Aug. 21, 2003, Grain Valley, MO - As it continues to celebrate its 30-year anniversary during 2003, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) announces it recently surpassed 100,000 members.

OOIDA was formed in 1973 during the height of the Arab oil embargoes, which had nearly shut down the trucking industry and crippled the nation. Determined to give professional truckers a voice in legislative and regulatory processes at federal and state levels, OOIDA is now the only national organization dedicated to the rights of truckers and includes more than 100,000 owner-operators, professional drivers and small- business truckers from all 50 states and Canada. OOIDA's membership represents more than 150,000 trucks.

Jim Johnston, who has been OOIDA's elected president for nearly its entire existence, commented, "This is a great milestone to enjoy in our history. When I consider the years we struggled to attract just our first one thousand members in the early '70s, I feel both our dedicated members and our staff can be very proud of their contribution to the exciting period of growth we are now experiencing."

"Truckers have always been pretty cautious individuals when it comes to joining organizations," Johnston added. "It took several years for OOIDA to establish its credibility and effectiveness, aided by a few noteworthy successes. Over the years, we have been able to demonstrate the importance and the need for truckers to unite and lend their voice to our efforts."

Some of those successes have included a number of high-profile judgments against states and motor carriers for violations of truckers' rights and federal regulations. In some cases, these have resulted in the return of money collected illegally from large numbers of truckers over a period of years.

Looking toward the future, Johnston said, "Today's announcement is only one benchmark in what we know will be a continued history of growth and development for OOIDA. We look forward to announcing the next 100,000 members."

Based in Grain Valley, MO, just east of downtown Kansas City, OOIDA employs approximately 230 people to coordinate its lobbying efforts and administer the member benefits it offers, such as comprehensive truck insurance, medical benefits and a variety of business services for the small-business trucker.

Contact: Mike Schermoly, OOIDA (816) 229-5791

Founded in 1973, the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is composed of more than 100,000 owner-operators, professional drivers, and small business truckers from all 50 states, and Canada. OOIDA represents the interests of this nation's more than 350,000 small-business trucking professionals in the legislative and regulatory processes at both federal and state levels.