Stand Up for Trucking event set for February 2012

With pending legislation and advocacy issues threatening to dramatically raise transportation and supply chain costs, more than 10 industry associations have agreed to participate in a pro-trucking Washington DC fly-in February 1, 2012.

This industrywide event, called “Stand Up for Trucking,” will bring together scores of transportation executives and key stakeholders in trucking. This orchestrated effort is historic because both shippers and carriers are working collectively to let their voices be heard so their congressional and Senate representatives understand that trucking is a vital national asset that contributes to the well-being of the United States.

According to Mike Regan, chairman of the National Shippers Strategic Transportation Council (NASSTRAC) Advocacy Committee, this association and the American Trucking Associations (ATA) met in September 2011 in Washington and laid the groundwork for a coalition of industry groups to bring a strong pro-truck, pro-safety message to Washington.

“It says a lot about how important these issues are, not only to the trucking industry at large, but also to their customers who have responsibility for managing complex supply chains,” said Regan. “Never before have the advocacy interests of both motor carriers and shippers dependent upon over-the-road trucking been more closely aligned.”

ATA and NASSTRAC quickly found support from other associations. These include the Truckload Carriers Conference, Transportation Intermediaries Association, National Private Truck Council, Coalition for Transportation Productivity, National Industrial Transportation League, Cleaner Safer Trucking, and the National Automobile Dealers Association.

According to Brian Everett, executive director of NASSTRAC, the fact that so many industry associations have found common ground on several critical transportation issues attests to the significance and importance of this initiative. He said the agenda will include the need to enact a multi-year highway bill that reforms the program and focuses funding on critical freight corridors, as well as the urgent need to pay for highway infrastructure in the most efficient way.

In addition, NASSTRAC, ATA, and participating associations agree there’s a significant need to encourage Congress to stay focused on safety while stopping burdensome laws and regulations that impede productivity and increase the delivered cost of goods, including the proposed changes to the truck driver hours of service being considered.

There is no registration fee for this Washington fly-in, but registration is required. For more information and to register, visit www.StandUpForTrucking.org.

NASSTRAC provides education, advocacy, provider relations, and networking for professionals involved in all modes of transportation, ranging from full truckload and LTL to containerization and global logistics. To obtain more details on the group, visit www.NASSTRAC.org.