GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. – March 11, 2009  – The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), which represents the interests of small business truckers, expressed appreciation for President Obama’s signing the omnibus appropriations bill into law today. That legislation includes a provision to remove funding and to end the U.S. Department of Transportation’s pilot program, which allowed Mexico-based trucking companies and truck drivers full access to our nation’s highways.
“The will of Congress and the American people will finally be fulfilled,” said OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer, noting that Congress has tried to shut the cross border program down before.  “By law, this program should have never been started in the first place.”
“We thank Congress for making the safety and security of our nation’s highways a priority over the economic interests of a few multinational corporations. We also want to thank our members across the country for their continued efforts to keep their lawmakers informed and for not giving up on the democratic process,” added Spencer. 

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is the national trade association representing the interests of small-business trucking professionals and professional truck drivers. OOIDA was established in 1973 and is headquartered in the greater Kansas City, Mo. area. The Association currently has more than 160,000 members from all 50 states and Canada.

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