ATA Boss: “Keep on Truckin'”

ATA Boss: “Keep on Truckin’”

GRAPEVINE, TX – American Trucking Associations (ATA) CEO Bill Graves told truckers that “’keep on truckin’ is not just a slogan it’s an economic imperative for America.” And it’s sheer numbers that will drive the industry.

“In almost every speech I make,” he said, “I point out the expected population growth of America –- expected to grow from 300 million people in 2006 to 400 million by 2050 – something on the order of adding a city the size of Houston or Chicago each and every year.

“Four hundred million people need a lot of good stuff and most of the time we’ll be bringing it. ‘Keep on Truckin’ is not just a slogan it’s an economic imperative,” Graves told the assembled trucking executives.

According to the ATA’s economist Bob Costello, the trucks’ share of total freight tonnage will rise from 67.2 percent in 2010 to 70 percent in 2022.

“And that’s from a tonnage pie that grows from just less than nine billion tons of freight to over 11.5 billion tons,” Graves said. During that same period of time, the corresponding trucking revenue pie grows from $563 billion to $937 billion.

“Surely,” he said, “y’all can split up $374 billion in revenue growth and get along and be happy.”

So, he said, inasmuch as the short term looks full of potholes and obstacles, “I really believe we are blessed with a country, with a people and with an economy that is capable of surviving anything our government can throw at it.

Even with consumer confidence down, unemployment up and many businesses “on the sidelines,” Graves said “there is an inviting, long road ahead for trucking.”