1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: Hi everyone, this is Lee Claskal when We're Talking Transports. 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: Welcome to Bloomberg Intelligence Talking Transports podcast. I'm your host, 3 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: Lee Clascow, Senior Freight Transportation Logistics SANA. Let's at Bloomberg Intelligence, 4 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:14,320 Speaker 1: Bloomberg's in house research arm of almost five hundred analysts 5 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 1: and strategists around the world. A quick public service announcement 6 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: before we dive in. Your support is instrumental to keep 7 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: bringing great guests and conversations to you, our listeners, and 8 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:28,639 Speaker 1: we need your support. So please, if you enjoy this podcast, 9 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:31,560 Speaker 1: share it, like it and leave a comment. Also, if 10 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: you've got ideas, feedback, or just want to talk transports, 11 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:36,559 Speaker 1: I'm always happy to connect. You can find me on 12 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 1: the Bloomberg terminal LinkedIn are on x AT Logistics lead 13 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 1: onto our program. I'm very excited to have Jim Ward, 14 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 1: the president of the Truckload Carrier Association or TCA, a 15 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: position he's held since April twenty twenty two. Jim retired 16 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: from dm Bawman as CEO and president. His career Bauman 17 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: spanned it over twenty two years. Welcome to the podcast. 18 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 1: Jim's great to have you. 19 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:05,639 Speaker 2: Hey, Lee, thank you very much and it's a pleasure 20 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 2: to be with you. 21 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 1: And you know, the Truckload Carrier Association, can you talk 22 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 1: about the industry group? You know, what is your I 23 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 1: guess your main mission. 24 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, TCA with offices at five five five East Braddock 25 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 2: Road and Allegianda, Virginia. Well, we're basically the only national 26 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:28,839 Speaker 2: trade association who's collective, sole focused is the truckload segment 27 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:33,760 Speaker 2: of the trucking industry. The association represents drive in, refrigerated 28 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:37,320 Speaker 2: tanker and railroannomotive carriers operating in the forty eight contiguous 29 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 2: US states Alaska, we have members of Alaska, Mexico, and Canada. 30 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 2: So as a significant part of the industry with over 31 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 2: and I know you know this, I half a million 32 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 2: companies operating means of power units within the United States. 33 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 2: TCA and it's truck and company members regularly comment on 34 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 2: matters affecting the national transportation industries, common interest and potential impact. 35 00:01:57,600 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 2: So thank you for having me. 36 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's my pleasure. And so so you know, I 37 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:06,560 Speaker 1: know you're not related to the American Trucking Associations, but 38 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 1: I guess the biggest difference between the two of you 39 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:11,640 Speaker 1: is you're just truckload, not less than truckload. 40 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's correct, And so our core principles at TCA, 41 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:19,639 Speaker 2: even though we have an affiliation with ATA, we align 42 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 2: on ninety nine percent of our policies. Chris Spire and 43 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 2: I are very very good friends. But our core principles 44 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:29,919 Speaker 2: at TCA basically tie into five major categories, which are 45 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 2: improving the driving job, improving roadway safety, improving the financial 46 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 2: stability of a motor carrier, promoting industry environmental stewardship, and 47 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 2: improving the industry image. So with these principles of mine again, 48 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 2: I'm happy to be with you today and speak to 49 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:45,519 Speaker 2: any or all of them. 50 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:49,639 Speaker 1: Okay, And you know you're You're not just a figurehead there, 51 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 1: You're a long term trucker as well. You're at Bowman. 52 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:53,920 Speaker 1: Is it Bowman or Bowman? 53 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,640 Speaker 2: No, it is Bowman DM Bowman Incorporated, Waytesport, Maryland. 54 00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 1: Okay. Can you tell me a little bit about your 55 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 1: time there? 56 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:04,959 Speaker 2: Sure. I first went to work for the Bowman family. 57 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 2: I started out as a railroader, believe it or not, 58 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 2: and out of school, and at that time the railroad 59 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 2: industry was going through a number of different mergers. I 60 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 2: was a management trainee. So I started as a brakeman, 61 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 2: kind of interesting, learning the yards and all, and one 62 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 2: day got tapped on the shoulder and it was shared 63 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:25,519 Speaker 2: with me that I had been selected to go to 64 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 2: a locomotive engineer school. And so the next thing you know, 65 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:30,800 Speaker 2: I was ended up in look about of engineer school 66 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 2: and was out running trains and learning to learn in 67 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 2: various rails on the eastern half of the US here. 68 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 2: And then when they built their headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida, 69 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 2: while I had an opportunity to transition there, at that time, 70 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:46,839 Speaker 2: there was not much in Jacksonville, Florida, so my wife 71 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 2: and I decided that we would stay here. So that's 72 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 2: when I departed the railroad and was very blessed to 73 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 2: hire on with the Bowman family out of Williamsport, Maryland. 74 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 2: Don Bowman is the chairman and part of my career 75 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 2: there as a safety manager and spent about thirty years 76 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 2: with a company. Had two different two different stints there, 77 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 2: but the last time I come back, I come back 78 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 2: as the president and CEO was there running the organization 79 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 2: for twenty three years along with the family members and 80 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 2: an outside board. 81 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 1: All right, great, well, let's shift gears back to TCA. So, 82 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:22,360 Speaker 1: what are the biggest priorities that you guys are focused 83 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:23,600 Speaker 1: on right now in Washington. 84 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 2: Well, we just had our fly in two weeks ago 85 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 2: of our members and we had one hundred and fifteen 86 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 2: meetings over on the Hill, which is pretty significant. And 87 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:36,479 Speaker 2: I would just say that one of the one of 88 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 2: the major topics the conversation was the upcoming expiring of 89 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:46,039 Speaker 2: the IIJA in September thirty of twenty twenty six, which 90 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 2: is what funds a highway Trust Fund. So we spent 91 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:55,720 Speaker 2: quite a bit of time talking to congressmen and senators 92 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:59,159 Speaker 2: and their staffer was about the importance of taking care 93 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:01,920 Speaker 2: of of our highways. You know, we often hear hear 94 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:05,720 Speaker 2: President Trump say when he comments about our infrastructures here 95 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:08,359 Speaker 2: in the US, he says, we're operating on a on 96 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:11,159 Speaker 2: a third world highway system, And to some extent, there's 97 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:13,920 Speaker 2: a little bit of truth in that. Our professional driving employees, 98 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 2: as you know, that's the that's their home, and that's 99 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 2: where we keep the free flow of commerce moving every 100 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:21,719 Speaker 2: single day. So we had a lot of conversation with 101 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 2: representatives about uh, we've recoined the federal fuel tax renamed 102 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:35,480 Speaker 2: a gallon's based shooser fee, which we believe creates transparency 103 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:38,040 Speaker 2: and helped would help the public better understand how the 104 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 2: Highway Trust Fund is financed if it was considered a 105 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 2: user's fee, which it really is, because you know, it's 106 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 2: a usage feed directly based to a highway use and 107 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 2: mouse traveled based on mouth per gallon, and it has 108 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 2: not been increased since nineteen ninety three from a federal standpoint, 109 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 2: you know, it still stands today at eighteen point four 110 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 2: cents for gasoline and twenty four point four cents for 111 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 2: d and so due to inflation and ride the construction costs, 112 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 2: a cumult of shortfall just recently announced by the CBO 113 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:10,359 Speaker 2: over the next nine years twenty twenty four to twenty 114 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:12,840 Speaker 2: thirty three, it's going to be about one hundred and 115 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 2: eighty one billion dollars. And so we have really spent 116 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:20,600 Speaker 2: a lot of time sharing with them looking at you know, 117 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 2: what has been what would we have to increase the 118 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:26,480 Speaker 2: federal fuel tax or the gallons base shoes of feet 119 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 2: to day, you know, to bring us current, and it's 120 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:32,840 Speaker 2: about one hundred and seventeen percent increase lea since nineteen 121 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 2: ninety three, and you know, that sounds pretty significant, but 122 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 2: when you look at the dollars that was that was 123 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 2: provided to the infrastructure through the Infrastructure Investments job Act, 124 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:48,840 Speaker 2: I mean it literally based on its purchase power with 125 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 2: down twenty four percent since twenty twenty one, just due 126 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:55,159 Speaker 2: to inflationary costs. So you can just imagine what's happened 127 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 2: since nineteen ninety three. So we spent a lot of 128 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 2: time speaking with representatives about our support of, you know, 129 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 2: the electric vehicle registration fee for the general public as 130 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 2: well as hybrids. They're looking at a two hundred and 131 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 2: fifty dollars registration fee for electric vehicles passenger vehicles, that is, 132 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 2: they're looking at one hundred dollars. So if you take 133 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 2: all those dollars and then we also encourage them to 134 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 2: eliminate the federal ex scize tax, which brings about six 135 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 2: point nine billion dollars a year into the Highway Trust 136 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 2: Fund to try to bringing new equipment into the industry 137 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 2: rather than paying that that twelve percent tax has been 138 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 2: around since the World War to try to try to 139 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 2: fund the war. We truly believe that this would be 140 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 2: a great way to be able to not only maintain 141 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 2: our nation's highways as we continue to move into future, 142 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 2: but also be able to build out new highways. And 143 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 2: it really what's really interesting about it, One percent of 144 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 2: every dollar collected through the federal fuel tax goes to 145 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 2: administration costs, So it's really very efficient. It's a very 146 00:07:57,160 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 2: efficient way of being able to be collected and then 147 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 2: hopefully that you know, we're good stewards of it and 148 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 2: utilize it to build out our highways. But the American 149 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 2: Society is Civil Engineers twenty twenty four report that was 150 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 2: just released a few months ago rated our bridges a 151 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:14,240 Speaker 2: C and our highway system a D plus, So we're 152 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 2: very much in need of doing something with the infrastructure. 153 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 1: Sounds like my college transcript, love the dust off of it. 154 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 1: Somewhat kidding anyway, So you know, I'm just curious. You know, 155 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:33,959 Speaker 1: I'm assuming that politicians aren't excited to raise tax no 156 00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 1: matter if you're a Democrat or a Republican. So that 157 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 1: must be a hard fight or a hard conversation to 158 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: have with these congress people. 159 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:47,599 Speaker 2: It is a challenge. But you know, as you and 160 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:52,240 Speaker 2: I both know, given the debt load that the government 161 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 2: is currently faced with, they're looking everywhere to try to 162 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 2: find funds and they're looking for ways that are efficient 163 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 2: and it makes sense and allows us as as a 164 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:03,959 Speaker 2: as a country to be able to continue to grow 165 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 2: and expand. And so, you know, Chairman Graves, he came 166 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 2: back into the Transportation and Infrastructure as Infrastructure Chairman this 167 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 2: year through a waiver and he moved pretty rapidly on 168 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 2: on the FAA. And so we've been having conversations with 169 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 2: him and constituents on on T and I about this 170 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:27,200 Speaker 2: need and about you know, really how efficient it could 171 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 2: be and should be, should we should be considered. But 172 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 2: you're right, it's it's it's metal concern because nobody wants 173 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:37,559 Speaker 2: to continue to or consider attacks. And but you know, 174 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:40,320 Speaker 2: with the with the president's philosophy about drill baby drill, 175 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 2: and as a capacity continues to improve from a from 176 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:47,680 Speaker 2: a a fuel perspective, you know, this is the time 177 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:50,760 Speaker 2: I think to be able to really consider doing something. 178 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 2: And it's really, like I said, it's the most efficient 179 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 2: way and it could be the future. You know, we 180 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 2: said several times we'd like to see President Trump be 181 00:09:58,400 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 2: the next guys and her, and he might have an 182 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 2: opportu unity to do that, right, And. 183 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 1: You know, I'm curious. So the current government shutdown at least, 184 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:08,560 Speaker 1: you know, while we're recording this, there's there's a government 185 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:14,720 Speaker 1: shut down. Has that impacted the trucking industry directly or indirectly? 186 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 1: I wouldn't say that we have seen a direct impact 187 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 1: from it yet. I think you know, as you and 188 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 1: I both know, the industry is is heavily supported by 189 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:29,200 Speaker 1: consumer confidence and the consumer And you know, one thing 190 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 1: that we've learned over the years, many years is when 191 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 1: the economy's bad to consumer spend and when the economy 192 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:36,319 Speaker 1: is good to consumer spend, and as long as the 193 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:38,719 Speaker 1: consumer keeps spending, it's you know, our industry seems to 194 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:40,959 Speaker 1: hold up pretty well. And so we haven't seen we 195 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 1: haven't seen a significant change in that arena yet, but 196 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:47,559 Speaker 1: you know, who knows long term what could happen. Right, So, 197 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 1: there's a lot of stuff going on. The current administration. 198 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 1: You know, they have been a little more I guess 199 00:10:54,960 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 1: they're there. Philosophy is a little more protectionists versus the 200 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:04,959 Speaker 1: different Republicans and Democrats that came before. You know, some 201 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:08,680 Speaker 1: of those are geared at, you know, being more stringent 202 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: and with the enforcement of English language proficiency also there's 203 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 1: a lot of talk about ending non domiciles CDLs, kind 204 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:21,679 Speaker 1: of where does the TCA come in line with this? 205 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:24,559 Speaker 1: It's just something that you know, you guys are in 206 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 1: favor of as well, and kind of why or why not? 207 00:11:30,679 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 2: So Lee, the answer was yes, and the reason is safety. 208 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 2: I mean, you know, one of our key philosophies and 209 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 2: one of the industry's main priorities is being a good 210 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 2: neighbor on our nation's highways every single day. And whenever 211 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:50,320 Speaker 2: you know you're you see these types of opportunities that's 212 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 2: currently being pursued. That's really nothing new. 213 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 1: You know. 214 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 2: I came into the business in January of nineteen eighty 215 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 2: six and at that time, through the Federal Motorcarey Safety 216 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 2: Administration regulations just said to be able to get you 217 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 2: to be a commercial driver, you need to be knowledgeable 218 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:06,480 Speaker 2: of and converse it with the English language. That hasn't 219 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 2: that hasn't changed. And so what I think you're seeing 220 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 2: is is you're now seeing administration that's putting enforcement into 221 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 2: into some of the rules and regulations that's been around 222 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:19,520 Speaker 2: for a while. And look, you hate to see anybody 223 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 2: be in front of with the potential loss of employment 224 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 2: but the fact of the matter is when when you're 225 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 2: out here in our nation's highways, we have to be safe. 226 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:31,440 Speaker 2: And I think they've identified enough case studies to say, look, 227 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 2: if you're not knowledgeable of and converse it with the 228 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 2: English language, and you can't communicate with enforcement officers and 229 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 2: you're having a difficult time reading road signs, you probably 230 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:41,560 Speaker 2: shouldn't be to hint an eighteen wheeler. 231 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean I would agree with that. Can you 232 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:46,559 Speaker 1: give us a little more information about you know, what 233 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:49,839 Speaker 1: the heck is a non domicile CDL and and why 234 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:50,680 Speaker 1: is it a big deal? 235 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:55,080 Speaker 2: Well, the reason is when you see somebody these driver's 236 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 2: license and I know there's been some of them posted 237 00:12:56,800 --> 00:13:01,319 Speaker 2: out there on social media from an individual that's come 238 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:02,840 Speaker 2: in out of the country into a state and been 239 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 2: able to get a CDL, you see on some of 240 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 2: these driver's license that there's there's a single name, you know, 241 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 2: and so you know, depending upon the country that you're from, 242 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 2: the and I know they're still working their way through 243 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 2: this thing to try to really identify that you are 244 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:23,600 Speaker 2: at you let me just say, the individual that's out 245 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:28,599 Speaker 2: there receiving a commercial driver's license is is eligible to 246 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 2: receive a commercial driver's license number one and number two 247 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 2: that you know they're receiving it in the state of 248 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 2: domicil because I think some of these people that commit 249 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:40,560 Speaker 2: out of what we're hearing and seeing from our members, 250 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:42,600 Speaker 2: and it's really not been an issue yet for us, 251 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:45,080 Speaker 2: just so you know, for our membership, it hasn't been 252 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:48,280 Speaker 2: it hasn't been a real challenge. So I think it's 253 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 2: it's more kind of these one off individuals that come 254 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:55,360 Speaker 2: in out of the country, don't have a place of domicile, 255 00:13:55,679 --> 00:13:59,319 Speaker 2: possibly live in that truck and get their CDL, and 256 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:03,000 Speaker 2: so you know, Secretary Duffy, I know he's identified what 257 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 2: is it seven states I think I heard last that 258 00:14:05,679 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 2: are really that are real issues right now, and I 259 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:10,120 Speaker 2: know they're they're challenging them with some funding if they 260 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:13,079 Speaker 2: if they, as a GWINN get ready to do audits 261 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 2: on the commercial driver's license on individuals that they've issued 262 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 2: commercial driver's license to to identify whether or not, you know, 263 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 2: they are eligible for a commercial driver's license or should 264 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 2: they not have received one as a non domicile individual. 265 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 2: So it's it's it's really interesting. It's it's still a 266 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 2: work in progress. I just heard him the other day 267 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,120 Speaker 2: on on something one of the shows that he was on. 268 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 2: That's well, that's like I said. That's when he mentioned 269 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 2: that there were seven states that I think they were 270 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 2: having some challenges with right now in regards to this area. So, 271 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 2: but from from a member perspective, we've talked with several members, 272 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 2: and you know, most of our members, they they do 273 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 2: a pretty good background check on the individuals that are 274 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:58,040 Speaker 2: coming to work for their organizations, and they also, you know, 275 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 2: you have to be able to speak the English language 276 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 2: proficient proficiently to be able to work for them. So 277 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 2: I don't think it's affecting quality carriers out there in 278 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 2: our nation's ways today. I think they're pretty much one all. 279 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:11,800 Speaker 2: I've seen some of the numbers that they're reflecting that 280 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:14,760 Speaker 2: that could be impacted by it is in this several 281 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:17,600 Speaker 2: tens of thousands. Now, whether or not that comes to fruition, 282 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:18,600 Speaker 2: I guess we'll see. 283 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, gotcha interesting stuff. I saw something on Twitter X 284 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 1: today there was a CDL, a picture of a CDL 285 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 1: and you know, I had no name on it. So 286 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 1: that's pretty interesting, interesting stuff. So we'll see how that 287 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 1: impacts capacity, which which obviously I don't need to tell 288 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:44,520 Speaker 1: you there needs be some more capacity coming out of 289 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 1: the market for rates to move higher. Can you talk 290 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:51,920 Speaker 1: about emission standards. You know there's this new twenty twenty 291 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: seven EPA engine standards. I don't know where we are 292 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 1: with that with the federal government. You know, given the 293 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 1: Trump administrations less focus on green shall we say, uh, 294 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 1: you know, those could get pushed back given you know 295 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 1: the industry in your perspective, is it too late to 296 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:14,840 Speaker 1: push things back or are you hopeful they'll push things 297 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,720 Speaker 1: back in terms of uh, you know when these uh, 298 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 1: more expensive engines will be mandated. 299 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:25,680 Speaker 2: So the answer is from a buying perspective, the sooner 300 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 2: the industry knows what the standard's going to be, the 301 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 2: better off everyone's going to be because you can make 302 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 2: capital expend your buying decisions. Unfortunately, when you're in when 303 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 2: you're in the kind of in flux as we are 304 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 2: right now, why you know, it makes it very difficult 305 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 2: for fleets to be able to identify what they're going 306 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 2: to do from a purchasing standpoint with equipment. But you know, 307 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 2: I've applauded a Trump administration for for what they've been 308 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 2: able to do because you know, as we moved and 309 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 2: again we the industry, as we've said many times, and 310 00:16:57,640 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 2: you know, a new truck today we reduce knocks by 311 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:03,560 Speaker 2: ninety eight percent. I mean, it's pretty amazing the efficiency 312 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 2: from an environmental perspective of this new equipment which agains. 313 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 2: While we want to encourage you know, the repeal of 314 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:11,920 Speaker 2: the federal excize tax to be able to continue to 315 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:14,359 Speaker 2: put this new equipment into the system, I mean, the 316 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:17,920 Speaker 2: challenge is is that a ten year old truck produces 317 00:17:18,080 --> 00:17:20,919 Speaker 2: eighty five per you know, you could reduce emissions by 318 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 2: eighty five percent by getting a ten year old truck 319 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 2: off the road. And so that's a really big deal. 320 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 2: And so so as the administration continues to look as 321 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:31,200 Speaker 2: to what it's going to do, what we would like 322 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 2: to see and have basically signed onto a letter with 323 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 2: the American Trucking Association that you know, from a Knox perspective, 324 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:39,680 Speaker 2: being able to get the OEMs to agree what it 325 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 2: should look like. I understand there's been a lot of 326 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 2: money invested from from their perspective of trying to you know, 327 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:47,920 Speaker 2: get this thing down to this point oh three five 328 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:50,639 Speaker 2: versus two hundred where it is today. But it appears 329 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 2: to me to let this thing go ahead and continue 330 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:55,200 Speaker 2: to ride over the next few years while they continue 331 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:59,199 Speaker 2: to work on inside of the EPA as well as 332 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:02,960 Speaker 2: the OEMs, deciding how they can, how they get consensus 333 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,359 Speaker 2: and what works for all of them going forward would 334 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:08,920 Speaker 2: benefit everybody. And so you know, we we've asked for 335 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 2: him to lock the thing down where it is right now, 336 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:14,320 Speaker 2: put us put it in place for five years and 337 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 2: look at it as you continue to move forward and 338 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:18,080 Speaker 2: then make a decision as to what's in the best 339 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:20,680 Speaker 2: interest of all the OEMs and the industry perspective, and 340 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 2: importantly our members so that they can make good quality 341 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:26,240 Speaker 2: buying decisions. But I'll tell you the administration has made 342 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:30,879 Speaker 2: some great strides. And again we know there's we know 343 00:18:31,119 --> 00:18:38,200 Speaker 2: there's applications where electrification and autonomous trucks make sense, but 344 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:41,119 Speaker 2: we don't have the infrastructure for the electrical Class A 345 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:44,640 Speaker 2: vehicle right now. I mean, we did a study with Rollenberger, 346 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 2: and I mean it was going to cost an excess 347 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:50,680 Speaker 2: of a trillion dollars from an investment perspective, just to 348 00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 2: you know, build out to Paragrid, build out the charging stations, 349 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:58,080 Speaker 2: everything that's needed to be able to support an industry 350 00:18:58,160 --> 00:19:01,159 Speaker 2: that that's transitioning to electricic care. And you know they 351 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 2: used example in the Rollenberg study that we were part 352 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:06,760 Speaker 2: of that. You know, we were trying to adapt electrification 353 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:09,720 Speaker 2: and Class eight vehicles to move America's supply chain like 354 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:14,359 Speaker 2: we did to mobile phones. And it doesn't work like that. 355 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:18,200 Speaker 2: It's a different world, right, No. 356 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:25,840 Speaker 1: Absolutely, you mentioned autonomous trucking, So is the TCA not 357 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:30,159 Speaker 1: necessarily Are you guys for it or against it? Because 358 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:35,560 Speaker 1: I mean, obviously it will or could impact truckers to 359 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:36,680 Speaker 1: the actual drivers. 360 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 2: So Lee, when we talk about it, as you know, 361 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:42,359 Speaker 2: there's there's five levels, and you know, we're pretty much 362 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:44,160 Speaker 2: at the level four right now. We think the industry 363 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 2: has significantly benefited by the safety technology on autonomous vehicles 364 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 2: and there's more to come, so we fully support it. 365 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 2: But what we'd like to do is we call driver 366 00:19:52,720 --> 00:19:55,160 Speaker 2: assist because we think it's going to be more driver 367 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:58,399 Speaker 2: assist equipment than it is going to be autonomous equipment. Now, 368 00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:01,359 Speaker 2: there's applications where it's probab going to be autonomous, but 369 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 2: the biggest challenge we see through the adoption of it 370 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 2: is a social acceptance. I mean, you know, the general 371 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 2: public other than through COVID when they were clapping at 372 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:13,040 Speaker 2: us when we're delivering bread, milk, a toilet paper. You know, 373 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 2: most of the time they don't like us out there 374 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:16,920 Speaker 2: on the highway with us for whatever reason. And we 375 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:18,640 Speaker 2: just think they're going to have a very difficult time 376 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:20,320 Speaker 2: adapting to look it up in a truck and seeing 377 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 2: nobody's sitting in that driver's seat. So how what that 378 00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:26,680 Speaker 2: transformation is all going to look like in time? Who knows, 379 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:29,560 Speaker 2: But there's applications for it, and it is it is 380 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 2: going to occur, and you know, as demand continues to improve, 381 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:35,440 Speaker 2: supply and demand and you know from from production to consumption, 382 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:39,399 Speaker 2: and as the as population continues to grow, we know 383 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:41,480 Speaker 2: there's gonna be there's gonna be areas where it makes 384 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 2: sense and uh, and it's going to be utilized. But 385 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:45,920 Speaker 2: I think there's gonna be a driver and they're overseeing 386 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:47,680 Speaker 2: it for quite a long time. Because the next question 387 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:49,879 Speaker 2: is from an insurance perspective, is it going to be 388 00:20:49,920 --> 00:20:54,159 Speaker 2: auto liability, a product liability? Who's going to cover it? Right? 389 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:56,280 Speaker 2: And I think in shorte companies are still struggling from 390 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 2: a risk management perspective when they're looking at this equipment 391 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:01,359 Speaker 2: to figure out, you know, where's the loss going to 392 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:03,679 Speaker 2: lie if something goes awroy So, I think there's a. 393 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:06,680 Speaker 1: Lot of questions still out there, right, No, absolutely, I 394 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: think it's it's a long road. I had no pun intended. 395 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:14,840 Speaker 1: You know, you mentioned insurance. I know insurance costs are 396 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:19,240 Speaker 1: rising for your members. What are you guys trying to 397 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:22,520 Speaker 1: do to kind of at least maybe slow the growth 398 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:26,919 Speaker 1: or you know, reverse the growth of insurance costs. 399 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:29,760 Speaker 2: It's a difficult challenge, and one of the things is 400 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:31,480 Speaker 2: one of the things is, as I just mentioned, is 401 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 2: continue to talk about the OEMs to put as much 402 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:36,920 Speaker 2: as this safety technology is possibly available in this new equipment. 403 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:40,600 Speaker 2: You know, it may not be perfect, but it's pretty 404 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 2: daggling good. Most of us having automobiles nowadays, and the 405 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:45,880 Speaker 2: more that we can do to be able to continue 406 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 2: to protect the integrity of risk management and safety on 407 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:52,000 Speaker 2: our nation's highways, we think is very, very very important. 408 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 2: You know, I think one of the challenges in the 409 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:57,639 Speaker 2: insurance industry that's that's continued to go in today and 410 00:21:57,760 --> 00:22:01,720 Speaker 2: it's really needed. You know, we continue to battle what 411 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 2: we call lawsuit abuse. You know, it started years ago 412 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:07,320 Speaker 2: is tot reform and again talking about name changes, but 413 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:11,160 Speaker 2: we've changed it to lawsuit abuse. But I think these 414 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 2: challenges have become really significant, and so one of the 415 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:17,440 Speaker 2: things that we've we've been on the hill talking about 416 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:21,720 Speaker 2: that we'd like to see and are encouraging. There's there's 417 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:24,000 Speaker 2: a bill over there now that's that's pursuing this is 418 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 2: but you know, move claims that are that are projected 419 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:30,400 Speaker 2: to be an excess of five million dollars to federal court, 420 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:33,640 Speaker 2: get them out of the district court level, and really 421 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:35,159 Speaker 2: like to see good dad to a million. But you've 422 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:37,280 Speaker 2: got to start somewhere. So I think it would be 423 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:39,840 Speaker 2: very beneficial for our industry to be able to have 424 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:44,040 Speaker 2: these cases heard on these five million dollars claims or 425 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:46,240 Speaker 2: claims in excess of five million dollars projected to be 426 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 2: in excess to that hurt in federal court. So we 427 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:50,359 Speaker 2: continue to we continue to run that battle, and you know, 428 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:52,480 Speaker 2: whether we like it or not, there's still a lot 429 00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:54,720 Speaker 2: of bad actors out there in the general public sometimes 430 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:57,240 Speaker 2: that you know, are stage in some of these these occurrences. 431 00:22:57,280 --> 00:22:59,199 Speaker 2: You've seen what's happened in Louisiana and some of these 432 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:01,879 Speaker 2: other states. So we just continue to try to follow 433 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:04,159 Speaker 2: up with the d O j FBI on some of 434 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 2: these some of these cases, and I hope we can, 435 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,840 Speaker 2: we can challenge and and overcome some of these rings 436 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:13,840 Speaker 2: and send a message and hey, look if if you 437 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:17,040 Speaker 2: if you play with fire, you're gonna get burnt. Right. 438 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:19,920 Speaker 1: You know, I'm not a legal expert, h nor do 439 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 1: I play one on TV. But you know you mentioned 440 00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:25,399 Speaker 1: moving into federal court. What would that do for the 441 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 1: trucking industry. 442 00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 2: Well, what what we truly believe is the fact that 443 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:33,240 Speaker 2: it would it would create a more level playing field 444 00:23:33,359 --> 00:23:38,159 Speaker 2: for the for the carrier and in the case and 445 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 2: and how it's heard, how it's decided much more, much 446 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:45,440 Speaker 2: more than in district courts here today. And uh so 447 00:23:45,560 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 2: we'll say, you know, you uh, you move into two 448 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 2: uh elected judges versus the point of judges and a 449 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:54,840 Speaker 2: lot of cases and all, and so we think it 450 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:56,680 Speaker 2: would be much of a more level playing field. 451 00:23:57,240 --> 00:23:59,439 Speaker 1: Right. Uh So fraud, you know, I kind of mentioned 452 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:03,000 Speaker 1: fraud from it's really uh, it's really in the spotlight 453 00:24:03,080 --> 00:24:05,639 Speaker 1: here in the trucking industry. I think there was a 454 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:10,280 Speaker 1: sixty minutes or a twenty twenty episode with Guy Fury 455 00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 1: and some stolen tequila. So you know, you know, everyone 456 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:16,720 Speaker 1: kind of talking about it, not just you know, people 457 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:20,000 Speaker 1: like us that are involved in the industry from a 458 00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:22,760 Speaker 1: day in, day out basis, Can you talk about what's 459 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:26,320 Speaker 1: going on with fraud and how your members are trying 460 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:29,440 Speaker 1: to push back against it and protect themselves. 461 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:34,240 Speaker 2: Well, I would just tell you it's running rampant. It is. 462 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:38,639 Speaker 2: It is getting worse every every week, every month, and 463 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:42,760 Speaker 2: you know it. And I was really glad to see 464 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:47,800 Speaker 2: for very guy on there last weekend. I guess talking 465 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:50,280 Speaker 2: about that a couple of million dollar a loaded tequila 466 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:53,159 Speaker 2: that they had stolen. Because you really need to make 467 00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:56,600 Speaker 2: people aware of what's going on because it's it's it's terrible. 468 00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:01,199 Speaker 2: And you know there's a lot of groups out there 469 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 2: right now really starting to try to work together in 470 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:06,160 Speaker 2: states from a state level, from a federal level, try 471 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:08,920 Speaker 2: to identify, you know, as a As you mentioned, I've 472 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 2: grown up in this industry from a from a leadership perspective, 473 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:14,280 Speaker 2: and you know, we used to have to worry about 474 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:17,880 Speaker 2: getting a pallet of freight stolen here or there on occasion, 475 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:21,720 Speaker 2: but it was really pretty rare. I mean, but really 476 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:23,399 Speaker 2: did I And I've only been retired out of the 477 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:26,879 Speaker 2: industry hading up the association for four years now, but 478 00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:29,280 Speaker 2: rarely did I have to worry about losing my whole truck, 479 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 2: my whole trailer, and the whole load associated with it. 480 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:35,359 Speaker 2: I mean, this is a this is a really big deal. 481 00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:37,560 Speaker 2: And I mean they can get this They can get 482 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:40,720 Speaker 2: this load loaded onto a ship and out of this 483 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:43,399 Speaker 2: country pretty quick. They can get it off loaded here 484 00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 2: in the United States. I mean, a lot of high 485 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:51,440 Speaker 2: value shipments are are are targeted. And you know, we 486 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:54,879 Speaker 2: continue to hear from from FBI and dj and that 487 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 2: it's cartel related, and I believe it is. I mean 488 00:25:57,359 --> 00:26:01,000 Speaker 2: it's a it's really it's really significant. I can't quote 489 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:02,800 Speaker 2: you the number. I just heard the number recently in 490 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:07,240 Speaker 2: regards to what it's what it's amounting to annually, but 491 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:11,359 Speaker 2: it's it's it's it's a it's an not godic crazy number. 492 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:15,320 Speaker 2: I mean, it's just it is, uh, it is. It 493 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:19,120 Speaker 2: is out of control. So so being able to work 494 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:21,720 Speaker 2: with the various groups out there, law enforcement and and 495 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:24,600 Speaker 2: and in the federal government. We just recently had a 496 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:26,720 Speaker 2: meeting with FMCSA and we spent a lot of time 497 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:29,880 Speaker 2: talking about it, Homeland security, you know, they're they're involved 498 00:26:29,920 --> 00:26:32,159 Speaker 2: in it. I mean, it's this thing. It's starting to 499 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:35,360 Speaker 2: get the needed attention, but it's because it's grown into 500 00:26:35,359 --> 00:26:37,800 Speaker 2: a really big problem, and unfortunately, you know that ends 501 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:39,920 Speaker 2: up back on the backs of the consumer. Somebody's gonna 502 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:41,680 Speaker 2: pay for this, right. 503 00:26:42,320 --> 00:26:45,440 Speaker 1: You know, you mentioned earlier in the conversation that you know, 504 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:49,720 Speaker 1: you started your transportation journey in the railroads. You know, 505 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:54,439 Speaker 1: there's been talk of consolidation of the rail industry, uh, 506 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:59,040 Speaker 1: with Union Pacific and their proposed merger with Norfolk Southern. 507 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:02,479 Speaker 1: Just wondering you know what the TCA has said, if 508 00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:05,119 Speaker 1: they've said anything about you know, the merger. Do you 509 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:07,800 Speaker 1: think it's it's good for shippers uh and good for 510 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:09,159 Speaker 1: the for the country? 511 00:27:09,720 --> 00:27:13,760 Speaker 2: Well, you know, again to your point, having having started 512 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:17,320 Speaker 2: my career in the transportation industry in railroad and have 513 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:20,240 Speaker 2: seen as much consolidation as we have over time, this 514 00:27:20,359 --> 00:27:23,800 Speaker 2: doesn't surprise me at the end of the day. You know, 515 00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:27,840 Speaker 2: will it be good or bad? Who knows. I mean, 516 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:32,760 Speaker 2: only time's gonna tell. But you know, when when you 517 00:27:32,920 --> 00:27:36,080 Speaker 2: look at what they're attempting to do, it appears to 518 00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:38,800 Speaker 2: make a lot of sense. You know, we we as 519 00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:42,160 Speaker 2: an industry years ago when I worked for railroad, kind 520 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:45,240 Speaker 2: of railroad and the motor carrier industry was really at 521 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:49,200 Speaker 2: odds and and today we're we're really advocates of each other. 522 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:51,800 Speaker 2: I mean, we're in this supply chain business, hand and 523 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:54,320 Speaker 2: glove and and the fact of the matter is is 524 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:59,240 Speaker 2: that you know, no matter, no matter what happens, still 525 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:00,879 Speaker 2: seventy five per cent of your goods here to the 526 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:03,280 Speaker 2: US is going to be moved on the truck. You know, 527 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:06,800 Speaker 2: it's it's it's it's Uh, there's a there's a real 528 00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:10,840 Speaker 2: relationship opportunity to continue and will continue to grow with 529 00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:13,639 Speaker 2: with rail and trucking. But but whether or not at 530 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:17,240 Speaker 2: the Norfolk Southern Union Pacific mergers, what that impact is 531 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:20,000 Speaker 2: going to look like sitting here today, I really can't tell. 532 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:23,560 Speaker 1: You, gotcha? All right, Well, let's turn our attention to 533 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:26,880 Speaker 1: truck the trucking market then, from from your perspective kind 534 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:30,639 Speaker 1: of you know, what is the state of the trucking 535 00:28:30,760 --> 00:28:33,280 Speaker 1: market and you know, kind of what is your outlook 536 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 1: for uh demanding rates going forward? Because it's really been 537 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:39,640 Speaker 1: a tough market for the industry. 538 00:28:41,080 --> 00:28:44,320 Speaker 2: Well, you know, you said earlier, You're not a you're 539 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:47,440 Speaker 2: not an attorney, and I'm not an economist. But I've 540 00:28:47,480 --> 00:28:50,600 Speaker 2: been around this business most of my life, and uh, 541 00:28:51,400 --> 00:28:54,160 Speaker 2: and I've lived through the Great Recession, you know, uh, 542 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 2: nine to eleven, a lot of challenges that impacted the 543 00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:00,760 Speaker 2: the marketplace, and the marketplace is always run some kind 544 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:04,000 Speaker 2: of cycle for the years that I've been I've been 545 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 2: around it, but this is probably the most challenging cycle 546 00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:13,200 Speaker 2: that I believe the trucking industry has experienced. And coming 547 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:15,960 Speaker 2: out of COVID, whether it was two great years, a 548 00:29:16,040 --> 00:29:19,840 Speaker 2: lot of capacity you know, entered the industry. Demand was 549 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:24,200 Speaker 2: really very good, and and as as demand started to 550 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:27,320 Speaker 2: either stabilize or even reduce, you know, you still had 551 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:30,560 Speaker 2: all that capacity. And so as I looked to and 552 00:29:30,640 --> 00:29:32,480 Speaker 2: you know, every year for the last couple of years, 553 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:35,320 Speaker 2: economists have continued to say, well, it's going to be 554 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:38,560 Speaker 2: next quarter, well maybe next year, And here we are 555 00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:41,920 Speaker 2: three years plus into it, and it hasn't changed much. 556 00:29:42,440 --> 00:29:44,800 Speaker 2: I mean, you still have you still have an industry 557 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:48,080 Speaker 2: from a supply and demand perspective that has less demand 558 00:29:48,080 --> 00:29:51,280 Speaker 2: than it has supply, and that's not healthy for anybody. 559 00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:53,080 Speaker 2: And then you you know, you have some of these 560 00:29:53,160 --> 00:29:55,960 Speaker 2: situations that we're talking about with the CDLs. They're talking 561 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:59,360 Speaker 2: about some cabotage that's that's been taking place out there 562 00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:02,680 Speaker 2: from you know, individuals coming out of the country and 563 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:05,800 Speaker 2: then moving goods from uh within the country rather than 564 00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:07,600 Speaker 2: go right straight back to where they came from, which 565 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:10,360 Speaker 2: is what capitage is. And and so there's been there's 566 00:30:10,360 --> 00:30:12,240 Speaker 2: a lot of challenges and I think as as some 567 00:30:12,320 --> 00:30:14,600 Speaker 2: of these continue to get cleaned up, you're going to 568 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:18,240 Speaker 2: see improvement sometime. But I think the real the real 569 00:30:18,280 --> 00:30:20,680 Speaker 2: improvement is going to be that that the industry is 570 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:23,080 Speaker 2: going to come from demand, and we just haven't seen 571 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:26,040 Speaker 2: that significant uptick in demand that's been able to absorb 572 00:30:26,120 --> 00:30:28,240 Speaker 2: the capacity that's out there. I think you're starting to 573 00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:30,520 Speaker 2: see a little more of a balance, I think it. 574 00:30:30,680 --> 00:30:33,760 Speaker 2: You know, you're starting to see some capacity change. What 575 00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:35,880 Speaker 2: do your lot of your finance companies, your banks and 576 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:37,960 Speaker 2: all didn't bring it, didn't pull equipment back the last 577 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:39,560 Speaker 2: couple of years because what were they going to do 578 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:41,280 Speaker 2: with it. They wouldn't they weren't going to be able 579 00:30:41,320 --> 00:30:43,200 Speaker 2: to move it. Now I think it's becoming a really 580 00:30:43,280 --> 00:30:45,960 Speaker 2: challenging time because this equipment's getting some age on it, 581 00:30:46,080 --> 00:30:47,600 Speaker 2: and even if they would take it back, what what 582 00:30:47,800 --> 00:30:49,520 Speaker 2: are they going to do with it? You know, the 583 00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:54,160 Speaker 2: value has dropped significantly. So it's it's really been a really, 584 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:59,960 Speaker 2: really difficult market and unfortunately, unfortunately for the for the carriers, 585 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:03,080 Speaker 2: they're really good operators in this business, they haven't been 586 00:31:03,080 --> 00:31:05,880 Speaker 2: able to run inflationary costs you mentioned in Schwortz earlier, 587 00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:10,000 Speaker 2: and in shorts rates have gone up significantly, Equipment costs 588 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:13,840 Speaker 2: have gone up significantly, Labor costs went up significantly during COVID. 589 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:16,960 Speaker 2: I mean, it's just so they've been facing this headwind 590 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:20,680 Speaker 2: of costs and unfortunately not being able to recover what 591 00:31:20,800 --> 00:31:23,360 Speaker 2: they need to in a marketplace from a rape perspective. 592 00:31:23,720 --> 00:31:26,080 Speaker 2: I know that's not very encouraging, but that's kind of 593 00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:28,040 Speaker 2: the lay of the land. And you know, I guess 594 00:31:28,280 --> 00:31:31,080 Speaker 2: I would just say this, most of these cycles lead 595 00:31:31,200 --> 00:31:33,600 Speaker 2: you probably know this better than I do, but normally 596 00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:36,160 Speaker 2: run about eighteen months. I mean, like I said, we're 597 00:31:36,160 --> 00:31:39,200 Speaker 2: sitting here looking at about a three year period. So 598 00:31:39,640 --> 00:31:41,400 Speaker 2: the good news is if we come out of this thing, 599 00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:42,560 Speaker 2: you would like to think we're going to have a 600 00:31:42,600 --> 00:31:45,080 Speaker 2: pretty good run at it. For a while. So that's 601 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:45,480 Speaker 2: the hope. 602 00:31:45,720 --> 00:31:49,160 Speaker 1: Well, let's hope. So, so are there certain sub segments 603 00:31:49,480 --> 00:31:53,280 Speaker 1: of your members that are doing better than others or 604 00:31:53,520 --> 00:31:57,960 Speaker 1: that are I guess doing less worse? I guess better 605 00:31:58,040 --> 00:32:02,680 Speaker 1: is the wrong word. From a demand standpoint. 606 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:06,600 Speaker 2: You know, I think the all the segments have been challenged. 607 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:10,160 Speaker 2: If there's one probably doing better than another, I would 608 00:32:10,160 --> 00:32:13,080 Speaker 2: probably have to say it's probably your tanker fleet have 609 00:32:13,320 --> 00:32:16,560 Speaker 2: probably you know, been able to hold around really pretty well. 610 00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:21,160 Speaker 2: Next next in line might be flatbed, but but certainly 611 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:23,800 Speaker 2: drive in and refrigerated has really has really struggled. 612 00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:27,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, well that's I don't know, like that's interesting. So 613 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:31,400 Speaker 1: the refrigerated standpoint, you know, I guess like high level. 614 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:35,520 Speaker 1: I would think that's more defensive stuff like food and medicine. 615 00:32:36,440 --> 00:32:39,040 Speaker 1: Do you do you know what's driving the weakness and 616 00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:42,880 Speaker 1: the temperature controlled? You know, I really don't. 617 00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:47,040 Speaker 2: We're we're the only trucking association that has any a 618 00:32:47,160 --> 00:32:50,720 Speaker 2: refrigerated or temp controlled division. So we have a we 619 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:54,200 Speaker 2: have a really strong membership in the temp controlled area. 620 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:56,000 Speaker 2: We have a lot of a lot of those individuals 621 00:32:56,040 --> 00:32:59,680 Speaker 2: participated in our temperature control division and we just had 622 00:32:59,720 --> 00:33:03,440 Speaker 2: a had our meeting back in July and Colorado Springs, 623 00:33:03,640 --> 00:33:04,880 Speaker 2: and it was a lot of the same as you're 624 00:33:04,880 --> 00:33:06,800 Speaker 2: here with drive An. I mean, it's just it's it's 625 00:33:06,920 --> 00:33:10,240 Speaker 2: just demand, demand and and excess capacity. 626 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:13,560 Speaker 1: Got yeah, you know, outside of rates, you know, what 627 00:33:13,680 --> 00:33:18,120 Speaker 1: are the biggest challenges facing the trucking industry and your members? 628 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:22,280 Speaker 2: Well, you know you mentioned Capitol Hill earlier and we 629 00:33:22,840 --> 00:33:25,880 Speaker 2: rarely go over there without talking about truck parking, you know, 630 00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:28,560 Speaker 2: being an issue. You know, when you're in a when 631 00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:31,240 Speaker 2: you're in an industry where you have three point three 632 00:33:31,400 --> 00:33:34,560 Speaker 2: three point four million professional drivers are generations highways every 633 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:36,200 Speaker 2: day and you have three hundred and thirty thousand truck 634 00:33:36,240 --> 00:33:39,560 Speaker 2: parking spots, one for every eleven and it takes approximate 635 00:33:39,600 --> 00:33:41,320 Speaker 2: an hour to find a parking spot. It's a it's 636 00:33:41,360 --> 00:33:44,240 Speaker 2: a real problem, and especially a safe, well lit parking spot. 637 00:33:44,760 --> 00:33:46,640 Speaker 2: And you know, as we see the as we see 638 00:33:46,760 --> 00:33:52,760 Speaker 2: the the female professional drivers continue to grow in our industry, 639 00:33:53,240 --> 00:33:55,880 Speaker 2: that's becoming even even a greater issue. You know, they 640 00:33:55,920 --> 00:33:57,800 Speaker 2: have to have great they have to have good facilities, 641 00:33:57,840 --> 00:33:59,880 Speaker 2: not that our males don't. They do, they do as well, 642 00:34:00,440 --> 00:34:02,400 Speaker 2: but they've seemed to have adapted over the years. But 643 00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:07,200 Speaker 2: the quality save well lit with amenities of some kind 644 00:34:07,240 --> 00:34:09,400 Speaker 2: and chart porgy I think is really important. And then 645 00:34:09,480 --> 00:34:11,800 Speaker 2: on the flip side of that, you know, the challenge 646 00:34:11,880 --> 00:34:14,200 Speaker 2: is labor. I mean there's still and I know there's 647 00:34:14,239 --> 00:34:16,600 Speaker 2: a lot of there's a lot of conversation about this, 648 00:34:16,760 --> 00:34:18,920 Speaker 2: but you know it's rolled over into the tech world 649 00:34:19,480 --> 00:34:22,960 Speaker 2: and so even finding good quality technicians, a lot of 650 00:34:24,160 --> 00:34:26,840 Speaker 2: a lot of carriers that do their own maintenance and 651 00:34:27,160 --> 00:34:29,120 Speaker 2: companies that do maintenance for the carriers. I mean they've 652 00:34:29,160 --> 00:34:32,600 Speaker 2: transitioned to these vocational schools and bringing these individuals in 653 00:34:32,719 --> 00:34:36,000 Speaker 2: and really really train into this next generation of of 654 00:34:37,040 --> 00:34:40,320 Speaker 2: of technicians for our industry. So TCA we have we 655 00:34:40,400 --> 00:34:43,439 Speaker 2: have a scholarship program. We gave out about one hundred 656 00:34:43,440 --> 00:34:45,879 Speaker 2: and sixty five thousand dollars in scholarships this past year, 657 00:34:46,520 --> 00:34:48,799 Speaker 2: and we've just this was the first year that we've 658 00:34:48,880 --> 00:34:51,879 Speaker 2: transitioned to not only undergraduate degrees, but also two year 659 00:34:51,920 --> 00:34:54,800 Speaker 2: degrees as well to try to get into that vocational area. 660 00:34:55,080 --> 00:34:57,480 Speaker 2: So if you're a if you're a family member of 661 00:34:57,560 --> 00:35:00,520 Speaker 2: one of the TCA member companies, you're so dr daughter 662 00:35:00,600 --> 00:35:04,200 Speaker 2: can submit for some financial assistance to our scholarship program. 663 00:35:04,400 --> 00:35:06,000 Speaker 2: But I think that's going to continue to grow, and 664 00:35:06,080 --> 00:35:09,640 Speaker 2: I think I think workforce challenges are going to continue 665 00:35:09,680 --> 00:35:11,840 Speaker 2: to confront our industry, you. 666 00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:14,640 Speaker 1: Know, outside of you know, you know, as you mentioned 667 00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:17,880 Speaker 1: finding more parking spaces and creating more parking spaces for 668 00:35:18,000 --> 00:35:20,880 Speaker 1: the industry and you know, better facilities, whether it's for 669 00:35:21,000 --> 00:35:24,520 Speaker 1: men or women. What can the industry do to make trucking, 670 00:35:25,239 --> 00:35:28,959 Speaker 1: you know, driving a truck more appealing for people looking 671 00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:29,960 Speaker 1: to join a trade. 672 00:35:31,040 --> 00:35:33,759 Speaker 2: Well, I do think I still think of the one 673 00:35:33,800 --> 00:35:36,640 Speaker 2: of the great opportunities is to be able to allow 674 00:35:36,719 --> 00:35:39,120 Speaker 2: the industry to bring eighteen year olds into the industry 675 00:35:39,200 --> 00:35:42,040 Speaker 2: sooner and allow us to be able to train them, 676 00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:44,719 Speaker 2: get into the high schools, start working with them, so 677 00:35:44,920 --> 00:35:46,640 Speaker 2: you know, it's not a second career, that it's a 678 00:35:46,680 --> 00:35:49,640 Speaker 2: first career, and it's a very rewarding first career for 679 00:35:49,719 --> 00:35:52,640 Speaker 2: those individuals as long as they, you know, have an 680 00:35:52,640 --> 00:35:54,560 Speaker 2: opportunity to be able to start to understand it and 681 00:35:54,640 --> 00:35:57,480 Speaker 2: participate it at a very young age. And so you know, 682 00:35:58,040 --> 00:36:02,200 Speaker 2: just being able to drive intrast state with the truck 683 00:36:02,480 --> 00:36:05,239 Speaker 2: from eighteen to twenty years of age really needs to 684 00:36:05,280 --> 00:36:06,440 Speaker 2: be looked at it and it really needs to be 685 00:36:06,440 --> 00:36:07,920 Speaker 2: looked at with some good common sense. So I'm not 686 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:10,719 Speaker 2: saying open up the open up the whole United States 687 00:36:10,800 --> 00:36:12,640 Speaker 2: to eighteen twenty year old twenty one year olds to 688 00:36:12,680 --> 00:36:16,080 Speaker 2: run interstate, but I'm saying, where it makes sense, you know, 689 00:36:16,200 --> 00:36:18,960 Speaker 2: let's do that. So where we were headquartered a DMBU 690 00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:21,880 Speaker 2: and incorporated along the Interstate eighty one, that the twelve 691 00:36:21,920 --> 00:36:23,920 Speaker 2: miles stretch of interstate any one that runs from West 692 00:36:23,960 --> 00:36:26,759 Speaker 2: Virginia to Pennsylvania. So I could run an individual on 693 00:36:27,120 --> 00:36:29,600 Speaker 2: you know, up and down from Hagerstown, Maryland or Westport, 694 00:36:29,640 --> 00:36:32,640 Speaker 2: Maryland to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. But I couldn't run them up 695 00:36:32,680 --> 00:36:35,880 Speaker 2: north of the Pennsylvania line, and I couldn't run them 696 00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:38,239 Speaker 2: south down to West Virginia to Martinsburg or what have you. 697 00:36:38,520 --> 00:36:40,600 Speaker 2: But I could run them down Interstate seventy to Baltimore 698 00:36:40,640 --> 00:36:41,960 Speaker 2: and run them through the Ton one and run them 699 00:36:41,960 --> 00:36:45,120 Speaker 2: in in this inner city Baltimore all day long. So Lee, 700 00:36:45,400 --> 00:36:47,600 Speaker 2: it just you know, it's one of those things. Again. 701 00:36:48,560 --> 00:36:50,959 Speaker 2: Things are adopted and it makes sense at the time, 702 00:36:51,280 --> 00:36:53,120 Speaker 2: but sometimes you need to step back away from and 703 00:36:53,200 --> 00:36:55,440 Speaker 2: start to figure out, Okay, now, what could just look 704 00:36:55,520 --> 00:36:57,279 Speaker 2: like what should it look like, how do we gain 705 00:36:57,320 --> 00:36:59,279 Speaker 2: the efficiencies out of it, how do we make sure 706 00:36:59,280 --> 00:37:02,160 Speaker 2: it we're safe, but introduce these individuals into an industry 707 00:37:02,160 --> 00:37:03,920 Speaker 2: where they're going to be able to have a great livelihood. 708 00:37:04,760 --> 00:37:05,160 Speaker 2: Got ya? 709 00:37:05,800 --> 00:37:08,520 Speaker 1: And you know, is there anything else facing the freight 710 00:37:09,520 --> 00:37:12,239 Speaker 1: transportational justics industry that's on your radar that we might 711 00:37:12,320 --> 00:37:13,080 Speaker 1: have not talked about. 712 00:37:13,440 --> 00:37:17,320 Speaker 2: Well, you know, I think there's there's a number of 713 00:37:17,360 --> 00:37:19,600 Speaker 2: different challenges out there. These MC numbers is a real 714 00:37:19,680 --> 00:37:23,920 Speaker 2: issue going back to freight theft and load load theft. 715 00:37:24,000 --> 00:37:26,960 Speaker 2: And we had Ken Riddle and with FMCSA here just 716 00:37:27,080 --> 00:37:29,920 Speaker 2: recently providing our members and overview of some of the 717 00:37:30,040 --> 00:37:32,640 Speaker 2: changes that they're making internally to be able to track 718 00:37:33,080 --> 00:37:35,200 Speaker 2: MC numbers. But that's just new entrants. I mean, we 719 00:37:35,360 --> 00:37:37,680 Speaker 2: need that for everybody that's involved that hasn't an MC 720 00:37:37,840 --> 00:37:40,880 Speaker 2: number or dot number to make absolutely sure that you know, 721 00:37:41,160 --> 00:37:44,240 Speaker 2: theft isn't taking place, somebody's MC number isn't being stolen 722 00:37:44,320 --> 00:37:46,880 Speaker 2: and freight being moved by somebody else, and then the 723 00:37:46,960 --> 00:37:50,200 Speaker 2: company that's you know, responsible for not getting paid. So 724 00:37:50,600 --> 00:37:54,640 Speaker 2: that's that again continues to be a real, real challenge 725 00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:56,920 Speaker 2: for the industry and a real opportunity. And then one 726 00:37:56,920 --> 00:37:58,840 Speaker 2: of the things that I'm really proud of and happy 727 00:37:58,880 --> 00:38:00,800 Speaker 2: to see from the Trump administry is the fact that 728 00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:04,839 Speaker 2: you know, I think we've we've finally silenced a little 729 00:38:04,840 --> 00:38:07,759 Speaker 2: bit of the independent contractor model. The independent contractor model 730 00:38:07,760 --> 00:38:10,239 Speaker 2: seems to be live and well, and the Trump administration 731 00:38:10,320 --> 00:38:12,480 Speaker 2: seems to support it. Where you know, we were under 732 00:38:12,520 --> 00:38:15,759 Speaker 2: some challenges under the previous administration as we as we 733 00:38:15,880 --> 00:38:19,040 Speaker 2: looked at the independent contractor So we're really happy to 734 00:38:19,120 --> 00:38:22,040 Speaker 2: see that, you know, we're back on good for good 735 00:38:22,560 --> 00:38:24,960 Speaker 2: footing with the Department of Labor, and the independent contractor 736 00:38:25,000 --> 00:38:29,040 Speaker 2: models is still being looked at and understood that that's 737 00:38:29,080 --> 00:38:31,080 Speaker 2: how a lot of these people in this industry got started, 738 00:38:31,320 --> 00:38:33,359 Speaker 2: you know, one person, one truck, and from there they 739 00:38:33,719 --> 00:38:35,600 Speaker 2: grew into a small fleet and then a larger fleet. 740 00:38:35,680 --> 00:38:39,080 Speaker 2: And so protecting the integrity of that independent contractor model 741 00:38:39,120 --> 00:38:40,840 Speaker 2: for the for our industry is really important. 742 00:38:41,560 --> 00:38:43,680 Speaker 1: So, you know, in the beginning of the conversation, you 743 00:38:43,840 --> 00:38:48,480 Speaker 1: mentioned you found trucking through the rail industry. What made 744 00:38:48,520 --> 00:38:50,279 Speaker 1: you get into the rail industry? I guess you know, 745 00:38:50,400 --> 00:38:54,440 Speaker 1: how did you really start your journey within the freight markets? 746 00:38:55,480 --> 00:38:58,080 Speaker 2: Well, unlike most people you talk about. I had absolutely 747 00:38:58,120 --> 00:39:01,440 Speaker 2: no family member that was a railroad. I just happened 748 00:39:01,480 --> 00:39:03,439 Speaker 2: to leave a college one day and take a friend 749 00:39:03,480 --> 00:39:06,439 Speaker 2: of mine to a career fair and he was looking 750 00:39:06,480 --> 00:39:08,759 Speaker 2: for a job pretty heavily. I wasn't. And I was 751 00:39:08,800 --> 00:39:11,640 Speaker 2: standing up a side of a recruiter for the Western 752 00:39:11,680 --> 00:39:14,600 Speaker 2: Maryland Railroad who started encouraging me and ask me what 753 00:39:14,680 --> 00:39:16,920 Speaker 2: I'm gonna seal with my life after school, and I 754 00:39:16,920 --> 00:39:18,360 Speaker 2: said I'm not sure. He said, well, why don't you 755 00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:20,520 Speaker 2: fill out an application while you're standing here? And he 756 00:39:20,680 --> 00:39:23,320 Speaker 2: finally convinced me to do so. And you knows, as 757 00:39:23,360 --> 00:39:25,239 Speaker 2: the story goes, the rest is history. I've told a 758 00:39:25,280 --> 00:39:27,560 Speaker 2: lot of people lee and speaking engagements around the country 759 00:39:27,600 --> 00:39:30,239 Speaker 2: that I've I've had the opportunity to provide over the years. 760 00:39:30,280 --> 00:39:32,160 Speaker 2: But I started out as a little boy playing with 761 00:39:32,239 --> 00:39:33,799 Speaker 2: trains and trucks that I've made a living with him 762 00:39:33,800 --> 00:39:35,359 Speaker 2: my whole life. So it's been it's been great. 763 00:39:35,600 --> 00:39:39,200 Speaker 1: Well that's fantastic, you know. And and talking about your career, 764 00:39:39,360 --> 00:39:43,640 Speaker 1: I understand you're you're gonna be retiring from the TCA soon. 765 00:39:45,080 --> 00:39:48,120 Speaker 2: Well, that is correct. We did make an announcement at 766 00:39:48,160 --> 00:39:52,160 Speaker 2: the board meeting in DC here two weeks ago that 767 00:39:52,960 --> 00:39:56,920 Speaker 2: I will be transitioning out of the TCA. I'll be 768 00:39:57,000 --> 00:39:59,360 Speaker 2: seventy in November, just so you know. And when I 769 00:39:59,400 --> 00:40:01,680 Speaker 2: stepped into the role four years ago, I stepped in 770 00:40:01,800 --> 00:40:05,360 Speaker 2: to phill. I was a chairman of TCI literally and 771 00:40:05,560 --> 00:40:08,879 Speaker 2: was retiring from DM Bowman Incorporated. And at that time, 772 00:40:08,960 --> 00:40:10,640 Speaker 2: an individual who was doing a really great job for 773 00:40:10,760 --> 00:40:13,320 Speaker 2: us had fallen really ill and decided that he was 774 00:40:13,360 --> 00:40:15,319 Speaker 2: going to step aside. And so I put a search 775 00:40:15,480 --> 00:40:17,960 Speaker 2: committee together and I was the head of the search committee. 776 00:40:18,000 --> 00:40:19,759 Speaker 2: I said, I felt a little bit like Dick Cheney 777 00:40:19,800 --> 00:40:21,440 Speaker 2: because the first thing, you know, everybody started to call 778 00:40:21,520 --> 00:40:23,319 Speaker 2: him in saying aren't you retired? Why don't you run 779 00:40:23,400 --> 00:40:25,360 Speaker 2: this thing for a while. So I had to recuse 780 00:40:25,440 --> 00:40:28,399 Speaker 2: myself from the search committee. But long story short, here 781 00:40:28,440 --> 00:40:31,080 Speaker 2: I am. It's been a wonderful opportunity for me and 782 00:40:31,160 --> 00:40:34,120 Speaker 2: my family. I tell everybody, hey, look, I'm you just 783 00:40:34,200 --> 00:40:36,360 Speaker 2: need to know I'm not saying this. This is this 784 00:40:36,520 --> 00:40:38,560 Speaker 2: may not be the final chapter for Jim Ward, but 785 00:40:38,680 --> 00:40:41,560 Speaker 2: for now it's my last full time final chapter. I 786 00:40:41,640 --> 00:40:43,799 Speaker 2: can assure you that right now. But it has been 787 00:40:43,840 --> 00:40:47,560 Speaker 2: a great experience. We have a great association, continue to 788 00:40:47,640 --> 00:40:52,880 Speaker 2: grow our membership, great great associate membership from industry suppliers, 789 00:40:53,000 --> 00:40:57,280 Speaker 2: and so everybody has been very supportive and very generous. 790 00:40:57,760 --> 00:41:00,360 Speaker 2: And I would just say that if you listen to 791 00:41:00,440 --> 00:41:03,720 Speaker 2: this and you're you're you're a quality individual that's interested 792 00:41:03,760 --> 00:41:07,520 Speaker 2: in the association world. Uh trupload president at gmail dot com, 793 00:41:07,680 --> 00:41:08,840 Speaker 2: send me a resume. 794 00:41:09,880 --> 00:41:14,759 Speaker 1: Okay. Uh So, what's the biggest thing you're going to 795 00:41:14,840 --> 00:41:19,879 Speaker 1: miss about your role at the TCAU once retirement takes hold? 796 00:41:21,080 --> 00:41:24,160 Speaker 2: Well, Lee, I think people I've heard people say this 797 00:41:24,320 --> 00:41:25,919 Speaker 2: most of my career, and there's a lot of truth 798 00:41:26,000 --> 00:41:28,160 Speaker 2: to it. You know, once you get diesel in your blood, 799 00:41:28,600 --> 00:41:30,480 Speaker 2: I'm not just sure there's any way to extract it. 800 00:41:31,080 --> 00:41:34,720 Speaker 2: And so and and through that process of having diesel 801 00:41:34,719 --> 00:41:37,200 Speaker 2: in your blood and and and working in the industry 802 00:41:37,320 --> 00:41:41,000 Speaker 2: and meeting and and be it introduced to a lot 803 00:41:41,080 --> 00:41:44,160 Speaker 2: of people, it's a great it's a great industry made 804 00:41:44,239 --> 00:41:46,279 Speaker 2: up of a of a lot of individuals. So my 805 00:41:46,360 --> 00:41:48,800 Speaker 2: wife and I both we've made a ton of friends, 806 00:41:49,719 --> 00:41:52,120 Speaker 2: learned a lot continue to learn. That's you know, that's 807 00:41:52,160 --> 00:41:54,040 Speaker 2: probably would be that that that could be the biggest 808 00:41:54,040 --> 00:41:56,640 Speaker 2: thing that I miss is I love to learn and 809 00:41:56,840 --> 00:41:59,759 Speaker 2: in this industry, even as as mature as it is, 810 00:42:00,320 --> 00:42:03,200 Speaker 2: continues to evolve. I've told I told our board of 811 00:42:03,239 --> 00:42:06,840 Speaker 2: directors at TCA, you know, I always say, you know, 812 00:42:07,560 --> 00:42:08,960 Speaker 2: some of them want to see you say and some 813 00:42:09,080 --> 00:42:10,440 Speaker 2: of them, even though they haven't said this till we 814 00:42:10,440 --> 00:42:12,439 Speaker 2: probably want to see you go. But that being said, 815 00:42:12,440 --> 00:42:14,319 Speaker 2: if I was twenty years younger, I'd be standing here 816 00:42:14,719 --> 00:42:16,680 Speaker 2: explain and why you know I should still be the 817 00:42:16,760 --> 00:42:20,399 Speaker 2: one individual running this association because looking at it over 818 00:42:20,440 --> 00:42:23,200 Speaker 2: the next twenty years, in the transformation that this industry 819 00:42:23,239 --> 00:42:24,840 Speaker 2: is going to go through, I think it's going to 820 00:42:24,880 --> 00:42:26,680 Speaker 2: be pretty amazing and I think we're going to see 821 00:42:26,680 --> 00:42:28,279 Speaker 2: some of the best times we've ever seen it. So 822 00:42:28,840 --> 00:42:29,920 Speaker 2: I'm sorry I'm going to miss that. 823 00:42:30,239 --> 00:42:31,960 Speaker 1: Well, the industry is going to miss you too, and 824 00:42:32,320 --> 00:42:36,719 Speaker 1: probably you know, especially your I have advocacy that you've 825 00:42:36,760 --> 00:42:40,680 Speaker 1: done over the years, whether it's as a CEO of 826 00:42:40,960 --> 00:42:44,520 Speaker 1: a trucking company or there at the TCA, So you know, 827 00:42:45,000 --> 00:42:48,960 Speaker 1: that's very commendable. You know, this is something I always 828 00:42:49,000 --> 00:42:51,480 Speaker 1: like to ask my guests towards the end. You know, 829 00:42:52,360 --> 00:42:55,400 Speaker 1: do you have a favorite book about the transportation industry 830 00:42:55,520 --> 00:42:57,400 Speaker 1: or leadership that's kind of close to your heart that 831 00:42:57,480 --> 00:42:57,919 Speaker 1: you've read. 832 00:42:58,440 --> 00:43:00,840 Speaker 2: Well, I don't know if it's about to transfer tation industry, 833 00:43:00,920 --> 00:43:04,880 Speaker 2: but and this may surprise you, but I'm a continuous 834 00:43:04,880 --> 00:43:08,600 Speaker 2: improvement guy, and early on in my career I was 835 00:43:09,040 --> 00:43:13,240 Speaker 2: tapped by a CEO and sent to a meeting in Orlando, 836 00:43:13,360 --> 00:43:17,879 Speaker 2: Florida for four days. And the facilitator of this meeting, 837 00:43:17,920 --> 00:43:20,239 Speaker 2: i'd heard the name, but I really wasn't familiar with him, 838 00:43:20,560 --> 00:43:24,120 Speaker 2: but it was W Verge Demo, and so I spent 839 00:43:24,239 --> 00:43:27,040 Speaker 2: four days in this meeting with a lot of mostly 840 00:43:27,080 --> 00:43:30,759 Speaker 2: the people were from NASA, learning about continuous improvement and 841 00:43:30,840 --> 00:43:33,480 Speaker 2: statistical process control, which I had to take twice in college. 842 00:43:34,000 --> 00:43:35,960 Speaker 2: And I do have to tell you it probably had 843 00:43:36,000 --> 00:43:38,279 Speaker 2: the greatest impact on my career of anything that I'd 844 00:43:38,320 --> 00:43:42,040 Speaker 2: ever participated in. And so anytime a new book comes out, 845 00:43:42,120 --> 00:43:44,600 Speaker 2: I just finished reading John Cotter's book on Change. I 846 00:43:44,719 --> 00:43:48,560 Speaker 2: know it came out right right after kind of after COVID, 847 00:43:49,000 --> 00:43:51,959 Speaker 2: but that's what I like, and I like reading about 848 00:43:52,040 --> 00:43:56,400 Speaker 2: businesses and the transformation of businesses and what make businesses ticked. 849 00:43:57,400 --> 00:43:59,239 Speaker 2: But I would tell you in that seminar with W 850 00:43:59,440 --> 00:44:01,880 Speaker 2: Verards Deming, was probably life changing. I went on to 851 00:44:01,920 --> 00:44:05,080 Speaker 2: read a lot about Joseph Duran. I had a chance 852 00:44:05,160 --> 00:44:08,239 Speaker 2: to meet one of one of Deming's individuals that he 853 00:44:08,400 --> 00:44:11,960 Speaker 2: basically had tutorly tutored, you know, along the way and 854 00:44:12,040 --> 00:44:14,840 Speaker 2: had consulted with General Motors and a number of different companies. 855 00:44:14,920 --> 00:44:17,520 Speaker 2: And so it's been it's been a great experience. And 856 00:44:17,560 --> 00:44:20,399 Speaker 2: I'm here to tell you that that philosophy and those 857 00:44:20,440 --> 00:44:23,480 Speaker 2: principles of continuous improvement tie into no matter what business 858 00:44:23,520 --> 00:44:27,200 Speaker 2: you're in, whether you're in transportation, financial services. I mean it, 859 00:44:28,080 --> 00:44:32,520 Speaker 2: there's a lot of truth that can be applied from 860 00:44:32,680 --> 00:44:36,319 Speaker 2: learning from individuals like w. Evers and Deming, Joseph Duran 861 00:44:36,400 --> 00:44:39,360 Speaker 2: and some of those individuals that is truly applicable to 862 00:44:39,440 --> 00:44:40,520 Speaker 2: the business world still today. 863 00:44:40,800 --> 00:44:45,600 Speaker 1: Absolutely, And before I let you go, does does TCA 864 00:44:45,800 --> 00:44:48,480 Speaker 1: have any like major events and conferences that are holds 865 00:44:48,480 --> 00:44:49,120 Speaker 1: throughout the year. 866 00:44:50,360 --> 00:44:53,560 Speaker 2: Matter of fact, we do our annual meeting, which will 867 00:44:53,560 --> 00:44:56,560 Speaker 2: probably be my swan song is February twenty eighth to 868 00:44:56,680 --> 00:45:01,400 Speaker 2: March third. It'll be at the Gaylord in Kissimmi, Florida, 869 00:45:01,480 --> 00:45:04,680 Speaker 2: Kissing Me Florida. So that's our next opportunity. And then 870 00:45:04,680 --> 00:45:07,560 Speaker 2: if you're in Canada. We have a Bridging Barrier Boarding 871 00:45:07,840 --> 00:45:11,960 Speaker 2: Borders meeting we hold every year for our Canadian members 872 00:45:12,440 --> 00:45:16,480 Speaker 2: up in Canada, and that is going to be November. 873 00:45:18,360 --> 00:45:20,480 Speaker 2: I'm not sure if it's Nathan. I go to the 874 00:45:20,719 --> 00:45:26,000 Speaker 2: go to GCA's website. It's truckload dot org and you'll 875 00:45:26,000 --> 00:45:27,320 Speaker 2: be able to see all the events that we have 876 00:45:27,440 --> 00:45:30,160 Speaker 2: coming up. So really appreciate you asking Lee, And if 877 00:45:30,160 --> 00:45:32,280 Speaker 2: anybody who's out and takes a look and has any questions, 878 00:45:32,360 --> 00:45:35,120 Speaker 2: why please don't hesitate to reach out to me or 879 00:45:35,120 --> 00:45:36,520 Speaker 2: one of the stampup. We'd be happy to talk to you. 880 00:45:36,960 --> 00:45:39,080 Speaker 1: All right. Thank you so much, Jim for your time 881 00:45:39,120 --> 00:45:40,920 Speaker 1: and insights today. I really appreciate it. 882 00:45:41,840 --> 00:45:44,400 Speaker 2: You as well, Lee anytime. I certainly appreciate all Bloomberg 883 00:45:44,480 --> 00:45:46,920 Speaker 2: does for our industry as well, So thank you very much, and. 884 00:45:47,080 --> 00:45:48,880 Speaker 1: I want to thank you for tuning in. If you 885 00:45:49,080 --> 00:45:52,200 Speaker 1: liked the episode, please subscribe and leave a review. We've 886 00:45:52,239 --> 00:45:54,200 Speaker 1: lined up a number of great guests for the podcast, 887 00:45:54,280 --> 00:45:59,120 Speaker 1: so please check back to hear conversations with C suite executives, shippers, regulators, 888 00:45:59,160 --> 00:46:02,160 Speaker 1: and decision maker within the freight markets. Also, you want 889 00:46:02,160 --> 00:46:05,239 Speaker 1: to learn more about freight transportation. Check out our work 890 00:46:05,400 --> 00:46:08,399 Speaker 1: on the Bloomberg Terminal at Bigo and on social media. 891 00:46:08,800 --> 00:46:11,479 Speaker 1: This is Lee Clascal siding Off and thanks for talking 892 00:46:11,560 --> 00:46:14,120 Speaker 1: transports with me. Talk to you next week. Bye,