Kevin Burch discusses trucking

Listen to Attorney Jim C. Klepper discuss trucking legal issues every Tuesday morning at 7:00 Central Time on Sirius Radio Channel 147. Join Host Mark Willis as drivers call in with legal questions. You can be part of that live question and answer program by calling (888) 782-5966.

By JIM C. KLEPPER
The Trucker News Services

8/18/2008

Kevin Burch is currently the 1st vice-chairman of the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA). I have known Kevin Burch for several years through my association with the TCA. I’ve been impressed with his willingness to spend both his time and money to help the trucking industry improves its image, efficiency and profitability. Kevin starts as the next chairman of the TCA in March 2009, when he will replace the current chairman Ray Haight, of MacKinnon Transport.

Q: How did you get your start in trucking?

Kevin: I’ve been involved in trucking since 1973, over 35 years. The reason I got into trucking was my father. He was the Manager of Blue Arrow Trucking in Flint, MI for 44 years. I would go down to the terminal and work with him doing odd jobs just about every weekend since I was about 10 years old. I use to sweep the dock, file papers and even count the money from the candy and soda machines. He was instrumental in my success as he taught me the value of hard work. When it wasn’t “cool” for a boy to take typing in high school, he convinced me to take the course and I did for two years and in college. Forty years later, I still use my typing skills while many of my friendly competitors “hunt and peck”.

Q: After your father instilled the value of hard work, pride and accomplishment in you, did you continue in the trucking industry?

Kevin: I worked as a billing clerk/dispatcher for an LTL trucking company known as Blue Arrow-Douglas in Flint, MI. I was attending college and worked after classes. I was given an opportunity to transfer to the Detroit Metro Airport in Detroit, MI and in 1974 became the Manager of their air freight operations. I was later promoted to Manager of the General LTL operations along with the air freight division. I stayed with them for 11 years when I was given an opportunity at Express Freight Lines based in Milwaukee, WI, who also had a terminal in Detroit, MI. The founder of Atkinson Freight Lines and Jet Express, Mr. Roger Atkinson, of Dayton, OH, recruited me for three straight years. I moved to Dayton in 1988 and became Vice-President of Jet Express, Inc. at the age of 34 and three years later I bought into the company and became its President at 37.

Q: I have watched you put your energy into the TCA through your years of as Vice-Chair. I know this was a huge learning experience for you, but which area holds your attention and what do you think your goal as TCA Chairman will be for next year?

Kevin: Next year when I become Chairman of TCA, I would like to continue my efforts on the subject of Driver Recruitment and Retention. I was Committee Chairman in this area for five years for TCA, and we made headway in educating company leaders on how to better hire and retain drivers. I’m also for the development of the younger driver as we are certainly faced with an aging work force.

Q: Why would you suggest a carrier become a member of TCA?

Kevin: Every truckload carrier should be a member of TCA. The reason is simple: we are a member-driven, educational and reasonably priced organization promoting the success of trucking companies.

Q: OK, what does TCA do for the individual driver, and how does it help them?

Kevin: We help the individual truck driver by learning the latest and greatest way to help assist the driver to do the best he can. This is true for the owner operator and company driver. Trucking companies have learned to better communicate with truck drivers and help educate them on how they can perform their job better. This can be in the area of safety, maintenance or just the way to make more money.

Q: Does TCA have any legislative or regulatory wish lists, and if so what are they? Which issues are most important to you?

Kevin: As I mentioned, we are member-driven so we must listen to all our members’ concerns. Over the years we have had issues such as insurance, driver shortage, hours of service, and size and weight. The latest issue naturally is the fuel surcharge matter. Our members come in all shapes, sizes and types of operations. It would be tough to pinpoint one objective. We try to work closely with the American Trucking Associations (ATA) on many current legislative and regulatory wish lists.

Q: Describe your expectation for the economy and how it will impact drivers this coming year.

Kevin: I’m concerned with the overall economy and when you consider that many of today’s actual trucking companies have 20 or fewer trucks in their entire fleet, I am concerned if they can stay in business. I have learned over the years that “Truckers” have a deep desire to do the right thing and find a way to get the job done. Truckers are not quitters; they somehow find a way to complete their tasks

Thank you Kevin, for your time and I look forward to working with you this year and the next as you work for trucking. I’m on the Board of Directors of TCA with Kevin and can assure all you truckers of his honest attempt to help all truck carriers and drivers.

I think this coming year will be very interesting for truckers as we battle for honest and reasonable Hours of Service with the government, and as we scratch for every dime to buy fuel as it seems to go up every day. Many may view our future as a glass half-empty, but all the smart people see the future as half-full. I believe truckers can overcome the obstacles that may be before us because if we don’t haul it, they cannot get it. They need truckers more than they know. Therefore, I recommend all drivers use their time and influence to help the politicians and the public understand how valuable the trucking industry really is.

Jim C. Klepper is president of Interstate Trucker Ltd., a law firm entirely dedicated to legal defense of the nation's commercial drivers. Interstate Trucker represents truck drivers throughout the forty-eight (48) states on both moving and non-moving violations. He is also president of Drivers Legal Plan, which allows member drivers access to his firm’s services at greatly discounted rates. Klepper, a former prosecutor, is also a registered pharmacist, with considerable experience in alcohol and drug related cases. He is a lawyer that has focused on transportation law and the trucking industry in particular. He works to answer your legal questions about trucking and life over-the-road and has his Commercial Drivers License.

Contact Klepper at (800) 333-DRIVE (3748) or www.interstatetrucker.com and www.driverslegalplan.com.