Perspective

Anyone who works with diesel fuel — stored or otherwise — knows that water comes with the territory.

The sold-out Natural Gas in Trucking Summit attests to the phenomenal growth of interest in compressed natural gas and liquefied natural-gas equipment from both sides of the loading dock (10-29, p. 6; 11-5, p. 4). Trucking company executives and shippers alike are aggressively analyzing what they see as the two major benefits of natural-gas equipment: lower fuel costs and reduced carbon emissions.

This column is an update of one I wrote for this publication a half-dozen years ago under the headline “Trucking Is Overtaxed” (2-6-06, p. 9). As the only slightly altered headline above says, taxes still cost the trucking industry far too much.

In speaking with hundreds of trucking company executives over the course of my career, I’ve noticed two distinctly different mentalities when discussing insurance: There are those who buy insurance, and there are those who manage risk.

It’s no secret that underinflated tires consume more fuel. Given that the price of diesel is rising more often than falling these days, today’s fleet maintenance managers must check tire pressure more regularly — and then actually do something about the results.

It’s flu season again, so for the sake of an analogy, imagine for a moment that you feel something nasty coming on.

Each year, American Trucking Associations elects a new chairman of the board to lead the organization for a year, and this year, I have been blessed and humbled by this honor.

As an industry as connected to the highways as trucking, we know an awful lot about roads. We know about smooth roads — those that are easy to traverse, the ones where you can feel the wind at your back and the sun on your face.

With the availability of so many recently discharged veterans, many of whom have operated heavy vehicles, and the need for qualified drivers, one would think that Washington would find a way to expedite the marriage of the availability with the need.

Nearly 12 months ago, I proudly accepted the title of chairman of American Trucking Associations, thus beginning one of the most exciting and exhausting years of my professional life, and an experience I’ve been humbled and honored to have.