ATA Leadership Meeting Set for Next Week

The "Show the ATA Value" tour makes a turn toward its home turf for the summer leadership meeting, calling on a bevy of government leaders and transportation journalists to address participants.

The gathering of dignitaries by American Trucking Associations is part of an effort to boost membership.

Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and House Speaker Denny Hastert (R-Ill.) are scheduled to address ATA's board of directors June 18 during the activities at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Arlington, Va., near the organization's offices in Alexandria.

Rep. Mac Collins (R-Ga.) is scheduled to speak June 17 about his legislation to speed the restoration of the 80% tax deduction for truck drivers' meals (5-31, p. 2).

Also on tap is a roundtable discussion set for June 16 with Washington-based transportation reporters from CBS News, the Wall Street Journal and USA Today.

"The primary purpose of the meeting is to show people that ATA is best in class at advocacy," said Walter B. McCormick Jr., president of the trucking organization.

But the spotlight will not shine only on the political and journalistic stages. Eight ATA policy committees will review progress made on trucking issues since the association's last board meeting in February and issue guidance to ATA staff on how to proceed. Here is a snapshot of some topics:

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The Highway Policy Committee will talk about legislation allowing states to increase truck weights to 97,000 pounds.

The Environmental Affairs Committee will again debate whether to support uniform diesel emissions inspections. The committee held off its endorsement of smoke testing in February at the request of Illinois carriers.

The International Trade and Customs Committee will meet with Customs Service officials to discuss the agency's efforts to update its automated border clearance systems.

he meeting comes as ATA works to dramatically increase its membership. The association underwent a restructuring in August to make legislative, regulatory, media and legal advocacy its top priorities. To boost this effort, ATA leaders have fanned out across the country to talk about the organization's victories in those areas.

ATA Chairman John Wren has been spearheading the effort, essentially turning over his trucking company to his sons to operate during his one-year term. Wren, often accompanied by McCormick, has crisscrossed the country to recruit carriers at industry events and one-on-one meetings. He has traveled from his home in Minnesota to speak with several state trucking associations as well as at the annual meetings of the National Automobile Transporters Association, Truck Renting and Leasing Association, Truckload Carriers Association and National Tank Truck Carriers.

During his travels, Wren explained how a committee of ATA members developed the strategic plan last year and the need for trucking companies to help the association grow.

In speaking to the tank truck group, McCormick described ATA's recent advocacy successes, including working with the Arkansas Trucking Association to kill a proposal to impose tolls on four highways in that state, persuading a federal court to overturn new limits on soot and smog, and making creation of a federal trucking administration a subject of congressional debate.

For the full story, see the June 14 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.