Trucking Industry Calls on Congress to Avert Rail Strike
Washington – Today, the American Trucking Associations called on Congress to intervene in a looming crippling strike by railroad workers. With a number of unions’ members rejecting a compromise reached by their leadership and the nation’s railroads – a deal that had the backing of the Biden Administration – a strike could be less than two weeks away.“ATA calls on Congress to act immediately to resolve this looming issue,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “Further delays only result in more uncertainty and inflationary pressure at a time when the economy is straining under the weight of both. Trucking is not alone in calling on Congress to act immediately – hundreds of organizations and President Biden have all also urged lawmakers to end this stalemate.”With a December 9 strike deadline set, railroads are planning to stop taking hazardous materials – including fuel – next week. With national fuel supplies, especially diesel, in short supply throughout numerous parts of the country, we cannot afford any disruption to our nation’s supply chain that a potential rail strike would create. Hospitals, businesses and ordinary Americans depend on freight rail and trucking for daily necessities, and the trucking industry has neither the equipment nor the manpower to replace a single day of lost freight rail service. Truck transportation and railroads are much more complements than substitutes – there is no way the trucking industry can replace all the rail freight.
American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation’s freight.
