WOMEN IN TRUCKING Ellen Voie
Influencing Legislation Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States. He reportedly liked to relax in the Willard Hotel’s lobby in Washington DC, where he would sit with a cigar and a glass of brandy. Over time, political advocates would gather to buy him a drink for a few minutes of his attention and to influence his decisions. The term “lobbyist” was eventually used to describe these men seeking to change the President’s views. Today we use the term to describe a person whose job is to influence our elected officials’ policies and attitudes. Special interest groups hire these people to represent them and their members. A lobbyist typically works for an industry, a corporation, or even a non-profit association such as Women in Trucking (WIT). There are strict rules in place regarding the giving of gifts, meals, and other items of value in the practice of lobbying. Since WIT is an IRS-designated 501(c)(6) professional/trade organization, we are often asked whether members dues are 6 • OVER THE ROAD
spent on lobbying. Since the practice is to influence legislation, we rarely involve ourselves in trucking issues because we represent both Drivers and carriers, and their interests are not always in alignment. We leave the lobbying to groups such as ATA, OOIDA and NASTC. However, we do try to educate our elected officials in numerous ways. One way is that we offer them a ride-along with an Image Team member. We have given Senators, US Representatives, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator (FMCSA) Administrators, NTSB Chairwoman and many members of the media rides with our female drivers. The drivers are encouraged to offer their opinions when asked but instructed to state that the views given are their own and might not represent their carrier or the association. It is surprising how many of our elected officials are not familiar with the trucking industry and our focus on safety. More recently, we supported legislation by Senators Moran (R-KS) and Baldwin (D-WI) APRIL 2021
