Selected COVID-19 and trucking industry news that may impact your business.
As of April 29, 2020:
FMCSA working toward administering COVID-19 tests to truck drivers
Land Line
The FMCSA is working on a plan to administer COVID-19 testing to truck drivers, the agency’s acting administrator said at its Medical Review Board meeting on Tuesday, April 28. Read More
201 new truck parking spaces open up in Michigan, Illinois
CDL Life
Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores opened two new truck stop locations, adding hundreds of truck parking spaces to their nationwide network, the company announced on Monday. Read More
FMCSA Extends Emergency Declaration to May 15 in Response to COVID-19, Direct Assistance Needs
JD Supra
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has expanded and extended its Emergency Declaration through May 15, 2020, or until the COVID-19 national emergency declaration from the president of the United States is revoked. The Emergency Declaration exempts motor carriers and drivers from federal regulations located at 49 CFR Parts 390-399 (which includes the hours of service requirements) when providing “direct assistance” in support of relief efforts related to COVID-19. Read More
ATA, Protective Insurance Providing Free Hand Sanitizer to Drivers
HDT Truckinginfo
The American Trucking Associations and partner Protective Insurance Company will be supplying hand sanitizer to trucker drivers along major U.S. freight corridors. ATA member-company ABF Freight is hauling 10, 55-gallon drums of hand sanitizer, which were purchased by Protective Insurance, to distribute in eight states. Read More
Some carriers rewarding leased/company haulers, where it counts
Overdrive
While a large majority of leased owner-operators and company drivers among Overdrive readers have seen no attempt from their fleet partners at any kind of “COVID pay” or hazard bonus structure through the crisis, as shown in polling results as of this morning, it’s true that some fleets have delivered. Read More
Carriers flock to cash-strapped government loan program
CCJ
More than 80% of fleets surveyed last week said they have seen a decrease in freight levels since the coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S. in early March, with more than half (56%) reporting a significant decrease. Fleets are split on whether there’s more ground to lose, however, with just more than half (55%) saying they expect freight levels to remain the same or increase in the next 30 days, and 45% reporting they expect freight to decrease in that time. Read More
A third of small fleets shut down as COVID-19 guts freight market
Overdrive
Overdrive’s fifth weekly survey of small fleets and independent and leased operators showed them sinking further into stagnation due to coronavirus cutbacks. Rating their status, a third of respondents chose “totally shut down,” and 55% picked “running far less than usual.” Read More
Truckers say they’re facing another pandemic — ‘cheap rates’ from brokers
CDL Life
As truckers have been working harder than ever to keep the nation moving during the COVID-19 crisis, many say that they’re also having to fight back against plummeting rates from freight brokers. Read More
Trucking Grabbed Laid-Off Workers in Past Recessions: Will it This Time?
Trucks.com
During previous recessions and regional downturns, trucking recruited workers laid off from other industries. That built freight supply just at the moment when aggregate demand was typically soft. Read More