American Trucking Associations, the National Private Truck Council and other industry groups are getting the word out about the government s positive truck safety statistics. More important in the perception game, the media are raising questions about the credibility of Ms. Claybrook s numbers. But the other major player in the debate has yet to be heard from. DOT has been, as ATA President Walter B. McCormick Jr. put it, deafeningly silent on its own efforts to improve truck safety. That silence is a political decision.
Trucking is just one of the department s constituents.
Further, trucking was a heavy contributor to Republicans in the past two elections, and since DOT is controlled by the Democratic White House, that may play into the agency s political calculations. The department is in an awkward position. It can t comment without angering some of its constituents. But the failure of DOT s leaders to respond is a disservice to its career employees. It cheapens the considerable efforts of the Office of Motor Carriers to promote truck safety.