southern breakfast, before Road Team members took part in an orientation and media training class. Meanwhile, attendees participated in both general and breakout sessions: Market Insights: Considerations and

Strategies for Today’s Market, Michael Moyski C.H. Robinson

Improving Your Security an Protection with Transportation Security, Inspectors, Department of Homeland Security Strategies and Best Practices for DataQs, Jay Whealton Exxact Transport

The Future of Florida: Truck Parking and Data Collection,  Paul Clark FDOT

FMCSA Q+A: Mickey Davis FMCSA

Fuel Briefing: Diesel and Alternative Fuels, Joe Butler Pilot Company Tort Reform Update, Alix Miller FTA President and CEO

FTA Preferred Partners presentation: AmFed and FleetForce Truck Driving School

Optimizing Replacement Cycles for Fleets, Brian McMahon Fleet Advantage

Wrapping up the event was a luncheon with a keynote address from state Representative David Smith (R-28). Before members departed, FTA honored the Florida Road Team members who are “retiring” from active duty, new members introduced, and the 2.0 Leadership Class was presented to membership.

The 2022-2025 Florida Road Team members:

• Michael Cherry with Walmart Transportation. Michael has driven 724,707 safe miles in his 9-year career with Walmart Transportation and has been a professional truck driver for a total of 28 years. He has served on the Accident Review Committee, and as a Driver Mentor for Walmart Transportation. Congratulations Michael.

• Sheldon Brown with FedEx Freight. Sheldon has been driving for FedEx Freight for 22 years and has been a professional truck driver for 33 years total. Sheldon finished first place in the 2022 Florida TDC Tank Truck class. Congratulations Sheldon.

• Chevelle Walker with Werner Enterprises. Chevelle has been a professional truck driver for over 20 years and has driven 1.4 million accident-free miles. Chevelle recently served as a Werner Enterprises Road Team Captain and Co-Leader of the Werner Advisory Committee. Congratulations Chevelle.

• Omar Stebbins with XPO Logistics. Omar has been driving for XPO Logistics for 18 years and has been a professional truck driver for 21 years total. Omar recently received the XPO Quarterly

Leadership Award and serves as a mentor for newly hired drivers. Congratulations Omar.

• Anthony Tirone with Walmart Transportation. Anthony has been driving for Walmart Transportation for 7 years and has been a professional truck driver for 25 years total. Anthony finished first place in the 2022 Florida TDC Sleeper class and first place in the Pre-Trip competition. Congratulations Anthony.

• Mihaly Ramirez with FedEx Freight. Mihaly has been driving for FedEx Freight for 24 years and has been a professional truck driver for 29 years total. Mihaly has received an Army Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, and an Army Achievement Medal. Mihaly also serves as a mentor for newly hired drivers. Congratulations Mihaly.

Leadership Class at Fall Round Up

The new Florida Road Team members Fall Round Up

Florida Road Team dinner during the selection process FRU

Rep. David Smith delivers the lunch keynote

Calendar of Events

6 Fauss Scholarship Application Online (due April 7)

ADVERTISING RESOURCE INDEX

7 Fla. Legislative Session Begins 10 TDC & Herman Fauss (registration online)

SAVE THE DATES

JULY

For more information on attendance registration, sponsorships, and more, please call (850) 222-9900 or visit floridatrucking.org

Welcome, New FTA Members

This publication was made possible with the support of these corporate advertisers. They support the trucking industry by enabling FTA to provide this publication to its member, prospective members, elected officials and Florida’s business community at large. They deserve your consideration and patronage when making your corporate purchasing decisions.

Please visit floridatrucking.org to see the digital version of Florida Truck News with live weblinks and nifty sound effects.

RELIABLE. REVVED UP. READY TO GO

Downtime is a luxury you don’t have. We keep everyone moving forward and we don’t take that responsibility lightly. That’s why we have trained personnel, top-notch parts and service departments and the best brands in trucks ready to hit the road. And moving forward.