American Trucking Associations President Chris Spear lashed out yesterday at the Owner-Operators Independent Drivers Association with an outpouring of vitriol rarely exhibited by a trade group executive toward another association in the same industry.
Following his keynote address at a shipping conference, Chris Spear was asked if OOIDA was justified in feeling excluded from the recent events involving President Trump. He was also asked why the two groups werenโt standing more shoulder-to-shoulder on common issues and about OOIDA describing ATA as corporate truckers. His voice rising in anger, Spear called OOIDAโs approaches โmeaningless,โ referred to the group as โcombative,โ and said he doesnโt โlose sleepโ over OOIDAโs mission, how it implements it, and the struggles it faces.
Spear said that he and his family have received death threats from OOIDA interests, that persons affiliated with OOIDA interests have threatened to bomb ATAโs headquarters in Arlington, Va., and that OOIDA interests have labeled an ATA executive vice presidentโwho Spear did not identifyโa child molester. OOIDA officials have not responded with a comment.
The two groups have been on opposite sides for years over a number of issues. ATA mainly represents the larger fleets. OOIDA represents independent operators and small fleets.
Most recently, the two groups have been at odds over the federal mandate on Electronic Logging Devices.
In February, Spencer sent a letter to the White House urging Trump to steer clear of representatives of โlarge, corporate motor carriers,โ and to get out and meet with โAmericans who actually drive for a livingโ and โwho helped get you electedโ to fully understand their needs and concerns. Spear ridiculed the idea that drivers who work for ATA members are any different than the thousands of owner-operators who comprise OOIDAโs constituency. โThey all drive trucks,โ he said.
Spear also questioned why OOIDA isnโt supporting legislation to allow driver applicants between 18 and 21 to operate in interstate commerce under specific guidelines, even though 48 states allow drivers under 21 to run within their respective borders, voicing wonder why the group wouldnโt back a bill that would create more opportunity for its members
