Truckers Integral to our Economy (TIE), a trucking trade group led by Scott Brenner, is interested in the Department of Labor’s proposed definition of independent contractor status. Independent contractors see the Trump admin’s Wage and Hour Div. rule as more favorable, but it needs to be revised for owner-operators. Recently, Congress/staff held an event discussing the rule’s implications.

Brenner referred to the PRO Act, which includes the ABC test (AB5’s core) and its B prong, which poses problems for trucking. Though the PRO Act passed the Democrat-led House two years ago, its prospects are slim, with the GOP now controlling the House. Brenner conceded its chances for passage anytime soon are slim but said efforts to educate Congress on independent contractor status must continue. Comments on the proposed DOL rule closed at the end of December, with over 55,000 received. Brenner said the DOL will roll out the formal rule in “early summer.” TIE’s goal is to defund or delay the DOL IC rule implementation. According to Brenner, adding to the list of trucking associations based in Washington is fine. Much of the impetus for TIE came from John Kellenberger of US 1 Industries, a non-asset-based 3PL providing services beyond brokerage.

Kellenberger said the idea behind TIE was to focus on independent operators affected by the IC rule. The group began with six members and is now pushing for more. TIE may eventually get involved in state IC issues but currently focuses on the federal level. The courts yanked the Trump administration’s rule, then reinstated it, while Su, the current DOL nominee, has been criticized by the ATA over her views on IC status and AB5.

 https://www.freightwaves.com/news/new-trucking-trade-group-has-1-focus-dols-independent-contractor-rule