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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.

The new year often brings changes. And rarely has that been as true as this year, as we have just inaugurated a new president who appears poised to change Washington. It’s also a time of renewed focus, to reflect on where we are and look forward and position for success.

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.

There has been a great amount of media attention with the first delivery by autonomous truck by Otto Transportation, which recently took place on Interstate 25 from Fort Collins to Denver in Colorado. While this trip was made with a convoy of State Patrol and Colorado DOT vehicles around it, this event still represented quite an achievement.

In truck and rail tankers and beyond, chemically bonded phosphate ceramics can stop corrosion, improve safety, extend equipment life and minimize maintenance and downtime.

Economists often speak of a “regulatory drag” on our economy related to the costs associated with the many regulations passed over the years.

Sinatra didn’t play to an empty auditorium in Vegas. Ali didn’t become the heavyweight champion of the world with just the referee and opponent in the room. If Bruce Springsteen sang “Born in the USA” in front of thousands of empty seats, would the impact be the same?

A year ago, I stood before you in Philadelphia and accepted the title of chairman of American Trucking Associations. It has been a tremendous honor to be your chairman at such a critical time for our industry.