"Their career is their entire livelihood"
The Inside Lane caught up with Todd Spencer, President of OOIDA for a Q&A about the industry and his role in OOIDA.
Nearly one million owner-operators are registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. These independent trucking businesses play just as critical a role in the freight economy as large logistics firms like J.B. Hunt or Knight-Swift.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association represents the trucking industry's owner-operators. The Inside Lane spoke to Todd Spencer, president of OOIDA, to learn about his story and the independent trucking world's priorities. - Shefali Kapadia
How did you get into the trucking industry?
When I was young, I admired my uncle who was a truck driver and thought it looked “pretty cool.” I began in trucking as an employee-driver in 1974, and in 1976, I purchased a truck and became an owner-operator leased to a carrier.
When did you get involved in OOIDA?
In 1978, I was elected to the OOIDA's Board of Directors. There were less than 1,000 members at that time. In 1981, I sold my two trucks and assumed the role as editor of the Association’s magazine, Land Line, and Communications Director for OOIDA. I was elected Executive Vice President in 1992 and held this position for 26 years before I was elected as President in 2018.
What's the biggest misconception that the public gets wrong about owner-operators?
I would say one misconception is that Owner Operators are the guys and gals out there always bending the rules. When really they are the safest operators on the road. They have families to get back home to like everyone else plus a huge investment in their equipment, so all this means their career is their entire livelihood. I also think that there is a lack of understanding how regulated all drivers are and the challenges they face every day.
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The Inside Lane is curated and written by Shefali Kapadia and edited by Bianca Prieto.
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