Abbey Schroeder (from left), Emily Williams, Brenda Neville and Alexandra Rosen said some common pitfalls advocates should avoid are not wasting time and not using inflammatory language. (John Sommers II for Transport Topics)
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AUSTIN, Texas — By the end of this year, 267 trucking industry representatives from 30 states will have participated in 294 meetings with members of Congress or their staff as part of American Trucking Associations’ Call on Washington program, an expert panel said at an Oct. 15 session at ATA’s 2023 Management Conference & Exhibition.
“We are a consistent voice,” said panelist Emily Williams, manager of business development for Geotab. “It’s so important that we paint a picture of why our issues are so important.”
Because visits with members of Congress are typically only 30 minutes or less, it’s vital that trucking company representatives are well prepared about what they should say and how they should say it, said Alexandra Rosen, director of legislative affairs for ATA.
There are two ways that trucking industry representatives can engage Congress, Rosen said. They include meeting directly with their with members or bringing members directly to their businesses or terminals to see how their businesses operate and the trucks that carry products.
Panelists said four pillars for trucking representatives to use for effective Capitol Hill visits are to be clear and concise, know their audience, be respectful, and perhaps most importantly, make their ask.
“Learn the issues and how they are important to your business,” said Abbey Schroeder, grassroots program manager for ATA. “Know your audience, find a commonality and state your connection.”
There are two ways that trucking industry representatives can engage with members of Congress: meeting directly with them or bringing them directly to their businesses or terminals to see how their businesses operate and the trucks that carry products. (John Sommers II for Transport Topics)
The panelists said there are several common pitfalls to avoid when meeting with members of Congress. They include:
- Time is precious. Don’t waste it.
- Don’t use inflammatory language.
- Understand the limitations of a policymaker’s authority.
- Don’t shy away from tough conversations.
- Don’t forget to make the ask.
When meeting with members of Congress, truckers should have a clear purpose, make their stories engaging, and be clear about what you’re asking for, said Schroeder.
#ATAWomenInMotion presented the fundamentals of effective advocacy during the Mastering Advocacy: Driving Local and National Change Educational Session.
Thank you to our sponsor @MarshGlobal. pic.twitter.com/NmXr5DceTW
— American Trucking (@TRUCKINGdotORG) October 15, 2023
Some of the more pressing issues being raised by ATA include addressing the truck driver shortage, lawsuit abuse, a shortage of truck parking spaces and solutions for supply chain challenges.
ATA recommends that when engaging with lawmakers, truckers should provide a history and overview of the issues, share their number of employees and explain their reach in the community, give them the facts and let them know specifically how they can help.
Don’t forget to also engage with local and state legislators, said panel moderator Brenda Neville, president of the Iowa Motor Truck Association. “Legislators are people who are no different than us,” she added.
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