Pete Buttigieg made a nifty statement for National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. The pandemic gave a lot of Americans a crash course in the importance (and vulnerability) of our supply chain, but it's hard to exaggerate how much we all depend on truck drivers. Professional truckers deserve a lot more than a week of gratitude.
According to the statement, a portion of the 2021 infrastructure funds are going to repair bridges (actual infrastructure!) and increase truck parking (badly needed). Unfortunately, Buttigieg also plays into the narrative that a "shortage" of truck drivers is one of the industry's biggest challenges. In fact, many drivers just get exhausted when the long hours and time away from family fail to provide the income that would justify all those personal sacrifices and risks.
Truck driving is one of the most heavily regulated industries, and that's largely because of the many risks involved in moving heavy, potentially hazardous freight on highways and through city intersections. For drivers, however, it feels like there's more and more rules for less and less compensation. People can (and do) point the blame in all directions when it comes to driver pay, but employers don't have many options when it comes to burdensome regulations.
This administration has made a point of working closely with unions, but it would be nice to see more public collaboration with independent owner operators, so that more truck drivers can achieve financial independence without relying on an employer like Yellow. Regardless, we should all be appreciative of truck drivers, not just one week in September, but all year round.
🚛👏🗓️ We’re kicking off National Truck Driver Appreciation Week with a huge THANK YOU to the incredible men and women who keep America moving! Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg has a message for our hard working, dedicated truckers.
#FMCSA #NTDAW2024 #TruckDriverAppreciation #ThankATrucker #TruckersKeepAmericaMoving
Professional Speaker & Presentation Skills Trainer
2moThis makes me want a snow cone real bad. 🍧