JB Hunt’s Greer Woodruff Honored for Advocacy Efforts
Greer Woodruff, senior vice president of safety, security and driver personnel at J.B. Hunt Transport Services, was named the recipient of the “Highway to Victory Award” during the recent American Trucking Associations (ATA) Management Conference & Exhibition. ATA presents this annual award to a person for their work on federal or state legislative and regulatory issues.
In presenting the award, ATA’s chief lobbyist Bill Sullivan noted the pivotal role Greer’s leadership continues to be in building coalitions to change federal policy to reduce large truck accidents. For example, Sullivan pointed out Greer’s work to persuade the federal government to officially recognize hair testing in lieu of a urinalysis when testing applicants for a truck driver occupation. The Department of Transportation currently recognizes only one method of drug testing, a urinalysis. Data released by the Trucking Alliance earlier this year revealed that as many as 9 out of 10 opioid and drug abusers are missed when trucking companies rely solely on a urine exam.
Greer’s executive roles at JB Hunt Transport include responsibility for driver training, safety programs, equipment technologies, security and governmental compliance for the company’s 18,000 commercial drivers, as well as representing the company on regulatory and legislative issues.
Other Roles
Greer currently serves as chairman of the Alliance Advisory Group for the Trucking Alliance Board of Directors. This committee advises the Alliance board members on high priority safety reforms and federal policies that can reduce large truck crashes and improve highway safety for commercial drivers and the public.
He also serves as a member of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee, a group of industry, consumer, and highway safety organizations that advises the agency on priority regulations.
Recognition
Woodruff has received numerous industry awards. Of particular note occurred in 2016, when he received the “Distinguished Safety Leadership Award” from the Truck Safety Coalition, a highway safety and accident victim organization. The group is dedicated to reducing deaths and injuries caused by truck-related crashes. Greer was only the second trucking industry executive to receive their award. They also recognized his continued support in having JB Hunt Transport adopt numerous truck safety practices and technologies.
Advocacy
Greer and the Trucking Alliance are currently advancing several high priority issues. These include expanding the use of electronic logging devices to include all trucking companies, regardless of their commodities or length of haul. Also included in their priority issues is to persuade the US Department of Transportation to recognize hair testing, as an alternative to the current drug test protocols. The Alliance supports the quick implementation of a drug and alcohol clearinghouse to identify all persons who’ve tested positive on pre-employment drug tests, mandating truck speed limiters, forward facing collision technologies, improved driver training programs and other issues.