Trucking Leaders Talk Health Care With Trump at White House
President Trump intends to make the country better aware of truck drivers' challenges, such as health care, when he meets with industry executives at the White House on March 23.
The high-profile event will take place just as the U.S. House of Representatives prepares to vote on legislation that would significantly alter the nation’s health care landscape. House Republican leaders are aiming to advance a bill designed to repeal President Obama’s signature health care law.
American Trucking Associations President Chris Spear and several other trucking executives will be on hand for the meeting with Trump.
“It is an honor to be invited to the White House and to meet with the president,” Spear said. “We look forward to telling our story — a story of how trucks move 70% of our nation’s freight safely and efficiently, touching every aspect of our economy, including our health care system. This is a tremendous opportunity for our members and drivers to talk about how the health care debate impacts them and their ability to move America’s goods.”
Joining Trump in the afternoon will be Kevin Burch, chairman of ATA and president of Jet Express Inc., in Dayton, Ohio. Also attending will be Jim Burg, president and CEO of James Burg Trucking Co.; David Congdon, CEO of Old Dominion Freight Line; Mike Ducker, president and CEO of FedEx Freight; Eric Fuller, CEO of U.S. Xpress Inc.; Neal Kedzie, president of the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association; and Rich McArdle, president of UPS Freight.
"Trucking is a vital part of the American economy," Burch said in a statement. "We are looking forward to meeting with President Trump and talking to him about how we can ease regulatory burdens on our industry, reform our tax system and rebuild America's infrastructure.”
Earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the meeting would address health care’s “negative impacts on [trucking's] industry and livelihood, which just happens to be the largest employer in 29 states.”
ATA also is bringing image trucks to the event that are used in its efforts to promote the trucking industry. “I’m very excited to bring two trucks, trucks that we use to convey a message of safety and essentiality around the country, to the White House,” Burch said.
Also on hand will be members of ATA’s America’s Road Team, professional drivers who tour the country to promote the industry’s commitment to safety.
