Regulatory and legislative issues are looming changes for the transportation industry in 2012. We view our interaction with customers and the government through what we call the “S Quadrant” which represents safety, service, security and sustainability. The foundations of the quadrant are the two issues we will focus on, safety and service.
Our nation’s infrastructure is under duress: roads and bridges are decaying compounded by significant congestion chokepoints. The interstate system is the vital service link in connecting our customers as we keep the nation’s wheels of commerce in motion. Congressional deliberations on a long-term investment in our interstate highway system are of huge importance in 2012 and beyond.
The Texas Transportation Institute’s annual Urban Mobility Report shows congestion costs the nation over $100 billion annually. This loss of productivity is a supply chain chokepoint. In a clarion call to Congress, the industry should stand together and deliver a message that investing in infrastructure is a necessary step in rebuilding our economy. There is a clear link between economic expansion and infrastructure investment. A revitalized interstate system can help revitalize our economy and now is the time for Congress to act.
Safety issues, especially as they relate to hours of service, hold significant implications for our industry in 2012. Our industry is performing extraordinarily well under the current hours of service rules from a safety perspective. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration just released a report showing truck related fatalities at historic lows. Fatal crash rates for the trucking industry continue to decline and have been doing so for years. As an industry we need to be prepared to stand and fight to preserve the current rule.
2012 will be a defining year for our industry in Washington. Freight is our business and we should make it the business of Congress to invest in freight infrastructure and preserve the safety gains achieved by our industry.