UPLAND, Calif. - Since its inception in 1941, the California Construction Trucking Association (CCTA) – now known as the Western States Trucking Association (WSTA) – has successfully represented owner-operators, small and mid-sized trucking companies, and our broker members before local, state and federal regulatory agencies and legislative bodies. While founding members originally owned only dump trucks, association growth has been increasingly driven by trucking companies engaged in all modes of the industry seeking a strong advocate on issues directly affecting their ability to fairly compete in the marketplace. Our name change reflects 75 years of continued growth as the nation’s oldest, independent, nonprofit trucking trade association. “Over the past few years it has become clear that our name did not accurately describe our diverse membership, which includes members engaged in every facet of trucking operations,” said Lee Brown, Executive Director and COO of the association. “Our diverse membership includes motor carriers engaged in a wide variety of operations such as construction, intrastate and interstate general freight, auto transporters, heavy-haul, port drayage, cross-border/international, agricultural, and transporters of hazardous materials.” An example of the growing diversity of the WSTA membership is the recent merger into the association of the Oakland port based trucking group – West State Alliance. The WSTA is recognized as the strongest advocate for small-business trucking because the association structure gives all members an equal voice in determining association positions. Additionally, the association offers a wide variety of products and services to members at significant discounts or free of charge. While our name change is intended to reflect our growing and geographically diverse membership base, the association will still maintain a formidable lobbying presence in Sacramento. The association’s lobbyist and general counsel, Brooks Ellison, stated, “While the CCTA name has historic significance, in the era of term limits and rapid-cycling politicians, not to mention tens of thousands of competing special interests, we need a name that cuts to the chase and leaves an accurate and lasting impression with our ever-changing politicians. We found ourselves having to spend valuable time describing what the association actually does and represents, rather than get straight to the point – telling the politicians how proposed laws can negatively affect businesses. The Western States Trucking Association is a name that accurately describes us and grabs the attention of policymakers.”