ATA Applauds White House Announcement on Association Health Plans

Order Expands Access to Affordable Health Insurance Through Trade Associations

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Oct 12, 2017, 16:27 ET

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the American Trucking Associations praised President Trump for signing an executive order allowing individuals to purchase health insurance through association health plans.

"After laying out the case for how tax reform benefits our industry, today President Trump is taking substantive action to improve the lives of millions of Americans, including the 7.5 million employed in trucking-related jobs," said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. "By allowing people to pool together to purchase health insurance plans that are sponsored by larger associations and groups, the administration is helping to lower health care costs and improve access."

Spear, along with ATA Chairman Kevin Burch, president of Jet Express Inc., Dayton, Ohio; ATA member Harold Summerford Jr., CEO of J&M Tank Lines Inc., Birmingham, Alabama; and professional truck driver Danny Smith, Big G Express, Shelbyville, Tennessee, represented the trucking industry at today's White House signing ceremony.

"Most trucking companies are small businesses, with nine in ten carriers having fewer than six trucks. The types of plans the President announced today will allow those companies to pool resources and offer affordable health care options that meet the needs of their employees," Spear said.

"One of the primary things I'm responsible for as a fleet executive is the welfare of my employees," Burch said. "Today's announcement will make it easier for employers across the country to provide good, affordable health plans to their employees and that is a good thing."

"The trucking industry is a path to a middle class salary and benefits like health insurance. This announcement will make providing insurance to my drivers and for millions of other Americans," said Summerford.

"Being a safe, professional truck driver has not only been a tremendous career for me, it has allowed me to see the country and to provide for my family – including providing health insurance," Smith said. "Reducing the cost of that insurance is very important so I'm happy President Trump is taking steps to do that."

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward

SOURCE American Trucking Associations