It was four years earlier at MATS that TMAF was born, created to accentuate and project a positive image of the trucking industry. Every year when MATS rolls around, TMAF marks its unofficial birthday by releasing their annual report, which this year was titled “The Many Faces of Trucking.”
“It’s refreshing,” says Burch, to hear the president use words like “heroes” to describe those in the trucking industry. Burch is the president of Jet Express, a roughly 330-truck fleet that hauls loads for the automotive industry. He’s worked in trucking for north of four decades.
“We have achieved great strides during our first year of the movement, and we are grateful for everyone who has contributed to TMAF through both financial and in-kind support,” said Burch. “But, there is work to do, and we challenge everyone in the industry to join the movement, so that together, we can achieve a positive image of the industry and advocate for better, smarter regulations to keep this vital industry flourishing.”
President Barack Obama Tuesday quietly signed into law legislation to ensure any federal standards governing screening, testing, or treatment of individuals operating commercial motor vehicles for sleep disorders would be through a rulemaking instead of guidance, which has previously been the case.
VIDEO: Primm Fox discusses markets, investing and business. He speaks with Mark Crumpton on Bloomberg Television’s “Bottom Line.”
American Central Transport has taken first place in the General Commodities Truckload/Line-Haul Division/Between 20-50 Million Miles Category in American Trucking Associations national truck safety competition. The carrier received its award during ceremonies at the ATA Safety Management Council’s 2013 Safety and Human Resources National Conference & Exhibition held recently at Sparks, Nevada.
XRS Corporation, a mobile trucking intelligence company, has announced that Verizon is the official wireless provider for its new collaboration with Samsung Telecommunications America. The new product — NXT — creates what XRS says is the first integrated mobile device and software package designed specifically for the trucking industry.
At Kirkwood Community College, trucking experts said retiring baby boomers and new trucking safety regulations in 2010, called CSA, have shrunk the driver pool. It’s created a void that isn’t being filled by young people. “It’s hard to fill those positions that are now gone. The younger generation doesn’t find it very appealing,” said Kirkwood’s Transportation Supervisor Freddie Jones.