A diverse group of American shippers, deliverers, and retailers have formed the Americans for Modern Transportation coalition. The goal of the group is to actively work to improve transportation infrastructure and policy to reflect, and meet, the growing needs of modern businesses and consumers.
โTo continue moving America forward, infrastructure investment cannot simply be improved roads and bridges. We need to lay the groundwork for a modern transportation system,โ Americans for Modern Transportation said in a statement. โCentral to this goal is combining infrastructure enhancements with efficient trucking and policies as well as incentives for better safety and fuel technology. We are excited to work with transportation leaders and innovators in the new administration and 115th Congress to make strides towards a modern transportation system,โ they added.
One of the โenhancementsโ they advocate is twin 33-foot trailers, first sought by Fedex when they asked Congress to allow them on the nationโs highways in 2014. Currently allowed twin trailers are 28 feet.
AMT says the growth of e-commerce necessitates quick and reliable shipping for the 122.5 million households and 7.5 million domestic businesses that now rely on the transportation system to obtain goods every day.
โSafety, efficiency, and sustainability must be top priorities. Every year, more people and more goods use and wear our transportation infrastructure. We need more investment, but we need smart infrastructure reforms that meet these priorities. We look forward to championing safety and efficiency on the nationโs roadways as President-elect Trumpโs infrastructure plan comes to fruition,โ added the Coalition.
The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates approximately $200 billion in annual investments are needed to significantly improve deficient road and bridge infrastructure. AMT contends that Americans need the same forward-looking effort from our partners in federal and state governments that we see in the private sector, including upgraded fleets.
The coalitionโs founding members include Amazon, American Highway Users Alliance, Carbon War Room, FedEx, Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, International Foodservice Distributors Association, International Warehouse Logistics Association, National Association of Manufacturers, National Association Of Wholesaler-Distributors, National Retail Federation, National Shippers Strategic Transportation Council, North American Council For Freight Efficiency, Retail Industry Leaders Association, Securing Americaโs Future Energy, The National Industrial Transportation League, ULINE, UPS, U.S. Chamber Of Commerce, and YRCW.
