Tina Hubbard, CEO of HDA Truck Pride, explains how the group has been advocating for the industry on right to repair and why, as a united front, it’s working. Hubbard’s response to our Mid-Year Distribution Update is below. Read the full section in our July issue.
Have you ever heard of the Congressional Baseball Game? No? Don’t fret: Until recently, I didn’t either!
Established in 1909 and set at Nationals Park, the game features actual members of the U.S. Congress playing America’s favorite pastime. You may be asking: What does this have to do with our industry? Well, what a perfect time to meet with Congress and their staff to talk about the most important issue facing our industry: Right to Repair!
This year’s event took place on June 14, and HDA Truck Pride took full advantage of the opportunity. The Auto Care Association created an opportunity for HDA Truck Pride and FleetPride to co-sponsor a tailgate party prior to the game and to meet with strategically chosen Congressional teams. This event gave our industry the opportunity to speak with more than 200 Congressional staff members, with 20 sit-down meetings over two days, about the importance of Right to Repair. Our message was simple and stressed the importance of our industry in everyday life. The simple phrase “If you bought it, a truck brought it” drove the point home and opened candid and lively conversations about Right to Repair.
Coincidentally, while our industry was advocating on The Hill, NHTSA presented a letter to the Counsel for Vehicle Manufacturers refuting the Right to Repair initiative based on safety concerns. The letter was extremely wordy, and we feel misinterpreted the Massachusetts “Data-Access Law,” but most certainly focused on passenger cars and the light-vehicle market. Even more interesting is the fact that as soon as we left D.C., a letter from American Truck Dealers arrived at the doorsteps of the Energy and Commerce Committee strongly opposing the REPAIR Act (H.R. 906).
Why am I writing about this? Because it’s working! Our voices are being heard. And our competition is ramping up and getting louder!
We are stronger together as a united voice. While our opposition is large and has deep pockets, our industry is mighty and massive as well. The only way to win is for every one of us to get involved. You can do this quickly by visiting www.repairact.com to send a letter to the your local federal legislators and by visiting www.autocareadvocacy.org to learn how to engage on a much deeper level.
I implore you to join the industry in our fight to support the Right to Repair. Now is our time!
