Bill Graves is President and CEO of American Trucking Associations (ATA), the national trade and safety organization of the United States trucking industry. Through its 50 affiliated state trucking associations, conferences and other organizations, it represents motor carriers before all branches of the government.
In January 2003, Graves completed 22 years of public service in the state of Kansas highlighted by two terms as governor of Kansas. He was re-elected to his second term with the largest percentage of votes in Kansas history.
Under his administration, Kansas taxpayers saw the largest tax cut in state history, and many state services were streamlined. In 1999 he signed an historic 10-year, $13-billion comprehensive transportation program into law, improving highways, railroad infrastructure, airports, and public transit service in Kansas.
As Commander-in-Chief on the Kansas National Guard, Gov. Graves oversaw the deployment of Kansas troops to Bosnia, Turkey, and the Persian Gulf, among other areas. Prior to his election as governor, he served two terms as Kansas Secretary of State.
Graves has been involved in the trucking industry his entire life. For almost 70 years, members of his family have operated trucking companies offering a diversity of services.
In addition to his duties at ATA, Graves serves on the board of the International Speedway Corporation, the leading promoter of motorsport racing in America.
Graves earned a degree in Business Administration from Kansas Wesleyan University in his hometown of Salina, Kansas and attended graduate school at the University of Kansas. Graves and his wife Linda are the proud parents of their
12-year-old daughter, Katie.
There’s no denying the need to continually improve the sustainability and efficiency of our nation’s transportation system. Current inefficiencies cost our nation dearly, both in wasted fuel and “lost hours.” However, many of the proposed solutions encroach upon our freedom of mobility and our right to live where we want. Smart growth land-use strategies are simply ways to encourage living in high-density areas offering mass transit, which counters the preferred lifestyles of most Americans. Instead of changing the transportation systems to modify our behavior, we should improve our transportation systems to match people’s behaviors and preferences. Personal freedom is a… Read more
Freight railroads play an important role in our nation’s surface transportation mix and for the near future will likely remain the default mode for moving heavy bulk commodities like coal, scrap metal and grain over long distances. Mr. Buffett’s acquisition of BNSF appears to be a safe play, largely because of the projected growth in U.S. freight volume over the next 10 years. Also, with only a handful of Class I railroads operating in the U.S., Buffett’s investment will benefit from the fact that existing railroads operate as monopolies, or duopolies. It is unlikely that this situation will change. Particularly… Read more
Anything that takes a person’s eyes off the road, hands off the steering wheel, or mind off of driving poses a safety risk. Using a cell phone or other hand-held electronic device to read or send text messages combines all three actions, posing the highest risk of driver distraction. Over a year ago, trucking industry leaders called the nation’s attention to the dangers of text messaging and cell phone use on the road. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) and its member carriers support a ban on the use of electronic hand-held devices to read, write or send a text message… Read more
By 2020, ATA expects that overall freight tonnage will increase by more than 26 percent with the modal share moved by truck increasing to 71 percent. It’s no secret that our nation needs a tremendous investment in infrastructure to handle the increased demands that will be placed on our highways. As we work toward the next highway authorization bill, it’s important that we protect American taxpayers by ensuring that they get the greatest value from their investment as our nation moves forward with long-term transportation plans. I share Chairman Oberstar’s sentiments and believe that that we must be very wary… Read more
It’s paramount that the next surface transportation authorization bill maintains a strong federal role and provide for the creation of a national freight program. The success of our nation’s economy relies largely on the transportation of freight, and ATA predicts that total U.S. freight tonnage will increase by 26 percent by 2020. Trucks deliver nearly 100 percent of consumer goods and about 70 percent of overall freight tonnage in the United States. Economists predict this trend will continue, so we must expand and repair the aging National Highway System to meet these demands. ATA supports funding this expansion by increasing… Read more
ATA joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the AAA last week in urging Congress to quickly pass a long-term National Surface Transportation Bill that reduces congestion and improves the flow of commerce. Making investments in our nation’s highways is critical to the recovery and growth of the U.S. economy. ATA supports paying for these improvements through an increase in the federal gasoline and diesel fuel taxes. The fuel tax remains the simplest, most cost-effective solution for funding crucial highway infrastructure. As we’ve discussed before, traffic congestion poses a great threat to U.S. productivity. This… Read more
The success of our nation’s economy relies largely on the safe, efficient movement of freight. The upcoming reauthorization bill must focus on delivering projects that address national priorities, beginning with the expansion and repair of our aging National Highway System. Economists predict a 26 percent increase in total U.S. freight tonnage by 2020, so we must work to meet this demand by first addressing nation’s worst traffic bottlenecks, listed by the Federal Highway Administration. Special interest groups jeopardize the efficient movement of freight as they seek to divert highway trust fund money away from highways to other purposes. The taxes… Read more
In the wake of the September 11 attacks, the trucking industry continues to actively support our nation’s goal of improving security while keeping our country and our economy moving forward. As part of our efforts, the industry is working with government and industry partners on initiatives to improve the security of both domestic and international cargo operations. Moreover, we are at the forefront of efforts to establish partnerships with federal, state, and local governments to improve the sharing of information between private sector and public sector entities, and among various industry and economic sectors. As an industry that faces other… Read more
As a member of The Freight Stakeholders Coalition, ATA believes that the next surface transportation authorization bill must maintain a strong federal role and provide for the creation of a national freight program. The success of our nation’s economy relies largely on the transportation of freight, and ATA predicts that in the next 12 years total U.S. freight tonnage will increase almost 28 percent. While freight rail does play an important part in our nation’s movement of heavy bulk commodities over great distances, truck is the more financially sensible, preferred option for shipping time-sensitive goods over distances of less than… Read more
A growing economy that is creating jobs and generating prosperity requires the movement of freight. Therefore, legislative and regulatory approaches to reduce GHG emissions from the transportation sector should distinguish between automobiles and commercial trucks. Instead of limiting commercial vehicle miles, the U.S. must become more efficient and utilize technologies that burn less fuel and as a result reduce GHG emissions. ATA implemented a sustainability initiative that would reduce fuel consumption by 86 billion gallons over ten years and reduce the carbon footprint of all vehicles by nearly a billion tons over the next decade. Components of the initiative include… Read more
Tolling of existing Interstate highways is simply wrong. Turning highways into cash cows for individual states is unfair to the highway users who have paid for the construction and maintenance of these roads through the payment of fuel taxes. Federal fuel taxes have been the preferred funding method of the Interstate Highway System since its establishment in 1956. Subjecting users to additional tolls represents double taxation. Tolling on existing highways is nothing more than an ill-conceived quick fix for transportation funding shortfalls. Often toll revenue doesn’t even end up funding highway projects. In Pennsylvania a portion of proposed toll revenues… Read more
Our nation’s highway system is in great need of expansion and repair. Implementing a national approach that addresses the nation’s worst traffic bottlenecks and improves the flow of freight will have the greatest benefit for taxpayers. As proposed in the House Surface Transportation Authorization Act (STAA), a national strategic plan that defines the federal role in meeting transportation needs will improve delivery of infrastructure projects by primarily investing in those of national importance. The federal government should start with National Highway System’s worst traffic bottlenecks. The Texas Transportation Institute's 2009 Urban Mobility Report indicates that congestion creates a $78 billion… Read more
There is no doubt that the transportation industry must further its commitment to the environment but impeding our nation’s mobility by enacting policies to limit growth in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) should not be a national policy. Personal freedom is a defining characteristic of the American way of life, making us the envy of others around the globe. Enacting a plan to reduce VMT is a direct attack on the freedom of American citizens, many of whom would never be able to venture beyond the confines of their job or neighborhood if subjected to VMT restrictions. Instead of limiting vehicle… Read more
Meeting the transportation challenges of the 21st Century is critical to the long-term prosperity of the United States. As our population and economy grows, a national transportation policy that focuses on efficiency, safety, congestion reduction, and the improvement of freight movement around our nation’s worst bottlenecks will facilitate economic growth and help our industries compete in the global economy. ATA projects overall freight tonnage to grow almost 28 percent over the next 12 years, with the modal share moved by truck increasing from 69 percent to 70 percent by 2018. This increase in freight demand is not a zero-sum game,… Read more
Last year Americans changed their driving habits, driving less and slowing down to conserve fuel. These conditions did contribute to improved highway safety, but the progressive approach of the trucking industry also had a great effect on the safety of all motorists. “While the downturn in the economy clearly impacted freight volumes and the overall number of miles logged by truck drivers, we believe that the sustained efforts of the industry, law enforcement, government and safety groups are paying off,” said Rose McMurray, acting deputy administrator at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Reduced traffic congestion is a goal of… Read more
While we’ve made great strides in highway safety, all motorists have a stake in making our nation’s highways safer. In 2008, the number of traffic fatalities reached its lowest level since 1961, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The number of people killed in motor vehicle crashes in the United States declined 9.7 percent, from 41,259 in 2007 to 37,261 in 2008. Further, truck-involved crash fatalities in 2008 declined 12 percent, dropping from 4,822 in 2007 to 4,229. This encouraging trend should act as a catalyst for highway users to focus on greater improvements. Faced with high fuel… Read more
Impeding our nation’s mobility should not be a national policy. Personal freedom is a defining characteristic of the American way of life, making us the envy of others around the globe. Enacting a plan to reduce VMT is a direct attack on the freedom of American citizens, many of whom would never be able to venture beyond the confines of their job or neighborhood if subjected to VMT restrictions. Reducing per capita VMT is also a threat to U.S. productivity. As Greg Cohen mentioned, there’s a very strong relationship between VMT and our nation’s GDP. Instead of limiting mobility, we… Read more
By 2020, the United States will depend on trucks to deliver nearly 71 percent of overall freight tonnage, representing almost 84 percent of total U.S. freight revenue. With the overwhelming majority of freight transported on our nation’s highways, the next surface transportation bill can best serve American businesses and the economy by addressing inefficiencies in the National Highway System. Traffic congestion caused by freight bottlenecks poses a great threat to U.S. productivity. This is especially true in our world of sensitive just-in-time logistics systems. The Texas Transportation Institute's 2007 Urban Mobility Report indicates that congestion creates a $78 billion annual… Read more
The increasing attempts to privatize various modes of transit should raise red flags about the one-sided nature of these investments. Privatization of our highways is billed as a way to increase state funding for transportation, but it’s really just a quick fix for struggling state governments. Leasing roadways simply postpones budget problems without ever understanding the long-term implications. While states receive significant compensation, there’s no guarantee that the funds received by the states will even be spent on infrastructure and taxpayers always end up paying higher tolls to the private operator. As Mr. Orski mentioned, the legislation introduced by Senators… Read more
Alternative transportation undoubtedly plays an important role in our nation’s transportation mix, but the already fragile Highway Trust Fund must remain dedicated solely to its original purpose—funding highway projects. Currently, 18.4 cents from every dollar spent on gasoline and 24.4 cents from every dollar spent on diesel goes into the trust fund. This tax has not been adjusted for inflation since 1993, yet costs of highway projects continue to escalate with the costs of labor and materials. This is a very poor formula for maintaining a healthy, let alone robust trust fund. This amount cannot support our current highway needs,… Read more
The trucking industry has a deep commitment to our country, delivering nearly 100 percent of all consumer goods and 69 percent of all freight tonnage. This is a responsibility that begins by presenting freight shippers with strong transportation options that are not only environmentally friendly, but also economically sound. Trucking companies respond to the fluctuating demand for goods movement, resulting in irregular movements which seamlessly cross jurisdictional boundaries. While a cap-and-trade program continues to be the primary mechanism being discussed to promote carbon reductions, such an approach is more effectively applied to stationary sources and not extremely diversified mobile… Read more
Finding enough funds to meet the transportation needs of commuters and freight haulers presents challenges to all public officials, but especially during times of economic uncertainty and extreme budget shortfalls. It is easy to see why schemes such as public-private partnerships that lease existing portions of the national highway system tempt lawmakers. They offer a quick, short-term fix to funding shortfalls, without having to discuss the two of the most dreaded words in politics, “tax increase.” But let’s keep in mind that more than money is at stake. The United States cannot maintain a national highway network if key segments… Read more
Continued improvement of our transportation system starts by addressing the needs of shippers. We must focus on providing shippers with the best economic options for moving the goods we rely on and often this means taking an intermodal approach. Motor carriers have long used intermodal rail and truck combinations to best serve their customers. Trucking companies are now the railroads’ best customers, providing service on both ends of a rail haul by taking freight to the railroad, then delivering it from the rail to distribution centers, warehouses or a final destination. Cost, distance of haul and type of freight are… Read more
Passenger rail makes sense between major population centers in close proximity. And as efficiency improves, this alternative could take passenger vehicles off our nation’s highways and improve congestion along our nation’s busiest freight corridors. But as this debate continues, we must not lose sight of our nation’s need to expand and repair the national highway system. Increased usage of passenger rail will not end traffic congestion. Dedicating taxpayer highway funds to increase traffic capacity around our nation’s worst bottlenecks is the most effective way to reduce congestion, saving commuters and freight haulers time and fuel. ATA estimates that if congestion… Read more
I agree with the excellent points Greg Cohen of the American Highway Users Alliance made. The budget proposal for the Department of Transportation does not align with the President Obama’s strong statements of support for improving our nation’s roads and bridges. Despite public approval for the funding of roads and bridges, the budget proposal mentions no such support, just increased funding for other areas of transportation. Not only is there no mention of roads or bridges, but elements of the plan fundamentally change the highway funding process and establish roadblocks that hinder essential highway spending. Eliminating “contract authority” makes it… Read more
ATA recognizes that future changes in vehicle technologies will significantly reduce fuel usage, putting the viability of fuel tax as the primary means of financing highway improvements in jeopardy. However, these changes will take decades and during the interim there is no infrastructure funding problem that cannot be fixed by simply increasing fuel tax and targeting that revenue towards our nation’s roads and highways. Fuel taxes are the least expensive, most efficient source of highway funding available today. At present, 99 cents out of every 1 dollar in collected fuel tax goes to the Highway Trust fund. Other systems such… Read more
Transportation sources account for roughly 29 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. When this percentage is broken down by mode, 18 percent of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions come from automobiles, including cars, SUVs and light-duty trucks; 5 percent from heavy-duty trucks, 3 percent from aircraft and 1 percent each from marine, locomotives, and pipelines. Hence, passenger cars, light-duty trucks (which include sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans), together with motorcycles, make up about 63 percent of all transportation GHG emissions. Unlike automobiles, heavy-duty trucks are “mobile” offices not used for pleasure, but rather used… Read more
While transportation system funding alternatives exist, and may become more useful in a number of years, they currently cannot match the efficiency and equitability of fuel taxes. The collection of fuel taxes costs only a few cents on the dollar, while versions of tolling can cost a third of the revenue collected. The less the cost of collection, the more that actually goes toward transportation infrastructure. With a federal fuel tax system, a far greater percentage of money collected will be invested in highways than under any tolling or privatization scheme. A federal fuel tax is the simplest, most cost-effective… Read more
I always appreciate a debate and it seems Mr. Jones and I agree on the problem—we just disagree on how to solve it. Throughout my two terms as governor of Kansas I oversaw a comprehensive $13 billion infrastructure program and I learned how to best deal with highway infrastructure challenges. Fuel taxes have been used for decades to develop our current infrastructure and equitably spread the cost of road maintenance to all users. We recognize that fuel tax revenue flowing into the Highway Trust Fund has not kept pace with infrastructure needs, which is why ATA supports raising diesel fuel… Read more
Despite their lack of success in Europe and Asia, the United States appears poised for its own misguided attempt to utilize congestion pricing and privatization as a means of reducing traffic and alleviating pollution. The premise is that congestion pricing will give motorists better road access for a price. In many instances, however, congestion pricing does not markedly reduce congestion; it merely raises revenues — or taxes. Congestion pricing increases cargo transportation costs and hurts the economy. Higher manufacturers’ and retailers’ operating costs mean higher costs to consumers for everything from gasoline to clothing to food. In London, home of… Read more
Transportation extends across state and local government borders, but currently the planning process does not. Attempts by Congress to focus on national highway priorities frequently get lost in the battle for greater state apportionments and earmarks for local projects. Transportation funding in the economic stimulus package needs to focus on a national vision that will make highway travel and freight movement safer and more efficient. Prioritizing stimulus infrastructure projects in harmony with recommendations made by the National Surface Infrastructure Policy and Revenue Study Commission is a good place to start. These recommendations were designed to ensure that investments improve system… Read more
While most people can offset the costs of fuel by limiting how much and how often they drive a car, the trucking industry has a far more complex set of options for reducing the amount of fuel consumed. Rising fuel costs increase the cost of everything transported by truck, including food, clothing and medical supplies. Only by working together can we limit its impact. Increasing fuel efficiency and minimizing fuel consumption are major goals of any trucking company. Those goals coincide with the global need for industries to reduce their carbon footprint and their overall environmental impact. The… Read more
Ray LaHood’s appropriations experience and bipartisan reputation will serve the Department of Transportation well as debates on the new economic stimulus measures and the surface transportation reauthorization bill move forward. The U.S. economy is faltering and the economic stimulus package that President-Elect Obama is putting together is sorely needed. But President-Elect Obama and Congressman LaHood should focus the bulk of the stimulus package, as well as the reauthorization bill, toward legitimate highway infrastructure needs. As mentioned in a previous post, every $1 billion of federal highway investment supports 34,799 jobs in our nation. Focusing on highway construction projects that alleviate… Read more
Although mass transit performs many important uses, particularly for certain niche communities in large urban areas, it cannot replace our nation’s need for good highways. While mass transit effectively moves people, infrastructure investment is critical to the safe and efficient movement of freight. The trucking industry’s ability to move goods to market has a direct impact on the overall health of the U.S. economy. The Federal Highway Administration reports that over the past 25 years, the number of registered vehicles has increased 56 percent, yet new road miles have grown by only 4 percent and lane capacity has increased… Read more
Transportation of freight plays a critical role in the success of our nation’s economy, and in the next 10 years ATA predicts total U.S. freight tonnage will increase more than 25 percent. President-Elect Obama correctly recognizes the challenges this growth will place on our nation’s existing infrastructure. Trucks deliver nearly 100 percent of consumer goods and about 70 percent of overall freight tonnage in the United States. Economists predict this trend to continue, and as our nation moves forward with short and long-term transportation strategies we need to keep in mind the essentiality of the industry. Even railroads and marine… Read more
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