Independent contractors are vital to the United States economy and our Nation's global competitiveness. Truck owner operators promote efficiency and an increased ability to meet demand. This is especially important in spot markets where independent contractors help meet temporary and dramatic demand shifts. These individuals make up a large portion of our nation's trucking industry. However, their business model is under threat by the Reclassification of Independent Contractors legislation, which not only stands to negatively impact thousands of lives, but also the US economy as a whole.Our current system of moving freight would be impossible without trucking as nearly 72 percent of all US freight tonnage is delivered by truck, and in most communities, trucks are the only form of delivery.Furthermore, freight tonnage is projected to increase by an average of 1.4 percent per year through 2045, according to the Department of Transportation. As other methods of transportation are declining in use, trucks are projected to carry the largest share of the additional freight traffic. This exemplifies how trucking is the critical lifeblood of our economy, and we must protect the industry, and the dedicated independent contractors within to keep our nation's economy thriving.