What is OOIDA?

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is the international trade association representing the interests of independent owner-operators and professional drivers on all issues that affect truckers. The more than 160,000 members of OOIDA are men and women in all 50 states and Canada who collectively own and/or operate more than 240,000 individual heavy-duty trucks and small truck fleets.

Since 1973, the Association has actively advocated the views of professional truckers through its interaction with state, provincial and federal government agencies, legislatures, the courts, other associations, and private businesses to advance an equitable environment for commercial drivers. OOIDA is active in all aspects of highway safety and transportation policy, and represents the positions of professional truckers on numerous committees and in various forums on the local, state, provincial, national and international levels.

OOIDA is actively involved in the legislative process both on the federal and state level. The Association participates in virtually every significant rulemaking affecting professional truckers, testifies at all major hearings on trucking issues, and participates in industry-wide organizations and conferences.

Our national headquarters is located near Kansas City in Grain Valley, Missouri and is staffed with more than 325 full time employees. All OOIDA Officers and Directors are now or have been professional truckers, and are elected from the membership, by the membership. The 22-member board defines OOIDA's position on all major trucking issues.

OOIDA publishes Land Line Magazine, the trade publication dedicated to keeping professional truckers informed of current legislation, trucking regulations, new products and services, and common interests.

Through its subsidiary, Owner-Operator Services, the Association offers a wide variety of benefit programs to help members reduce costs, and operate more safely and efficiently.

What has OOIDA accomplished?

OOIDA has made great strides during the past 30 years, but we believe the biggest accomplishments are those yet to come.

• In the 70’s, new member benefit programs were added to provide big fleet prices and benefits to small-business truckdrivers. Helping truckers to trim costs and maximize per-mile revenue was (and continues to be) a priority.
• OOIDA worked throughout the 70’s to bring the problems of professional truckers to the attention of lawmakers in Congressional hearings. These hearings resulted in the creation of the leasing regulations that still exist today.
• Additionally, in 1974, and again in 1979, OOIDA was instrumental in getting mandatory fuel surcharge programs for truckers put in place.
• During much of the 80’s, OOIDA worked towards gaining fair tax treatment from individual states. Lawsuits were filed against many states that set up discriminatory tax plans toward owner-operators and millions of dollars were ultimately returned to business owners.
• OOIDA also regularly fought attempts by the US DOT to strip the rights of truckers at random roadside stops and inspections.
• OOIDA’s strong lobbying efforts paid off in 1982 when nationwide uniform truck size and weight limits were established by Congress through the Surface Transportation Assistance Act. Later, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) froze the weight of longer combination vehicles and limited them to routes that were allowed by the states.
• Beginning in the early 90’s, OOIDA challenged the abusive practices of the Tennessee Public Service Commission toward drivers. A few years later, OOIDA (and all drivers) won this battle and the Tennessee PSC was abolished.
• In the mid-90’s, OOIDA was able to convince lawmakers that individual states should decide speed limits—not the U.S. Congress. OOIDA pushed for this change in the law with the help of the National Motorists Association, and over the objections of the American Trucking Association. Still today, you will not find another organization that fights for uniform speed limits or the abolishment of split speed limits for truckers on a consistent basis.
• After the ICC was dissolved, OOIDA fought hard to preserve protections for owner-operators and our efforts paid off as the ICC Termination Act included provisions to retain the truth-in-leasing regulations, allowing truckers to settle carrier disputes by filing a civil suit.
• In recent years, OOIDA attorneys have been focused on stopping the many violations of the leasing regulations that occur in owner-operator leasing contracts. OOIDA continues to file more lawsuits against motor carriers and several states in order to fight unfair and illegal treatment of drivers, violation of lumping laws, and private right of action, as well as double taxation.
• OOIDA continues to work on a number of important trucking issues as lawmakers consider highway programs for the next several years.
• We are fighting efforts to eliminate all regulations that currently apply to transportation brokers as has been proposed by the Bush Administration. We believe there should be far greater oversight…not less.
• We continue to push for creation of more rest areas through any and all means available.
• We are opposing efforts to turn our interstate highways into toll roads while pursuing opportunities to allow truckers to offset their increased costs for fuel, etc., through all available means.
• We are fighting efforts to divert highway tax money to non-highway related purposes.
• We are encouraging lawmakers to pursue a remedy to all of the lost time of drivers in the loading and unloading environment, and how this situation contributes to non-compliance with the rules, and highway safety.
• OOIDA is also pushing for comprehensive mandatory training for entry-level drivers--the kind of training that will teach new drivers to be safe and to comply with the rules—the kind of training that will ultimately elevate the caliber of people seeking to enter this industry as drivers.
• OOIDA fought hard against the DOT's Mexican truck pilot program, and was instrumental in getting the funding cut off for the project.

We are proud of our record of effective representation for the professional trucker. As we grow we will continue to fight for our members' best interests in new and more powerful ways. If you are already a member, you know we value your support. If you haven't yet joined, there’s no time like the present to unite with the more than 160,000 members working to give professional truckers a voice!

Go to the OOIDA Membership Application Page