TLA62_AllPages

A CHAT WITH THE CHAIRMAN
During a visit to the TCA’s Arlington, Virginia, headquarters, Williams took time out for an impromptu photo shoot with members of the association’s staff.
ensure their drivers and employees are satisfied with the
opportunities they have in front of them?
It takes work to understand what an employee is looking to get out
of their relationship with a company. In the truckload market, there is so
much diversity in our driving jobs alone — there are long haul jobs, local
jobs, and regional jobs. There are loads that require significant physical
demands for unloading, while other loads are virtually no-touch. Some
freight is so time-sensitive that it may shut down a factory if it is late,
while other freight may sit for weeks after delivery. There are companies
that supply the newest high-tech equipment, and there are those that buy
equipment that has already been around the block a few times. Some
routes run though the open roads of the Midwest, while others may run
through gridlocked mega-metropolitan cities. There are cold-weather
climates and climates that are blazing hot.
Depending on the combination of those factors, our drivers are going to
have different expectations for compensation, benefits, and opportunities
for personal growth. After accounting for all the workplace variables, I
believe it really comes down to relationships. Communicating well, being
available, listening to concerns, setting clear expectations, following
through on what you say you will do, and showing genuine concern will
always yield positive results. There are no one-size-fits-all problems, and
there are no one-size-fits-all solutions. However, there are some best
practices in how we treat people that will resonate no matter what.
Earlier this year TCA, along with a handful of other
industry groups, came together to form the Clean Freight
Coalition. As the nation progresses along the road to zero
emissions, concerns about the time line and the feasibility
of developing technology remain. What progress has the
coalition made in addressing these concerns?
I have said and written much about this topic over the last few months.
Should the current proposed rules and time lines stand, this could be one
of the single biggest transformational events in the history of our industry.
I am not trying to be dramatic — that is just how I see it. One of our
challenges is that the rules keep changing, sometimes for the good but
oftentimes, not so much. The Clean Freight Coalition has gotten off to a
slower start than many of us wanted, but you should expect to hear and
see more from this group in the coming months. With multiple federal and
state government agencies involved that are not in sync, it creates some
very challenging dynamics. In addition, the entire subject has become
strongly partisan, so the difficulty level rises again. This issue is too
important for our industry. We certainly want to do our part in preserving
clean air and clean water, but these rules have to work for our industry.
Rest assured that we will be fighting hard to make sure that whatever
happens won’t put the nation’s supply chain in jeopardy.
The annual TCA Officers’ Planning Meeting is something
participants look forward to each year, not just for fun
and fellowship, but also for the chance to brainstorm
about issues facing the trucking industry. Please share a
little bit about this year’s meeting.
Sponsored by Mcleod software / McLeodSoftware.com / 877.362.5363
26 Truckload Authority | www.Truckload.org TCA SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023