Whose Association Is It, Anyway?
Too many drivers feel unrepresented. The big associations claim to speak for “the industry,” but when it comes to everyday safety, working conditions, or legislative reform, their priorities often align more with corporate partners than with the people behind the wheel.
It’s time to ask:
Whose voice really drives the policy wheel?
The Conflict of Interest Nobody Talks About
Major industry associations often lobby under the banner of "trucking safety" or "supply chain resilience." But dig a little deeper and you'll find:
📜 Policy recommendations favoring deregulation, not enforcement
💼 Board seats held by executives, not drivers
🛣️ Opposition to labor protections disguised as “cost control”
💰 Massive funding from insurers, megafleets, and shippers
These associations don’t represent the average trucker — they represent business models.
What Happens When Drivers Are Left Out?
Unsafe practices go unchecked — like dispatching through weather emergencies, or ignoring maintenance violations
Hours-of-service reforms benefit fleet productivity, not driver health
Parking crises are ignored until they generate headlines — and even then, solutions prioritize freight over safety
“One-size-fits-all” safety metrics are designed without consulting long-haul, regional, or specialty drivers
Drivers Know the Road — They Should Help Write the Rules
We don’t need more panels with no drivers. We need:
Voting representation for drivers on all major safety and legislative boards
Transparency in association funding — who’s paying for that policy push?
Regional driver councils that track real-world outcomes, not just metrics
Accountability dashboards showing how association-backed bills actually impact road safety
Drivers Speak Out
“If these associations spent one week listening at the truck stop instead of lobbying in D.C., they’d stop writing bills that put lives at risk.”
— Henry D., 18 years OTR
“They say ‘drivers are our backbone’ — but we’re not in the meetings, not on the board, and not in the press releases.”
— Cassie J., Reefer Operator, Southeast Region
What You Can Do
📬 Ask associations directly: Who’s on your board? How many active drivers?
📢 Support grassroots orgs: Look for those built by drivers, for drivers.
🧾 Track legislation: See who’s behind it — follow the money trail.
🛑 Push back on unsafe mandates: Speak up when "efficiency" threatens safety.
Final Word
Big associations don’t get to define “safety” without drivers at the table.
If they won’t listen, maybe they shouldn’t lead.
— DrivenBy Valerie
Calling out the practices that put drivers last — and bringing frontline voices to the front page.