A few days ago Todd Spencer, the President and CEO of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association sent the following letter to President Trump with HELP – MAYDAY – 911 as the headline in very large bold type:
“Urgent and immediate action is demanded to safeguard our nation’s supply chain.
Small-business truckers and professional drivers are the vital link to it all, putting their lives on the line for the good of the nation.
Every day they are exposed to COVID-19 because of the critical service they provide for all of us. EVERY SINGLE DAY.
They run in and out of the hot zones and without question they are exposed.
They don’t have access to PPE or any practical means to know when they may be falling ill or any practical solution if they need treatment or self-isolation.
Access to testing must be available where they are, particularly on busy truck routes. And testing must show results in hours, not days.
Along with that we need a strategy for treatment or quarantine that could take place at nearby motels.
Right now professional drivers are busting their butts to care for the nation.
Their hard work and personal sacrifice should not include their health or even their lives if at all possible or preventable.
Once word spreads that drivers are testing positive, we could very well see a tremendous reduction in drivers willing to risk everything for the rest of us.
We need a plan for them. We need help. Do it.”
This is very serious. In a world suddenly defined by essential and non-essential workers truck drivers are absolutely essential.
We agree truckers should get priority access to testing and treatment as if they were first responders, because in this case and situation they are.
They are on the front lines of bringing needed goods to the cities, suburbs and rural parts of our nation.
We as a country cannot afford to let important supply chains break down and truck drivers are essential to that effort.
That said, based on what we have seen so far from the Trump administration’s response to this crisis, we assume Mr Spencer’s and the drivers concerns and needs will be speedily addressed.
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