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LONG BEACH, Calif. – Some Long Beach truck drivers are barely getting a full day’s work due to COVID-19.

The executive director of the Port of Los Angeles said Wednesday they are at 85 percent of normal traffic.

Jose Hernandez has been driving a semi for about 30 years. He normally transports goods from the port, but the past few weeks have been some of the slowest he’s ever seen.

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“This has a very, very [big] impact to my life and my family,” said Hernandez.

Hernandez went from working five, sometimes six days a week, to one day a week. By his own estimates he’s losing more than $1,000 per week.

 

 

He’s an independent contractor so that means he doesn’t have insurance or paid sick leave.

He lives in a Long Beach apartment with his wife and two adult children.

“Me and my wife is too much stress you know… I don’t know what I have to do,” said Hernandez.

While he’s worried about rent, there have been a few moments of relief. Long Beach Energy Resources is now turning the gas back on for people who couldn’t pay. The department says more than 70 accounts are currently shut-off because the bill wasn’t paid.

Similarly SoCal Edison says it won’t shut off power for unpaid bills during this pandemic, and it’s waiving late fees.

As a 55-year-old breadwinner Hernandez has considered moving, but he’s not considering finding a new profession.

“I don’t do another job. This is my profession. I don’t know another job,” said Hernandez.

Hernandez isn’t part of a union. Since he’s not a full-time employee he’s not eligible for unemployment benefits. He may be used to sitting behind the wheel, but it seems for now his direction is out of his control.

For the latest updates on COVID-19 in California visit coronavirus.gov.