Trucking Execs, Drivers Tout Trump Tax Cuts in Rose Garden
Werner Operation Freedom driver Quinten Ward speaks on the benefits of the Tax Reform Law at an event in the Rose Garden Thursday. Photo: Screen capture by Jack Roberts
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President Donald Trump took time from his busy schedule Thursday to promote recent changes to the tax code passed by Congress last December in a speech in the Rose Garden. He had the help of “everyday” Americans, including two from the trucking industry.
The move comes on the heels of reports that the tax plan has not been as popular with Americans as Republicans have hoped and a recent Congressional Budget Office assessment that it will balloon the U.S. deficit to $1 trillion by next year.
To bolster his argument that the tax plan is indeed improving the lives of both American workers and businesses, the president invited several “everyday” Americans to speak about how they have benefited in their personal and professional lives.
Executives and employees from Werner Enterprises, Crete Carrier Corp., and TCW were in attendance to share how the tax cuts have enabled the carriers to increase employee compensation, invest in new equipment, and expand operations.
TCW was represented by President Dave Manning, chairman of the American Trucking Associations, and driver David Livingston; Werner was represented by President and CEO Derek Leathers and driver Quinton Ward, driver Marvin Fielder, and associate Kathryn Oswald; and Crete was represented by CEO and Chairman Tonn Ostergard, Vice Chair Holly Ostergard, and driver Jeff Tetzloff.
Leathers told attendees that recent changes to the tax code have allowed the Omaha, Nebraska-based Werner to invest more than $127 million in new, clean and environmentally friendly trucks and trailers. Additionally, Leathers noted, Werner has been able to invest in its driver corps in the form of pay raises and bonuses, which he said have averaged out to $2,400 …Read the rest of this story
