By Jonathan S. Reiskin, Associate News Editor This story appears in the July 14 print edition of Transport Topics.
Hal Miller III, a fleet manger with 31 years of experience, will be the next president of the Mississippi Trucking Association, the group said.
Miller, 53, has been executive vice president of Miller Transportation Services, the corporation that owns tank truck carrier Miller Transporters. He succeeds David Roberts, who had been MTA’s president for nine years.
Miller said he will begin his new job July 14.
“I will try to bring additional value to members based on my 30 years of experience in trucking, both for member services and legal and regulatory issues,” said Miller.
In addition to his fleet management experience, Miller has been an active member of MTA and the National Tank Truck Carriers.
MTA Chairman James Richards Jr. announced the appointment July 3.
“Our association is very fortunate to have the opportunity to tap into Hal’s extensive experience in our industry. We are very excited about the opportunity to improve the image of our industry and provide more value to you, our members,” said Richards, who is also CEO of refrigerated carrier KLLM Transportation Services.
Miller was MTA’s chairman from 1994 to 1995 and has served on the Jackson-based association’s board of directors since 1991.
Miller Transporters was founded in 1942 by Miller’s grandfather, Hal Miller Sr. Though it started as a gasoline hauler, for the past 20 years chemical shipping has been its main business.
Miller is also a member of the National Tank Truck Carriers board of directors.
The national Share the Road image campaign will be a point of emphasis within the state, he said, with trucking professionals teaching automobile drivers and the Mississippi Highway Patrol how to operate near trucks.
MTA has a “very good relationship” with the Mississippi Legislature and executive branch regulators, Miller said, “and we’re hoping to continue forward with that.”
Similar to the federal stage, he said, infrastructure will probably be the dominant issue for trucking in the state’s 2015 legislative session.
“The state government recognizes the needs out there, but there’s no real appetite for more taxes,” Miller said.
MTA members “are at a point where our concern is that if there is an increased fuel tax, the proceeds should be earmarked for transportation improvement,” he said. Fleet executives do not want higher taxes used to bolster the state’s general fund, he added.
Mississippi had a highway task force investigate the issue last year, and Miller said he served on it. He said the discussions were useful, but there was no consensus among members on how the state should proceed with highway projects.
Miller graduated from the University of Mississippi with a business degree and began work at his family’s company in 1984.
