In April, OOIDA members Sherrie and Bob Bond of Chehalis, WA, met with U.S. Rep. Brian Baird, D-WA, about how high fuel costs are affecting truckers' livelihoods. In response to that meeting, Baird's office announced this week that he will be hosting a community forum to discuss the impact of high fuel costs on truckers in Washington state.

The meeting will be held on August 8, 2008 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the W.F. West High School in Chehalis, Washington.

Sherrie Bond is scheduled to speak during the first hour of the forum, along with other owner-operators who have been affected by record-high fuel prices and low freight rates. A University of Washington researcher who has finished a log truckers' survey on the impact of operating costs versus stagnant hauling fees has also been invited to speak.

Baird is scheduled to lead the second hour of the forum. State representatives from Washington state, as well as Lewis County commissioners, have been invited to participate. Baird sits on the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which is a key committee for truckers' concerns.

"We want to encourage as many people as we can to try and make it to this meeting," Bond told Land Line on Friday, July 25. "This is such a unique opportunity for our trucking community and a once-in-a-lifetime chance for them to speak directly to a congressional delegate on our home turf."

For truckers who will be on the road and who can't attend the forum, written testimony will also be accepted. Comments can be mailed to:

Kelly Love, District Director
General O.O. Howard House
750 Anderson St., Suite B
Vancouver, WA 98661

Comments can be submitted via e-mail to: kelly.love@mail.house.gov.