This week on the Oakley Podcast, Jeremy Kellett welcomes Shannon Newton, President of the Arkansas Trucking Association, to discuss the significance of Truck Driver Appreciation Week and the vital role truck drivers play in everyday life. The conversation covers public perception of drivers, industry challenges such as parking shortages and economic pressures, and recent legislative efforts around CDL standards, towing reform, and truck weight limits. Key takeaways include the importance of recognizing and supporting truck drivers, the need for consistent industry standards, ongoing advocacy work to improve conditions for drivers and the trucking industry as a whole, and so much more.
Key topics in today’s conversation include:
- Truck Driver Appreciation Week Introduction (1:05)
- Introducing Shannon Newton & ATA (2:07)
- How to Show Appreciation (4:28)
- ATA’s Truck Driver Appreciation Events (5:39)
- Public Perception & Truck Driver Challenges (7:59)
- National Truck Driving Championship & Driver Image (10:11)
- ATA Membership and Industry Challenges (12:56)
- CDL Integrity and Fraudulent Licenses (14:05)
- English Language Proficiency Requirement (18:12)
- Enforcement and Federal Standards (20:03)
- Truck Parking Funding and Towing Reform (24:17)
- Towing Industry Issues and Legislative Changes (25:28)
- New Towing Board and Owner-Operator Impact (28:05)
- Washington D.C. Advocacy and Arkansas Trucking Stats (29:15)
- Shannon Newton’s Career and Family (31:17)
- Litigation Environment and Industry Reputation (33:07)
- Final Thoughts and Takeaways (36:13)
Oakley Trucking is a family-owned and operated trucking company headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas. For more information, check out our show website: podcast.bruceoakley.com.