The Truckload Carriers Association could be ready to introduce its new president at its annual meeting set for Feb. 28 to March 3, outgoing President Jim Ward told Trucking Dive.
“The search committee is making great progress,” Ward said. “Our timeline is to introduce my replacement at our upcoming annual meeting.”
Shortly after the new leader is in place, Ward said his next step “will be riding off into the sunset.”
TCA announced Ward’s retirement plans in October. He will step away following a tenure that began in 2022.
The organization hailed Ward for taking over the leadership role as the industry was experiencing significant change. Ward led efforts attempting to repeal the federal excise tax and welcomed TCA’s first Mexico-based carrier.
Advocacy work for trucking continues
Although Ward’s time leading the TCA is winding down, he will continue to prioritize advocating for policy change benefiting an industry to which he has dedicated more than four decades of his life.
During his tenure, Ward and TCA have discussed numerous topics with congressional leaders, including the authorization of the federal Highway Trust Fund, which pays for assorted surface transportation projects nationwide.
Ward said the trust fund’s reauthorization is coming up next year. As the process loops, the TCA is concerned about how to ensure enough dollars are available to not only improve roadway infrastructure but also maintain existing roads in need of repair, Ward said.
Raising the federal tax collected on diesel and gasoline purchases by 3½ cents could be a solution, Ward said. He suggested the increase could generate about $21 annually per motorist.
He recognizes raising taxes is unpopular but may be necessary, as vehicle repair costs are considerably higher.
“Because of the lack of improvement and repair to the highway system, [vehicle repairs] cost them a whole lot more than $21 a year,” Ward said.
