WASHINGTON, DC - Sometimes complying with safety standards as a truck driver will get you fired. Though corporations often complain about the truck driver shortage in America, a union that represents the men and women on the road say companies are cutting corners

“The union is involved in a case where the driver reported that his cargo shifted in route. Management instructed him to fix the problem and keep working. He advised management that it was unsafe for him to do so on the roadside and returned to the terminal to properly secure the load and resume making deliveries. Although the driver complied with the safety regulations and the collective bargaining agreement, he was terminated,” said LaMont Byrd, director of health and safety for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

Byrd addressed the House Transportation subcommittee on Highways and Transit Wednesday as Congress heard from several industry and safety experts. Lawmakers are weighing changes to trucking policy and reauthorizing regulations. Some corporations have long described federal mandates like requiring more rest periods on the job as unnecessary, excessive and a blow to profits. Those representing independent drivers also voiced concerns.  

“Many of the regulations that are on the books today hold drivers accountable for everything that could possibly go wrong,” said Todd Spencer, President of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.

The Kentucky Truckers Association says their legislative focus is on funding infrastructure projects both in Kentucky and on the federal level. They also support the Drive Safe Act, which would lower the interstate commercial truck driving age to 18 nationally. It’s currently 21. The bill is supported by both Democrats and Republicans including several members of the Kentucky delegation. Rep. Andy Barr, Rep. James Comer, Rep. Thomas Massie and Rep. Brett Guthrie are all co-sponsors. But unions and safety advocates are urging caution.  

“Some view lowering the minimum driving for interstate drivers to 18 as another solution to the recruitment problem even though significant evidence shows young drivers are more likely to be involved in crashes. Any effort to lower the driving age before the completion of the congressionally mandated pilot program for the military would be premature,” said Byrd.

Congress is also looking at truck safety initiatives like the Stop Underrides Act of 2019, introduced by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, that would reduce underride crashes.