OOIDA keeps trucking through the decades
1973
OOIDA is founded. Prompted by the Arab oil embargoes that crippled trucking in the early ’70s, a handful of frustrated owner-operators head to Washington, D.C., to talk to lawmakers. They learn that organization would be the key to penetrating the policy-making system.
1974
OOIDA incorporates, and Jan. 1 marks the beginnings of a working staff for OOIDA with Jim and Mary Johnston.
U.S. President Richard Nixon announces his resignation live from the Oval Office on television and radio.
1975
Jim Johnston is elected president, and Land Line publishes its first issue.
Two years after the United States began to withdraw from Vietnam, the war comes to an end.
NBC’s “Saturday Night,” now known as “Saturday Night Live,” premieres with George Carlin serving as the first host.
1977
“Smokey and the Bandit,” the iconic trucking movie, is released. Starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jerry Reed and Jackie Gleason, the film earned more than $126 million at the box office.
1979
At OOIDA’s urging, Congress holds a series of hearings in the mid-to-late 1970s to investigate the problems of small-business truckers. Congress finds widespread abuse and directs the Interstate Commerce Commission to develop truth-in-leasing regulations, which is OOIDA’s first major long-term victory.
1980
Hundreds of organizations form, all claiming to represent truckers. Other groups drop by the wayside because of lack of sufficient commitment or because they learn there will be no quick buck or personal glory to be gained. While others fail, OOIDA begins to grow.
OOIDA’s mission expands to help truckers in new ways. New member benefit programs are added to provide big fleet prices and benefits to small-business truck drivers.
The U.S. men’s hockey team upsets the Soviet Union to win the gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y. The win is known as the “Miracle on Ice.”
1981
OOIDA moves again, this time into a renovated building in Grain Valley, Mo., where it remained until 1998. Discount member benefit programs attract more members and provide additional sources of funding for the Association’s representational efforts. OOIDA member Todd Spencer joins the office staff as editor of Land Line.
Sandra Day O’Connor becomes the first female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
1982
OOIDA’s strong lobbying efforts are rewarded when nationwide uniform truck size and weight limits are established by Congress through the 1982 Surface Transportation Assistance Act.
1985
A Washington, D.C., law and lobbying firm is retained by OOIDA. The first lawsuits are part of an effort that resulted in cases filed against many states that impose discriminatory taxes on out-of-state truckers. Ultimately, hundreds of millions of dollars are refunded.
The iconic Route 66 is removed from the highway system in the United States.
1986-87
As the OOIDA staff expands to more than a dozen employees, additional office space becomes a necessity. The Association purchases the building where it has rented offices at 311 R.D. Mize Road, and within several years takes over the whole building.
1988
OOIDA’s legal efforts expand.
1989
The Association has more than 14,000 members. OOIDA’s attorneys continue their efforts on behalf of owner-operators to obtain refunds of illegally collected truck taxes. As much as $1 billion in refunds is at stake in the cases, which challenge the constitutionality of some taxes.
Owner-Operator Services Inc. is incorporated. OOSI’s growing roster of programs provides much-needed services for trucker members. OOIDA’s political action committee is established to give truckers more political clout.
Removal of the Berlin Wall begins.
1990
Discriminatory abuse of out-of-state truckers and warrantless cab and sleeper searches prompt OOIDA to initiate a legal battle against the Tennessee Public Service Commission.
To help owner-operators comply with new drug-testing rules, OOIDA’s consortium – CMCI – is created.
1991
Filing position statements on virtually every proposed rulemaking and testifying personally before Congress on truckers’ concerns, OOIDA continues to make its presence known.
1992
OOIDA files suit against the U.S. DOT’s four-state pilot program of random roadside drug testing of commercial drivers as unconstitutional. Federal Highway Administration will eventually implement the testing requirement but drop the roadside program as unfeasible.
The U.S. men’s basketball team, known as the Dream Team, captures the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona. The Dream Team included such basketball legends as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
1993
OOIDA marks its 20th anniversary, and membership climbs to 17,253.
1994
In the aftermath of the 1993 national shutdown, OOIDA pushes aggressively for government to address issues of fuel pricing, NAFTA, meal deductions and more.
OOIDA wins its initial court case against the Tennessee Public Service Commission and Commissioner Keith Bissell, whose campaign-funding tactics violated truckers’ rights.
The Major League Baseball season is canceled because of a players’ strike.
1995
OOIDA’s case and new revelations lead the Tennessee Legislature to abolish the state’s Public Service Commission. OOIDA and truckers are a primary force in getting the maximum 55 mph national speed limit repealed. The Interstate Commerce Commission goes out of business.
O.J. Simpson is found not guilty of first-degree murder.
1996
After the ICC sunsets, OOIDA steps in and fights hard to preserve protections for owner-operators. Through OOIDA’s efforts, the ICC Termination Act provides that the truth-in-leasing regulations are retained and gives truckers the “private right of action” to settle carrier disputes by filing a civil lawsuit.
1997
On May 9, OOIDA breaks ground for its new 48,000-square-foot headquarters in Grain Valley, Mo.
1998
Loading and unloading abuses, credit card surcharges, escrow account violations and insurance overcharges draw fire from OOIDA and its attorneys as the Association rolls into its 25th year. In April, the staff moves into the new three-story building with 87 employees.
The final episode of “Seinfeld” is broadcast on NBC. An audience of 76 million watched the sitcom’s finale.
1999
OOIDA files more lawsuits against motor carriers and several states. The issues: unfair and illegal treatment of drivers, violation of lumping laws, private right of action, and double taxation. OOIDA Mary Johnston Scholarship Fund awards its first scholarships.
2000
OOIDA leadership, members and other truckers on March 16 converge on the U.S. Capitol to hold a convoy and peaceful protest for reasonable pricing, fair compensation and equitable taxation.
In May, membership reaches 50,000.
2001
Members flood the phone lines at OOIDA trying to find out how they can volunteer to help in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks and reporting sudden jumps in diesel prices in the hours after the attacks.
2002
After five solid years of membership growth, expanding services to the membership prompts the Association to seek more space.
OOIDA wins a partial summary judgment in a complaint against Mayflower Transit Inc.
2003
In OOIDA’s 30th anniversary year, membership surpasses 100,000.
2004
OOIDA’s Office of Government Affairs in Washington, D.C., is open, lobbying Congress and executive branch agencies on behalf of professional truckers.
The social media platform Facebook is founded.
2005
A federal judge sides with OOIDA and more than 600 drivers in a class-action against Ledar Transport, ruling the company violated truth-in-leasing regulations.
OOIDA launches Land Line Now, its own daily radio show on satellite radio.
2006
OOIDA takes a stance against speed limiters, wades into runaway CARB standards, wrangles with the government over the Transportation Worker Identification Credential, and digs in its heels over Mexican trucks in the U.S. marketplace.
2007
OOIDA continues push to eliminate split speed limits and to fight black boxes and speed limiters; stands strong against authorizing Mexican carriers to do long-haul within the U.S.
OOIDA v. SuperValu lumping case is granted class action status.
OOIDA files a legal challenge to hours-of-service provision and organizes an anti-toll rally on steps of Pennsylvania Capitol.
The first OOIDA radio “telethon” called Truckers for Troops raises $40,000.
Netflix launches its streaming platform, and the first iPhone is released for sale in the United States.
2008
Blockbuster decision: The U.S. District Court agrees with OOIDA and declares Ledar Transport and Hawthorn Leasing, along with company officers to be – in their personal capacity – all liable for violations of federal truth-in-leasing regs.
U.S. oil prices reach $147 per barrel.
The Marvel cinematic universe is launched with the premiere of “Iron Man” starring Robert Downey Jr.
2009
OOIDA and member plaintiff Stephen K. House file the “Minnesota I” lawsuit May 13 on behalf of truck drivers placed out of service or fined when the Minnesota State Patrol officers arbitrarily decided the drivers were “fatigued.” Later, OOIDA files a second lawsuit against Minnesota Public Service Commission and State Patrol officers.
OOIDA and truckers rally behind Jason’s Law bills for safe truck parking.
2010
President Jim Johnston is re-elected by the board for an eighth term as president.
OOIDA fights a U.S. Senate bill to require electronic on-board recorders in all commercial trucks.
2011
In OOIDA v. Minnesota State Patrol, a judge rules that truckers’ Fourth Amendment rights were violated by state patrol’s fatigue inspections.
OOIDA wins a class-action lawsuit against SuperValu in 2006 over lumping fees. The lawsuit was filed in 2006.
OOIDA gets a judge to vacate the FMCSA’s electronic on-board recorder regulation because the rule was arbitrary, capricious and did not ensure that the devices are not used to harass vehicle operators. Congress passes another attempt at a mandate in new highway bill.
2012
The newest highway bill includes several wins for truckers, such as driver training, freight broker reform, crashworthiness standards and Jason’s Law.
OOIDA wins a lawsuit against Arctic Express and Comerica Bank for violating the escrow provisions of the truth-in-leasing regulations.
OOIDA wins a case in Ontario, Canada, on behalf of OOIDA life member Gene Michaud that ruled speed limiters on heavy trucks violated the trucker’s right to personal safety.
2013
OOIDA sues the California Air Resources Board over its Truck and Bus Regulation, which requires particulate filters on 1996-2006 model year trucks weighing more than 14,000 pounds in order to travel California highways. The rule went into effect in 2012.
In March, OOIDA and truckers win a judgment of $1.3 million in a lawsuit against Salt Lake City-based mega carrier C.R. England over its truck leasing operations. First filed in 2001, the lawsuit went to trial in federal court in 2006.
OOIDA rolls out a health insurance exchange pilot program in October to help truckers comply with the Affordable Care Act. The pilot program served six states: Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio and Texas.
OOIDA celebrates 40 years representing professional truckers. The birthday bash was Oct. 18-19 at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.
2014
As of May 21, all physicians performing U.S. DOT physicals must be on the FMCSA’s national registry of medical examiners.
OOIDA attorneys file a class-action lawsuit challenging New York highway taxes, calling them unconstitutional and discriminatory against out-of-state truckers.
OOIDA leads a coalition of 10 industry groups that calls for the U.S. DOT Secretary to pull the plug on publicly viewable CSA safety ratings.
2015
In response to concern over the new certified medical examiner registry, OOIDA launches a web resource for truckers to rate their certified medical examiner experience.
OOIDA launches FightingForTruckers.com to provide an effective tool for members. In one of its first efforts, members rallied to call their House representative to object to raising minimum levels of insurance required of motor carriers. The amendment to greenlight the big increase is defeated 31-20.
OOIDA continues to battle FMCSA over electronic logging devices. The agency announces on Dec. 10 the final rule mandating the use of ELDs in all 2000 and newer trucks in interstate commerce. OOIDA’s opposition is immediate. The next day, OOIDA files a petition for review with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
2016
OOIDA wins a class-action against the N.Y. State Department of Taxation and Finance in favor of truckers. The lawsuit challenged certain truck tax fees as unconstitutional and discriminatory against out-of-state truckers.
In January, OOIDA opposes FMCSA’s efforts to have certified medical examiners collect information from primary health care professionals who prescribe medication to commercial motor vehicle drivers.
OOIDA reaches landmark $44.4 million tax refund agreement with New York.
The Chicago Cubs win the World Series, ending a 108-year drought.
2017
OOIDA launches Knock Out Bad Regs campaign in March at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky. The effort gives members the tools they need to hold the FMCSA and Congress to their pledge to reduce regulations.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rules in favor of the U.S. DOT and against the Teamsters and OOIDA in a U.S. Mexican cross-border trucking case.
Despite years of OOIDA-led court actions, legislative and regulatory battles, the ELD mandate goes into effect in December.
2018
Jim Johnston, longtime president and CEO of OOIDA, succumbs to cancer and dies Jan. 8. Todd Spencer becomes acting president of OOIDA. A celebration of life was held in Jims honor at the Mid-America Trucking Show.
OOIDA membership tops 160,000.
OOIDA kicks off efforts to retool hours-of-service regulations in February by petitioning the FMCSA. The petition targets the 14-hour on-duty clock and the 30-minute rest break.
At OOIDA’s spring board meeting, Todd Spencer is unanimously elected the fourth president of OOIDA.
OOIDA celebrates its 45th anniversary at the Guilty by Association Truck Show in Joplin, Mo.
2019
OOIDA President Todd Spencer relays issues in the trucking industry to lawmakers during a House subcommittee hearing. “Until Congress understands the most important component in trucking is the driver, very little will change,” Spencer said.
The OOIDA Foundation offers its first Truck to Success business seminar in Blue Springs, Mo.
2020
As part of a House subcommittee hearing in February, OOIDA Executive Vice President Lewie Pugh tells lawmakers that highway safety issues can be improved by listening to truck drivers.
Prompted by a 2018 petition from OOIDA, FMCSA’s revised hours-of-service regulations take effect. The goal of the new provisions were aimed at providing more flexibility to truck drivers.
The World Health Organization declares the coronavirus a pandemic. President Trump bans all travel from Europe.
President Trump declares a national emergency. FMCSA announces an emergency declaration, providing hours-of-service regulatory relief to commercial vehicle drivers transporting emergency supplies.
The Mid-America Truck Show in Louisville, Ky., is canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
OOIDA writes a letter to President Trump asking for action to be taken to help the nation’s truck drivers. The actions involve addressing issues related to parking, hours of service, enforcement, compliance and the “basic decency” of providing truckers a place to use the restroom.
OOIDA petitions FMCSA to begin a rulemaking aimed at improving broker transparency.
2021
OOIDA Executive Vice President Lewie Pugh testifies at a House hearing about the pandemic. Pugh told lawmakers that if they wanted to thank truck drivers then they needed to avoid legislation that could put many small motor carriers out of business.
OOIDA opposes attempts to increase minimum insurance requirements of motor carriers to $2 million or more. An increase is kept out of the 2021 infrastructure law.
FMCSA begins to focus on improving driver retention and creates a truck driver subcommittee to the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee. The subcommittee is chaired by OOIDA President Todd Spencer.
OOIDA is inducted into the inaugural class of the American Trucking and Industry Leader Hall of Fame.
2022
In April, President Biden announces updates to his administration’s Trucking Action Plan during an event on the White House lawn. The plan includes the creation of a Truck Leasing Task Force, efforts to increase truck parking capacity and studies regarding driver compensation and detention time. OOIDA was integral in bringing those issues to the forefront.
As part of a public hearing, OOIDA warns the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about the unintended consequences of the Cleaner Trucks Initiative.
2023
FMCSA announces it has granted OOIDA’s petition in regards to improve broker transparency and that a notice of proposed rulemaking would be published later in the year.
OOIDA works with lawmakers to continue efforts to pass bills aimed at increasing truck parking, ensuring restroom access, removing the motor carriers’ overtime exemption and blocking efforts to mandate speed limiters on commercial motor vehicles. LL