New Bill Would Kill 85 Year Old Law That Prevents Truckers From Earning Overtime

Overdue and yes more drivers would stay if wages are fair .

 

While thats certainly a needed item broadly, a step in the right direction.

It only seems to cover those who are paid hourly anyway, so cpm and % of load drivers are in the same boat theyve always been.

 

Why would ir only cover hourly employees? This is the single line that is getting removed from the exemption.
"(1) any employee with respect to whom the Secretary of Transportation has power to establish qualifications and maximum hours of service pursuant to the provisions of section 31502 of title 49; or"

Looks to me it would apply to every driver that is covered by hos regardless of method of pay. While I'm not sure how % would be done, cpm is a solved issue. IRS already has guidance on overtime pay for people who get paid piecemeal, and that all cpm is.

 

Sorry to be cynical, but my opinion:

It'll still even out to be the same pay. I doubt most companies will hand out paycuts, but I'm sure it'll hault any raises and/or cause employers to hire more and cut down overtime wages.

Just look at all the companies that were paying 80cpm for dry van during the boom a couple years ago... they're hiring at lower CPM or the drivers are running 1000 miles a week.

 

At first your probably correct but how do you attract new drivers offering such a low hourly pay once people figure out the conversion..

 

Oh no. It repeals a portion of the Fair Labor Standards Act that exempts transportation employees. Every company driver would then be subject to minimum wage laws and entitled to overtime after 40 hours. They can still get paid CPM as long as they track their hours and whatever they get paid is at least compliant with those provisions. Commissioned sales people get paid that way. They make commission, but they also have to track their hours. Of course, we all know mega carriers frequently pay less than minimum wage and it's going to hurt if it passes.

 

There is no rule that a carrier has to pay a low wage. If they want drivers they can compete for them. And if a carrier can't make a profit at the going rate then they ought to go out of business.

There can be no cheap freight without cheap drivers.

 

I don't think that would change a thing. You could pay drivers the coveted 6 figures and I believe that we would be having the same conversation. The money ain't the issue in my view. I've seem my money increase over the years. When freight volumes are good, the money is awesome. You can make a good living in this profession. To me it isn't the hardest job I've had. It's easy. Drivers don't stay in this profession because it's too steep of a price to pay to be away from home and not have a life outside of work. What would change the guard is if you pay really good money, but drivers could get hometime every week. Thats what the pulse of the people suggest seemingly. Folks want the good money, but they want to work M-F 8 to 4 thirty. If drivers could get home after every load, or after each week, no matter where they work, I think that would reduce turnover. Your average OTR driver is out about a month. He ain't knocking off his wife that much. He misses his kids extracurricular activities. All of his friends are at get togethers. He's not enjoying life to his liking. When that gets too psychologically overwhelming, then he tried to find a local gig. Many local gigs cause a sacrifice in money, but he's home everyday. When it's too hard to get that local or regional gig, he leaves the industry. People don't want to work away from home. They want to have a normal life in an abnormal industry. That's difficult to impossible for every single CDL-A holder to accomplish.

 

It's a step. But I bet most knucklehead companies now will simply reduce the rate they pay to begin with. So they can still get their little profit.