ATA applauds passage of pension relief legislation

ATA's Bill Graves says the legislation will help the trucking industry cope with challenges presented by the faltering economy. (Associated Press)

The Trucker News Services

12/12/2008

ARLINGTON, Va. — The American Trucking Associations today applauded the Senate’s passage Thursday night of a pension relief bill that will help ease the financial strain on American businesses due to the lagging economy and current volatility in the financial markets.

The American Trucking Associations strongly supports the measure, known as the Worker, Retiree and Employer Recovery Act of 2008, which will alleviate the financial burden of corporations that have faced stricter pension funding requirements since passage of the Pension Protection Act of 2006. ATA applauds the House and Senate’s quick action on this bi-partisan legislative measure.

“Short-term, emergency relief for single employer and multiemployer pension plans will help the trucking industry and all businesses cope with the challenges presented by the faltering economy,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “We urge the President to sign this important legislation.”

The Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent just one day after the House passed it by voice vote. This legislation currently awaits the President’s signature.

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 required companies that failed to meet targeted funding percentages in a particular year to contribute funds covering those missed target amounts. Typically, this shields employees from exposure to market volatility. However, in today’s economic climate, employers are facing pension costs that are significantly higher than last year’s. This comes at a time when the trucking industry is facing declining freight volumes, decreased revenues and a growing number of bankruptcies.

Provisions within the legislation include an optional one-year freeze on changes in a pension plan’s zone status, and the addition of three years to the funding improvement and rehabilitation periods for pension plans in the yellow or red zone in 2008 and 2009.

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