CMCA Internal Operations
Throughout its illustrious history, the structure of the CMCA has remained
essentially unchanged. It 
is
divided into conferences, with each conference made up of members from a particular
specialized field of motor transportation. Today, the organization has six
conferences. Each conference has elected representation on the governing board
of the organization. Additional directors are elected from conference nominations.
CMCA CHAIRMAN -- The board chairman is selected from among
board members and is elected annually by the board. The board's duties are
to represent the general membership in deciding policy and to conduct ongoing
association business.
Various committees and councils also serve the organization. The councils,
such as the Safety Council, conduct education and training activities pertinent
to their areas of specialization. Committees are formed to handle specific
tasks, such as putting on the annual convention.
To better address the changing landscape for trucking over the years, CMCA
has tailored its programs and efforts to better meet these challenges. Today,
CMCA's main functions may be categorized into three areas. These are: membership
services; legislative and governmental relations; and education for our
membership, as well as educate others about the trucking industry. Our services
are focused to better position our members in the marketplace in a variety
of manners ranging from providing information through our monthly newsletter
magazine and annual convention, to the provision of group worker compensation
plans and low cost telecommunication services. In the area of governmental
relations, the association serves as a spokesperson for the trucking industry
at the federal, state and local level. This involves continual monitoring
of issues of interest to our members in the government arena and involves
a high level of interaction with the various regulatory bodies on the state
level. In the area of education, CMCA has been providing workshops and seminars
on a variety of topics ranging from changes in governmental regulations
to safety procedures. These workshops are presented as a service to our
members. In addition we are providing presentations to various groups, including
business organizations and citizen groups, on the importance of trucking
in our state and the challenges facing the trucking industry.
RESTRUCTURING -- In 1997, CMCA's Board of Directors approved
a major organizational change for the association accompanied by a revision
of the bylaws. The restructuring of CMCA was intended to better position
our association for the future and bring it more in line with the current
state of the industry. The reorganization also revamped the committee structure,
as well as CMCA's staffing pattern.
2001 represented the foundation of our efforts relating to key tax revisions
in the state to improve the operating environment for the trucking in Colorado.
Through CMCA’s efforts the trucking 
industry
realized substantial tax reductions in the area of sales tax, registration
fees and specific ownership tax. At the same time, CMCA worked with the state
on further regulatory processes that produced cost savings to the trucking
industry in Colorado. At the same time, CMCA was very engaged in the area
of safety. The Truck Safety 2000 Study was completed and laid out an excellent
blueprint for reducing truck-related accidents and fatalities in Weld County.
A UNITED VOICE -- This last year was particularly eventful
with the merge of the Colorado Motor Carriers Association and Colorado Transfer
& Warehousing Association. The merger brought together the two largest
organizations representing trucking in the State of Colorado. Now it can
truly be said that CMCA is the “Voice of Trucking for Colorado”.
Over the past several years, CMCA has also focused on enhancing the value
of membership in CMCA. We have added more training classes and membership
services, as well as enhancing the information being provided to our members.
In 2001, CMCA launched its own web site that provides a wealth of information
to our CMCA family and friends. The site allows our members to keep up to
date with critical issues and access information on our association and
industry.
FUTURE
DIRECTIONS -- Although CMCA has made substantial progress over
the past several years, there is still much to be done to develop a hospitable
environment in Colorado for trucking companies. Our association will continue
our efforts to reduce taxes and fees in Colorado, which remains one of the
highest in the nation. While seeking lower fees and taxes, CMCA will continue
our efforts to streamline the regulatory process to make it easier and faster
for our members to comply with state and federal rules. Along with these
efforts, CMCA will continue to strongly represent the trucking interests
in the area of environmental and workplace regulation. On our part, CMCA
has sought and will continue to help shape these regulations in a manner,
which does not adversely affect our industry. Finally, our association is
committed to taking actions that improve safety not only for the trucking
operators but also for all highway users.
A Brief History of the Colorado Motor Carriers Association
Everyone has heard the old axiom about "strength in numbers". Well, in 1937, as the country was still struggling to break out of the Great Depression, that lesson was being drummed home to the several hundred independent trucking firms operating in Colorado.
CUT THROAT COMPETITION -- Bitter competition, factionalism
between rival trade organizations, slander campaigns by the railroads and
increasing state and federal regulation, were making business survival exceptionally
difficult for Colorado's truck lines. Operators were under assault from
virtually every possible direction.
Clearly
there was a need for strong leadership - a need for one organization that
could effectively represent the diverse needs and interests of all of Colorado's
motor carriers. But it took several years of intense effort before that one
organization could be forged from the numerous carrier factions and trade
organizations within the state.
The two leading contenders for the job of sole industry representation were the Colorado Transfer and Warehouseman's Association (CTWA) and the Colorado Trucking Association (CTA). Unfortunately, these two organizations were constantly at odds with each other and were seldom on speaking terms. This schism threatened to permanently undermine the best interests of the entire industry.
FREIGHT TARIFFS -- The main functions of the old CTWA were publication of freight rate tariffs and providing legal representation for its membership before various regulatory commissions. Its membership consisted exclusively of inter- and intrastate regular route common carriers. On the other side was the CTA. Its membership was drawn from contract and irregular route common carriers.
Yet despite an intense and longstanding rivalry, these two important transportation
organizations did in fact merge, to create a single powerful voice to represent
the interests of the entire Colorado trucking industry.
A MERGER -- The CTWA and CTA got together largely through the efforts of Ted Rogers, the first President of the American Trucking Associations. Mr. Rogers recognized the benefit to the entire Colorado motor freight industry if it could be represented by one entity. He worked tirelessly to overcome the hostility that both organizations shared for each other, and was ultimately successful when the two organizations merged on December 15, 1939. They formed the Colorado Motor Carriers Association, under the leadership of Elton Cooley, its first Chairman.
The CMCA membership came from every segment of the motor vehicle industry:
common contract and private carriers; transfer and warehouse operators;
liquid fuel carriers; livestock haulers and virtually every type of business
affiliated with the industry. Yet no matter how varied the needs of its
members were, the organization strove to meet them all.
Back in 1939, Chris Sorenson and his family ran Sorenson Truck Service,
Inc., an intrastate irregular route system hauling general commodities.
Sorenson, who later became the 9th Chairman of the CMCA, recalled the early
days before the organization and his motive for joining.
ECONOMIC REGULATION -- "When regulation started arriving
in the 1930's, why naturally, we old-timers battled the thought pretty strongly.
Eventually we were made aware of all the regulations and the need for us
to pay attention to them. So, all of a sudden we had to find out how, when
and where to select and implement our tariff programs. That's why we (Sorenson
Truck Lines) joined. The Colorado Motor Carriers Association had a tariff
bureau and that was the main reason we were so anxious to become a part
of the organization", he said.
BEYOND TARIFFS -- But the CMCA existed for more than just
tariff publishing. Its purpose, as stated in the Preamble to its bylaws
was:
To advance the general interests of its members; to inculcate just and equitable
principles in our business relations; to acquire, preserve and distribute
information valuable to the members and generally aid in establishing that
balance of all conferences of the industry necessary to the consistent maintenance
of the highest practical degree of public interest and welfare.
And what are the CMCA's objectives and policies? Once again its bylaws,
written 64 years ago, hold the answer:
The object of this Association shall be to encourage friendly relations
between members; to foster confidence and cooperation; to establish uniform
rules and regulations; to foster and advance safety upon the public roads
and highways; to affiliate with or establish reciprocal relations with any
other associations, commercial or industrial, and the American Trucking
Associations, Inc.; to disseminate information and statistics valuable to
the member of all of the several natural conferences of the industry and
to promote cordial relations with the public and national, state and municipal
authorities in matters of common interest to the industry.
It was with these principled words that the Colorado Motor Carriers Association
embarked on a tradition of service that would span the next sixty years.