DON JERRELL
Associate Vice President

MEGAN YOUNG
Account Executive, HNI

The transportation industry depends heavily on independent contractors who own their own rigs and lease their services to motor carriers. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, for-hire trucks haul nearly 45 percent of the freight shipped around the U.S. Since trucking remains one of the most dangerous occupations, motor carriers who offer inadequate occupational accident coverage - or none at all - are exposing themselves and their independent contractors to risk. 

FRANK BLAU
Account Executive, HNI

There is a new economy for business. Profit margins are razor thin, error margins are negligible and morale margins are diminished.  Under these conditions, successfully running a business is at best challenging, and at worst, uncertain.  

Two U.S. senators have proposed a 25-cent increase in gas and diesel taxes to fund transportation infrastructure and to pay down federal deficits. Senators George Voinovich, R-OH, and Tom Carper, D-DE, are urging the federal commission to recommend the increase in a report to President Obama due next month.

The senators said the reason for their proposal is two-fold. First, they claim the Highway Trust Fund’s revenue stream is insufficient for current outlays and secondly they maintain the existing level of transportation investment is inadequate to sustain current infrastructure and future transportation improvements.

The senators stated that 15 cents of the increase would go directly to the Highway Trust Fund, while 10 cents would be used to pay down federal deficits at first. After enough debt is paid off, the 10-cent portion would be put into the highways account. While the money raised by the tax proposal would remain in a trust account until Congress passes a multiyear highway bill.

Both senators have the general backing of leaders across the transportation community who would benefit from a cash infusion to highway infrastructure. However, the National Journal speculated that the proposal “is not likely to go anywhere in Congress,” as Rep. John Mica (R-FL), who will chair the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee next year, has recently “put the brakes on talk of a fuel tax increase.”

According to the National Journal, Mica plans to raise the billions needed to improve the highway system by streamlining transportation spending and leveraging public-private partnerships.

MIKE NATALIZIO
President & CEO, HNI
 
Truck Driver Appreciation Week:
A sometimes thankless job that we often take for granted.  The occasional frustration we have all felt following a truck going slower than we'd like. The truck making a right turn that swings into "our" lane of traffic.  We've all had experiences [some good/some not] with trucks.  But how many of you have had experiences with truck drivers?  The real men and women that deliver America day in and day out.  I have had the pleasure to meet and work amongst them.  Their work ethic and pride is greater than any.  There is no other group of workers that demonstrate the essence of our country better.  And yes, we have probably waived a fist at a truck, but it's the driver battling the elements and obstacles to do their job safely that we salute this week.  As you travel in your four wheeler, salute the truck driver and offer your sign of appreciation.   Without truck drivers, America stops!