Listening & Learning // A Visit from Congressman Darin LaHood

By Kyle Streitmatter

Last Friday, Nussbaum received a visit from Congressman Darin LaHood, who represents Illinois’ 18^th district in the U.S. House of Representatives. The visit opened with an executive meet-and-greet, followed by an office/shop tour and a discussion of current issues in the trucking industry. Mr. LaHood was joined by his district manager and Illinois Trucking Association President Matt Hart.

Mr. LaHood serves on the House Ways and Means Committee (which oversees tax policy) and works hard to represent the interests of farmers, manufacturers, and businesses in his heartland district. His goal is to help the private sector flourish, and he often visits businesses in his district to hear their concerns and ideas directly. “I try to learn from every visit,” said Mr. LaHood. “I want to take common sense back to Washington.”

Learning Nussbaum

After the meet-and-greet, we set off on a tour of Nussbaum. The executives gave Mr. LaHood an overview of their departments, answering his questions as they went. From discussing cybersecurity with Jesse Knapp to operations with Doug Bradle, Mr. LaHood got the full run-down of Nussbaum. During our tour of the shop, he met a few drivers who were waiting in the lounge for their trucks – not their typical Friday morning visitor!

Digging Deeper

Following the tour, Mr. LaHood and the executive leadership team gathered in the Alden room to discuss trucking issues and the government’s role in supporting the industry. This included topics such as:

• The parking shortage – Many times, parking locations are full, closed, or inaccessible due to the pandemic. Nussbaum driver/trainer Clark Reed shared how Nussbaum’s parking reimbursement program (which enables drivers to park in paid lots) has helped alleviate the stress of finding parking. The executives thanked Mr. LaHood for cosponsoring the Parking Safety Act, which extends grants to state and local governments and public agencies to develop commercial vehicle parking.  
• ESOP – Bill Wettstein shared Nussbaum’s goal of transitioning to 100% employee ownership and how capital gains/tax policy could affect those decisions. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Mr. LaHood strongly advocates for ESOPs in tax policy development.
• The DRIVE Act – This bill would provide a pathway for recruiting high school graduates to the trucking industry, lowering the minimum driving age from 21 to 18. Because of the current age restrictions, the trucking industry loses many potential drivers to skilled trades such as construction or welding. Clark Reed says driving a truck isn’t about age but rather “a matter of maturity and training.”
• Other topics included the infrastructure bill, Nussbaum’s recruiting efforts, and equipment delays due to supply chain congestion.

Lessons Learned

Mr. LaHood’s visit reminded me of two important leadership qualities: a willingness to listen and a desire to learn. Sounds simple, right?

Throughout the morning, I was continually impressed with how intently Mr. LaHood listened. He gave his full attention and asked good questions to deepen his understanding. Before he did any talking, he listened.

But Mr. LaHood also made clear that his intention was to learn. Not just show up, not just listen, not just talk – but learn. And I think that’s what makes the difference.

Any of us are capable of listening, but if what we hear is to have any effect, we must receive it into a heart that truly desires to learn.

In the gospel of Luke, Jesus told his disciples to “take care how you hear.” He didn’t just tell them to listen but to consider how they listen.

I.e., listening by itself is not enough.

It’s about how you receive it.

I’ll leave you with a question…are you listening, or are you learning?