As I prepare to pass the gavel and step down as Chairman of the Board of the Rhode Island Trucking Association, I find myself reflecting on a remarkable and at times challenging period for our industry. Serving in this role has been among the greatest honors of my professional career, and I want to take this opportunity to speak plainly with you, member to member, trucker to trucker, Rhode Islander to Rhode Islander.

The trucking industry moves Rhode Island. Every construction project, every grocery store shelf, every medical supply that reaches a hospital, it gets there because a professional driver climbed behind the wheel and made it happen. That has never been more evident than it is today.

Rhode Island’s trucking sector continues to be a vital engine of our state’s economy, employing tens of thousands of workers across carriers, logistics companies, owner operators, and the businesses that support them.

Yet we are not without challenges. Rising operational costs, from diesel fuel and insurance premiums, to vehicle maintenance and equipment costs, which has placed real pressure on fleets of every size, but particularly on the small carriers and independent operators who form the backbone of our membership.

The driver shortage, a challenge that has persisted for years, remains one of our most pressing concerns. Rhode Island, faces a demographic reality, an aging driver workforce and insufficient pipeline of qualified new entrants. RITA has worked hard with workforce development partners, community colleges, and the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training to expand CDL training pathways and outreach to younger workers, veterans, and career changers. Progress has been made, but there is much more to do.

If there is one area where I am most proud of what we have accomplished together during my tenure, it is the start up of the RITA Safety Management Council. Safety is not a talking point for this association, it is a core value, embedded in everything we do.

The Safety Management Council brings together fleet safety directors, compliance officers, driver trainers, and industry partners to share best practices, develop resources, and advance a culture of safety across Rhode Island’s trucking community.

The Council has also deepened its partnership with the Rhode Island State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement. This collaborative relationship, built on mutual respect and a shared commitment to highway safety is a model we should be proud of. When law enforcement and industry work together, everyone benefits…our drivers, our companies, and the motoring public.

I want to close with genuine gratitude. To Chris and Monique, whose professionalism and dedication make this association work every single day, thank you. To my fellow board members, who give their time and expertise generously, thank you. To our members who support RITA’s mission and help fund the work we do, thank you. And to every driver, dispatcher, safety manager, fleet owner, and logistics professional across Rhode Island, who keeps this industry moving with integrity and professionalism, thank you.

The incoming Chairman, Carla Manni from Trans-Link, is inheriting a strong association, and an engaged membership. I am confident she is the right person to lead RITA into 2027 and beyond. I am not done yet, but knowing the great hands that RITA is in going forward, makes for a great transition, and much comfort when passing the gavel in November.

Al D’Angelo, XPO
Chairman of the Board
Rhode Island Trucking Association

This is the board chairman’s message from the newest issue of Rhode Warrior Magazine.