Author: Jeff Della Rosa

Fast 15: Brandon Wall

A fourth-grade assignment sparked Brandon Wall’s interest in design and led him into a career in construction. The assignment was to draw the floor plan and elevations of his house,…

Fast 15: Lisa Smith

Growing up in Colorado, Lisa Smith learned life, like farming, has good and bad seasons. Her father, a dryland farmer, taught the Dove Creek native how to persevere and to…

Fast 15: Nik Kennett

The psychology behind why consumers behave the way they do led Nik Kennett into a marketing career. “I’ve always been a people person,” he said. While his day job is…

Fast 15: Griffin Hanna

After graduating from the University of Denver, Griffin Hanna started working as a financial analyst for telecommunications company Starz. But after two years, he decided he didn’t want to be…

Arkansas trucking companies will have a better fleet registration system by Jan. 1

Arkansas Trucking Association’s top priority for this legislative session was to change the state’s antiquated International Registration Plan procedures, allowing carriers to register their fleets in one state instead of…

State highway and elected officials mark completion of $53 million segment of Bella Vista bypass

The Bella Vista bypass is nearly 6.4 miles closer to completion, and the state awaits Missouri on its portion of the bypass before Arkansas moves forward on its final segments…

ATRI report says truck drivers sacrifice an hour of driving time for parking

Finding a safe place to park a big rig is the fourth most important issue the trucking industry faces, according to the American Transportation Research Institute. The issue rose one…

XNA responds to passenger growth with $35 million parking deck

The start of spring break, Wal-Mart Stores’ annual shareholders meeting, and vendor events the retailer hosts are examples of peak periods at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) in Highfill….

Contractors could get incentives for early completion of Northwest Arkansas road projects

Northwest Arkansas motorists might not have to dodge orange barrels for quite as long because the mild winter has allowed state highway projects to progress at a faster pace. A…

ArcBest reports $7.40 million loss, stock down 20%

ArcBest’s revenue rose 4% in the first quarter, but it experienced a 21% larger loss related to changes in freight in its less-than-truckload business and weaker demand, especially in the…

Johnelle Hunt tells life story to trucking executives, ATA members

Johnelle Hunt told the story of her life with her late husband Johnnie Bryan Hunt, who together established a trucking company more than 55 years ago. On Thursday (May 4),…

ATA president gives state of industry address at Rogers conference, says tolling is ‘extortion’

Chris Spear, president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations, had a tough weekend. Spear explained the late-night removal of language from a bill the trade organization supported, and at…

Federally-funded projects at Northwest Arkansas city airports flat since 2015, falling nationwide

Planned capital projects at U.S. airports have fallen 3% since 2015, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, but city airports in Northwest Arkansas haven’t seen a decline in the projects…

P.A.M. first quarter earnings fall 22%, revenue rises 5%

Earnings for P.A.M. Transportation Services declined 22% in the first quarter as it reduced some costs but has yet to secure rate increases. In the quarter that ended March 31,…

Trucking industry pushes feds for hair testing guidelines for drug testing

American Trucking Associations spearheaded efforts to allow carriers to use hair testing as an alternative to urinalysis for drug testing truck drivers, and a recently approved highway bill will allow…

Better days ahead for LTL carriers like ABF Freight, but expect ‘bumpy ride’

While investors were buying into less-than-truckload stocks late last year, some analysts were “pointing fingers” at the move, driving up the stocks. Since January, stocks have started to return to…

Springdale business exec appointed to national manufacturing advisory board

Chris Weiser, president and CEO of J.V. Manufacturing in Springdale, has been appointed to the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The institute…

J.B. Hunt to spend $500 million on technology improvements, pushes e-commerce strategy

J.B. Hunt Transport Services will invest $500 million in technology over the next five years in a move to better match carriers with shippers, rather than partnering with Silicon Valley…

Arkansas trucking group marks 85 years of advocating for the industry

Members of the Arkansas Trucking Association and the trucking companies established in the state have understood the value of a collective voice, and while what’s best for one company might…

Springdale-based CBI opens office in Tulsa

Confidential Business Intermediaries (CBI) of Springdale has opened an office in Tulsa. Owner Carl Grimes said Roy Still is the managing partner for the office, which opened March 1 on…

Fort Smith sales tax revenue beats budget estimates in May report

Prime Day events fueled 9.3% growth in online sales

UA receives $350,000, names property manager

JBU expands career learning to area high school students