American Trucking Associations (ATA) is building the trucking industry’s future, President and CEO Chris Spear said recently during his state of the industry address at the ATA’s annual management conference and exhibition.
The ATA has raised its public profile and that has benefited the industry, Spear said.
Spear said when the members of the ATA works together, it can achieve victories. Recent victories include the withdrawal of rigid sleep apnea rules, advocating on autonomous vehicle issues, permanent hours-of-service reform, and stalling the poorly crafted speed-limiter rule.
The ATA will continue to advocate on issues that affect the industry, Spear said, such as electronic logging device technology.
“Back in Washington, anti-truck and amateur hour advocacy groups believe they know what’s best for our industry,” Spear said. “This wave of special interests has built a cottage industry fueled by ideology, emotion, and misguided narratives – all intended to divide our industry and this association. Obstruction is their weapon of choice. Rest assured, ATA will not be driven into this rut, nor allow such division to impede our ability to win. Our focus will remain on safety, sound data, the truth… doing what’s best for our industry and the country, not what’s good for a political party or one’s personal agenda.”