Posted on 03/23/2017 3:35:26 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
President Trump intends to make the country better aware of truck drivers' challenges, such as health care, when he meets with industry executives at the White House on March 23.
The high-profile event will take place just as the U.S. House of Representatives prepares to vote on legislation that would significantly alter the nation’s health care landscape. House Republican leaders are aiming to advance a bill designed to repeal President Obama’s signature health care law.
American Trucking Associations President Chris Spear and several other trucking executives will be on hand for the meeting with Trump.
“It is an honor to be invited to the White House and to meet with the president,” Spear said. “We look forward to telling our story — a story of how trucks move 70% of our nation’s freight safely and efficiently, touching every aspect of our economy, including our health care system. This is a tremendous opportunity for our members and drivers to talk about how the health care debate impacts them and their ability to move America’s goods.”
Joining Trump in the afternoon will be Kevin Burch, chairman of ATA and president of Jet Express Inc., in Dayton, Ohio. Also attending will be Jim Burg, president and CEO of James Burg Trucking Co.; David Congdon, CEO of Old Dominion Freight Line; Mike Ducker, president and CEO of FedEx Freight; Eric Fuller, CEO of U.S. Xpress Inc.; Neal Kedzie, president of the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association; and Rich McArdle, president of UPS Freight.
"Trucking is a vital part of the American economy," Burch said in a statement. "We are looking forward to meeting with President Trump and talking to him about how we can ease regulatory burdens on our industry, reform our tax system and rebuild America's infrastructure.”
Earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the meeting would address health care’s “negative impacts on [trucking's] industry and livelihood, which just happens to be the largest employer in 29 states.”
ATA also is bringing image trucks to the event that are used in its efforts to promote the trucking industry. “I’m very excited to bring two trucks, trucks that we use to convey a message of safety and essentiality around the country, to the White House,” Burch said.
Also on hand will be members of ATA’s America’s Road Team, professional drivers who tour the country to promote the industry’s commitment to safety.
Those trucking jobs are going to get replaced by automation. I’m
A retired 20 yr. trucker myself I call BS when it comes to the American Trucking Association; the lobbyist for the major companies pleading safety while all the while keeping wages low and hours long. The problem is not lack of healthcare as virtually every company offers a form of HC insurance. The real problem is sitting for long long hours which degrades a body’s ability to burn calories and circulate blood.
I worked with one driver that should have been medically disqualified for his size alone. His ass was so big he had to place a plywood board across the regular seat so that his ass wouldn’t get caught in the sissor action of the seat itself.
Dont see my CEO Werner on the list. Somehow I suspect whatever comes out of this meeting will be to the liking of CEOs but at the expense of drivers.
ATA is FAKE Trucking.
Big Trucking ATA is not trucking.
OOIDA is dissed.
Small or Independent truck companies are dissed.
Big Trucking is the unsafe trucking.
Fake Politicians. Fake, fake, fake.
Big Trucking is Unsafe trucking is ATA is Big Regulation is eg UPS is Trump
Small Trucking is Safe trucking is OOIDA is Un Regulation is Mom & Pop
Yay.. anybody but veterans, huh? Kill it and stake the management amendment through their traitorous hearts.
I agree OTR truckers are WOEFULLY underpaid for the time they put in.
On the other hand, working between 9 and 10 hours a day for FedEx Freight I made about $50K last year and hope to add about $6K more to that this year. Getting home everyday and weekends off.
Some companies actually are trying to make the industry better. Yes, there are some things that could be improved upon but for the most part for first year wages I'll take it.
My peak year for wages was 2001 at about $58K and wages stagnated after that and by the time I retired in late 2013 I was lucky to be making 46K, in part due to hours of service issues slapped on everyone by our over-reaching DOT, my transition to regional driving and the recession of 2008 that was a very slow recovery for trucking companies.
So glad it’s behind me.
Yup
Automation is coming to hub to hub trucking by 2020, by 2025 level
5 automation will have 50-75% of long haul trucking market.
Awesome seeing our President climb up into the cab of a big rig and pull the horn with gusto!!!
He also got down with the greatest of ease.
A true man of the people in action like never before!!!
edie1960 wrote:
“Awesome seeing our President climb up into the cab of a big rig and pull the horn with gusto!!!
He also got down with the greatest of ease.
A true man of the people in action like never before!!!
“
Can you post the link to the video?
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