Trucking leaders react to the State of the Union

Leaders from American Trucking Associations reacted to President Obama's remarks in the State of the Union about infrastructure investment.

"While we appreciate President Obama making reference to the need for infrastructure investment, we remain disappointed in the continued lack of specificity when he discusses funding," ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said. "While it is critically important to the nation that Congress and the administration come together on a multiyear highway bill this year, we believe that until the administration puts forward a serious, user-based funding proposal we will risk going over the Highway Trust Fund 'fiscal cliff' in the near term and be woefully underfunded to meet the longer term needs of the nation."

"It was an honor to attend the State of the Union, but the president's proposal was sorely lacking in details and comes up short of what the nation needs to maintain our economic competitiveness," ATA chairman Phil Byrd, President and CEO of Bulldog Hiway Express said. "Trucks use our roads and bridges to move more than 70% of the nation's freight and if do not address our infrastructure deficit the system will soon become a drag on our economic recovery and hinder our future growth."

ATA believes in a strong federal role in funding infrastructure, using the most reliable and efficient means necessary.