On May 16, 2011, 20 truck drivers were invited to the White House for being named a Champion of Change. Among these drivers was Ralph Garcia of Rio Rancho, N.M. Garcia has been a truck driver for about 30 years and was invited to the white house to explain his views on the trucking industry.
“It was an honor to be invited to the White House to promote something I believe in so strongly—the importance of the trucking industry,” said Garcia. “There is no better way to earn a living than behind the wheel as a professional driver. In my 30 years as a driver, I’ve seen so much of this great country that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to experience.”
While at the White House, Garcia urged the government to promote professional truck driving as an admirable career choice. He particularly encouraged the government to target military veterans. “Companies like mine are always looking for safe, conscientious and responsible drivers, and those qualities are found in spades in our armed forces. Making it easier for our fighting men and women to transition into jobs in trucking would be a win-win for everyone involved.”
Another topic Garcia covered while in Washington was the proposed changes to federal hours-of-service regulations. Garcia opposed the new regulations by pointing out the impact such changes would make to drivers. “As a professional driver, I want to be safe on our roads and my more than three million accident-free miles can back that up. The rules we have now work, and changing something that’s working just doesn’t make sense and will hurt drivers like me.”
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