WASHINGTON – Jodie Teuton, chairwoman of the American Truck Dealers (ATD), addressed nearly 500 attendees at NADA’s Washington Conference on Sept. 26.

During her comments, she encouraged the attendees to get more commercial-truck dealerships involved with their state and metro associations to better address the legislative and regulatory challenges coming from the nation’s capital and state and local policymakers.

“If you don’t have commercial-truck dealers as members of your association, I urge you to encourage truck dealer involvement to strengthen your membership,” Teuton said. “Our similarities are many and differences few, so let’s capitalize on our strength. Invite truck dealers to join your boards. Take a look at our issues. Think about emerging truck dealer leaders for the NextGen program.”

Teuton, vice president of Kenworth of Louisiana and Hino of Baton Rouge, invited the attendees to participate in the 5th annual ATD Legislative Fly-In, which will be held from June 19-20, 2019, in Washington, D.C.

“Let’s work together to make the voice of the dealer stronger – and more unified – than ever,” Teuton said.

In June 2018, ATD members and dealer association executives converged on Capitol Hill – for its version of the NADA Washington Conference – to discuss truck dealer priorities.

“With a potential infrastructure bill next year, ATD is fighting hard to repeal the harmful federal excise tax (FET) on most heavy-duty truck sales,” Teuton added.

The FET – enacted in 1917 and now 101-years-old – has ballooned from 3 percent to 12 percent and routinely adds $12,000-$22,000 to the price of a new heavy-duty truck.

“Imagine a huge tax like that imposed on cars and your customers,” she added.

ATD is currently seeking congressional support for H.R. 2946 and S. 3052, which would repeal the FET.

ATD, a division of NADA, represents more than 1,800 heavy- and medium-duty truck dealerships in the U.S.