ARLINGTON, VA – American Trucking Associations (ATA) President and CEO Bill Graves offered his congratulations to congressional leaders and President Barack Obama after the long-delayed highway authorization bill was signed into law.
"It has been 30 months since we have had a true, long-term highway funding bill," Graves said. "So, [the] bill signing is a good thing for trucking and for our national economy. ATA would like to thank and congratulate President Obama; Chairmen Boxer and Mica; House and Senate leadership; all the conferees and staff that made this bill possible. It is not perfect, but this law advances the cause of highway safety and, I believe, will ultimately be seen as a springboard to even more robust transportation funding in the future.”
Among the safety advances advocated for by ATA incorporated into this new law: a requirement for electronic logging devices, a study of truck crashworthiness, the creation of a drug-and-alcohol testing clearinghouse, and notification system for employers of driver safety violations, improved driver licensing standards and tougher requirements for new truck drivers and companies.
Graves did express disappointment, despite the law's many positives, that it fails to deliver adequate funding to improve our nation's infrastructure network.
"If America is to maintain its place as the world's preeminent economy, then we must do more to maintain and improve our nation's system of roads and bridges to ensure that goods can move freely and efficiently from factories to ports and from farms to markets," Graves said. "While this bill takes steps in that direction, much more must be done in the future."
