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September Spells Back to School and Back to Business for America’s Truck Dealers
By Steve Parker, September 2017
ATD Chairman
Steve
Parker
September rings in
the start of a new school year for students all across the country. Teachers
are back in session and children and adults alike are busy in classrooms
enriching their minds and preparing for a better future. It's not unlike
what we, as truck dealers, do every day in our own lives and within our
own businesses. Each truck we sell, contributes to our customers' businesses
and their goals of a better future. Each challenge we face, presents an
opportunity to become stronger and smarter than we were the day before.
September is a time when we can all benefit from teamwork because while
students everywhere went back to school, NADA/ATD went back to Capitol Hill
to advocate for the nation's auto and truck dealers. On September 12-13,
NADA/ATD hosted its 43rd annual Washington Conference in the heart of the
nation's capital. This year, it was attended by nearly 500 participants,
including our most politically active members, national board members, and
state association leaders. This grass tops gathering of our retail industry
highlights the most critical legislative and regulatory issues for both our
car and truck dealer constituents.
Just like a classroom, it is a
time when we can put our heads together and learn about our mutual goals and
the issues affecting our business. In his keynote speech-and in the spirit
of teamwork--NADA Chairman Mark Scarpelli highlighted an issue affecting all
truck dealers, the Federal Excise Tax. I commend him for relaying the
challenges faced by truck dealers and their customers. He asked those in
attendance: “Does your member of Congress know that customers are having a
tough time paying the 12% federal excise tax on heavy-duty trucks? Because on
top of the FET, they still have to pay state and county taxes…”
This largely echoes what I have advocated for during ATD's annual Capitol
Hill Fly-In in June. Rest assured, our 'lessons' will continually be
reinforced in the fall season when Congress releases new legislation that
will affect our business.
Just as students can benefit from a guest
lecturer in a classroom, NADA/ATD was proud to host members of Congress
during the conference. We heard from Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), Sen. Lindsey
Graham (R-S.C.), and Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao,
just to name a few. They addressed numerous issues that are critical to the
industry--from tax reform to recall legislation. As always, the conference
culminated with our 'final test' and hundreds of dealers going to Capitol
Hill for meetings with congressional representatives where we have a chance
to make an impact for our businesses.
Finally, I'd like to say that
nothing makes a bigger impact on our industry than having your participation
and engagement. With elections for several ATD board seats imminent in the
next month, I'd like to encourage all active and interested dealers to
capitalize on your opportunity to serve our great industry. I can tell you
personally that there is nothing more rewarding than fighting for our fellow
truck dealers, standing up for what we do, and preserving our industry. ATD
welcomes your leadership and influence for the greater good of our dealer
body.
September is a busy and essential time for all families. On
behalf of ATD, I wish you and your loved ones a productive and successful
academic year and a booming season for your businesses!
Parker is
chairman of ATD, a division of NADA in Tysons, Va., which represents 1,800
heavy- and medium-duty truck dealerships. He is president of Baltimore Potomac
Truck Centers in Linthicum, Md., which operates five full-service commercial
truck dealership locations with Mack, Volvo and Hino Trucks franchises in
Maryland and Virginia.