News From ASET - Summer, 2007

ASET Partners With NIT League

Americans for Safe & Efficient Transportation agreed to partner with the National Industrial Transportation League (NIT League) to form a relationship that will seek out new trucking productivity improvements. This partnership is a natural fit given the long history of cooperation between both institutions. Since John Ficker, CEO of NIT League, has taken over as chief advocate for their association, NIT League has been a constant source of assistance both in terms of strategic planning and vocal support with various groups.

This effort will not affect ASET members as our coalition will stay intact but be brought under the NIT League umbrella so-to-speak. There will be an added emphasis put on trucking productivity within NIT League. Obviously, truck weight and possibly size will be top issues on the agenda of this new focus but other issues will be addressed as well such as infrastructure enhancements, capacity constraints, and technology improvements - all placed in an overall discussion of how to improve freight movement.

The short-term goals will be to structure this partnership and bring all the supporting parties to the table under NIT League's banner and to let Congress and both the shipper and trucking industries know we still will lobby in favor of trucking productivity. The long-term objective remains the same: we must have concrete legislation included in the next congressional highway bill. That bill will most likely begin deliberations in earnest in 2008 and within two or three years be signed and finalized. NIT League will reach out to other major players as well such as the American Trucking Associations, the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and even the railroads themselves to try and find common ground.

Because NIT League is a large entity with many issues to tackle, ASET will still be vital to making the arguments and developing the strategic plan for how we will ultimately achieve our goal of increasing trucking productivity. As part of the partnership, Jake Jacoby, Executive Director of ASET, will serve as a consultant to NIT League while maintaining his duties to ASET. Part of his functions will be to oversee the Highway Transportation Committee and the HAZMAT Committee at NIT League.

Due to the change in structure, all those who wish to reach Jake Jacoby to discuss ASET business or to learn more about this new partnership are encouraged to call him at the NIT League offices at (703) 524-5011. His e-mail address for ASET business will remain jjacoby@aset-safety.org

We look forward to a fruitful partnership with NIT League to help build the coalition for increasing truck weights and potentially size in the near future.