Category: Transportation Law
Employee Spotlight: Jackie Campbell, Legal Administrative Assistant
October 11, 2017 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.Jackie Campbell became a member of Barna Guzy & Steffen in 2016 when two attorneys for whom she had worked for more than twenty-five years joined the firm. Over many years of working with transportation lawyers, including Jim Wills, Jackie became essential to the team and gained a base of impressive knowledge about the unique industry. Knowing the law isn’t as critical as knowing the way the system works and the intent of the regulations; Jackie would tell you it also has a lot to do with knowing who to call (and call.. and call!). In July of 2017, Jackie’s expertise was put to the test when she was called on to help an important Minnesota trucking client regain its illustrative safety rating. The company was given a “Conditional” rating by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in 2014. This was a blow to the company due to the influence a negative rating can have on maintaining relationships with vendors, customers (shippers) and employees. In fact, many shippers will cancel contracts or simply refuse to deal with a carrier that does not have a “Satisfactory” rating. Not only are motor carriers subject to inspection of vehicles and log books while on the road, each company is also subject to periodic audits by the U.S. Department…
Read MoreTransportation Lawyers on the Move at MTA Convention
August 4, 2017 | Carole Clark IsaksonThe BGS Transportation Law Team – Jim Wills, Carole Clark Isakson, Nicole Wiebold and Jackie Campbell – again attended the annual Minnesota Trucking Association convention in northern Minnesota. The event featured golf and educational seminars, and the always enjoyable connections with clients and potential clients. Having been active in transportation law for more than 4 decades, Jim Wills is a great presence at the event and the subject of much attention! This year he was even more notable as a member of the Long Haul golf team. That team won 1st place in the Scramble Tournament with a 17 under par and also won the Yellow Ball contest. Todd Volkers of the Long Haul team also won longest drive and closest to the pin. This year’s event featured a fascinating keynote speech by American Trucking Association President and CEO Chris Spear. Did you know: 70{a0c01d20c42349884e67ff80c137866b0a9fe47aaae8f8a86a605a369ae487c3} of the gross tonnage of freight in the US is moved by truck This tonnage represents 56{a0c01d20c42349884e67ff80c137866b0a9fe47aaae8f8a86a605a369ae487c3} of all goods There are more than 7.3 million people working in the trucking industry HALF of the money paid in to the Highway Trust Fund is paid by trucking companies 82{a0c01d20c42349884e67ff80c137866b0a9fe47aaae8f8a86a605a369ae487c3} of the cross border trade with Mexico is by truck 71{a0c01d20c42349884e67ff80c137866b0a9fe47aaae8f8a86a605a369ae487c3} of the cross border trade with Canada is…
Read MoreHey Dad… about your car…
April 7, 2017 | Carole Clark IsaksonThe story I’m about to tell you is true. There I was, on a beautiful sunny day in 1983 driving through the Notre Dame student parking lot in my father’s beautiful sky blue 1969 Corvair convertible. What an understandably excellent mood I was in! And then…. Not. That great day was destroyed in an instant by a horrible crash and heavy scraping noise. I didn’t know what had happened, but I was fairly sure it wasn’t good, so I stopped the car, shut off the engine, and walked to the back (from whence the horrible noise had come). And there I saw it – the unexpected sight of the car engine ON THE GROUND!!! I had no plan in place for this sort of disaster, other than the “Call Dad” plan. And while it worked for me then in 1983, I currently recommend to clients that a somewhat broader and more detailed disaster recovery plan be developed. Does your business have one? I expect that as with many of my business clients, a customer or supplier has asked for you for a copy of your disaster recovery plan or your business continuity plan. The former is just what it says – how your business will cope with a disaster of various types. The…
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