American Trucking Associations Chairman Dennis Dellinger testified on Capitol Hill recently to make the case for substantially increasing investments in our transportation network.
Dellinger, who is the president and CEO of Cargo Transporters, delivered remarks before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highway and Transit about the importance of reducing costly congestion, enhancing supply chain efficiency, and improving roadway safety.
“We look forward to working with everyone on this subcommittee as you develop an infrastructure package that promotes safety for the motoring public and our [truck] drivers, while prompting the creation of efficiencies as we move our nation’s economy,” Dellinger said. “Roads and bridges aren’t affiliated to a given party; they are an American priority.”
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which became law in 2021, provided historic levels of funding for transportation projects; however, the recent spike in inflation eroded these gains, according to Dellinger.
“To ensure the U.S. maintains its dominance leading all world economies, Congress must improve upon the law and take bold steps to increase investments in our industry’s workplace.”
During his testimony, Dellinger warned Congress about the consequences of inaction. The American Transportation Research Institute recently calculated the expense of congestion to be $108.8 billion per year. Dellinger explained how the repercussions of these delays cascade down the supply chain.
“Highway bottlenecks add over $100 billion to the cost of freight transportation annually. That’s the equivalent of 435,000 drivers sitting idle for a year.” Dellinger said. “It’s imperative we expand capacity and eliminate inefficiency to boost US manufacturing, grow public and private businesses, and lower costs for the consumer.”
Making the connection between new investments and increased safety, Dellinger said motor carriers spend $14 billion annually on safety related systems and training. He called on Congress to be a part of the solution by “increasing truck parking that would alleviate the dangerous situation of truckers being forced to park in unauthorized locations, [and] ensuring that effective and robust drug testing protocols remain intact.”
Love’s donates to roadside technician safety effort
The NATSO Foundation, the education, research and public subsidiary of NATSO, frecently announced that Love’s Travel Stops has donated $47,000 tothe NATSO Foundation’s Roadside Service Technicians Safety Initiative.
Love’s Travel Stops’ annual donation to the NATSO Foundation began in 2021, when it contributed $123,000 to kick start the NATSO Foundation’s Roadside Service Technicians Safety Initiative.
“Improving roadside working conditions and protecting our team members and professional drivers is a top priority for Love’s,” said Jenny Love Meyer, executive vice president and chief culture officer. “We are proud to support the NATSO Foundation again this year. Our NATSO Foundation major gift is a way to honor our employees, customers and the communities Love’s locations support.”
“This heartfelt and genuine act of kindness by Love’s Travel Stops reflects the philanthropic, caring ethos that makes Love’s so special. We deeply thank Love’s for its dedication to the NATSO Foundation and the industry,” said Amy Toner, executive director of the NATSO Foundation.
The NATSO Foundation’s Roadside Service Technicians Safety Initiative aims to reduce accidents involving disabled trucks and roadside assistance personnel.
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