A version of this article originally appeared on the scopelitisconsulting.com website.
Approaching 30 years in trucking, I’ve learned a lot — mostly the hard way — but one truth has always been clear: no one moves the world forward alone. Not the driver hauling the load, the nurse caring for patients, or the policymakers shaping our future. Associations — whether in trucking, health care, real estate, or agriculture — prove that when voices unite, impact multiplies.
Take advocacy. One driver or company might get a legislator’s attention. But when a state trucking association or American Trucking Associations speaks for thousands, lawmakers listen. That collective voice helps shape realistic regulations, safety initiatives, and keeps freight moving efficiently. It’s the same strategy used by the American Hospital Association or National Association of Realtors.
Associations aren’t always trade groups. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), for example, brings together U.S., Canadian, and Mexican enforcement agencies to align inspection criteria and safety practices. That consistency strengthens safety and provides predictability for carriers.
Education is another cornerstone. Associations offer training on compliance, leadership, technology, and workforce challenges. They create spaces to share best practices. Other professions do the same — project managers, contractors, builders — and a 2023 report from the American Trucking Research Institute (ATRI) even found that association membership makes carriers safer.
Then there’s public perception. Trucking isn’t always shown in the best light, sometimes through our own missteps. Associations work to change that narrative, highlighting drivers and industry workers as essential professionals. Think of “Got Milk?” — that wasn’t one farmer, it was an industry speaking with one voice.
Knowing where to focus can be challenging. In trucking, research helps. ATRI conducts an annual survey to identify top issues, guiding advocacy and research priorities. At their core, associations make the collective stronger than the individual. They advocate when stakes are high, educate to keep professionals sharp, and promote industries so the public understands their value.
That’s why I’m excited to return to the Arkansas Trucking Association to help tell trucking’s story, to carry collective experiences forward, sharing the innovation, resilience, and, most importantly, the stories of the people who keep America moving. Trucking has challenges, but also incredible opportunities. I’m eager to help shine a light on both.
David O’Neal is the Vice President of Engagement for the Arkansas Trucking Association. He most recently served as Senior Associate at Scopelitis Transportation Consulting.
