Trucking Moves America Forward Applauds Passage of Long-Term Highway Funding Bill

Washington, DC…www.truckingmovesamerica.com/ Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF), the industry-wide trucking image and education movement, applauds the U.S. Congress for passing a long-term highway funding bill. The critical legislation, which President Obama signed into law on Friday, December 4, ensures increased safety and efficiency for professional truck drivers and motorists alike.

“The long-overdue passage of a bipartisan highway funding bill is great news for America’s truck drivers, families and the motoring public,” said Kevin Burch, co-chairman of TMAF, president of Jet Express, Inc., and second vice chairman of American Trucking Associations. “I congratulate Congress for taking such an important safety step in improving our nation’s road and bridges.”

The $305 billion measure, which includes several major transportation and logistics-related improvements, puts an end to the short-term patches that have financed infrastructure projects since 2009.

The professional trucking industry drives $682 billion in revenue every year, making it a vital contributor to the nation’s economy. Seven million trucking professionals nationwide move food, fuel and critical cargo in manufacturing, healthcare, retail and more.

Nearly a third of our nation’s roads are in poor or mediocre condition, and one out of every nine bridges are structurally deficient, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers report card. TMAF has advocated for infrastructure spending to improve highway networks that are most critical to the movement of freight and interstate travel. Improving our nation’s highways also prioritizes the safety of the motoring public.

“By investing in America’s transportation infrastructure, our nation’s legislators are investing in the safety of the 3.4 million professional truck drivers that drive our roads each day,” added Todd Spencer, executive vice president of The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. “The bill passage is welcome news for the entire trucking industry.”

Trucking Moves America Forward is a long-term industry-wide movement established to create a positive image for the industry, to ensure that policymakers and the public understand the importance of the trucking industry to the nation’s economy, and to build the political and grassroots support necessary to strengthen and grow the industry in the future. To learn more, and to join the movement, visit www.TruckingMovesAmerica.com.