Oklahoma Motor Carrier Summer 2015

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Summer 2015 | Volume 22 | Issue 3 | oktrucking.org

TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS SUMMER SHOOT-OUT GOLF TOURNAMENT HIGHLIGHTS

JIM NEWPORT NEW OTA DIRECTOR-ELECT

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Editor | Shannon Helton shannonhelton@oktrucking.org Golf Photography | Emily Ifill Executive Director | Dan Case dancase@oktrucking.org Executive Director-Elect | Jim Newport jimnewport@oktrucking.org Vice President of Financials | Les Hinkle leshinkle@oktrucking.org Vice President of Operations | Rebecca Chappell rebeccachappell@oktrucking.org Secretary/Treasurer | Nanci Davis rebeccachappell@oktrucking.org Chairman of Board | Danny Smith UPS

Board of Directors Jim Klepper | Drivers Legal Plan David McCorkle | McCorkle Truck Line LaVern McCorkle | McCorkle Truck Line Steve Niswander | Groendyke Transport Carmalieta Wells | Madewell & Madewell, Inc. Susan Boese | Tri Alexander Transportation, Inc. David Freymiller | Freymiller, Inc. Ken Case | Dugan Truck Line, Inc. Mike Mayer | Rush Truck Centers John Mallory | John Christner Trucking Robert O’Brien | Red Carpet Charters Adam Dye | Southwest Trailers & Equipment Dusty Runnels | Hamm & Phillips Bob Peterson | Melton Truck Lines, Inc. Bob Acker | Bruckner Truck Sales, Inc. Greg Price | United Petroleum Transports Joyce Ryel | Superior Energy Services Mike Stone | Beaver Express Services, LLC

For over eighty years, the Oklahoma Motor Carrier (OMC) magazine has provided OTA members with important information concerning their association and the trucking industry.

Each issue of the OMC features an OTA member company, and update on state and national trucking issues and highlights from Celebrating 80 Years OTA events. The OMC is read by over 3,700 people throughout the state of Oklahoma - including those outside the trucking industry.

Fall 2012 | Volume 19 | Issue 4 | www.oktrucking.org

For advertising rates and information, please contact Shannon Helton at 405.445.1790, or visit oktrucking. org for rate sheets and additional information.

STAYCONNECTED www.Facebook.com/OKTrucking

@OKTrucking

bit.ly/WkV57T

linkd.in/ZbTxDx The Oklahoma Motor Carrier (OMC) is published quarterly by the Oklahoma Trucking Association, 3909 N. Lindsay, Oklahoma City, OK 73105. Office of Publication, Southwestern Stationary, OKC, Okla. Bulk Rate postage paid at OKC, Okla. Please address all correspondence to 3909 N. Lindsay, Oklahoma City, OK 73105.

Oklahoma Motor Carrier Magazine | Summer 2015

3

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NEW & USED TRUCK SALES | PARTS | SERVICE | BODY SHOP| LEASING | FINANCE | TRANSPORT REFRIGERATION

IN THIS ISSUE 6 FROM THE CHAIRMAN 7 FROM THE EDITOR 7 UPCOMING EVENTS 9 MEMBER UPDATES 10 VETERANS TRANSITION INTO

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TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

CIVILIAN JOBS AS COMMERCIAL TRUCK AND BUS DRIVERS IN RECORD NUMBERS THROUGH USDOT/ FMCSA PROGRAM

12 TRUCKING NEEDS BETTER

ROADS TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY MOVING

14 ATA REMAINS OPTIMISTIC

ON TRUCK GREENHOUSE GAS AND FUEL EFFICIENCY PROPOSAL INDUSTRY GROUP SUPPORTS AIMS BUT RAISES POTENTIAL TECHNOLOGY CONCERNS

16 DESPITE FEARMONGERING

THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY IS SAFE AND GETTING SAFER

40

SUMMER SHOOT-OUT

18 REP. SENECA SCOTT

PROPOSES INTERIM STUDY FOR ’E-CONSTRUCTION’ AND ’ROAD DIETS

20 ODOT’S NEW EIGHT-YEAR

PLAN APPROVED; MANY HIGHWAY PAVEMENT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED

22 NEW MEMBER GIBBS OFFERS LEGAL EXPERIENCE TO MEMBERS

23 OTA ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ELECT JIM NEWPORT

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NEW OTA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-ELECT

24 SAFETY ZONE 28 TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIP

40 SUMMER SHOOT-OUT GOLF TOURNAMENT

Oklahoma Motor Carrier Magazine | Summer 2015

5

Every Where.

FROM THECHAIRMAN OTA CHAIRMAN

DANNY SMITH

This Summer at the Association has been one of planning and change. We are pleased to announce Jim Newport at the new Executive Director-Elect who is doing a fantastic job learning about the OTA from Dan and the membership. He has an impressive background in legislation and transportation that has already shown to be beneficial to the OTA through his lobbying efforts this past session.

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We are gearing up for a busy election year and as you know, one thing that I have worked for with the membership is to participate with the 149 Club and our various events throughout the year that not only focus on training and networking, but also legislative efforts.

Knowing your specific concerns and issues helps not only your business, but our Association as a whole have a stronger voice in the legislature. I strongly urge you to continue to support the 149 Club and join us throughout this busy year.

Once again, I am looking forward to celebrating another year in our industry at our annual convention at Downstream Casino this September. We’ve worked together and made it through. I have been honored to serve as Chairman of this Association and hope to see you all in Quapaw soon.

UPCOMINGEVENTS 83RD ANNUAL CONVENTION September 23-24, 2015 Join the Oklahoma Trucking Association for a fun-filled 83rd Annual Convention at Downstream Casino & Resort, September 23-24!

We encourage you to sign-up today for this fun day with great networking opportunities and the chance to win prizes as well as support the OTA, Wilburn Williamson Scholarship, and the PAC Fund.

TMC FALL TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP October 21, 2015

EDITOR

SHANNON HELTON

“Skills for the 21st Century Technician” Francis Tuttle Technology Center, Reno Campus Educational Opportunities for Managers, Technicians, and Diesel Technology Students Covering Critical Aspects of Vehicle Maintenance and Technician Certification

OSMC 2015 FALL SEMINAR October 29-30, 2015 Fall Seminar will be held at the Wyndham Garden located at 2101 S Meridian in Oklahoma City on October 29-30. Registration Fees: Both days $150, Single day $100.

NATMI CSS & CDS FLEET SAFETY CERTIFICATION November 2-6 Motor Fleet Safety Basics - November 2-3 Managing Motor Fleet Safety Programs - November 4-5 Certification Exam - November 6 Please Register Early, Maximum 15 Seats Available

For the most up-to-date event information, please visit oktrucking.org/events or contact Rebecca Chappell at 405.525.9488 or by email at rebeccachappell@oktrucking.org.

Congratulations to all of the drivers to participated in this year’s Truck Driving Championship! I hope that you all had a great time. Thank you so much to the volunteers and the OSMC who puts the event on each year. There are so many different facets to it and it takes a lot of manpower, but they pull it off each year!

It’s pretty amazing what we can accomplish as a team -- or even teams. Getting members together each summer for the Summer Shoot-Out Golf Tournament is always a blast.

Even if it tries to rain two years in a row.

We can accomplish many things if we work together. Respect and acknowledge when others do great work is a wonderful way to honor this, through the Fleet Safety Awards and the Truck Driving Championships. This Fall, make sure you don’t limit truck driver appreciation to one week, but year round.

We in the trucking industry know what we can offer and how great our workers are -let’s get the public on board too.

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George Gibbs georgeatlaw.com (918) 698-5021 601 S. Boulder, Suite 500 Tulsa, OK 74119 Services: Evidence presentation, accident investigation, legal defense & accident reconstruction, trucking & accident trial work defense.

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Dawn Johnston djohnston@bar-s.com (580) 821-5711 100 Bar-S Drive Elk City, OK 73644 www.bar-s.com Services: Food manufacturer/distribution center/shipper.

Mack Truck Sales of Tulsa, Inc. (918) 446-5571 5301 W. 60th St. South TULSA

Oklahoma Motor Carrier Magazine | Summer 2015

9

TRUCKING TIDBITS

VETERANS TRANSITION INTO CIVILIAN JOBS AS COMMERCIAL TRUCK AND BUS DRIVERS IN RECORD NUMBERS THROUGH USDOT/FMCSA PROGRAM Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

More than 10,000 veterans and active duty personnel have now taken advantage of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Military Skills Test Waiver Program. In the first three years of the Military Skills Test Waiver Program, approximately 6,000 former military personnel obtained a civilian commercial driver’s license (CDL). In the past 12 months alone, another 4,000 individuals, including Reserves, National Guard, and U.S. Coast Guard service members, have taken advantage of the Program.

“It is our duty to help returning veterans transition into civilian life, and I am proud that so many have used this program to secure careers in the transportation sector,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Just as important, we want to put their valuable skills and experience to work driving the Nations’ economy.”

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Oklahoma Motor Carrier Magazine | Summer 2015

The Military Skills Test Waiver Program, which began in 2011, grants state licensing agencies, including the District of Columbia, the authority to waive the skills test portion of the CDL application for active duty or recently separated veterans who possess at least two years of safe driving experience operating a military truck or bus. Waiving the skills test expedites the civilian CDL application process and reduces expenses for qualified individuals and operating costs to state licensing agencies.

“In the near future, the need for skilled truck drivers is expected to grow dramatically,” said FMCSA Chief Counsel Scott Darling. “Having skillful and experienced drivers operating on our roadways will lead to increased safety for every member of the motoring public.”

The USDOT/FMCSA Military Skills Test Waiver Program has been conducted in close cooperation with the Department of Defense and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA).

TRUCKING TIDBITS

TRUCKING NEEDS BETTER ROADS TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY MOVING Bill Graves - ATA

At the conclusion of Infrastructure Week, an op-ed from American Trucking Associations President and CEO Bill Graves calls for Congress to move quickly to address our burgeoning infrastructure crisis.

Anyone who has ever shopped at a store, shipped a package or driven on a highway knows that trucking is the lifeblood of our economy.

Moving billions of dollars’ worth of freight every year, trucking hauls nearly 70% of all the country’s freight, but those movements are threatened by a very fixable problem. If trucking is our economy’s lifeblood, then our highways are its circulatory system – veins and arteries that deliver life’s essentials to every corner of the United States.

However, that system is increasingly under pressure by congestion, by disrepair and by neglect.

For more than two decades our leaders in Washington have neglected our highways and neglected their duty to maintain and improve our roads and bridges to give us the modern, efficient transportation system we deserve.

Since 1993, our leaders have failed to grow the federal highway program – failed to ensure that its core, the Highway Trust Fund, was stable and now we are seeing the 12

Oklahoma Motor Carrier Magazine | Summer 2015

impacts of that neglect.

The numbers are hard to believe. Congestion and bottlenecks on important freight corridors cost trucking more than $9.2 billion annually – costs that ultimately get rolled into prices consumers pay at the store. Dollars invested in reducing congestion and improving our highways ultimately save us all money.

Those investments can go toward addressing the condition of our major roads: nearly a third of which are in poor or mediocre condition; or our bridges – where roughly one in four need significant repair to handle today’s traffic volumes.

Poor infrastructure wastes not just money, but time - the average motorist – not truck driver – spends almost 40 hours a year stuck in traffic.

All these negative impacts are symptoms of our elected leaders not doing enough to maintain a system that in some cases is nearly 60 years old.

Since Congress last raised the tax on diesel and gasoline, the relative purchasing power – the amount of steel, concrete and asphalt we’re able to buy with our tax dollars – has dropped by almost 50%. In simpler terms, we’re

getting half as much as we used to get for our money even as our needs and population grow.

The trucking industry already makes significant contributions to the Highway Trust Fund – more than $16.5 billion – but we’re willing to do more, to pay more at the pump.

We believe the fuel tax is the most efficient way of funding our critical needs, putting 98% of all revenue collected into actual construction. We’re open to considering alternatives. However, those alternatives need to be efficient.

Some alternatives, like tolling see 20, 25 or even 30 cents of every dollar collected siphoned off into administrative bureaucracy when those funds could be invested in actual project work.

Now, we can’t reasonably expect the House and Senate to craft a full, well-funded, multi-year highway bill by the end of the month, but we cannot allow them to continue to delay for very long. Congress should act now to keep the highway program and then turn their attention to passing a long-term highway bill as soon as possible.

There are no Republican bridges or Democratic highways – and there is agreement on both sides of the aisle that we must do something. Liberals and conservatives can, and have, come together on this issue, and we must meet them halfway by holding their colleagues’ feet to the fire and demanding they act.

Congress has kicked the can down the road – a congested road marked with potholes, mind you – so often the can is dented beyond recognition. This must end.

Pundits like to say that taxpayers and voters expect our elected leaders to lead, not hide from tough issues. Infrastructure isn’t a tough issue – it is a no-brainer. A highway bill will create jobs, improve our economy and strengthen America’s position as a global leader. We all need to demand that our representatives stop shirking their responsibility, step up, do their Constitutional duty and pass a comprehensive highway bill.

As with most things in Washington these days, Congress only acts when there’s a crisis or a deadline, and unhelpfully, we have both. If Congress does nothing by May 31, the highway program expires which will only compound the crisis we’re facing with our roads and bridges.

We at the ATA are watching these events very carefully, and we’re going to be holding politicians who want to kick the can further down the road accountable for the added costs and congestion they are creating by not addressing our ongoing infrastructure crisis.

What’s most important is that our leaders put the Highway Trust Fund back onto a sustainable path into the future – a task they have so far failed to accomplish.

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TRUCKING TIDBITS

ATA REMAINS OPTIMISTIC ON TRUCK GREENHOUSE GAS AND FUEL EFFICIENCY PROPOSAL INDUSTRY GROUP SUPPORTS AIMS BUT RAISES POTENTIAL TECHNOLOGY CONCERNS Today, leaders at the American Trucking Associations offered statements of support for the Obama Administration’s second round of greenhouse gas and fuel efficiency rules for commercial trucks, but remains concerned the rule may result in the use of certain technologies on vehicles before they can be fully tested.

“Fuel is an enormous expense for our industry – and carbon emissions carry an enormous cost for our planet,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “That’s why our industry supported the Obama Administration’s historic first round of greenhouse gas and fuel efficiency standards for medium and large trucks and why we support the aims of this second round of standards.”

Since the first round of efficiency standards were announced in 2011, ATA has been working to evaluate their impact on the trucking industry and has been in constant dialogue with the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to make sure the second round of standards can be effectively implemented by the industry.

“ATA has adopted a set of 15 ‘guiding principles’ for Phase II,” said ATA Vice President and Energy and Environmental Counsel Glen Kedzie, “and based on conversations with regulators and a preliminary review this proposal appears to meet 14 of those.

“We believe this rule could result in the deployment of certain technologies that do not fully recognize the diversity of our industry and could prove to be unreliable. This unreliability could slow not only adoption of these technologies, but the environmental benefits they aim to create,” Kedzie said. “To prevent this, truck and engine manufacturers will need adequate time to develop solutions to meet these new standards.”

Kedzie said fuel is typically a fleet’s first or second largest operating expense and most fleets seek a return on their investment in new equipment within 18 to 24 months.

“In 2014, trucking spent nearly $150 billion on diesel fuel alone,” he said, “so the potential for real cost savings and associated environmental benefits of this rule are there – but fleets will need a wide variety of proven and durable technologies to meet these new standards throughout the various implementation stages.”

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Oklahoma Motor Carrier Magazine | Summer 2015

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TRUCKING TIDBITS

DESPITE FEARMONGERING THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY IS SAFE AND GETTING SAFER Bill Graves - ATA

The following is an oped column by American Trucking Associations President and CEO Bill Graves that was submitted to, and rejected by, The New York Times in response to the latest in a series of baseless and defamatory editorials, letters and columns published by the paper. This particular column – already the subject of a correction – was written by a former ATA employee.

hours a week, up from the current 70 hours over eight days." FMCSA itself has said such an extreme work schedule would only be possible in "an imaginary world of perfect logistics." In the real world the average driver works 52 hours in a week – a reasonable total when compared to the average American workweek in today's modern economy.

It is unfortunate that the Times ran an opinion column this Saturday titled "The Trucks are Killing Us," without properly vetting the statements contained in it. Despite the author's implied credentials, there are several falsehoods, both implied and intentional, in the text that deserve a response.

The column also warns of the alleged dangers of allowing younger drivers to operate commercial vehicles across state lines. This ignores that at 18, a young man or woman can obtain a commercial driver's license and drive a

First, the author Mr. Abramson notes that "more people will be killed in traffic accidents involving large trucks this year than have died in all of the domestic commercial airline crashes over the past 45 years," implying the trucking industry is responsible for all these deaths. This simply isn't true. Per the most recent federal data available, upwards of two-thirds of all serious crashes involving large trucks are caused by the actions of someone other than the professional driver. Speeding, impaired driving and other aggressive behaviors by non-commercial drivers cause far more truck crashes than do fatigue or other issues cited by the author. This is why ATA supports highway safety programs like America's Road Team and Share the Road where our professional drivers educate the best ways for trucks and autos to interact on the roadways safely.

Second, Mr. Abramson says Congress has "eliminate[ed] the requirement that drivers take a two-day break each week." This isn't just an implied falsehood – it is simply and totally wrong. What Congress has done is almost exactly the opposite – it is allowing drivers to take more than one two-day break each week should they need or want to – and easing an onerous restriction that these breaks include two periods between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration admitted to Congress it never studied the potential consequences of these changes, consequences we now know – thanks to an American Transportation Research Institute analysis – include increased daytime truck traffic and likely increases in crashes as a result of more congested highways during daylight hours.

Mr. Abramson also cites an oft-debunked canard about Congress' change "allow[ing] truck drivers to work 82 16

Oklahoma Motor Carrier Magazine | Summer 2015

PER THE MOST RECENT FEDERAL DATA AVAILABLE, UPWARDS OF TWO-THIRDS OF ALL SERIOUS CRASHES INVOLVING LARGE TRUCKS ARE CAUSED BY THE ACTIONS OF SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE PROFESSIONAL DRIVER. truck long distances within the borders of their state, the 300 miles from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia for example, but not a short interstate trip – like the three miles between Philadelphia to Camden, N.J. The pilot program Congress is currently proposing would not only fix this illogical inconsistency and provide states the ability to restrict these younger drivers in many ways; it would take a huge step toward a graduated commercial licensing system – the same type of system that has long been heralded by safety minded organizations, including ATA. Mr. Abramson also chastises the industry for opposing technologies like airbags, electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes. Again, this is false. ATA has pushed for a review of truck crashworthiness standards and has supported mandates for both electronic stability control (finally enacted this June) and improved braking systems.

ATA has also been at the forefront of pushes to electronically limit truck speeds and better electronic monitoring of driver hours-of-service – a pair of regulations we hope will be issued soon.

This column also takes the position that trucks are disproportionally involved in crashes – which is patently false.

NHTSA's most recent Traffic Safety Facts report (dated July 2015) contains the facts: 9% of miles were driven by large trucks in 2013; large trucks accounted for 9% of all vehicles involved in fatal crashes and 3 percent of all vehicles involved in injury and property-damage-only crashes in 2013. NHTSA's data makes it clear: trucks are underrepresented in crashes.

Improving safety is also at the core of ATA's support for modest increases in trailer length for some trucks. With a simple increase in trailer size from 28 feet to 33 feet, studies have shown we can eliminate the 6.6 million trips to deliver the 69% of the American economy that trucks move, and that would reduce the number of truck miles traveled by 1.3 billion. Those trips not taken and miles not driven will result, based on crash rates, more than 900 crashes not had.

At the end of the day, there is no silver bullet, no magic gadget that will make roads entirely safe. But through education, by reducing crash risk through sound rules, safety technologies and tighter enforcement, we can continue the long-term improvements in truck and highway safety. Over the past decade, through the industry's diligence and professionalism, as well as improvements in vehicle technology and enforcement, the number of

truck-involved fatal crashes has fallen by a third.

This is good news that some choose to ignore, but it is also a call for all of us – the industry, government regulators and motorists to look at the true roots of crashes and not use the politics of fear to impose counterproductive "solutions."

STATE MATTERS

REP. SENECA SCOTT PROPOSES INTERIM STUDY FOR 'E-CONSTRUCTION' AND 'ROAD DIETS

by Capitolbeat.ok Staff

State Rep. Seneca Scott, D-Tulsa, has proposed a legislative Interim Study to focus an 'e-construction' record-keeping alternative for the state Transportation Department's 8-year plan. If approved by legislative leadreship, Rep. Scott also wants to examine “road diets” for route designs.

A press release from House Democratic Media staff pointed out that the administration of highway projects requires a significant amount of documentation.

This has traditionally been accomplished through extensive, paper-based documentation systems involving conventional postal delivery, project journals, note taking, stamped plan sets, design and construction submittals and physical signatures on multiple copies of many documents.

“Each year my office and the offices of all members in the state House and Senate receive bound paper copies of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s ‘8-Year Construction Plan’. This packet of documents weighs about 7 pounds and contains three primary reports outlining each upcoming project, as well as five high-gloss full-color brochures that focus on the individual transpor18

Oklahoma Motor Carrier Magazine | Summer 2015

tation aspects, all contained within a plastic folio,” Rep. Scott said in the press release.

“I have no idea what this costs the department, but with roads and bridges in our state crumbling for lack of funding I want to find out.”

For 2016, “I counted 324 projected new or repair type transportation construction projects that ODOT hopes to complete,” the Tulsa legislator observed.

“What is the budgetary impact of administering and accounting for these projects? What is ODOT’s operational method for producing and distributing all of this data, and what is the rate of budget efficacy when we compare this to e-construction?”

That issue could be explored in the interim legislative study for 2015 that’s been requested by Rep. Scott.

E-construction is a paperless construction administration delivery process that includes electronic submission of all construction documentation. A paper-based system requires significant time and money to create, process and

store documents. In an era of instant communication, onthe-fly information access, and tech-savvy workforce, this state of affairs is fast becoming obsolete, Scott believes.

The Michigan Department of Transportation, a leader in “e-construction,” estimates that the agency saves approximately $12 million in added efficiencies and 6 million pieces of paper annually by using electronic document storage for its $1 billion construction program, while reducing its contract modification processing time from 30 days to 3 days.

The second half of Scott’s interim study would focus on implementing a process known as “Road-Diets” – that is, redefining existing highway lane space such as converting an existing four-lane, undivided roadway segment that serves both through and turning traffic into a three-lane segment with two through lanes and a center, two-way, left-turn lane.

The reclaimed space could be allocated for other uses, such as bike lanes, pedestrian refuge islands, bus lanes and/or parking.

“More than 5,000 spectators gathered for the Pro-Am Classic, and the Saint Francis/Tulsa Tough-race now has 2,000 participants and 60,000 spectators! This is huge for our economy. So how is it that Oklahoma is considered one of the worst places in the country to cycle? We are ranked 45th in the nation. The answer, in part, is road access. Road Diets can have a significant impact without increasing our transportation budget. We do, however, need to follow through with funding earmarked for this activity, as other states have.”

The League of American Bicyclists has encouraged states to consider five key areas when hoping to improve bike-friendly standings: legislation and enforcement, policies and programs, infrastructure and funding, education/encouragement, and evaluation and planning.

June 12 was the deadline for submission of interim study requests in the state House of Representatives, and House Speaker Jeff Hickman said he will announce by July 10 which studies he has authorized.

“Cycling in Oklahoma is exploding both as a form of exercise to improve health and as a competitive sport,” Scott said.

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STATE MATTERS

ODOT’S NEW EIGHT-YEAR PLAN APPROVED; MANY HIGHWAY PAVEMENT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ODOT

At its Tuesday, Sept. 8 meeting, members of the Oklahoma Transportation Commission gave their approval to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s Federal Fiscal Year 2016-2023 Eight-year Construction Work Plan, which includes $6.5 billion in state and federal funds for 1,800 much-needed projects to address the backlog of critical transportation improvements. Oklahoma’s transportation system is crucial for a growing economy, however increased traffic, extreme weather and decades of underfunding takes a toll on the state’s highways and bridges.

Thanks to additional funding from the state legislature in recent years, ODOT is making continued improvements, like addressing the state’s remaining structurally deficient bridges, improving pavement conditions, making narrow highways safer and reconstructing outdated interchanges as part of a long-term plan to modernize. However, there are many more needs that must be addressed in future Eight-year Plans.

Highlights of the FFY 2016-2023 Eight-year Construction Work Plan include: • Nearly $6.5 billion in improvements • 1,812 total projects • 913 bridge replacements or major rehabilitations • 776 miles of added shoulders and other safety improvements to two-lane highways • More than $2.4 billion in major improvements to high-volume highways and interstates The Eight-year Plan is coupled with the Asset Preservation Plan, which focuses on extending the life cycle of highways and bridges through timely preventative maintenance.

“It’s been a decade since the state made transportation funding a top priority and in that time we have seen great progress in addressing structurally deficient highway bridges,” Executive Director Mike Patterson said. “The plan had always been to focus on our critical bridge issue first while recognizing that many highway pavement needs would have to be addressed next. As we get closer to reaching our goal with the bridge program, ODOT can turn the corner and focus more aggressively on improving pavement conditions statewide.”

Not long ago, Oklahoma ranked as one of the worst states in the nation for bad bridges and low investment in transportation. Since more state funding was dedicated to transportation through the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety fund beginning in 2006, ODOT’s primary focus in the Eight-year Plan has been replacement 20

Oklahoma Motor Carrier Magazine | Summer 2015

and rehabilitation of structurally deficient bridges. The number of structurally deficient highway bridges has been successfully reduced from an all-time high of 1,168 bridges in 2004 to 372 at the end of 2014, and all remaining structurally deficient bridges are programmed in the plan for rehabilitation or replacement by 2019.

With such a large number of bridge projects, which are very costly, more funding has gone to bridge improvements. As drivers have experienced, the state’s highway needs are also very great. For instance, the state has more than 4,500 miles of two-lane highways without paved shoulders. Additionally, Oklahoma’s extreme weather, including the recent harsh winters and unprecedented summer floods, has sped up the deterioration of highway conditions statewide.

Through the Eight-year Plan and the Asset Preservation Plan, ODOT will be putting more resources into improving and preserving highway pavements as well as adding shoulders to narrow two-lane highways and reconstructing major interchanges to make travel safer and more efficient.

Since being first implemented in its current format, ODOT’s Eight-year Plan has focused on addressing the state’s greatest transportation needs in an accountable and businesslike manner. The project selection process is very rigorous, as transportation commissioners work with ODOT’s eight division engineers and staff to identify the most critical highway and bridge projects and create a balanced statewide plan. Each year, the plan is updated to reflect project completions, adjustments in projected revenue and changes in construction costs. As the previous fiscal year comes off of the plan, another year is added based on forecasting of available federal and state funding.

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MEMBER NEWS

NEW MEMBER GIBBS OFFERS LEGAL EXPERIENCE TO MEMBERS OTA

The OTA is pleased to welcome new member George Gibbs this past Spring. After sitting down with Mr. Gibbs, we learned that he has valuable insight many OTA members may be able to take advantage of.

Gibbs started his career as a counselor, not of the legal kind, but in the mental health field, over thirty years ago and greatly enjoyed the time he spent helping people.

Eventually, he went on to earn his law degree from the University of Oklahoma and he has been practicing law ever since. Now, he resides in the Tulsa-area with his wife of 37 years. They have two sons, one is a U.S. Marine and the other works on their ranch where they have horses and 100 head of cattle.

His practice, Gibbs, Armstrong, Borochoff, Mullican & Hart P.C. is a civil defense firm that has a wide variety of practice areas, including insurance defense and transportation. Gibbs has learned through his decades of experience that trucking often gets a bad reputation in the public’s eye, “I wish the public would realize that truck drivers are very hard working people who have one of the safest records per mile than other drivers.”

He realizes that the public often does not understand the limitations that big rigs face not only in maneuvering, but in regards to regulatory needs as well.

Gibbs is a strong believer in that transportation funds should be used for transportation needs and infrastructure, not into the general fund.

Some other ideas he has offered up during his time in practice is the use of cameras on trucks. “How do drivers feel about having cameras on them?” Gibbs asked.

He also believes that cracking down on aggressive drivers around trucks is something that he would like to see implemented, but knows these are just small ideas in the big picute.

“I want to be available to members if they have a question, and if I don’t know the answer, I’ll find out,” he said. Gibbs is excited about his membership in the OTA and hopes to learn more and share in his career experience with other members.

He welcomes inquiries and questions for no charge.

22

Oklahoma Motor Carrier Magazine | Summer 2015

MEMBER NEWS

OTA ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ELECT JIM NEWPORT OTA

The Board of the Oklahoma Trucking Association (OTA) has elected and is pleased to announce the appointment of Jim Newport as Executive Director Elect, starting June 30, 2015. Dan Case remains Executive Director and Newport will assist him.

Newport has spent 15 years with an interstate bulk transportation business, ultimately serving as Vice President of Administration. Newport has also served a decade in both the minority and the majority in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. In 2005 Newport authored the most significant Infrastructure Funding Bill (roads and bridges) in decades without any new taxation.

The impact of this legislation has and will continue to be realized by Oklahomans for decades to come.

He went on to serve as one of the

Majority Floor Leaders and was Vice Chairman of the House appropriations committee overseeing a $7.2 billion budget. Newport currently serves as a lobbyist during the Oklahoma Legislative Session including the representation of the OTA. “Trucking, and the improvement of roads and bridges have been a priority of mine for many years now. It is a privilege to work alongside Dan Case and the fine men and women who comprise the Oklahoma Trucking Association. Representing hundreds of member companies and thousands of Oklahoma jobs, the OTA will continue its work of excellence in Oklahoma. Supporting safety, improved infrastructure, friendly business environments and the trucking of goods for the benefit of Oklahomans is a vital role of the OTA” said Jim Newport, Executive Director Elect.

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Madewell & Madewell, Inc., since 1953 405.399.2201 • Jones, OK Oklahoma Motor Carrier Magazine | Summer 2015

23

TYe ap FhrEis P SwAith C E

N

ZO

COMPLACENCY The definition of complacency means a feeling of contentment or self-satisfaction, often combined with a lack of awareness of pending trouble or controversy. To say that most truck drivers are “unaware” might be an insult to most. Driving is a dangerous task. Over the years we get very good at this task as most of us practice at least sixty miles a day. Imagine a truck driver, practicing at over ten times that!

Take a step back to recall the first time witnessing a vehicle speeding up to an intersection or cross street to then only slam on the brakes at the last second to stop. As we approached that intersection, my first reaction was to slam on the brakes myself in reaction. But then, over the years, we realized that vehicle was in fact stopping at the intersection and we then learned the normal bad habit of the other drivers of simply waiting to the last second to stop. How did your reaction change over the years? At first, I would bet it was the same as I. Over the years I would also bet you barely notice those vehicles today.

This process over time is the definition of complacency. Imagine the many different examples as the above. Following vehicles at only 2 – 3 seconds, planning on a vehicle to turn before you get there – but they stop instead, and even topping a hill that you could not see over well enough at your current speed. We all drive complacent. We drive with a safe feeling that we have been here before. We have been through this a time or two. “It will not happen to me.”

I am not saying we are all bad drivers – but imagine the difference it would make if we began driving in a state of mind in which “they might run the stop sign”, or “they might just stop.” We might just end up with, “we might have just saved their life.”

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2015 TRUCK DRIVING

CHAMPIONSHIPS 28

Oklahoma Motor Carrier Magazine | Summer 2015

Randy Reed of FedEx Express has been named the Grand Champion of the 2015 Oklahoma Truck Driving Championships (TDC) which took place June 4 and 5 in Oklahoma City.

Reed competed in the 3-Axle Van Class, placing first, and FedEx Express also won the Team award.

Reed will now go on to represent Oklahoma at the National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC).

A total of 96 drivers in competed in Oklahoma TDC this year. Approximately 325 people attended the awards banquet to honor the winners. The winners of each class will go on to represent Oklahoma at the NTDC, August 11-15, 2015 in St. Louis, Missouri.

The TDC was sponsored by Class Champion Sponsors Bruckner Truck Sales and MHC Kenworth; Rookie of the Year Sponsors Hamm & Phillips Service Company, Hampel Oil, and Help, Inc.; Safety Professional Sponsors ABF Freight System, Inc., ATC Freightliner, Domino Transports, FedEx Freight, Inc., Great West Casualty Company, Melton Truck Lines,

Niles Transportation, Stroughton Rental & Leasing, T&W Tire, and Wal-Mart; Competitor Sponsors FTC Transportation, Inc., PC Promotions, Rand McNally, and Vertical Alliance Group; Friends of the TDC and Program Sponsor Logo Promotions.

A complete list of winners is as follows: 3 Axle: 1st Place - Randy Reed – Fed Ex Express 2nd Place - John Bergesen – Con-Way 3rd Place - Thomas Koch – YRC 4 Axle: 1st Place- Michael Buck – YRC 2nd Place - Thomas Weslock – Fed Ex Freight 3rd Place - Wade Wolfenkoehler – Fed Ex Express 5 Axle: 1st Place - Floyd Olson, Jr. – Wal-Mart Transportation 2nd Place - Larry Kendall – Fed Ex Express 3rd Place - Ronald Hawk – Con-Way

Oklahoma Motor Carrier Magazine | Summer 2015

29

Flatbed 1st Place - Kevin Mustin – Fed Ex Freight 2nd Place - John Hunter – Domino Transports 3rd Place - Mark Cress – YRC

Step van 1st Place - Richard Bright – Fed Ex Express 2nd Place - Curtis Harpole – Fed Ex Ground (Rookie) 3rd Place - Kendall Ellis – Fed Ex Express (Rookie)

Sleeper Berth 1st Place - Robbie Granstrom – YRC 2nd Place - Barry Marcum – Con-Way 3rd Place - Jon Atzenhofer – FTC Transportation

Grand Champion: Randy Reed - Fed Ex Express

Straight Truck 1st Place - James Fabian – ABF Freight Systems 2nd Place - David Baker – UPS Freight (Rookie) 3rd Place - Lester Taylor – AAA Cooper Transportation (Rookie) Tank Truck 1st Place - Nathan Tate – Coffeyville Resources Crude Transportation 2nd Place - John Thurman – United Petroleum Transports 3rd Place - Roger Ewing – United Petroleum Transports Twins 1st Place - Kent Jones – ABF Freight Systems 2nd Place - Steve Sleeper - UPS 3rd Place - Michael Thomas – Con-Way

30

Oklahoma Motor Carrier Magazine | Summer 2015

Pre-Trip Inspection Winner: Michael Buck - YRC Rookie Winners: 1st Place - David Baker – UPS Freight 2nd Place - Troy Smith – Old Dominion 3rd Place - Lester Taylor – AAA Cooper Transportation Team Winners: 1st Place - Fed Ex Express 2nd Place - UPS 3rd Place - Con-Way

STRAIGHT TRUCK: 1st Place - James Fabian – ABF Freight Systems 2nd Place - David Baker – UPS Freight (Rookie) 3rd Place - Lester Taylor – AAA Cooper Transportation (Rookie)

THREE-AXLE VAN: 1st Place - Randy Reed – Fed Ex Express 2nd Place - John Bergesen – Con-Way 3rd Place - Thomas Koch – YRC

Oklahoma Motor Carrier Magazine | Summer 2015

31

4 AXLE: 1st Place- Michael Buck – YRC 2nd Place - Thomas Weslock – Fed Ex Freight 3rd Place - Wade Wolfenkoehler – Fed Ex Express

5 AXLE: 1st Place - Floyd Olson, Jr. – Wal-Mart Transportation 2nd Place - Larry Kendall – Fed Ex Express 3rd Place - Ronald Hawk – Con-Way

32

Oklahoma Motor Carrier Magazine | Summer 2015

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FLATBED: 1st Place - Kevin Mustin – Fed Ex Freight 2nd Place - John Hunter – Domino Transports 3rd Place - Mark Cress – YRC

SLEEPER BERTH: 1st Place - Robbie Granstrom – YRC 2nd Place - Barry Marcum – Con-Way 3rd Place - Jon Atzenhofer – FTC Transportation

Oklahoma Motor Carrier Magazine | Summer 2015

35

STEP VAN: 1st Place - Richard Bright – Fed Ex Express 2nd Place - Curtis Harpole – Fed Ex Ground (Rookie) 3rd Place - Kendall Ellis – Fed Ex Express (Rookie)

TWINS: 1st Place - Kent Jones – ABF Freight Systems 2nd Place - Steve Sleeper - UPS 3rd Place - Michael Thomas – Con-Way

TEAM WINNERS: 1st Place - Fed Ex Express 2nd Place - UPS 3rd Place - Con-Way

TANK TRUCK: 1st Place - Nathan Tate – Coffeyville Resources Crude Transportation 2nd Place - John Thurman – United Petroleum Transports 3rd Place - Roger Ewing – United Petroleum Transports

Oklahoma Motor Carrier Magazine | Summer 2015

37

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photography by Emily Ifill The OTA hosted the Summer Shoot-Out at the Oak Tree Country Club in Edmond again this year and welcomed some rainy weather that let up just in time for the shotgun start.

Sales, Great Dane Trailers, Add-On Systems, CorVel, Hampel Oil, HTC Express, Central States Thermo King, Laird & Walkingstick Insurance, Freymiller, Inc., Vertical Alliance Group.

The tournament was hosted by ATC Freightliner - OKC & Tulsa, Bruckner Truck Sales Inc., Hamm & Phillips Service Company, Melton Truck Lines, Inc., Rush Truck Centers, Southwest Trailers & Equipment, T&W Tire, Triad Transport, Inc., UPS

The winners of the first flight were the Southwest Trailers & Equipment team of Adam Dye, Ray Fichte, Mark Kopf, Ronnie Knightl. Second place, first flight went to the Jeff Boan of Cline Wood, and Steve Dean, JC Goodwin and Tanner Young of HTC Express. Third place, first flight went to the Dugan Truck Line team of Corey Sands, Jimmy Westfall, Bryan Knott, and Danny Dysinger.

Lunch sponsors included: McCorkle Truck Line, Inc., MHC Kenworth, CorVel, Freymiller, Inc. Hole sponsors this year were: McCorkle Truck Line, Inc., MHC Kenworth, Pacer Energy Marketing, LLC, Pilot Flying J, American Trucking Associations, Beaver Express Service, Compliance Concepts of Oklahoma, Enid Mack

Winners of the second flight were the Kyle Spencer and Terra Jones of CorVel, Todd McCarthy of Pilot Flying J, and Steve Mace. Second place, second flight went to Grant Pankratz and Len Armon of Great Dane Trailers and John Titsworth and Marvin Loyd of Triad Transport, Inc. Third

Summer

Shoot-Out

Top: XXXX of XXXX and XXX of XXXX Bottom top left: XXXX team. Bottom top right team: Brad Klepper of Drivers Legal Plan, XXXX of XXXX, XXXX of XXXX. Bottom right: XXX of XXX, XXX of XXX, XXX of XXX. Bottom Left: XXX team of XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX.

Place, second flight went to the ATC Freightliner team of Tobin Gump, Tony Brown, Mike Smith, and Blake Mann.

The winners of the third flight were the Central States Thermo King team of Mike Nelson, Stan Ferguson, Ted Nitzel, and Dave Patterson. Second place went to Ryan Woodard, Gregg Stigall, and Blair Homer of T&W Tire, and Dusty Runnels of Hamm & Phillips Service Company. Third place went to Jeff Cullison and Kevin Garrett of Eide Bailly and Becky Yetter and Susan Lobsinger of Lobdock Impairment Detection.

Additional awards were given for Longest Driver, to JC Goodwin of HTC Express and Becky Yetter of Lobdock Impairment Detection. Two Closest to the Pins were also awarded to Mark Brown of Central Tech and Willie Russell of Laird & Walkingstick Insurance.

Thank you to all of the participants in this year’s tournament and a special thank you to all of the sponsors that made the event possible.

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For more information or a current media kit, please visit http://www.oktrucking.org. or contact Shannon Helton at shannonhelton@oktrucking.org.

Oklahoma Motor Carrier Magazine | Summer 2015

45

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