On April 13, 2024, the Arizona Trucking Association proudly hosted the annual Truck Driving Championship (TDC) at Tempe Diablo Stadium, featuring a strong turnout of 169 drivers. This year’s participants, many of whom boast millions of miles in accident-free driving, competed across several categories to demonstrate their driving and safety skills. Competition Categories: Written Exam: Drivers were tested on their knowledge of industry standards, first aid, wellness, injury prevention, and safety protocols. Pre-Trip Inspection: Competitors showcased their understanding of truck equipment. Ski ..read more

Yesterday, Governor Katie Hobbs signed into law House Bill 2461, concerning duty of care for leased vehicles. This legislation, sponsored by Representative David Cook (R – District 7), establishes a standard of care for leased vehicles in civil litigation cases. Specifically, the law clarifies that there is no obligation for the owner, lessor, renter, or operator of a covered motor vehicle to install equipment not required by federal motor vehicle safety standards. In simpler terms, the installation of optional equipment remains discretionary. HB 2461 provides consistency and predictability f ..read more

Annual Event Highlights Safety and Professional Driving Skills On Saturday, April 13, 2024, the Arizona Trucking Association will host its 50th annual Truck Driving Championship (TDC). A total of 179 professional truck drivers will participate in their respective classes to determine this year’s top truck drivers in Arizona, many of whom have millions of miles of accident-free driving. The TDC is an excellent opportunity to witness firsthand the safety aspects and skills required for professional truck driving. Participants are tested in three different areas: Written Exam: This tests drivers ..read more

Washington — Full electrification of the U.S. commercial truck fleet would require nearly $1 trillion in infrastructure investment alone, according to a new report from Roland Bergerreleased today by the Clean Freight Coalition. The study forecasts a realistic infrastructure buildout for the electrification of medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, exposing what the CFC calls a massive investment gap as state and federal policymakers mandate increased adoption rates of battery-electric commercial vehicles. Key findings: Preparing today’s commercial vehicle fleet for electrifica ..read more

Washington, D.C. – The American Transportation Research Institute today issued a request for motor carriers to participate in ATRI’s annual update to its Operational Costs of Trucking report. ATRI’s Operational Costs of Trucking is one of the most trusted resources in the industry for benchmarking costs and operations. ATRI collects data confidentially from for-hire motor carriers of all sectors, regions, and sizes – from 1-truck owner-operators to 10,000-truck fleets – to produce insights on key industry trends that guide decision-makers of all kinds. Cost ..read more

The Arizona Trucking Association Foundation is thrilled to announce the opening of its annual Scholarship Program application window, starting from March 4, 2024. This opportunity, available until May 16, 2024, 3:00 pm CT, is dedicated to supporting the educational aspirations of member employees’ children and grandchildren. This scholarship initiative reflects the Foundation’s commitment to fostering the next generation of talent. It offers financial assistance to eligible students aiming to pursue full-time studies at accredited colleges, universities, or vocational institutions of their cho ..read more

Yesterday, two priority bills successfully passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, reflecting strong bipartisan support. HB2461: duty of care; leased vehicles – House Bill 2461, passing unanimously (11-0), focuses on leased vehicles’ duty of care in civil lawsuits. It aligns Arizona with national safety standards by ensuring leased vehicles aren’t mandated to retrofit with equipment not required at the time of manufacture, except for mandatory recalls. More details can be found here. HB2414: commercial vehicles; fleet plates; fees – House Bill 2414, approved with a 9-2 vo ..read more

Washington, D.C. – As part of a larger study on the impacts of truck driver detention on the industry, the American Transportation Research Institute today issued a call for motor carriers and owner-operators to participate in new ATRI data collection on the consequences of driver detention in the trucking industry. Driver detention – time spent waiting at shipper or receiver facilities outside of loading/unloading – is a longstanding issue in the trucking industry. Accordingly, ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee (RAC) identified the need for new research to document the widespread negative c ..read more

Dear ATA Member: Today the Biden Administration released a final rule on independent contractor classification under the Fair Labor Standards Act, which replaces the existing standard that ATA worked to enact under the Trump Administration. The prior existing rule was clear, obvious, and straightforward in establishing two primary factors to establish IC or employment status: The control exercised by the hiring entity; and The entrepreneurial activity of ICs. Under the new rule issued by the Biden Administration today, parties will now have to wade through six factors to determine IC or empl ..read more

  ATA PAC Poker Party Texas Hold’em Fields marked with an * are required Thursday, February 16, 2024 – 1:00 to 5:00 PM Arizona Trucking Association 7500 W. Madison Street Tolleson, AZ 85353 Registration deadline is February 13, 2024 Come and enjoy the friendly competition and win major bragging rights! Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Refreshments will be served. If you are interested in sponsoring the event or in reserving a table of five or more:   Contact Jenive Olgine – Jolgine@aztrucking.com Disclaimers: This is a fundraising event for the Arizona Trucking Associatio ..read more