What Ohio Trucking Association does

Ohio Trucking Association (OTA) is a 501(c)-style non-profit state trade association founded in 1918 in Toledo, Ohio (originally as the Ohio Association of Commercial Haulers) and headquartered at 655 Cooper Road, Westerville, Ohio. It represents Ohio motor carriers and allied industry partners through four operational pillars: (1) advocacy and political action, including the nation's first Legislative Trucking Caucus, the Team 88 grassroots network covering all 88 Ohio counties, and the OTA PAC (TRUKPAC); (2) education and training via the OTA Institute, the Ohio Trucking Safety Council, and partnership delivery of NATMI CDS/CSS certifications; (3) industry events including the Annual Conference (September 2026, Columbus), Leadership Conference, Truck Driving Championships and Technician Competition (239 drivers, 27 technicians in 2026), Driver of the Year, Golf Classic, and Sporting Clay Shootout; and (4) cost-saving endorsed partner programs administered through vetted vendors (Sedgwick for Workers' Compensation Group Rating with 215+ enrolled members, PrePass for weigh-station bypass, Fleetworthy toll management, UPS shipping discounts up to 28%, Alloy workers' comp, Avatar driver training software, GetTruckDrivers.com AI-powered recruiting, On Demand Occupational Medicine).

OTA operates on a membership-and-sponsorship funded business model with no proprietary technology product. Revenue is generated from annual membership dues paid by carriers of all sizes, multi-tiered event sponsorships (Gold/Silver/Bronze plus Friends-of-OTA), registration fees for paid events and training sessions (e.g., $50 for Safety Council meetings, $150 for Golf Classic, $175 for Sporting Clay, $250 for PAC Dinner), referral/affiliate economics from endorsed partner programs, advertising in member newsletters, and professional services revenue from OTA Institute courses (DOT Compliance, Accident Investigation, Periodic Inspection, Cargo Load Securement, NATMI). Distribution is regional (Ohio only) and runs through a direct-sales GTM anchored by a Director of Business Development, the GrowthZone member portal, event-based member acquisition, and the Ohio Moving and Storage Council sub-association serving licensed movers under Tariff 54. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Anthony Tomase, with day-to-day leadership by President & CEO Thomas A. Balzer, CAE (in role 10+ years), supported by a small staff of 1-10 employees including Director of Business Development Deb Seiple and Events Coordinator Bradie Berry.

Name

Ohio Trucking Association

Legal name

Ohio Trucking Association

Website

https://ohiotrucking.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1918

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ohio Trucking Association is a 1918-founded, Westerville-based non-profit trade association serving Ohio motor carriers and industry partners through state-level advocacy, training, events, and endorsed cost-saving programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Westerville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The primary revenue stream for OTA comes from annual membership dues paid by trucking carriers and industry partners of all sizes. Membership provides access to industry-leading education, exclusive cost-saving programs, trusted industry news, and networking.
2. Event Revenue: OTA generates revenue through registration fees for annual conferences, the Golf Classic, Sporting Clay Shootout, Truck Driving Championships, Leadership Conference, and other industry events. These events also serve as networking and sponsorship opportunities.
3. Endorsed Partner Programs: OTA partners with vetted providers (Sedgwick, Alloy, On Demand Occupational Medicine, Avatar, Fleetworthy, PrePass, UPS, GetTruckDrivers.com) to offer specialized cost-saving programs to members. While the primary benefit is member savings, OTA may receive referral fees or commissions from endorsed partners.
4. Advertising and Sponsorship: OTA sells advertising opportunities in newsletters and generates sponsorship revenue from corporate sponsors at various tiers (Gold, Silver, Bronze, Friends of OTA) for events and the association. Sponsors include Great West, FedEx, Sedgwick, Stoops Freightliner, Walmart Transportation, and others.
5. OTA Institute Training Programs: OTA generates revenue from training programs including DOT Compliance, Accident Investigation, Periodic Inspection, Cargo Load Securement, and NATMI certification courses delivered through the OTA Institute.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels14 records

Core offering

Ohio Trucking Association is a nonprofit trade association that sells membership to and provides advocacy, education, training, networking, and cost-saving endorsed programs for Ohio-based trucking carriers, industry partners, professional drivers, and moving/storage companies. It generates revenue through annual membership dues, paid industry events (conferences, competitions, golf outings, safety council meetings), training and certification programs (OTA Institute, NATMI CDS/CSS), and corporate sponsorships. Members gain access to statehouse and federal regulatory advocacy, vetted cost-saving programs, safety training, and industry recognition events.

Product overview

Ohio Trucking Association is a trade association serving the trucking industry rather than a technology product company. Its service portfolio consists of advocacy programs (Team 88 grassroots initiative, TRUKPAC political action committee, legislative lobbying), education and training (OTA Institute with in-person/virtual courses, Ohio Trucking Safety Council with monthly meetings, NATMI certification partnerships), industry events (Annual Conference, Leadership Conference, Truck Driving Championships, Driver of the Year awards), and cost-saving endorsed partner programs (Sedgwick workers' comp, Fleetworthy toll management, PrePass AVI bypass, GetTruckDrivers.com recruiting, Avatar training software). The association also hosts member networking, safety awards, and operates the Ohio Moving and Storage Council as a specialized sub-association.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OTA Institute Comprehensive training program delivering industry-specific education in-person and virtually on DOT compliance, accident investigation, periodic inspection, cargo load securement, reasonable suspicion, and a Safety Director Summit, targeted at Ohio carrier safety and operations staff.
• Ohio Trucking Safety Council (OTSC) Monthly lunch-and-learn safety meetings at the Medallion Club in Westerville providing safety education, regulatory updates, and BWC Safety Council rebate eligibility (3% premium rebate for attending 10+ meetings between July 2025 and June 2027); aimed at Ohio carrier safety leaders.
• OTA Leadership Conference Executive-level event featuring discussion-driven facilitated sessions, peer networking, and a cocktail reception; targeted at C-suite and senior leaders of Ohio trucking carriers and industry partners.
• OTA Annual Conference Premier annual gathering for trucking executives featuring industry-focused programming, networking, vendor exhibits, sponsorship tiers, awards, and the PAC Dinner; held September 21-22, 2026 in Columbus.
• Driver of the Year Award Annual award recognizing Ohio's safest and most dedicated professional drivers through finalist selection and a celebration event; member carriers nominate drivers.
• Ohio Truck Driving Championships and Technician Competition Annual competition with written exams, pre-trip inspections, and driving courses for professional drivers plus diagnostic stations for technicians; staged May 15-16, 2026 at Kalahari Resorts and feeding into ATA's National Truck Driving Championships.
• NATMI CDS/CSS Fleet Safety Virtual Certification Week-long virtual certification program covering Motor Fleet Safety Basics, Managing Motor Fleet Safety Programs, and CDS/CSS certification exams; offered July 20-24 in partnership with Great West (an Old Republic Company) and applicable toward NATMI's nationally recognized certifications.
• Ohio Moving and Storage Council Sub-association representing licensed professional Ohio moving and storage companies operating under Ohio Association of Movers Tariff 54 filed with PUCO; provides tariff filing, regulatory guidance, fair-policy protection, and business savings.
• Team 88 Grassroots Advocacy Program Grassroots legislative initiative connecting OTA members to local Ohio legislators through webinars and quarterly updates, with representation in all 88 Ohio counties; drives statehouse engagement on trucking policy priorities.
• Ohio Trucking Association PAC (TRUKPAC) Non-partisan political action committee distributing member-contributed funds to Ohio elected officials and Supreme Court justices to support pro-trucking policy outcomes.
• OTA Golf Classic Annual networking golf event at The Ridge Golf & Gardens in Marysville with green fees, carts, breakfast, lunch, and awards ceremony; pricing $150 per person or $600 per team, plus corporate sponsorship opportunities.
• OTA Sporting Clay Shootout Annual networking sporting-clays event at Black Wing Shooting Center in Delaware with continental breakfast, full round of clays with ammunition, lunch, and awards; pricing $175 per single or $875 per team of five.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $15 million secured for CDL Student Aid Program
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Great West (Old Republic Company)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Sponsor of OTA; presents Fleet Safety Awards at Annual Conference; partners with OTA for NATMI CDS/CSS certification courses through Great West trainers. Longstanding strategic sponsor with multiple touchpoints across events and programs.
• FedExcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Sponsor of OTA; provides support for Truck Driving Championships as Class Sponsor; visible supporter of OTA programs and industry professional development.
• MJAIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Sponsor of OTA; marketing and visibility partnership.
• Nagle CompaniesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Sponsor of OTA.
• SedgwickcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Sponsor; administers OTA's Workers' Compensation Group Rating Program serving 215+ OTA members. Provides BWC programs including Group Rating, safety resources, and non-obligatory AC3 filings for member savings.
• Group Management ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze Sponsor of OTA.
• Kenan Advantage Group (KAG)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze Sponsor of OTA; Truck Driving Championships Class Sponsor. Major trucking company providing fuel and transportation services.
• National InterstateminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze Sponsor of OTA; specialty insurance provider for trucking industry.
• Pohl TransportationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze Sponsor of OTA.
• Stoops Freightliner and Western StarcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze Sponsor; Title Sponsor of 2026 Truck Driving Championships and Technician Competition; PAC Dinner Presenting Sponsor at Annual Conference. Major truck dealer with multiple Ohio locations.
• Walmart TransportationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze Sponsor; Truck Driving Championships Class Sponsor and Technician Competition Station Sponsor. Major shipper with significant trucking operations.
• Pilot CompanycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting Sponsor of 2026 OTA Annual Conference; major travel center/fueling network serving trucking industry.
• Alloy Employer ServicescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEndorsed partner providing workers' compensation coverage including Self-Insured workers' comp fund for Ohio employers, Alternative Employer Organization (AEO) program, and pay-as-you-go premium model.
• On Demand Occupational MedicineminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEndorsed partner providing 24/7 comprehensive on-site and TPA services for DOT drug and alcohol testing, occupational health clinics, collection sites, and laboratories nationwide.
• PrePasscoreTechnology or IntegrationEndorsed partner providing automatic vehicle identification (AVI) system enabling transponder-equipped commercial vehicles to bypass weigh stations and port-of-entry facilities. First month free for OTA members. Also Presenting Sponsor of 2026 Truck Driving Championships.
• UPScoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed partner offering OTA members up to 28% discount on UPS shipping through members-only program. Contact UPS at 800.350.7007 or savewithups.com/ohiotrucking. Also Breakfast Sponsor and driver competition participant.
• Ohio Department of Higher EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOTA partnered with the Ohio Department of Higher Education to establish and secure funding for the Commercial Truck Driver Student Aid Program, which has provided over $15 million for CDL training.
• Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with BWC Division of Safety & Hygiene for Safety Council meetings, monthly safety updates, and BWC Safety Council rebate program (3% rebate for attending 10+ meetings between July 2025-June 2027).
• Ohio General AssemblycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOTA advocates and advances issues at the Ohio Statehouse. Secured CDL Student Aid funding, truck parking investment, and multiple legislative wins through sustained engagement with legislators.
• NATMI (National Association of Safety Professionals)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver NATMI CDS/CSS certification courses through OTA Institute. Courses are university-accredited and applicable toward NATMI's nationally recognized certification programs.
• Ohio State Highway PatrolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSP provides enforcement updates at Safety Council meetings and participates in regulatory discussions at OTA events and conferences.
• American Trucking Associations (ATA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational federation partner; OTA serves on ATA's TruckPAC board. ATA's COO speaks at OTSC meetings. OTA participates in ATA committees and programs including National Truck Driving Championships.
• Governor's Administration (Ohio)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOTA worked with Governor Mike DeWine's administration to secure $200 million for truck parking and advance transportation budget priorities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• National Association of Small Trucking Companies (NASTC): Membership organization focused on small trucking companies providing negotiated discounts, fuel programs, and insurance. Overlaps with OTA's endorsed partner model but competes nationally rather than at the state level, making it more of an adjacent alternative than a direct competitor.
• Truckload Carriers Association (TCA): National trade association for truckload carriers, providing conferences, safety awards, and advocacy. Comparable in event programming (e.g., Driver of the Year analog) and member services, but serves truckload-specific operators across North America rather than an Ohio-state constituency.
• Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA): National association serving independent owner-operators and small fleet drivers with advocacy, insurance, and member services. Comparable in advocacy focus and member-benefit model, but oriented toward owner-operators rather than Ohio-licensed carriers, making it partially overlapping but distinct in constituency.

Direct peers

• Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association: Mid-Atlantic state trucking association offering advocacy, group rating workers' comp programs, training, and annual conventions to Pennsylvania carriers. Closely comparable membership, event, and endorsed-partner structure to OTA.
• California Trucking Association: One of the largest state-level trucking associations in the U.S., operating with the same model as OTA: advocacy, training, endorsed partner programs, PAC, and annual events for California-based motor carriers. Closest structural peer.
• North Dakota Motor Carriers Association: State trucking association where current OTA President Thomas A. Balzer previously served as EVP for six years. Directly comparable in scope (statewide advocacy, training, events) and represents the same member profile of for-hire and private motor carriers.
• Florida Trucking Association: State-level trade association providing legislative advocacy, safety programs, and member services to Florida-based trucking companies. Same operating model as OTA, with parallel conferences, safety councils, and PAC structures.
• Texas Trucking Association: State-level trucking trade association providing advocacy, education, safety programs, and member benefits to Texas motor carriers. Mirrors OTA's service mix (legislative representation, training institute, safety council, conventions) at a larger geographic scale.

Broad incumbents

• American Trucking Associations: National federation of state trucking associations and carriers. Directly comparable as the apex trade body OTA partners with; provides the same advocacy, training, and event services but at national scale across all 50 states.

Others

• National Private Truck Council (NPTC): Trade association representing private fleet operators (Walmart Transportation, FedEx etc.) rather than for-hire carriers. Relevant as many of OTA's blue-chip sponsors (Walmart, FedEx) are NPTC members, and the two associations represent complementary constituencies within the broader trucking ecosystem.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ohio-trucking-association
• Xx.com/Ohio_Trucking
• Facebookfacebook.com/ohiotruckingassociation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ohio Trucking Association