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ATA President Chris Spear: American Trucking Associations is stepping up our call on Washington with a new media and grassroots advocacy campaign that turns up the pressure on Congress and the administration to enact comprehensive infrastructure funding legislation.

Fleet managers and truck drivers both need to understand that the quality of the diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) going into their vehicles is as important as the quality of the engine oils or fuels used in their vehicles.

Fuel is often one of the first considerations in calculating annual expenses. According to the American Transportation Research Institute’s 2017 Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, nearly 40% of operating costs are derived from fuel alone.

The historic cold snap that gripped New England and the Mid-Atlantic to kick off the new year challenged fuel handlers, causing sporadic operational issues for diesel fuel distributors and their fleet customers.

We keep seeing signs that things are looking up for the trucking industry. Most of the relevant economic indicators are favorable for trucking. Commodities are getting stronger, oil rig counts are increasing and the housing recovery is persisting. At the same time, small businesses are feeling a greater sense of optimism, and improvements to the tax code may boost entrepreneurialism. Low unemployment rates ultimately will lead to higher wages, giving consumers more money to spend and putting more goods on trucks.

Each night, thousands of truck drivers across the country find themselves in a horrible game of “musical chairs” — searching for parking spaces to take their mandated 10-hour rest period. This occurs because of a major shortage for truck parking, which has not kept up with the volume and growth of trucks traveling across our country each day.

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week was Sept. 11–17 last year here in America. It is recognized as a time to honor and acknowledge the nation’s truck drivers for their dedication and hard work and for putting up with extraordinarily challenging working conditions throughout the year.

You don’t have to be a diesel mechanic to know that extended idling is bad for business. Frequent or prolonged idling increases emissions, wastes fuel and puts unnecessary wear on your engine. That’s why, due in large part to increasingly strict emissions standards, the trucking industry has seen a dramatic increase in idle-reduction technologies.

As today’s trucking leaders look closely at new policies aimed at developing higher minimum fuel standards for medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks, we also recognize opportunities for bringing consumer costs under control and strengthening the economy while reducing dependence on foreign oil, lowering carbon emissions and minimizing business costs.

By now, you’re well aware of President Obama’s announcement that he will direct the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation to set the next — i.e., the post-2018 — round of medium- and heavy-truck fuel economy and emissions standards.