COVID-19: Truck Drivers on the Front-Line - A fresh set of Risks

We truck drivers are not appreciated for the hard work we put in on the road making daily sacrafices and risks to sustain ourselves and family at our home financially.

With this new fresh set of risks -
Through the COVID-19 pandemic where uncertainty of anxiety may settle-in especially if your Faith in God is not a factor on this road to keep calm. We as drivers are faced with restrictions, regulations and looked upon as the bad guy but now that we are faced with the COVID-19 we are called upon to step-up and deliver once again when no one really have our backs whether it be the FMCSA who place countless regulations and restrictions, DOT authority who write pointless violations that can impact ones ability to operate impacting your record and insurance, the Public who do not appreciate Truck drivers until they see shelves empty across the country, Insurance companies who love violations is a total RIP-OFF this too can put you out of business, and Brokers who strategize low ball rates to meet their bottom-line.

Once again Truck drivers are at the front line risking our lives to keep this country moving in the time of crisis.

Now is the time to make our demands! Truckers what are your thoughts?

 

In a time like this if we strike, we will look cold but at the end of the day if you don't have something to bargain with in turn the politicians will not listen. Through COVID-19 they lift some regulations therefore that tells me it's not necessary. They now need us to run long hours to benefit the public but not us. As soon as this all blows over it's back to square one and the pressure of those regulations will be once again enforced. Not saying they should abolish all the regulations but atleast be flexible because what's good for the goose is not always good for the gander.

 

This is where we have a mix bag of preferences. I understand where the two opinions are coming from. My perspective, a local driver might need to work harder to get a certain amount of pay therefore if happy is ok with just $900-1200 a week then great. As an owner operator I enjoy the freedom of maximizing my dollars past the 5k mark a week and freedom to support my family.