Cameron Pechia with Valley Trucking Insurance has a great conversation with Chris Spear the President and CEO of ATA (American Trucking Associations) about all things trucking. They went over the missions that Chris and the ATA are fighting on behalf of the trucking association.
There are so many great topics covered in this podcast and is a must listen for truckers and fleet owners. You can find more about the ATA and their mission at www.trucking.org
Episode Highlights:
Chris discusses the depth of his connection to the trucking world, underlining his father's dual role as a teacher and a trucker, and his brother-in-law's involvement as an owner-operator. (8:02)
Chris shares notable legislative successes the American Trucking Association has achieved. (17:33)
Chris explains how recent regulatory decisions from the Federal EPA and the California Resources Board have resulted in unelected boards imposing unrealistic and damaging timelines. (28:31)
Chris discusses the complexities of shifting to electric and hydrogen trucks, including insufficient charging infrastructure, dependency on China for mineral supplies, and high maintenance and parts costs. (32:52)
Chris mentions how energy and the environment have been a primary concern for ATA. (40:07)
Chris discusses the importance of being a representative of real people in Congress and the potential influence this has in shaping laws and guidelines. (43:51)
Chris believes that the industry is constantly evolving, and members must adapt to different groups and alliances. (46:03)
Key Quotes:
“We are a hardworking industry. And I respect the fact that our members are out there getting the job done, our drivers are out there driving and technicians are working on the equipment, they have a job to do. And at times, we need them to focus on those things and building trust and an understanding of what ATA does for them.” - Chris Spear
“A lot of this stuff is playing out for reasons beyond logic. And we're just trying to inject the right questions and say, you know, let's have some common sense here, because this is going to cripple our economy, if not destroy it, and along with it, our industry and to me, that's unacceptable.” - Chris Spear
“I'd ask every member and every person in our industry to do the same whether it's talking to your elected officials and people responsible for overseeing our industry, host them at your facility, get them up into the truck, take them for a drive and it's impactful, you're making a difference. And to the degree, we can help you promote, my team stands ready to do it.” - Chris Spear
Resources Mentioned:
Chris Spear LinkedIn
American Trucking Associations
Cameron Pechia
Thomas Comstock
Ryan Young
Valley Trucking Insurance
