The Biden administration continues to put their focus toward truck parking and safety and overall prioritize the expansion of accessible parking.
Addressing competitors at the 86th annual National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships, FMCSA Administrator Robin Hutcheson pointed to recent grants for creating additional parking for truck operators on Aug. 16.
To date, agencies in Florida and Tennessee were awarded federal grants to fund truck parking projects. She went on to say that additional funding is on the way.
“So we have funded the expansion of truck parking in two states,” she told the group of elite drivers and freight company representatives. “[This is] a top concern for Secretary [Pete] Buttigieg, and it’s a top concern of ours.”
She continued, “I am here because I care deeply about the driving profession and what you contribute to America.”
ATA President Chris Spear was also in attendance at NTDC. He noted that there are more than 400 competitors in attendance to the event that serve as ambassadors for an industry committed to safety.
“They are shining examples of highway safety, and their commitment to excellence makes us proud,” Spear said.
He also congratulated the women and men competing at NTDC for their contributions to the economy. “You are the heartbeat of this nation,” as he put it.
ATA Chairman Dan Van Alstine, president and chief operating officer at Ruan Transportation Management Systems, emphasized the industry’s role in transporting goods safely and efficiently along supply chains.
“Grocery store shelves are full. Hospitals have medication and oxygen. Manufacturing sites have steel and raw materials,” Van Alstine said Aug. 19 before the tournament’s final day of action. “It’s because of us. It’s because of you. And you do it in a way that gives this industry and this country great pride.”
“Take a moment and reflect on what it took to get here,” the chairman told NTDC competitors. “Take a moment to celebrate. What you do every day matters.”
