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Last week on October 5th- 8th the American Trucking Association (ATA) held its 86th annual Management Conference & Exhibition. Over 2,700 leaders in the trucking industry convened at the San Diego Convention Center to discuss key issues impacting their industry. Some of major topics of discussion along with the ATA’s plan of action are listed below.

Over time, the transportation industry has seen many new regulations passed for various reasons.  From electronic log books, lower emission trucks, and increasing the age to have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) these laws were intended to improve the safety of the public as well as protect the environment.  The increased tighter regulations have forced companies into compliance resulting in a tougher trucking market. It does not seem that the flow of regulatory actions have ceased, and now there are multiple bills in congress that have drawn public attention.

Next week Pittsburgh Pennsylvania welcomes the National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC).  The competition is each year by the American Trucking Association (ATA) and is slated to take place 8/14-8/17 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.  As stated by the ATA, this long standing competition “has a long history – dating back to 1937 when it was known as the National Truck Roadeo”.

Trucking companies across the country have experienced a rough first half of 2019.  Coming off a profitable and robust 2018, the transportation industry has taken a one step forward, two steps back, which is causing many trucking companies to shutter their doors and leave thousands of drivers unemployed.  There are many factors that have led to a shaky 2019 for trucking.  Let’s take a look at a few.

Kentucky Trucking Association President, Rick Taylor is one of many Kentuckians who feel there is work to be done in many of the freight corridors in the state. On June 25^th, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet unveiled a list of projects that will be considered for 2020. According to Eleanor Lamb of Transport Topics, this list was derived from the State Highway Investment Formula for Tomorrow, otherwise known as “SHIFT”. “SHIFT helps officials prioritize transportation projects, and will inform the upcoming 2020 Highway Plan. SHIFT uses data on safety, asset management, congestion, economic growth and cost-benefit ratios to assess projects.”