Washington – Fourteen members of the Tennessee Trucking Association (TTA) traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to meet with the state’s congressional delegation. 

Tennessee’s 22,070 primarily small, locally owned trucking businesses provide 249,000 good-paying, family-supporting jobs in the Volunteer State.  The TTA members urged Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty as well as their U.S. Representatives to advocate for policies that will help grow this essential pillar of the state’s economy.

“Trucking is essential to the economy, and our industry works hard every single day to deliver for the American people.  When policy roadblocks arise, we depend on the support from our elected leaders in Washington and in Nashville to help get our supply chain moving again,” said Donna England, president & CEO of the Tennessee Trucking Association.  “We appreciate our Members of Congress taking the time to meet with us to talk in-depth about some of the top issues facing our industry and explore ways we can work together to push for bipartisan solutions that will be beneficial for both truckers and consumers.”

In their meeting in Representative Mark Green’s office, the TTA members expressed their gratitude for the Congressman responding to concerns they first raised last year.  During the group’s previous visit to Washington, they told Representative Green about truckers’ difficulties obtaining transportation security credentials.  The Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act he subsequently introduced would help fix this issue by eliminating redundant fees and background checks for essential transportation workers.

TTA’s discussions with lawmakers and congressional staff extended to a number of additional pressing challenges, such as:

Preventing lawsuit abuse

Due to trial lawyers exploiting the legal system, lawsuits targeting trucking have increased at an exponential pace in both the volume of cases and the size of verdict awards.  Between 2010 and 2018, the average size of large verdicts increased by nearly 1,000%, from $2.3 million to $22.3 million.  These exorbitant costs are spread across the entire industry and are ultimately passed down to consumers in the form of increased prices for goods and skyrocketing insurance premiums.  TTA is supportive of comprehensive lawsuit abuse reform to restore fairness and balance to the judicial system.

Promoting workforce development

Given the ongoing shortage of truck drivers, TTA has pushed for legislation that would make it easier for Tennesseans to fill these roles, embark on bright career paths, and make good wages.  Among other workforce development initiatives, TTA supports the LICENSE Act, which would simplify the CDL credentialing process without compromising safety.

Addressing energy and environment issues

The trucking industry has made massive strides in reducing tailpipe emissions over the past 35 years.  As a result, the industry has cut harmful NOx and particulate matter emissions by 99%, virtually eliminated all sulfur-dioxide emissions, and stands to cut 1.37 billion metric tons of CO2 between 2014 and 2027.  In fact, 60 of today’s trucks emit what just one truck emitted in 1988. 

TTA called on their Members of Congress to build on this progress by encouraging innovation rather than one-size-fits-all mandates and setting achievable regulatory targets and timelines.  One solution to help get the newest, cleanest trucks on the road is to repeal the federal excise tax on heavy-duty trucks and trailers, which adds upwards of $20,000 to the cost of a new clean-diesel tractor.

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The meetings were facilitated by the American Trucking Associations’ Call on Washington program, which provides members with the opportunity to meet directly with Members of Congress, key congressional staff, federal regulators, and fellow industry leaders to discuss legislation and regulations affecting the trucking industry.  The ATA Federation has a permanent presence in the halls of Congress year-round, with state associations visiting weekly on a rolling basis.

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Paladin Capital, Inc. is announcing the retirement of its Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Bill Prevost, effective April 1, 2024. Bill  joined Quickway  as President in 2004 and was the visionary and founding force behind the formation of its ESOP which today is the largest and most diverse ESOP in the transportation industry. In 2016 Quickway’s holding company became Paladin Capital Inc. Bill has dedicated over two decades of his career to the Company, demonstrating unwavering commitment, leadership, and vision. His strategic acumen and guidance were instrumental in driving Paladin Capital’s acquisitions, internal growth, and success. He has been totally committed to the core value of safety, making Paladin Capital an industry leader in safe driving and accident prevention. Since the formation of the ESOP in 2004, under Bill’s leadership, the share price of Paladin Capital has grown at 15.4% per year.  Paladin Capital expresses its deepest gratitude for his instillation and daily modeling of our core values and inspirational leadership during his tenure.

Brian Hall will become the new Chief Executive Officer of Paladin Capital, Inc. effective upon Mr. Prevost’s retirement. Brian is the current President and Chief Operating Officer of Paladin Capital’s Value-Added Services Business Unit.  Previously, Brian was with Werner Enterprises as a Director for 10 years and D.M. Bowman as CEO for 16 years. Mr. Hall stated, “We have an outstanding team that Bill has built, I am excited to work alongside them to chart our path forward for the benefit of our employee shareholders and customers.” 

Paladin Capital, Inc. is a 100% employee-owned ESOP and consists of the Quickway companies, SNL Distribution Services Corp., Robert Bearden, Inc., Dolphin Line, Inc.,  Magnum Express, Inc.,  Capital City Leasing, Inc., Freight Contracting Services, LLC, Central Logistics, Inc., Sutherland National Insurance Company, and Paladin Technologies.

Nestled in the scenic surroundings of Collegedale, TN, McKee Foods opened its doors to a group of passionate professionals all united by one mission – enhancing road safety. The stunning facility served as more than just a meeting place; it became a crucible where ideas and experiences melded together to forge new paths for safety in trucking.

From the get-go, the day’s agenda promised a blend of expertise and innovation​​:

Crash Update and Impact on Supply Chain: A critical look at how large truck crashes affect the local supply chain, with insights on prevention strategies.

Freight and Parking Projects: Updates on freight logistics and the latest on truck parking projects in Tennessee, shedding light on the ripple effects across neighboring states.

Port Logistics Update: A deep dive into the operations of the Georgia Ports Authority and how they influence Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.

Thrive Regional Infrastructure Portal: A live demonstration of a new geospatial data portal that’s set to revolutionize transportation stakeholders’ operations in Freight Alley.

Each session was a stepping stone towards a clearer understanding of the current safety landscape and what the future holds for the industry.

The speakers’ list was nothing short of impressive, featuring voices like Stephanie Mann from FMCSA-TN, Captain Allen England from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and Wesley Barrell from the Georgia Ports Authority. They, along with many others, didn’t just speak; they engaged, challenged, and inspired every attendee to think differently about safety.

The event wasn’t all talk. The interactive Kahoot quiz on what was learned, and the feedback session where everyone shared their take on improving future events, ensured that this was a day of active participation. It was clear – this coalition was ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work. And what’s a meeting without a little treat? Participants not only left with new insights and connections but also with boxes of Little Debbies snack cakes thanks to McKee, a sweet end to a productive day.

For those wondering who should attend future meetings, how to get involved, or about the cost – it’s free, aimed at trucking professionals, and with more meetings planned across Tennessee, there’s an opportunity for everyone to jump on board. As the inaugural CPR Safety Coalition Meeting came to a close, it was clear that this wasn’t just another event. It was the start of something bigger – a concerted effort towards a safer future on the roads. 

Click here to join the waitlist and receive notifications on the next CPR event scheduled for Memphis, TN in April 2024.

View more photos from the CPR event here.

📊 Event Slides

Dive into detailed analyses, insights, and innovative ideas shared during our sessions.You can view the slides here.

If you cannot access them through the above link. Please find the slides below.

Allen England – TN Highway Patrol

Stephanie.Mann- FMCSA

Dollena McHenry – TN Highway Patrol

Dan Pallme – TN Department of Transportation

Shannon Millsaps – THRIVE

Grady Phillips & Rhonda Harris – Workforce QA & Law Enforcement Agency

Jason Harris AL Law Enforcement Agency.

Captain Dawn Arrowood – GA Department of Public Safety

Sharae Moore – She Trucking Foundation

Wesley Barrell- GA Ports Authority

View the agenda from the Chattanooga Coalition for an overview of the day’s events.