Who is The Truckers and Drivers Association of North America?
A mysterious organization rises up:
An attempt to launch a North America-wide protest against skyrocketing fuel prices began in New Brunswick on Tuesday.
Hundreds of big rigs stopped along the Trans-Canada Highway, at weigh scales and truck stops, and on other routes in the northwestern part of the province....
The protest was organized by a group calling itself the Truckers and Drivers Association of North America.
The group circulated a fax to trucking groups last week to launch a three-day protest across Canada, the United States and Mexico, starting Tuesday.
"We have no knowledge of who they are and who they represent, and we have no relationship to that organization in any way, shape, or form," said Ralph Boyd, president of the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association.
"We attempted to do some research on who this organization was, but their flyer does not have any contact names or numbers, does not have a website, nothing that we have been able to locate."...
Boyd said he hoped cooler heads would prevail to find a solution, and end the protest before it got out of hand.
Other than canada.com news website, Google lists no mention on the web of this mysterious organization.
And it looks like Ralph Boyd doesn't like the competition.
As the voice of the road transport industry, the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association addresses issues of economic, social and political concern. By promoting safety, professionalism, innovation and high ethical standards to the industry, we deliver the future.
Notice that they're THE voice, and they promote PROFESSIONALISM. Apparently the Truckers and Drivers Association of North America is a bunch of wild-eyed amateurs.
I'm sure they would have said more about this in their 2005 press releases, but they haven't had any. Not that this is a direct responsibility of Woody:
Ralph Boyd is President of the APTA. Ralph oversees the day-to-day operation of the Association and works alongside government and industry officials to try and resolve the issues that affect the trucking industry. Ralph has been with the APTA for close to 10 years, and under his leadership the Association has witnessed significant growth in membership. “Woody”, as he is known to friends, has also increased the APTA’s leadership role in the trucking community and improved its credibility in the eyes of government officials.
In this old interview (obviously from before Hurricane Katrina), Boyd was already worried about fuel prices (and spending time criticizing competing organizations):
Q) In Atlantic Canada, and the rest of the country for that matter, "weather unknowns" can wreak havoc with already-high fuel prices. Are you seeing evidence that the heating market is aggravating middle-distillate prices once again this winter?
A) Although fuel prices have moderated a bit there's always that threat that they could climb back up. Let's just say we're STILL suffering from high prices. We're not YET suffering from a shortage. We're still experiencing some instances of diesel pump prices higher than gas, though. Weather definitely does create a situation for us and we've seen our fair share of snow this winter....
Q) Newfoundland and Labrador's Independent Trucking Association has been successful at negotiating a voluntary surcharge schedule with carriers and shippers, although there is yet no legislation to back this agreement. As long as there is no actual legislation, in your opinion, does this hold the carrier to anything concrete?
A) Maybe you should talk to the NLITA about that! I don't know what the longevity is for that organization. I was in my office late one evening recently trying to get in touch with that group and it seems they've gone underground. I think any smart carrier out there today knows that people are its most valuable resource for operating a business. If the carriers know how to stay around, they are collecting surcharges and sharing them with the drivers and the owner-operators.
Q) Federal Industry Minister Brian Tobin, while Premier of Newfoundland, injected funds to help the NLITA. He has also met, in his capacity as Industry Minister, with trucking groups in Ontario about their concerns. Do you think that his move back to federal politics will benefit Atlantic Canada's situation, and the local trucking industry's?
A) We're always encouraged by the fact that an Atlantic Canadian gets elected to Ottawa. We hope he'll remember from where he came and the importance of the trucking industry here. But I don't think that injecting funds to get people to organize is the answer. I'm hopeful that Brian will listen to issues and concerns not only of the owner-operators but of the large number of carriers employing many thousands of people in Canada. I think the government definitely needs to become more focused on industries.
Perhaps the NLITA, in some bizarre conspiracy theory, has created the Truckers and Drivers Association of North America. They're already allied with the Owner-Operator's Business Association of Canada:
St. John's, NFLD. (May 29, 2004) -- The Owner-Operator's Business Association of Canada today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Newfoundland & Labrador Independent Truckers Association (NLITA). The agreement creates an alliance between the associations that will see better representation for NLITA members on national issues and the creation of the first of OBAC's provincial/regional caucuses.
"The provincial associations will always be closer and more responsive to the local issues than a national association could be," said OBAC's executive director, Joanne Ritchie. "But OBAC believes national representation will give the local associations the scope to take members' concerns beyond provincial boundaries, especially since many issues are common across the country."
The alliance between OBAC and NLITA demonstrates that owner-operators can indeed see eye to eye in developing solutions to problems, and can work together toward a common set of goals. NLITA has already had success in working with the provincial government and the Newfoundland and Labrador Carriers Association in improving carrier relations and highway safety.
"It's a good time to move forward with this alliance, given the current concerns of the owner-operator community," said NLITA president, Jon Summers. "I said when we started NLITA that we'd be even more effective under the umbrella of some larger, national organization, and now that OBAC is moving in the right direction, I'm thrilled to be combining our efforts for the benefit of all owner-operators."
OBAC and NLITA will strive for good working relations with provincial governments and the local business communities in an effort to improve the business climate for Canada's small business truckers, and in a broader context, work to improve highway safety and the image of the owner-operator and the industry in general.
OBAC will continue to seek alliances with existing associations that share OBAC's goals in order to strengthen the presence of the owner-operator in Canada.
"It's good to see owner-operators now have a voice that will be heard right across the country," said Duncan, B.C.-based OBAC vice president, Don Robertson. "Owner-operators will now be well-served from coast to coast."
Robertson and Summers signed the MOU at the NLITA annual meeting in St. John's today.
-- 30 --
OBAC is an innovative, responsive, and results-oriented organization -- the voice of the small-business trucker in Canada.
Owner-Operator's Business Association of Canada (OBAC)
275 Slater Street, Suite 900
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5H9
Telephone: 613-237-6222
Toll Free: 888-794-9990
Fax: 888-205-9991
Website: www.obac.ca
Contact:
Joanne Ritchie
Executive Director, OBAC
jritchie@obac.ca
or
Jon Summers
President, NLITA
P.O. Box 5596
St. John's, NL
A1C 5W4
709-753-8025
nlita2002@hotmail.com
BACKGROUNDER -- NLITA
NLITA
The Newfoundland & Labrador Independent Truckers Association (NLITA) was formed in 2000 when rising fuel and other operating costs made it clear that owner-operators and small independent trucking companies needed strong representation to express their concerns. Since then, NLITA has done much to improve the quality of life for its members and their families.
NLITA has established its credibility within the Newfoundland and Labrador transportation industry, having earned the reputation of being a stabilizing influence for the owner-operators it represents. The volunteer group has developed an outstanding working relationship with the Newfoundland and Labrador provincial government by lending expertise to improve highway safety in the province. Several recommendations put forth by NLITA have already been accepted and acted upon.
Over the past few years, NLITA has been working to develop solutions that plague not only owner-operators but the entire trucking industry, such as the Marine Atlantic ferry service between North Sydney, NS and Port Aux Basque, NL, truck routing in the city of St. John's, and the transport of fresh fish products. Last summer, NLITA organized the "Teddy Bear Run" as a fund raising event for the Janeway Childrens' Hospital in St. John's. Together with the Newfoundland and Labrador Carriers Association and the Transportation Club of St. John's, the group raised $16,000 for the charity.
Comments