The Executive Committee of the American Trucking Associations decided to support a bill to ban texting by all drivers.
in a vote Wednesday

The bill, known as the Avoiding Life-Endangering and Reckless Texting by Drivers Act, or "ALERT Drivers" Act, is being sponsored by U.S. Sens. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Mary Landrieu (D-L.A.) and Kay Hagan (D-N.C.). The rule would mandate that states enforce the texting ban within the next two years or lose 25 percent of their federal highway funds per year. However, if states comply after the two-year deadline, they can collect highway funds retroactively. The law would exempt texting while driving in emergency situations.

"A year ago, trucking industry leaders called the nation's attention to the dangers of texting and cell phone use by drivers of all motor vehicles," said Bill Graves, ATA president and CEO. "ATA is continuing this leadership this year by supporting Sen. Schumer's effort to eliminate this dangerous threat to safety on our highways."

Earlier this week, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association announced its support of a ban on texting while driving.

ATA's Board of Directors also voted on three policy statements, including supporting the use of on-board safety systems, on the use of natural gas as a truck fuel, and on educating and testing passenger vehicle drivers on operating safely near trucks.

The text of those resolutions are:

On-board Technology
"ATA supports the use of onboard safety systems for all motor vehicles in an effort to enhance the safety of all roadway users (to include, but not limited to, lane departure warning systems, brake stroke monitoring systems, automated transmissions, vehicle stability control and collision avoidance systems) and believes incentives should be provided to encourage their adoption."

Natural Gas
"Natural gas should remain a voluntary alternative fuel. The trucking industry supports financial incentives to encourage trucking companies to use natural gas, provided that those financial incentives do not reduce money allocated to the highway trust fund. The trucking industry opposes government actions that artificially increase the cost of diesel fuel compared to other transportation fuels."

Passenger Vehicle Driver Education and Testing
"States that currently conduct driver education shall educate and test new drivers on awareness and safe interaction with commercial motor vehicle traffic. Such education must require classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel training that includes, but is not limited to, truck stopping distances, proper distances for following trucks, identification of truck blind spots, and avoidance of driving in those blind spots. Testing shall also include the above issues."