Should Interstate Truck Drivers be covered by the same labor laws protecting the common U.S. Worker?

Because of the nature of their work, interstate truck drivers are not covered but state labor laws, and there are no federal labors laws to protect the individual. Less than 10% of truck drivers are union, which represent only line haul drivers. These are drivers who are gone from their home base 24-hours at the most.

In the case of long haul drivers, they can be ordered to run over their hours, drive a truck that is not completely safe, and change paperwork to show a trailer that previously had carried toxic materials is safe to carry food.

In the last case, a couple pulling a tanker, previously filled with resin (fiberglass glue), was ordered to change the inspection papers to show it was safe to carry orange juice concentrate. They did as they were told, than drove the truck home and quit the company. They could not collect unemployment and had a point applied against their federal license for quitting.

Isn't it time truckers had the same rights as everyone else?

man_with_koolaid_smile

nope

muttley

No driver has to put up with that kind of garbage. If they do it ,it is because they want to. There are to many good trucking company's who are screaming for good drivers and team drivers to put up with the kind of stuff you are talking about. But a lot of independent truckers have to run double books and run long hours just to make a living with the price of fuel and insurance. some truckers are payed by the load and some by the mile. the faster you get it their the faster you get payed so you can get another load and go on. You need to sit down with some truckers and listen to what they have to say and maybe you will understand what is going on.

tommy44432

You have made some truthful allegations. However your question also alludes to the fact that these are common occurences and I can tell you they are not. Truck drivers are no different than any other worker trying to earn a living. They simply use a different tool than someone else. And many people doing many different types of jobs have had to falsify things because their employer told them to. So it's not just truckers doing this. Most truckers are decent hard working people that are doing a thankless job for a pretty much unthankful country. That old saying "if you got it a truck brought it" is exactly how it is. Everything in the US was handled by a truck at some point in it's manufacture or creation. Let's not generalize a whole group of hard working people just because the bad apples make headlines. Personally I don't understand why any body would want to do a job that requires them to be gone for weeks at a time. Where you are allowed to work 70 hours a week and no overtime pay. Be harassed by law enforcement not because you've done anything wrong but just because of the job you chose to do. All true statements by the way. Truck driving is hard thankless work. In answer to your question...yes.

wvparanormal

Unfortunately your allegations are probably true. However all of it is illegal and when it comes right down to it, the driver is the one that broke the law.

As a driver you do not have to break the law and no company can fire you for it. Granted, they will find another reason to fire you, but they will not go on the books saying they fired you for not breaking the law.

A truck driver with at least 1 year experience does not need to collect unemployment. Truck driving jobs are a dime a gross. They can get fired or quit and be working for someone else the same day.

And no the drivers did not get a point against their federal license for quitting. Not their CDL anyway. If they have some kind of other license maybe, but not their CDL. In the US a CDL is still a state license, not a federal license and the state could care less how many times you quit or get fired.

But to answer your question, yes truck drivers should be covered by labor laws, but it's not likely to happen. Your post does not address labor laws with the exception of not being able to collect unemployment and as I said, they don't need to do that. The things you do address are criminal laws and they don't have to do that either. It's kind of like drugs, all they have to do is say NO.

DennistheMenace

your question has no merit. you quit a job anywhere, and you get no unemployment....there rights are equal.....

canivieu

yes and also No cell phone at work .

A K

they do less there independents.

MZ.CHEEKS

Dennis in Central Florida

YES, i was a driver and I quit. I saw too many drivers fall asleep and run into a ditch at slow speed for lack of proper sleep. The regulations are greatly lacking effect and enforcement.

UCANTCME

I AGREE THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS BUT THEY ALSO MUST START DRIVING LIKE THE REST OF US AND SHOW RESPECT.

MOST EVERY TIME THAT I AM ON THE ROAD THERE WILL BE SOME TRUCKER THAT THINKS HE OR SHE OWNS THE ROAD AND I AM GETTING SICK AND TRIED OF IT.

The Mr. Pine

That would be nice. They are more interested company profits and business tax revenue than driver or road safety.
They are claiming a driver shortage in CA. Most drivers know why.

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