OTA Dispatch Issue 4 2019

www.ortrucking.org 7 Issue 4 | 2019 support some type of government action. The catch? Most voters are unwilling to pay more than ten cents per gallon of fuel to combat climate change. HB 2020 would have raised fuel prices by at least twenty cents per gallon in its first year. You can probably already picture the commercials in your mind. Taken together, these factors all complicate the picture in Salem for 2020. We are continuing to work with a large coalition of impacted industries to push back on harmful carbon policy in Oregon. This primarily involves an on-going education effort with legislators. Right now, some legislators understand that we recently passed a $5.3 billion transportation package which won’t be fully implemented until 2024. Some know that this places Oregon squarely in first place as the most expensive state to operate a heavy truck. They get that taxing motor fuels through cap-and-trade raises the cost of living for everyone in their district. Some are aware that we currently have several carbon programs for fuel in place, such as the Oregon Clean Fuels Program or the Oregon Renewable Fuel Standard. A select few understand that aggressive carbon policies will jeopardize the Highway Trust Fund, siphon funds away from crucial infrastructure projects, and hurt Oregon’s bond ratings. Stay tuned for regular updates on this issue as well as many others as they unfold during the short session. While the limited time frame means passage of cap-and-trade is more difficult in 2020, it is abundantly clear proponents are going to zealously push for their flagship agenda item, no matter how much it costs. We must stay organized and vigilant, because this fight is far from over.  Lastly, we can’t forget our events! Oregon’s trucking industry is a community and it’s vital that we meet up as often as possible to connect with others with similar interests and goals. OTA events offer the perfect opportunity to mix learning, networking and, often, a bit of fun as we come together to celebrate our industry. Not only can you connect with other members, our events feature experts in their respective fields who have the information and insights that can bring clarity to the issues we face. Check out OTA’s wide variety of events scheduled through 2020, including the Spring Safety Conference, Maintenance & Education Fair/SuperTech, Truck Driving Championships and the Annual Convention. We also hold multiple member mixers and other get-togethers throughout the year. Put these on your calendar now and check the OTA Event Calendar often! This past year has easily been the busiest, most challenging of my professional life, but having the opportunity to work with you—and represent you—is also the highlight of my career! As you read this column, please take a moment and commit to finding a way to get more involved with OTA. We have a variety of committees needing your participation, a number of events needing your attendance, and a range of programming to meet your business needs. And if we don’t have what you need—call me! OTA, like the trucking industry, is constantly changing and we look to our members to keep us pointed in the right direction! I’m looking forward to seeing more of you in 2020!  From the President, continued from page 5