Encourage Your Legislators to Support HB 155!

The Ohio Trucking Association and Ohio Association of Movers need YOUR help in contacting your local Ohio House Representative encouraging them to support House Bill 155, one of the pieces of legislation of the Trucking Employment Acts introduced last March that addresses the growing driver shortage by offering tax credits to those businesses that provide on-the-job training for employees obtaining their CDL license.

To contact your legislator, please click on the " Act Now! " link. Simply fill in your contact information and click "Review Your Message."

If you want to send your own email, there is a suggested script for you to use (see below example).

However, if you choose, you can update and personalize the script before you send it to your legislator.

If you click on the " Act Now! " link your legislator will automatically be pulled in as a recipient when you type in your address and zip code; this ensures that you are contacting the legislator from your district.

Please help us in making our voice heard!

With direct encouragement from members of the industry, we believe that we can make House Bill 155 a reality and ensure the success of our industry in the future!

ACT NOW!

EXAMPLE OF EMAIL

SUBJECT LINE: Please Support HB 155: Grant Tax Credit for Training Commercial Vehicle Operator

June 20, 2018

Dear Representative:

I contact you today to urge your support for HB 155, which would provide much needed resources to address the driver shortage facing the trucking industry.

The country's trucking industry is the lifeblood of the U.S. economy. Nearly 70% of all the freight tonnage moved in the U.S. is transported by trucks. Moving 9.2 billion tons of freight annually requires nearly 3 million heavy-duty Class 8 trucks and over 3 million drivers. Unfortunately, there are not enough drivers to meet demand. The American Trucking Associations report that the current driver shortage is at 50,000 and is projected to grow to over 200,000 by 2025. This driver shortage has prevented businesses from growing and threatens the overall economy.

A career in truck driving is extremely stable and well paid. The U.S. Department of Labor places the median annual salary for truck drivers around $40,000. These salaries can often grow to exceed $100,000. Driving is a skill that can easily be transferred between multiple industries that require heavy-duty vehicle operators. Regrettably, the state of Ohio offers few programs to encourage individuals to enter the profession.

HB 155 attempts to address the driver shortage problem in the trucking industry by providing an incentive to businesses to invest in on-the-job training. This training will help drivers obtain a CDL or teach additional skills after an individual has already obtained his or her CDL. Often this training is an extension of the education process and helps drivers develop a skill set that will allow them to gain lifelong employment. The legislation would make an employer eligible for a credit against the income tax. The credit would be equal to one-half of the employer's actual training expenses and would be capped at $25,000. The total amount of credits that may be awarded each year would be limited to $3 million. This investment will be repaid by the growth in tax revenue from a growing economy and the drivers who are trained through these programs.

HB 155 is an important piece of legislation aimed at addressing this serious problem in the trucking industry. I hope you will support the legislation and urge for passage before legislators break for summer recess.

Sincerely,

State your name

A Message from the President of Toledo Trucking Association

Please reach out to me if you have any questions about our events, association or membership.

Neil Chryst, President

tta@toledotrucking.com

Toledo Trucking Association | members@toledotrucking.com