PHOTO (L to R): Mikki King, King Safety & Compliance (Seattle); Patrick Davich, American Trucking Association; Jason Thompson, Hermann Brothers Logging & Construction (Port Angeles); Steve Gibbs, Columbia Distributing (Kent); Paul Graves, Oak Harbor Freight Lines, Inc. (Auburn); Pat Swiger, Stryder Motorfreight, USA (Tacoma); Matt Ewers, IEDS Logistics (Spokane); Sheri Call, Washington Trucking Associations (Olympia).

 

WASHINGTON, D.C.— May 3, 2024 —Eight members of the Washington Trucking Associations (WTA) traveled to the nation’s capital this week to meet with the state’s congressional delegation.

Washington’s more than 45,000 primarily small, locally owned trucking businesses provide nearly 175,000 good-paying, family-supporting jobs in the Evergreen State. WTA members urged Washington’s members of Congress to advocate for policies that will help grow this crucial pillar of the state’s economy.

“Trucking is essential to the economy, and our industry works hard every single day to deliver for the American people. When policy roadblocks arise, we depend on the support from our elected leaders in Washington and in Olympia to help get our supply chain moving again,” said Sheri Call, president & CEO of the Washington Trucking Associations. “We appreciate our members of Congress taking the time to meet with us to talk in-depth about some of the top issues facing our industry and explore ways we can work together to push for bipartisan solutions that will be beneficial for both truckers and consumers.”

In their meeting with U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen’s office, WTA members expressed their gratitude for Larsen’s sponsorship of the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act. The bill would help alleviate truckers’ difficulties obtaining transportation security credentials needed to do their jobs by eliminating redundant fees and background checks.

WTA’s discussions with other Washington lawmakers and congressional staff extended to several of additional pressing challenges, including:

Protecting independent contractors

One of the group’s top priorities is fighting to protect independent contractors. More than 350,000 truckers choose to work as independent contractors because of the economic opportunity it creates and the flexibility it provides, enabling them to run their own business and choose their own hours and routes. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Labor implemented a disruptive rule that eliminates this freedom and intentionally undermines the livelihoods of truckers and their families across the country by replacing a clear, straight-forward standard that has been relied upon for nine decades with a tangled mess that will weaken our supply chain. WTA is supporting a resolution that would block USDOL’s rule and preserve the American Dream.

Addressing energy and environment issues

The trucking industry has made massive strides in reducing tailpipe emissions over the past 35 years. As a result, the industry has cut harmful NOx and particulate matter emissions by 99%, virtually eliminated all sulfur-dioxide emissions, and is on track to cut 1.37 billion metric tons of CO2 between 2014 and 2027. In fact, 60 percent of today’s trucks emit what just one truck emitted in 1988.

WTA called on Washington’s congressional delegation to build on this progress by encouraging innovation rather than one-size-fits-all mandates and setting achievable regulatory targets and timelines. One solution to help get the newest, cleanest trucks on the road is to repeal the federal excise tax on heavy-duty trucks and trailers, which adds upwards of $20,000 to the cost of a new clean-diesel tractor. A HD ZEV truck currently retails for approximately $500,000.

Preventing lawsuit abuse

Lawsuits targeting trucking have increased at an exponential pace in both the volume of cases and the size of verdict awards. Between 2010 and 2018, the average size of large verdicts increased by nearly 1,000%, from $2.3 million to $22.3 million. These exorbitant costs are spread across the entire industry and are ultimately passed down to consumers in the form of increased prices for goods and skyrocketing insurance premiums. WTA is supportive of comprehensive lawsuit abuse reform to restore fairness and balance to the judicial system.

The meetings were facilitated by the American Trucking Associations’ Call on Washington program, which provides members with the opportunity to meet directly with Members of Congress, key congressional staff, federal regulators, and fellow industry leaders to discuss legislation and regulations affecting the trucking industry. The ATA Federation has a permanent presence in the halls of Congress year-round, with state associations visiting weekly on a rolling basis.

About the Washington Trucking Associations
Since 1922, the Washington Trucking Associations (WTA) has served as the unified voice for the trucking industry in Washington. Member supported, WTA is dedicated to advocating sound public policies, providing excellence in education, training, and information, as well as promoting a safe, dependable, and efficient trucking industry in Washington For more information, visit
www.watrucking.org.