TODAY'S NEWSLETTER IS SPONSORED BY: | |
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We are now taking commitments for the 2025 Newsline Sponsorships. If your company would like to be a sponsor, please contact Carol Foster at (615) 777-2882 or email cfoster@tntrucking.org to reserve your edition. The cost will be $300.00 per edition with your logo and a link to your website. If you would like a banner ad linked to your website it would be $500.00 per edition. There will be a total of 24 editions this year.
THANK YOU to those that sponsored in 2024!!!
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About Peter J. Crosa & Co.
With a view to maximizing cost efficiency for our clients, we’ve streamlined a centralized administrative “brain center” that supervises field adjusters & private investigators located throughout the U.S. This gets you to problem resolution quickly.
Our Property and Marine Division is the Designated Adjuster by producers and brokers for large complex losses throughout North America but we also have a combination of staff and affiliates with whom we team to provide the utmost care and “white glove” service to high value commercial insureds throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and Latin America. We have 30 dedicated adjusters/investigators scattered throughout our operating states. We also have eight Spanish speaking adjusters in FL which is an absolute must for handling claims in South Florida.
Primary Contact: Michael Crosa, Insurance Adjuster
Email: michaeljames@peterjcrosa.com
Phone: 828-273-7511
Mailing Address: 602 Belvoir Avenue East Ridge TN 37412
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About New Bern Transportation - Pepsi
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $91 billion in net revenue in 2023, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.
Primary Contact: Ashley Lane
Email: 2020 Midway Ln Smyrna TN 37167
Phone: (803) 833-6798
Mailing Address: 2020 Midway Ln Smyrna TN 37167
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About Mid-South Sales/Cadence Petroleum
The MSS Jonesboro, Arkansas branch services the areas in and around Northeast Arkansas, including Jonesboro, Paragould, Newport, Searcy, Walnut Ridge, Pocahontas, Harrisburg, Wynne, Batesville, Mountain Home, Melbourne, Hardy, Ash Flat, and Hoxie, AR. If you would like to speak to a representative from the Jonesboro, Arkansas branch about your petroleum needs, please call one of our team members listed below. You can also click on a different branch at the bottom of the page to see our other service areas. Mid-South Sales has been providing quality petroleum products to Arkansas and surrounding states for more than 50 years. Our products include gasoline, diesel, lubricants, oils, aviation fuel, lubrication equipment, and more.
Primary Contact: Bryan Doss
Email: bdoss@cadencepetroleum.com
Phone: (901) 356-7869
Mailing Address: 243 CR 414, Jonesboro, AR 72404
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How did we already get to February?
This past month, we held our first Leading Edge Class of the year, with ten participants. They enjoyed a day of Orientation and Leadership training on The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell. We also hosted a New Member Orientation with eighteen attendees who learned about the Association, Foundation, and had the opportunity to meet our staff and a few members. With even more exciting events ahead of us, be sure to check out our Events Calendar—we’d love to see you at one of our many events and meetings this year!
Our lobbyists have been working hard to advocate on our behalf. Dale Allen, Ashley Harbin, and Olivia Wilson with Adams and Reese are carefully reviewing each bill introduced this year. There are a few bills that could impact us, with this one being the most significant: HB005. In summary, the bill increases the maximum amount that may be awarded to each injured plaintiff in a civil action for noneconomic damages from $750,000 to $1,500,000, whether the case involves a single defendant or multiple defendants found liable under the principle of comparative fault. It also increases the maximum amount for catastrophic injuries from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000. Be sure to read the legislative report provided in this edition of Newsline. Your continued support is vital to ensuring our voice is heard!
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We’ve also been making updates to the TTA office. We’ve added new paint and carpet, and one of the most exciting additions is our Legacy Wall, which highlights our Legacy Club Members.
These incredible individuals have helped shape our industry and organization. If you’re interested in adding an individual or a company to our Legacy Club, please reach out, and I’d be happy to discuss it further.
If you’re ever in the area, feel free to drop by and take a look at the updates—we’d love to have you!
There’s a lot of exciting work to do this year, and I’m looking forward to everything we’ll accomplish together. As always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions or if the TTA staff can help in any way.
Sincerely,
Donna England
President/CEO
Tennessee Trucking Association
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Fleetmaster Express Announces Leadership Changes and Commitment to Excellence
Fleetmaster Express is pleased to announce significant leadership changes as part of its commitment to continued growth and success. Travis Smith, formerly Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed President, marking a new chapter in the company's evolution. Carl Bumgarner will continue in his role as CEO and Chairman of the Board, guiding Fleetmaster Express into the future.
These changes underscore the company’s dedication to innovation, employee well-being, and long-term success. Fleetmaster Express remains focused on fostering a positive work environment and providing tailored logistics solutions to meet client needs.
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Oral Fluid Testing & DA Clearinghouse Workshop: Insights and Updates from Industry Experts
Last week, Tennessee Trucking Association members gathered for an "Oral Fluid Testing & DA Clearinghouse Workshop" with guest speakers Patrice M. Kelly, JD, and Grady Phillips. It was a dynamic half-day of learning, featuring updates, real-life scenarios, and insightful Q&As.
Thank you to everyone who came out to learn about these important updates and thank you, Western Express, Inc. for letting us host this event at your beautiful facility.
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2025 TSC Registration Now Available! | |
We're excited to announce that registration for the 2025 Technician Skills Competition is now open! This event, taking place on April 3, 2025, at the Nashville Fairgrounds Expo Center, promotes professionalism and safety within our industry.
All competitors must register by March 26, 2025. Don't miss out on the opportunity to showcase your top technicians and elevate their skills.
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FMCSA Retains Fleets' 50% Random Drug Testing Rate in 2025 | Transport Topics | Motor carriers must continue to conduct random drug tests with 50% of their truck drivers and random alcohol tests with 10% of their drivers in 2025, FMCSA announced. | | | |
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On November 19, 2024, FMCSA began performing critical updates and maintenance to enhance and increase its security and reliability of the
FMCSA L&I Registration Options website.
This website is where registrants go to make online changes to their existing registration record, such as filing their biennial updates, adding authority, or reinstating their authority, among other transactions. Consequently, the website has been offline. As part of the aforementioned critical updates, the site was placed behind the FMCSA Portal and was transitioned to Login.gov to achieve compliance with the Presidential mandate for Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
Update: As of January 10th, the FMCSA L&I Registration Options functionality is now in the FMCSA Portal. Authorized Company Officials who created FMCSA Portal accounts can see a new “Registration” menu (pictured below) within their portal account to make online changes once again. Other users (such as company users and Transportation Service Providers) authorized by a Company Official can also request access to this new FMCSA Portal menu to make changes. Once in their FMCSA Portal account, they would request 2 roles from the Authorized Company Official (“Modify Company Information” and “View Sensitive Company Information”). Once the Authorized Company Official approves, the authorized users will be able to see the “Registration” menu to make online changes. (Pictured above.)
We encourage all authorized users who have already submitted a paper form to the FMCSA Contact Center to request these new roles and submit any changes online. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and appreciate everyone’s patience as we worked to provide a more secure and reliable experience. We are encouraging everyone to visit the FMCSA Registration “Registration Forms” website for additional information, guidance, and updates.
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ATA Opens Registration for SSHR National Conference and Exhibition | Washington - Today, American Trucking Associations opened registration for the 2025 Safety, Security, & Human Resources National Conference and Exhibition, the trucking industr | | | |
New tool scores routes based on cargo theft risk | Verisk has launched the CargoNet RouteScore API that scores a route based on numerous cargo theft factors. Also: ATRI seeks carrier input on advanced safety systems; Love's plans further expansion in 2025. | | | |
Corporate Transparency Act update from Fen-Cin | Fen-Cin recently posted updates on the Corporate Transparency Act. Read more to learn about the latest updates on the website. | | | |
ATRI Seeks Motor Carrier Guidance on Advanced Safety Technologies on Behalf of TechCelerate Now Program | The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) is initiating research on the role that advanced safety systems can have in improving safety and productivity in trucking. This research is part of the ongoing TechCelerate Now program, which is sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). | | | |
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Snow and Ice
Over 70 percent of the nation's roads are located in snowy regions, which receive more than five inches (or 13 cm) average snowfall annually. Nearly 70 percent of the U.S. population lives in these snowy regions. Snow and ice reduce pavement friction and vehicle maneuverability, causing slower speeds, reduced roadway capacity, and increased crash risk. Average arterial speeds decline by 30 to 40 percent on snowy or slushy pavement. Freeway speeds are reduced by 3 to 13 percent in light snow and by 5 to 40 percent in heavy snow. Heavy snow and sleet can also reduce visibility. Lanes and roads are obstructed by snow accumulation, which reduces capacity and increases travel time delay.
Each year, 24 percent of weather-related vehicle crashes occur on snowy, slushy or icy pavement and 15 percent happen during snowfall or sleet. Over 1,300 people are killed and more than 116,800 people are injured in vehicle crashes on snowy, slushy or icy pavement annually. Every year, nearly 900 people are killed and nearly 76,000 people are injured in vehicle crashes during snowfall or sleet. Snow and ice increase road maintenance costs. Winter road maintenance accounts for roughly 20 percent of state DOT maintenance budgets. State and local agencies spend more than 2.3 billion dollars on snow and ice control operations annually. Each year, these road agencies also spend millions of dollars to repair infrastructure damage caused by snow and ice.
While not ideal, sometimes all you can do is wait for the road conditions to improve. Roads may shut down during snow or ice storms and you may be stuck whether you want to or not. Taking the slow route there is better than damaging your cargo, or worse, losing your life.
When you do decide to stop, be careful about where you stop. In a perfect situation, you can drive safely to a rest stop and park there for the night. Parking on the side of the road should be avoided if possible. If you must stop on the side of the road, make your presence clear with emergency triangles, cones and flashers to show others where you are.
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Marty Pollock, Director of Safety
Tennessee Trucking Association
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Dale Allen
Adams and Reese LLP
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Ashley Harbin
Adams and Reese LLP
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Tennessee General Assembly Kicks off 2025 Session; Committee Changes; Updated Rule Package; Special Session Announcement
The much-anticipated 2025 legislative session kicked off on Tuesday January 14th, 2025, as lawmakers convened in Nashville for the swearing in of the 114th Tennessee General Assembly. Highlights included the election of speakers and constitutional officers, the appointment of committees, and the announcement of a special session called by Governor Bill Lee, which commenced on January 27th.
Legislature Elects Leadership and Constitutional Officers
Lt. Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) has been re-elected to a fifth term as Speaker of the Senate, with all 27 Republican Senators voting in favor of his reappointment. Meanwhile, the Democratic Senators unanimously voted "present not voting”, declining to support McNally. Senator Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin) has been reappointed as Senate Speaker Pro Tempore. Sen. John Stevens (R-Huntingdon) and Sen. Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald) have been appointed as Senate Deputy Speakers.
House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) was re-elected to his fourth term with 75 votes in his favor. The remaining 23 votes went to Democratic Leader Karen Camper (D-Memphis). Representative Pat Marsh (R-Shelbyville) has been re-elected House Speaker Pro Tempore, and Rep. Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville) will serve as House Deputy Speaker in place of the retired Rep. Curtis Johnson (R-Clarksville).
The House and Senate convened jointly to elect the state’s Constitutional officers. The legislature voted to retain the current officers, with votes that largely followed party lines. Jason Mumpower was re-elected to his second consecutive two-year term as Comptroller; David Lillard was re-elected to his eighth consecutive two-year term as Treasurer; and Tre Hargett was re-elected to his fourth consecutive four-year term as Secretary of State.
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Road Team Captain Spotlight | |
Meet Kenneth "Kenny" Huttchson | |
Kenneth "Kenny" Huttchson, is a professional driver with over 42 years of experience and an outstanding safety record of over 3 million safe driving miles.
For the past 19 years, he has been a team member at FedEx Freight.
Beyond his career, he has enjoyed 45 wonderful years of marriage to his wife, Debbie. Together, they’ve raised two children, Daniel and Julianna, who bring them immense pride.
When he’s not on the road, he enjoys hiking, canoeing, and fishing, embracing the beauty of the outdoors.
Thank you, Kenneth, for helping us share road safety in 2024, and good luck to all of our new Captains joining the team this year.
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CONTRIBUTIONS TO TENNESSEE TRUCKING FOUNDATION IN MEMORY OF... | | |
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William "Billy" Earl Knight
Contributions were made by: JB Baker
Acknowledgement sent to: Brad Wilson
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Tennessee Trucking Foundation Contribution
Want to make a contribution to our Foundation? You can easily donate to the foundation on our website. Thank you to all who support our Foundation's mission.
- Advancing highway safety
- Educating the public through programs designed to make our roads safer
- Providing Tennessee children’s charities with funds to improve the lives of our state’s children
- The TTF Scholarship, administered annually by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
Visit the website to donate.
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