Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Road Fix: Mobile Phone App Opens Direct Digital Complaint Line to Congress

Stuck in traffic? Have a cell phone? Here’s your chance to turn your wasted breath into a digital complaint that could actually get something done. Building America’s Future, a bipartisan coalition dedicated to reinvestment in infrastructure, today introduced a new mobile phone app that gives motorists a direct link to their elected representatives.

Oliver Patton
Oliver PattonFormer Washington Editor
Read Oliver's Posts
July 30, 2013
3 min to read


Stuck in traffic? Have a cell phone? Here’s your chance to turn your wasted breath into a digital complaint that could actually get something done.

Building America’s Future, a bipartisan coalition dedicated to reinvestment in infrastructure, today introduced a new mobile phone app that gives motorists a direct link to their elected representatives.

Ad Loading...

With the “I’m Stuck” app, available for free at www.bafture.org, travelers can instantly tell their Senators and Representatives that they are jammed up and something needs to be done about it.

“Usually commuters think traffic is like weather – it is something that happens to them and they have no control over it,” said Ed Rendell, the former governor of Pennsylvania and co-chair of Building America’s Future.

“But that isn’t the case at all. The policies we put in place, or the lack of a coherent long-term infrastructure plan, directly impacts the daily experience of Americans trying to get around their communities,” he said in a statement.

The app gives the public a tool to voice their frustration to Congress, he said. “It is called ‘I’m Stuck,’ but the truth is America is stuck until Washington takes action.”

The app opens with a safety warning: don’t text while you’re driving.

Ad Loading...

The user can either enter his name, address and contact information, which automatically loads the names of his Senators and Representatives, or enter the addressees manually.

It offers standard messages for a variety of situations, from being stuck on the highway to waiting for a bus or on an airport tarmac.

For example: “Dear member – I’m stuck in traffic wasting time, fuel and money. All around me are trucks, commuters and families delayed and frustrated. Please pay attention to America’s ailing and inadequate infrastructure. It’s important. It’s your decision. It’s past time.”

Or you can write your own message, and include a photograph of the situation.

The app becomes available at a critical point in the ongoing debate over investment in infrastructure.

Ad Loading...

The current federal highway program expires in a little over a year. It initiates significant reforms at the Department of Transportation but in terms of funding it is a stopgap measure.

The Highway Trust Fund, a principle source of revenue for U.S. roads, bridges and mass transit, has been flirting with insolvency for the past seven years as the intake from fuel taxes has remained stagnant while needs have increased.

Congress and the White House are facing a tough political decision.

The choice is to eliminate all highway and mass transit spending in 2015, raise the tax on motor fuels by about 10 cents per gallon or transfer about $15 billion from the General Fund to the Highway Trust Fund, Kim Cawley of the Congressional Budget Office recently told Congress.

The “I’m Stuck” app is designed to give citizens a way to directly weigh in on that decision. “(It) will empower citizens to tell their Member of Congress that it is time to reinvest in America,” Building America’s Future said.

 

More Fleet Management

Daimler-Class8 partnership.
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseFebruary 2, 2026

DTNA Partners with Class8 to Expand Digital Services for Freightliner Owner-Operators

A new partnership brings free wireless ELD service plus load optimization and dispatch planning tools to fourth- and fifth-generation Freightliner Cascadia customers, with broader model availability planned through 2026.

Read More →
SponsoredFebruary 1, 2026

Reducing Fleet Downtime with Advanced Diagnostics

This white paper examines how advanced commercial vehicle diagnostics can significantly reduce fleet downtime as heavy duty vehicles become more complex. It shows how Autel’s CV diagnostic tools enable in-house troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, and faster repairs, helping fleets cut emissions-related downtime, reduce dealer dependence, and improve overall vehicle uptime and operating costs.

Read More →
SponsoredFebruary 1, 2026

Stop Watching Footage, Start Driving Results

6 intelligent dashcam tactics to improve safety and boost ROI

Read More →
Ad Loading...
M&A illustration with Werner and FirstFleet logos
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeJanuary 29, 2026

Werner Expands Dedicated Fleet Nearly 50% With FirstFleet Acquisition

The $283 million acquisition of FirstFleet makes Werner the fifth-largest dedicated carrier and pushes more than half of its revenue into contract freight.

Read More →
Bobit Business Media B2X Rewards.
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseJanuary 29, 2026

Bobit Business Media Launches B2X Rewards Engagement Program

B2X Rewards is a new, gamified rewards program aimed at driving deeper engagement across BBM’s digital platforms, newsletters, events, and TheFleetSource.com.

Read More →
Trucking Trends series graphic
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeJanuary 29, 2026

AI is Reshaping Trucking in 2026, from the Back Office to the Shop

Trucking’s biggest technology shifts in 2026 have one thing in common: artificial intelligence.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Column graphic illustration with Deborah Lockridge head shot and a small fleet truck in the background
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeJanuary 27, 2026

Why Small Trucking Fleets Are Still Standing [Commentary]

Why discipline, relationships, and focus have mattered more than size for smaller trucking fleets during the freight recession.

Read More →
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeJanuary 23, 2026

Cargo Theft Is Surging. A Bill in Congress Could Help. [Video]

Cargo theft losses hit $725 million last year. In this HDT Talks Trucking Short Take video, Scott Cornell explains how a bill moving in Congress could bring federal tracking, enforcement, and prosecutions to help address the problem.

Read More →
CargoNet infographic showing 2025 cargo theft trends
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeJanuary 22, 2026

Cargo Theft Losses Jump 60% in 2025 as Criminals Target Higher-Value Freight

Cargo theft activity across North America held relatively steady in 2025 — but the financial damage did not, as ever-more-sophisticated organized criminal groups shifted their cargo theft focus to higher-value shipments.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Phillips Connect -- McLeod smart trailer TMS.
Fleet ManagementJanuary 22, 2026

Phillips Connect, McLeod Integrate Smart Trailer Data into TMS Workflows

A new partnership between Phillips Connect and McLeod allows fleets to view trailer health, location, and cargo status inside the same McLeod workflows used for planning, dispatch, and execution.

Read More →