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TRUCKERS PARKING |
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| Parkin problems | congress'es e-mail,phyiscal address,and phone number | the ata and what i feel about 'em | ||
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The no-zone learnhow to be a wreck////Less driver around trucks
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| is unloading unfare? | ||||
| Call to action
TO KEEP UP TO DATE ON REGULATIONS TO BE VOTED ON |
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THE A.T.A AND WHY I THINK THEYSUCK
First let me say one thing right off the bat . As far as I can tell the ATA is not the "working truckers friend" all they are doing is looking out for big business. If any one can show me what the ATA has done for the working trucker I would love to read it
Let me explain my views to you real quickly on the ATA . Now I have finaly gotten the 800 number for the ATA and called them to ask about information on closed rest areas and states that have a time limit on rest areas. This information should be on someones desk right now, since there's a Federal Highway and Safy Meeting in December on this issue, they should of have all the information but they told me in order to get that information I would have to join. I said ok let discuss some other issues I have with the ATA and they agreed. I started by asking about S2561(senate bill that was signed into law on Nov1 1998) which makes our life an open book for all to see ie. your mvr,dac and credit reports. Now companies already pull that stuff up with written permission but now they only need your good word for it. What this does is makes it eaisier for anyone to get your credit report and realy screw it up along with your dac and the ata pushed it through the senate last week. The other thing they are doing that realy bugs me is the lawsuite that O.O.I.D.A has against Prime. The ata has put thier nose in the middle of that helping not the driver but the multimillion dollar company. If they are suppose to be looking out for the trucker what the hell? I just don't get it and you are probably asking what can I do? Well convincing all the drivers that you work with or all the drivers you speak to or see while you are on the road to get their companies to get out of the ATA would be a good start. We don't need enemies when the ATA is on our side
Iif you want to read the lawsuit against Prime here is the url please go and have a look around. If you like what you see join the O.O.I.D.A they represent all drivers not just o/o's.
Their you have my views on the ATA let's try together to shut thier doors! There are 9.5 million drivers out there, toghter we can do this is. Here's a part of the ATA's mission statement -
"American Trucking Associations
The American Trucking Association (ATA) is the national trade association of the trucking industry. Our mission is to serve the united interests of the 9.3 million people and 423,000 plus companies involved in trucking, and to educate public officials at all levels of government about the essential nature of our business.
Established in 1933, the ATA Federation is composed of the ATA national headquarters, 50 state trucking associations and 14 affiliated national conferences and independent organizations.
The ATA membership includes more than 3,800 trucking companies and industry suppliers of equipment and services. Including state trucking associations, ATA conferences, and other affiliates, the ATA Federation represents more than 35,000 member companies.
ATA employs a professional staff of approximately 250 industry experts who are available to help members understand and manage the hundreds of issues facing trucking companies. The staff includes lobbyists, legislative and regulatory policy analysts, litigators, economists, statisticians, researchers, environmental experts, safety and maintenance engineers, issue managers, and communications specialists.
Our number one goal as an association is to vigorously represent the trucking industry before Congress, regulatory agencies, and the courts."
ATA TO DOT: "GET MOVING ON HOURS OF SERVICE REFORM"
Truckers Call For Immediate Reform of "Outdated and Unscientific" Rules
WASHINGTON, D.C. Stating that DOT is at least 18 months behind schedule and apparently will not meet its Congressionally-imposed deadline to issue new hours of service regulations by March 1999, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) today called on DOT to "get moving" on the new rules.
"The trucking industry cannot write and issue the rules itself," ATA Foundation Director and COO Susan M. Coughlin stated today in testimony before the Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee. "Congress should urge the DOT to issue new science-based hours of service regulations as soon as possible," Coughlin said.
"Fatigue is a national medical issue affecting anyone who gets behind the wheel of a car or truck," said Coughlin. "The trucking industry is not standing idly by while DOT drags its feet on the hours of service rulemaking. Science says education and training can play a large role in combating fatigue," said Coughlin.
"The trucking industry is using the best available science to educate and train both truck and car drivers on the dangers of driving fatigued and how to prevent it."
Coughlin explained that the ATA Foundation, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, has:
conducted 6 separate scientific studies examining driver fatigue and sleep-related issues;
distributed to the public over 1,000,000 copies of a brochure entitled "Awake at the Wheel," which offers common sense advice on how to recognize the warning signs of driver fatigue and how to avoid drowsy driving;
disseminated to over 3,000 radio stations public service announcements about the dangers of truck and car driver fatigue and how to combat it; and
educated and trained thousands of trucking company safety managers, truck driver training school instructors, and drivers themselves about fatigue management.
"It's important to note," said Coughlin at the Senate hearing, "that the trucking industry has invested significant amounts of its own time, money, and resources into this effort, even though we represent a very small percentage of fatigue-related accidents."
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, less than 4% of the approximately 100,000 fatigue-related accidents that occur every year involve large trucks. The other 96% involved cars, pick-up trucks, and motorcycles.
"The highways are our workplace, our neighborhood. We want them to be as safe as possible," said Coughlin. "The hours of service rules are not helping. Put simply, they are outdated and unscientific. They have not been substantially revised in 60 years."
Coughlin explained that the trucking industry wants rules that:
Allow truck drivers more time for adequate rest.
(But yet they are wanting the DOT and congress to give us the opportunity to drive 15 hours a day while they say they want us to have enough sleep?? any one else see any thing wrong here???)
Improve safety.
Are based on the latest science.
Are cost-effective for trucking.
Reflect the diversity of operations in the trucking industry; and
Are easy for drivers to understand and comply with, and for the government to consistently enforce.
The ATA Foundation is the research and education arm of the American Trucking Associations, the national trade association of the trucking industry. Ms. Coughlin is former vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, deputy administrator for the Federal Railroad Administration, and aviation technology executive. "
Read what the ATA stands for and if you think their on your side then go and see a shrink or some thing :)
I do wish to thank the ATA for their public documents on the web.
Y'all be safe this winter!