OMAHA, Neb., April 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Werner Enterprises (NASDAQ:WERN) President and Chief Executive Officer Derek Leathers testified in front of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security, emphasizing the need for Congress to work collectively with the industry to improve safety, freight movement, infrastructure investments and the driver shortage.
U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), chairman of the Subcommittee, convened the hearing titled, "Keeping Goods Moving: Continuing to Enhance Multimodal Freight Policy and Infrastructure." Senator Fischer's Subcommittee has jurisdiction over all interstate transportation policy issues with a focus on safety, security and infrastructure development.
"The additional freight demand combined with increased congestion, insufficient parking and a patchwork of state regulations only add needless stress to our driver workforce," said President and Chief Executive Officer Derek Leathers. "CDL skills test delays also contribute to the driver shortage by keeping applicants from wheel ready jobs for several weeks. These men and women are the backbone of our economy, and they are safely and efficiently dedicated to delivering our nation's goods."
Werner Enterprises, Inc. was founded in 1956 and is a premier transportation and logistics company, with coverage throughout North America, Asia, Europe, South America, Africa and Australia. Werner maintains its global headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska, and maintains offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China and Australia. Werner is among the five largest truckload carriers in the United States, with a diversified portfolio of transportation services that includes dedicated van, temperature-controlled and flatbed; medium-to-long-haul, regional and local van; and expedited services. The Werner Logistics portfolio includes freight management, truck brokerage, intermodal and international services. International services are provided through Werner’s domestic and global subsidiary companies and include ocean, air and ground transportation; freight forwarding, and customs brokerage.