Trucking Organizations

There are many different organizations that represent the trucking industry. From small, city based organizations to the large, nation wide organizations, these organizations do what is within their power to unite truckers and reform the industry for the better. Each organization has their own goals and agendas, but each works to improve the trucking business in some way.

National organizations, like the National Truckers Association, unite small fleet owners and small companies to work for improvements in the industry. They can do this by asking members to give their services to certain companies and boycott others. National trucking organizations help members is by partnering with customers and governmental agencies in order to provide shipping services in ways that will strengthen a small fleet owner’s business. Members of national organizations have the potential to get discounts and/or improved rates from vendors.

Other national organizations work for trucking and shipping law reform. The American Trucking Associations is one such organization. The ATA unites small fleet owners and informs them about what they can do in order to get rules and regulations changed. Organizations like the ATA lobby against regulatory boards over trucking issues that affect the industry. The ATA also works to enhance the image of truck drivers.

Women in Trucking is an organization that works to improve the trucking industry for women. Transportation is a mostly male-dominated career. However, a growing number of women are now employed in the industry. Women in Trucking works to make trucking a more woman-friendly business. They can do this by calling for more ergonomically designed cabs designed for smaller-framed women and aiding women truckers in gender harassment suits.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration works to put safety measures in place for shipping companies. They are a division of the United States Department of Transportation and work solely with large trucks. Being a government association, the FMCSA puts regulatory measures in place to help prevent accidents involving big rigs.

They also regulate the requirements for Commercial Drivers Licenses.

After the national organizations are the smaller state organizations. All 50 states have their own trucking association. Each organization works to increase the profitability of truck and fleet owners. They can do this by dealing with businesses that will offer better rates for shipping services. Although state level organizations are more concerned with the profitability of the industry, they also work to reform laws and regulations that involve trucking. State organizations aren’t as influential on the national level, but are effective at changing state-level regulations. Local organizations work in much the same way.

In order for truck drivers to benefit from what organizations work to achieve, they must become certified members. Truck fleet owners pay a membership fee in order to belong to a specific organization. The membership gives the driver benefits that the organization has to offer, as well as access to publications that an organization puts out.

Basically, organizations all strive for one goal. That is to improve the business of shipping and trucking. Some do it by increasing profitability of shipping routes, others do it by calling for reform. Some work to enhance the image of career trucking, while others promote safety regulations that will decrease the number of accidents large trucks are involved in. A few specialize in one area of trucking, while others work to improve all parts of trucking.