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ARKANSAS ROAD TEAM
A select group of professional drivers, the Arkansas Road Team is committed to improving highway safety. This complimentary outreach program of the Arkansas Trucking Association serves to educate the motoring public – especially younger drivers – on safe driving.
Through visits to schools and events around the state, the Arkansas Road Team delivers their Share the Road program with hands-on illustrations and demonstrations on safe-driving best practices. Additionally, they act as ambassadors for the trucking industry through media appearances and presentations to civic organizations and other engagements.
The Arkansas Road Team is comprised of drivers from ATA-member trucking companies. These industry professionals are available for appearances at no cost, schedule permitting, for Share the Road presentations and other educational events and promotions.
Learn more about the Arkansas Road Team and the value they can bring to your school or event.
SHARE THE ROAD
Delivered by the Arkansas Road Team, Share the Road presentations are custom-designed for each event and audience. Programs are generally geared toward driving-age students in groups of 20-25 and coincide with class periods of approximately 50 minutes each. Audiences learn valuable, lifesaving information on safe driving and get a hands-on, behind-the-wheel view of a professional driver.
See what a Share the Road presentation looks like in this brief video.
From a single class to an entire high school, or other safety-focused events, Share the Road presentations are offered at no cost. Contact the Arkansas Trucking Association today to schedule a Share the Road presentation for your school or event… (Learn more)
SAFE1
MOBILE DRIVING SIMULATOR UNIT
Complementing our Share the Road program, SAFE1 is a mobile driving simulator unit that provides hands-on learning and offers experience without risk. Audiences are exposed to a variety of challenging and potentially hazardous scenarios in a controlled environment with recorded reactions and response times along with after-action reviews for performance improvement. This approach supports improved critical driving skills and enhanced decision making abilities, while helping advance safety on our highways.
The SAFE1 simulator offers:
- State of the art driving simulation technology with sharp and visually accurate 180° field-of-view displays for an immersive environment that combines the look and feel of a real vehicle.
- Adjustable, progressively difficult scenarios to improve defensive driving and hone decision making skills.
- Challenging situations that target situational awareness, self-awareness, and critical thinking skills.
- Different terrains, roads and conditions in a realistic, risk-free environment.
SAFETY RESOURCES
Watch the following short videos featuring the Arkansas Road Team sharing valuable information on safe-driving.
CAPTAINS
Rodney Ashbrook, ABF Freight
Rodney Ashbrook of ABF Freight has logged over 2.5 million miles in his 23 years as a professional driver. Rodney has used his expertise to serve as a driver trainer and help mentor new drivers. If he wasn’t driving, he’d like to be involved in law enforcement. A resident of Benton, Ark., in his spare time, he enjoys hunting, fishing and spending time with his wife.
Wesley Cox, J.B. Hunt Transport
Over his 33 years as a professional driver, Wesley has accrued 2.6 million accident-free miles. Based out of Fayetteville, Ark., he has been a driver for J.B. Hunt for the past 25 years.
Danny Fuller, XPO Logistics
Danny Fuller has an extensive career in trucking spanning 36 years. A native of Jonesboro, Ark., he is currently employed with XPO Logistics and has been with them for 26 years, serving as a driver trainer since 2012. In addition to logging more than 4.2 million accident-free miles, Danny is a six-time Arkansas Trucking Championship title-holder including one Grand Champion title.
Dave Hall, ABF Freight
Dave Hall has logged 3 million miles in his 29-year career as a professional driver. He is currently employed with ABF Freight. Dave likes to spend his free time camping and fishing.
Robert Kelley, Walmart Transportation
Robert Kelley has been driving professionally for 37 years and has accumulated over 4 million safe and accident-free miles. He currently drives for Walmart Transportation where he also serves as a Road Team Captain, store ambassador, fuel mileage champion and a NATMI-certified driver trainer.
Ronnie Mahan, FedEx Freight
Ronnie has been driving professionally for two decades, including spending the past seven years with FedEx Freight where he has earned the 5-Year Safe Driver Award. He has accumulated 1.5 million accident-free miles and serves as a road coach for new drivers.
Gary Mars, Walmart Transportation
Over his 29-year career, Gary Mars has accumulated 3.4 million miles without a preventable accident, including 18 years with Walmart Transportation. He serves on the Walmart Road Team, a NATMI-certified driver trainer and has seen success with not only the Arkansas Truck Driving Championship but also the National Truck Driving Championship.
Weston Mars, Walmart Transportation
Weston Mars is a fifth-generation freight hauler. A native of Fayetteville, Ark., he has been a professional driver for the past 6 years and is currently employed at Walmart Transportation. Weston is a volunteer firefighter in his community and enjoys hunting and fishing in his free time.
Donnie Pace, ABF Freight
Donnie began his career as a professional truck driver at the age of 21. Over the past nearly three decades, he has accrued more than 2 million accident-free miles. When he's not driving, he enjoys spending time with his son and daughter, even helping coach their little league teams.
Chris Parker, FedEx Freight
Chris Parker has an impressive 44 years of professional driving under his belt, and 33 of those have been with FedEx Freight. He enjoys volunteering in the community and has been part of events like Special Olympics Truck Convoy and Wounded Warrior Hunt for Veterans. As an outdoorsman, much of his free time is spent hunting, fishing and horseback riding.
Larry Rhein, FedEx Freight
Larry Rhein has spent most of his impressive 33-year career as a professional driver with FedEx Freight. He has logged over 3 million safe miles in his career and is continuously recognized for his dedication to safety. A native of Harrison, Ark., Larry has claimed numerous titles at the Arkansas Truck Driving Championship and has even placed at the National Truck Driving Championship.
Lazaro Ruiz, Old Dominion Freight Line
Over his 11 years as a professional driver, Laz has spent the majority with Old Dominion Freight Line and has been awarded their 7-Year Safe Driving Award. He also serves as a driver trainer to help new drivers at his company.
Austin Simmons, FedEx Freight
Austin may be the youngest Arkansas Road Team Captain, but he is skilled. Half of his 4-year driving career has been spent with FedEx Freight where he has already been awarded the 2-Year Safe Driver Award and accrued more than 200,000 accident-free miles.
Eric Brockette, FedEx Freight
Over the past 18 years as a professional truck driver, Eric Brockette of FedEx Freight has logged nearly 1 million miles. He has twice garnered championship titles from the Arkansas Trucking Championship. He is passionate about highway safety and considers it a mission to educate the public on the importance of driver safety and communicating the positive aspects of the trucking industry. When out of the cab, Eric enjoys spending time outdoors at the beach, camping or farming.
Jeff Cochran, FedEx Freight
Jeff Cochran of FedEx Freight has driven over 3 million miles in his 30 years as a professional driver. Jeff is heavily involved in state and national Truck Driving Championships. In 2012 he earned the title of Grand Champion at the Arkansas TDC and in 2019 received the mentor award voted on by his peers. When he isn’t working, he enjoys spending his time cooking and drawing.
Mark Rook, FedEx Freight
Mark Rook is a professional driver with FedEx Freight. He has not only a dedication to the trucking industry but also a dedication to safe driving practices. Most recently, Mark was added to the Master President’s Safety Team which is awarded to drivers who have driven accident-free for 25 years. He likes to spend his free time coaching little league sports and hunting.
Jessie King, FedEx Freight
Jessie King has been a professional driver with FedEx Freight for two decades. He has logged over 2 million miles and received numerous safe driving awards. His dedication to safety is what inspires him to train and educate new drivers with proper safety techniques to ensure a safe return home.