In April of this yr, Michigan Rep. Andy Levin launched a invoice within the Home of Representatives that might require corporations to pay time beyond regulation to truck drivers.
Levin’s invoice, referred to as Guaranteeing Time beyond regulation for Truckers Act, would undo truckers’ exemption from the Honest Labor Requirements Act. That exemption dates again to the Nineteen Thirties and was initially enacted as a security subject to maintain drivers from working too many hours.
Now Levin’s invoice has a companion within the Senate. On Monday, Sept. 12, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, launched related laws. The invoice was supported by Senators Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts), Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts.).
“America’s truck drivers are on the frontlines of protecting items and our financial system transferring. In actual fact, greater than 70 p.c of products throughout the US are shipped by truck,” mentioned Padilla in an announcement. “Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing provide chain disaster aggravated persistent hardships for truckers, together with lengthy hours spent ready—usually unpaid—to load and unload items. As our nation makes historic investments in our port and provide chain infrastructure, I’ve launched this laws to enhance wages and dealing situations for these important staff and construct the inspiration for good-paying, steady trucking jobs.”
RELATED NEWS: Invoice launched to take away truckers’ time beyond regulation exemption
“Truck drivers are the engines of our financial system, guaranteeing that every little thing from shopper items to commodities attain their vacation spot on time,” mentioned Markey. “Outdated labor rules have denied these very important staff time beyond regulation, resulting in excessive turnover and provide chain disruptions. Don’t be fooled by the trucking corporations’ crocodile tears. There’s a easy technique to recruit and retain drivers: enhance their pay. The Guaranteeing Time beyond regulation for Truckers Act does precisely that by eliminating the time beyond regulation exemption. I’m proud to work alongside Senator Padilla on this laws and am dedicated to making sure that truck drivers obtain the respect and rightful pay that they’ve earned.”
In response to an Govt Order by President Biden, the U.S. Division of Transportation issued a Freight and Logistics Provide Chain Evaluation in February, which highlights excessive turnover charges and compensation points within the trucking business, in response to an announcement from the 2 senators. Amongst its suggestions, the Division referred to as on Congress to repeal the motor service provision of the Honest Labor Requirements Act of 1938.
The laws is supported by the Worldwide Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Proprietor-Operator Unbiased Drivers Affiliation, the Truck Security Coalition, the Institute for Safer Trucking, Dad and mom In opposition to Drained Truckers, and CRASH.
The complete textual content of the invoice is accessible right here.
