American Trucking Association

The American Trucking Associations, Inc. (ATA) is the national trade and safety organization of the United States trucking industry.  Through its conferences, councils, 50 affiliated state trucking associations and other organizations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States.

The mission of ATA is to represent the interests of the trucking industry with one united voice; to influence Federal and State governmental actions; advance the trucking industry’s image, efficiency, competitiveness and profitability; provide educational programs and industry research; and promote safety and security along the nation’s highways and among its drivers.  ATA strives to bring about a healthy business environment and to educate public officials at all levels of government about the essential nature of the trucking business to the nation’s economy.

Established in 1933, ATA has for more than seven decades accomplished these goals relying upon staff committed to excellence in representing ATA as the voice of the U.S. trucking industry, which numbers over 564,000 for-hire, private fleets and owner-operators.  Across all industries, nearly nine million people, or one in every 15 civilian workers, are employed in trucking or trucking-related jobs.

ATA opened for business with just three small rooms in the Transportation Building in Northwest Washington, D.C. but now has two main offices, one on Capitol Hill and the other in the Washington suburb of Arlington, Virginia.  The Capitol Hill office is in the process of being renovated and expanded.  ATA moved its Virginia offices in July 2007 from Alexandria to a new building in the heart of nearby Arlington.

ATA is a member-driven trade association that is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of members who are responsible for the management of ATA’s overall policy and direction.  The Board is made up of the Chairman, First Vice Chairman, Second Vice Chairman,  two Vice Chairman, its Treasurer, Secretary, Past Chairman of the Board, 60 Vice Presidents at Large, Presidents at Large-Emeritus, 50 affiliated State Vice Presidents, six affiliated Conference Vice Presidents, an Allied industry representative, a Trucking Association Executives Council representative, and the chairmen of the ATA Litigation Center, American Transportation Research Institute, ATA Truck PAC, 11 Carrier Policy Committees, Audit Committee and Nominating Committee.

ATA and its five councils -- Safety & Loss Prevention Management Council; Security Council; National Accounting and Finance Council; Technology and Maintenance Council; and the Information Technology and Logistics Council -- deal with federal and national issues that affect trucking in these areas.  Three affiliated conferences represent specific segments of industry.  The Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference, Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference and Automobile Carriers Conference also are managed by ATA.

Each of the 50 states has a state trucking association that is an ATA affiliate.  Executives of each state trucking association and conference affiliates combine to form a powerful grassroots network in addressing state and local issues of industry concern.

ATA represents the full range of member and trucking industry interests in Washington, D.C., through aggressive advocacy before the administration, Congress, the Courts and regulatory agencies.

ATA staff specialists and 11 members’ policy committees work aggressively to achieve outcomes to positively shape the present and future status of the trucking industry.  A host of major trucking industry issues are being addressed under broad categories to influence legislative agendas and regulation policies.  These include: cross border, driver shortage, the economy and business, energy and the environment, government traffic, hazardous materials, highway infrastructure and funding, litigation, safety, security, tax and registration.

Examples within each of these areas include:  NAFTA, driver recruiting and training, pension reform, boutique fuels and diesel engine retrofits, defense transportation coordination, federal HAZMAT security legislation, tolls and highway reauthorization, tort reform, hours-of-service and cargo securement, Highway Watch® and Transportation Worker Identification Credentials, and federal and state tax issues, and many others.

Major ATA national public outreach programs include: America's Road Team, Share the Road, National Truck Driver Championships, National Truck Drivers Appreciation Week, and the "Good Stuff—Trucks Bring It" campaign.

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), a well-known leader in transportation-related research, is an organization whose hallmark is innovative thinking, critical analysis and uncompromised excellence. As part of the American Trucking Associations federation, ATRI benefits from the broad support of the ATA and its members.

ATA has, since its inception, provided to its members in ever-increasing measure powerful representation, expert support, important policy-shaping forums, valuable and timely information, extensive networking opportunities, comprehensive training, education and certification, national print and broadcast media coverage and time- and money-saving resources.

ATA is a driving force in effecting change, and seeing to it that trucking industry interests are vigorously promoted. The American Trucking Associations is the only national organization dedicated solely to serving every facet of the trucking industry's needs.