Truckers should focus on uniting over the critical issues facing the industry in the coming years rather than continue fight over the inevitable electronic logging device (ELD) mandate, said Chris Spear, president and CEO of American Trucking Associations (ATA).
“This issue has been legislated, promulgated, and litigated. And it is now time to move forward. ELD technology removes one’s ability to exceed the legal hours of service, ushering in a safe, efficient, and fair playing field for the nations’ trucking industry,” Spear said during his “state of the industry” address at the 2017 ATA Management Conference & Exhibition (MC&E).
Fleet Owner reports how Spear used this year’s speech to tout industry accomplishments, but also to warn that the industry must “stop talking about problems and start addressing them.”
Most notably is the driver shortage, which topped the list of the industry’s most critical issues in a new survey conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI).
Spear also called for the establishment of apprenticeship training programs, and for allowing the hiring of those aged 18-21 more easily into the industry.
“We need interstate recognition of credentials, entry-level training standards for veterans and non-veteran employees, solutions for the impact of detention time and congestion on drivers’ hours of service,” Spear said.
Spear ended his speech with a plea for unity on these issues, saying “it makes us strong. It gives us a powerful, more amplified voice. And that will only continue if we come together.”
Full Fleet Owner story here.