Alaska Trucking Association: promoting Alaska's trucking industry.

• Author: Barbour, Tracy
• Position: ASSOCIATIONS

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The Alaska Trucking Association is a small, nonprofit organization with a big impact on Alaskans. Executive Director Aves Thompson sums it up this way: "If you got it, a truck brought it."

The long-standing association has been fostering and promoting the trucking industry in Alaska for more than 50 years. It's comprised of about 200 member companies that represent all aspects of the trucking business. About 60 percent of them are companies that haul for hire, private carriers that transport goods only for themselves, and construction truck operators. The other 40 percent are associate members that supply goods and services to the industry.

The Alaska Trucking Association uses a variety of methods to advance the trucking industry throughout the state. It works to create positive images of the industry and advocates important issues with government and regulatory agencies. The association also keeps members abreast of the latest industry developments through conferences, seminars and webinars available through its national counterpart: the American Trucking Association.

As a unique benefit, the Alaska Trucking Association also provides title, registration and other services to its members at discounted rates. Offered in partnership with the Alaska Department of Motor Vehicles, the services are available to both members and nonmembers on a walk-in and drop-off basis.

"People are thrilled when they come to us," Thompson said. "Usually, they can walk in and be in and out within five or 10 minutes."

HELPING MEMBERS MANAGE CHANGE

The Alaska Trucking Association also focuses on helping its member companies manage change. Changing industry regulations, standards and practices can be challenging for members--especially those that have a significant impact on their livelihood. A prime example is Compliance Safety Accountability (CSA). The program--rolled out in December by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)--is designed to make it easier to identify unsafe commercial truck and bus companies.

A key component of CSA is the Safety Measurement System (SMS), which evaluates all safety-based violations from inspections and crash data to determine a commercial motor carrier's on-road performance. The new safety program will allow FMCSA to reach more carriers earlier and deploy a range of corrective interventions to address a carrier's specific safety problems, according to a...