American Truckers Associations Website

[sharon sanders]

Experts agree that a global pandemic is a serious threat for which we all must prepare.
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ATA has developed these important Web pages to provide the trucking industry with a current and reliable source of pandemic and avian flu information relevant to the motor carrier industry. These pages are designed to provide the industry with a central source of information and links that can help you understand the pandemic threat, offer guidance on developing preparedness and business continuity plans for your organization, and keep you current with federal pandemic transportation strategic and implementation plans. As key stakeholders, ATA and the Agriculture and Food Transporters Conference are working in partnership with various federal agencies as they incorporate transportation, security, health and cross border recommendations into a National Pandemic Implementation Plan.






These pages will be updated as new information becomes available, so be sure to bookmark this site and check back often to receive the latest information.

http://www.truckline.com/pandemic.

 

[4-ABBA]

Re: American Truckers Associations Website

http://www.truckline.com/pandemic/AFTC

Information for Agricultural & Food Transporters

The potential for an Avian Flu outbreak in the United States is an issue of significant importance to agricultural and food transporters. Both the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services have predicted that an avian flu pandemic will occur in this country within a year.

The Agricultural Food & Transporters Conference has established an Avian Flu Task Force to help the agricultural and food transporters keep abreast of federal, state and business planning initiatives and disseminate critical information to the industry. We are fortunate to have as an advisor to the task force Dr. Tom Holder, director of avian health at Allen?s Family Foods, as well as other AFTC member experts in agricultural and food transportation.

Additionally, ATA and AFTC are working in partnership with various federal agencies to develop pandemic flu planning and response plans for the trucking industry. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration officials have met with transportation stakeholders at the U.S. Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C. It was announced that FMCSA/DOT is the lead agency for all transportation issues evolving from a potential avian or other pandemic flu outbreak in the United States. Three other primary federal agencies dealing with the pandemic threat are the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security. At the direction of President Bush, the entire federal government is actively engaged in developing a national preparedness and implementation plan should the pandemic threat become a reality in this country.

In the event of a pandemic, the health of every American, as well as the health of our economy, will depend on trucking to keep our transportation system functioning as efficiently as possible to ensure the continued delivery of food, just-in-time manufacturing inventories, medicine and medical supplies and other critical freight shipments.


The time to begin planning for a potential avian flu pandemic is today.
Please continue to monitor the AFTC and ATA Web sites for updates.

LINKS:

U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA Unveils New Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for Influenza Pandemic
(See news release and document)

U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA Unveils New Guidance for Protecting Employees Against Avian Flu (See news release and document)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Avian Flu
Provides information on the importation of poultry into the United States, including requirements on poultry shipments from Canada

U.S. Department of Agriculture: Avian Flu
Provides general information along with USDA planning efforts and response activities

Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Provides general information and answer health questions specific to the Avian flu

Delmarva Poultry Industry
Provides compiled Information for industry on the avian flu, including facts on the avian flu, updated industry bulletins and recommended guidelines to keep employees healthy

National Chicken Council
Provides a comprehensive listing of avian influenza questions and answers, safeguards industry has in place to prevent an outbreak and additional industry links

 

[4-ABBA]

Re: American Truckers Associations Website

http://www.truckline.com/pandemic/transportationplans

National Transportation Pandemic Plans

The National Pandemic Implementation Plan designates the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the lead agencies to develop overall transportation and border preparedness, surveillance and response plans. The agency pandemic transportation and border plans will establish priorities to maintain essential functions of the national transportation system, provide emergency management and guidance for transportation resources and systems, develop domestic and border strategies to prevent disruption of transportation services and maintain trade facilitation. In developing the transportation and border plans, both agencies will work collaboratively with various other federal agencies, state and local governments, and stakeholders to ensure a cohesive national strategy for maintaining the movement of essential goods and services, provide continuity of operations, and protect the safety and health of transportation personnel.


As key stakeholders, ATA and the Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference are working in partnership with DOT, DHS, USDA and other federal agencies to participate in the development of the transportation and border preparedness and response plans. ATA is working to ensure that federal government pandemic plans include motor carrier relief from regulatory requirements, protections for the health and safety of drivers, harmonization of state pandemic plans and border contingency plans that maintain the free flow of trade.


DOT is in the early phase of developing the national transportation plan and expects to have an initial draft available for stakeholder review in the near future. ATA will continue to remain actively engaged in the pandemic planning process with all relevant federal agencies that have an impact on motor carrier operations.


Please continue to monitor this site for regular updates.


Updated May 10, 2006

 

[hawkeye]

Re: American Truckers Associations Website

Very interesting and bold statement:

Both the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services have predicted that an avian flu pandemic will occur in this country within a year.

 

[4-ABBA]

Re: American Truckers Associations Website

Very interesting and bold statement:

Indeed. That was not stated to the general public.

And their last website update was nine months ago, where they stated they were in "the early stages" of preparation and planning.

 

[hawkeye]

Re: American Truckers Associations Website

So then it would stand to reason that some "pockets" of the general-public are very aware of what could potentially occur.

-

 

[4-ABBA]

Re: American Truckers Associations Website

So then it would stand to reason that some "pockets" of the general-public are very aware of what could potentially occur.

-

Apparently so. But is is a small pocket....and the ATA isnt talking (or at least updating.)

 

[RabidFrank]

Re: American Truckers Associations Website

Very interesting and bold statement

Quote:
Both the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services have predicted that an avian flu pandemic will occur in this country within a year. :

They can't possibly mean "Human Pandemic" ???? Don't they mean bird pandemic????:surrender:

 

[hawkeye]

Re: American Truckers Associations Website

RF-
Welcome to FT.
In regards to your question, in the first post note this bolded statement

In the event of a pandemic, the health of every American, as well as the health of our economy, will depend on trucking to keep our transportation system functioning as efficiently as possible to ensure the continued delivery of food, just-in-time manufacturing inventories, medicine and medical supplies and other critical freight shipments.

They can't possibly mean "Human Pandemic" ???? Don't they mean bird pandemic????:surrender:

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: American Truckers Associations Website

They can't possibly mean "Human Pandemic" ???? Don't they mean bird pandemic????:surrender:

Welcome Frank.

A bird pandemic, whether from wild birds, imported poultry stock, pet birds, etc. might be highly likely. The odds that spreading to at least a few people might be somewhat likely.

However, should a true human pandemic start anywhere in the world, most authorites say it will spread to every continent in 3 weeks - no exemptions. The odds of that........is anyone's guess.

.

 

[4-ABBA]

Re: American Truckers Associations Website

This is a genuine cause for concern: Pray they keep on truckin'...because if they don't ...

 

[MHSC]

Re: American Truckers Associations Website

Just a thought...

I've heard Leavitt say that a pandemic would occur at anytime during the year, meaning pandemic's don't favor a certain season or month, but they can happen anytime.

I wonder if the ATA misunderstood that to mean that it would occur during this year.

In any case it should say could occur, not would occur.

 

[hawkeye]

Re: American Truckers Associations Website

Good point MHSC.