ExpressTruckTax was at MATS this past weekend where something new and exciting for the entire trucking industry was introduced. This “something new” did not come in a form or a truck or company but an industry-wide image and education campaign launched by a diverse group of trucking stakeholders.
Right off the bat it doesn’t sound that important, but the Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF) campaign, introduced by OOIDA’s Todd Spencer on March 26th, is described to build an image of drivers – as a means to attract new workers to the industry and change negative public perception – as working professionals in an industry that plays a huge role in the U.S economy. (Hopefully this campaign will help the driver shortage)
Spencer, who was one of about five speakers in a lineup that also included 2 drivers, talked about the key points of the theory behind the campaign, but he also took a more pointed approach in his address, pushing the American driver as the most important piece of trucking’s puzzle.
Spencer ended with these words, “Those behind the wheel [are] clearly the most important people in trucking. Without them we are absolutely nothing and without them this industry doesn’t exist. If you want somebody to feel good about themselves and want them to make [driving] their future, give them a reason. Make them know they’re appreciated.”
TMAF Mission:
The TMAF mission is to establish a long-term industry-wide movement to create a positive image for the industry, to ensure policymakers and the public understand the importance of the trucking industry to the nation’s economy.
What TMAF does:
Every day, millions of trucks travel across the United States to help move America forward. Whether you are a student, mother, homeowner, doctor, business executive or politician, you depend on trucks to deliver essential foods, medicines, office supplies, computers, cribs, and other products that help you live every day. Most Americans don’t realize how essential trucks are to their lives until there is a severe weather or adverse condition that prevents trucks from delivering. But the fact is trucks are critical to our national and global economy, to our families, to our businesses, and so much more. When they stop moving, the country stops moving.
By telling the TMAF story – educating the public and working with policymakers at the state and federal level – we can ensure that the trucking industry remains the thriving industry it is today.