ATA President Bill Graves Applauds Commitment to Rebuilding Infrastructure

ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Trucking Associations President and CEO Bill Graves today applauded President Obama for his commitment to rebuilding and renewing the country's infrastructure, but called on his administration to live up to that commitment by proposing a robust surface transportation program with a strong focus on highways.

"We agree with President Obama when he said America is operating with 'outdated and inadequate infrastructure,' and we appreciate his commitment to provide the United States with the 'fastest most reliable' transportation system in the world," Graves said following Obama's Feb. 7 address to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "However, we urge the president and his administration to live up to that commitment with a strong focus on traditional highway and bridge projects as they work with Congress to craft the long overdue surface transportation reauthorization."

"The U.S. Department of Transportation said late last month that, by any measure, trucks haul the vast majority of the nation's freight, and America's trucking industry carries these goods safely, efficiently and faster than any of its competitors," Graves said. "Investing in the nation's roads and bridges is among the most efficient ways to create jobs and insure the continued competiveness for U.S. businesses."

The American Trucking Associations (www.truckline.com) is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other trucking groups, industry-related conferences, and its 50 affiliated state trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States. Follow ATA on Twitter @TruckingMatters (www.twitter.com/truckingmatters), or become a fan on Facebook (http://tinyurl.com/y4qwp6h).

SOURCE American Trucking Associations