Shannon Newton
President, ATA
When the world came to a screeching halt this spring, trucks delivered the supplies needed to shelter in place. As people prepared to bring their whole lives under one roof, we delivered their laptops, desks, treadmills, medicine and much-coveted toilet paper. With a vaccine ready, trucks are delivering what we need to be able to safely leave our homes again.
Are we glad to put 2020 in our rearview mirror? Absolutely, but we accomplished a lot this year, both as an industry and as an association. We are winning a nationwide PR campaign that prominently portrays truck drivers as the frontline heroes they are. Here in Arkansas, we had a major victory on the ballot with the passage of Issue 1 in favor of better roads.
I want to thank you, your company and all our safe, professional drivers for stepping up and meeting each challenge – and there were plenty this year. Despite shutdowns and constantly-evolving regulations, you delivered. I also want to extend a special appreciation to our PAC and Governmental Affairs Fund contributors who helped make this year a success at the polls.
For the association, 2020 was…complicated. We had to balance bringing you the events you rely on for information and networking with the all-important goal of keeping our members safe. So we emulated the grit and determination demonstrated by our member companies to deliver a safe, in-person Annual Conference and PAC Golf Tournament, as well as dozens of virtual meetings, including the highly-successful Safety Symposium. This meant reimagining Truck Driver Appreciation Week to minimize physical contact while maximizing reach. (And let’s be honest: It can’t stretch much further than a statewide proclamation from the governor!) Thank you to this year’s Founders Club for your support to make these and many other events possible.
We have a lot of momentum going into the New Year. We want 2021 to be a year of economic growth and business development for our members: that means tackling the driver shortage, addressing the rising cost of insurance and continuing to be a resource for COVID-19 policies and information. So that you can stay informed while staying safe, we are also continuing to make adjustments to our meetings and eagerly await the return of regular in-person events.
From all of us at ATA, we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy, prosperous and healthy New Year. We look forward to seeing you – be it on Zoom or in person – soon!
