Business View Magazine - August 2023

152 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 8 must, can be problematic and even dangerous. In addition, the WTA has received unanimous bipartisan support in the Washington State Legislature for measures that would increase restroom access for truckers. Too often, perhaps for trumped-up security concerns, truckers on the road and making deliveries have been denied such access, as Call reveals. “We’re just asking for basic human accommodation to allow drivers to use the restroom,” she says. Ongoing training and trends This year, the WTA kicked off an initiative to hold informal dialogue meetings, coordinated via the Internet, with the personnel of the Washington State Highway Patrol. Both state and federal agencies, such as those representing labor and industries, are also invited to the talks, which center around such important topics as safety issues and vehicle inspections. “It is meant to be a community-based collaboration,” says Call, adding that members of the American Trucking Associations Safety Management Council also take part in these meetings. Workshops about compliance education and professional development are also offered. Call says this is a big boon to the smaller carriers that make up some 90 percent of the trucking industry. “We can be a resource for those folks,” she adds. Also, the WTA has created a maintenance and technology council that operates along similar educational guidelines. This effort is led by retired trucker John Lightner. The WTA’s activities extend the whole year around, Call informs. One example is the annual truck-driving championship held in April. The competition is all about truckers’ practical, mental, and driving skills. “It’s a very popular and very inspiring event,” Call observes. “The winners of that contest