Truck drivers spend more time on the road than anyone, which makes their voice essential when decisions about highway safety are being made. Later this month, federal officials, researchers, and industry leaders will gather in Kansas City for a major safety summit, and this time, drivers are being urged to show up and speak up.
The Midwest Commercial Vehicle Safety Summit takes place December 16 and 17 at the Loews Kansas City Hotel. Attendance is free, and organizers want to see a stronger turnout from the men and women behind the wheel.
Why Drivers Are Being Asked to Attend
Past summits have attracted large groups of government officials, law enforcement agencies, university researchers, and insurance representatives. What they have not had is a strong group of working truck drivers sharing real on-the-road experiences.
OOIDA hopes to change that in 2025. Executive Vice President Lewie Pugh says drivers need to be part of the conversations shaping future regulations.
“If you can attend, please come,” Pugh said. “This is a chance for you to listen, ask questions, and give input to DOT and others about the things that need to be done to truly improve highway safety. There is no one more knowledgeable about this topic than the nation’s professional drivers. There are plenty of decision-makers who care about highway safety, but they aren’t always sure about the right approach to take. That’s why the men and women who make their living on the interstate need to point them in the right direction. I can assure you that there will be plenty of safety advocates and others in attendance who will be telling them a much different story about what must be done to improve safety.”
Registration Details
Registration is free and must be completed by the end of the day on Wednesday, December 10. Drivers who want a voice in upcoming safety decisions can secure a spot through the event’s registration page.
What Drivers Can Expect at the Summit
The summit begins at 8:30 a.m. on December 16. FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs and FMCSA Regional Field Administrator Winsome Lenfert are scheduled to open the event.
Across two days, drivers will have access to multiple breakout sessions focused on safety challenges affecting the industry. Topics include:
- Truck Leasing Task Force
- Technology improvements for CMV safety
- Drug and alcohol prevention
- Crash research
- Market shifts and the trucking economy
- Automation
- Speed prevention strategies
- Human trafficking prevention
- Cargo theft and freight fraud
- The impact of ELDs
OOIDA will be active in several discussions throughout the summit.
OOIDA President Todd Spencer will speak during a session titled “Truck Leasing Task Force: Findings, Impacts and Next Steps” from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on December 16. Spencer will join Steve Viscelli and Steve Rush to talk about how predatory lease-purchase setups can affect safety.
Later that afternoon, OOIDA Foundation Director Andrew King will participate in “Economic Signals, Freight Flows and Safety Outcomes” alongside Mat Leo from C.H. Robinson. The session runs from 3 to 4 p.m. and covers how economic pressure influences safety decisions.
On December 17 at 10:30 a.m., Pugh will sit on another panel with FMCSA officials for a session titled “Fighting Back: Cargo Theft and Fraud in the Freight Supply Chain.” Pugh will address how freight fraud harms small trucking businesses, while FMCSA’s Ken Riddle and others will outline the agency’s actions to combat it.
A full agenda is available here for anyone planning to attend.
Why This Matters for Drivers
Drivers are the ones dealing with real-world conditions every day. When you attend and share your perspective, you help ensure that future safety policies reflect actual road experience rather than assumptions. The summit gives drivers a rare chance to guide discussions that may influence regulations for years to come.
Source: Land Line Media
