ATA Pushes ‘Commonsense Rules of the Road’ — But What’s in It for Drivers?

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

Intro: A New Set of Rules — Or Just a Fresh Layer of Lipstick?

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) just released a shiny new memo called the “Commonsense Rules of the Road.” They’re pitching it as a national guide to boost public trust in truckers, promote safety, and elevate the image of the trucking industry.

Sounds nice, right? Professionalism. Safety. Public respect.

But here’s what truckers are asking out here on the lot:

Is this really about helping us?

Or is it just another set of rules aimed at controlling us?

Let’s take a brutally honest look at what the ATA’s really saying — and whether these “rules” respect the people actually doing the driving.

What’s in the Memo?

According to ATA’s press release, the memo lays out a simple framework aimed at improving how truckers operate and how the public sees them. It includes reminders like:

Always follow speed limits and traffic laws

Keep your rig well-maintained

Show courtesy on the road

Use rest breaks wisely and avoid fatigue

Represent the industry with professionalism at all times

In other words: Drive safe, act right, and don’t make us look bad.

The ATA says this is about helping truckers “earn back public trust” and prove that we’re the safest, most reliable folks on the road.

Cool... but truckers are wondering why the burden’s always on them when the system they work under is often what causes the problems.

What’s Good About It

Let’s be fair — not everything in the memo is corporate fluff. Some parts of this push actually make sense for drivers:

Rebuilding Reputation: Let’s be honest — all it takes is one viral video of a reckless truck to set the whole industry back.

Clear Expectations: Younger or newer drivers might benefit from simple, common-sense guidelines.

Public Messaging: If the public sees more well-behaved truckers, maybe we stop getting blamed for every accident on I-95.

Safety First: Anything that promotes rest, maintenance, and courtesy can help everyone go home safe.

So yeah — professionalism matters. But let’s not pretend that this memo fixes the deeper issues drivers face daily.

What It’s Missing (And Why That Matters)

Here’s where drivers are calling B.S.

No Mention of Company Pressure: A lot of unsafe behavior starts with dispatch pushing drivers past their hours or guilt-tripping them into driving tired.

No Protection for Drivers: The memo talks about "earning public trust" but doesn’t say a word about protecting truckers from unfair blame, lawsuits, or violence on the road.

Nothing About Pay or Conditions: You want professionalism? Pay drivers like professionals. Give them clean bathrooms. Quit treating them like disposable labor.

No Driver Input: Was this written by drivers? Or by people who haven’t touched a steering wheel since the Reagan administration?

When you tell people to “follow the rules” but ignore the broken systems they work under, it comes off more like blame-shifting than support.

ATA’s Track Record: Drivers Remember

Let’s not forget — this is the same ATA that’s been pushing:

Speed limiters

More mega-carrier access

Rules that hurt small fleets and independents

So when the ATA starts talking “commonsense,” drivers are naturally wondering whose sense of common they’re talking about. Because the road looks real different from behind a desk.

The Bottom Line: Good Advice, Bad Framing

Look, nobody’s saying safety and professionalism aren’t important. Most truckers are already doing that every day — despite brutal hours, lousy shippers, bad dispatchers, and the four-wheeler chaos around them.

But if you really want safer roads and better public respect, don’t just hand drivers another checklist. Give them:

Better pay

Realistic schedules

Strong legal protections

A seat at the decision-making table

Because until that happens, memos like these just feel like window dressing on a rig that’s leaking oil.

Call to Action:

Want real trucking content made by people who’ve actually been behind the wheel?
👉 Visit LifeAsATrucker.com — for trucker-first truth, not corporate fluff.

Tired of being treated like a robot with a CDL?
👉 Plan your freedom at RetireFromTrucking.com — before the next rulebook pushes you out for good.