Arkansas Trucking Association

Trump talked health care with truckers

Pres. Donald Trump met with members of the American Trucking Associations and America’s Road Team Captains, a group of professional drivers from across the industry at the White House to talk about health care and the industry the day before a vote on health care reform was cancelled.

"Trucking is the backbone of the nation's economy. We employ 1 in 16 people in the U.S. Driving a truck is the top job in 29 states. Trucking moves 70% of the nation's freight and 56% of GDP. To grow our economy, we need to take care of the people that move America forward,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear.

Spear shared the struggles the industry has faced with the Affordable Care Act and how changes are needed to help trucking employees, their families and customers “by lowering insurance costs, decrease mandates, liabilities and administrative burdens, and provide access to quality care and patient choice."  

"The 7.3 million people who work in the trucking industry - of which 3.5 million are professional truck drivers - have a common thread - to be safe and dependable and that requires a healthy professional behind the wheel," ATA Chairman Kevin Burch, president of Jet Express Inc., said. "One thing is for certain the professional men and women drivers in America are proud of hauling America's freight. We are here to tell you Mr. President, that the trucking industry will support you as you work towards solving America's health care challenges. In addition, we look forward to working with you on improving our workplace, which is our highways."

A number of trucking executives were in attendance including Arkansas Trucking Association members David Congdon, CEO, Old Dominion Freight Line; Mike Ducker, president and CEO, FedEx Freight; and Rich McArdle, president, UPS Freight. Arkansas driver from America's Road Team, David Green, of Werner's Enterprises, was also in attendance.

Before talking health care, Pres. Trump was invited to see things from a driver’s perspective by climbing in the cab of the American Trucking Associations’ Image Truck - Interstate One, where the president took photos pretending to be truck driver gripping the steering wheel and inspired dozens of memes with his excitement for the photo opp.