Bob Costello, American Trucking Associations’ chief economist, has been appointed by Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to the Advisory Council on Transportation Statistics, which advises DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
“I am very honored to be asked to serve in this capacity,” Costello said in a statement. “Data is going to become even more critical, not just for freight, but for all modes of transportation in the future. I look forward to working with BTS on this exciting venture.”
Costello’s “knowledge greatly benefits ATA and I am certain he brings great skills and insights to this collaborative group,” ATA Chairman Tommy Hodges said in a statement.
DOT hopes that the 10 new members of the group will help it coordinate data and eventually make recommendations to BTS on how to increase data relevance and quality.
Other members of ACTS, created by the SAFETEA-LU highway bill of 2005, include experts from state departments of transportation, higher education and other transportation groups.
Costello joined ATA in 1997 and manages ATA’s collection, analysis and dissemination of trucking economic information, including several monthly trucking economic indicators.
