Embark Hires Senior Legislative Representative from Teamsters Union to Lead Federal Policy Effort (2024)

Embark Trucks, Inc. (Nasdaq: EMBK, “Embark”), a leading developerof autonomous technology for the trucking industry, today announcedthe addition of Sam Loesche to its Public Policy team to deepen thecompany’s commitment to improving driver livelihoods by workingclosely with public sector stakeholders and drivers to roll outautonomous truck technology. Sam joins Embark to lead its federalpolicy work as the company continues to announce new partnershipswith fleets and recently unveiled the Truck Transfer Program, whichwill put Embark-powered autonomous trucks directly into the handsof carrier Knight-Swift and its drivers.

Over the past five years, Embark has pursued a proactive andindustry-leading approach on autonomous truck policy that hashelped build a clear regulatory pathway for commercialization. Oneof the company’s very first hires was Jonny Morris as Head ofPublic Policy in 2017. Since then, the company has established along track record of working with federal and state policymakers,law enforcement, and labor groups to clarify regulatory pathways tocommercialization, improve driver livelihoods, and prioritizesafety as it deploys its technology. Embark added former Secretaryof Transportation and Labor Elaine Chao to its Board of Directorsin 2021 to further strengthen Embark’s position in the AVindustry.

Sam joins Embark with a unique perspective drawn from over adecade of working with organized labor. For the last eight years,Sam led federal policy and legislative affairs for theInternational Brotherhood of Teamsters, one of the nation’s largestand most diverse labor unions. Prior to the Teamsters, Sam workedas a legislative aide at the United Auto Workers.

At Embark, Sam will further strengthen Embark long standingrelationships with federal policymakers, including the USDepartment of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier SafetyAdministration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, andmembers of Congress, to enumerate the safety, labor, andenvironmental benefits of autonomous trucking ahead of commercialdeployment of the Embark Driver in 2024. Under Sam’s leadership,Embark will build on its existing relationships with interestgroups, unions, and policymakers across the political spectrum tomake sure the introduction of autonomous trucking will benefittoday's truck drivers while establishing additional new,well-paying transportation jobs of the future.

Today, Embark’s operating model is designed to apply autonomousdriving technology to the treacherous and grueling long-haul truckmiles where human drivers struggle with distraction and fatigue.The Embark Driver enables truckers to pursue more desirable shorthaul jobs to stay closer to their families and loved ones, allwhile reducing the risk of deadly motor vehicle accidents onhighways. Embark is currently working with shipper and carrierpartners to determine how best to utilize the limited driverworkforce to address the growing demands of the national supplychain, and when and how to have drivers haul loads alongsideautonomous capacity.

“From the beginning, one of Embark’s goals has been to improvethe safety and working conditions of truck drivers in America,”said Jonny Morris, Head of Corporate Affairs at Embark. “As webring our autonomous truck technology to market, we envision aworld where drivers get to spend more nights at home and we havefewer accidents on our roads. Sam will ensure that we workhand-in-glove with federal policymakers as well as labor,environmental, and safety groups to make that dream a reality.”

To learn more about Sam’s labor-first philosophy and Embark’scommitment to the trucking industry, read his blog post here.

About Embark
Embark Trucks, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Nasdaq-listedEmbark Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: EMBK), is an autonomous vehiclecompany building the software powering autonomous trucks, focusedon improving the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of thenearly $700 billion a year trucking market. Headquartered in SanFrancisco, CA since its founding in 2016, Embark is America’slongest-running self-driving truck program. The company partnerswith some of the largest shippers and carriers in the nation,collectively representing over 35,000 trucks and $22 billion inannual freight spend.

Embark’s mission is to realize a world where consumers pay lessfor the things they need, drivers stay close to the homes theycherish, and roads are safer for the people we love. To learn moreabout Embark, visit embarktrucks.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” withinthe meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the PrivateSecurities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Embark’s actual resultsmay differ from their expectations, estimates and projections andconsequently, you should not rely on these forward-lookingstatements as predictions of future events. Words such as “expect,”“estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,”“intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,”“predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” and similar expressions areintended to identify such forward looking statements. Theseforward-looking statements include, without limitation, Embark’sexpectations with respect to future performance. Theseforward-looking statements also involve significant risks anduncertainties that could cause the actual results to differmaterially from the expected results. Factors that may cause suchdifferences include, but are not limited to: (1) ability to expandinto new markets; (2) changes in the applicable laws orregulations; (3) the possibility that Embark may be adverselyaffected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors;(4) the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic; and (5) other risksand uncertainties separately provided to you and indicated fromtime to time described in filings and potential filings by Embarkwith the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”),including those discussed in the registration statement on Form S-4and definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filedwith the SEC from time to time. These filings identify and addressother important risks and uncertainties that could cause actualevents and results to differ materially from those contained in theforward looking statements. Embark cautions that the foregoing listof factors is not exhaustive and not to place undue reliance uponany forward-looking statements, including projections, which speakonly as of the date made. Embark undertakes no obligation to andaccepts no obligation to release publicly any updates or revisionsto any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in itsexpectations or any change in events, conditions or circ*mstanceson which any such statement is based.

Media Contact
Misha Rindisbacher
press@embarktrucks.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available athttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4134290a-43c9-49be-8625-fa2fd02f4459