[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 148 (Friday, October 16, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2224-E2225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO OWNER-OPERATED INDEPENDENT DRIVER ASSOCIATION AND PRESIDENT 
                              JIM JOHNSTON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ROY BLUNT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 16, 1998

  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, the Owner-Operator Independent Driver 
Association (OOIDA)

[[Page E2225]]

represents over 40,000 small business professional truckers across 
America. On October 9, OOIDA celebrated 25 years of service at the 
grand opening of their new headquarters in Grain Valley, Missouri.
  I would like to submit the following speech, which was delivered 
before the celebration by OOIDA Secretary Robert E. Esler, for the 
Congressional Record. This speech is a special tribute to recognize the 
hard work and dedication of OOIDA President Jim Johnston.

       HELP!!! . . . This was the cry that was being heard from 
     the East Coast to the West Coast. From the Northern border to 
     the Southern border the sound resonated throughout the land. 
     WE NEED HELP. Owner-operators, independents, and truckers in 
     general were fed up with the way things were going in the 
     early seventies. Fuel prices were escalating. Taxes were 
     soaring. Rates were not keeping up with the ever-increasing 
     costs. Government rules and regulations were becoming more 
     and more unbearable. What can we do was the cry. Something 
     has to be done. We can not continue on under these 
     circumstances.
       For as many questions there seemed to be as many answers. 
     Owner-operator groups were springing up everywhere, each with 
     their own agenda. Each group was sure that they could get 
     immediate solutions to their specific problems. Either by 
     public demonstrations or, as simple as it seemed, by calling 
     on their local legislators. Surely, after bringing attention 
     to their plight, the powers that be would see how wronged and 
     mistreated they were and as if by magic make their problems 
     go away. Oh how wrong they were. There were many pitfalls on 
     the road ahead.
       One such group was formed in 1973. This group went through 
     some rough times getting organized. Trying to get a bunch of 
     disgruntled truckers to agree on anything was like getting 
     three lawyers to share the same viewpoint; it ain't going to 
     happen. After a couple of years of floundering it became 
     evident that they lacked an essential ingredient, leadership. 
     Sure there were people elected to be leaders but none seemed 
     up to the task. It got so bad that no one wanted to be in 
     charge and lead. This is where the right man was at the right 
     place at the right time. One man stood up and faced the 
     challenge.
       It was his vision that Owner-Operators should be treated as 
     equals in the trucking industry. Not only from a governmental 
     view point but also from the Motor Carrier industry as well. 
     This became his focus and thus became his mantle. He has been 
     able to do what no other person has done. And that is, take a 
     group of owner-operators that were on a course to nowhere and 
     turn them around. His leadership has enabled them to chart a 
     course that has taken them to a position of being the 
     largest, longest running, and most successful owner-operator 
     group to date.
       Where do such leaders come from? They come from the midst 
     of our ranks. They have the unique ability to recognize a 
     need, the vision to see a solution and the persistence to 
     overcome obstacles. Each has a different style of leadership 
     but they all have one specific element, focus. Focus on the 
     job until it gets done. And without question they will all 
     tell you the job never gets done. There is always a new task 
     to face.
       Such is a man named Jim Johnston who, nearly twenty-five 
     years ago took a job nobody wanted. He faced the challenge. 
     And, through years of dedication and hard work dramatically 
     changed the course of events that now places the owner-
     operator on a level-playing field with all segments of the 
     trucking industry.
       On behalf of the Members, Board of Directors, and Staff of 
     Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association I would like 
     to say, ``Jim we all look forward to the next twenty-five 
     years. Thanks for being the right man at the right place at 
     the right time.''

     

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