1 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:10,320 Speaker 1: I want to welcome to Bloomberg Intelligence Talking Transports Podcast. 2 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Leek Glasgow, Senior Freight Transportation Logistic extend. 3 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: Let's at Bloomberg Intelligence, Bloomberg's in house research arm before 4 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: diving in a little public a service announcement. Your support 5 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 1: is instrumental to keep bringing great guests on the podcast, 6 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: like the one we have today. If you haven't already, 7 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 1: please do take a moment to follow, rate and share 8 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: the Talking Transports Podcast. We appreciate your support. I'm very 9 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 1: excited to have Chris Spear, President and Chief executive Officer 10 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 1: of the American Trucking Associations. He serves on the board 11 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 1: of directors for the American Transportation Research Institute, Trucking Cares Foundation, 12 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 1: and the Luisa Swain Foundation. Chris has held a number 13 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:53,200 Speaker 1: of positions in government affairs at the ATA FUNDI Motor Company, 14 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: and Honeywell International. He also served in the US federal 15 00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 1: government as Deputy Representative for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. 16 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: Prior to this, he was nominated by President George W. 17 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 1: Bush and unanimously confirmed by the US Senate as the 18 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 1: Assistant Secretary of Labor for Policy During his appointment, he 19 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:18,120 Speaker 1: was the President's Senior Advisor the Iraqi Ministry of Labor, 20 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 1: commissioner on the President's Mental Health Commission, and Executive Committee. 21 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: Member of the US Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. 22 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: Before his nomination, Chris worked as a professional staffer in 23 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: the US Senate. He's also a graduate of the Honeywell 24 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: Executive Development Program, a recipient of Honeywell's Premier Achievement Award, 25 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 1: and was awarded the US Department of Defense Joint Civilian 26 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: Service Medal. Heilt to master's and Boucher's degree from the 27 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: University of Wyoming. So, go Pokes. Is that right? 28 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 2: All right? 29 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 1: Go Pokes? Welcome to the podcast. 30 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 2: Chris, great to have you, Thanks Lee for having me on. 31 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 1: Well, I know what the American Trucking Associations does. Could 32 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 1: you let our listener know what your organizations all about. 33 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, we're ninety two years in. I'm the ninth person 34 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 2: to lead it as the President and CEO, and it 35 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 2: really is a privilege to go to work each day 36 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:17,799 Speaker 2: and give purpose and a voice to the thirty three 37 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 2: thousand plus members of the ATA and it's fifty state 38 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 2: Federation of State Trucking associations, and that voice is extraordinarily 39 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:31,240 Speaker 2: important lee as we're moving seventy two and a half 40 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 2: percent of the domestic freight in the United States. One 41 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 2: in eighteen jobs in the US is trucking. The top 42 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 2: job in twenty nine states is trucking, and that stems 43 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 2: from eight to half million people supporting our industry and 44 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:48,359 Speaker 2: everything that you and I eat drank where it came 45 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,360 Speaker 2: off a truck. And there's a really hard working, patriotic 46 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 2: part of our person and part of our industry that 47 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 2: made that happen, and we give them a voice, We 48 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:02,079 Speaker 2: give them the ability to to be taken into account 49 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 2: when big decisions are made, whether they be in the 50 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 2: House or Senate here in Washington, one of our regulatory agencies, 51 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 2: or in state houses by governors and elected state legislatures. 52 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 2: So we're very involved in shaping outcomes that are beneficial 53 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 2: not just to our industry and our customers, but the 54 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:22,600 Speaker 2: economy as a whole. And when you're rood with that 55 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 2: much freightly, it makes a difference. We are generally the 56 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 2: first to feel it when inflation is a factor. You know, 57 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 2: these are these are indicators that our industry is very 58 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:37,240 Speaker 2: familiar with. And so there are a number of issues 59 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 2: going into this new administration that are very very relevant 60 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 2: to us directly and indirectly. And ATA is there to 61 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 2: make certain that we're at the table and that those 62 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 2: outcomes are are forward leaning and not adversarial. Right. 63 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: And I'd like to tip my hat to all the 64 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 1: men and women out there in the driving trucks right 65 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 1: now for us, because as you mentioned, Chris, they are 66 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 1: very important only to our economy, but to our to 67 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: our daily lives. So thank you for all the sacrifices 68 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,119 Speaker 1: that you make because a lot of those folks don't 69 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 1: get to go home every night to see their family. 70 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 1: They're on the road for days and weeks at a time, 71 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 1: So appreciate that. So on the ATA, so you know, 72 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 1: we have a new administration coming into the office in 73 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 1: a couple of days here as we're reporting this, you know, 74 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: can you just talk about, you know, what are the 75 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: biggest priorities for the ATA with this new administration? Has 76 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:31,839 Speaker 1: that changed, you know, maybe maybe let us know, you know, 77 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 1: what are the most important things the ATA is working 78 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 1: on behalf of the industry. 79 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 2: Well, I think two things up front are important to 80 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 2: note is that we we regularly pulse our members to 81 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 2: ensure that we really have a real time understanding of 82 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 2: the pressures they face each and every day in the 83 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:53,039 Speaker 2: real world. Washington, not unbelievably is the real world. We 84 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 2: do not have a general understanding of you know, those 85 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:58,360 Speaker 2: folks that don't go home every night that you just mentioned. 86 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:02,720 Speaker 2: We need to really take that perspective regularly into account 87 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 2: and prioritize those issues accordingly. And then second to that 88 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:12,839 Speaker 2: is then it really becomes questioning not really what we want, 89 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 2: but what we can get, and that varies from administration 90 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 2: to administration. Who controls the House and Senate, these are 91 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 2: all factors that determine where those priorities are ranked, the 92 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 2: strategies we adopt and implement to create those outcomes. So 93 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 2: obviously a major shift from the Biden administration, you know, 94 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 2: to the Trump administration the second round here in Washington. 95 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:43,239 Speaker 2: But also in addition to a Republican majority in the House, 96 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:46,359 Speaker 2: you have a Republican majority in the Senate. So the 97 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:50,239 Speaker 2: ability over the next two years to take a different 98 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 2: approach is something that at is going to be not 99 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 2: only mindful of, but very engaged in. So, yeah, a 100 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:01,159 Speaker 2: landscape that has shifted dramatically in the last three months, 101 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 2: and I believe it is our responsibility to not only 102 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:07,480 Speaker 2: understand that environment, to be able to navigate it successfully 103 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 2: is really key to our success. 104 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 1: Now, are there certain policies that their Republican Party might 105 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:19,840 Speaker 1: be a little more You know, I guess sympathetic to 106 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 1: the ata's positions. 107 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 2: I think we're going to see a different approach taken 108 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,159 Speaker 2: on several of our key issues. I'd say the leading 109 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 2: issue that we're going to spend the lion's share of 110 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 2: time on, the one that keeps me up mostly at night, 111 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 2: is the emissions. This mad dash to zero that the 112 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:46,360 Speaker 2: Biden administration essentially four footed its jurisdiction nationally to California, 113 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 2: mainly the California Air Resources Board, unlected board of bureaucrats 114 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 2: that have never, in my opinion, worked a hard days 115 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:58,480 Speaker 2: paying their life. They do not understand a cashalist statement. 116 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 2: They've never had to make a quarter, they never had 117 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 2: to hire and fire people. They do not understand business, 118 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 2: and more importantly, they do not understand where the everyday goods, 119 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 2: the things they eat, drink, the medications they take. They 120 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 2: don't seem to appreciate or understand that it is our 121 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 2: industry that serves as the glue of the economy and 122 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:27,239 Speaker 2: providing consumers Californians, you know those essentials, and that's relevant 123 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 2: in every fifty state, not just California. But Biden administration 124 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 2: knew that California could go much faster and avoid a 125 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 2: lot of the entanglements that would occur if the EPA 126 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 2: were to lead nationally, and by handing California the keys, 127 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 2: we have compliance now on movement basically retirement of our 128 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 2: existing and future fleet of low A meeting diesel equipment 129 00:07:52,960 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 2: to electric commercial vehicles or alternative commercial vehicles, but mainly electric. 130 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 2: That's the emphasis, and a timeline and a target that 131 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:07,680 Speaker 2: is simply unachievable. There is absolutely It's not whether we 132 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 2: want to do it, it's just not feasible. There are 133 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 2: not enough manufactured equipment available to service not just California, 134 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 2: the fourth largest economy in the world, but the entire country. 135 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 2: They're three times more expensive than a brand new diesel. 136 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:29,200 Speaker 2: It takes six to eight hours to charge these vehicles 137 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 2: to go roughly two hundred miles. A diesel takes fifteen 138 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 2: minutes to go twelve hundred miles. By comparisons, the operational 139 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 2: parody is completely in disconnect. Obviously, the infrastructure is not 140 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 2: in place to charge the power on the grids not available. 141 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:49,960 Speaker 2: Even if it were, we aren't sourcing these materials for 142 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 2: the batteries outside of China or the Congo. So these 143 00:08:54,440 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 2: are all major, major marketed peditents realities. It's not believe 144 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:03,800 Speaker 2: that has to be addressed before you can move forward 145 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:08,679 Speaker 2: with an industry like ours adopting that type of alternative equipment. 146 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 2: So that'll be in the forefront. I think the Trump 147 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 2: administration is going to take a very very different approach 148 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:19,959 Speaker 2: to this, that's much more common sense driven timelines, targets 149 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 2: that are achievable, and in most instances they're they're they're 150 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 2: going to take the reins, they're going to lead, They're 151 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:29,199 Speaker 2: they're not going to concede that to the state of California. 152 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 2: It's not the United States of California, it's American. I 153 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:36,599 Speaker 2: really believe that the Trump administration will be very proactive 154 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:41,280 Speaker 2: and not only you know, ushering in good environmental stewardship, 155 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:44,080 Speaker 2: but doing it in a way that's achievable without not 156 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:48,080 Speaker 2: only bankrupting our industry putting us out of business, but 157 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 2: you know, taking food and and essentials off the shell 158 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 2: for our consumers Americans around the country. So that's probably 159 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:59,719 Speaker 2: number one. I'd say labor access to talent. We have 160 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 2: a driver shortage of around seventy thousand drivers. We really 161 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:06,560 Speaker 2: need to shore that up to grow when you're serving 162 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 2: seventy two and a half percent of the domestic freight. 163 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:11,400 Speaker 2: If you want to grow that, if you want to 164 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 2: move more freight, you're going to have to have more trucks. 165 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:18,840 Speaker 2: More trucks need more drivers. That simple. So putting unnecessary 166 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:24,960 Speaker 2: regulatory burdens the displace a ninety year old model of 167 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:28,959 Speaker 2: independent contractors. That's been an assault not just in California 168 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:32,559 Speaker 2: but by the current administration under acting Labor Secretary of 169 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 2: Julie Sue. So we need to see the Trump administration 170 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 2: change that environment, be more pro worker, pro choice, pro trucking, 171 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:44,320 Speaker 2: and that helps the economy as a result. And I'd 172 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:48,080 Speaker 2: say beyond that, the nuclear verdicts are an issue set 173 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 2: that will carry forward from a very very sympathetic Biden 174 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:55,440 Speaker 2: administration to the point of spar to a Trump administration 175 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 2: that is less concerned about chasing ambulances than it is 176 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 2: to you know, owning our to any accidents that are 177 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 2: our fault. We own those, those are our responsibility to 178 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:10,079 Speaker 2: make whole. But beyond that, purposely swaying juries on evidence 179 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 2: that had nothing to do with accidents involving our trucks. 180 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:17,920 Speaker 2: This is a gainmanship that's been implemented purposefully by the 181 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 2: plane of spar verdicts. You know, in excess of one 182 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 2: hundred million dollars are putting companies in jeopardy, if not 183 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 2: out of business, and thousands of people out of work 184 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 2: as a result. That is not in the interests of 185 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 2: anyone but trial lawyers. So I think this administration coming 186 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:40,480 Speaker 2: in Trump administration will be taking a much more common 187 00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:43,839 Speaker 2: sense approach to all three of these issues sets, and 188 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:45,960 Speaker 2: we welcome that because I think that that will be 189 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:49,440 Speaker 2: certainly good for the good for the economy as a whole. 190 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:54,079 Speaker 1: Right, And I guess on the you know, you were 191 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 1: talking about the emissions the EPA as news standards coming 192 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 1: in to affect twenty twenty seven. Do you think that 193 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 1: the Trump administration can and will maybe push those out? 194 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:08,360 Speaker 1: Do they have the ability to do that? 195 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 2: Yeah? I think a lot of these are driven by 196 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 2: California's timelines and within those requirements, targets that are unachievable. 197 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 2: Even our manufacturers say that these are completely you know, 198 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 2: the engineering capability, the innovation to hit these targets are impossible. Again, 199 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:29,120 Speaker 2: you know, bureaucrats and cubicles that have never worked or 200 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:33,200 Speaker 2: invented anything are are enforcing these without any discussions with 201 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 2: the industry, just basically saying, go do it. I think 202 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:41,080 Speaker 2: the Trump administration will revoke those waivers given by five 203 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 2: DPA to California, isolate California, mainly carb California Air Resources Board, 204 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:52,320 Speaker 2: and in doing so, I think California is going to 205 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 2: be under a tremendous amount of pressure to to you know, 206 00:12:56,880 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 2: curtail inflation to make certain that there are economy grows. 207 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 2: They're going to have to take their their their you know, 208 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:07,880 Speaker 2: basically their foot off the industry's throat. They're having a 209 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 2: lot of problems economically, I think within the within the state, 210 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 2: you know, our ability to serve over eighty percent of 211 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:20,480 Speaker 2: the communities in California alone depend on truck Putting trucks 212 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 2: off the road is not going to help their economy. 213 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:24,319 Speaker 2: So I think they're going to have to issue a 214 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 2: lot of waivers to their requirements, but isolating them and 215 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 2: not letting it spread to other states that generally tend 216 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:34,200 Speaker 2: to adopt California standards. Uh, that's an approach that I 217 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 2: could see the Trump administration taking and leading nationally. We 218 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 2: operate in all fifty states. It's not like we have 219 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 2: businesses that solely run in each state, crossing state lines 220 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 2: all the time, just like airplanes, just like rail just 221 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:53,080 Speaker 2: like ships. And we need to be able to operate 222 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:58,640 Speaker 2: seamlessly under one framework of regulatory requirements. And that harmony 223 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:01,440 Speaker 2: is something that I think not like preserves what we've 224 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 2: enjoyed since the birth of the country is something that 225 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:06,160 Speaker 2: the Trump administration will reinstate. 226 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, and just on the environmental aspect and the ev 227 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 1: aspect that I would recommend to our listeners you should 228 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 1: check out the first episode we ever did of the 229 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 1: Talking Transport. It's with the ata's old chairman, not old 230 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 1: because he's an old man, but he's past chairman, Andrew Boyle. 231 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 1: He talked about a lot about the differences and some 232 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 1: of the solutions in a very impassionate way. So I 233 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 1: would recommend that for anyone that wants to go back 234 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 1: and listen. So, you know, you mentioned, you know, driver 235 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 1: shortage earlier, what would the ATA like to see to 236 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:43,560 Speaker 1: curtail the driver shortage or to get to increase that pool, 237 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 1: because at the end of the day, you know, as 238 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 1: we mentioned at the onset of this episode, you know, 239 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 1: trucking is. 240 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 2: Not an easy job, and so there is a lot 241 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 2: of churn. 242 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:56,640 Speaker 1: When people get into the industry initially, you know, because 243 00:14:56,680 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 1: they come in and they have certain expectations and they 244 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 1: just the job to doesn't meet those expectations, and so, 245 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 1: you know, the first year there's a lot of churn. 246 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:09,960 Speaker 1: So how do you guys propose increasing that pool of 247 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 1: perspective folks that are that are looking to join a 248 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 1: trade like trucking. 249 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 2: Well, I think I think we we need to build 250 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:22,680 Speaker 2: awareness in communities, particularly that aren't familiar with trucking. We 251 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 2: don't move fifty three foot trailers or twenty twenty eights 252 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 2: in major metropolitan areas, you know, like like Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, 253 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 2: even Baltimore. These places are are including a whole host 254 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:40,000 Speaker 2: of you know, talent that could be you know, from 255 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 2: an early age to those that have you know, been unemployed, veterans, 256 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 2: exiting service people, women, Uh, there's a there's a whole 257 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 2: host of demographics within the workforce that we would like 258 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 2: to become more familiar with trucking, and I think urban 259 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:01,760 Speaker 2: environments are an area where we were of lacked awareness. 260 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 2: So I really think building that is going to be 261 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 2: essential in drawing more minorities, more women, more people who 262 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 2: are unemployed. You can make you a very decent living 263 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 2: with full benefits in our industry without a college degree 264 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 2: and all the debt that comes with it. So I 265 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 2: think looking at all those demographics, starting with eighteen to 266 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:25,080 Speaker 2: twenty year olds, where we're prohibited from recruiting those folks 267 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 2: to cross state lines by federal standards. Despite the fact 268 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 2: that forty nine out of fifty states allow an eighteen 269 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 2: year old to drive a Class eight, you just can't 270 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 2: cross state lines. That works pretty well in you know, Alaska, California, Texas, 271 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:41,280 Speaker 2: but if you're in Rhode Island you could drive thirty 272 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:44,240 Speaker 2: minutes in any direction and hit a state border. That's 273 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 2: not going to really help, right, So we need to 274 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 2: train young people properly, like we do in our military. 275 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 2: We send eighteen nineteen twenty year olds to go off 276 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:56,080 Speaker 2: and detect our freedom and do the unthinkable. I'm pretty 277 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 2: sure we could teach him how to responsibly operate a 278 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:04,159 Speaker 2: class eight across state lines. So training is key. Starting 279 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 2: I'm young is also essential in terms of keeping them 280 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:10,679 Speaker 2: in the industry long term. They will make a really, 281 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:13,840 Speaker 2: really good living, as I said, without that college degree 282 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 2: and all the debt that's ensued. I think anywhere where 283 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 2: we're working with veterans who are essentially in need of employment, 284 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:27,400 Speaker 2: A lot of times when people exit the military, they're 285 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,800 Speaker 2: lost in the etherarth we don't haven't made that connection already. 286 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:34,919 Speaker 2: This is where where veterans generally turn to, you know, 287 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:37,959 Speaker 2: substance abuse, homelessness. These are all things that are just 288 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:41,600 Speaker 2: they're tragic, the tragedies people are served our country. So 289 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:43,720 Speaker 2: we need to take care and make it certain that 290 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 2: we channel those folks toward good paying jobs. They can 291 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:49,040 Speaker 2: look up by zip code where they're going to be, 292 00:17:49,359 --> 00:17:51,680 Speaker 2: you know, living when they exit. To ensure that they're 293 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 2: already connected with an HR department, with a company and 294 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:57,280 Speaker 2: have a job as they severed. Make it certain that 295 00:17:57,280 --> 00:17:59,440 Speaker 2: they're not unemployed when they come out. These are all 296 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:02,600 Speaker 2: things that we can and do collectively with Apartments of 297 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:05,639 Speaker 2: Defense Veterans Affairs as well as the Apartment of Labor. 298 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 2: So we're going to be looking at that. I think women. 299 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:12,040 Speaker 2: We have an eight percent participation rate for drivers that 300 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 2: are female. Why is that. If you talk to women, 301 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 2: they will tell you that, you know, secure well, that 302 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:22,239 Speaker 2: truck parking is key. They don't feel safe getting out 303 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 2: of the truck. Who would blame them? I mean it 304 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:28,919 Speaker 2: is a very very difficult job in certain segments and 305 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 2: for long haul, particularly when you're out there on your own. 306 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:36,040 Speaker 2: We need truck parking. We have one on one space 307 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:39,439 Speaker 2: for every eleven drivers. They spend an average of fifty 308 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 2: six minutes a day looking for a truck parking spot. 309 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:48,480 Speaker 2: And that's lost wages of well over six thousand dollars 310 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:51,959 Speaker 2: a year coming out of their pocket looking for truck parking. 311 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:54,359 Speaker 2: And they're required by federal law to take that break. 312 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 2: So federal government, if they're going to do that, which 313 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 2: they should should rest, should also give them a place 314 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:02,240 Speaker 2: to do it, not on on and off ramps, not 315 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:09,320 Speaker 2: an insecure, poorly lit environments. And that will be a 316 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:14,399 Speaker 2: huge benefit to women joining the workforce. So we're going 317 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:16,040 Speaker 2: to be focused on that, and as I said, urban 318 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 2: environments as well, that you know, broaden the minority participation. 319 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:22,639 Speaker 2: We really want to get people familiar with trucks. They 320 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 2: don't see them downtown. We need to find ways to 321 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:30,640 Speaker 2: penetrate that that workforce pool, that talent pool. So these 322 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 2: are all things you have to do simultaneously to grow 323 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:37,639 Speaker 2: the pool of talent long term within the industry. And 324 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 2: then remove the regulatory agenda that caters to union bosses. 325 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 2: And I stress union bosses, they're not representing the working class. 326 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:51,960 Speaker 2: They're representing themselves and shedding the independent contractor model which 327 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 2: has been in place lead for ninety years. Talk to 328 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 2: an independent contractor, don't talk to me, don't talk to 329 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:03,399 Speaker 2: a union boss. Go to the independent contractor and ask them, 330 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:06,680 Speaker 2: why did you take this job? Well, I want seasonal work, 331 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 2: I want part time work, I have another job here, 332 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 2: whatever the reason, that's their choice. They decided that path. 333 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 2: Nobody put a gun to their head and forced them 334 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:19,880 Speaker 2: to do that for less pay or no benefits. And 335 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 2: the California AB five rule, the Biden Department of Labor 336 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 2: rule is intentionally meant to rode that choice and channel 337 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 2: people into labor unions. Now, I'm not anti labor unions. 338 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:35,640 Speaker 2: If you want to join a union, join a union, 339 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:38,840 Speaker 2: you should also have the right not to join a union, 340 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:43,919 Speaker 2: and that's because they are struggling to grow their membership, 341 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 2: so they're going to the federal government and states and 342 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 2: asking them to change the rules, basically the pro Act 343 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 2: that removes choice. So we got to get rid of 344 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:57,920 Speaker 2: that agenda and stop listening to people that are self serving, 345 00:20:58,359 --> 00:21:00,760 Speaker 2: start listening to the actual people that are doing the work, 346 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 2: and you'll find a growing environment where people want to 347 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:05,719 Speaker 2: be part of that. And that's, in my opinion, lead 348 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:06,760 Speaker 2: how you grow a workforce? 349 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:09,760 Speaker 1: Right, just I don't know if you know the answer 350 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 1: to this, but you know you're mentioning the fact, you know, 351 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:17,840 Speaker 1: which I always found interesting that to do interstate traffic 352 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:20,359 Speaker 1: you have to be twenty one years or older in 353 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:24,000 Speaker 1: the trucking industry. What has been the pushback of keeping 354 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:28,200 Speaker 1: that age so high and is do you know why 355 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 1: they came up with that number originally? 356 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:34,680 Speaker 2: I really don't have a good answer for how it 357 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 2: was put in place. I can tell you that forty 358 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:41,080 Speaker 2: nine out of fifty states. Obviously, why exclude it. You 359 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:44,800 Speaker 2: can't drive interesting farmers there without getting wet. But for 360 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:49,120 Speaker 2: the others, Alaska in the lower forty eight, you could 361 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:52,400 Speaker 2: drive a Class eight at AJT, and I'd never heard 362 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:57,120 Speaker 2: anyone who's opposed to it federally ever lobby or oppose 363 00:21:57,240 --> 00:22:00,600 Speaker 2: any of those forty eight nine states from implementing those laws. 364 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:03,399 Speaker 2: Now here's what's interesting is that what we're asking for 365 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:07,600 Speaker 2: to drive across state line is training. Actually four hundred 366 00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:11,959 Speaker 2: hours of training include two hundred forty hours with a 367 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:16,280 Speaker 2: skilled driver season driver in the cab with the eighteen 368 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:19,679 Speaker 2: to twenty year old, teaching them how to operate that 369 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 2: equipment safely and responsibly. There's not one of the forty 370 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:29,000 Speaker 2: nine that has any training or technology attached to their requirement, 371 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:32,479 Speaker 2: kind of loose, including California Clinting, you can drive from 372 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:35,119 Speaker 2: Retting down to San Diego and back as an eighteen 373 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 2: year old, no training, no technology on the tractor required. 374 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:43,920 Speaker 2: We're actually federally to cross state lines asking for four 375 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:47,480 Speaker 2: hundred hours. That's a step toward safety, Lee, that's not 376 00:22:47,520 --> 00:22:50,760 Speaker 2: a step away. So we feel that we're more than 377 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:55,679 Speaker 2: adequately addressing that shortfall that that claim in spades, And 378 00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:57,679 Speaker 2: not once did I hear those folks that are posing 379 00:22:57,680 --> 00:23:01,520 Speaker 2: it federally lobby against those date rules. They really want 380 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:05,119 Speaker 2: to attack safety, you know, attached training and technology in 381 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:07,680 Speaker 2: those fifty states. They're not doing that. We are, and 382 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:12,400 Speaker 2: so I really believe that this is a sensible, responsible 383 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 2: approach to safety and getting young people engaged in our industry. 384 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:20,720 Speaker 2: Long term, we're losing them to other trades. They're going 385 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:23,680 Speaker 2: into other trades where there be you know, other skills, 386 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:26,680 Speaker 2: and for those that wash out at twenty nine, thirty 387 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:30,040 Speaker 2: thirty one years old, then they come to us. That's 388 00:23:30,040 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 2: not right. We should be able to compete for the 389 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 2: same people that the electricians do, the roofers, the plumbers, 390 00:23:35,160 --> 00:23:37,399 Speaker 2: all the others. We should be able to compete for 391 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:40,679 Speaker 2: that same talent pool. And we believe this is a 392 00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:44,119 Speaker 2: law that Congress can put forward the dot and force 393 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:45,040 Speaker 2: that will do just. 394 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 1: You know, you mentioned maybe the more friendly environment that 395 00:23:50,600 --> 00:23:54,080 Speaker 1: a Trump administration might be for the trucking industry and 396 00:23:54,119 --> 00:23:57,000 Speaker 1: probably business as well. You know, some of the things 397 00:23:57,040 --> 00:23:59,440 Speaker 1: they talked about is being tough for an immigration with 398 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:01,240 Speaker 1: that having impact on the trucking. 399 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:04,840 Speaker 2: Industry at all, it can Yeah, I mean that is 400 00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:09,879 Speaker 2: a viable source of talent. We would argue for legal 401 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 2: immigration purely, and if you did follow that, there are 402 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:20,159 Speaker 2: some visa categories that could be very beneficial temporarily without 403 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:22,560 Speaker 2: displacing And I would really want to stress that because 404 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:25,960 Speaker 2: when you have a shortage of seventy thousand drivers bringing 405 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 2: in one year visa, which is currently available in the thousands, 406 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 2: not seventy thousand, but low thousands, maybe expanding that to 407 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:40,040 Speaker 2: a two year that they can operate and then go 408 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:43,560 Speaker 2: back home and reapply if they choose. But the two 409 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:46,120 Speaker 2: year is better for us because once they get familiar 410 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 2: with the work, then they're sent back, so a year 411 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 2: goes by really quick. So a two year would be 412 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:56,680 Speaker 2: a wonderful change that will temporarily shore up that shortage, 413 00:24:56,720 --> 00:25:00,719 Speaker 2: but more importantly, it wouldn't displace anyone. And that's been 414 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 2: an ongoing claim by the labor bosses. Oh you're putting 415 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:05,119 Speaker 2: all these people out. No we're not, No, we're not 416 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:08,480 Speaker 2: nowhere the autonomous vehicles. When you have a shortage of 417 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:13,000 Speaker 2: that size, you're looking for solutions that chip away at it, 418 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:17,040 Speaker 2: even if they're temporary like this would be, and it's 419 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:21,679 Speaker 2: not displacing anybody. That is an absolute ridiculous argument. So 420 00:25:22,040 --> 00:25:25,040 Speaker 2: I think it's a very sensible approach. But you know, 421 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:27,679 Speaker 2: suffice it to say, this is administration that's going to 422 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:31,720 Speaker 2: take a very hard stand against illegal immigration, shoring up 423 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:34,320 Speaker 2: the border, and I don't think they're going to get 424 00:25:34,359 --> 00:25:37,680 Speaker 2: to expanding legal immigration until a lot of that's put 425 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:40,320 Speaker 2: in place. And yeah, I think after the first second 426 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:43,840 Speaker 2: quarter of this year, we'll have a better opportunity to 427 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:47,600 Speaker 2: sit down and talk about the legal immigration changes that 428 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:51,880 Speaker 2: could be beneficial without putting any American workers out. 429 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 1: Of work, right you know. Also, you know this is 430 00:25:54,880 --> 00:26:01,040 Speaker 1: somewhat driver related with the legalization of marijuana and a 431 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:03,960 Speaker 1: lot of states, you know, the use of marijuana is 432 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:07,200 Speaker 1: still illegal from a federal standpoint, and therefore it's it's 433 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:11,600 Speaker 1: illegal for truck drivers to test positively for it. Do 434 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:15,200 Speaker 1: you guys support relaxing that law at all, or you're 435 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:18,720 Speaker 1: fine with the status quo, or would you rather like 436 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:21,480 Speaker 1: to take it a step further and try to mandate 437 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:25,320 Speaker 1: hair folical testing, which is a lot more rigorous than 438 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:26,760 Speaker 1: your analysis. 439 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:30,720 Speaker 2: It may surprise some people because it runs a foul 440 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:33,800 Speaker 2: of bringing more people into the industry, but we don't 441 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 2: want somebody that's impaired getting behind the wheel of an 442 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:40,080 Speaker 2: eighty thousand pound bans period. We're just not going to 443 00:26:40,160 --> 00:26:46,959 Speaker 2: sacrifice safety for displacing the shortage so that's that's obviously 444 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:52,399 Speaker 2: again ad burden is people want to use legally recreational 445 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:57,840 Speaker 2: marijuana and a dozen plus states Canada. It's putting a 446 00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:00,520 Speaker 2: lot of pressure on industries like ours that are regulated 447 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:06,200 Speaker 2: on substance abuse Federally. You cannot be impaired and operate 448 00:27:06,240 --> 00:27:09,640 Speaker 2: this equipment. And so there's this channel conflict between these 449 00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:15,399 Speaker 2: states Canada and our federal rules and it puts our 450 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:18,480 Speaker 2: industry sort of in the middle of it. And so 451 00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:21,520 Speaker 2: what is it? We have to constantly go to this 452 00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:24,639 Speaker 2: administration and again with the Trump administration coming back in 453 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:27,200 Speaker 2: as well as a new Congress, and really educate them 454 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:29,320 Speaker 2: on that do you really want people impair it behind 455 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:31,280 Speaker 2: the wheel of an eight thousand pounds vehicle. It's just 456 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:35,840 Speaker 2: a matter of time for you know, a major accident occurs. 457 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:38,480 Speaker 2: And I've made very clear to those that I've talked 458 00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:41,160 Speaker 2: to that one will be on you because we've been 459 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:44,840 Speaker 2: up here asking for more tools, hair, follicle testing, things 460 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:48,760 Speaker 2: that give you a better purview to opioids and dealing 461 00:27:48,760 --> 00:27:54,000 Speaker 2: with that crisis. You know, obviously beyond weed, you know, 462 00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:56,800 Speaker 2: drivers that want to drive longer, stay awake, they're going 463 00:27:56,840 --> 00:27:58,800 Speaker 2: to take something that's going to keep them awake, and 464 00:27:59,119 --> 00:28:01,720 Speaker 2: you know weed anstices doesn't do that, So they're going 465 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:04,159 Speaker 2: to you know, go to things that are opioid based 466 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:09,280 Speaker 2: that'll that'll provide that. And we just simply have got 467 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:13,240 Speaker 2: to eradicate this from our industry in order to be safe. 468 00:28:13,280 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 2: Safety comes first and we're not going to compromise on that. 469 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:17,000 Speaker 1: Lee. 470 00:28:17,119 --> 00:28:20,000 Speaker 2: I think we've been very clear beyond your analysis. We 471 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:23,480 Speaker 2: should allow here follicle testing. We should be the safest 472 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:26,919 Speaker 2: industry in America. It's good for the motor Republic, it's 473 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:31,040 Speaker 2: good for insurance, liability, everything, all those nuclear verdicts. We 474 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:33,040 Speaker 2: don't want anybody in pair being on the wheel, and 475 00:28:33,040 --> 00:28:34,159 Speaker 2: we're going to stand for them on this. 476 00:28:35,160 --> 00:28:38,680 Speaker 1: Okay. Another regulatory thing that's going on at the Federal 477 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:44,240 Speaker 1: Motor Carry Safety Administration or the f m SCA as 478 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:47,160 Speaker 1: people know it, Do you have it? Does the AT 479 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:50,440 Speaker 1: have a view on their broker transparency rules that are 480 00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:53,000 Speaker 1: that are working their way in Washington? 481 00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:57,440 Speaker 2: Yeah? I do. I think what they put out there 482 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 2: exceeds their staff toy jurisdiction first and foremost. They'll find 483 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:05,360 Speaker 2: that out when they try to enforce it, because it'll 484 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:08,440 Speaker 2: get litigated maybe not by us, but certainly by somebody 485 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:13,360 Speaker 2: impacted that's vested in that model. And our industry has 486 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:17,280 Speaker 2: many companies within it that that provide those services, you know, 487 00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:20,880 Speaker 2: between shippers and and and so on to manage that segment. 488 00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:24,040 Speaker 2: And uh, they're going to be adversely impacted by these 489 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:27,040 Speaker 2: rules if they go forward. So I wouldn't be too surprised. 490 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:30,560 Speaker 2: First and foremost, if the agency has not exceeded their jurisdiction. 491 00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:33,680 Speaker 2: I'd also say that it's it's just an it's adding 492 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:37,760 Speaker 2: more paperwork requirements that no one over there is going 493 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:40,000 Speaker 2: to ever read lee, right, I mean, it's just it's 494 00:29:40,040 --> 00:29:42,680 Speaker 2: almost like self preservation for bureaucracy. It's like, oh, now 495 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:45,280 Speaker 2: we need more people to read all this stuff. I mean, 496 00:29:45,320 --> 00:29:48,080 Speaker 2: they have trouble just getting through comments on rules. How 497 00:29:48,080 --> 00:29:50,840 Speaker 2: are they going to you know, read regular reporting requirements 498 00:29:51,040 --> 00:29:54,400 Speaker 2: under this regime when they have absolutely no structure and 499 00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:57,760 Speaker 2: and and staff there to do it. So it's almost 500 00:29:57,760 --> 00:30:01,959 Speaker 2: a justification for more bureaucrats. So that seems to go 501 00:30:02,160 --> 00:30:05,120 Speaker 2: counter to what this incoming administration is going to be posing. 502 00:30:05,280 --> 00:30:07,800 Speaker 2: So we'll see where it goes. The npr m's out. 503 00:30:07,840 --> 00:30:11,560 Speaker 2: The comments are up in a week's time. We are 504 00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:14,160 Speaker 2: not in favor of it, partly because we don't think 505 00:30:14,200 --> 00:30:17,800 Speaker 2: they have the jurisdiction to do it by law, and 506 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:20,080 Speaker 2: they certainly don't have the budget and the staff to 507 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:23,000 Speaker 2: oversee that kind of reporting requirement. And I really don't 508 00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:24,720 Speaker 2: think in the end it's going to have the impact 509 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:25,560 Speaker 2: that they intended to. 510 00:30:26,320 --> 00:30:29,000 Speaker 1: Okay, so just leaving Washington for a little bit, I 511 00:30:29,040 --> 00:30:31,200 Speaker 1: know you're going to be said to hear that. But 512 00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:34,080 Speaker 1: you know, outside of rates, what's kind of the biggest 513 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:39,200 Speaker 1: challenge for the trucking industry outside of the regulatory sphere. 514 00:30:41,120 --> 00:30:43,720 Speaker 2: Well, I think, you know, the last two years have 515 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:49,040 Speaker 2: been extraordinarily difficult for our industry to grow capacities ted. 516 00:30:49,160 --> 00:30:53,760 Speaker 2: I think rates if fluctuated now just contract rates, spot rates. 517 00:30:54,280 --> 00:30:57,000 Speaker 2: It's just made it a very very difficult fuel prices 518 00:30:57,040 --> 00:31:00,160 Speaker 2: inflation at forty year highs. You know, people wonder why 519 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:03,760 Speaker 2: President Trump won. That's it. Biden administration blew it. They 520 00:31:03,800 --> 00:31:07,160 Speaker 2: did not pay attention to the kitchen table economics in 521 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:11,440 Speaker 2: this country. They completely ignored it. And you know, the 522 00:31:11,480 --> 00:31:14,080 Speaker 2: issues they did focus on didn't bring them any new voters. 523 00:31:14,840 --> 00:31:20,160 Speaker 2: And that's the contrast between Biden and Trump in this decision, 524 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:23,080 Speaker 2: and I think it's prelude to where we're going to 525 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:29,560 Speaker 2: go is a more you know, focus on on on economics, 526 00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:34,640 Speaker 2: lowering inflation, really bring the manufacturing back to the US, 527 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:40,360 Speaker 2: really focusing on American workers, including pay, training, and so on. 528 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:43,560 Speaker 2: And I truly believe these are the fundamentals that were 529 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:46,000 Speaker 2: dismissed under the Biden administration will get a lot more 530 00:31:46,040 --> 00:31:49,560 Speaker 2: attention under Trump. So, you know, when I look at 531 00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:52,000 Speaker 2: the challenges we've had, particularly in the last two years, 532 00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:55,200 Speaker 2: we're very optimistic going forward that twenty five will be 533 00:31:55,240 --> 00:31:58,960 Speaker 2: a great transition year. We're starting to see you know, 534 00:31:59,320 --> 00:32:02,720 Speaker 2: an in client gradual It's not going to be anything 535 00:32:02,760 --> 00:32:04,800 Speaker 2: dramatic out of the gate, but I think by twenty 536 00:32:04,840 --> 00:32:07,880 Speaker 2: six that the fundamentals are put in place under this 537 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:11,000 Speaker 2: incoming administration, twenty six beyond, it's going to be very 538 00:32:11,080 --> 00:32:15,920 Speaker 2: very good and productive for the industry, not just retail, housing, construction, 539 00:32:16,720 --> 00:32:20,160 Speaker 2: and manufacturing. Those are the three buckets that are economist 540 00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:23,760 Speaker 2: Bob Costella speaks to. And if we see all three, 541 00:32:24,920 --> 00:32:28,480 Speaker 2: you know, leaning favorably, that's going to have a very 542 00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:31,040 Speaker 2: very big, measurable impact on our industry success. 543 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:34,800 Speaker 1: All Right, I love Bob Costell hi above Castell's that, yeah, 544 00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:39,120 Speaker 1: we do doo. So, you know, fraud has become a 545 00:32:39,240 --> 00:32:44,440 Speaker 1: huge problem for the industry. What is the ATA doing 546 00:32:44,520 --> 00:32:48,400 Speaker 1: to help fight fraud or you know, maybe suggest new 547 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:50,320 Speaker 1: legislation that can help fight fraud. 548 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:54,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I've taken a few I think much 549 00:32:54,040 --> 00:32:56,640 Speaker 2: deserve shots at the current administration, but I will say 550 00:32:56,640 --> 00:32:58,200 Speaker 2: there are there are a number of things that we've 551 00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:01,440 Speaker 2: worked proactically with them on, including truck parking. They've allocated 552 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:06,440 Speaker 2: nearly five hundred million dollars truck parking out of discretionary funds. 553 00:33:06,480 --> 00:33:09,400 Speaker 2: People put. Judge has been phenomenal on that issue. It 554 00:33:09,480 --> 00:33:12,560 Speaker 2: resonates with him. We've had great events at the White 555 00:33:12,600 --> 00:33:16,880 Speaker 2: House on apprenticeship. I think I think, uh, you know, 556 00:33:16,920 --> 00:33:21,320 Speaker 2: I'm looking at theft and fraud. It really doesn't matter 557 00:33:21,320 --> 00:33:24,400 Speaker 2: if you're a deer and r. I don't know that 558 00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:27,840 Speaker 2: there is a constituency out there of electorate that that 559 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:30,840 Speaker 2: believes that that's a good thing. So, you know, the 560 00:33:30,960 --> 00:33:34,800 Speaker 2: upshot here is that we try to understand the problem 561 00:33:34,840 --> 00:33:38,200 Speaker 2: not just by segment within our industry, but regionally, locally, 562 00:33:38,280 --> 00:33:43,560 Speaker 2: where it's occurring, how it's occurring. It takes on various degrees. 563 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:48,040 Speaker 2: You have organized crime, you have some that is domestic, 564 00:33:48,080 --> 00:33:50,680 Speaker 2: but you have candidly a lot that's happening from abroad 565 00:33:51,920 --> 00:33:54,640 Speaker 2: through hacking. They're going into the bill laden, they're changing it, 566 00:33:54,640 --> 00:33:57,719 Speaker 2: they're changing the route on the delivery as far as 567 00:33:57,720 --> 00:34:00,760 Speaker 2: the driver knows he's going to a legitimate drop, legitim 568 00:34:00,800 --> 00:34:02,560 Speaker 2: and drop because that's what it says on the computer 569 00:34:02,600 --> 00:34:05,440 Speaker 2: and they reprogrammed it, sent that load there and then 570 00:34:05,480 --> 00:34:09,360 Speaker 2: it's gone. So that's very high tex sophisticated stuff that's 571 00:34:09,640 --> 00:34:12,799 Speaker 2: well beyond our border, and we need federal support for that, 572 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:15,680 Speaker 2: not just state local. But there's a lot of random 573 00:34:15,680 --> 00:34:18,280 Speaker 2: stuff too that happens that that we need to attack. 574 00:34:18,480 --> 00:34:23,759 Speaker 2: And it's interesting because it's gotten so badly that, you know, 575 00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:26,400 Speaker 2: before I think a lot of carriers didn't want to 576 00:34:26,440 --> 00:34:29,040 Speaker 2: talk about it because it's embarrassing, right, you know, you 577 00:34:29,080 --> 00:34:32,399 Speaker 2: don't want your customers know that you got hit. That 578 00:34:32,480 --> 00:34:35,040 Speaker 2: disclosure may you know, determine from doing business with you. 579 00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:38,080 Speaker 2: It's so widespread now and it's not just us, it's rail, 580 00:34:38,160 --> 00:34:42,680 Speaker 2: it's others that are dealing with this problem. And everybody's 581 00:34:42,719 --> 00:34:46,839 Speaker 2: now talking about it. And once that happens, we begin 582 00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:49,240 Speaker 2: to understand where it is and we can help work 583 00:34:49,280 --> 00:34:53,520 Speaker 2: with law enforcement to target those problems specifically. So we're 584 00:34:53,560 --> 00:34:55,600 Speaker 2: just not throwing money out there left and right. We 585 00:34:55,640 --> 00:34:58,480 Speaker 2: all know it's a problem, but how do you focus 586 00:34:58,520 --> 00:35:01,480 Speaker 2: it on, you know, where it exist and enable law 587 00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:04,560 Speaker 2: enforcement to do its job. And we've had some really 588 00:35:04,560 --> 00:35:08,000 Speaker 2: good success federally, state and local through our Law Enforcement 589 00:35:08,040 --> 00:35:11,280 Speaker 2: Advisory Committee, who's made up of a lot of retired 590 00:35:11,320 --> 00:35:15,240 Speaker 2: and active law enforcement officials at all levels, of really 591 00:35:15,280 --> 00:35:17,920 Speaker 2: capturing this issue. And I think I think we're going 592 00:35:17,960 --> 00:35:20,960 Speaker 2: to make some progress. And I'm quick to applaud the 593 00:35:20,960 --> 00:35:24,200 Speaker 2: Biden administration for noting it. I think the Trump administration 594 00:35:24,280 --> 00:35:28,200 Speaker 2: will do the exact same thing. It benefits everybody to 595 00:35:28,280 --> 00:35:31,440 Speaker 2: attack fraud and cargo theft absolutely. 596 00:35:32,239 --> 00:35:35,400 Speaker 1: You know, I was as curious, does the ATA have 597 00:35:35,480 --> 00:35:39,360 Speaker 1: a position on autonomous trucking? You guys like all for 598 00:35:39,520 --> 00:35:42,840 Speaker 1: it or are you wary of it? Where do you guys? 599 00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:45,200 Speaker 1: Where do you see that going? Well? 600 00:35:45,200 --> 00:35:47,640 Speaker 2: I think we're in favor of innovation. I've always said 601 00:35:47,680 --> 00:35:51,040 Speaker 2: that we should never be afraid of technology. Technology, you know, 602 00:35:51,560 --> 00:35:55,360 Speaker 2: improves everything that we do. Where we are today versus 603 00:35:55,360 --> 00:35:59,480 Speaker 2: where we were ten years ago. It's remarkable, including and trucking, 604 00:36:00,120 --> 00:36:05,680 Speaker 2: so fleet management, telematics, the ability to see your fleet 605 00:36:05,680 --> 00:36:09,759 Speaker 2: where it's operating, where there's inclement weather, rerouting. There are 606 00:36:09,800 --> 00:36:12,400 Speaker 2: a whole host of factors that can make and streamline 607 00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:17,759 Speaker 2: our industry, carrier by carrier, much more safely and effectively 608 00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:22,640 Speaker 2: through technology, safety technology, from collision mitigation systems, you know, 609 00:36:23,200 --> 00:36:26,520 Speaker 2: governing speeds to analog breaks. These are all things that 610 00:36:26,560 --> 00:36:30,320 Speaker 2: are good for our industry and carriers down to the 611 00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:33,200 Speaker 2: driver drowned of the motoring public when it comes to 612 00:36:33,239 --> 00:36:37,120 Speaker 2: automation again, going back to the displacement, we've got seventy 613 00:36:37,120 --> 00:36:40,960 Speaker 2: thousand you know workers, we're short drivers. We're not going 614 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:43,680 Speaker 2: to displace them with with autonomous vehicles. And you're not 615 00:36:43,680 --> 00:36:45,680 Speaker 2: going to see these running in all fifty states. My 616 00:36:45,800 --> 00:36:49,279 Speaker 2: state of Wyoming. Yeah, talking about inclement weather, we get 617 00:36:49,320 --> 00:36:52,880 Speaker 2: wins over one hundred miles an hour daily and parts 618 00:36:52,920 --> 00:36:55,320 Speaker 2: of I eighty or are very very treacherous in the 619 00:36:55,360 --> 00:36:58,400 Speaker 2: winter particularly, you're not going to be able to operate 620 00:36:58,400 --> 00:37:01,319 Speaker 2: that equipment and that kind of environments. So you're probably 621 00:37:01,320 --> 00:37:04,200 Speaker 2: going to see it more operating in the Southwest where 622 00:37:04,200 --> 00:37:07,080 Speaker 2: that's not an issue. Light them run lanes. If they're 623 00:37:07,120 --> 00:37:10,200 Speaker 2: safe and proven, they're not going to displace any drivers. 624 00:37:10,920 --> 00:37:13,040 Speaker 2: They'll move a little bit more freight, they'll chip away 625 00:37:13,040 --> 00:37:16,080 Speaker 2: at that shortage, and they'll allow us to grow from 626 00:37:16,120 --> 00:37:18,919 Speaker 2: seventy two and a half percent, you know, maybe seventy five. 627 00:37:19,080 --> 00:37:21,680 Speaker 2: So you know, I'm not intimidated by that. I think 628 00:37:21,760 --> 00:37:25,279 Speaker 2: I think levels one, two, three, even four are going 629 00:37:25,320 --> 00:37:29,200 Speaker 2: to make the driver more alert, more aware, more successful 630 00:37:29,239 --> 00:37:33,680 Speaker 2: in doing their job. And candidly, the more knowledgeable they 631 00:37:33,680 --> 00:37:36,319 Speaker 2: are on technology, the better paid and marketable they are. 632 00:37:36,400 --> 00:37:39,480 Speaker 2: So these are all beneficial to the existing driver pool 633 00:37:39,560 --> 00:37:43,840 Speaker 2: beyond fully autonomous level five. So no, I'm not concerned 634 00:37:43,880 --> 00:37:44,200 Speaker 2: about it. 635 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:47,719 Speaker 1: Right Is there is there anything else like on your 636 00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:52,960 Speaker 1: radar that's related to that's facing the freight transtation logistics industry. 637 00:37:53,480 --> 00:37:56,320 Speaker 2: No, I think we really hit on them. The issues 638 00:37:56,360 --> 00:38:00,640 Speaker 2: we've been dealing with, environment, labor, and believe you know, 639 00:38:01,280 --> 00:38:04,719 Speaker 2: lawsuit abuse rampant in the States. Uh, these are three 640 00:38:04,840 --> 00:38:07,080 Speaker 2: primary issues that are going to spill over from the 641 00:38:07,080 --> 00:38:09,719 Speaker 2: Biden administration of the trop administration. Some of it will 642 00:38:09,719 --> 00:38:13,719 Speaker 2: attack on the Hill some of the Department's administration, and 643 00:38:13,800 --> 00:38:15,040 Speaker 2: I think the rest of it will be in the 644 00:38:15,080 --> 00:38:18,719 Speaker 2: state houses. I would just struct stress that the ATA 645 00:38:19,040 --> 00:38:22,560 Speaker 2: for ninety two years is put itself in a position 646 00:38:23,040 --> 00:38:27,040 Speaker 2: better than most associations in the country. H Our Federation 647 00:38:27,120 --> 00:38:31,200 Speaker 2: of fifty State Trucking Associations has reached. We've got presents 648 00:38:31,640 --> 00:38:36,080 Speaker 2: in every state and congressional district, every state house. We 649 00:38:36,160 --> 00:38:38,879 Speaker 2: know the governors. Uh, we can turn on a dime 650 00:38:39,120 --> 00:38:41,880 Speaker 2: and I don't have to spend millions, if not billions 651 00:38:41,880 --> 00:38:45,359 Speaker 2: of dollars on TV ads and you know by campaigns 652 00:38:45,400 --> 00:38:47,960 Speaker 2: that compete with you know, the trial lawyers or the 653 00:38:48,040 --> 00:38:51,440 Speaker 2: union bosses or the environmental lobby. We just roll up 654 00:38:51,440 --> 00:38:54,160 Speaker 2: our sleeves and do what we do and it resonates 655 00:38:54,200 --> 00:38:57,040 Speaker 2: with these and rs. So we just keep doing what 656 00:38:57,040 --> 00:39:00,200 Speaker 2: we're doing. League. I think our story sells regardless. It's 657 00:39:00,200 --> 00:39:04,160 Speaker 2: an American story. It's one that we all rely on, 658 00:39:04,920 --> 00:39:08,040 Speaker 2: doesn't matter what party affiliation you are. I always say, 659 00:39:08,120 --> 00:39:10,600 Speaker 2: roads and bridges aren't Democrat or republic and we all 660 00:39:10,680 --> 00:39:13,879 Speaker 2: drive on them. That's our shop floor. And we need 661 00:39:13,920 --> 00:39:16,960 Speaker 2: to talk about our issues in a way that removes 662 00:39:16,960 --> 00:39:20,319 Speaker 2: the political element and just makes it common sense. And 663 00:39:20,360 --> 00:39:22,800 Speaker 2: I think if we do that, this is an industry 664 00:39:22,800 --> 00:39:25,240 Speaker 2: that's going to continue to grow and be a place 665 00:39:25,280 --> 00:39:27,399 Speaker 2: that you know, people want to come and work for, 666 00:39:27,520 --> 00:39:31,040 Speaker 2: be proud of. And we are, and uh, I'm very 667 00:39:31,040 --> 00:39:34,080 Speaker 2: optimistic going forward. We're going to do just that, all right. 668 00:39:34,120 --> 00:39:37,000 Speaker 1: And I'm just curious, how did you get into transportation 669 00:39:38,000 --> 00:39:39,480 Speaker 1: from you from your prior life. 670 00:39:39,719 --> 00:39:42,719 Speaker 2: It's an interesting career path, to say the least. I did. 671 00:39:43,080 --> 00:39:45,520 Speaker 2: I did a few years not on the only on 672 00:39:45,560 --> 00:39:50,200 Speaker 2: the hill, in the Senate, the administration, various degrees. Learned 673 00:39:50,239 --> 00:39:54,320 Speaker 2: that I went in the private sector, worked on five continents. 674 00:39:55,080 --> 00:39:57,440 Speaker 2: Uh so you know, I understand I had P and 675 00:39:57,560 --> 00:39:59,520 Speaker 2: L and I ought to read a cash flow statement. 676 00:40:00,400 --> 00:40:03,640 Speaker 2: I know the impact that that business decisions markets have, 677 00:40:04,880 --> 00:40:09,200 Speaker 2: you know, on on on corporate decisions and how to govern, 678 00:40:09,239 --> 00:40:12,000 Speaker 2: how to steer through that in very very difficult, high 679 00:40:12,080 --> 00:40:16,360 Speaker 2: risk markets like the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia where 680 00:40:16,560 --> 00:40:19,120 Speaker 2: we talked about fraud. Oh my gosh, that takes it 681 00:40:19,160 --> 00:40:22,160 Speaker 2: to a whole other level. I learned that firsthand in 682 00:40:22,200 --> 00:40:28,439 Speaker 2: countries like Turkmenistan, who's Bekistan to Nigeria, Libya, Syria even 683 00:40:28,960 --> 00:40:31,960 Speaker 2: and certainly Iraqs. So I've done a lot of work 684 00:40:31,960 --> 00:40:34,520 Speaker 2: in those environments and when I come back to the 685 00:40:34,640 --> 00:40:37,200 Speaker 2: us and focus on an industry like ours that's been 686 00:40:37,239 --> 00:40:40,680 Speaker 2: around as long as it has with so many good, 687 00:40:41,080 --> 00:40:45,799 Speaker 2: hard working, patriotic people. It's very, very reassuring each day 688 00:40:45,800 --> 00:40:48,120 Speaker 2: that my team and I go to work. We really 689 00:40:48,160 --> 00:40:52,000 Speaker 2: are representing an amazing group of people put safety first, 690 00:40:52,840 --> 00:40:55,640 Speaker 2: put the interest of the customers and the country first. 691 00:40:56,239 --> 00:40:59,719 Speaker 2: And I'm just so so proud to be able to 692 00:40:59,760 --> 00:41:02,360 Speaker 2: rep present them as the ninth president and CEO. So 693 00:41:03,840 --> 00:41:06,520 Speaker 2: you know, I came out of Honeywell and I had 694 00:41:06,560 --> 00:41:12,080 Speaker 2: a knack for transportation, and they offered me the opportunity 695 00:41:12,120 --> 00:41:15,160 Speaker 2: to lead the Legislative Affairs Office for ATA. Did that 696 00:41:15,200 --> 00:41:19,600 Speaker 2: for two years, and then my predecessor retired in this 697 00:41:19,719 --> 00:41:21,920 Speaker 2: role and they said, we like what you were doing here. 698 00:41:21,960 --> 00:41:24,319 Speaker 2: Would you be interested in this? And I jumped on 699 00:41:24,360 --> 00:41:26,040 Speaker 2: it and I've been in it now ten years and 700 00:41:26,080 --> 00:41:27,640 Speaker 2: I loving it every bit of it. 701 00:41:27,920 --> 00:41:29,840 Speaker 1: That's great. You know, I like to ask all my 702 00:41:29,840 --> 00:41:32,680 Speaker 1: guests this, do you have a favorite book about the 703 00:41:32,719 --> 00:41:35,960 Speaker 1: transportation industry or leadership that kind of is close to 704 00:41:35,960 --> 00:41:36,319 Speaker 1: your heart? 705 00:41:37,560 --> 00:41:39,680 Speaker 2: Well, I have a book that I refer to regularly. 706 00:41:39,680 --> 00:41:42,560 Speaker 2: It's called the Death of Common Sense. I think it's 707 00:41:42,600 --> 00:41:46,600 Speaker 2: applicable to everything beyond Transportation, And I point to it 708 00:41:46,680 --> 00:41:50,000 Speaker 2: now because I think in many instances, if we don't 709 00:41:50,080 --> 00:41:54,120 Speaker 2: revive just common sense, we're going to be in real trouble. 710 00:41:54,520 --> 00:41:57,840 Speaker 2: And we've gotten so politically jaded's so divisive, so toxic, 711 00:41:58,000 --> 00:42:00,239 Speaker 2: so quick to not sit down with another person with 712 00:42:00,280 --> 00:42:04,480 Speaker 2: a different view find common ground. I'm so quick to 713 00:42:04,600 --> 00:42:09,680 Speaker 2: hit X and never even face that person. We're never 714 00:42:09,719 --> 00:42:12,160 Speaker 2: going to get the common sense if we don't get 715 00:42:12,200 --> 00:42:15,239 Speaker 2: back to the basics of we all are Americans, we all 716 00:42:15,280 --> 00:42:19,719 Speaker 2: have vested needs and interests that are shared, and if 717 00:42:19,719 --> 00:42:21,839 Speaker 2: we don't talk to one another, we're never gonna We're 718 00:42:21,880 --> 00:42:24,799 Speaker 2: never going to regain that footing. So I'm quick to 719 00:42:24,800 --> 00:42:26,439 Speaker 2: point to that book. I think it's a good one 720 00:42:26,440 --> 00:42:29,040 Speaker 2: that just you know, gets back to the fundamentals lead. 721 00:42:29,320 --> 00:42:32,120 Speaker 1: All right, great, well, Chris, I really would thank you 722 00:42:32,160 --> 00:42:34,839 Speaker 1: for your time and appreciate all your insights and all 723 00:42:34,880 --> 00:42:37,440 Speaker 1: you guys do on behalf of the trucking industry. 724 00:42:38,360 --> 00:42:40,799 Speaker 2: Thank you for having me on. I really enjoyed it all. 725 00:42:40,760 --> 00:42:42,239 Speaker 1: Right, and I want to thank you for tuned again. 726 00:42:42,280 --> 00:42:45,200 Speaker 1: If you liked the episode, please subscribe and leave a review. 727 00:42:45,640 --> 00:42:48,040 Speaker 1: We've lined up a number of great guests for the podcast, 728 00:42:48,080 --> 00:42:52,760 Speaker 1: so check back to hear conversations with C speed executives, shippers, regulators, 729 00:42:52,800 --> 00:42:55,880 Speaker 1: and decision makers within the freight markets. Also, if you 730 00:42:55,880 --> 00:42:58,360 Speaker 1: have an idea for a future episode, please hit me 731 00:42:58,440 --> 00:43:01,640 Speaker 1: up on the Bloomberg terminal or on Twitter at logistics Late. 732 00:43:01,840 --> 00:43:03,239 Speaker 1: Thanks everyone and take care.