A Presidential
Message
Just a reminder, everyone,
that there is no TWNA meeting planned for ITS in spite of a time
being noted in some recent ITS promotional material. Nor, at this
point, are we planning one at GATS in September.
The reason? Your trusted
executive body collectively decided that too few officers, directors,
or members at large would be present at either show to warrant
getting together. Tight budgets, reduced staffing, you name it
- the reasons are many, but they all led us to the same conclusion.
As always, we appreciate
the generosity of show organizers in setting aside meeting space
for us, and of Peterbilt for being willing to provide refreshments.
We would rather not waste such generosity on a meeting that couldn't
constitute a quorum.
While the present plan
is not to hold a meeting at GATS, it's conceivable that things
could change between now and then if there's a hue and cry. We'll
keep you posted, but as things stand now, the next full-scale
meeting will be in Louisville next March.
Rolf Lockwood
Treasurer's Report:
Balance is $6,770.60
TWNA began 2001 with
$8110.65. Dues deposits so far total $3,560, for a subtotal of
$11,670.65.
Disbursements total
$4,900.02, for a balance as of June 20 of $6,770.60, plus a small
amount of interest on the money market account.
Disbursements are as
follows:
* $50.02 to Carol Birkland
for postage and printing related to the dues renewal mailing
* $1,000 to the Ol' Blue USA School Fund (Link
From A Recent Visit)
* $2,500 to the Truckload Carriers Association scholarship fund
* $1,100 to TCA for a 1/2-page ad in the TCA membership directory
* $250 to the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance in
memory of Ruth Jones
--Respectfully submitted,
Avery Vise, Treasurer.
Scholarship Money
Sent to TCA
As agreed by members
at TWNA's Annual Meeting during the Mid-America Trucking Show
in Louisville last March, our treasurer has sent a check for $2,500
to the Truckload Carriers Association to fund a scholarship.
TCA's Scholarship Committee
will pick the recipient, who will be the child of someone in the
trucking industry, and notify us of his/her identity. The recipient
will be someone already attending a four-year college or university,
TCA says. TWNA's name will be on the scholarship, so the student
will know where the money came from.
As discussed at the
Louisville meeting, we hope to make a TWNA scholarship an annual
thing. It may or may not go to TCA each year; this will be debated
at the next Annual Meeting.
Ruth Jones Succumbs
to Cancer
Ruth Jones, senior
editor for OOIDA's Land Line magazine and a friend to many TWNA
members, passed away June 8 at her home in Lone Jack, Mo. Ruth,
52, had lost a lengthy battle with colon cancer.
Ruth attended TWNA's
annual meeting during the Louisville truck show in March. She
was in a wheelchair and obviously weak, but smiled often during
the proceedings. Member Evan Lockridge, made Ruth laugh when he
told her, "See? Everyone always said those plant tours cause
cancer!"
She announced that
the effects of her cancer required her to resign as a TWNA director.
When Paul Abelson asked members to recognize her as a long-time
show truck competitor, there was a standing ovation. "It
was incredibly touching," recalls Deborah Lockridge.
Ruth Fledderman Jones
was born in Louisville, KY, on Dec. 2, 1948. She attended college
in Kentucky and later, took additional courses at the Fort Scott,
Kans., Community College. She earned her class A CDL in 1979.
On her first job driving, she drove 48 states for M. Bruenger,
a freight company out of Wichita, KS.
She met Dee Jones,
another Bruenger driver from Conway, Ark., and on Dec. 16, 1983,
she and Dee were married. In 1986, they settled in Fort Scott,
Kans. In the spring of 1987, the Jones' began driving for All
Freight Systems of Kansas City, Kans.
"Ruth was an extraordinarily
well-spoken individual and able writer," says Sandi Soendker,
Land Line's managing editor and a close friend. "She was
already an award-winning short story writer when in 1995, she
was coaxed from the road by OOIDA's Todd Spencer."
She became a staff
writer for Land Line, and brought to the magazine the same dedication
and zeal that she showed in helping OOIDA in its battle against
the U.S. government's intrusive and unconsitutional drug program
(see below).
In June of 1996, she
and Dee moved to Lone Jack, Mo., so she could be closer to the
Grain Valley office. Despite her full-time job as senior editor
at Land Line, Ruth kept her CDL and frequently hauled loads for
All Freight, both solo and with her husband.
In addition to TWNA,
Ruth was a member of the National Association of Show Trucks.
She and Dee were active NAST competitors with a customized black-and-teal
Freightliner ("Lost in the Fifties"), owned by All Freight
Systems.
She was diagnosed with
colon cancer in July 1998. Through the treatments and surgeries,
she continued to work as Land Line's senior editor until earlier
this year. Even then, she contributed both copy and advice from
her home.
Ruth is survived by
husband Dee; their six children and 15 grandchildren; a brother;
and her parents.
A memorial service
was Saturday, June 16, in Grain Valley, Mo. Graveside services
will be Saturday, June 23, in Woodson, Ark. The family suggests
donations in Ruth's name to the National Colorectal Cancer Research
Alliance (NCCRA), 11132 Ventura Blvd., Suite 401, Studio City,
CA 91604-3156.
[NOTE: TWNA has
donated $250 to the alliance in Ruth's name.]
***
Ruth's stand against
a government drug-testing program began in autumn of 1992, Sandi
Soendker says. Sandi wrote this story which will appear in Land
Line's next issue:
On Oct. 23, 1992, a
company driver for All Freight Systems named Ruth Jones entered
the eastbound scales at North Platte, Neb. A highway patrolman
crossed in front of the vehicle and climbed right up on the step
and instructed her to get her driver's license, medical card,
registration and logbook.
He explained they would
be doing a "Class 4" inspection. She asked what that
involved and was told it included submitting to a urine test for
drugs and alcohol right there on the spot.
"My husband had
been telling me for months this was coming and I knew it had been
talked about," she said. "But I was sure that sooner
or later, someone would put the brakes on, since it was so obviously
unconstitutional."
Jones said she felt
shocked and sick to realize this was actually happening, and happening
to her. "I hadn't done anything that could lead anyone to
believe I was drunk or on drugs, but it didn't matter," she
said. "Eenie, meenie, minee, moe. I was it."
When she asked the
officer if he had any reason to think she might be drunk, or on
drugs, he explained that this was a "random" test and
that a reason did not matter. She refused to take the drug test.
"I had been told
that the penalty for refusing was 90 days in jail and a $500 fine,"
she said. "I fully expected to be taken to jail. I was scared
to death, but I wasn't going to roll over and play dead for this."
But she learned she
wasn't going directly to jail.
"I was issued
a citation for 'failure to obey a lawful order.' Before I signed
the citation, I requested that the officer detail what I failed
to do, which he did. Then I signed. Then I was free to leave,"
said Jones.
She says after her
knees quit shaking, the rage came. "I got mad, and very,
very determined." She called the Owner-Operator Independent
Drivers Association in Grain Valley, MO. She wasn't sure how she'd
be received as she was not an owner-operator or a member. She
was received warmly and she was assured the organization would
support her in her refusal. She became a member that same day.
She went to see the
deputy prosecuting attorney in Lincoln County a week later. "Per
OOIDA's advice, I had taken a drug test at my doctor's office
the next day (which was negative)," Ruth said, "in case
it became necessary at some point to prove my innocence."
She spoke to the deputy
prosecutor at length about her strong feelings on this matter.
She signed papers to plead not guilty, and a court date was set
for Dec. 9. The deputy prosecutor indicated it had not been decided
whether or not to prosecute this case and Jones was told to call
in two weeks.
Many phone calls later,
on Dec. 7, the charges were dismissed "in the interests of
justice."
What happened to Ruth
that day in 1992 set in motion a commitment to truckers' rights
that lasted the rest of her life. She was one of the fewer than
a dozen truckers nationwide that said "no" to the U.S.
government's experiment to see if truckers would forsake their
Fourth Amendment rights and submit to random roadside urine tests.
Ruth not only said,
"no, not as long as the flag still flies over this country,"
to Nebraska enforcement, but she said "no" again to
truck enforcement in Utah less than three months later.
Her association with
OOIDA became a driving force in her life. She was a plaintiff
in their case, suing the U.S. government over this outrageous
and unconstitutional program. Soon after, the government quietly
ended its unconstitutional project.
***
Bill Hudgins, TWNA's
vice president, wrote this about Ruth:
I said good-bye to
a good friend and colleague over the weekend. Ruth Jones, the
Senior Editor or OOIDA's magazine Land Line, died on June 8, and
was memorialized this past Saturday in Grain Valley, Mo., home
of the Association she was so devoted to. She was a terrific person,
and I miss her.
Ruth had been a driver
for a number of years before joining Land Line. I first met her
in 1996. Over the years, we talked at truck shows and via e-mail.
I got to know her and her husband, Dee, and most recently their
fine, award-winning Freightliner show truck, "Lost in the
'50s."
I also got to know
Ruth's work, which was always insightful, wise and hard-hitting
when it came to helping and protecting her fellow drivers. She
could be such an effective advocate because she continued to haul
loads and find out what was really going on out on the roads.
She was also one of
the kindest, most generous and bravest people I've ever known.
She fought her cancer, refused to give over to the disease. She
continued to work and urged Dee to keep trucking even as she slowly
gave ground. She continued to love her family and friends steadfastly,
with humor and grace.
Paul Abelson, who serves
as senior technical editor for Road King and also for Land Line,
gave a wonderful eulogy for Ruth (it's below). I picture Ruth
up there tooling along Heaven's interstates, where the paving's
just been finished and the roads are smooth and open. She's looking
down over all of us. Every now and then she sees something that
makes her murmur, "Now, isn't that interesting?" and
hopes that one of us will get the hint and look into it further.
We're trying, Ruth.
***
Paul Abelson delivered
this tribute to Ruth at her memorial service at Grain Valley on
June 16....
I didn't know Ruth
Jones as long as many of you, but I did get to know her well.
For those of you who may not know, we met at the Mid America Trucking
show. I believe it was in '96, when Land Line first sent Ruth
to cover the Show. She was in the press room excuse me, that s
the Media Center, now that we've become sophisticated.
This somewhat shy newcomer
was looking kind of lost, not knowing what to do or where to go
next. We were getting ready to go to the buses that would take
us off-site, to the Peterbilt lunch. Ruth and I sat together on
the bus and at the Seelbach hotel. I found that Ruth knew lots
about driving and driver issues that I didn't, and I guess I knew
more than she about the hardware of trucking.
Since most of the press
conferences were about products, Ruth had a question or two at
every one. Shy as she was on her first press day, she asked me
instead of the presenters. By the end of that day, we had developed
a friendship, one that endured.
By the way, over the
years, I got to ask her lots of questions, too. I think it was
that friendship that helped get Todd to bring me in as Land Line
s technical editor. Ruth could be very persuasive.
Ruth hit it off well
among the other trucking journalists, too. She joined Truck Writers
of North America, our trade group, and through her editorial work
at Land Line and committee work for TWNA, she earned the recognition
and respect of her peers. Within a few years, Ruth was elected
to the group s Board of Directors. She held the position until
this past March, when she resigned at the Mid America Show.
I also got to know
Ruth and Dee through the wonderful world of Show Trucks. What
a team! Dee had the truck and Ruth had the creativity. "Lost
in the '50s" was the theme, but certainly not descriptive
of either Ruth or Dee. The truck did, however, become known for
two things. It is one of the sharpest company trucks out there,
and it s known for the pair of autographed white buck shoes: "Pat"
on one, and "Boone" on the other. Those were really
special to Ruth. I later found out they came from Bill Hudgins,
but that s another story.
A few years before
I started with Land Line, I got an assignment from Bill, editorial
director of Road King Magazine, to write about preparing and showing
show trucks. For that article, I took many photos. I d like to
share with you one that was not used in the article. It wasn't
exactly Ruth's favorite, but it is one of mine. It says a great
deal about the Ruth Jones I came to admire as a colleague and
love like a sister.
For those of you not
familiar with show trucks, there's a great deal of cleaning, polishing
and preparation that goes into showing trucks. You can t just
take your truck to be washed and expect to do well.
In the photo, Ruth
is coloring in the lettering on a tire. The tread on the other
tire is shiny clean, as was everything on Bob's Pride. That s
their truck's official name. Ruth s glasses are perched halfway
down her nose. There's a smile on her face, a little smudge on
her cheek and chin, and she s wearing an OOIDA shirt. Taken all
together, the picture speaks volumes about Ruth.
The OOIDA shirt? OOIDA
was her cause, her passion. Not the association itself, but what
it stands for and what it does, helping the member who may not
know how to help himself. Ruth was a champion of causes on behalf
of the members.
The lettering of the
tires represents the attention to detail Ruth had. The glasses
on her nose remind me of how she examined, then re-examined all
aspects of whatever she was doing, prepping a truck or researching
an article. The smudge of dirt reminds me of the way Ruth would
dig for the truth, giving it everything she had, without regard
to whether she might get a bit dirty for all the digging. With
Ruth, you knew that the dirt always washed off. She tenaciously
pursued her stories, often discovering facts that other journalists
didn't, and in many cases, wouldn't.
And for all the hard
work, prepping a truck or writing an article, Ruth always had
a happy smile. That s why I love this picture. For me, it will
always symbolize all that was good and wonderful about Ruth Jones.
I know you're here
with us today, Ruth. Now that you know why it means so much, you'll
forgive me for bringing the photograph here. It is how I will
always remember you.
Goodbye, good friend.
I hope we will meet again.
###
Whatta Ya Think of the Website?
Have you checked out
twna.org lately? Since the overhauled site made its debut at Mid
America, numerous updates and additions have been made. Has everybody
tried out the "Search" feature? This service, provided
for free by Atomz, will find names, phrases and keywords, anywhere
within the TWNA website.
Numerous links and
reprint permissions have been secured to display some excellent
examples of positive truck industry coverage in the mass media.
Several articles covering press/PR techniques, and even the TWNA
Press Relations Survey have been posted to the site.
Unfortunately, we're
still terribly lacking when it comes to member's links. If you
haven't already supplied your website information, please submit
a paragraph describing the site along with the URL. Instructions
can be found on the Links page of the website.
Background research
is underway and work will soon commence on phase two of the website
overhaul, which will include work on the members-only area and
the addition of discussion forums. Any suggestions regarding content
or ideas for the site should be submitted to Tom
Kelley of The Deadline Factory.
Presentations Library
As discussed at the
MATS meeting, TWNA is in the process of establishing a Presentations
Resource Library. This project is intended to aid members and
other speakers when making presentations covering topics including:
Trucking's Contribution To The Economy, Trucking Technology &
Safety, Balanced Mass-Media Trucking Coverage, and Trucking Journalism,
just to name a few.
We still need a few
volunteers to staff the committee for this project, as well as
submissions of any resource material and/or ideas for the library.
Interested parties should contact Tom
Kelley of The Deadline Factory.
Membership Committee
In order to develop
materials to be included in a new-member packet, and generally
oversee the maintenance/expansion of TWNA's membership, it has
been suggested that we form a Membership Committee. Several new
members who are not able to attend the major truck shows have
expressed dismay regarding minimal response from TWNA (beyond
the e-Dispatch) after they join the group. This is just one of
the issues the Membership Committee would seek to address.
Volunteers for the
Membership Committee are currently being sought. All that's required
is that you have thoughts or ideas to share, and an e-mail address
to send and receive committee correspondence. This is the perfect
opportunity for those members who wish to participate more in
the control and shaping of TWNA. Interested parties should contact
Tom Kelley
of The Deadline Factory.
Quick Web Poll
What do you think of
the current format for the electronic Dispatch? Click on one of
the links below to send an e-mail casting your vote.
I Love It!!!
It's OK
I Hate it!
Promoting TWNA
to the Industry & Media
Earlier this spring,
TWNA created an ad for the Truckload Carriers Association annual
directory. The ad <click here>
aims to introduce the executives who get this directory to TWNA
and its activities such as the Technical Achievement Award, the
TCA scholarship, and our clearinghouse. Bill Hudgins suggested
we consider placing similar ads in general media venues such as
Editor&Publisher and the larger journalism trade magazines.
There may be other trucking industry directories we should consider,
too. We'd like member input before proceeding. So if you have
an opinion on this or a venue to suggest, please e-mail it to
bhudgins@hammock.com.
MEMBER NOTES...
Kolman Moves To
"The Dark Side"
Change - as it must
to all men - has come to me, and it has knocked me into a new
direction. A news release has gone out from Newport's HQ, but
I wanted to let everybody know that the powers-that-be have been
moved me from editorial to sales. I am now Newport's director
of eastern sales. I will continue as publisher of Truck Sales
& Leasing and will continue to operate from Newport’s Baltimore,
Md., office. It will be interesting to see how I evolve from an
editor to a peddler. I will sincerely miss not being a part of
the truck trade journalist fraternity.
Regards,
David Kolman
Frank Conte Now
in Indianapolis
[Almost two months
ago Frank Conte informed TWNA members that he was leaving Owner
Operator magazine following its sale by Cahners Publishing to
Randall Publishing. He has since moved from New Jersey to Indiana
and embarked on a new career. He sent this note in early May.]
The last time I abused
the TWNA database it was to inform all of you that I was starting
a new job. Many of you have responded kindly with warm wishes
and goodbyes. Since I didn't copy those messages before I left
home I'm abusing the TWNA database one more time to provide everyone
with the details I promised to give and many of you requested.
From here on I promise to respond to any e-mails individually.
I have taken a position
with Telematrix. They produce computer training programs and training
videos. I'll be writing text for training materials, primarily
for their trucking and automotive customers.
To stay in touch you
can e-mail me at fconte@telematrix.com.
To contact me in other ways use the following info:
Telematrix
5635 W. 80th St.
Indianapolis, IN 46278
317-872-8801
Fax: 317-872-7823
Cellular: 317-695-6488
A Farewell from
John G....
[John G. Smith has
changed industries and jobs, but not buildings, in Don Mills,
Ont.]
Dear TWNA members,
As many of you have
heard by now, I recently left the world of truck writing for the
publisher's chair at a new magazine produced by the Southam Magazine
Group, which is the home of Truck News.
Granted, I'm not that
far removed from the magazine that I called home for six years
-- Editor John Curran is merely a few cubicles away, and I can't
help but poke my head over the divider wall from time to time.
But my recent promotion
means that I no longer report on Canada's trucking industry. And
as the latest Mid-America Trucking Show came and went, I realized
that I never had the opportunity to offer an official farewell.
(It seems strange not to make the annual pilgrimage to Louisville,
Ky., or to the TMC meeting
in Nashville.)
Let me take this moment
to offer all of you every success and my best wishes. I was proud
to call myself a truck writer, and am happy to have had the chance
to meet you.
Perhaps our paths will
cross again.
Safe driving,
John G. Smith, publisher
dot commerce magazine
tel. 416-442-2114, fax. 416-442-2213, cell 416.409.4574 e-mail
jsmith@corporate.southam.ca
McNamara Happy in PR Biz
Jim McNamara, who handled
press inquires for the Sterling Truck arm of Freightliner and
before that covered equipment for Transport Topics, is now a senior
account executive at Dixon-Eaton in Cleveland.
He said he is not bitter
at being laid off at the start of the turn-down in the truck-building
business, had little trouble finding his new job and is happy
that he and his family didn't have to move.
[Freightliner's Debi
Nicholson, who Jim said made the decision to lay him off but didn't
do so personally, was herself let go shortly after her boss, Freightliner
President and CEO Jim Hebe, was recently asked to resign.]
Dixon-Eaton is "the
largest employee-owned public relations firm in the country,"
Jim said. Among the accounts he works on are Lubrizol, TRW and
Roadway. He is at 216-241-2148 or jmcnamara@dix-eaton.com.
Jim Park Wins Canadian
Journalism Honors
Jim Park, managing
editor of highwaySTAR magazine in Canada (sister to Today's Trucking
and cousin to RoadStar), has won a first-place Gold prize in the
Kenneth R. Wilson Memorial Awards competition (Canadian equivalent
of the Jesse Neal awards).
His April 2000 article,
'Know Thy Costs', won in the 'Best How To...' category. It leads
owner-operators step-by-step through the process of charting their
costs and thus becoming better business people. It's his second
award in a row; last year he won the second-place Silver award
in the same category. Jim spent 22 years as a truck driver and
owner-operator before turning to the 'pen' full-time three years
ago.
###
