Representatives from the American Trucking Associations and a number of carriers, including 12 America’s Road Team drivers, are set to meet at the White House Thursday with President Donald Trump to discuss the trucking industry and healthcare.
In addition to ATA President and CEO Chris Spear, there will be 10 trucking company executives in the meeting, as follows:
- ATA Chairman Kevin Burch, president, Jet Express
- Jim Burg, president and CEO, James Burg Trucking
- David Congdon, CEO, Old Dominion Freight Line
- Mike Ducker, president and CEO, FedEx Freight
- Eric Fuller, CEO, U.S. Xpress
- Neal Kedzie, president, Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association
- Rich McArdle, president, UPS Freight
- Dennis Nash, CEO, Kenan Advantage Group
- Tonn Ostergard, president and CEO, Crete Carrier Corp.
- John Smith, chairman, CRST International
“It is an honor to be invited to the White House and to meet with the president,” Spear said. “We look forward to telling our story – a story of how trucks move 70 percent of our nation’s freight safely and efficiently, touching every aspect of our economy, including our health care system. This is a tremendous opportunity for our members and drivers to talk about how the health care debate impacts them and their ability to move America’s goods.”
The 12 drivers set to attend the meeting are:
- Steve Fields, Independence, Mo., (YRC Freight);
- Ralph Garcia, Albuquerque, N.M., (ABF Freight System);
- David Green, Hot Springs, Ark., (Werner Enterprises);
- Rhonda Hartman, Des Moines, Iowa, (Old Dominion Freight Line);
- John Lex, Monroe, Ga., (Walmart Transportation);
- David Livingston, Springfield, Ga., (TCW Inc.);
- Don Logan, Eskridge, Kan., (FedEx Freight);
- Charlton Paul Jr., Chester, N.Y., (UPS Freight);
- Russell Simpson, South Vienna, Ohio, (Holland Inc.);
- Todd Stine, Altoona, Pa., (Carbon Express);
- Barney Earl Taylor, Orlando, Fla., (Penske) and
- Derrick Whittle, Fieldale, Va., (Cargo Transporters Inc.)
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told the press Monday the meeting with trucking executives and drivers will focus on “healthcare and its negative impacts on their industry and livelihood, which just happens to be the largest employer in 29 states.”