鈥淭he backbone of America鈥檚 supply chain depends on skilled technicians who keep our trucks running safely and efficiently,鈥� said Shannon Newton, president of the 一本道app. 鈥淎s vehicles become more advanced and technology continues to evolve, our industry needs talented individuals who are ready to meet those challenges. We are proud to support these students as they pursue rewarding careers that will help keep Arkansas and America moving.鈥�

Nash Ashley graduated from Cornerstone Christian Academy in Tillar, Ark. He demonstrated a commitment to service by helping community members with their lawn care needs. He also gained experience working on equipment at a local poultry farm during high school.

In the fall, Nash plans to attend University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton to pursue training in medium/heavy duty truck technology.

Conley Reeves graduated from Searcy High School in Searcy, Ark, where he received All-State and All-Conference honors in football. He was also a member of the district champion Agriculture Mechanics team.

In the fall, Conley plans to attend Arkansas State University-Beebe in Searcy to pursue training in medium/heavy duty truck technology.

鈥淪ince the scholarship fund was established in 2017, we have been able to support the next generation of technicians who will keep our industry operating safely and efficiently,鈥� said Dustin Jeffress, 2026 Maintenance & Technology Council chair and member of the scholarship committee. 鈥淭his year鈥檚 recipients demonstrated exceptional commitment, aptitude and enthusiasm for the profession. Their dedication gives us great confidence in the future of trucking and the skilled workforce that supports it.鈥�

The 一本道app鈥檚 Maintenance & Technology Council established the Carl Tapp Memorial Scholarship Fund to celebrate Carl Tapp, the council鈥檚 first chairman, and his career-long commitment to nurturing new talent in the industry. The fund is intended to enable and encourage growth in the state鈥檚 diesel technician workforce and to help assure that the safest, most knowledgeable and skilled technicians are working on the trucks and trailers on our nation鈥檚 roads. Candidates were evaluated based upon their interest and performance in STEM courses, teacher and mentor recommendations and personal interviews with the scholarship committee of industry experts.

These scholarships have been made possible by the vision and investment in the future of trucking in Arkansas by the following companies and individuals: ABF Freight, ArcBest, Bruce Purkey, DAVCO Technology, Doggett Freightliner of Arkansas, Dr. Doug Voss, the Hoover Family, Inland PacLease, JM Bozeman Enterprises, Inc., Kenneth Calhoun, Kudos Research, Maverick Transportation, LLC, McConnell & Son, McGriff, McKee Foods Transportation, MHC Kenworth Leasing, Mike and Pam Martin, Momentum Fuel Technologies, NorCal PacLease, PACCAR, PACCAR Leasing Company, PacLease Dallas, Pressure Systems International, Rush Truck Centers, Southland PacLease, TechForce Foundation, the Tapp Family, TLG Peterbilt, Truck-Lite Co., LLC, Tyson Foods, the University of Central Arkansas, W&B Service Co., Walmart Transportation and Walt Luethy.

In May 2024, the 一本道app Scholarship Fund received 501(c)(3) status, and all donations to the Carl Tapp Technician Scholarship are considered charitable and tax deductible. To join this list of donors who are funding the future, visit /scholarship/.

Riels is the president and CEO of Dedicated Logistics, LLC, a Crossett-based freight carrier with more than 70 trucks, which he co-founded in June 2002 with his mother, Ruth Riels. Under his leadership, the company has grown into a multi-state operation serving customers across the South, Southeast, and Midwest, earning a reputation for reliability, strong customer relationships, and a commitment to safety. He has served on the ATA Board of Directors since 2018.

鈥淎lan represents the entrepreneurial spirit and resilience that define Arkansas trucking,鈥� said Shannon Newton, president of the 一本道app. 鈥淗e understands the challenges our members face鈥攆rom workforce shortages to regulatory pressures鈥攁nd he鈥檚 committed to advancing practical solutions that strengthen our industry.鈥�

Under Riels鈥� direction, Dedicated Logistics has received multiple industry and community recognitions, including being named a regional carrier of the year by a major shipping partner and earning business leadership honors in the Crossett community. The company remains actively engaged in local initiatives and workforce development efforts in South Arkansas.

Additionally, Matt Ernst of Bruckner鈥檚 Truck & Equipment was elected to serve as an allied member, filling the position as Rush Truck Centers General Manager Ross Hoover concluded his two-year term on the board.

Ernst is general manager at Bruckner鈥檚 Truck & Equipment in Lowell, Ark. He has held roles ranging from finance manager and sales consultant to general manager at Bruckner鈥檚 locations across the country.

鈥淭his organization is strongest when its members step up to lead,鈥� Newton said. 鈥淢att鈥檚 expertise and industry engagement will add valuable perspective to our board.鈥�

ATA鈥檚 Board of Directors is composed of 21 executives representing a broad cross-section of carriers and allied companies across the state. The board works collaboratively to address industry challenges and promote sustainable growth.

Each year, ATA recognizes standout professionals in three critical roles: a driver for excellence in performance and safety, a safety professional for leadership and program effectiveness, and a maintenance professional for advancing fleet reliability and technician development. All member companies of the 一本道app are eligible to nominate drivers, safety and maintenance professionals for these awards.

Driver of the Year 鈥� Jessie King, FedEx Freight

King has accumulated more than 1.6 million consecutive accident-free miles across a 33-year, 3.6 million-mile career. Earlier this year, he received FedEx鈥檚 Master President鈥檚 Award for 25 years of safe driving.

He serves as an Arkansas Road Team Captain, promoting highway safety to students statewide, and is a consistent top performer at the Arkansas Truck Driving Championships, winning the Straight Truck division in both 2023 and 2025. In 2024, he was recognized nationally with the American Trucking Association Change Leader Award.

Safety Professional of the Year 鈥� Nate Lewis, Tyson Foods

Lewis, senior director of risk management 鈥� transportation at Tyson Foods, leads one of the industry鈥檚 most benchmarked safety programs. His work integrating emerging technologies and best practices has strengthened driver safety and reduced risk across operations.

He serves on the ATA Safety Management Council and the American Trucking Associations鈥� Truck Driving Championships Committee. A former state champion and multi-time national competitor in TDC events, Lewis brings both operational and hands-on credibility to his leadership in safety.

Maintenance Professional of the Year 鈥� Ross Hoover, Rush Truck Centers

Hoover, regional general manager at Rush Truck Centers, leverages more than two decades of experience to drive improvements in shop performance, technician engagement, and operational consistency. His emphasis on proactive maintenance and continuous improvement has strengthened fleet reliability.

A longtime industry contributor, Hoover is a past chairman of ATA鈥檚 Maintenance & Technology Council and has played a key role in technician development initiatives statewide. He actively supports diesel technology programs, workforce training, and career pathway development for the next generation of technicians.

The award was presented during the conference鈥檚 annual awards luncheon, where ATA honored carriers across 5 categories, highlighting the safest fleets among its membership.

Walmart Transportation earned the Grand Champion distinction after logging more than 33 million miles with an accident rate (per million miles) of just .15 on Arkansas highways throughout 2025.

鈥淭hese accomplishments reflect the highest standards in trucking today,鈥� said ATA President Shannon Newton. 鈥淲hile Walmart Transportation鈥檚 performance is exceptional, every award recipient demonstrates the same commitment to rigorous safety practices that make Arkansas roads safer for all.鈥�

I鈥檓 a Friedman fan. Businesses and consumers are better than government at determining which products or services should be purchased. However, our ability to make good decisions rests on the availability of complete, accurate information.

The Motor Carrier Safety Act of 1984 directed the Federal Highway Administration (FMCSA鈥檚 predecessor) to establish procedures for determining whether an interstate trucking company employs adequate safety management controls to comply with federal regulations. The goal was to ensure roadway safety given the flood of new entrants following deregulation. Carriers are assigned satisfactory, conditional, and unsatisfactory ratings based on a compliance review.

In general, I think Dr. Friedman would approve of this system to the extent that it provides the market with information needed to make informed purchase decisions. Given full visibility into every carrier鈥檚 safety fitness determination, market forces (e.g. safety conscious or litigiously averse shippers, brokers, insurance companies, etc.) could punish carriers with poor safety records, potentially driving them out of business, and reduce the need for government safety regulation.

Unfortunately, the safety fitness determination system is broken. Ninety percent (90%) of motor carriers are unrated. FMCSA鈥檚 ability to provide every carrier with a safety fitness determination is made more difficult by a recent capacity influx. The number of active interstate motor carriers increased from 555,567 in 2019 to 735,895 in 2023. This growth stemmed almost entirely from carriers with 1-2 trucks.

Information obtained from FMCSA underscores the safety implications of so many unrated carriers. Over a 24-month period ending December 27, 2024 a total of 129,373 trucking companies were involved in a reportable crash. 108,689 (84%) of those companies were unrated. These unrated companies were involved in 167,371 total crashes, meaning some were involved in multiple events, and 4,523 of the crashes were fatal.

A sceptic might argue, 鈥淲hy should I be surprised that 84% of companies involved in a reportable crash are unrated when 90% of all companies are also unrated?鈥� This is a fair point and gets to the heart of the matter: Why are so many companies unrated?

We should encourage our safety partners at FMCSA to provide a safety fitness determination for every active interstate motor carrier. This is a big ask but important given trucking鈥檚 moral obligation to exceptional safety performance and aversion to further regulatory burdens. Safety fitness determinations help the free market weed out unsafe carriers. Shippers and brokers armed with a complete picture of every carrier鈥檚 rating could patronize those companies whose safety practices align with their corporate risk management priorities. To accomplish as much, FMCSA needs to obtain more data on unrated carriers. As Johnny 5 from 鈥淪hort Circuit鈥� (1986) would say: 鈥淚nput, need more input!鈥� I鈥檒l stop with the 80鈥檚 references.

^{FMCSA (2025), 鈥淧ocket Guide to Large Truck and Bus Statistics,鈥� available at . Accessed April 9, 2026.}

Last week, I found myself behind the wheel for hours at a time. It was the official beginning of spring, sunroof open, sunlight filtering through early green leaves, and Olivia Dean providing the soundtrack. My route took me through some of the finest scenery our state has to offer, bluffs and winding streams, forest and deep valleys. For a moment, it felt like I was stepping into the rhythm many of our drivers know well, long miles, open road, and time to think.

Over the course of two days, those miles triangulated the Ozarks. Three meetings. Three members. Three vastly different circumstances. But one consistent takeaway: relationships don鈥檛 just sustain this industry, they define it.

The first stop was with an established industry leader, sitting down with a new executive stepping into a role with an interest in government affairs. It was a forward-looking conversation about engagement, advocacy, and the responsibility our industry carries in shaping policy. It was also a reminder that relationships are always evolving. New leaders step in, priorities shift, and it is up to all of us to make sure the connection is made early and often.

The second visit carried a different tone. I had the privilege of attending a celebration honoring a retired executive whose impact on this association, our industry, and me personally has been lasting. That kind of influence is built over time. It reflects years of engagement, trust, and a willingness to invest beyond one鈥檚 own benefit. Those relationships do not end when a career chapter closes. They continue to shape who we are.

The third stop was the hardest and maybe the most important. A member that had, over time, become disconnected. Leadership changes created distance, relationships did not transfer, and slowly, they slipped through the cracks. Good people, busy building a stronger business, but a connection that needed to be reestablished. Rebuilding that bridge requires honesty, listening, and a shared commitment to re-engage.

Whether it is welcoming new leadership, honoring those who have shaped our path, or reconnecting with members who have drifted, our strength as an association is rooted in consistent, intentional communication. Not just when it is convenient. Not just when there is an immediate need. But over time, across transitions, and through every season our members face.

That鈥檚 the throughline.

As I made the drive home, I kept coming back to a simple idea: the road connects us, but only if we are willing to travel it.

Our commitment, as your association, is to keep showing up. To make the call. To take the meeting. To bridge the gaps when they appear. Because, at the end of the day, this industry does not move without relationships, and neither do we.

During this season, groups nationwide seek to raise awareness about the inherent dangers that roadway workers endure. These men and women support their families by building infrastructure that the traveling public relies upon. In a twisted irony, the traveling public is the biggest threat to road workers鈥� ability to return home to their loved ones each day.

I have been proud to watch our safety efforts grow through the past several years. Shannon Newton and the 一本道app were on board from the beginning. The Trucking Association understands the importance of work zone safety, because highways are the truckers鈥� work zones and they are keenly aware of the challenges and dangers that distracted and unsafe driving bring.

Arkansas State Police and their Highway Safety Office work alongside ARDOT and Arkansas Highway Police to educate the public and enforce safety laws. Collaborations yielded campaigns that correlate to a reduction in work zone crashes over the past several years. ARDOT鈥檚 current campaign, Slow Down, Phone Down, will wrap up this summer with hard-hitting messages from real people who were impacted by work zone incidents.

ARDOT鈥檚 new Street Smart curriculum, developed in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Education, seeks to educate our youth about roadway safety before they ever get behind the wheel. Street Smart will continue to grow in 2026, tackling topics ranging from work zone safety, impaired driving, and commercial motor vehicle blind spots. I encourage you to check out the material at streetsmartar.org, but more importantly, I implore you to share it with the people in your life.

Collaboration with industry partners like Associated General Contractors of Arkansas, Arkansas Asphalt Pavement Association, and American Concrete Pavement Association Oklahoma/Arkansas Chapter has never been stronger. Partnering meetings with these groups lead to changes to operating procedures in work zones that improve efficiency and safety for all users.

Our efforts grew further in 2025 with legislation passed to enhance safety for road workers. We expanded the use of green lights on work vehicles, fines doubled in mobile work zones, and work zone information is included in the driver鈥檚 manual and on the test. I am thankful to our state legislators who saw the need for and supported these important and impactful efforts.

I am also thankful for Speaker Evans鈥� leadership in this space. He is a strong advocate for the transportation industry and draws on his experience and his office to amplify the message. His vision for a new campaign to raise awareness about the importance of moving over for all roadway workers and emergency responders is expected to roll out late this summer.

National Work Zone Awareness Week is April 20鈥�24 this year. ARDOT and industry partners will spend a considerable effort that week creating content, doing interviews, and raising awareness about this important topic. While we will amplify our efforts during this awareness week, work zone safety is top of mind year-round.

The future is strong for transportation in Arkansas as long as we remain committed to communicating, innovating, and taking action. This work must be done. This work matters.

Stay safe. I鈥檒l see you out there on our highways.