Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

ATA Voices Concern Over 'Shoot the Gap' Volkswagen Commercial

The American Trucking Associations sent a letter to Volkswagen voicing concern over its new television commercial "Shoot the Gap," which portrays a passenger car driver passing a tractor-trailer on the right side and pulling into a small gap between the two tractor-trailers

by Staff
July 27, 2010
1 min to read


The American Trucking Associations sent a letter to Volkswagen voicing concern over its new television commercial "Shoot the Gap," which portrays a passenger car driver passing a tractor-trailer on the right side and pulling into a small gap between the two tractor-trailers.


In the letter, ATA President and CEO Bill Graves expressed his concern about the message it sends about safely sharing the road with large trucks.

Graves emphasized that the trucking industry has worked hard to improve safety; ATA has educated motorists on how to safely drive around tractor-trailers for more than 20 years through the national highway safety program Share the Road.

Graves says the driver in the commercial pulls into a gap too small to safely navigate the road without endangering passengers.

"The highway system plays a vital role in the movement of both people and freight and it is the responsibility of passenger vehicle drivers and commercial vehicle drivers alike to ensure we safely reach our destinations," Graves said in the letter. "We respectfully request that you reconsider your current campaign and work with us to promote the seriousness of reckless driving."

View the new commercial here:



More Safety & Compliance

YouTube thumbnail showing man being interviewed and backup camera and in-cab screen showing backup video
Safety & Compliance•by Deborah Lockridge•October 23, 2026

More Trailer Data Through the Same Seven-Way [Video]

Can trucking’s standard seven-way connector handle more cameras and trailer data? Grote’s Adam Slade shows HDT how the company is using new technology with its 4See trailer system, not only to add a new backup camera but also to expand other capabilities — without adding another connection.

Read More →
Screen capture showing PrePass Intelligence data on tolls
Fleet Management•by News/Media Release•October 21, 2026

PrePass Intelligence Mines Fleet Bypass, Toll and Safety Data

PrePass Intelligence helps fleets measure bypass savings, flag potential toll overcharges, and spot suspicious transactions by combining data from separate systems.

Read More →
View of the crash scene with the crash location, high- and low-speed lanes, direction of travel, gore area, and concrete barrier annotated
Safety & Compliance•by Staff•October 16, 2026

Fatal Crash Exposes Toll Plaza Risks

An NTSB investigation found that last-minute lane changes and large speed differences at an Ohio toll plaza created a hazard the truck driver couldn't avoid in time.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Man with police badge on his arm by an open commercial truck door examining paperwork
Safety & Compliance•October 15, 2026

When Language Stops the Truck: The Return of ELP Out-of-Service Orders

English language proficiency rules for commercial drivers aren’t new, but renewed out-of-service enforcement has raised the stakes. Here’s what carriers need to know before a driver reaches a roadside inspection.

Read More →
A man standing at the driver entrance of a blue work truck.
Sponsored•October 6, 2026

A Camera Isn't a Safety Program. Here's What Brokers Are Screening for Now

Footage alone may not be enough to pass broker vetting processes. Here's what counts as a defensible safety program now.

Read More →
Cover Feature graphic showing various forms of cannabis/marijuana products
Safety & Compliance•by Deborah Lockridge•October 5, 2026

Marijuana and Trucking’s Drug-Testing Dilemma

Marijuana is getting stronger, laws are changing, and drug tests still can’t reliably establish impairment. What does that mean for truck drivers and the fleets that employ them?

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Kodiak tractor-trailer on highway with insets of a weigh station sign and inside of a weigh station control room
Safety & Compliance•by News/Media Release•September 21, 2026

PrePass, Kodiak Connect Driverless Trucks to Roadside Enforcement

The system will allow enforcement agencies to verify Enhanced Inspection information and decide whether Kodiak’s autonomous trucks can bypass roadside screening sites.

Read More →
Photo of smiling truck driver Harold Perry with arms crossed in front of Southeastern Freight Lines truck
Drivers•September 17, 2026

From One Generation to the Next: How Mentorship Builds Safer Truck Drivers

After three decades in trucking, Harold Perry shares what he's learned about driver safety, mentorship, and helping the next generation build confidence behind the wheel.

Read More →
Mobile tablet showing Motus screen against highway background with Motus logo
Fleet Management•by Staff•September 15, 2026

FMCSA Pauses Biennial-Update Enforcement Amid Motus Transition

Carriers whose updates were due on or after June 1 have more time, while FMCSA works to stabilize its new registration system and warns of phishing sites impersonating its new carrier registration system, Motus.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Presentation slide showing ZF's North American market growth
Equipment•by Deborah Lockridge•September 10, 2026

ZF Expands Commercial Vehicle Push in North America

ZF is expanding its North American commercial-vehicle presence with new transmission applications, electrification, trailer technology and autonomous-driving systems.

Read More →