Perspective

The following is a letter sent to the motor carrier members of American Trucking Associations by ATA President and CEO Bill Graves on May 2, 2013, regarding the ongoing investigation of alleged discrepancies in a fuel purchasing rebate program by federal authorities into Pilot Flying J.

Our industry must adjust to major changes in government regulations. We know that changes are coming, but it’s still not clear precisely when they will go into effect, nor do we know exactly what the changes will be.

American Trucking Associations recently released a report citing numerous studies showing that passenger vehicle (car) drivers are principally responsible for between 70% and 75% of fatal car-truck crashes.

It’s no secret that the mechanic shortage is as prevalent as the driver shortage, and the fleet that manages to retain its service technicians — and keep them content and productive for the long term — has a huge financial advantage.

Lighting is already responsible for 19% of the world’s electricity consumption, and its technological advancements are changing the world in fascinating ways, including some that are becoming increasingly more evident in the trucking industry.

 Despite what may be a less than favorable public image, virtually every significant truck safety innovation over the past 30 years originated within the trucking industry.

It was not that long ago that the land border between Canada and the United States was viewed as a serious impediment to the secure and efficient movement of goods and people between the world’s largest bilateral trading partners.

On Oct. 1, an estimated 150,000 motor carriers currently engaging in unlicensed brokerage will find themselves subject to what amounts to an enormous new tax, courtesy of the latest transportation funding law — Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, or MAP-21.

Interestingly, regardless of company size or type of operation, trucking companies share common failure points — activities or programs they lack that have a negative effect on profitability.

What happens when you have state budgets that are straining to come in balance and union representation that continues its long-trending downward slope as measured by percentage of workers covered? Unfortunately, the answer is an attempt to radically transform the trucking industry and an assault on the American dream.