About Us

RITA headquarters

The mission of the Rhode Island Trucking Association is to enhance the motor carrier industry's image, efficiency, and productivity through promoting highway safety, providing valuable information and educational programs, and ensure that our voices are heard in legislative matters.

The Rhode Island Trucking Association, Inc. (RITA) is a chartered, non-profit organization whose membership is made up of owner-operators, fleet owners, private and for-hire motor carriers, and allied industries, including manufacturers, dealers, service stations and suppliers.

Since 1931, RITA has represented and promoted all motor carrier interests on the state level. RITA, the only statewide trucking association, has been a member of the American Trucking Association (ATA) since 1944.

RITA represents the interests of its membership on both the local and national stages. With the support of our membership, we fight legislation detrimental to our industry and seek to develop and introduce positive initiatives that serve both trucking/transportation and the public interest.

RITA was instrumental in fighting independent contractor legislation, a transportation and warehousing tax, and, most recently, Rhode Island's truck-only tolls.

In the lawsuit brought by the ATA and two motor carriers, a federal judge ruled decisively on September 21, 2022, against Rhode Island's truck-only tolls, calling them unconstitutional.

As the exclusive Rhode Island affiliate of the ATA, RITA has a strong partner at the federal level, yet charts its own course on matters of local interest that may not align with the national position. The Policies and Operations of RITA are set and governed by a Board of Directors elected annually from and by the membership.

The Rhode Island Trucking Association promotes highway safety and cooperates with other safety organizations. In 2018, there were no fatal accidents involving a commercial vehicle in Rhode Island, which, according to available data, is a notable first.

RITA Board of Directors

Board MemberAssociated CompanyPosition
Debora Babin-KatzTrucBrushChair
Frank KernanAlta Material HandlingSecretary
Jeff SmithOcean State Job LotTreasurer
Chris MaxwellRITAPresident & CEO
Jim AndersonAnderson Motors
John AndersonAnderson Motors
Al BatistaGold Medal Bakery
Daniel BellOcean State Oil
Richard CalderonePetrodriver Transportation
Al CookColetta's Garage
Jerry D’Ambra, Jr.D’Ambra Construction
Al D'AngeloXPO Logistics
David DuhamelN & D Transportation
Mark GiuffreUPS
Chris GosslerVolvo Trucks
David HarrisonConlon Moving & Storage
Jason JarvisNew England Truck Solutions
William KelseyN.E.T.T.T.S.
Mike KiselicaKiselica Law
Ally MajkutM & G Trucking & Transportation
Carla ManniTrans-Link
Joseph QuattrocchiSantoro Oil
Ryan RocheD.L. Terminals
Anthony Santoro, Jr.C.K. Smith Superior
Clarence SneadS & S Trucking
John Tweedie (1959-2024)Penske Truck