ICSA at TCA Truckload and MATS Conferences

ICSA works hard not only to bring you the latest industry news and information, but also to explain how industry issues could affect your operation. One of the ways that we stay informed on related issues is by joining national industry associations and attending industry events, expanding our own knowledge of issues and bringing them back to our members.

Recently, ICSA representatives attended the TCA Truckload event, the preeminent event hosted by the Truckload Carriers Association, held in our hometown of Phoenix, AZ. We also attended the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS), the largest trucking show in North America, held in Louisville, KY. Below are some of the things we learned that could affect our members.

• Shawn Nelson, ICSA Director of Operations, was selected to speak at MATS about safety for the small carrier, including the importance of having a safety plan, in cab cameras, drug testing, and operating a vehicle safely. These are tools that ICSA provides to its members. You can find the link to his presentation here.
• Also at MATS, several representatives of FMCSA briefed attendees on coming regulatory changes. As ICSA has described in previous publications, potential changes are coming to the crash preventability determination process (CPDP). Among these changes is that FMCSA will accept video that proves a crash is non-preventable that doesn’t fit into any other category. Other changes involve the DataQ process and the drug and alcohol clearinghouse. Every carrier should particularly be familiar with the DataQ process. You can find an explanation written by former Wyoming Highway Patrol captain and ICSA board member Scot Montgomery here.
• Shawn Nelson is a member of the safety policy committee of TCA that met during the Truckload conference. Among the issues discussed in the committee meeting included a survey that was used to gather information about the trucking industry fourteen years ago – information that is still being used. The consensus of committee members was that the industry must gather more current data to be presented to policy decision-makers to educate them on the status of the trucking industry as they make decisions that will impact carriers. ICSA will ensure that its members get to participate in the survey. Prior to the public release of survey results and TCA staff have a chance to investigate the new survey data, ICSA will review the data and provide further information to its members.
• Of course, one of the main topics of conversation at both conferences was the new administration and the possible impact of its decisions on the industry. For example, the Trump administration labor secretary, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, an Oregon Republican, co-sponsored the Pro Act in her previous position as a Congress person. Because the Pro Act is anti-owner operator and President Trump has stated that he is pro-owner operator, there is some question about which position the administration would support. But Ms. Chavez-DeRemer has stated that she would support the administration’s position.