Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, March 19, 2020:
TBS Factoring offering ‘Sandwiches 4 Semis’ Friday
TBS Factoring is providing truck drivers with free lunch on Friday at Exist 136 on Interstate 35. The Sandwiches 4 Semis event will be staged at both the northbound and southbound ramps in Oklahoma City.
Drivers will be able to take a sack lunch with a sub sandwich, water and chips, and won’t have to exit their cabs to pick up the free lunch.
“If you eat it, wear it, or buy it in a store, a trucker hauled it there,” says Jennifer Lickteig, TBS president. “And while most of America shelters in place, truckers are hard at work, putting their own health on the line, making sure we have everything we need to survive in these difficult times. We can’t feed them all, but hopefully this will help draw attention to the problem, and maybe get restaurants to change their short-sighted policy.”
ATA asks White House for COVID relief support
The American Trucking Associations has filed a letter Tuesday to the White House, addressed to President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, asking that they remove barriers that could impede delivery of necessities during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak and to address questions surrounding closure of facilities like state DMVs.
Citing what the group says has resulted in “confusion and lack of clarity…causing delays and problems,” ATA asked the White House to remove restrictions around trucking services delivering goods and supplies related to the virus outbreak.
The letter was sent Tuesday, and the U.S. DOT on Wednesday did expand the hours of service waivers in place for drivers hauling loads related to transporting medical supplies and equipment, fuel and restocking of stores after the surge in buying last week.
Likewise, ATA asked that the White House “support the ability of the trucking industry to continue to provide critical services” by finding alternatives for drivers who need to renew or obtain a CDL, with many states closing their DMVs.
ATA has also asked the White House to keep rest areas open to provide drivers with places to park and to provide guidance around the health of drivers, including testing for COVID-19. “Clear guidance on public health assets is important to our employees, just like it is for all other Americans, and our drivers are typically away from home,” the letter states.
“Absent policies like these, it will be more difficult to ensure that the shelves are stocked and emergency supplies reach first responders and medical personnel. The efforts to keep us safe, healthy and supplied are shared by government, private citizens and businesses alike. Trucking will continue to do its part in these difficult times. In this current crisis, we ask for your help in supplying America, together.”
