Josh Kelley, FedEx Freight, Inc.; Dan Norgaard, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.; Jeff Eschen, K&J Trucking, Inc.; Mike Whitehead, FedEx Freight, Inc.; Darrel Anderson, XPO; and Josh Worthington, K&J Trucking, Inc.
Not pictured Vinny Harguth, Cliff Viessman, Inc.
SDTA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Bob Willey
Chairman
Justin Anders
Vice Chairman
Tom Murphy
Treasurer
Ryan Viessman
Secretary
Jerry Ollerich
Past Chairman
Vacant
ATA Vice President
Christine Vinatieri-Erickson
President
SDTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jeff Bennett
Phillip Christian
Nick Cleveringa
Shanna Gray
Pete Halverson
Eric Hamiel
Steve Hoffman
Larry Klaahsen
Tim Kotalik
Justin Larson
Chris Lutick
Jim Maciejewski
Tim Miller
Matt Parker
Dan Schipper
Brett Snoozy
SDTA SERVICES BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ryan Viessman
Chairman
Brad Schipper
Membership Retention Director
Todd Johnson
Public Relations Director
Rick Underwood
Membership Services Director
Cindy Heiberger
Group Insurance Director
MESSAGE FROM THE Chairman
Good day, ladies and gentlemen. Here we are at the start of school, which means school buses and young kids might not be paying attention, so be cautious. Now I will address the sad news, as some of you might have heard, Scot Marone has passed away. For those who don’t know him, he was the driving force behind the Wheel Jam Truck Show. I personally would like to extend my condolences to his family. Rest in peace, Scot. I know I’m tired of telling you of the loss of people in the industry; there have been far too many.
On a lighter note, this is my last letter to the membership. Writing this each month is the one thing I will not miss, but I will miss being so involved with the organization. I will still be involved, but probably not quite as much. The one thing I am going to miss is the people and the staff. Christine, Michelle, Patty, and Trevor have been invaluable; not only are they employees of this organization, they have become good friends. They have made this job so much easier for me. They go so far above and beyond what is required.
I’d also like to remind everyone about the upcoming fall board meeting on November 15th in Pierre, along with the pheasant hunt on the 14th. We still need more people to get involved! This organization will play an important part in upcoming legislation that will directly affect each and every one of you. I want to thank you all for the honor and privilege of leading this organization.
Safe travels,
Bob Willey
Bob Willey Trucking robertwilley867@gmail.com
JUSTIN LARSON (605) 224-1611
PIERRE, SD
KURT SWANSON (605) 224-1611
PIERRE, SD
TACHA ARTZ (605) 737-7865
RAPID CITY, SD
JORDAN GAU (605) 996-4698
MITCHELL, SD
GREG BALDWIN (605) 336-2795 SIOUX FALLS, SD
WE KNOW TRANSPORTATION
NICK BACKLUND (605) 996-4698
MITCHELL, SD
RUSS STOUGH (605) 336-4444
SIOUX FALLS, SD
Fischer, Rounds & Associates truck insurance consultants are experts in the coverage of all size trucks and farm equipment, so we know the risks and liabilities to make sure you are fully covered. We have four locations in South Dakota to serve you and your truck insurance needs—Pierre, Mitchell, Rapid City and Sioux Falls.
SDTA STAFF
Christine Vinatieri-Erickson President christine@southdakotatrucking.com
Michelle Wells Member Manager michelle@southdakotatrucking.com
Whew… September and October are packed with out-of-state travel for me. I just returned from the Washington Conference in D.C. with my SDADA crew. While we were there to discuss issues affecting the automotive industry, we also touched on key topics like the economy, supply chain challenges, workforce recruitment, and the federal mandates around zero emissions. A highlight of the trip was participating in a panel on NextGen, where we discussed the importance of involving younger generations in the industry—something that holds true for trucking as well. We’re thrilled to welcome Nick Cleveringa as the new NextGen chair and are looking forward to a renewed focus on upcoming events. Stay tuned!
I’m also excited to share some heartfelt thank-you notes from grateful students at STC who received scholarships funded by the proceeds from the SDTA Fishing Calcutta held in May (see page 21). These scholarships are awarded to second-year diesel tech and trucking industry students. Thanks to your generosity, SDTA is making a real impact on workforce development.
On Friday, September 20th, I had the opportunity to speak at the South Dakota Solid Waste Association Fall Conference in Sioux Falls. I delivered a high-level presentation on the power of a unified voice and the economic impact of the trucking industry, both nationally and within our state. We share many members and issues with the Solid Waste Association, and it was great to highlight our South Dakota CDL program. We’ve already started building partnerships on how SDTA can assist.
Lastly, we have several exciting events coming up this fall, including the SDTA/SDADA joint annual Pheasant Hunt with the Fall Board Meeting, followed by the West and East Legislative Events. Please mark your calendars and plan to join your peers at these great gatherings.
Onward,
Christine M. Vinatieri-Erickson
Bjerke Freight Haulers
Scott Bjerke 109 4th Avenue South Clear Lake, SD 57226
Ryan Mardis, Dakota Carriers, Inc., Sioux Falls, SD, was selected as the September 2024 Driver of the Month by the South Dakota Safety Management Council.
Ryan has more than 18 years of experience as a professional truck driver, with the last 8 years spent at Dakota Carriers, Inc. He has safely driven over 2.1 million miles in his career with no accidents.
Ryan is a driver that does things the right way. His dependability and communication skills are outstanding. Ryan embraces new technology and enjoys teaching others, according to Matt Stensland, Safety Director at Dakota Carriers, Inc.
Ryan and his wife, Lisa, reside in Sioux Falls, SD. They have two adult children.
The South Dakota Trucking Association joins the Safety Management Council in congratulating Ryan Mardis for being selected as the September 2024 Driver of the Month.
A nomination form & rules can be
We offer high-quality, low-cost CDL training options in the South Dakota region that are available online from any device. Our curriculum is fully compliant with the current FMCSA ELDT Training standards, and we are a member in good standing of the Training Provider Registry as a Theory provider.
To learn about our fully-online, FMCSA-compliant CDL Theory program and how you can join our trainee to employee pipeline, call the SDTA office at 605-334-8871 or go to www.southdakotatrucking.com
Social Hour, Dinner and Calcutta for the Annual Cliff Tjaden Fishing Event
6:00 p.m.
AmericInn Chamberlain, SD
MAY 9, 2025
Annual Cliff Tjaden Fishing Event
7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Cedar Shore Marina Oacoma, SD
MAY 17, 2025
SD Truck Driving Championships
7:00 a.m.
Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls, SD
JUNE 5-8, 2025
Wheel Jam Truck Show State Fairgrounds Huron, SD
JULY 10, 2025
SDTA East River Golf Event
9:00 a.m.
Brandon Golf Course Brandon, SD
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• Beginning-to-end claims management
• Physical therapy
• DOT and Non-DOT Drug screening programs
• Random UDS Generation
• Breath Alcohol Testing
“Semi Truck Drivers Who Surrounded School Buses” in I-75 Mass Shooting Aftermath Praised by Congressman
Wimberly Patton | CDL Life
Officials are offering praise to everyone who helped in the immediate aftermath of the Interstate 75 shooting as the hunt for the suspected shooter continues.
The shooting happened at about 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 7th on Interstate 75, 75 miles south of Lexington, Kentucky, reported BBC.
According to CBS News, 12 cars were hit and five people were wounded after 32-year-old Joseph A. Couch allegedly parked off of the highway and stood on a cliff overlooking the interstate before firing multiple rounds at the traffic below using an AR15 style rifle. Two people were seriously wounded, including one shot in the face, but no one was killed in the incident. The shooting brought traffic to a standstill for hours.
As of 9 a.m. on Monday, September 9th, the search for Couch continues in a dense, hilly, rural part of the state near exit 49.
“Our first responders have been working around the clock now for over 24 hours to locate the suspect accused of turning I-75 in Laurel County into a dangerous firing range on Saturday, injuring 5 people. Thankfully, local police have confirmed that no further shots have been fired today and all the shooting victims are in stable condition,” said Congressman Hal Rodgers in a statement on Facebook. “Federal, state and local law en-
forcement agencies are coordinating their response, utilizing helicopters and drones with the best technology available, and engaging our experienced officers on the front lines with K-9 units to find the suspected shooter.”
“I also want to applaud all the unsung heroes who aided victims before first responders arrived on the scene, the semi-truck drivers who surrounded school buses to protect our students stuck on the interstate for hours, and those who have donated water and food to the central command post to support our brave first responders. The hope and strength of southeastern Kentucky is shining bright once again, in the midst of this dark hour.”
Reprinted from CDLLife.
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Truckers Not Guaranteed Overtime Pay; Bill Aims to Change That
Mark Schremmer | Senitor Editor | Land Line
A recent effort to remove income tax on overtime wages provides an opportunity to remind lawmakers that trucking is one of the only working-class occupations not guaranteed extra compensation for work weeks totaling more than 40 hours.
During a recent speech, former President Donald Trump announced a plan to not tax workers on their overtime wages because “the people who work overtime are among the hardest working citizens in our country.”
That tax exemption, however, would not apply to most truck drivers.
The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 exempts motor carriers from having to pay truck drivers overtime.
The original intent of the exemption was said to prevent truckers from working too many hours. However, the reality is that the act means truck drivers often work 70 hours or more per week without receiving any extra compensation.
“We know that for too long, too many people throughout the supply chain have placed little or no value on a driver’s time,”
OOIDA President Todd Spencer said in 2022. “This is partly because of the FLSA overtime exemption.”
The GOT Truckers Act would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require that truckers receive overtime compensation when they work more than 40 hours in a week.
Although the bill would apply only to company drivers, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association contends that forcing shippers and receivers to value a trucker’s time would create change throughout the industry.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., introduced the House version of the bill, HR6359, in November.
“Truckers are an essential component of our nation’s supply chain, and compensating them appropriately is the least we can do to support them,” Van Drew said. “Let’s be fair. Let’s be decent to the hardworking men and women who do this job.”
A Senate version, S3273, was introduced by Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., in November. It has five co-sponsors.
Reprinted from Land Line.
DOT SERVICES
DOT Physicals | DOT and Non-DOT Drug Screening and Alcohol Testing | MRO Services | Injury Care (billed at South Dakota Work Comp Fee Schedule) | Third Party Administration
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AVERA EPA SERVICES IS NOW OFFERING... DOT-QUALIFIED SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROFESSIONALS
The Avera Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers substance abuse evaluations for employees who test positive for drugs or alcohol, as regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT). Under DOT regulations, safety-sensitive employees (i.e., truck drivers, pilots and airline workers, transit workers, pipeline workers, etc.) are subject to pre-employment, random, post-accident, and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol tests. When there is a positive test result, the DOTregulated employee must seek the service of a DOT-qualified Substance Abuse Professional (SAP). 605-322-4069
Buttigieg Announces $1 Billion for Transportation Safety
Secretary Touts Infrastructure Initiatives During Election Cycle
Eugene Mulero | Senior Reporter | Transport Topics
Transportation Secretar y Pete Buttigieg recently announced a new wave of funding aimed at improving transportation safety around the country.
The secretary on Sept. 5 said his department was dedicating more than $1 billion for a program designed to enhance accommodations for pedestrians and motorists along mobility corridors. The funds are flowing from the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a bipartisan law approaching its third anniversary.
“Through new funding programs like Safe Streets and Roads for All, the Biden-Harris administration is helping communities of all sizes make their roadways safer for everyone who uses them,” Buttigieg said in a statement accompanying the announcement.
The Safe Streets and Roads for All, or SS4A program, assists communities with planning and implementation of projects central to safeguarding the traveling public in rural and urban regions. The program is linked to DOT’s National Roadway Safety Strategy that responds to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data estimating nearly 41,000 highway fatalities occurred last year.
We should be energized by the fact that together we’ve reduced traffic fatalities for more than two years in a row now — but so much work remains to fully address the crisis on our roads. Today’s roadway safety grants will deliver funding directly to 354 communities and continue the important work we’re doing to reduce traffic fatalities to the only number that’s acceptable: zero,” the secretary added.
Since the infrastructure law’s enactment Nov. 15, 2021, the Biden administration has announced funding for upgrading and modernizing the nation’s complex supply chain and commuter networks. The IIJA also dedicates billions of dollars to fund an array of emerging mobility technologies, severe weather resilience programs and myriad recruitment and retention efforts in the freight sector. Last month, for instance, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced funds specific to enhancing the trucking workforce. A $3.5 million effort from the agency would be used to facilitate access for careers in the commercial transportation industry. This funding from the administration’s trucking action plan would “strengthen America’s supply chains and support the workers who keep our economy moving,” the secretary explained.
In a prepared statement, FMCSA deputy administrator Vinn White added, “We are proud to make this funding available, and are committed to working with the awardees to put it to good use, making it easier for drivers to enter into and stay in the [commercial motor vehicle] industry.”
During his tenure, Buttigieg has reminded the public of the bipartisan infrastructure law’s central role in advancing safety and economic initiatives. He has already visited every state to promote the IIJA’s implementation. And with the fall election fast approaching, the secretary’s visibility has been amplified as he keeps championing the White House’s policy agenda amid a politically polarized electorate.
In his role as secretary, Buttigieg recently took aim at members of Congress tasked with updating the IIJA’s surface transportation policy component. During a Sept. 4 virtual call, Buttigieg told reporters, “I would like to believe that robust funding for safety and infrastructure improvements can be bipartisan. Just like the bill that got us here was bipartisan. And, of course, as we zoom out just for the next nine weeks, I also think it’s appropriate for Congress to begin having the conversations among themselves and before too long with us about what comes next. Because we are now wrapping up year three of the five-year life of the IIJA.”
The secretary continued, “I think we’ve already got a lot to show for that demonstrates why these investments were needed. But now we’re going to need to look at what has to happen around the corner.”
In his personal capacity, Buttigieg has been a frequent guest on national cable television programs. At the Democratic National Convention last month he called on voters to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D). “This November we get to choose. We get to choose our president. We get to choose our policies, but most of all we will choose better politics.”
With less than two months before the election, the Harris-Walz ticket is seeking support from the electorate against former President Donald Trump and Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio). At a debate scheduled for Sept. 10, Harris and Trump will be asked by moderators to defend their policy positions. Historically, maintaining and enhancing the country’s infrastructure projects has garnered bipartisan support in the political arena.
Reprinted from Transport Topics.
A VOLUNTEER’S PERSPECTIVE:
The Excitement and Camaraderie of the NTDC’S
When asked, professional drivers will tell you that they are drawn to the Championships by the spirit of competition and by the prestige of being named the best of the best. It is described by drivers as being like the Olympics, where they come to win, but revel in the camaraderie and excitement.
I volunteer year after year at the National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC’s) solely for the drivers! Before I began working at SDTA in 1991, I underestimated the vital role of the trucking industry in the economy and the crucial importance of professional truck drivers to the industry. Thirty two years after starting this job, I am grateful for the opportunity to attend an event like this!
The 2024 NTDC’s kicked off with an orientation for all nine classes of competition, inviting top finishers from all 50 states to participate. Picture this: 422 drivers gathered in one room for orientation.
Walking into that room must have been quite overwhelming. After the instructions were given and questions were asked, all 422 drivers stood and recited the following poem led by the American Trucking Association Committee Members.
I do solemnly swear to enjoy the competition. To make the most of this opportunity and to win is my mission.
If my mission goes incomplete, there is always next year to compete.
I will compete with honesty and integrity and not forgot three-point exit & entry.
My seatbelt will be worn. And I will make appropriate use of my horn.
Tomorrow morning I won’t be late and the texts calls & Facebook can wait!
For if I am caught with my cellphone I understand I’ll be sent home.
The job I do is worth the case. And for that I deserve this applause.
This may sound like a simple poem, but when I stand in that room with them year after year, I get goosebumps every time. Pride fills the air!
Upon completion of an informative orientation, each class was directly guided through a comprehensive skills course. They had a strict ten-minute window to familiarize themselves with the six-problem skills course they would be competing on. Following this, participants had five minutes to inspect the tractor-trailer they would perform a pre-trip inspection on during competition. Subsequently, they returned to the classroom to take a 40-problem written exam based on the 2024 Facts For Drivers book provided to them upon entering the TDC’s.
After the written test, the drivers were divided into two groups. The first day of the competition included step van, straight truck, 5-axle, twins, and sleeper berth classes. South Dakota didn’t have a step van competitor this year, however Dan Norgaard from Old Dominion Freight was our straight truck champion, Josh Worthington was the five-axle van champion, and Jamie Phillips from Johnson Feed, Inc. was our sleeper berth champion. They faced the competition with confidence!
Michelle Wells | Member Manager | SDTA
Day two featured the skills course competition for 3-axle, 4-axle, tank, and flatbed classes. XPO’s Darrel Anderson (Rookie) represented as SD’s 3-axle champion, and Mike Whitehead from FedEx Freight represented as SD’s 4-axle champion. Jeff Eschen of K&J Trucking, Inc. competed as SD’s tank champion, and Vinny Harguth of Cliff Viessman Inc. as SD’s flatbed champion.
I am very proud of how team South Dakota represented themselves and their companies!
I want to thank the drivers who participated in the NTDC’s. Even though none of them made it to the finals, I am confident that each one gained valuable experience in Indianapolis. Many of them are already planning on how to improve their performance for next year’s competition.
I am honored to have supported our South Dakota drivers, and I am looking forward to the 2025 South Dakota Truck Driving Championships May 17, at Southeast Technical College, in Sioux Falls.
CVSA’s North American Inspectors Championship (NAIC) is the only event that tests, recognizes and awards commercial motor vehicle inspector excellence.
Each jurisdiction sends its best inspector to compete against other top inspectors from jurisdictions all across North America. NAIC competitors also receive training on the latest commercial motor vehicle safety trends, technologies, standards and inspection procedures while sharing insights, ideas, techniques and experiences with other inspectors.
NAIC was held in the same location as and in conjunction with the American Trucking Associations’ National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships.
South Dakota’s Motor Carrier Inspector Brian Stenbak was a member of the yellow team at the NAIC 2024. His team won all three team awards:
1) Haz-Mat Olympics
2) CVSA Challenge
3) NSIC Overall Team Award
Scholarships Awarded to STC Students Through SDTA’s Workforce Development Initiative
SDTA congratulates and wishes these students the best of luck!
New Research Documents Substantial Financial and Safety Impacts from Truck Driver Detention
Washington, D.C. – The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) today released a new report that quantifies the major consequences that truck driver detention at customer facilities has on industry productivity and safety. The research quantifies the direct costs for fleets, truck drivers and supply chains in general. It also corroborates previous research that detained trucks drive faster both after, and before, a detained trip occurs.
While driver detention has decreased slightly in the last few years, the overall costs of being detained at customer facilities for more than two hours is substantial. In 2023, drivers reported being detained in 39.3 percent of all stops. The frequency of detention was even higher among women drivers (49.1%), refrigerated trailer drivers (56.2%), and among fleets that operate in the spot market (42.5%).
Based on industry-reported data, truck drivers were detained between 117 and 209 hours per year, depending on the sector. In for-hire trucking alone, the total time lost to truck driver detention exceeded 135 million hours in 2023.
While 94.5 percent of fleets charge detention fees, they are paid for fewer than 50 percent of those invoices. As a result, the trucking industry lost $3.6 billion in direct expenses and $11.5 billion in lost productivity from driver detention in 2023. Additional ATRI impact assessments quantified supply chain inefficiencies, lost driver pay and driver turnover resulting from detention.
Finally, an analysis of ATRI’s large truck GPS data at different customer facility types found that detention contributes to higher truck speeds. Trucks that were detained drove 14.6 percent faster on average than trucks that were not detained. Interestingly, trucks also drove faster on trips to facilities where they were detained, indicating that truck drivers know which firms and facilities will likely detain them.
“Detention is so common that many industry professionals have accepted it as inevitable without realizing the true extent of its costs,” said Chad England, C.R. England CEO. “ATRI’s report puts real-world numbers to the true impact that truck driver detention has on trucking and the broader economy.”
Trucking Industry Asked to Rank Top Concerns
Washington, D.C. – The American Transportation Research Institute, the trucking industry’s not-for-profit research organization, today launched the 2024 Top Industry Issues Survey. The annual survey asks trucking industry stakeholders to rank the top issues of concern for the industry along with potential strategies for addressing each issue.
Now in its 20th year, ATRI’s annual analysis not only ranks the issues overall but also provides insights into how critical topics are ranked differently by motor carriers and professional drivers. The report also allows trucking stakeholders to monitor issues over time to better understand which issues are rising, or falling, in criticality.
“For the past two decades, the industry has relied on the annual Top
Industry Issues Survey to highlight the challenges facing our nation’s supply chain. ATRI’s research provides an opportunity for thousands of trucking industry professionals, from drivers to executives, to weigh in on the most critical topics that affect our day-today operations and collectively decide on the best strategies for addressing each,” said ATA Chair Andrew Boyle, Boyle Transportation Co-President.
“Every year ATRI’s annual survey gives drivers an opportunity to make our collective concerns known. Whether your top challenge is truck parking, driver compensation, detention, traffic congestion or something else, this is your chance to bring those issues to light. Please take a few minutes to complete the online survey and encourage your peers to do so also,” said Chevelle Walker, an America’s Road
Team Captain and professional truck driver for Werner Enterprises.
The results of the 2024 survey will be released October 12, 2024 as part of the American Trucking Associations Management Conference & Exhibition to be held in Nashville, Tennessee.
Industry stakeholders are encouraged to complete the 2024 survey available at https://www.research.net/r/2024TII-Survey. The survey will remain open through September 27, 2024.
ATRI is the trucking industry’s 501c3 not-for-profit research organization. It is engaged in critical research relating to freight transportation’s essential role in maintaining a safe, secure and efficient transportation system.
Truckers Receive Heartfelt Thanks During Special Appreciation Event
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week : September 15-21, 2024
As part of the Trucker’s Appreciation Week, a team of dedicated employees from Great West Casualty Company joined forces with the SD Trucking Association and the SD Highway Patrol & Motor Carrier officers at the Jefferson Port of Entry.
Their mission: to express heartfelt appreciation to the unsung heroes of our roads – the hardworking truck drivers who keep our country moving day in and day out.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Great West Casualty Company and Norpass for their generous sponsorship of this event!
Condolences
Scot J. Marone
October 6, 1965 - August 28, 2024
Scot Jon Marone, the son of Ronald Marone and DeMeris (Smith) Marone, was born on October 6, 1965 in Huron, SD. Scot grew up on the family farm near Cavour and graduated from Huron High School in 1985.
Scot has been in the trucking industry since 1986. Scot’s first commercial truck driving job was with Flannery Meats. Scot had experience driving truck on the farm plus working at South Dakota Wheat Growers as Assistant Grain Manager. Scot then went on to starting his own trucking company, Marone Transport, LLC. Scot was one of the first carriers to haul out of the Dakota Provisions Turkey Packing Plant in Huron, SD to several destinations across the United States. Scot’s main delivery was to Laredo, Texas with backhauls of produce from the Texas Rio Grand Valley back to South Dakota.
Scot was the founder/owner of 18 Wheel Truck Promotions, LLC which has produced
for the past 21 years the Wheel Jam Truck Show along with an amazing Wheel Jam Truck Show Crew of life-long friends and volunteers.
One of Scot’s passions was farming. Scot enjoyed all aspects of agriculture from planting to harvesting to marketing.
Scot was a hard worker but enjoyed attending 21 ZZ Top concerts mostly with his fiancée Tracy. Also, snowmobiling and spending time with his son Tanner in the Black Hills and Albany Lodge. Scot was very proud of his son, Tanner.
Scot was honest, kind, strong, respectful, a man of his word. A person could feel that in his handshake. He loved BIG, hugged BIG, his heart would hurt and celebrate BIG, he was proud BIG because his heart was SO BIG. If you were Scot’s friend or family, you understood just how “BIG” he loved and respected you. Scot would fight and stand
up for you – if you earned and deserved all of the above from him.
Grateful for having shared in Scot’s life are parents: DeMeris Marone of Isabel, SD; and Ronald (Lorraine) Marone of Cavour, SD. One son, Tanner (Delaney Kouf) Marone of Huron, SD. Fiancée Tracy Bratland Bruns of Huron, SD. Their special cat companion, Sylvester Stallone Marone. Siblings are: Dave (Jody) Marone of Pukwana, SD; Kristi (David) Alley of Isabel, SD; and Tenaya Marone of Crofton, NE. Also very dear to Scot’s heart were all his nieces and nephews.
Scot was preceded in death by his brothers Rickey Marone and Josh Kogel; grandparents Al and Molly Smith; grandparents Richard and Clara Marone; Uncle Russell Marone, Uncle George Marone, Uncle Jack Tounsley, Aunt Betty and Uncle Don Olson; Uncle Ray and Aunt Jackie Kuhl; and cousins Sandy Wilson and Don Vancura. NAME:
House Bill Would Ease Veterans’ Path to Apprenticeships
Policymakers Promote Trucking Workforce Development
Eugene Mulero | Senior Reporter | Transport Topics
Leg islation aimed at facilitating access to veterans benefits for interstate trucking apprenticeships was recently introduced in the House of Representatives.
Reps. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) are co-sponsoring a measure designed to improve how veterans connect with commercial transportation apprenticeships across multiple states.
The lawmakers’ Veterans Transition to Trucking Act primarily focuses on workforce development. Senators introduced their version of the measure earlier this year.
“It’s unacceptable that veterans are losing employment opportunities due to unnecessary and redundant bureaucratic hurdles. Cutting this red tape so trucking companies can employ more veterans as truck drivers is a common-sense step that will increase opportunities for veterans as well as help address the trucking shortage,” Pappas said last month.
“I’m pleased to introduce this bipartisan legislation with [Rep.] Kiggans that will streamline the approval process for interstate trucking companies’ apprenticeship programs to partner with [Veterans Affairs], ease the pathway for veterans to become truck drivers, and support the trucking industry,” he continued.
“We owe it to our nation’s heroes to ensure they have the tools they need to make the often-difficult transition from service to civilian life,” said Kiggans. “That is exactly what this common-sense legislation will do by cutting bureaucratic red tape and increasing access to trucking apprenticeships for our veterans.”
“As a former Navy helicopter pilot and the representative for coastal Virginia, which is home to so many who have served our country,” she went on, “it is an honor to advocate for bipartisan policies that help our veterans secure meaningful employment while also addressing the national trucking shortage and strengthening our supply chains.”
Pappas and Kiggans are members of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Their bill, referred to a committee with jurisdiction for consideration, would allow interstate commercial carriers to gain singular approval from the VA for industry apprenticeship programs. Doing so, sponsors explained, would simplify the process for motor carriers seeking to recruit
veterans for driving jobs. Presently, a trucking firm with operations in multiple states needs multi-jurisdictional approval to proceed with such apprenticeships.
Stakeholders endorsing the bill include Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and American Trucking Associations.
“When members of the military return home after serving our country, we have an obligation to help them obtain rewarding careers and achieve the American dream they fought to protect,” ATA Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs Henry Hanscom said in a statement accompanying the bill’s introduction. “We commend [Reps.] Pappas and Kiggans for introducing this common-sense solution that would make it easier to stand up apprenticeship programs for our nation’s veterans, expanding access to good-paying jobs in the trucking industry and strengthening our supply chain.”
The bill’s committee consideration has yet to be scheduled. The companion bill in the Senate also awaits consideration. “Truckers and transportation workers fuel our economy, and we’ve got to be doing everything we can to bring more qualified truckers into the fold, including our nation’s veterans,” said Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, on March 19. He is the bill’s co-sponsor with Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), ranking member on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Added Cassidy, “Having a commercial driver’s license is a great career. Let’s make sure the veterans know about it.”
Reprinted from Transport Topics
Rules:
SDTA Driver of the Month Nomination Form
To nominate a driver for Driver of the Month, they must be an employee of a member in good standing of the South Dakota Trucking Association and have at least two years with their current employer and five years of overall experience. Nominations must be supported by evidence and accompanied by a recent motor vehicle record check. Nominations can be made by any party but must be approved by the employer or a representative.
Date:
Name of Driver:
Family Information:
Residence:
Address (in full):
Name of Carrier:
Home Terminal:
Address (in full):
Phone Number:
Years with Present Employer:
Number of accidents: Chargeable Dates: Non-Chargeable Dates:
Jacket Size:
Total Years of Experience:
Has your driver ever been selected as a Driver of the Month in South Dakota or any other state? If yes, when?
List participation in truck driving championships or other truck related activities:
Basis of Nomination:
By submitting this entry, the company agrees to offer the selected Driver of the Month to the South Dakota Trucking Association Annual Convention to participate in a personal interview. Only interviewed drivers will be eligible for the Driver of the Year honors.
