ARLINGTON, Va. – As part of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association’s (MEMA) Ride ‘N Drive event at the U.S. Capitol, America’s Road Team will bring the American Trucking Associations’ high-tech Image Trailer to Washington D.C. April 27. Captains will be on hand to show lawmakers, congressional and regulatory staff, and media, the important technological features that today’s tractor-trailers utilize, as well as discuss the industry’s commitment to safety.
Lawmakers, regulatory agencies, members of the media and the public are encouraged to visit the trailer to see the interactive trucking displays and educational demonstrations. Attendees will be able to drive a truck simulator, to see what it is like to get behind the wheel of a tractor-trailer. The America’s Road Team, elite professional truck drivers with millions of accident-free miles, will also be present to share their message of highway safety and discuss why the trucking industry is so important to the nation.
“I’m on the road everyday, making deliveries to keep the economy moving,” said Jerry Charron, a professional truck driver for Con-way Freight. “I’m honored to come to the U.S. Capitol to show those who write and implement our laws why the trucking industry is so important. Hopefully, seeing and experiencing a truck first-hand will help demonstrate our role.”
America’s Road Team Captains Jerry Charron (Con-way Freight), Steve Fields (YRC) and Jim Gallagher (YRC) will all be featured at the event. These drivers are members of an elite team of million-mile, accident-free truck drivers who deliver the trucking industry’s safety messages across the country.
Captain Jim Gallagher told reporters, “Simply put – trucks move America. By bringing this high-tech tractor-trailer to the Capitol, we can give some perspective on what we do in terms of safety, and also demonstrate the importance of the industry in delivering everything Americans use and consume daily.”
The America's Road Team, sponsored by
Volvo Trucks North America, is a national public outreach program led by a small group of professional truck drivers who share superior driving skills, remarkable safety records and a strong desire to spread the word about safety on the highway.
www.americasroadteam.com
The Image Trailer, which was donated to ATA by
GE Trailer Fleet Services, travels the United States visiting State Capitols, high schools, community events and more. The 53-foot custom drop deck show trailer, fully wrapped in an American flag themed graphic, features a mobile conference room with seven projection screens, educational displays and room for interactive trucking demonstrations. The trailer is pulled by a Volvo VN780 tractor, donated by Volvo Trucks North America.
The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association supports its members through its three affiliate associations, Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA), and Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA). MEMA represents more than 650 member companies with global motor vehicle parts sales exceeding $600 billion and 65 percent of North American automotive supplier sales. For more information on the motor vehicle parts supplier industry, please visit
www.mema.org.
The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other trucking groups, industry-related conferences, and its 50 affiliated state trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States.
www.truckline.com