We encourage you to distinguish
between research on truck drivers from their authentic perspectives rather than research produced
from or influenced by trucking industry
association lobby group interests.
We have created this Transportation
Equity Initiative challenge checklist of information to inform you of the unique challenges truck drivers face while performing their job function.
Food for Thought –
How are Transportation Equity Initiatives addressing the unique challenges truck drivers face who help ensure the United States Supply Chain remains resilient?
Truck driving is one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs.
Many drivers come from vulnerable backgrounds, and that makes them easy to exploit.
Displaced worker job training is crucial as Autonomous Trucks begin to impact the industry.
It is important to understand that many over the road truck drivers cannot
afford housing outside of the truck and face immediate homelessness if they lose
their job. This contributes to their decision - making which can adversely affect highway safety at companies who coerce and badger them to violate federal regulations.
Truck Drivers often work 80 to 90 hours a week, they are limited to 70 hours of driving time under federal regulations and are mostly only paid by the mile. They are exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act and this should be repealed. Truck drivers are governed by the federal hours of service clock but are mostly only paid by the mile, it is an antiquated piece work pay model that does not factor in all of the unpaid non-driving work they perform each day.
Truck drivers are frequently denied access to restrooms at pickup and delivery sites, and they struggle daily to find safe parking to rest.
Women drivers face higher risks of hiring discrimination, sexual assault, and
harassment due to unsupervised co-habitation requirements during training by some employers.
Telehealth Mental Health services are lacking for over the road drivers who
are isolated much of the time, suicide and PTSD are a growing problem in the industry.
Operating Air conditioning must become a DOT vehicle inspection requirement and truck drivers must be included in the new OSHA Federal Register Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Heat Injury and Illness in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings.
49 C.F.R. § 380.723 permits the emergency removal of a CDL training provider from the Training Program Registry “in cases of fraud, criminal behavior, or willful disregard of [FMCSA’s] regulations ... or in which public health, interest, or safety requires.” FMCSA must use the emergency removal provision for egregious or repeat instances of sex discrimination, including harassment and assault.
Discrimination, Gender-based violence and harassment affects the retention of diverse individuals entering truck driver training.
Immediate action to address this should include pre-education at the
CDL school level and a social media campaign of PSAs that also utilize Sirius Radio on gender-based violence and harassment in trucking workplace
with help resources and information on how to report incidents in addition to the implementation of an industry specific crisis hotline.
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