Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
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66 commercial carrier journal | november 2016 Spear keynote hints at winds of change at ATA TRUCKING REMAINS the backbone of the nation's freight system, but threats exist that could hinder the industry's growth and productiv- ity. "Don't mess with trucking," said Chris Spear, president and chief executive officer of the American Trucking Associations, in reference to regulatory agencies and anti-truck groups. Spear recently was named the ninth president of ATA, following Gov. Bill Graves, who led the association for 14 years. Spear previously served as ATA's senior vice president for legislative affairs in 2014-15. Joining Spear at ATA is a new senior executive leadership team, one that he said is committed to running the association like a business. "The state of our industry is strong, but without leadership, unity or an aggressive pursuit of results, our future is uncertain," Spear said. "At ATA, we are building a structure, a team and an agenda that not only provides certainty, but also results." Protecting trade, improving infrastructure One major agenda for ATA will be protecting trade agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement and the more recent Trans- Pacific Partnership, both of which have come under fire from presiden - tial candidates during the election season. "Any attempt to reopen or threaten this longstanding agreement could have dire repercussions on our industry," Spear said. "And not adopting TPP will undoubtedly push those potential Asian Rim partners toward a future agreement with China. America relies on free trade, and trucking is key." Infrastructure funding will remain a core concern for ATA, said Spear, adding that the unwillingness of Washington lawmakers to adopt an indexed fuel tax increases safety risks due to a crumbling infrastructure. He said ATA may have to abandon its push for an increased fuel tax. "If this is to be the fate of our nation's fuel tax, then ATA must be prepared to realign our policies with the realities on Capitol Hill, begin - ning with a new means for funding our nation's infrastructure," he said. Spear has asked ATA's Highway Policy Committee to develop a new proposal to put before the next Congress begin - ning next year. Warnings to regulators, anti-truck groups On the regulatory front, Spear said ATA will continue to work with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and other agencies to ensure existing and pending regulations – Compliance Safety Account - ability, electronic logging devices, parking and minimum insurance requirements, as well as any new regulations – are based on sound science and research and actually will accomplish their intended goals. "Trucking is already one of the most regulated and taxed industries in America," he said. "In the eyes of some elected officials, we look like a money-filled piñata. I'm here to tell you that those days, these impres - sions of our industry, are over." Spear also took the opportunity to call out anti-truck groups. "If you want to throw the first proverbial punch, you'd better knock us down, because you will feel the one we throw back," he warned. "ATA will fight your one-line soundbites and baseless rhetoric, and we will publi - cally call out the hidden agendas of other industry groups." – Jeff Crissey The 2016 American Trucking Associations Management Conference and Exhibition held in Las Vegas saw plenty of news from industry insiders and vendors. Here's a brief roundup of the highlights. ATA President and CEO Chris Spear made a case for industry unity and called on state as- sociations to move forward and lead on a host of issues.