ARLINGTON, Va., March 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello received an appointment March 30 from U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to the Advisory Council on Transportation Statistics (ACTS), which advises the Department's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

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"I am very honored to be asked to serve in this capacity," said Costello.  "Data is going to become even more critical, not just for freight, but for all modes of transportation in the future.  I look forward to working with BTS on this exciting venture."

The Department of Transportation hopes that the 10 new members of ACTS will help the Department coordinate its data and eventually make recommendations to BTS on how to increase the relevance and quality of its data.

"We are thrilled that Bob has this opportunity," said ATA Chairman Tommy Hodges.  "His knowledge greatly benefits ATA and I am certain he brings great skills and insights to this collaborative group."

Other members of ACTS, created by the SAFETEA-LU highway bill of 2005, include experts from state departments of transportation, higher education and other transportation groups.

Costello joined ATA in 1997 and manages ATA's collection, analysis and dissemination of trucking economic information, including several monthly trucking economic indicators, motor carrier financial and operating data, an annual freight transportation forecast, driver wage studies, weekly diesel fuel price and economic reports, and a yearly trucking almanac. Costello also conducts economic analyses of proposed regulations and legislation affecting the trucking industry.

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 fifty affiliated state trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States.

SOURCE American Trucking Associations

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