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Truckload Carriers Association Banner Slide Show
TRUCKLOAD
        CARRIERS
                ASSOCIATION

For Immediate Release

SEPTEMBER 21, 2000

Contact: Kristie Kehoe, Director of Communications
703-838-1950 or kkehoe@truckload.org

TCA and National Industrial Transportation League Adopt Voluntary Guide for Good Business Relations

Guide Emphasizes Good Business Relations for Shippers, Receivers, Carriers and Drivers

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) and the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) have jointly adopted a Voluntary Guide for Good Business Relations that, it is hoped, will emphasize reasonable and common-sense treatment of those involved in truck transportation.

The "Voluntary Guide to Good Business Relations for Shippers, Receivers, Carriers, and Drivers" identifies guidelines that the two groups believe are beneficial in governing the relations of the four primary parties involved in truck transportation. The guidelines are not intended to serve as industry standards or to create legal rights or responsibilities of any party, but to outline mutually desirable business practices to which responsible shippers, receivers, carriers, and drivers, should aspire.

"We're thrilled to have an agreement with the nation's premier shipper's association on a group of principles that we think will promote better communications and stronger business relations" said Bob Hansen, Chairman of TCA. Ed Emmett, President of NITL, agreed, saying "These voluntary guidelines are both ethical and good for business. I'm convinced that most League members already follow them, but it is important to stress the need for shippers and carriers to cooperate with each other."

The Guide addresses several aspects of transportation that have been sources of frustration and irritation, and sometimes present obstacles to the expeditious movement of freight and equipment. Examples of subject areas that are addressed include treating drivers and shipping and receiving personnel with courtesy and respect; assuring that safe practices are followed; fostering honesty, fairness, and openness in dealings between carriers and shippers, and expediting the movement of equipment. More than 50 individual principles spell out specific guidelines, examples of which include quoting transit times that are compatible with drivers' hours of service regulations and prevailing speed limits, and maintaining reasonable hours for loading and unloading.

Richard E. Durst, President and CEO of Arctic Express, Inc., of Hilliard, Ohio, and Chair of the TCA management panel that worked with NITL in developing the Guide, was proud of the cooperation that took place over the 18 months that it took to develop the Guide. He noted that the project was initially undertaken to help improve the industry's driver turnover problem, which is exacerbated by the poor treatment that some drivers receive at loading and unloading docks. "There was no finger-pointing by anyone as to why any one of these guidelines might be necessary. We started out trying to help improve the driver's working environment, and realized that that only addressed one aspect of the relationship. It was natural to expand the reach of the guidelines so that everyone in the transaction knows what to expect, and so there will be as few surprises as possible."

Many of the loading dock conditions fall upon truckload carriers and drivers, but the Guide is intended to be used by, and to benefit, LTL carriers, flatbed haulers, movers, and other trucking niches. Mr. Hansen was optimistic as he contemplated the future opportunities the Guide provides. "This Guide shows that we have established a good cooperative working relationship between shippers and truckload carriers, and I think this is probably just the first of many beneficial projects that our two groups will be working on."

Editor's Note: CLICK HERE to see the Guide. For further questions, please contact the Truckload Carriers Association at 703/838-1950 the National Industrial Transportation League at 703/524-5011 or www.nitl.org.

TCA is the only national trade association whose collective sole focus is the truckload segment of the motor carrier industry. The association represents dry van, refrigerated, flatbed, and intermodal container carriers operating in the 48 contiguous states as well as Alaska, Mexico, and Canada. Representing operators of over 200,000 trucks, which collectively produce an annual revenue of over $20 billion, TCA is an organization tailored to specific truckload carrier needs.