The membership of ATA, like other Americans, supports the objective of clean air. We believe the Government should base its clean air efforts on sound science, public safety, and the needs of the American economy. I will describe the trucking industry, and some key problems that the EPA rule poses for the industry and the American economy. The American Trucking Associations is the national trade association for the trucking industry, with more than 2500 motor carrier company members who operate in every State in the Union. Trucking is vital to the nation's economy.
Trucks move the majority of the freight that moves in America.
Seventy percent of America's communities depend exclusively on trucks for freight service. EPA regulations affecting trucking operations have a direct impact on a huge segment of the American economy. Although some trucking companies are multi-billion dollar companies whose names you know, most of the trucking industry is small business. The EPA proposal has three major problems. Yet, EPA has singled out the diesel-fueled truck for tighter restrictions.