OOIDA Statement on Election
The following is a statement from Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association president Todd Spencer regarding the election results.
"OOIDA and the 150,000 small business truckers we represent congratulate Donald Trump and J.D. Vance on their resounding victory. We look forward to working with the Trump Administration and congressional allies to advance a pro-trucker agenda, which includes expanding truck parking, stopping unworkable environmental mandates, and preventing a dangerous speed limiter mandate." - OOIDA President Todd Spencer.
Additionally, we'd like to flag that VP-elect J.D. Vance (R-OH) is officially on the record as a cosponsor of OOIDA's top two legislative priorities.
* S.1034 - Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act<https://usw2.nyl.as/t1/36/8nf1wferllpb6drth9jbrt0h/0/7d156eec1f289685e6fc3c0dca7e462d0daa12602c15e9fe1191991cd0167249>
* “Most folks probably don’t realize that 70% of American freight is transported by truck, yet incredibly there is only 1 parking spot for every 11 trucks on the road. When truck drivers don’t have a designated place to park, they end up parking on the side of the road, near exit ramps, or elsewhere. This isn’t safe for the driver and it’s not safe for others on the road." - OOIDA President Todd Spencer
* Background: Truckers are legally obligated to comply with ‘Hours of Service’ Regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. It is estimated that truckers spend approximately one hour per day looking for safe parking, which cuts down on time driving to their destination. According to a study commissioned by the Federal Highway Administration, 98% of truck drivers say they regularly experience difficulty finding safe parking, and are forced to park on an exit ramp, on the side of an interstate, or other unsafe areas. The Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act will allocate funds to create thousands of safe parking spots for trucks and make necessary improvements to existing truck parking areas.
* S.2671 - DRIVE Act<https://usw2.nyl.as/t1/36/8nf1wferllpb6drth9jbrt0h/1/6ae3d509e405dacfc1a6c3070a70dcac90520082130df838628a8e00a76336ab>
* “Studies and research have already proven what we were all taught long ago in driver’s ed classes – that traffic is safest when vehicles all travel at the same relative speed, Limiting trucks to speeds below the flow of traffic increases interactions between vehicles, which can lead to more crashes.” - OOIDA President Todd Spencer
* Background: Legislation would prohibit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) from implementing any rule or regulation mandating large commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) engaged in interstate commerce be equipped with a speed limiting device set to a maximum speed. Studies have shown that speed limiting devices on large CMVs make our roads less safe, increasing congestion and creating dangerous speed differentials among vehicles, leading to higher crash rates.