In April 2025, Derek Roberts, CFO of Advantage Transportation and board member of the Utah Trucking Association (UTA), traveled to Washington, D.C. as part of a delegation of Utah trucking leaders. Representing Advantage Transportation and other local companies, Derek and his colleagues lobbied lawmakers on critical issues facing the trucking industry. In this blog, Derek shares his personal experience from the trip and discusses the key issues they fought for on Capitol Hill.
As part of my role as CFO at Advantage Transportation and a proud board member of the Utah Trucking Association (UTA), I recently had the opportunity to participate in a pivotal advocacy trip to Washington D.C. From April 8-10, 2025, a group of 10 UTA board members, including myself, joined the American Trucking Associations (ATA) to meet with members of Congress and discuss critical issues facing the trucking industry.
This three-day trip was an essential step in advocating for policies that can benefit our drivers, our customers, and the trucking industry as a whole. Our discussions covered a range of key legislative topics that impact trucking businesses such as ours, and I’m excited to share this incredible experience with our community.
Day 1: Getting Oriented with ATA Leadership
Our trip kicked off with an in-depth briefing by the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the national voice of the trucking industry. As an organization that represents all 50 states and serves as a unified voice for our industry in Washington, D.C., the ATA is a powerful advocate for truckers. It was inspiring to hear about the ATA’s ongoing efforts to improve safety, efficiency, and the working conditions of truck drivers across the country.
The ATA representatives shared the latest legislative priorities, including the push for a $750 million investment to address the nationwide truck parking shortage, which is one of the biggest sources of stress for truckers. For every 11 trucks on the road, there is only one parking spot on average. This shortage forces drivers to park in unsafe or illegal locations, putting everyone on the road at risk.
The ATA also briefed us on other topics such as expanding the availability of restroom facilities for truckers at shippers and receivers, and advocating for the protection of independent contractors in the industry.
Day 2: Meeting with Utah’s Representatives
On the second day, we broke into smaller groups and began meeting with key members of the Utah Congressional Delegation. We met with both Utah’s senators and representatives to discuss our concerns and push for trucking-friendly legislation.
I had the opportunity to meet with Sen. John Curtis, Rep. Blake Moore, and Rep.
Burgess Owens, who were all very receptive to our requests. It was particularly exciting to see Rep. Owens take action right after our meeting. He co-sponsored three critical bills that we’d discussed, which was a huge win for the trucking industry.
We also met with staff from Sen. Mike Lee’s office. These meetings allowed us to directly communicate the struggles our drivers face and the legislative changes needed to alleviate these issues. From parking shortages to driver safety and modernization of truck fleet regulations, we discussed the key issues preventing the trucking industry from running smoothly.
Day 3: Networking and Looking Forward
The final day of our trip was dedicated to networking and reflecting on the progress made during the previous days. It was great to work with owners and representatives from other Utah trucking companies, including Handy Truck Line, Alpha Transport, Tramcor Corporation, and Stokes Trucking. These companies, along with Advantage Transportation, represent the backbone of Utah’s trucking industry. Although the outside world may view us as competitors, we were all united in our mission to fight for fair policies that benefit truckers, improve working conditions, and ensure safe, reliable freight delivery across the nation.
This networking also provided an opportunity to discuss shared challenges with trucking companies from various parts of Utah and across the U.S. In many ways, we are all fighting the same battle: the battle for better working conditions for drivers, improved infrastructure, and fairer regulations to help small and local businesses such as ours better compete in the trucking sector.
Key Issues We Advocated For
During our trip, we advocated for several key legislative actions, including:
- The 18-20-Year-Old CDL Pilot Program Expansion – Allowing qualified young drivers (ages 18-20) to operate commercial vehicles across state lines after completing a rigorous training program.
- The Federal Excise Tax (FET) Rescission – We pushed to eliminate the 12% FET on new trucks and trailers, which makes fleet modernization more expensive and discourages investments in cleaner, safer trucks.
- Truck Parking Expansion and Safety Grants – Advocating for federal investments to expand safe truck parking spaces across the country.
- Workforce Development Initiatives – Supporting programs that recruit and retain qualified drivers, including creating apprenticeship programs for younger drivers and making CDL training more accessible.
- Litigation Reform – Pushing for legislation to curb excessive and fraudulent lawsuits that drive up insurance premiums and create financial instability for small carriers.
Each of these issues is a critical piece in improving the trucking industry, and it was rewarding to see truly bipartisan support for many of the bills we discussed.
A Big Win: Co-Sponsorship of Three Bills
After returning to Salt Lake City, I received the good news that Rep. Owens had added his name to the legislation we advocated for, the very next day. This solidified his support for trucking issues and reassured us that our voices are being heard on the Hill. Success stories like this demonstrate that the hard work and collaboration of Utah’s trucking community are making a tangible impact in Washington, D.C.
Looking Ahead
As a board member of the Utah Trucking Association and as part of Advantage Transportation, I’m committed to continuing this fight for our drivers, our customers, and for the trucking industry. The legislative issues discussed during this trip are not only essential to us as truckers, but also to the entire supply chain that keeps our national economy moving.
It’s been an honor to be part of the UTA’s advocacy efforts. I look forward to continuing the work we began during our visit to D.C. There is still much more to be done. With the support of more elected officials, we are confident that we can continue making progress toward a safer, more sustainable future for trucking in the U.S.Stay tuned for more updates from Advantage Transportation, and contact us if you’d like to learn more about how we are fighting for the future of trucking.
