Alabama Trucker, 4th Quarter 2015

Officers Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Greg Brown Vice Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gary Bond Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bruce MacDonald Immediate Past Chairman . . .Wayne Watkins

ATA Board of Directors I

Steve Aronhalt, Dennis Bailey, Rhonda Bees, Joe Black, Gary Bond, Jack Brim, Will Bruser, Mike Callahan, Dan Carmichael, Fenn Church, Mark Coffman, Jeff Coleman, John Collier, Rodger Collins, Driscoll Colquett, Brent Cook, Gail Cooper, Al Cox, Jerry Davis, Ranny Davis, Amy DeFee, Joe Donald, Edmund Doss, Mack Dove, Russ Elrod, Dean Flint, Will Forbes, Jack Fricks, Beau Holmes, Terry Kilpatrick, Jason King, Susan Kirkpatrick, Mark Knotts, Jerry Kocan, Drew Linn, Hunter Lyons, Bart McCrory, Jeff McGrady, Barry McGriff, Tom McLeod, Buck Moore, E.H. Moore, Jr., Ross Neely, Jr., Tommy Neely, Butch Owens, Clay Palm, Mike Pursley, Kevin Savoy, Bill Scruggs, Danny Smith, Harold Sorrells, Ronnie Stephenson, Steve Stinson, Paul Storey, Harold Sumerford, Jr., John Summerford, James Suttles, Bill Ward, Scott White, David Wildberger, Skip Williams, T.J. Willings, Keith Wise.

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Published quarterly by the Alabama Trucking Assn., P.O. Box 242337, Montgomery, AL 36124-2337.

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ATA’s Safety & Maintenance Management Council held two roadside inspections in October — one at the rest area off I-20/59 near Tuscaloosa, and another at the rest area on Hwy. 231 near Ozark. According to ATA Director of Safety Tim Frazier, between the two events, more than 45 commercial vehicles were subjected to Level 1 inspections conducted by troopers from ALEA’s Motor Carrier Safety Unit with assistance from SMMC members.

Classic Continues its Winning Ways

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Playing a round of golf rarely has had such implications for the state’s trucking community, but Alabama Trucking Association’s only regular political fundraiser is now considered a major financial source for the Association’s political action committee. This time around, ATA’s annual golf tournament raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars for the election of pro-business candidates.

Combating Cargo Theft: What You Can Do

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As the North American shipping and transportation industry is currently in the middle of its busiest time of the year – the run up to the holiday season (late September through January) – it’s also time to consider how to best protect your freight. By observing a few fundamentals of logistics security, supply chain pro-

ATA WCSIF Staff Kimble Coaker, CEO & Fund Administrator Don Boatright, COO Don Anchors, Director of Loss Control & Safety Todd Hager, Director of Claims Debra Calhoun, Office Manager Michael Smith, Loss Control Engineer Victor Whatley, Loss Control Engineer Duane Calhoun, CDS, Loss Control Engineer Kimberly Best, Payroll/Audit Coordinator Kim Campbell, Underwriting Coordinator Katie Edwards, Accounting Specialist Kim Sims, Administrative Assistant

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ON THE COVER: SMMC Roadside Inspections

ATA Staff J. Frank Filgo, CAE, President & CEO Tim Frazier, CDS, Director of Safety & Member Services Jane Nixon, Executive Assistant Lynn Thornton, Bookkeeper Ford Boswell, Director of Communications Brandie Norcross, Administrative Assistant

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fessionals can minimize the risk.

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E P A R T M E N T S

President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Safety Insights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SMMC Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Trucking News Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Buyers’ Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 ATA Events and New Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

ADVERTISING RATES: Quoted upon request.

Alabama Trucking Association 334-834-3983 • www.alabamatrucking.org A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2015

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From the President

Measuring Your Dues Investment ROI Frank Filgo, CAE President and CEO Alabama Trucking Association

‘As many as 673 companies have made a dues investment in the Alabama Trucking Association. The mission at ATA is to ensure that its member companies yield a prosperous return.’

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rucking fleet owners always keep a keen eye on their business’ bottom line. One frequently used measurement of performance is the Return on Investment (ROI), which quantifies the amount of return on investment relative to the investment’s cost. Companies with a high ROI are those that have made wise and profitable business decisions.

As we close out the 2015 calendar year, I am pleased to inform you that your 2015 ATA member dues investment yielded an above average ROI. ATA members’ dues are determined by a company’s annual revenue. Dues range from as little as $500 to $3,000 per annum for domiciled motor carriers. Regardless of the amount of your company’s ATA annual dues, members experienced a high ROI. Your 2015 ATA membership dues investment costs produced the following gains: —ATA settled its suit against the Dept. of Revenue which replaced the MSRP with a fair market price for assessment of property taxes of newly purchased vehicles. Your savings: $383 per new truck purchased.

—Based on member complaints, ATA alerted the Dept. of Revenue as to its incorrect valuation of used trailers resulting in the recalculation of 2015 property taxes to acquire permanent trailer tags. Savings: $13

per trailer.

—During the 2015 Legislative Sessions, ATA was able to carve out interstate motor carriers from the 2 percent increase in sales tax for vehicles. Savings: $2,600 based on the purchase of a new truck value of $130,000.

—ATA opposed the bill increasing the vehicle lease tax from 1.5 to 2 percent. Savings: $125 per truck.

The 2015 increases follow the benefits realized from another court suit won in 2014 which apportioned the property taxes on trucks resulting in a $400 gain per truck.

These gains are to be realized on a reoccurring annual basis.

Accordingly, for a $1,200 ATA membership dues investment, a carrier consisting of 59 trucks with a 4-year trade cycle running permanent tags gained $62,481 FY2015.

Gains for FY2014 were $23,600.

As many as 673 companies have made a dues investment in the Alabama Trucking Association. The mission at ATA is to ensure that its member companies yield a prosperous return.

Bottom line: Your support of the Alabama Trucking Association is a sound business venture.

Thanks for your support of your Alabama Trucking Association.

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2015

Classic Stays on Par With continued support from its leadership board and at-large members, the Alabama Trucking Association’s annual golf tournament raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars for the election of pro-business candidates.

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By Ford Boswell

PRATTVILLE, Ala. uring the past decade, the Alabama Trucking Association’s annual golf tournament has become a powerful fundraising vehicle for the state’s trucking industry.

Proceeds from the tournament, along with voluntary donations from various ATA members, have routinely refunded ATA’s million dollar PAC, consistently ranking it among the state’s largest political committees.

Tom McLeod of McLeod Software

‘Members of the Alabama Trucking Association have worked long and hard to fund a million dollar PAC, one that fittingly signifies the importance of our industry sector in Alabama.’

—ATA President Frank Filgo

Playing a round of golf rarely has had such implications for the state’s trucking community, but ATA’s only regular political fundraiser is now considered a major financial source for the Association’s political action committee.

By the Numbers Since the tournament’s fundraising structure was changed in 2010, the Association has enjoyed incredible growth for the oneday event, raising record totals and hosting more players with each passing year. Following that trend, this year’s tournament stayed on par with the previous year earning nearly $223,000 and attracting more than 300 golfers. Once again, McLeod Software served as the Presidential Sponsor with its donation of $15,000. The Birminghambased software provider has been the event’s most consistent and generous participant, signing on as the tournament’s marquee sponsor for four of the last six tournaments.

During the restructuring process, McLeod president and founder Tom McLeod was an immediate supporter, pledging his firm’s support at the highest level. Since then, participation for the event has increased each year, largely due to McLeod’s lead.

Golf Classic Chairman Danny Smith of United Parcel Service said McLeod’s support of the event through the years has served as the main catalyst for growth, and

From left, ATA Chairman Greg Brown (B.R. Williams Trucking, Inc.), ATA President Frank Filgo, Tom McLeod (McLeod Software) and golf tournament chairman Danny Smith (UPS) share a laugh prior to the tournament’s start.

this year was no exception. “We are very appreciative of McLeod Software for their role as the Presidential Sponsor of the 2015 Classic,” Smith said. “This marks the fourth year that McLeod Software has been our premier sponsor. It’s nice to know that Tom’s support is there. He and his staff always come through for the trucking industry. I am grateful for his leadership and dedication to this Association. He deserves a lot of credit for making this event a success.”

According to ATA officials, this year eclipsed all previous ones in terms of money

raised and membership participation. Due to the size of the player roster, and a few new added services to improve the tournament experience for golfers, expenses were up slightly this year. Thus, the net amount for TRUK PAC was down slightly over last year. Still, if taken in context with previous years, the tournament is poised to continue its growth trend, ATA officials contend.

“Our final revenue total was nearly $223,000, which after expenses netted our PAC more than $170,000,” Smith said.

According to Smith, there were 119

trucking related firms that sponsored this year’s event and 330 golfers taking up all three courses at the Robert Trent Jones Capitol Hill. “I have to admit, watching that many golfers line up in carts for a shotgun start is pretty satisfying,” he said. “Because of our membership’s support and leadership, our Association has one of the strongest PACs in the state. That kind of clout has helped our efforts to express our concerns and needs in Montgomery.”

Other major sponsors were ATA Workers’ Comp Fund, which provided lunch and catering and hospitality for the 19th Hole Party; Action Resources (practice putting green); B.R. Williams Trucking Co., J&M Tank Lines, Watkins Trucking Co.; and Wiley Sanders Truck Lines co-sponsored the Closest to the Pin contests on each course; Truckworx Kenworth (Straightest Drive contests); Southland International Trucks (Longest Drive contests); Benny Whitehead, Inc. (Hole-in-One contests); Marmon Highway Technologies (driving range); Gulf City Body & Trailer Works (Longest Putt contests); and Boyd Bros. Transportation (Longest Drive contest).

Additionally, this year’s tournament had 50 $2,000 sponsors; 45 $1,000 sponsors; and 11 $500 sponsors. See the entire list below.

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What it All Means ATA president and CEO Frank Filgo said the ATA Golf Classic is a tremendous vehicle for Alabama truckers to influence state government for sound industry regulation.

For example, during the 2014 elections, TRUCK PAC spent more than $1 million supporting selected candidates for statewide offices and state legislative district seats.

Eighty-four cents out of every dollar spent went to winners, which included endorsed candidates for Governor, Lt. Governor, and a pair of seats on the State Supreme Court.

In State Senate contests, TRUK PAC supported candidates won 25 seats, and lost only two. In the House, ATA-backed candidates won 48 seats, and lost nine.

“Members of the Alabama Trucking Association have worked long and hard to fund a million dollar PAC, one that fittingly signifies the importance of our industry sector in Alabama,” Filgo said.

“That goal was accomplished largely through the success of our golf fundraiser, and the PAC trustees judiciously spent its funds to affect election results and build political influence. Consequently, our industry and this Association are better positioned to advocate sound transportation

policies to maintain a safe, responsible and efficient Alabama transportation goods movement system.”

Strong Support Classic Chairman Smith said that producing a successful event of this magnitude takes coordination and support from all levels of the Association. “I want to thank every single sponsor, their employees, the ATA staff, all the golfers, and, of course, my tournament finance committee,” Smith said. “Those guys did an outstanding job.”

Tournament finance committee members were Joe Black of McGriff Tire Co.; Gary Bond, BancorpSouth Equipment Finance; ATA Chairman of the Board Greg Brown of B.R. Williams Trucking; Jack Brim of B.R. Williams Trucking; Will Bruser of Truckworx/Kenworth; Fenn Church of Church Transportation & Logistics; John Collier of Transport Trailer Center; Hunter Lyons of Gulf City Body & Trailer Works; Wayne Watkins of Watkins Trucking Co.; and Keith Wise of R.E. Garrison Trucking.

Next year’s Golf Classic is set for September 27, 2016 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Capitol Hill Courses.

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2015

COMBATTING CARGO THEFT: THE BEST

By Eric Kready s the North American shipping and transportation industry is currently in the middle of its busiest time of the year – the run up to the holiday season (late September through January) – it’s also time to consider how to best protect your freight.

Thieves know that the increased activity can distract shippers and carriers enough to let their guard down when it comes to preventing cargo thefts. For example, in the last quarter of 2013, there were 242 reported incidents, and the greatest number of those happened in late September, just before the beginning of the holiday shipping season.

Additionally, the U.S. has experienced a significant rise in driver theft incidents, which involve either direct theft by the driver, the driver’s voluntary collusion or complicity in the crime, or a deceptive criminal posing as a legitimate carrier resource. Typically a crime of opportunity, thefts by drivers fluctuate in volume year-toyear. However, this method reached an all-time high in 2013, with a 76 percent increase over 2012 and a 389 percent increase over 2011.

This growing trend warrants acute awareness as the shipping industry enters its peak season.

The last four months of the calendar year frequently infuse the most risk, often brought about by the supply and demand imparted on transportation operations. Limitations on available carriers regularly necessitate brokering (as well as re-brokering to the second, third, and sometimes fourth order). Additionally, high-volume requirements

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(both in production and shipping) strain workers throughout the supply chain to meet the demands of customers and end-users. This pressure often results in security practices being overlooked or sometimes avoided altogether. By observing the following ten fundamentals of logistics security, supply chain professionals can minimize their chances of falling victim to this growing threat.

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BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS Driver turnover continues to be an enormous vulnerability in the supply chain, ranging from 90-130 percent quarterly for the past several years. This fact introduces a considerable amount of risk into the supply chain since carriers do not always have a true sense of their drivers’ skill and integrity, and shippers do not always have a true awareness of who is actually transporting their product. Shippers are strongly encouraged to conduct due-diligence initiatives when sourcing their transportation requirements, as well as to perform thorough background investigations on anyone involved with product during the shipping process. Collusion remains a significant threat. Screening employees and ensuring that the employees of all related supply chain partners have a similar policy in place is essential. Furthermore, fictitious pickups continue to be a growing threat. The frequency of fictitious pickA LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2015

PROTECTION IS COMMON SENSE ups increased sharply from 2011 to 2012, remained relatively constant in 2013, yet has resumed a steep upward path during the first two quarters of 2014. In the U.S., 26 fictitious pick-ups have already been reported this year, totaling over $3.5 million in lost cargo. Forty percent of these incidents targeted electronics and apparel. These low-risk, highreward incidents continue to be relatively easy (for the criminal) to organize, while becoming increasingly painful for enterprises to endure.

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FACILITY PREPAREDNESS Due to the high volume of product stored in single locations, warehouse burglaries are typically the largest value incidents. Simple, yet effective measures should be taken to ensure efficient security at all facilities. Perimeter security must have several layers to prevent invasion (e.g., electronic fence, sensors, alarms, cameras, and sometimes even dogs). A sufficient number of security guards who follow a consistent and effective security plan should also be present. Panic buttons and security guards should strategically be distributed around the property.

At least three means of communications should be set up for emergency response (i.e., phone, radio, and panic button). Closed-circuit television (CCTV) or a comparable visual recording system with images monitored and stored inside and outside the premises should be A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2015

installed, and records should be maintained for at least 60 days. The number of employees who have access to shipping information should be limited. Routine inspections (both internally-conducted unannounced monthly inspections and externally-supported annual audits) will deter complacency and recognize emerging vulnerabilities.

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SECURITY AWARENESS TRAINING In the unfortunate event of a theft, time is of the essence. During a recent cargo theft incident, a driver of the stolen load stated that he had recently received cargo security awareness training and that, because of this training, he knew what immediate actions to take.

The driver’s response, both in promptness and method, greatly contributed to the successful recovery of the untampered cargo. Security awareness training should be extended to all personnel in the supply chain who have either direct or indirect contact with the commodity, including personnel who support the transport of the commodity to the end user.

Moreover, driver awareness is imperative. Drivers are the first level of defense in the fight against cargo crime. They must be equipped with knowledge of possible threats, best practices to countermand those threats, any actions taken by the shipper and transporter to ensure the 9

safety and security of the driver and the cargo, and the expectations of all involved with respect to said procedures. Ownership and driver buyin is paramount to a successful cargo transport.

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KEEP CURRENT ON THEFT TRENDS, HOT SPOT LOCATIONS, AND THE PRODUCTS MOST STOLEN Shippers and carriers alike must remain cognizant of threat trends pertaining to cargo theft. For example, cargo theft is prevalent over weekends (Friday evening until Monday morning), often occurs during hours of limited visibility, and surges with seasonal fluctuation.

Shippers and carriers must also maintain awareness of high threat areas, not necessarily to avoid them but rather to ensure security protocols are adjusted to meet those threats. These areas include, but are not limited to: southern California, central Texas, northern Illinois, southern Florida, and the mid-Atlantic region (south of the New England states).

Supply chain professionals should also stay attuned to theft trends across commodities in order to make informed decisions during their risk-analysis process.

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HOLIDAY AWARENESS Holiday weekends historically show an increase in cargo theft risks for transportation companies, shippers, and manufacturers across commodity types. Organized theft rings are active and understand that holiday weekends mean more shipments are left unattended for extended periods of time. In order to mitigate criminals’ attempts to exploit cargo at rest, shippers should ensure that the receiver’s hours of operation for the holiday weekend are consistent with scheduled delivery times.

If delivery without delay cannot be synchronized, drivers should follow best security practices for staged cargo including: cargo not being left unattended, use of a secure lot or authorized location for staging, use of well-lit public areas, and the use of active surveillance equipment. Facilities should also exercise increased attention during this period by adding extra security patrols, confirming that all emergency contact information is up-to-date, and inspecting that physical security equipment such as fencing, lighting, and barriers are in good working order.

Statistically, no time is more vulnerable to cargo theft than an extended holiday weekend.

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IN-TRANSIT SECURITY POLICY Perfect practice makes perfect performance. In-transit security procedures will vary based on commodity, location, weather, etc., but all contain commonalities. Policies should acknowledge highthreat areas and no-stop zones, actions required by the shipper and 10

the transporter throughout the duration of the shipment, actions to take or countermeasures to employ during a suspected or actual threat event, and contingency plans to respond to mechanical difficulty or required route deviations. Careful analysis must be applied to the enterprise’s logistics footprint in order to determine the most feasible and applicable in-transit security policy.

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REDUCING THE TIME LOADS ARE LEFT UNATTENDED Cargo at rest is cargo at risk. Almost 90 percent of cargo theft in the United States in the past 12 months has occurred at an unsecured or unattended location away from the origin. Truck stops dominate this scene as truckers tend to utilize them to take extended rests, nourishment, and hygiene breaks, often leaving their loads unattended for hours at a time.

To combat this, team drivers should be used and the in-transit security policy should stipulate that one driver must remain with the conveyance at all times through to delivery. Additionally, drivers should practice situational awareness (whether a team or solo driver is used) by parking in well-lit areas with CCTV or other video coverage, parking with the back of the trailer against a permanent object such as a building, and avoiding high-threat staging areas with no perimeter security or active over-watch. Locks and seals are essential ingredients for success as well.

A surprising amount of cargo is transported without the use of locks or seals on the container. This absence makes it inviting for criminals who roam truck stops looking for easy opportunities.

Highly-stolen commodities, such as food and beverages, often lack these simple security riggings making pilferage a quick and lucrative option. Additionally, transporters should ensure that tractors employ sound locking practices such as air brake locks, electrical/fuel cutoff switches, and steering wheel locks.

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ROUTE AND LANE VARIATION Organized cargo thieves are smart, methodical, and patient. They invest time in planning—a key part of their planning is surveillance.

When a shipper develops a routine such as shipping the same product on the same day of every week, to the same destination, following the same route, it makes the criminal’s task extremely easy.

The criminal has already determined his targeted commodity—he only needs to choose the location where he will steal it. And, truckers have their favorite rest stops. So the routine shipment on the same lane on the same day every week that now stops at the same truck stop for the same duration practically completes the planning process for the criminal. Lane and shipping schedule variance is critical.

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2015

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ASSISTED-GPS COVERT TRACKING TECHNOLOGY EMBEDDED IN CARGO Electronic Freight Security (EFS) is a dynamic tool that allows a shipper to maintain full visibility of the cargo for the duration of the shipment.

As a complete virtual escort, this low-cost solution removes the vulnerabilities associated with human-based escorts, while significantly increasing the chances of recovery in the unfortunate event of a theft. Proper EFS programs include pre-determined routes with immediate escalation protocols to ensure maximum compliance and security of the driver and cargo. Compliance to security protocols is critical. Immediate response and resolution to non-compliance incidents reduces opportunities for theft.

When referencing an EFS program or best practices for in-transit cargo security, the term “covert” should not infer that the driver, transporter, or shipper is unaware of the tracking unit. In order for these to be synchronized, all must be aware of the facets involved, as well as the expectations for each in order to push performance to perfection. Compliance is the Achilles’ heel of intransit cargo security.

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LAYERED APPROACH A Security-In-Depth (SID) or Defense-In-Depth (DID) approach is paramount to thwarting cargo theft. SID or DID ensures layered and complementary security controls are sufficient to deter, detect, and document unauthorized procurement of cargo. The three integral and synchronized pieces are as follows: l People: Supply chain security management with compliance in every aspect l Procedures: Co-exist with efficiencies to ensure on-time arrival and cost effectiveness l Technology: Global GPS tracking devices, RFID, e-Seals, tracking and monitoring platforms Crime will never be eradicated. Thus, cargo theft will likely remain a low-risk source of income for criminals. The first rule of security is to be a harder target than those in comparable situations.

Logisticians, Transporters, and Security Professionals can combat threats by taking a proactive approach to cargo security.

Awareness of the threat is integral, and exercising proper due diligence when sourcing and/or employing all participants in the supply chain is essential. In addition, ensuring that all participants in the supply chain comply with industry best practices is paramount. The organized criminal dedicates an inordinate amount of time to surveillance, preparation, and rehearsals; we must dedicate similar or more resources to proactively combat this ever-growing threat.

Eric Kready is an intelligence manager for FreightWatch International Supply Chain Intelligence Center.

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2015

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Highway funding might be Alabama’s

By Tim Lockette ike most of his neighbors, Cleburne County Commissioner Emmett Owen spends a lot of time on the road.

Owen drives to Georgia every weekday to get to his day job, not an uncommon experience in this rural county. If he gets sick he might head the other way, to Calhoun County, where the hospitals are. If there’s something he can’t buy in Heflin — population 3,500 – Oxford is the next stop.

Hundreds of miles of road, paved and unpaved, connect the 15,000 people spread across this hilly rural county. Every year Owen and his commission colleagues have enough money to repave about five miles of highway.

“Five hundred thousand dollars sounds like a lot if you compare it to what you make at your job, or the cost of your house,” Owen said. “It doesn’t buy a whole lot of road.”

Cleburne County commissioners earlier this year considered asking Alabama lawmakers to approve a 5-cent-per gallon county gas tax to help them catch up on road repairs. The county’s road department runs at half to three-fourths of the staff it once had, and county staff earlier this year said it would take 66 years to resurface all roads at their current pace.

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Cleburne County isn’t alone. Local governments across the country are in a bind because of dwindling revenue from the gas taxes that pay for road repair. That could soon have Alabama lawmakers once again in a snarl over tax hikes and budget gaps.

Shrinking revenue For decades Alabama – like the federal government and nearly every state in the country – has paid for road projects with a per-gallon tax on gas. Think of it as a user fee: if all cars got 18 miles to the gallon, and every gallon came with 18 cents in tax, you’d pay a penny for every mile of road you actually use.

But cars are a lot more efficient than they used to be. According to the EPA, the average car got about 24 miles per gallon in 2013, compared to about 20 mpg two decades earlier.

Meanwhile, Alabama’s gas tax is in fact 18 cents per gallon — 16 cents for road repairs and a 2-cent-per gallon pump inspection fee. And the tax to pay for road repairs has been the same since the early 1990s.

The cost of building roads, from construction crew salaries to the price of asphalt, has gone up.

“Our revenues have been flat since 2005,” said Tony Harris, a spokesman for

the Alabama Department of Transportation.

“If you factor inflation in, we actually have less money.”

The federal government does help states with road costs, but they’re in the same bind. The 18.4 cent-per-gallon federal gas tax hasn’t increased in more than 20 years, and Congress is at odds over how to pay for roads. A temporary operating bill for the Federal Highway Fund expired Oct. 29; federal officials have said that without Congressional action, the fund will run out of money sometime next year.

Rep. Mac McCutcheon, R-Huntsville, pushed last year for a bill that would have added five cents per gallon to the gas tax, with a formula that would have allowed a two-cent increase every year under certain conditions. The bill made it out of a state House committee last month, but never reached the House floor.

McCutcheon claims he had enough votes to give the bill a realistic chance of passing, but lawmakers were too busy debating another budget crisis: a $200-million-plus gap in the state’s General Fund budget, which they plugged with taxes and transfers of other money, after months of conflict.

McCutcheon said he plans to bring the bill back, with some revisions, when lawmakers meet again in a few months. He plans to begin traveling the state to pitch A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2015

next big budget fight

the bill next month.

“We’re at a really serious point right not when it comes to the roads,” he said. “We can’t keep going with 1992 revenues.”

The bill could face a hard fight in the Legislature. Some lawmakers are still taking bruises for their vote in September for a $60 million cigarette tax to shore up the General Fund. Others fought tax increases this year and don’t plan to start next year.

“I’m against all tax increases,” said Rep. Ed Henry, R-Hartselle. “It’s simple.”

Asked how the state will pay for roads without it, Henry said there was waste that could be cut.

“I’d say they have plenty of money,” he said. “They just don’t manage it well.”

Strange bedfellows One way ALDOT is managing the revenue problem, Harris said, is by cutting back sharply on the amount of money spent on new road construction.

“We’re moving toward a maintenanceonly program for the first time in our history,” he said.

But what about those bridge-repair projects state officials have been touting in recent years? Stephen Stetson, a policy analyst for Alabama Arise, said many of those projects are paid for through a federal program A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2015

that lets states issue bonds and pay them back with federal highway money.

“It looks good now, but we’re borrowing against future highway funds,” Stetson said.

Arise is a group that advocates for people in poverty, and Stetson said the group would normally oppose an increase to a tax paid by virtually everybody. Several years ago, though, Arise began working to overturn a state constitutional amendment that bans Alabama’s government from spending money on bus systems.

County commissioners across the state opposed the move, Stetson said. They agreed that poor people needed public transportation, but weren’t willing to let go of their shrinking road-repair dollars. The group decided more road money was the best answer.

“It’s weird, in my experience, to see public transit activists on the same side as the Roadbuilders Association, but that’s where we are on this,” he said.

The Alabama Trucking Association spoke against the gas tax hike in House committee last month. But ATA president Frank Filgo said the group had a problem only with the amount of the increase.

“It’s almost like it’s now or never. We’ve got to find a way to fund our roads,” Filgo said.

He said the ATA supports an 11 cent in-

crease in the tax, but opposed last month’s tax bill because it didn’t have a cap, and would have allowed the gas tax to quickly grow to 60 cents per gallon.

Filgo said fuel is the second largest business cost for ATA’s members, behind the cost of salaries for drivers. Still, he said, the state needs good roads to remain competitive.

McCutcheon said Friday that when he brings the gas tax bill back, it will have that 11-cent cap.

“We’ll probably do 5 cents the first year, and then 3 cents the next and another three cents the next,” he said.

Proponents of the tax acknowledge that it will be a hard thing to sell to the public.

“The price of gas is one thing that’s right there in your face every time you stop to fill up,” Stetson said.

Owen, the Cleburne County commissioner, said he thinks his constituents understand the need for better roads – and he thinks they’d adjust to higher prices soon enough.

“You don’t see rioting in the streets when gas goes up from $2.50 to $3.50,” he said.

“And all that money’s going overseas.”

Tim Lockette is a reporter for the Anniston Star.

Contact him at 256-294-4193 or follow on Twitter @TLockette_Star. This article appears courtesy of the Anniston Star. Visit www.annistonstar.com for more information.

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SAFETY & MAINTENANCE Safety Insights

Protect Our Image H

Tim Frazier, CDS ATA Director of Safety and Member Services

‘…while our industry can in no way compete financially with these characters for advertisement space, we can do our part in not providing them ammunition to be used against us.’

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ow many different advertisements have you seen lately that put a negative light on our industry? From advertising billboards up and down our highways to television spots using terms like “Killer Trucks,” “Monster Trucks,” or “Behemoths,” it’s needless to say the bull’s eye is set on our industry.

There are those who seek to cause us harm strictly for financial gain. And while our industry can in no way compete financially with these characters for advertisement space, we can do our part in not providing them ammunition to be used against us. While the majority of their negative claims against our industry are false, one bad apple can cause an avalanche of bad publicity.

Though it often feels as if the playing field is not fair regarding commercial motor vehicles (CMV) and your everyday motorists, our regulatory environment is of a higher standard. Statistics tell us that more than 70 percent of all two-vehicle collisions involving a CMV and a smaller vehicle, the driver of the smaller vehicle is usually at fault. Knowing this fact can often times provide a false sense of hope in dealing with these characters providing all the negative hype. Their goal is to try and prove we’re somehow responsible, therefore they go for the big insurance policies.

So how do we combat this negative publicity in an effective way? Allow me to provide a few points in three areas that might prove useful as we try and ward off the vultures.

Hiring: In our world of a growing driver shortage, we must be sure our hiring process is in order. If we’re not careful, the demand to fill trucks can overpower our practice of hiring qualified professionals. When I visit carriers and see a large number of empty trucks, I get a little concerned regarding their hiring practices. While empty trucks don’t produce revenue, a dangerous driver (as identified by our opponents) hired just to fill a seat can cause tremendous difficulties. Whether we are hiring a 20-year veteran or a student driver, the adequacy of the company’s hiring practice is an area that

needs to be thorough and consistent. These billboard characters will scrutinize what you did or didn’t do before you put the driver on the road with the motoring public. You never want to hear “you knew or should have known” the driver’s unfitness.

Supervision: Once a driver is on the road and performing his/her daily tasks, are they supervised in a proficient manner? In an industry that by nature allows our drivers to be out of sight most of the time, do we monitor the necessary areas to see that our drivers are performing per our standards and expectations? If the criterion a company has in place is not being adhered to, or if regulatory compliance is not being followed, do we have the measures in place for corrective action? In this area you don’t want to hear the phrase “you failed to monitor, correct, or train the driver in question.”

Retention: Considering again the shortage of drivers, if we are not very careful and following our guidelines, we may hang on too long to an individual that could cause us harm. While most carriers have in place clear guidelines regarding failure to comply with regulations, do we sometimes get slack regarding our company guidelines?

Have occurrences been adding up regarding a specific individual and have they been allowed to stay too long because we can’t afford to let them go? Or even worse, has the driver had several infractions and no corrective action, remedial training, reassignment, or other means taken place to correct behavior?

If you as a carrier have become aware or should have been aware that the driver in question has become unfit to drive, this paints a negative picture for your operation and our industry should a bad event occur.

In our world today, anyone can sue anybody for what appears anything. While these billboard characters are looking for any opportunity or loophole against our industry, let’s be sure we are not negligently providing them with ammunition. Though some choose to prey on specific targets, let’s take the high road by being proactive and promoting a professional image.

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2015

MANAGEMENT COUNCIL NEWS National ATA honors industry’s safest fleets On November 7, American Trucking Associations announced the winners of the 2015 Excellence in Trucking Security Award and the 2015 Excellence in Trucking Claims and Loss Prevention Award. The awards are the only nationally-recognized awards of their kind in the trucking industry and were presented at the ATA Safety Management Council and Transportation Security Council’s Safety, Security and Human Resources National Conference in Little Rock, Ark. ABF Freight System, a less-than-truckload carrier based in Fort Smith, Ark., took home the 2015 Excellence in Trucking Security Award. Each year, carriers applying for consideration under this award’s guidelines are evaluated based upon the extent and effectiveness of their security programs, such as security policies, procedures, training, and record.

ABF Freight Systems’ impressive data set for 2014 included a 12 percent reduction in the year over year cargo theft ratio and no incidents of full-load cargo theft.

The Excellence in Claims and Loss Prevention Award recognizes the extent and effectiveness of carrier’s freight claims and loss prevention programs – such as policies, procedures, training, and claims experience. The award goes to one truckload and one lessthan-truckload carrier.

This year, The Excellence in Claims and Loss Prevention Award for a less-than-truckload carrier went to Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc., of Thomasville, N.C. Their staff of 21 in claims, 10 in loss prevention, 6 in security and 5 in clerical support, along with a robust training program, kept the number of claims filed and paid versus total shipments and claims paid steady to declining over the review period. Equally impressive is their 5 percent increase in the number of claims solved in 30 days or less.

Roehl Transport of Marshfield, Wis. took home the Excellence in Claims and Loss Prevention Award for a truckload carrier. They boasted an impressive 17 percent increase in the number of claims solved in 30 days or less. Roehl Transports’ staff of 4 in claims, 2 in loss prevention, 2 in security and 1 in clerical support, along with a robust training program, resulted in a 10 percent drop in year over year claims paid and a 39 percent year over year decrease in the net claim amount paid.

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2015

Driver Med Care Merger: ‘Planning Ahead Is Key’

By Bob Rose The CDL/Fed Med card merger and the process to be medically certified to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) is still experiencing some bumpy roads, and not only for motor carriers. Some drivers, medical examiners, and even some states are still having problems with the process. While these problems are getting worked on to make this renewal process smoother, there are some planning steps the motor carrier can take to ensure their operation is not interrupted.

The first step a proactive carrier can take is to send drivers in for their physicals as early as possible. This will be very helpful to all parties concerned if the information the state has on file expires. If a problem with records appears, corrections can be made before the old information expires. Keep in mind, once information expires, the driver is considered medically unqualified.

If need be, instruct your driver to “hand deliver” the new medical card to the licensing agency immediately upon leaving the examining location. Have the driver get a receipt if possible.

Ask the driver to carry the new medical card all the time and not for only the 15 days as stated in the regulations. Reason is, if an officer runs the driver’s license, and the medical information is not valid, the officer will accept a new medical card for the first 60 days rather than the required 15 days. This is provided the driver’s CDL has not been downgraded. If so, the driver will be placed out of service even if he/she has a valid medical card issued in the last 15 or 60 days.

If the process seems to have gone smooth and everything seems to be in place, run an MVR 10 to 12 days after the exam to be safe. The state has 10 days to post the information and the carrier can use the card for 15 days. If the exam information is not on the MVR and the driver’s previous physical has expired, the driver is not medically qualified as far as the state is concerned. Contact your MVR vendor, whether it is the state or a third party, and verify that they have sent you the correct type of MVR. Also, contact the driver and verify that the information was submitted immediately after the physical. If so, instruct the driver to contact the state licensing agency immediately and clear up the issue.

The fact is, if the driver waits too long to get his/her physical and was then late in submitting the information, the driver may end up being downgraded and must be immediately removed from operating CDL-required vehicles. Basically, when a driver is downgraded, he/she has no CDL and you are now a driver short in your operation!

Additionally, fleet managers are advised to double check to ensure their medical examiners are using the correct medical forms after Dec. 21, 2015. Beginning on Dec. 22, 2015 (but no sooner), examiners must use a new Medical Examination Report Form, known as the MCSA-5875 (the long medical exam form), and a new Medical Examiner’s Certificate (medical card), the MCSA-5876. Forms that are currently in use may not be used after Dec. 21, 2015, even though the old and new forms are substantially similar.

Bob Rose is transportation writer and editor for J. J. Keller & Associates.

“Simply put, this award honors the two companies that set the bar for claims management, loss prevention and damage control,” said Brian Lagana, executive director of ATA’s Safety Management Council regarding the Excellence in Claims and Loss Prevention Award. “They have also mastered the art of negotiation, inspection and investigation; perfected claims filing and processing; and eliminated, minimized and recovered loss above and beyond all others. We are proud to recognize them as industry leaders.”

FMCSA sends rookie driver training rule to White House, final stop before publication Commercial Carrier Journal’s James Jaillet reported that a proposed federal rule set to spell out required minimum training standards for new entrant truck drivers has been sent from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to the White Houses’ Office of Management and Budget for approval.

The OMB is the rule’s last stop before Continued on page 16 15

B.R. Williams’ Allan Hicks named nation’s top safety director

News publication in the Federal Register.

According to the report, the agency will take comment from the trucking industry, stakeholders and the general public for 60 days following the rule’s publication. As of print time, the rule has not been made public, so what it will require of drivers and carriers is unknown.

Jaillet wrote that “the rule was produced via a so-called “negotiated rulemaking,” meaning a committee of drivers, fleets, regulators and other industry stakeholders met several times to flesh out the basic form of the rule before handing it to FMCSA to finalize and put into the regulatory pipeline.”

CCJ previously reported that the committee’s key recommendations for the rule included requiring 30 hours of behind-thewheel training time, establishing a registry of driver training providers and establishing certified curricula for CDL applicants.

The American Trucking Associations has tapped Allan Hicks of B.R. Williams Trucking in Oxford, Ala., as its 2015 National Safety Director of the Year.

National ATA officials presented Hicks with the award November 4 during the group’s Safety, Security and Human Resources National Conference in Little Rock, Ark. “Safety is our industry’s biggest priority and when you read through Allan Hicks’ list of accomplishments as a safety director, it is very apparent that he Allan Hicks is fully dedicated to safety,” said American Trucking Associations President and CEO Bill Graves. “Devoting one’s life to the safety of our highways is a noble cause and I am proud that we have men and women like Allan working in our industry.”

Under Hicks’ leadership, B.R. Williams has been awarded over 50 safety awards from American Trucking Associations, Alabama Trucking Association and the Truckload Carriers Association. The company has also won the Liberty Mutual Insurance Excellence Award for Truck Safety for eight consecutive years. Individually, Hicks was awarded the Safety Professional of the Year for the Alabama Trucking Association in 2001 and 2014.

B.R. Williams CEO Greg Brown praised Hicks for his service and dedication to fleet safety.

“Allan is the ultimate fleet safety professional,” he said. “He has led our successful safety program for 18 years, accumulating more than 70 different safety awards for our company. Allan has worked tirelessly and provided much forward thinking in our training and emphasis on our safety program along with our quality program.”

Hicks began his career in trucking more than 48 years ago as a dispatcher for CRST Malone.

He went on to work in various roles with CF Motor Freight and Roadway Express before joining B.R. Williams Trucking as vice president of safety, human resources and compliance in 1997.

Along with his safety accomplishments, Hicks has also taken an active role in educating the industry and public about safety, presenting to students at Auburn University, as well as the American Moving and Storage Association, Kentucky Trucking Association and hosting one-day CSA workshops in Alabama and Georgia.

Continued on page 20

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A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2015

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Another driver joins Boyd Bros.’

3-million safe miles club

News The OMB typically clears rules within 90 days of receiving them. The rule should be published shortly after its clearance by OMB.

SMMC holiday banquet is set for Dec. 14 in Pelham The ATA Safety & Maintenance Management Council’s Annual Christmas Celebration and election of officers for its Wiregrass, Birmingham and Gulf Coast Chapters is set for Monday, December 14 at the Pelham Civic Complex (500 Amphitheater Rd, Pelham, AL 35124). Social hour begins at 5:30 P.M. followed by dinner and a program.

Keynote speaker for the event is Tajuan McCarty, founder of The WellHouse, a nonprofit, faith-based organization located in Birmingham, Ala. dedicated to rescuing women from sexual exploitation and human trafficking. At 15-years-old, Ms. McCarty ran away from home and was sexually exploited by an older man who be-

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Mike Usery, a Boyd Bros. Transportation truck driver, recently reached the 3 million mile safe mile mark for the Clayton-based flatbed carrier. Usery, who has driven for Boyd Bros. since 1990, joins ten other company drivers who have reached the 3 million mile mark. “I’ve been blessed to work for such a good company, and my family has been a big supporter of me,” Usery said. “I’ve been surrounded by some wonderful people. I tell everybody that I’m just a little piece of this, because if it weren’t for all these people at Boyd, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” came her “boyfriend-turned-pimp.” For sevficking through a similar group, Truckers eral years, she was manipulated and forced Against Trafficking, a group that seeks to into a life of addiction and prostitution. enlist the trucking fleets and their drivers She battled these demons well to recognize and report illegal into her twenties, but with guidance human trafficking activity they and help from a few caring individmay see while working. Ms. Mcuals, she turned her life around and Carty’s inspiring story of redempovercame her past with perseverance tion dovetails with our Association’s and faith. She got back on her feet, own recent involvement with TAT. started taking college classes, and She is a living example that the reeventually earned multiple degrees sults of organizations such as from the University of Alabama at Tajuan McCarty Truckers Against Trafficking really Birmingham. She has since devoted her life can make a difference. to helping others from similar backgrounds.

Mark your calendars and make plans Earlier this year, the Alabama Trucking now to attend this special occasion. RegisAssociation became a major sponsor and tration information is available now at the supporter of the fight to end human trafATA website www.alabamatrucking.org.

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ATRI seeks carrier input for CSA crash accountability The American Transportation Research Institute is looking for carrier and driver input for an upcoming report on crash accountability and FMCSA’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability program.

Using crash data from 14 carriers, ATRI is analyzing the impact of removing five specific crash types from the Crash Indicator BASIC calculation in CSA’s Safety Measurement System. The crashes ATRI focused on include five types where the driver or carrier couldn’t have prevented the crash: 1) Being hit by another driver who was under the influence of drugs or alcohol; 2) Another driver running a stop sign or light and hitting your truck; 3) Being hit while legally parked; 4) Collisions with an animal in the roadway; and 5) Collisions involving a pedestrian attempting to commit suicide by truck.

Before releasing the analysis, ATRI is looking for examples of non-preventable crashes to demonstrate how common and challenging these crashes can be for truck drivers. Examples of non-preventable, DOT-reportable crashes can be sent to ATRI@trucking.org. ATRI asks that crash details and consequences be included in the example. All information will be anonymized, and ATRI will contact anyone whose story will be used in the report for review.

One of the industry’s biggest gripes with CSA is its fault-agnostic treatment of crashes. Carriers are punished in the system by crashes that are in no way the fault of the truck operator or the carrier, the industry says.

Researchers examine commercial driver views on truck parking The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has released results of its Commercial Driver Perspectives on Truck Parking survey, the first in a series of technical memoranda focused on critical truck parking issues.

The survey collected information from truck drivers on the use of private versus public rest stops, preferred locations for re22

BREAKING NEWS

ATA brokers agreement that gives state motor carriers significant tax break

Beginning next year, property taxes on newly purchased commercial trucks and automobiles will be significantly reduced thanks in part to a recent agreement between the Alabama Trucking Association (ATA) and the Alabama Dept. of Revenue that taxes a vehicle on its fair market price rather than the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP).

The agreement led to an amended regulation as published in the Alabama Administrative Monthly on October 30, 2015, and is effective for purchases of new motor vehicles beginning January 1, 2016.

In 2014, ATA filed suit against the Dept. of Revenue alleging that the value of new motor vehicles based on MSRP resulted in an inflated property tax. ATA argued that the value of a new vehicle should be the actual purchase price, which is usually significantly less than the MSRP. Negotiations with the Dept. of Revenue resulted in an agreed upon valuation process that better reflects a vehicle’s fair market value. ATA officials said the tax savings for motor carriers will depend on the millage tax rate, but they estimate that it could result in a 25 percent (tax) savings per vehicle.

ATA Chairman Greg Brown, President of B.R. Williams Trucking Co., called the agreement a major victory for Alabama trucking businesses. “The recent tax revision comes on the heels of another ruling that led to the apportionment of vehicle property taxes based on miles traveled in state,” he said. “That revision also came as a result of an ATA court suit filed against the state.”

ATA President Frank Filgo added that the basis for these tax revisions was to ensure the equitable taxation of motor vehicles in Alabama. “We believed all along that the tax structure for these vehicles was unfair to trucking businesses – businesses that already have very slim profit margins to work with,” he said.

“The trucking industry already pays its fair share of taxes through other ways such as fuel taxes. Trucking pays 37 percent of all taxes owed by Alabama motorists, despite trucks representing only 11 percent of vehicle miles traveled in the state.”

served parking, and the value of reserved truck parking. More than 1,400 surveys were collected by ATRI. With more trucks on the nation’s highways than ever before, safe places to park large commercial rigs are becoming harder to find. Over the last few years, American fleet operators have identified the lack of adequate truck parking as a top concern for the trucking industry.

Still, even with a lack of parking spots, the survey exposed a deep disconnect between drivers’ interest in parking reservation systems and their willingness to pay for parking reservations. Analysis of the survey data showed that nearly half of commercial drivers stated they would refuse to pay for reserved parking. The survey also indicated that reservation parking systems near large metropolitan areas would have the highest utility for drivers.

“Understanding the expectations of trucking companies and professional drivers is of critical importance to truck stop operators,” said Lisa Mullings, President and CEO of National Association of Truck Stop Operators. “ATRI’s analysis will provide important guidance to truck stops as they work to meet their customers’ operational and safety needs.”

ATRI’s Managing Critical Truck Parking initiative was driven by the selection of truck parking as one of the top priority research topics for 2015 by ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee. Subsequent tasks in the Managing Critical Truck Parking initiative include: synthesizing ATRI survey data with FHWA’s newly released Jason’s Law report; assessing truck parking supply and demand utilizing ATRI’s extensive truck GPS database; and analyzing the impact of non-commercial vehicle use of truck parking spaces.

A copy of the Tech Memo is available at www.atri-online.org.

Thermo King acquires Celtrak Another acquisition has been announced: Thermo King has taken over Celtrak, according to a press release. A spokesperson for Thermo King could not disclose the amount of the sale, but did confirm that the acquisition is official and A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2015

has been completed. Thermo King and Celtrak have been partners since 2005.

The two companies launched TracKing telematics solutions, which is only available through the Thermo King dealer network.

Celtrak was established in 2000 and is based in Galway, Ireland. The company provides telematics products and services for customers in more than 30 countries and in 10 different languages. Celtrak develops and customizes integrated vehicle tracking and fleet management solutions.

Two individuals plead guilty to Florida CDL scheme Tyson Fisher of Land Line reported recently that two of four individuals involved in a fraudulent CDL testing scheme in Florida have pleaded guilty, according to federal court documents. Ellariy Medvednik was the first to enter a guilty plea since the indictments were issued on July 1. Less than two weeks later, Natalia Dontsova motioned for a change of plea.

From June 2013 to May 2015, Medvednik, Dontsova, Adrian Salari and Clarence Davis conspired to charge unqualified CDL seekers several thousands of dollars to obtain their CDL through false representation

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of residency, cheating on tests, and getting cleared by a man on the inside.

Medvednik owned a website called russiantruckingschool.com and a truck-driving school named Larex Inc., both targeting Russian-speaking prospects. Applicants would contact Medvednik through the website. Through arrangements made from the website contacts, Medvednik would charge anywhere from $1,800 to $5,000 for Larex’s services.

With the assistance of Dontsova and Salari, Medvednik would provide applicants with documents necessary to prove Florida residence. Documents were falsified as the students were not residents of Florida.

Through “covert means of communication” Medvednik, Salari and Dontsova would supply the students with answers to the written test, according to the indictment. Court documents did not specify what the covert means of communication entailed, only that surveillance equipment was used. The three defendants would take the applicants to third-party tester and codefendant Clarence Davis for verbal testing.

Despite the students not knowing the English language and committing acts that typically result in automatic failures, Davis would pass them at a rate of $75 more than the posted rate of $175 per student.

According to the indictment, at least 600 students seeking a CDL used Larex’s services. Once a CDL was obtained, the holder would transfer the Florida license to his home state.

In August, U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton Jr. dismissed the case against Davis.

On Oct. 6, shortly after Medvednik’s guilty plea on Sept. 24, Dontsova motioned for a change of plea.

American Trucking Associations honors Frank Filgo Alabama Trucking Association president and CEO Frank Filgo and six other veteran trucking association executives were honored with the Executive Council Service Awards during Ameri- Frank Filgo can Trucking Associations’ annual Management Conference & Exhibition in Philadelphia, Pa. on Oct. 18.

“Today, we commend these impressive individuals who represent the best in service to our industry,” said incoming ATA ChairContinued on page 24

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man Pat Thomas, senior vice president of state government affairs for UPS. “The trucking industry is fortunate to have such committed individuals working as part of our ATA federation, and we are honored to acknowledge them for their continued effort and dedication.”

The seven honorees were Brian Parke, president and CEO of Maine Motor Transport Association Inc., 5 years of service; Crystal Collins, president of North Carolina Trucking Association, 5 years; Gail Toth, executive director of New Jersey Motor Truck Association, 15 years; Thomas Whitaker, executive director of Kansas Motor Carriers Association, 15 years; Gregory Fulton, president of Colorado Motor Carriers Association, 20 years; Frank Filgo, president and CEO of Alabama Trucking Association, 20 years; and Gareth Sakakida, managing director of Hawaii Transportation Association, 25 years.

“These seven individuals are a great example of the diversity in our industry that stretches from coast to coast, and ATA gets tremendous strength from that diversity,” ATA President Bill Graves said. “It is reassuring to know that the work we are doing on the federal level in Washington is being strengthened and reinforced by these impressive individuals — and many others —

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on the state level. These executives and their colleagues have my many thanks.”

ATA Chairman of the Board Greg Brown, who also serves as Alabama’s representative to the American Trucking Associations, said, “Frank has built the Alabama Trucking Association into a powerful advocate for highway and industry safety and a champion for sensible pro-business legislation and industry regulation,” he said. “His tenure has delivered meaningful results that have helped Alabama trucking businesses reach their individual goals. More often than not, his efforts are done behind the scenes, and with little fanfare. He is a selfless leader who works hard so that others can shine and reach their full potential.”

National ATA seeks info on industry’s investment in safety American Trucking Associations Vice President & Chief of National Advocacy Dave Osiecki is asking carriers for help to determine how much and where the American trucking operations deploy resources for safety initiatives.

The information provided will allow National ATA to quantify what the industry spends on safety each year. The survey is

available at http://trck.ng/SafetyStudy.

Readers might recall that National ATA officials sent a letter earlier this year asking carriers to fill out a similar, but much longer, survey. This shorter version seeks information on the trucking industry’s safety related expenditures. The goal is to help improve ATA’s understanding of the types of safety programs currently in use, as well as estimate the annual industry investment of such practices.

The survey will also result in the publication of a safety investment benchmarking tool for carriers to evaluate company expenditures with their peer groups.

Participants will receive a complimentary copy of the safety benchmark tool. ATA officials said that no individual carrier data will be disclosed. For more info, contact Laurel at 703-838-1935 or LLeitner@truck ing.org.

ASF Intermodal exceeds 500 trucks on the road ASF Intermodal today announced that the company now has more than 500 trucks on the road, reaching this new growth milestone before completing five years in operaContinued on page 28

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Study says fleets still deeply troubled over HOS rule uncertainty

For a third year in a row, trucking industry stakeholders ranked uncertainty with the current Hours-of-Service (HOS) rules as their top concerns, according to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI).

The trucking industry’s not-for-profit research institute surveyed 4,000 fleet owners and managers to determine their concerns for the industry’s future and what tactics could be used to solve the issue. The group unveiled its report at the 2015 Management Conference and Exhibition of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) meeting in October in Philadelphia, Pa. For the past two years, major HOS impacts on supply chains were the impetus behind the first place ranking. In this year’s survey, carriers and drivers voiced their concern over the uncertain future of the current suspension of the rules.

Moving up a position from last year, FMCSA’s continued challenges with its Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) pro-

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gram resulted in a second place ranking. CSA was closely followed in the ranking by the growing shortage of truck drivers. Related to the driver shortage, driver retention retained its fourth place ranking this year as trucking fleets work to retain their most experienced and qualified drivers.

The lack of available safe truck parking rounded out the 2015 list as the number five issue. Since first appearing as an issue in the annual survey, truck parking has been on the rise as an industry concern. It initially ranked 8th in the 2012 survey and has steadily climbed to the top five issues.

The ATA-commissioned survey results and proposed strategies will be utilized by the ATA Federation to better focus its advocacy role on behalf of the U.S. trucking industry and ATA Federation stakeholders.

“There is perhaps no better benchmark for the challenges we face as motor carriers and drivers than ATRI’s annual survey of top industry issues. As issues climb in ranking each year, so does our collective need to aggressively identify solutions to address those issues,” said ATA Chairman Duane Long, chairman, Longistics, Raleigh, NC. 1. Hours-of-Service (100): This year marks the third year in a row that the HOS rules have been ranked as the top industry issue. The only other issue to generate a top

ranking for three consecutive years was the Economy (2009 – 2011) during the Great Recession. Significant negative impacts on the industry from the 34-hour restart provisions first implemented in July 2013 have been documented by numerous sources. In its own research, ATRI found that 80 percent of motor carriers indicated a loss of productivity directly attributable to the now-suspended rules, and driver pay impacts were estimated to range from $1.6 billion to $3.9 billion annually. Although the restart provisions were suspended by Congress in December 2014, concern over their reinstatement continues pending FMCSA’s release of the results of its second field study.

2. Compliance Safety Accountability (CSA) (91.6): Though FMCSA has been working to address some of the industry’s concerns with CSA, a number of critical challenges still persist. Research has documented that CSA’s safety measures, the seven Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories under which carriers and drivers are scored, are not a good predictor of carrier crash risk. Additionally, there are disparities in how states collect and report safety performance data, and shippers are potentially misusing the data in the selection of carriers to haul freight. There is also a concern with the use of CSA scores as part of a Safety Fitness Deter-

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mination proposed rulemaking.

3. Driver Shortage (89.6): In a new report from the American Trucking Associations, the current driver shortage is now estimated to be 48,000, a number that is projected to increase to 175,000 by 2024. Despite a one-position fall to third place from last year, it is important to note that the Driver Shortage received the highest percentage (18%) of first place rankings of all the issues in the top 10.

4. Driver Retention (71.1): Related to the driver shortage issue, but requiring different approaches is Driver Retention, which continues to be a top priority for motor carriers. Despite driver turnover falling in the first quarter of 2015, the industry still experiences turnover rates significantly higher than many other sectors of the U.S. workforce, creating additional costs for motor carriers in recruitment and training. Most importantly, carriers seek to focus driver retention on those drivers most qualified in terms of safety and productivity.

5. Truck Parking (61.0): The growing scarcity of available truck parking creates a dangerous situation for truck drivers who are often forced to drive beyond allowable HOS rules or park in undesignated and, in many cases, unsafe locations. In response to a congressional requirement, the Federal Highway Administration recently released its Jason’s

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2015

Law Truck Parking Survey Results and Comparative Analysis which confirmed that truck parking continues to be a major issue in the United States.

6. Electronic Logging Device Mandate (55.4): In March of last year, FMCSA issued a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to address a number of concerns identified by industry stakeholders in the initial Electronic Logging Device proposed rule.

However, the industry continues to await FMCSA’s issuance of the ELD Final Rule, currently expected at the end of October.

Once the final rule is issued, the industry will better understand what will be needed for compliance and how it will impact individual fleet operations.

7. Driver Health/Wellness (39.5): Reaching its highest ranking since first appearing on the Top Industry Issues in 2012, Driver Health and Wellness ranks 7th overall. Many in the industry recognize the critical connection between improved driver health and wellness and the industry’s ability to retain qualified drivers. In addition to obvious lifestyle benefits, an improvement in driver health may also have positive implications for industry safety as research has identified a positive correlation between driver health and driver safety.

8. Economy (37.8): Once a longstand-

ing top industry issue during the years of the Great Recession, the ranking for the state of the nation’s economy dropped to ninth place in last year’s 2014 survey. However, in 2015 it climbed one position to 8th overall. This may be driven, in part, by more recent concerns over softer freight demand and what that may mean for 2016, as well as concerns over the economies in Europe and Asia and export impacts from a strong U.S. dollar.

9. Transportation/Infrastructure/Congestion/Funding (37.2): The United States’ 4.1 million miles of public roadways must be properly maintained and improved to allow the industry to efficiently deliver the nation’s goods. ATRI research documented trucking industry costs of $9.2 billion associated with interstate congestion in 2013. The negative impacts of congestion, failing infrastructure and the need for a long-term transportation funding solution all combined to keep this issue in the top ten in 2015.

10. Driver distraction (32.9): First arriving on the Top Ten list in 2014, 2015 marks the second year that Driver Distraction has made the list. Increased concern about the rising use of technology in vehicles by all drivers will likely result in this issue continuing as a top concern in the coming years.

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

tion. After Just a little over four and-a-half years in business, ASF has grown from what started as a two-location company based only in the southeast to a regional intermodal and domestic carrier with 16 locations (domestic and intermodal) throughout the Southeast and Midwest regions of the United States.

ASF Intermodal president Michael Smith gives credit to what he describes as his company’s “amazing team” for the organization’s rapid growth. He states, “Every ASF Intermodal employee and contractor played a role in making this happen, and the team that deserves the credit. We’ve created a team that has a common goal and that enjoys creating opportunities for people while also providing great service for our customers. Our growth started strong and has continued year over year.”

During 2015, the company opened four new locations, adding terminals in Charlotte, North Carolina; Fort Worth, Texas; New Orleans, Louisiana and Columbus, Ohio. ASF Intermodal has received numer-

28

ous awards recently, including being named to the 2015 Inc. 5000, being designated one of the 2015 Best Companies to Work for in Alabama and being recognized as the October 2015 Small Business of the Month by the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce (the company is headquartered in Mobile, Alabama).

As the company moves toward celebrating its five-year anniversary in February of 2016 and beyond, additional growth is likely. Smith states, “We are continuing to expand, and we expect to continue having great news to share.”

Senate puts brakes on longer twin-trailer rigs on highways In November, the U.S. Senate removed a proposal for longer twin-trailer cargo rigs to be allowed on interstate highways from a funding bill for the departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development.

Industry groups pushed to raise the length of double-trailer rigs from the current 28 ft. to 33 ft., arguing that doing so would make shipments more efficient and

create safer roads due to less truck traffic.

But anti-trucking groups argued that a vehicle length change is too dangerous, and also forces states that have made longer trucks illegal to accept the longer rigs on their roads.

The American Trucking Associations, however, said it was disappointed by the Senate’s move, calling an increase in the twin trailer limit a “common sense productivity” measure for the trucking industry. “It is unfortunate the Senate has chosen to give up on what could be a very beneficial change in policy,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “This modest increase in tandem trailer length would reduce the number of truck trips needed to move an increasing amount of freight while making better use of a dwindling pool of drivers.”

The Department of Transportation recommended against changes to current rules on truck weight and length pending further study. Driver, labor and owner-operator groups have opposed the measure since it was first floated earlier this year.

Meanwhile, industry groups pledged to continue the push for longer twin-trailer cargo rigs, despite last month’s setback.

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2015

ADVERTISEMENT

“Trucking’s Voice in Alabama”

PO Box 242337 • Montgomery, AL 36124-2337 • Phone: (334)834-3983 • Fax: (334)262-6504

Application For Membership DIVISION Motor Carriers:

q Domiciled In Alabama

q Household Movers

Allied Industry:

q All other For-Hire

q Local and State Suppliers q Nat’l Concerns, small items

q Private Carriers

q Nat’l Concerns, major items

Your Dues Amount: $ __________________ (see schedule on reverse)

Firm Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: (PO Box) ____________________________________(Street)__________________________________________________ City __________________________________________State __________________________ Zip ________________________ Telephone: __________________________________Fax ______________________________800/ __________________________ Email address: ________________________________________Website Address: __________________________________________ Type of Business: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Official Representative : __________________________________________________Title: __________________________________ Alternate Representative: __________________________________________________Title: __________________________________ Signed: ______________________________________Date: ____________Referred by:____________________________________

CONTRIBUTIONS OR GIFTS TO THE ALABAMA TRUCKING ASSOCIATION, INC., ARE NOT DEDUCTIBLE AS CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS. HOWEVER, THEY MAY BE TAX DEDUCTIBLE AS ORDINARY AND NECESSARY BUSINESS EXPENSES. CODE # _________________

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Freq_____________________

ACT ____________________

BC ____________________

Check # __________________

Exp Date__________________

ATU ____________________

DC ____________________

Dues Amt ________________

Nxt Bill Date _______________

MAG __________________

400 ____________________

Mbr Class ________________

AL Sen___________________

MC ____________________

WCSIF __________________

GC ____________________

CONTACT SHEET __________

Mbr Type _________________

AL Hse___________________

YR ____________________

WINFAX ________________

Dues Cat _________________

CG Dist __________________

Date_____________________

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2015

LTR/PLQ ________________

31

Schedule of Membership Dues

A. Motor Carriers Domiciled in Alabama

1) Gross Annual Revenue Under and not over 1,000,000 and not over 5,000,000 and not over 10,000,000 and not over 15,000,000

$999,999 4,999,999 9,999,999 14,999,999 19,999,999

Annual Dues $500 600 900 1,200 1,500

2) Gross Annual Revenue 20,000,000 and not over 25,000,000 and not over 30,000,000 and not over 35,000,000 and not over 40,000,000 and over

B. All Other For-Hire and Private Carriers Schedule based on miles traveled in Alabama From 0 500,001 1,000,001 2,000,001 3,000,001 4,000,001 5,000,001 6,000,001 7,000,001 8,000,001 9,000,001

To 500,000 1,000,000 2,000,000 3,000,000 4,000,000 5,000,000 6,000,000 7,000,000 8,000,000 9,000,000 10,000,000

Annual $200 250 360 510 640 750 870 960 1,040 1,150 1,250

From 10,000,001 11,000,001 12,000,001 13,000,001 14,000,001 15,000,001 16,000,001 17,000,001 18,000,001 19,000,001 20,000,001

$24,999,999 29,999,999 34,999,999 39,999,999

To 11,000,000 12,000,000 13,000,000 14,000,000 15,000,000 16,000,000 17,000,000 18,000,000 19,000,000 20,000,000 25,000,000

Annual Dues $1,800 2,100 2,400 2,700 3,000 Annual $1,320 1,410 1,495 1,575 1,650 1,720 1,795 1,865 1,950 2,030 2,500

C. Allied Industry – Annual Dues • Local and State Suppliers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $300 • National Concerns (distributors or manufactuers of accessories, parts and small equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $400 • National Concerns (distributors or manufacturers of major equipment, integrated product lines, leasing companies and companies marketing statewide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $600

D. Household Movers Based on intrastate revenue only - includes tariff participation

1) Gross Annual Revenue Not Over 100,001 and not over 150,001 and not over 200,000 and not over

$100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000

Annual Dues $420 480 540 660

2) Gross Annual Revenue 250,001 and not over 300,001 and not over 400,001 and not over

Payment Schedule (Dues payable in advance)

Below $500...................................................................Annually $500 - $1,200......................................................Semi-Annually

Annual Dues $780 $300,000 900 400,000 1,200 500,000

Above $1,200 ................................................................Monthly

CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT – The amount of dues paid by individual members of the Alabama Trucking Association is confidential information and is not subject to publication. Dues information can only be released by ATA to the principal representative of the member in question, and requests by other persons or parties will not be honored. Members are strongly urged to honor this privacy statement and to not share their confidential dues information with other ATA members or the general public.

32

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2015

2015 ATA Buyer’s Guide

We make every effort to ensure this list is correct. For changes or corrections to your company’s listing, contact Jane Nixon at jnixon@alabamatrucking.org.

Alabama Trucking Assn.’s Buyer’s Guide lists those companies that have taken an active role in supporting Alabama’s trucking industry by becoming members of the Association. We ask that each time you plan a purchase that you consult this guide and give ATA members the opportunity to gain your business. These companies proudly support your association and deserve your support, as well.

ADVERTISING/PUBLISHING Randall-Reilly (205) 349-2990 www.rrpub.com BUS SALES & SERVICE Southland International Trucks, Inc. (205) 942-6226 www.southlandtrucks.com Transportation South, Inc. (205) 663-2287 www.thebuscenter.com Ward International Trucks, LLC (251) 433-5616 www.wardintltrucks.com CHEMICAL PRODUCTS Rushing Enterprises, Inc. (334) 693-3318 www.rushingenterprises.com COMMUNICATIONS/ELECTRONICS CarrierWeb LLC (770) 232-9541 www.carrierweb.com J.J. Keller & Assoc., Inc. (920) 722-2848 www.jjkellerservices.com Omnitracs, Inc. (615) 594-7565 www.omnitracs.com PeopleNet (888) 346-3486 www.peoplenetonline.com Rand McNally (501) 835-1585 www.randmcnally.com SmartDrive Systems (858) 225-5550 www.smartdrive.net DRIVER STAFFING TransForce, Inc. (205) 916-0259 www.transforce.com Transportation Support, Inc. (205) 833-5855 www.transportationsupport.com EDUCATION & TRAINING J.J. Keller & Assoc., Inc. (920) 722-2848 www.jjkellerservices.com JP Transportation Safety Consulting, LLC (205) 329-8182 (205) 945-8550 www.jptsc.com Transportation Safety Services (251) 661-9700 www.transportationsafetyservices.com Trucking Partners, LLC (256) 737-8788 www.truckingpartners.com USA Driver-s, Inc. (205) 661-0712 www.usadrivers.com Vertical Alliance Group, Inc. (903) 792-3866 www.lmstrucking.com ENGINE MANUFACTURERS Cummins Mid-South, LLC (901) 488-8033 www.cumminsmidsouth.com

Thompson/Caterpillar (205) 849-4365 www.thompsontractor.com

FINANCIAL SERVICES BancorpSouth Equipment Finance (205) 422-7111 www.bxsequipmentfinance.com

Westport HD div. of Westport Innovations, Inc. (251) 635-7143 www.westport.com

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

EQUIPMENT LEASING CB Repair & Trailer Maintenance, Inc. (205) 753-4495

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

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

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

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

Crestmark Bank 615-620-3523 www.crestmark.com

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

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

Star Leasing Co. (205) 763-1280 www.starleasing.com Transport Enterprise Leasing LLC (423) 463-3390 www.transportenterpriseleasing.com

GE Capital (770) 960-6307 www.ge.com People’s Capital & Leasing Corp.

(205) 856-9354 www.peoples.com

People’s United Equipment EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING Finance Corp.

Eaton Corp./Roadranger Field Marketing (205) 664-9374 (334) 398-1410 www.financialfederal.com www.roadranger.com PNC Financial Services Group EQUIPMENT PARTS/ACCESSORIES (251) 441-7286 Allison Transmission, Inc. www.pnc.com (678) 367-7011 www.allisontransmission.com Renasant Bank (334) 301-5955 Dothan Tarpaulin Products, Inc. www.renasantbank.com (800) 844-8277 www.dothantarp.com ServisFirst Bank (205) 949-3433 Imperial Supplies LLC www.servisfirstbank.com (800) 558-2808 TAB Bank www.imperialsupplies.com (404) 202-4870 www.tabbank.com Kinedyne Corp.

(334) 365-2919 Wells Fargo Equipment Finance www.kinedyne.com (314) 374-2165 www.wellsfargo.com Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems 334/798-0080 INSURANCE www.arvinmeritor.com American Claims Service, Inc. (205) 669-1177 Metro Trailer Repair Co., Inc. (205) 323-2877 Aon Risk Solutions www.metrotrailer.net (501) 374-9300 www.aon.com NAPA Auto Parts (205) 510-2900 Aronov Insurance, Inc. (205) 414-9575 Paccar Parts/Kenworth www.aronovinsurance.com (206) 898-5541 www.kenworth.com Protective Insurance Co. Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. Southern Truck & Equipment, Inc. (317) 452-7413 (251) 653-4716 www.baldwinandlyons.com www.southerntruck.net BancorpSouth Insurance Services Star Truck Parts (334) 272-1200 (205) 324-4681 www.bxsi.com Thermo King of B’ham-DothanMobile-Montgomery (205) 591-2424 www.midstatetk.com Thompson/Caterpillar (205) 849-4365 www.thompsontractor.com W.W. Williams (205) 252-9025 (334) 279-6083 www.wwwilliams.com

The Baxter Agency (334) 678-5900 www.baxteragency.com BB & T Insurance Services (912) 201-4706 Benton & Parker Insurance Services (770) 536-8340 www.bentonandparker.com

Caribou Insurance Agency, Inc. (205) 822-7577 www.caribouins.com

York Risk Services Group (205) 581-9283 www.yorkrsg.com

Cottingham and Butler (563) 587-5521 www.cottinghambutler.com

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

Farris Evans Insurance Agency, Inc. (901) 274-5424 www.farrisevans.com Great West Casualty Co. (865) 670-6573 www.gwccnet.com Harmon-Dennis-Bradshaw, Inc. (334) 273-7277 www.hdbinsurance.com Hudgens Insurance, Inc. (334) 289-2695 JH Berry Risk Services, LLC (205) 208-1238 www.jhbrisk.com Johnson-Locklin & Associates (205) 980-8008 www.johnson-locklin.com J.R. Prewitt & Associates, Inc. (205) 397-5118 www.jrprewitt.com

Bradley Screening, LLC (334) 272-3539 www.bradleyscreening.com Carlisle Medical, Inc. (251) 344-7988 www.carlislemedical.com CPAPnea Medical Solutions (205) 874-6870 www.thecpapteam.com ErgoScience, Inc. (205) 879-6447 www.ergoscience.com J.J. Keller & Assoc., Inc. (920) 722-2848 www.jjkellerservices.com Life Style Solutions for Truck Drivers (334) 213-0054 www.lifestylesolutionsbyphone.com

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

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

Liberty Truck Insurance (205) 352-2598

St. Vincent’s Occupational Health (205) 930-2660

Lyon Fry Cadden Insurance Agency, Inc. Workforce QA dba EDPM (251) 473-4600 (205) 326-3100 www.lyonfrycaden.com www.edpm.com Marvin Johnson & Associates, Inc. (812) 372-0841 www.mjai.com

PETROLEUM PRODUCTS Clean Energy Fuels (949) 437-1000

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

Corridor Clean Fuels, LLC (256) 894-0098

Joe Morten & Sons, Inc. (865) 392-3844 www.joemorten.com

Davison Fuels & Oil (251) 544-4511

S. S. Nesbitt (205) 262-2620 www.ssnesbitt.com One Beacon (609) 613-0010 www.onebeacontransportation.com Palomar Insurance Corp.

(334) 270-0105 www.palomarinsurance.com Regions Insurance, Inc. (501) 661-4880 www.regions.com Regions Insurance (334) 808-9441 www.regionsinsurance.com Reliance Partners, Inc. (877) 668-1704 www.reliancepartners.com Stephens Insurance LLC (601) 605-5681 www.stephens.com Trans Con Assurance, LTD (205) 978-7070 TransRisk, LLC (334) 403-4114 www.transriskllc.com Transure Services, Inc. (336) 584-9494 www.transure.com Turner & Hamrick L.L.C. (334) 566-7665 www.turnerhamrick.com

GAIN Clean Fuel – Div. of US Oil (804) 291-7892 www.gainfuel.com Green Buffalo Fuel (716) 768-0611 Jack Green Oil Co., Inc. (256) 831-1038 Hunter Oil Company, Inc. (800) 607-4066 www.hunteroil.net Kimbro Oil Company (615) 320-7484 www.kimbrooil.com Major Oil Company, Inc. (334) 263-9070 www.unitedfoodandfuel.com Pivotal LNG (404) 783-3550 www.pivotallng.com The McPherson Companies, Inc. (888) 802-7500 www.mcphersonoil.com Transportation Safety Services (251) 661-9700 www.transportationsafetyservices.com W.H. Thomas Oil Co., Inc. (205) 755-2610 www.whthomasoil.com PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Accounting Firms: Aldridge, Borden & Co. (334) 834-6640 www.aldridgeborden.com

(Current as of 11/20/2015)

Katz, Sapper & Miller, LLP (317) 580-2068 www.ksmcpa.com

Drivewyze (780) 461-3355 www.drivewyze.com

Warren Averett (256) 739-0312 www.warrenaverett.com

George L. Edwards & Associates (334) 745-5166

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

Help, Inc. Provider of PrePass (931) 520-7170 www.prepass.com Information Builders (770) 395-9913 www.informationbuilders.com J. Brandt Recognition (800) 435-5749 www.jbrandt.com J.J. Keller & Assoc., Inc. (920) 722-2848 www.jjkellerservices.com

Ball, Ball, Matthews & Novak, P.A. 334-387-7680 www.ball-ball.com

Jeffers Trucking, Inc. (205) 808-1112

Carr, Allison, Pugh, Howard, Oliver & Sisson, P.C. (251) 626-9340 www.carrallison.com

JP Transportation Safety Consulting, LLC (205) 329-8182 (205) 329-8183 www.jptsc.com

DeLashmet & Marchand, P.C. (251) 433-1577 www.delmar-law.com Dodson Gregory, LLP (205) 834-9170 www.dodsongregory.com

Lytx Inc. (838) 430-4000 www.lytx.com McLeod Software (205) 823-5100 www.mcleodsoftware.com

Ferguson, Frost, Moore & Young LLP (205) 879-8722 www.ffdlaw.com

Motor Carrier Safety Consulting (205) 871-4455

Fisher & Phillips, LLP (404) 231-1400 www.laborlawyers.com

Porter Billing Services LLC (205) 322-5442 www.porterbilling.com

Friedman, Dazzio, Zulanas & Bowling, P.C. (205) 278-7000 www.friedman-lawyers.com

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

Hand Arendall LLC (251) 432-5511 www.handarendall.com Hill, Hill, Carter, Franco, Cole & Black, P.C. (334) 834-7600 www.hillhillcarter.com James M. Sizemore, Jr. (256) 409-1985 McDowell Knight Roedder & Sledge, LLC (251) 432-5300 www.mcdowellknight.com Porterfield, Harper, Mills, Motlow, Ireland PA (205) 980-5000 www.phm-law.com Speegle, Hoffman, Holman & Holifield, LLC (251) 694-1700 www.speeglehoffmancom Starnes Davis Florie LLP (205) 868-6000 www.starneslaw.com

Preferred Risk Services (334) 836-0358 www.premployerinc.com

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

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

Dorsey Trailer (334) 897-2525 www.dorseytrailer.net

Birmingham Frame & Alignment, LLC (205) 322-4844 birminghamframeandalignment.com Carrier Transicold South (404) 968-3130 www.ctsouth.com Childersburg Truck Service, Inc. (256) 378-3101 www.childersburg-truck.com Coffman International Trucks (334) 794-4111 www.coffmaninternationaltrucks.com Eufaula Trucking Co., Inc. (334) 687-0391 Lazzari Truck Repair, Inc. (251) 626-5121 www.lazzaritruckrepair.com Metro Trailer Repair Co., Inc. (205) 323-2877 www.metrotrailer.net Rowe Management Corp.

(205) 486-9235 www.rowemachinery.com Star Leasing Co. (205) 763-1280 www.starleasing.com Thompson/Caterpillar (205) 849-4365 www.thompsontractor.com W.W. Williams (205) 252-9025 (334) 279-6083 www.wwwilliams.com

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (334) 207-4294 www.rbauction.com

TIRE DEALERS & MANUFACTURERS Best One Tire & Service (615) 207-9079 www.bestonetire.com

Safety Vision (713) 929-1057 www.safetyvision.com

Bridgestone Commercial Solutions (770) 317-5777 www.trucktires.com

Spectrum Environmental Services, Inc. (205) 664-2000 www.specenviro.com

Butler Industrial Tire Center, Inc. (334) 376-0178

Tax2290.com/ThinkTrade Inc. (866) 245-3918 www.tax2290.com TMW Systems, Inc. (216) 831-6606 www.tmwsystems.com Transportation and Logistical Services, Inc (205) 226-5500 www.tlsincorp.com Transportation Billing Solutions, LLC (205) 788-4000

Webster, Henry, Lyons, White, Bradwell & Black, P.C. (334) 264-9472 www.websterhenry.com

Transportation Compliance Services, USA (228) 872-7160 www.dottrucksafety.com

Other Services: Ahern & Associates LTD (602) 242-1030 www.ahern-LTD.com

Transportation Safety Services (251) 661-9700 www.transportationsafetyservices.com

BTI Transportation Services, Inc. (205) 242-6908

Trucking Partners, LLC (256) 737-8788 www.truckingpartners.com

Delta Distributors, LLC (334) 222-3671

Real Estate: Mary Lou’s Team RE/MAX, Inc. (205) 566-5911 www.marylousteam.com

Columbus Tire Co., Inc. (706) 321-8133 www.columbustireco.com GCR Tire Centers (407) 466-5907 www.gcrtires.com McGriff Tire Co. (256) 739-0710 www.mcgrifftire.com McGriff Treading Co., Inc. (256) 734-4298 www.mcgriffindustries.com Michelin North America (864) 201-6177 www.michelintruck.com Snider Fleet Solutions (404) 361-0130 www.snidertire.com Wilks Tire & Battery Service, Inc. (256) 878-0211 www.wilkstire.com Yokohama Tire Corp.

(317) 385-2611 www.yokohamatire.com

Empire Truck Sales, LLC (601) 939-1000 www.empiretruck.com Equipment Logistics, Inc. (256) 739-9280 Fontaine Fifth Wheel NA (205) 421-4300 www.fifthwheel.com Great Dane Trailers (205) 324-3491 www.greatdanetrailers.com Gulf City Body & Trailer Works, Inc. (251) 438-5521 www.gulfcity.com Gulf Coast Truck & Equipment Co. (251) 476-2744 www.gulfcoasttruck.com R C Trailer Sales & Service Co., Inc. (205) 680-0924 www.rctrailersales.net Southland International Trucks, Inc. (205) 942-6226 www.southlandtrucks.com Star Leasing Co. (205) 763-1280 www.starleasing.com Transport Trailer Center (334) 299-3573 www.transporttc.com Utility Trailer Sales of Alabama LLC (334) 794-7345 www.utilityalabama.com Vanguard National Trailer Corporation (404) 304-6676 www.vanguardtrailer.com

Neely Coble Co. (256) 350-1630 www.neelycoble.com Nextran Truck Corporation (205) 841-4450 www.nextrancorp.com Peterbilt Motors Co. (770) 330-7014 www.peterbilt.com Peterbilt of Montgomery & Birmingham LLC (800) 264-4555 www.peterbilttruckcenters.com Rush Truck Center-Mobile (251) 459-7300 www.rushofmobile.com Southland International Trucks, Inc. (205) 942-6226 www.southlandtrucks.com Taylor & Martin, Inc. (662) 262-4613 www.taylorandmartin.com Thompson/Caterpillar (205) 849-4365 www.thompsontractor.com Truckworx Kenworth - Birmingham (205) 326-6170 www.TRUCKWORX.com Truckworx Kenworth – Dothan (334) 712-4900 www.TRUCKWORX.com Truckworx Kenworth – Montgomery (334) 263-3101 www.TRUCKWORX.com Truckworx Kenworth – Mobile (251) 957-4000 www.TRUCKWORX.com Truckworx Kenworth – Huntsville (256) 308-0162 www.TRUCKWORX.com Truckworx Kenworth – Thomasville (334) 636-4380 www.TRUCKWORX.com

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

Truckworx Kenworth – Tuscaloosa (205) 752-2886 www.TRUCKWORX.com

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

Volvo Trucks North America (336) 393-2975 www.volvotrucks.volvo.com

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

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

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

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

Daimler Trucks NA LLC (803) 207-4099 www.freightlinertrucks.com Empire Truck Sales, LLC (601) 939-1000 www.empiretruck.com Fleetco, Inc. (615) 256-0600 www.fleetco.net Four Star Freightliner (334) 263-1085 (Montgomery) www.fourstarfreightliner.com Long Lewis Western Star (205) 428-6241 www.longlewistrucks.com Mack Trucks, Inc. (678) 201-4770 www.macktrucks.com

TRUCKSTOPS Love’s Travel Stops, Inc. (405) 202-4451 www.loves.com Oasis Travel Center, LLC (251) 960-1148 Pilot Flying J Centers (865) 207-3219 www.pilotflyingj.com TravelCenters of America/Petro Shopping Centers (678) 591-4675 www.tatravelcenters.com VEHICLE LEASING Southland International Trucks, Inc. (205) 942-6226 www.southlandtrucks.com Ward International Trucks, LLC (251) 433-5616 www.wardintltrucks.com

ATA

NEW MEMBERS & EVENTS

New Members (as of 11-23-2015) Allison Transmission, Inc. 3318 Hillside Drive Powder Springs, GA 30127 Noah Stroup (678) 367-7011

Handy Lock Self Storage P. O. Box 1238 Gautier, MS 39553 James H. Horne (228) 497-4770

JPS Trucking, Inc. John Skelton 352 Co Rd 420 Tyler, AL 36785 (334) 872-4878

One Beacon 44 Whippany Rd Morristown, NJ 07960 Tina Angelone (609) 613-0010

BB&T Commercial Banking 2501 20th Place South, Ste. 201 Birmingham, AL 35223 Josh Petty (205) 445-2464

HigGuns Transport, LLC 1717 Mount View Rd Hayden, AL 35079 Mike Shields (205) 532-4057

LB3, LLC 12222 Old Hwy 431 Wedowee, AL 36278 Brian Lindley (256) 310-3140

Porter Billing Service LLC 2112 1st Ave N Birmingham, AL 35203 John Land (205) 322-5442

JH Berry Risk Services, LLC Rachel Machovec 22 Inv erness Center Pkway #310 Birmingham, AL 35242 (205) 208-1238

MPS Express P. O. Box 444 Geraldine, AL 35974 Dale Hooper (256) 659-6736

Wise Environmental Solutions P. O. Box 10263 Oxford, AL 36203 Ronda McMichael (256) 832-7867

Beverly Transport P. O. Box 1727 Semmes, AL 36575 Darrell Beverly (251) 301-7401

ATA Calendar of Events SMMC Christmas Celebration December 14, 2015 Pelham, Ala. ATA Board of Director’s Meeting January 26, 2016 Montgomery, Ala. SMMC Fleet Safety Awards March 21, 2016 Pelham, Ala. SMMC Mock Trial May 17, 2016 Montgomery, Ala. ATA Annual Convention & Meeting April 28-30, 2016 Las Vegas, Nev. Alabama Truck Driving Championships June 10, 2016 Pelham, Ala. ATA Board of Director’s Meeting & Officer Installation June 28, 2016 Montgomery, Ala. ATA Golf Classic September 27, 2016 Prattville, Ala. 36

A

D V E R T I S I N G

I

N D E X

ADVERTISER

PG. NO.

PH. NO.

ATA WCSIF

BC

(334) 834-7911

www.atacompfund.org

Carrier Transicold South

21

(205) 328-7278

www.trucktrailer.carrier.com

Dorsey Trailer

28

Infiniti-i

30

(205) 585-3895

Ahicks0604@bellsouth.net

International Trucks

IFC

(800) 844-4102

www.navistar.com

J.J. Keller

25

(888) 473-4638 ext. 7892

Johnson Locklin

16

(251) 947-3015

www.johnson-locklin.com

Nextran Truck Center

7

(800) 292-8685

www.nextrancorp.com

Palomar Insurance

26

(800) 489-0105

www.palomarins.com

Pivotal LNG

20

713-300-5116

www.pivotallng.com

Regions Insurance

24

(800) 807-1412

www.regionsinsurance.com

Southland Trailer Div.

23

(888) 844-1821

www.southlandtrucks.com

IBC

(205) 849-4288

www.thompsontractor.com

Trans Con Assurance Ltd.

17

(205) 978-7070

www.transconassurance.com

Truckworx Kenworth

3

(800) 444-6170

www.truckworx.com

Turner & Hamrick

27

(888) 385-0186

www.turnerhamrick.com

18-19

(205) 755-2610

www.thomasoil.com

Thompson Cat

WH Thomas Oil Co.

WEB ADDRESS

www.dorseytrailer.net

www.jjkellermobile.com

A LABAMA T RUCKER • 4 TH Q UARTER 2015