The Tennessee Trucking Foundation has committed to contributing $50,000 over the next five years to a campaign that “fits seamlessly with its mission.”
Tennessee Trucking Foundation board members voted to support Trucking Moves America Forward, an educational initiative that not only furthers the understanding of the trucking industry but also ignites a passion in others for the work it does, said Tommy Hodges, TTF president.

“Our nation’s economy runs on freight hauled by the dedicated and hard-working men and women who travel our highways and roads delivering America’s goods,” he said. “We are pleased that our contribution will help spread the critical message of safety and highlight how essential trucking is to our way of life.”
Trucking Moves America Forward, which launched in March 2014 at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, is an industry-wide image and education initiative informing policymakers and the public about the benefits of trucking to build the necessary political and grassroots support to strengthen and grow the industry.

http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2015/06/04/tennessee-trucking-foundation-contributes-to.html

Every day, more than 3.2 million professional truck drivers take to the road to meet our nation’s biggest and smallest freight needs. Day in and day out, they consistently deliver the goods we need today and rely on for tomorrow: food on our tables, medicine for our families and supplies for our nation’s military.

The ability to move goods and services through our transportation networks is indeed the lifeblood of our economy. Yet, leaders on Capitol Hill, at the Department of Transportation and in the White House have unfortunately left the trucking industry in a “state of confusion” — again — by failing to pass a long-term highway bill. On Tuesday the House, unable to reach a long-term deal before the May 31 deadline, approved a two-month extension of highway fund.

Congress’ inability to pass a long-term highway funding bill has already created challenges for many in the trucking industry, leading to delivery delays due to the unaddressed issue of congestion, higher fuel and labor costs, and more maintenance headaches from potholed roads.

Consider the impact and reach of the trucking industry. In 2013 alone, trucking generated an astounding $680 billion, representing 80 percent of the nation’s freight bill. Last year, professional truck drivers collectively traveled more than 420 billion miles for the American people, moving 70 percent of the nation’s tonnage. So, it’s no surprise that failure to pass a long-term highway funding bill is slowing the flow of goods to our economy and further deteriorating the nation’s aging infrastructure. Private investment cannot occur until both parties deconstruct their political walls and put the American people first.

Additionally, we know short-term bills are not an ideal solution. There have been 33 extensions and five revenue shortfalls in transportation funding in the past eight years. The cost of inaction is steep, with costs toppling $200 billion from delayed road construction projects, decreased productivity and stopgap measures.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports the costly details: Congested roads total an estimated $100 billion per year in wasted time and fuel. Further, motorists are taking a financial hit by spending an average of $324 a year in vehicle repairs and operating costs when driving on unrepaired roads.

And, the news remains bleak on the state level as prime construction season is underway. State transportation officials face the reality that Congress has not stepped up to support critical infrastructure projects. In the past few months, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials has seen a jump in the number and value of delayed highway projects as states cannot count on the federal funding share.

With hundreds of projects being canceled from coast to coast, we urge our leaders in Washington to fulfill their constitutional duty by putting an end to this delay. The livelihoods of thousands of America’s families lie in the balance.

Our country deserves a strong, efficient and modernized transportation system to uphold the nation’s commerce and infrastructure system as well as to remain globally competitive.

To move America forward, the trucking industry needs sustainable, efficient and robust funding — not petty politics — to support our nation’s network of roads and bridges. Rather than putting up more roadblocks through inaction, Congress needs to pass a fully funded, long-term highway funding bill that can pave the way for the future of the trucking industry — and America.

Kevin Burch is co-chairman of Trucking Moves America Forward. He wrote this for CQ-Roll Call.

– See more at: http://heralddemocrat.com/opinion/national-commentary/kevin-burch-congress-should-pass-long-term-highway-funding-bill#sthash.t46jkcZf.dpuf

Trucking Moves America Forward announced today that the Motor Carriers of Montana has made a US$10,000 financial contribution to the movement over the next year.

“The contribution from the Motor Carriers of Montana will further amplify the TMAF message,” said Kevin Burch, TMAF co-chairman and president of Jet Express. “We are deeply appreciative to have their support as we continue to recruit members of the industry. Together, we can build momentum for TMAF now and in the future.”

“We are thrilled to join this effort and to tell the trucking industry’s story,” said Spook Stang, chairman, Region IV and executive vice president of Motor Carriers of Montana. “Collectively, our members deliver the goods and products Americans have come to rely on. There’s so much to learn about the diversity, safety and sustainability efforts of our industry, and Trucking Moves America Forward is the right platform to do that.”

TMAF, which officially launched in March 2014 at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky, is an industry-wide image and education movement informing policymakers and the general public about the benefits of the trucking industry to build a groundswell of political and grassroots support necessary to strengthen and grow.

“We appreciate Motor Carriers of Montana stepping forward to support the movement,” said Michael S. Card, president of Combined Transport and TMAF founding member. “They are showing the pride we all feel in our great industry and that our message is resonating.”

Last month, TMAF reached its goal of raising one million dollars to fund educational and outreach activities. TMAF has been bolstered by significant financial contributions from trucking companies, vendors, associations and more. To view a list of donors and members, visit truckingmovesamerica.com.

 

http://www.automotiveworld.com/news-releases/motor-carriers-montana-pledges-us10000-trucking-moves-america-forward/

Kevin Jones Fleet Owner

Senators call for peers to get with the program

With time running out on the current federal funding plan for highways and transit, trucking groups have renewed the call for a stable, long-term solution. The plea comes as the Senators who pushed through the MAP-21 funding bill three years ago are again pressing their lawmaking peers to see the benefits of coming up with a multi-year plan—and the damage done by short-term extensions.

American Trucking Assns. President and CEO Bill Graves urged the Obama administration and Congress to “to step up and deliver a plan – and funding – for the transportation system our country needs and deserves” before the May 31 expiration of the current highway program.

“One of the things that makes this country great is our mobility – the freedom to travel this country without restriction,” Graves said. “However, we are threatening our ability to smoothly and safely move goods and people through our collective inaction. We again call on our leaders in Washington to find the appropriate funding to pay for the improved and expanded roads and bridges we need to continue moving America forward into the 21st century as the economic leaders we believe ourselves to be.”

Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF), the industry-wide image and education effort, likewise is calling on lawmakers to pass a bill to safeguard America’s federal highway program.

“Our federal highway program is at a pivotal crossroads, and the passage of a long-term highway bill is critical to modernizing our aging infrastructure and ensuring our roads are safe for our professional drivers and America’s families alike,” said Kevin Burch, co-chairman of TMAF, president of Jet Express, Inc., and second vice chairman of ATA.

The professional trucking industry drives $682 billion in revenue every year, making it a vital contributor to the nation’s economy, TMAF emphasized.

Additionally, nearly a third of the nation’s roads are in poor or mediocre condition, and one out of every nine bridges are structurally deficient, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers report card. TMAF advocates for infrastructure spending to improve highway networks that are most critical to the movement of freight and interstate travel.

And improving the highway system also prioritizes the safety of the motoring public, TMAF adds.

“Well-maintained roads and bridges are safer roads and bridges,” said Todd Spencer, executive vice president of The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. “Safety is further improved when investments are focused on adding capacity where needed to reduce congestion.”

Earlier this week TMAF launched an advertising campaign to reach lawmakers on Capitol Hill to reinforce the positive impact professional drivers have as the nation’s chief movers of interstate commerce. The campaign includes a series of print, digital and radio advertisements placed in Washington news outlets.

“An updated transportation network is crucial to our nation’s success. Congress should stop punting and pass a long-term highway bill to improve our nation’s roads and bridges before the current authorization expires in May,” Burch added.

On Wednesday, Sen. James Inhofe and Sen. Barbara Boxer, the chairman and the ranking member of the Senate committee charged with developing a highway bill, rallied with by a broad coalition of businesses, labor, and transportation organizations to highlight the importance of a long-term surface transportation bill and the need for Congress to act.

The two senators, a conservative and a liberal, have used the Environment and Public Works committee as a bully pulpit for bipartisanship. Inhofe has said short-term extensions are costly and “not the conservative solution” while Boxer has said that she and conservatives “don’t see eye to eye on much,” but that keeping roads and bridges from crumbling should be a priority for all lawmakers.

Boxer said at the Capitol press event that a proposal to provide refunds to middle-income families will be tied to an increase in the federal tax on gasoline and diesel, the source of income for the Highway Trust Fund.

Over in the House, reports suggest a bill is about to be introduced by Rep. Jim Renacci (R-OH) that would tie the gas tax to inflation and create a bicameral committee to explore a long-term, reliable highway funding source.

Also this week, Transportation Sec. Anthony Foxx told a gathering of construction unions that state and local transportation projects are already being delayed or cancelled because of funding uncertainty.

“We need to say ‘hell no’ to short-term funding,” Foxx said.

The Trucker News Service 

WASHINGTON — Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF), the industry-wide image and education movement representing all areas of the professional trucking industry, is calling on Capitol Hill lawmakers to pass a long-term highway bill to safeguard America’s federal highway program and provide certainty for the nation’s future transportation needs.

“Our federal highway program is at a pivotal crossroads, and the passage of a long-term highway bill is critical to modernizing our aging infrastructure and ensuring our roads are safe for our professional drivers and America’s families alike,” said Kevin Burch, co-chairman of TMAF, president of Jet Express Inc., and second vice chairman of American Trucking Associations.

The professional trucking industry drives $682 billion in revenue every year, making it a vital contributor to the nation’s economy. Seven million trucking professionals nationwide move food, fuel and critical cargo in manufacturing, healthcare, retail and more.

Nearly a third of the nation’s roads are in poor or mediocre condition, and one out of every nine bridges are structurally deficient, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers report card. TMAF advocates for infrastructure spending to improve highway networks that are most critical to the movement of freight and interstate travel. Improving the nation’s highways also prioritizes the safety of the motoring public, stated a TMAF news release.

“Well-maintained roads and bridges are safer roads and bridges,” said Todd Spencer, executive vice president of The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. “Safety is further improved when investments are focused on adding capacity where needed to reduce congestion.”

Today, TMAF launched an advertising campaign to reach lawmakers on Capitol Hill to reinforce the positive impact professional drivers have as the nation’s chief movers of interstate commerce. The campaign includes a series of print, digital and radio advertisements placed in Washington news outlets, including Politico Morning Transportation, which can be viewed at: http://www.politico.com/morningtransportation/.

“An updated transportation network is crucial to our nation’s success. Congress should stop punting and pass a long-term highway bill to improve our nation’s roads and bridges before the current authorization expires in May,” Burch said.

To view the TMAF advertising campaign, go towww.truckingmovesamerica.com/advertising.

The Trucker staff can be reached to comment on this article ateditor@thetrucker.com.

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