Media Release: Eagan, MN
Will you vote? If you are a professional truck driver,
your livelihood may depend on who wins this election. If you care
about the cost of diesel fuel and new Hours of Service rules,
you CAN’T AFFORD to skip this election. Predictions are that the
upcoming Presidential election will be close, and the outcome
of these issues depends on who wins on November 7. Your vote may
make the difference.
Truck Drivers Are Under-Represented
“Dart has always felt that independent contractors and other truck
drivers are under-represented at the polls because they’re often
away from home on election day,” observes Don Oren,
President of Dart Transit Company and Fleetline, Inc. Their missing
votes are a major concern for Oren and Dart because it means that
the needs and viewpoints of trucking aren’t fully appreciated
in the halls of government. “It doesn’t have to be that way,”
Mr. Oren says, because the law allows truck drivers to vote in
advance with absentee ballots before November 7. As an advocate
for independent owner operators, Dart is making it easier for
truck drivers to obtain those absentee ballots. Information on
voter registration, and obtaining absentee ballots is available
at this website. Just click here
to find hyperlinks to state offices.
What’s At Stake?
Al Gore and George W. Bush, the two major candidates, stand worlds
apart on the two issues that most directly impact the trucking
industry. This is how the candidates compare:
High Fuel Prices
- For many years, Gore has called
for higher fuel prices to reduce consumption.
- Bush supports an energy policy that
increases domestic energy production, reduces dependence on
foreign oil, and reduces energy costs.
Hours of Service
- The Clinton/Gore administration
pushed for fast passage of a badly flawed revision of hours
of service rules. Observers expect a President Gore to push
this proposal along with stronger and more pervasive government
control of individual truck owners and drivers.
- By contrast, Bush opposes the new
rules proposed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
because they would cripple the trucking industry. Expect a
President Bush to direct the DOT to do more study so that
new rules will actually improve safety without destroying
the industry’s efficiency.
“When I look at these issues, it is obvious
to me that the election of George W. Bush is very important for
the owner-operators and drivers who deliver America’s freight.
Seldom has the trucking industry had so much at stake in one election.
Analysts expect a very close election, so it is crucial that every
member of the trucking industry vote,” he continued. “And for
many truck drivers, that means voting by absentee ballot. Get your absentee ballot
– AND VOTE!”
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