2016-18

Resolution Recognizing the National Minority Trucking Association

REPRESENTATIVE PEDRO MARIN (GA) BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TASKFORCE

WHEREAS, Latinos are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. workforce and future economic competitiveness depends in great part on minorities’ educational attainment1; and

WHEREAS, the National Minority Trucking Association (NMTA) is the first and only organization in the United States that represents the interests of minorities in the trucking industry and is committed to establishing, maintaining, and growing successful careers and businesses in the trucking and logistics industry for all minorities2; and

WHEREAS, as a member-driven association, the NMTA provides targeted research, a forum to develop critical solutions, and a voice to address and interact with the industry and business community in order to support the organization's central vision of education and access to opportunity3; and

WHEREAS, the NMTA launched a national jobs initiative aimed at fostering 500,000 jobs in the transportation and logistics industry by 2025, working with elected officials, community organizations, and academia to connect individuals in communities to opportunities in transportation and logistics; created a high school pilot program called Drive to educate students about global supply chain and logistics and the various career and business opportunities, create a pipeline into the transportation industry, and develop executive mentoring programs and internships4; and

WHEREAS, the NMTA established the nation's first Minority Transportation Consortium, a national conglomerate of minority, veteran, and women-owned transportation firms seeking freight opportunities with large public and private sector shippers and their associated supplier diversity programs, thus providing contract opportunities for hundreds of small business owners and jobs for thousands of truckers5.

WHEREAS, the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators encourages that the NMTA provide adequate benefits to the drivers, such as healthcare and fair wages, among others.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators recognizes the National Minority Trucking Association for its honorable work in empowering and educating minorities in the trucking and logistics industry.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators calls for the trucking industry to adopt policies that eliminate historical racial and ethnic discrimination and that provide equal opportunity for professionals in the industry.

1. http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2012/10/art1full.pdf
2. http://minoritytruckers.com/about-us.html#whoweare
3. http://minoritytruckers.com/about-us.html#whatwedo
4. http://minoritytruckers.com/about-us.html#ourimpact
5. http://minoritytruckers.com/warehouse.html