OTA Dispatch Issue 3, 2021

5 www.ortrucking.org Issue 3 | 2021 ADVOCATING, EDUCATING, AND PROMOTING THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY EVENTS UPCOMING EVENTS of a costly and inadequate technology will have a detrimental domino effect on manufacturers, dealers, carriers, and— eventually—consumers. Most Oregon trucking companies are smaller, often multi-generational, caretakers of the state’s commerce and communities, not the oft- portrayed ruthless robber barons doing anything to make a buck. We must start driving the narrative! There was a lot of tinkering to be done on the first “horseless carriage.” We can’t be like Karl Benz who, 135 years later, would likely still be perfecting the first “Motorwagen” in his garage. His wife Bertha essentially committed the first ever grand theft auto to become the first person in history to drive an automobile over a long distance, thus proving the invention was ready for the world at large. And that’s the key—it was ready. The Benz Motorwagen didn’t break down a block from the garage! We also can’t rush the process when the result will be an inferior technology that’s not suited for the task at hand. Think of putting a 20 HP outboard motor on the Titanic. In theory, the motor was designed to move a “boat.” While a Class 8 truck and a Nissan Leaf are both “vehicles,” there are significant differences in form and function—not to mention size. It’s all about balance and, in Oregon, the scales are being artificially weighted by the environmental lobby. Anyone who uses a truck to make a living needs to jump on to even things out. OTA and its members must lead the way! Innovation and technology drive our constantly evolving world, but innovation can’t be forced. It can only be pursued— and it’s already happening in the trucking world. Our industry does not like to sit idle—at any time, in any way. How and when electric, hydrogen fuel cells, or some as-yet unknown method of powering trucks become commercially viable, cost effective, and a logical transition, our industry will likely embrace it quickly. But we need to be the ones driving decisions on how that future will look. The fight against the DEQ’s “Advanced Clean Truck Rules” won’t be easy and it will take more involvement and investment than ever to alter the course Oregon is on. I encourage you to look for ways to engage and support this fight. Donate to the TruckPAC or the OTA legal fund so we can continue to fight on your behalf. Get on virtual meetings and submit comments. Connect with legislators and other decisionmakers in your area. Tell us what this could mean for you. In effect— share your story! There will be much more to come on this and other issues. We’ll do our best to keep you informed, but please feel free to contact us for more ideas on how you can get involved!