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FROM THE CEO

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NATIONAL NEWS

NATIONAL NEWS

My High School football coach would remind us we couldn’t do anything about a referee’s bad call, or the weather but we could do something about our level of play. He said not to worry about things we couldn’t control but take care of what we could control, which was our level of performance. This spring the trucking industry couldn’t do much about the global spread of COVID-19 but trucking could do something about the way it responded. Trucking responded in the way it usually does with a “can do” attitude that exhibited national pride and resiliency. It wasn’t long before the President of the United States said that truckers were not only essential frontline workers but true “American Heroes.” The family of trucking had to quickly understand how to forge a new path regarding the way we could and should do business. It included things we had never heard of or anticipated. We had never heard of things like “stay at home” or “shelter in place.” When American workers, including many government regulatory employees were sent home, no one had anticipated that an officer should not fine a driver for an expired CDL or medical card if there’s no agency worker back home to reissue a new one. On your behalf, our constant interaction with the government resulted in extensions and waivers including Hours of Service and many other areas of relief. Clunky examples of ordinary government mandates not fitting the COVID reality of trucking went on and on.

Very few of us knew the Homeland Security Commission had a thing call Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Who knew CISA had a list of industries deemed “essential” which of course included trucking? The Trucking Association Executive Council (TAEC) is made up of every State Trucking Association CEO. They have been worth their weight in gold by conveying every state governor’s executive order and mandates that could affect trucking in each state. Frequent and sometimes daily conversations with our local FMCSA, DPS, Governor’s office, TAEC, and ATA became the norm with important updates quickly pushed out to our members.

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COVID created hardships for some in trucking and increased demand in others. Even as I write, some states are demanding mandatory quarantines from out of state visitors and mandatory use of mask with penalties for violators. We of course make sure necessary exceptions are given to the trucking industry. We will continue to represent you and seek the most practical policies for trucking during this unique time. I can’t go back to my high school football days and it’s possible that America’s trucking can’t go completely back to pre-COVID days. What we can do is continue to perform at our best.

Meanwhile at the State Capitol…

In February, we defeated the mandatory installation of under guard side rails on every commercial trailer in Oklahoma, whether new or used. It would have cost the Oklahoma trucking industry millions and millions of dollars to comply. If passed, this law would have forced trucking companies to comply for this Oklahoma specific requirement of purchased trailers or to register your trailers in a different state. Trailer sales in Oklahoma would’ve became a thing of the past. That is your Oklahoma Trucking Association being the “Voice of Trucking” at the state capitol. This is the appropriate place for a request for your contribution to the OK TruckPAC (our Political Action Committee). You make a living in this industry and you can afford a monthly commitment of any amount to protect your livelihood from the many threats like mentioned here. Contribution forms are available online at http://oktrucking.org/oktruckpac

By early March, COVID cases had been reported at the Capitol and everyone was sent home to quarantine. The legislature only returned in mid-May to complete the state budget and to formally adjourn. Our pro-active effort to repeal the 1.25% tax on new trailers purchased in Oklahoma was put on hold until next year. Our members believe our trailer registration monies should go to Oklahoma roads, schools, health, police, and fire protection, not some other state. We will still make necessary efforts to get this accomplished.

Jim Newport

CEO/President Oklahoma Trucking Association

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