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Restaurants blast fed rules for truck shortage, 'new bill would help'
来源： 编辑：编辑部 发布：2018/03/27 15:12:28
US SAFETY trucking regulations banning 18-year-olds from driving big rigs across state lines until they are 21, should be replaced by the DRIVE-Safe Act that would have them trained and working as drivers before they are lost to the industry.
The American Trucking Associations (ATA) says 50,000 positions went unfilled in 2017 and that the gap is expected to grow to 175,000 by 2026 if nothing is done.
The bill sponsored by California Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter, a member of the Congressional transportation committee, would alleviate the rapidly deteriorating situation, he feels.
The National Council of Chain Restaurants agrees, having joined the packaged food industry in raising the alarm about regulations that put trucking beyond the reach of consumers.
But federal safety regulations help large trucking firms and the Teamsters union increase shortage, and thus raise prices and wages while decreasing value and competition.
In this way, they also drive smaller non-unionised owner-operators out of business and increase market share for corporations and unions alike.
The regulations also limit the hours drivers can legally work, and enforce like-it-not rest periods, thus forbidding smaller independents from working harder than their unionised rivals.
The chain restaurant group believes legislation being introduced could play a significant role in reducing a shortage of commercial truck drivers, that is developing into a widespread concern among companies big and small that depend on trucking.
"Chain restaurants and their thousands of small business franchisees rely on a stable system of distribution for their food supply chains," said NCCR executive director David French.
"America's long-haul trucking industry provides the vital distribution that serves restaurants, but they need a stream of new talent to function.
"The DRIVE-Safe Act will go a long way toward addressing our nation's current truck driver shortage," Mr French said.
Congressman Hunter's legislation would establish a two-stage apprenticeship programme with sequential probationary periods in which drivers between 18 and 21 would be required to meet progressive competency requirements and demonstrate achievement of safety benchmarks.
Participants would be accompanied by an experienced commercial driver's licence holder during all driving hours during the training, and would operate trucks equipped with advanced safety features and technology.
Those who successfully complete the programme would then be allowed to drive commercial trucks in interstate commerce on their own.
Mr French said the programme would help relieve a critical shortage of drivers, citing American Trucking Associations estimates that 50,000 positions went unfilled in 2017 and that the gap is expected to grow to nearly 175,000 by 2026.
The American Trucking Associations (ATA) says 50,000 positions went unfilled in 2017 and that the gap is expected to grow to 175,000 by 2026 if nothing is done.
The bill sponsored by California Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter, a member of the Congressional transportation committee, would alleviate the rapidly deteriorating situation, he feels.
The National Council of Chain Restaurants agrees, having joined the packaged food industry in raising the alarm about regulations that put trucking beyond the reach of consumers.
But federal safety regulations help large trucking firms and the Teamsters union increase shortage, and thus raise prices and wages while decreasing value and competition.
In this way, they also drive smaller non-unionised owner-operators out of business and increase market share for corporations and unions alike.
The regulations also limit the hours drivers can legally work, and enforce like-it-not rest periods, thus forbidding smaller independents from working harder than their unionised rivals.
The chain restaurant group believes legislation being introduced could play a significant role in reducing a shortage of commercial truck drivers, that is developing into a widespread concern among companies big and small that depend on trucking.
"Chain restaurants and their thousands of small business franchisees rely on a stable system of distribution for their food supply chains," said NCCR executive director David French.
"America's long-haul trucking industry provides the vital distribution that serves restaurants, but they need a stream of new talent to function.
"The DRIVE-Safe Act will go a long way toward addressing our nation's current truck driver shortage," Mr French said.
Congressman Hunter's legislation would establish a two-stage apprenticeship programme with sequential probationary periods in which drivers between 18 and 21 would be required to meet progressive competency requirements and demonstrate achievement of safety benchmarks.
Participants would be accompanied by an experienced commercial driver's licence holder during all driving hours during the training, and would operate trucks equipped with advanced safety features and technology.
Those who successfully complete the programme would then be allowed to drive commercial trucks in interstate commerce on their own.
Mr French said the programme would help relieve a critical shortage of drivers, citing American Trucking Associations estimates that 50,000 positions went unfilled in 2017 and that the gap is expected to grow to nearly 175,000 by 2026.