Upcoming Events
- July 30th, 2025 – Hours of Service / Logbook Seminar
- August 6th – 8th, 2025 – Rocky Mountain Safety Rendezvous – Cody, WY
- August 13th, 2025 – Basin Utah Trucking Association Quarterly Luncheon
- August 15th – 16th, 2025 – Great Salt Lake Truck Show
- August 26th, 2025 – Utah Trucking Association TruckPAC Golf Tournament
- September 9th – 10th, 2025 – Utah Trucking Association 2025 Road Rally
Announcements
ABL Tanklins put together a free tool that maps out major truck stops across Utah. It’s designed to help drivers find fuel, parking, showers, and more in one place.
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Utah Trucking Association 401K
Boost Your Retirement Savings with Increased 401k Catch-Up Contributions
Exciting news! Starting in 2025, you’ll have the opportunity to increase your retirement savings. The SECURE Act 2.0 introduces a new catch-up contribution rule that allows those turning age 60-63 in 2025 to contribute an additional $11,250 per year to their 401(k) accounts.
For detailed information about this valuable opportunity, please review the attached document. We have included a link to schedule a financial planning meeting with our 401k advisors at OneDigital. Please note, these planning meetings are offered at no charge to our 401k participants.
Truckin Hot News:
The full report is available on ATRI’s website here. Participating carriers receive a customized report directly comparing their operations to an anonymized peer group of the same sector and size.
Washington — Today, the American Trucking Associations applauded the inclusion of multiple pro-trucking provisions in the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee funding bill. The subcommittee approved the bill in a vote last night, advancing it to the full House Appropriations Committee for consideration.
The bill would spend $200 million to expand truck parking, uphold the federal preemption determination of California’s meal and rest break rule, and protect the improvements ATA made to the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot program.
“The American Trucking Associations thanks the members of the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee for prioritizing funding and policies that will support the essential work that truckers do to deliver the nation’s freight and keep our economy moving,” said American Trucking Associations SVP of Legislative Affairs Henry Hanscom. “The substantial investment for expanded parking capacity would help alleviate one of the biggest challenges that truck drivers face and improve the efficiency and safety of our roadways. In addition, language to expand workforce development and preserve national standards for meal and rest breaks will strengthen the overall supply chain. We are especially grateful to Congressman Womack for his decisive leadership ensuring these provisions that will benefit truck drivers were incorporated in the final bill.”
U.S. Congressman Steve Womack (R-Arkansas), the subcommittee chairman, was instrumental in securing the dedicated funding for truck parking, addressing one of the industry’s top concerns. According to a USDOT study, 98% of truck drivers regularly experience problems locating safe parking. An analysis by the American Transportation Research Institute found that the average driver sacrifices 56 minutes of drive time per day to ensure that they have a safe place to park for the night. This results in $6,813 in lost wages for truck drivers each year. An infusion of truck parking funding would build on the progress that has been made through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that ATA championed, which has already allocated funding to build roughly 2,000 truck parking spaces.
The House transportation appropriations bill would also preserve the fix ATA secured last year to fortify the SDAP program. Following lackluster participation, ATA was successful in removing extraneous and onerous program requirements that deterred motor carriers from joining the SDAP program, which will help get it back on track.
Finally, the bill would protect former USDOT Secretary Elaine Chao’s federal preemption determination of California’s meal and rest break rule. If California’s rule were permitted to be implemented, it would create a patchwork of meal and rest break rules, undermining safety and the supply chain.
Washington, DC – The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) today released new research detailing a notable demographic shift in the U.S. truck driver workforce. The research examines how broader societal and labor force trends are reshaping the industry and presents strategies for motor carriers to engage younger, more diverse, and historically underrepresented populations. The research is organized into two key phases:
- chronological changes in truck driver demographics; and
- pathways into trucking careers for former foster youth and justice-involved individuals.
The report offers a comprehensive analysis of the industry’s most pressing workforce challenges, including an aging driver population, low female representation — women currently comprise just 4.1 percent of truck drivers — and shifting employment models. With the average truck driver now 47 years old and retirements accelerating, the research emphasizes the need to modernize recruitment messaging to better resonate with younger generations. Overall, the research provides a roadmap to help carriers enhance recruitment, improve retention, and build a more resilient driver workforce.
The report also highlights opportunities to expand access to trucking careers for individuals from historically underrepresented backgrounds, particularly former foster care youth and justice-involved individuals. These groups may face unique challenges, but with the right support, trucking can offer a stable and rewarding career path. The research encourages carriers to adopt targeted outreach, training pipelines, and reentry support, while implementing hiring practices that assess each candidate’s circumstances and readiness on a case-by-case basis.
“As the trucking industry grapples with an aging workforce and continued demand for drivers, this research underscores the need to embrace evolving demographics,” said Amanda Schuier, Jetco Delivery Strategic Maintenance Director. “By broadening recruitment efforts, fleets can tap into new talent pools to not only strengthen driver recruitment and retention, but also address critical workforce challenges by creating sustainable pathways into trucking careers.”
A full copy of the report is available through ATRI’s website here.
Washington — A leading, nationwide trucking company told the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee today that cargo theft is a crisis impacting the entire supply chain that requires immediate action from Congress. Donna Lemm, chief strategy officer for IMC Logistics, testified on behalf of the American Trucking Associations in support of the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act, which would establish a coordinated multi-agency response and equip law enforcement with new resources to address a surge of cargo theft incidents happening across the country.
“Rising cargo theft is affecting the trucking industry across the United States. We cannot stay silent,” said Lemm. “Cargo theft will continue to metastasize unless Congress recognizes the severity of the problem, law enforcement devotes sufficient time and resources, and the federal government takes a leading role in coordinating enforcement efforts.”
Senators on the subcommittee launched the hearing to investigate these proliferating criminal enterprises that are costing the supply chain up to $35 billion annually while raising consumer prices and insurance costs. Strategic theft — a form of cargo theft that involves deception, fraud, cybertheft, and other sophisticated tactics — has risen 1,500% since the first quarter of 2021, and the average value per theft is over $200,000.
Lemm provided numerous examples of the challenges that motor carriers are facing, not only as they struggle to thwart the onslaught of cargo theft, but also the difficulty of reporting incidents when they occur. Local police typically classify cargo theft as vandalism and consider it an insurance matter. As a result, patterns of lawbreaking behavior across jurisdictions and connections to transnational criminal organizations are often missed.
In one case affecting IMC Logistics, cargo thieves stole two containers of refrigerators. Local police filed a report, but no further follow up occurred. Several months later, federal law enforcement raided a warehouse and stumbled across the appliances, which were being stuffed with cash to smuggle money across the southern border. In other words, a crime that local police considered incidental was actually a central element of a much larger criminal conspiracy.
Lemm expressed concern for the safety of supply chain employees and drivers, noting that motor carriers invest millions of dollars in multilayered security, including guards, surveillance equipment, vehicle barriers, tracking technology, cybersecurity, engine immobilizers, and SOS buttons for drivers. Without a backstop from federal law enforcement, however, trucking companies are left battling this scourge on their own, and smaller companies have an especially difficult time keeping up with these criminals’ complex tactics.
In April, a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers introduced the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act. The bill–which was authored by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) and endorsed by ATA–would help law enforcement connect the dots by enhancing legal frameworks; improving enforcement capabilities; and fostering coordination among federal, state, and local agencies. The Department of Homeland Security would be tasked with leading a cohesive national response to cargo theft.
“The trucking industry is enormously grateful to Senators Grassley and Cortez Masto for their leadership in introducing the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act,” said Lemm. “This bill would put law enforcement’s level of coordination on par with their sophisticated criminal adversaries and safeguard our national security.”
Washington — Today, the American Trucking Associations announced that Tony Bradley, president & CEO of the Arizona Trucking Association, and Chris Maxwell, president & CEO of the Rhode Island Trucking Association, have been elected by their state trucking association peers to serve as the chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the Trucking Association Executives Council.
Mr. Bradley previously served as the TAEC vice chair and succeeds John Esparza, president & CEO of the Texas Trucking Association, who recently concluded his one-year term as TAEC chair. As TAEC chairman, Mr. Bradley serves as the TAEC representative to the ATA Executive Committee and Strategic Priorities Committee. As vice chairman, Mr. Maxwell serves as first alternate should Mr. Bradley be unable to participate in an Executive Committee or Strategic Priorities Committee meeting.
“The Federation is in great shape, and we have big goals in mind for the year to come,” said John D. Esparza, president & CEO of the Texas Trucking Association and outgoing chairman of TAEC. “Tony is a proven leader, whose knowledge and experience will serve the states well. We have a strong slate of leadership in the regional ranks ready for the work ahead.”
“It’s an honor to be elected by my peers to serve as chairman of TAEC,” said Tony Bradley, president and CEO of the Arizona Trucking Association and chairman of TAEC. “The work our state associations do—day in and day out—is critical to the strength and success of the trucking industry nationwide. I look forward to building on the legacy of leaders who have served in this role as we continue to advocate, innovate, and elevate the voice of trucking across the country.”
TAEC is comprised of staff executives of state trucking associations and conferences affiliated with ATA. The purpose of TAEC is to (1) promote the trucking industry, (2) contribute to the improvement of the associations and organizations established to serve the trucking industry and (3) advance the professional stature and capabilities of the managers and executives of such associations.
Mr. Bradley has led the Arizona Trucking Association and the Arizona Trucking Association Foundation since 2013. He began his professional career with Senator John McCain, working in a variety of capacities for the late Senator in Arizona and Washington, D.C., and he consulted and advised on hundreds of political and public affairs campaigns throughout the United States. With more than 25 years of experience in public policy, government relations and public affairs, he is a passionate advocate for the trucking industry and is considered a trustworthy ally and a formidable foe at the Arizona Capitol.
Mr. Maxwell has been an active member of the Rhode Island Trucking Association since 1987, serving as Chairman of its Board of Directors prior to being named President and CEO in 2011. He spent 25 years in trucking and transportation safety at a heavy highway contractor and is the recipient of numerous recognitions, including the 2019 ATA President’s TAEC Leadership Award.
TAEC also announced its new regional and ATA Conference Chairs:
- Region I (NETAEC): Kevin Weeks, Executive Director, Trucking Association of Massachusetts
- Region II: Donna England, President & CEO, Tennessee Trucking Association
- Region III: Jill Sokacz, President & CEO, Michigan Trucking Association
- Region IV (WTAEC): Duane Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Montana Trucking Association
- ATA Conferences: Jon Eisen, Executive Director, ATA Intermodal Carriers Conference / Vice President, ATA Conferences
CVSA, States Eye Crackdown on New ELD Tampering Trend
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance revealed in recent months that inspectors in many states are reporting new ELD falsification methods by either drivers, carriers or other third parties that are making it difficult for roadside safety inspectors to identify when driving and rest breaks occurred.
Trump Announces 30% Tariffs on EU, Mexico to Begin Aug. 1
President Donald Trump on July 12 announced he’s levying tariffs of 30% against the European Union and Mexico starting Aug. 1, a move that could cause massive upheaval between the United States and two of its biggest trade partners.
What Fleets Should Know About Recent Regulatory Changes
Trucking has seen a number of regulatory changes over the last couple of months that could impact truck drivers’ ability to operate, but the U.S. DOT is promising some improvements to truckers’ working conditions. With changes in enforcement protocol for truck drivers’ English language proficiency, the implementation of an electronic medical certification system and more, there has been a lot going on lately with trucking regs.
Trump Picks DOT’s Duffy as NASA’s Interim Leader
President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday, July 9 that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will serve as the interim administrator of NASA.
DataQ Reforms Could Make a Big Difference for Truckers
Our continuing coverage of that big announcement from the U.S. Department of Transportation continues with a look at how the DataQ process could be facing some much-needed changes.
Six Essential Steps to Become Your Customers’ Trusted Supplier
Becoming your customers’ go-to supplier isn’t about having the lowest price or the cleverest marketing. It’s about showing up, adding value, and making life easier for the people who rely on you.
What ABF Learned Piloting a Tesla Electric Semi Truck
ABF operated a Tesla Semi across typical dispatch lanes, including over-the-road routes between service centers in Reno, Nevada, and Sacramento, California. The pilot also included regional runs in the Bay Area and rail shuttle operations. The electric Semi logged 4,494 miles, averaging 321 miles per day with an overall energy efficiency of 1.55 kWh per mile, according to the company.
Trucking Industry Praises Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’
Dozens of freight and trucking stakeholders praised the recently enacted comprehensive tax and budget measure referred to as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill.” American Trucking Associations pointed to the new law’s potential benefits for a freight sector enthusiastic about an economic boost this year.
Unique Requirements for Hiring Truck Drivers
Fleets that hire truck drivers must be keenly aware of the distinct regulatory requirements that apply to the hiring process and the consequences of failing to meet them. These repercussions can include civil penalties, litigation, and higher insurance premiums. Moreover, fleets must understand the employee application, background check, and onboarding requirements are far different than those for other (non-regulated) employees.
