Trucking Community History

America, like most developed countries today, is highly dependent on the trucking community for nearly all facets of life. From materials for building houses and buildings to finished products for retail stores, nearly everything in America is shipped on trucks from one place to another. The truckers that transport these goods sometimes drive for long hours in order to keep businesses running on time. Since the needs of truckers are often taken for granted, there is a history of community among truckers.

Organizations and Trucking Community History

Trucking community history started in the 1930s with the invention and widespread distribution of the automobile. The American Truckers Association was established in 1933 with the intention of providing a voice for the trucking community in communications with legislators and lawmakers. The ATA is still the largest trucking association in America today, and pursues issues that affect the trucking community, such as highway safety and environmental impact.

1970s Trucking Community

The trucking community became even more of a cohesive team around the early 1970s, when the Arab oil embargoes shut down the trucking industry. A community of truckers came together and traveled to Washington, DC to bring the hardships facing the trucking community to the attention of lawmakers. The biggest obstacle that the trucking community faced at the time was availability and price of fuel. This community of truckers learned that to accomplish some of the reforms that would be necessary to bring the trucking industry back to a reasonable state, an organization would have to be formed.

Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association

This organization was the OOIDA, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. The OOIDA formed with the purpose of promoting the needs of truckers by cooperating with state and federal government and private businesses. OOIDA is now the second largest truckers’ organization, and works towards many of the same goals as the ATA. Between the two organizations, many changes have been made that positively impact the trucking community.

Laws Impacting the Trucking Community

The trucking community is constantly adhering to new laws that focus on traffic safety and environmental impact. With the implementation of the Department of Transportation in 1967 braking system requirements and trucker licensing standards were established. In 1982, the weight limit of 80,000 pounds went into effect.

2002 Diesel Fuel Emission Laws

In 2002, laws surrounding diesel fuel emissions were passed. These laws are controversial, and the whole of the trucking community would have to spend millions of dollars to adhere to the lower emissions standards. As an unintended result trucking companies have paid millions in penalties and a market for unlawful devises that skew the emissions test results has thrived.

2004 Drivers Hours of Service Rules

Truckers often work long days and sometimes spend days or weeks at time on the road. The Drivers Hours of Service Rules went into effect in 2004, reducing the amount of hours that truckers are allowed to spend on the road at a time, and increasing the time between shifts. This law has so far had mixed reviews, as trucking accidents have not decreased dramatically since the law was passed. New laws passed in July of 2013 are expected to yield better results.

You Can Find Robert Dellecker on Google+

Sources:

“Law and Litigation.” ATA. American Trucking Associations, n.d. Web. 21 Oct 2013. <http://www.truckline.com/Law_and_Litigation.asp&xgt;.

“New Hours-of-Service Safety Regulations to Reduce Truck Driver Fatigue Begin Today.” United States Department of Transportation. United States of America Department of Transportation, 01 Jul 2013. Web. 22 Oct 2013. <http://www.dot.gov/briefing-room/new-hours-service-safety-regulations-reduce-truck-driver-fatigue-begin-today>.

“OOIDA Timeline.” OOIDA. OOIDA Inc, n.d. Web. 21 Oct 2013. <http://www.ooida.com/BenefitsServices/>.

“Trucking Industry Overview-Complete Version.” IRS. IRS.gov, 04 Apr 2013. Web. 21 Oct 2013. <http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Trucking-Industry-Overview—Complete-Version>.