Proposal: TMC Members Need Not Join ATA

TUCSON, Ariz. – Members of The Maintenance Council need not be members of American Trucking Associations under an arrangement that may lay to rest a controversy that has threatened TMC's structure since the introduction of ATA strategic plan in 1998.

For TMC members, the most troublesome part of the strategic plan was a provision that barred individuals from participation in any ATA council or conference unless his or her company is a member of ATA. Some 70% of the 1,080 fleet employees who belong to TMC work for companies that are not ATA members. Members felt the strategic plan's requirement would cause those companies to pull their employees out of TMC rather than bear the cost of joining ATA.

Under the plan, spelled Monday for TMC members at the group's summer meeting, employees of non-ATA member companies would pay a premium of $50 above the normal dues for a membership in TMC. A company's second membership would call for a premium of $20.

Associate members, who are employees of suppliers to the industry, would not be affected by the plan and would not be required to pay a premium.

In addition, David Barefoot, senior vice president of ATA, said ATA will help TMC market its memberships to trucking companies that have joined ATA but have not designated an employee to join TMC.

The proposal still needs approval of the ATA Executive Committee, which will consider the matter June 22.

For the full story, see the June 12 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.