OTA Dispatch Issue 2, 2021

many motorists still hug the bumpers of big trucks, discussing blind spots needs to stay on the list of outreach topics. This is, in part, why the reappearance of lane splitting during the 2021 legislative session is so disturbing. With rarely seen bipartisan support of the bill, Oregon is poised to become only the third state in the country to allow motorcycles to travel between lanes of slow or stopped traffic. Truck blind spots, combined with the way cars dart in and out of lanes, makes this a recipe for disaster and a true safety concern for truck drivers. Imagine a speedboat zipping through shipping lanes of gigantic freighters whose visibility and maneuverability is impaired. Those same limitations exist for trucks on roadways. Your stories are the best testimony for raising awareness and getting people to understand our perspective. You can shape the final outcome just by speaking up. When it comes to state and federal regulations, our industry often has the chance to, at the very least, submit comments and offer feedback. In my experience, few of us ever take advantage of these opportunities. Yes, OTA will submit comments on behalf of the association; however, the more comments, the bigger the impact. OTA is also here as a resource to help you through the process, providing general talking points to get you started, or even complete letters that you can put your name on. When you see an “OTA in Action” alert email, or a request for comment in the OTA Weekly Express, take a moment to respond. Your input has an impact. The decision by FMCSA, with buy-in from the public, to create and implement an ELD mandate was presented as a safety measure and a way to reduce accidents. The trucking industry undertook the effort and expense and complied. Now, however, data is showing that ELDs are doing very little improve safety and reduce accidents. Read the article in this issue of the Dispatch to learn more. If carriers and drivers had more involvement, would the outcome be any different? Safety has always been the cornerstone of our industry, but it is driven by the rules and regulations that are often developed inside their own bureaucratic bubbles. This applies to current topics that also shape how we operate—low carbon fuel, renewable diesel, indirect source bills, and more. As members of the trucking industry, it’s up to us to burst that bubble whenever we get the chance. Our experiences and understanding of how things operate outside of conference rooms, Zoom meetings, and the legislative floor is invaluable. That means speaking out and speaking up. Whether it’s your signature on a petition, a short email to lawmakers, comments to regulators, or getting directly involved in OTA’s engagement activities—it all matters. If we don’t make the effort to shape trucking’s next chapter, someone else will. 7 www.ortrucking.org Issue 2 | 2021