Trucking To Play Offense on Capitol Hill, McCormick Says

American Trucking Associations’ President Walter B. McCormick Jr. said Monday that the election of George W. Bush as president and the appointment of many pro-business lawmakers to key positions on Capitol Hill gives trucking an opportunity to “play offense” on key legislative issues – such as tax relief, truck size and weight, fuel and emissions regulations, ergonomics and drivers’ hours-of-service rules.

“We are poised for action,” McCormick said at a kickoff breakfast for members of the ATA Executive Committee, who are meeting in Washington, D.C., Feb. 12-13 to set ATA’s legislative agenda. “Now is the time to set an ambitious goals for the industry and the industry association.”

McCormick said ATA has concentrated on a “strong defense” in past years, but “now has the opportunity to play offense.”

On taxes, McCormick said Democrats “are ready to deal.” Trucking is expected to support repeal of the estate tax, acceleration of the deduction for meals eaten on the road and excise-tax relief.

Energy policy and fuel issues rank are high on ATA’s priority list. The trade group wants a national fuel standard for all vehicles and a gradual phase in of reduced-emissions engines.

The 65 executive committee members will meet with Congressional leaders on Tuesday to lobby for trucking’s issues.

And at a meeting of ATA’s board of directors Tuesday night, ATA also will bestow its highest honor, the S. Earl Dove Highway Award, on former Pennslyva-nia Congressman Bud Shuster, an influential mem-ber of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.