Pub2 2021 Issue1

22 Kentucky Trucker Large legal verdicts have been a part of the legal landscape of the trucking industry for years, but the costs associated with them have increased dramatically over the last decade. Oftentimes, single verdicts can rise to more than $10 million for serious crashes involving injury and death. This led the RAC to rank the “Impact of Large Verdicts on the Trucking Industry” among its top research priorities, citing statistics that showed that several motor carriers had been forced to close due to rising insurance premiums — a result of nuclear verdicts. The RAC then prioritized research with several main objectives, including 1) Determine how large verdicts impact the industry; 2) analyze crash factors on the size of respective verdicts; 3) survey industry stakeholders and subject matter experts on relevant courtroom tactics; and 4) identify strategies utilized in other industries to protect firms against inordinately large verdicts to apply them to trucking operations. As a representative from a larger carrier, Brown believes ATRI’s best attributes are its ability to remain neutral and present only the facts of a given study. It is then up to policymakers and stakeholders to put ATRI’s findings to work. “There is no bias for or against any one stakeholder,” he says. “Fleet owners and managers can use the data presented and formulate business strategies; whether it be using bottleneck data and changing the day and time a truck goes through a certain area for efficiency, or develop plans in risk management to protect company assets, etc. “For me, the most interesting ATRI research is the “Annual Top Industry Issues” report,” Brown says. “As a fleet professional, I see these issues firsthand in my company to some extent, and I am fascinated to see how these same issues affect other carriers regardless of size. “Occasionally, there will be an issue that gets ranked higher or lower than I ranked it, and that is intriguing to me. We don’t always have to fall in line and agree with the results of the survey as it affects our companies, but it is a great gauge of the national pulse.” Funding & Support ATRI depends on the financial support of industry stakeholders to advance its research agenda. Charitable contributions allow ATRI to continue to produce critical research studies on topics as varied as truck parking, hours-of-service, driver training, congestion mitigation and autonomous trucks. “No matter how large or small your company is I am confident there is no one on your staff who is doing the detailed analyses that ATRI provides,” Brown says. “This type of research is such a specialized and detailed project a single company can’t do something like it. That is why we in the transportation industry benefit so much from giving input on surveys, participating in research projects, and donating financially to ATRI as well. Brown says that even if you cannot contribute funds, you can still support ATRI by participating in its data collection activities. “More is always better when it comes to research information,” he says. “I encourage everyone in the industry to join a growing number of motor carriers, professional drivers and industry suppliers who regularly take part in ATRI’s studies.” ATRI makes its research available free of charge. For more information, please visit TruckingResearch.org. Ford Boswell is a senior advisor specializing in strategic marketing and communications programs for the Alabama Trucking Association. He may be reached at fboswell@gmail.com . continued from page 21 A&M Transport Ability Tri-Modal Transportation Services Alabama Trucking Assn. ArcBest Corporation Arizona Trucking Assn. Arkansas Trucking Assn. Best Way Express Bob Costello Boyle Transportation Bulldog Hiway Express C.H. Robinson Worldwide Carbon Express Cargo Transporters Central Oregon Truck Co. Chris Spear Colorado Motor Carriers Assn. Combined Transport CRINC CRST Cummins Inc. ATRI Supporters (as of March 1, 2021)