Oct 1, 2003 12:00 PM

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) said it recently surpassed the 100,000-member mark.

OOIDA is a national organization dedicated to the rights of truckers and includes owner-operators, professional drivers, and small-business truckers from all 50 states and Canada. Its membership represents more than 150,000 trucks.

Founded in 1973 during the height of the Arab oil embargoes, which had nearly shut down the trucking industry and crippled the nation, OOIDA was created to give professional truckers a voice in legislative and regulatory processes at federal and state levels.

“It took several years for OOIDA to establish its credibility and effectiveness, aided by a few noteworthy successes,” said Jim Johnston, president. “Over the years, we have been able to demonstrate the importance and the need for truckers to unite and lend their voice to our efforts.”