OSHAWA, Ont. – It appears reports of the National Truckers Association’s (NTA) death may have been premature.

Not only is it alive, it’s now armed with a strategy to become a truly national owner/operator’s organization. The group’s president Bill Wellman – despite earlier claims of his departure – has been returned to his place of power. He insists his retooled agenda is to lobby the federal and provincial governments, alike.

“The National Trucking Alliance (Alliance) will go ahead,” says Bill Wellman, of his plan to broaden the association’s overall appeal among Canada’s O/Os. According to an NTA proposal sent to several ministers both in Ottawa and at Queen’s Park on Nov. 30, the new Alliance will be an organization dedicated to addressing the “structural” problems in the trucking industry, such as the relationships among shippers, carriers and O/Os.

“We will be bringing in representatives from all the independent associations from across Canada and we will be having a meeting in the very near future,” promises Wellman. The Alliance, the creation of which is now at the top of the NTA’s to-do list, would have a board of directors made up of executive directors from the many provincial O/O associations. The Alliance board members vote on a president. The inaugural board meeting is set for March 24. n