The Arkansas Trucking Association accomplished its primary objective during the state's legislative session when Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed an anti-indemnification bill last month.
Now members of the association are turning their attention toward national topics.
Shannon Newton, president of the Arkansas Trucking Association, and executives from six Arkansas-based trucking companies will depart on a three-day trip to Washington, D.C., today. The trip -- which the association refers to as the "Call on Washington" -- will give the group a chance to discuss industry issues with the state's congressional delegation.
"Obviously, we have the American Trucking Associations, and they're in D.C. and they're on a regular basis interacting with them," Newton said. "But to have the relationships with the people back in the districts or back here in the state, it just really helps solidify the connection between the industry here in Arkansas and the delegation in D.C."
She said the contingent's No. 1 goal is discussing a long-term solution to replenish the federal Highway Trust Fund, which helps reimburse states for work on the nation's interstates.
The trust originally was funded by federal fuel taxes paid by road users. But Congress authorized the use of general revenue beginning in 2008 because spending on road projects has exceeded fuel-tax receipts. The fund was temporarily replenished with $10.8 billion last summer, but another short-term fix will be necessary if a permanent solution is not agreed upon before the current one expires May 31.
Newton said the Arkansas Trucking Association backs increasing and indexing the fuel tax to help stabilize the fund, along with a "user's pay" principle, believing it is the most efficient method of support. The fuel tax currently is capped at 18.4 cents per gallon for regular fuel and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel. Newton said the association also backs other funding alternatives, including a federal "access fee" for all registered vehicles and other energy-related taxes and fees.
"Obviously, a long-term solution to highway funding is a big issue with all the reasons why," Newton said. "Just the inability for the states to prepare and plan -- we need to know what's coming. And secondly, there needs to be a viable funding source identified."
The association also intends to discuss the hours-of-service restart provisions suspended last year and the modernization of truck-length laws, which would allow for the increase of twin trailers from 28 feet to 33 feet. Newton said comprehensive tax changes and the ongoing push for oversight of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Compliance, Safety, Accountability program also are on the agenda in Washington.
The safety program has been a hot-button topic within the industry because of questions surrounding the validity of scores. The Arkansas Trucking Association recently voiced its support for keeping safety administration scores in public view while the system is changed, while the American Trucking Associations has asked repeatedly for the them to be removed until the problems are fixed.
"I understand that we can debate whether they're [in the] light or dark during the process," Newton said. "But what's really important is that they're right and they can be used as a tool for enforcement to direct their resources where they need to be and so the companies can strive to be safer."
The group also will continue to advocate a long-term highway bill, which Newton described as an important "vehicle" to drive most of the priorities of the association like productivity increases, the approval of hair testing for trucking companies to detect drug use, and hours-of-service studies.
Last year, the $302 billion bill known as the Grow America Act was not passed by Congress. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx sent the 2015 version of the bill -- a six-year, $478 billion highway funding re-authorization package -- to Congress late last month.
"With more than 70 percent of America's good shipped by truck, the trucking industry is the lifeblood of our modern economy, and I look forward to working with the ATA in our search for a long-term highway bill solution that keeps America moving forward," Arkansas Rep. Rick Crawford said in a statement Monday.
Newton will be accompanied by executives from J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., Stallion Transportation, USA Truck, Star Transportation, Dedicated Logistics and MC Express during the trip. The contingent represents a range of companies from all corners of the state, giving the association widespread representation.
Newton also believes that the timing of the trip is important even though "there's nothing up for a vote today." She's confident that the chance to meet face to face with representatives will have its benefits.
"It's better to have had that one-on-one meeting where we're able to build a relationship," Newton said. "You don't want to get to know someone whenever it's time to ask for something. So we'll be able to go in and just say these are the five or six issues that are important to us. This is what we're monitoring."
Business on 04/14/2015