The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) recently voiced its support for President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Sean Duffy as Secretary of Transportation.
In a letter addressed to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Todd Spencer, OOIDA’s President and CEO, expressed the association’s “strong support” for Duffy. The letter highlighted Duffy’s past advocacy for small-business truckers, stating this demonstrated he could bring a valuable perspective to the role and prioritize the needs of America’s professional drivers.
The letter noted that during his time as a Republican congressman from Wisconsin, Duffy supported an OOIDA petition aimed at exempting small-business truckers from the requirement to use electronic logging devices. OOIDA described this petition as a “common-sense” solution to one of the trucking industry’s most burdensome regulations. The association praised Duffy for understanding that regulations should not adopt a “one-size-fits-all” approach and emphasized the importance of providing relief to small businesses when rules impose high costs with little benefit.
OOIDA further stated its belief that, if confirmed, Duffy would lead the Department of Transportation (DOT) in reviewing excessive regulations that fail to enhance safety and instead hinder small-business truckers. The association commended Duffy’s outreach efforts during the nomination process to better understand the challenges faced by small-business truckers and professional drivers, contrasting this with what it described as a tendency to favor large carriers or less experienced “safety advocates.”
The letter concluded with a call for the Senate committee to approve Duffy’s nomination, emphasizing that OOIDA considers him well-qualified for the position.
Sean Duffy served as a U.S. Representative for eight years and more recently worked as a co-host on Fox Business’s The Bottom Line and a contributor on Fox News.
