Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association
1 NW OOIDA Drive, Grain Valley, MO  64029
Web site: www.ooida.com

Contact: Norita Taylor, norita_taylor@ooida.com 
Headquarters: (800) 444-5791

(Grain Valley, Mo., May 23, 2008) – The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is grateful that an amendment that will protect truckers and tax payers from being exploited by intermediaries in the trucking industry has been included in the Defense Authorization Bill.

The amendment stipulates that for any Department of Defense contract for truck transportation or service using fuel, the motor carrier or broker must pass any fuel surcharge on to the person responsible for paying the cost of fuel and to disclose that surcharge.

“We are thankful to Congress for making sure valuable taxpayer dollars are spent wisely to support our men and women in uniform and those who support them on the home front,” said OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer. “Especially as we head into the Memorial Day holiday and think about the hard-working people that haul loads for the DoD. This is an important issue for truckers because nearly half of OOIDA’s members are veterans of military service.”

The amendment garnered bipartisan support from U.S. Reps. Ike Skelton, D-MO, Duncan Hunter, R-CA, and Peter DeFazio, D-OR, and passed on a voice vote without objection.

“The money from fuel surcharges should not go to pad someone’s pocket, but be used properly to support our military actions and efforts,” added Spencer.

Fuel surcharges have long been the primary mechanism for trucking companies to respond to increased fuel costs. With diesel prices consistently rising, shippers are paying more now in fuel surcharges to get their freight moved than ever before.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is the national trade association representing the interests of small-business trucking professionals and professional truck drivers. The Association currently has more 161,000 members nationwide. OOIDA was established in 1973 and is headquartered in the greater Kansas City, MO, area.