Commercial Drivers Bill of Rights
The Federal Government and State Governments alike have worked through the years to regulate the trucking industry for the interest to protect the general public from harm that the trucking industry may potentially cause. However they have neglected to take all matters of concern into account for the well being of the American truck driver. In some matters the members of the trucking industry have felt that the government has gone too far in their measure for safety, and have become counter productive. For our better interest, and the interest of the welfare of the general public the members of the trucking industry have established our Bill of Rights. 1. ELD MANDATE - Trucker's should have a choice of whether they want to run with paper logs or electronic logs, ELD's should not be forced, by law, on a driver or truck owner. Also, no driver or truck owner should be monitored or expected to install an electronic tracking device that records times and is viewable to others including employers and government agencies, against his/her will. 2. 14 HOUR RULE - Drivers should not be held to a continuous running clock. A truck driver should have the ability to stop and rest as needed without the consequence of running out of time to complete his/her task for the day. 3. ABOLISHED the CSA SCORING SYSTEM - The CSA scoring system (Pre Employment Screening Program) is an abusive system in which case it records all data against a driver regardless of guilt as if the driver is guilty, negating the facts. 4. PARKING AVAILABILITY - Due to the lack of safe and legal parking places for trucks, drivers are put in a situation that they may be forced to drive past their legal limits until they can find such places. Municipalities should be required to provide an adequate amount of space for truck parking to accommodate the amount of truck traffic doing business in their municipalities. The US. Congress needs to pass a law to prevent municipalities from fining local proprietors, trucking companies and drivers for parking large trucks at local businesses and stop municipalities from preventing truck stops from being built. In addition, there needs to be more available parking for large trucks on the interstate highway system. Due to "Jason's Law" studies have shown a shortage of safe and legal parking for commercial trucks in the U.S. 5. Detention Pay - Drivers are required to legally log all of their on duty time for detention and should be paid for their time. They should be paid their cents per mile (CPM) at a rate of sixty miles per hour. Example: 42 CPM x 60 = 25.20 per hour. 6. Lumper Fees/Fines - Drivers should not be held accountable for the company's cost of doing business. Trucking companies should negotiate, pay, and handle all business transactions with shippers, receivers,lumper services and law enforcement. Except when physical documentation may be required, such as taking pictures of damages. 7. Lumping - Drivers should not be responsible for the loading or unloading of the freight. Their job is to supervise that the load is properly loaded and secured for transport. 8. 24/7 DISPATCH - When drivers are required to work they should have the support of the company when as needed while in the operation of doing business. 9. Driver Abandonment - When drivers are required to work away from home they should not be abandoned and left with the responsibility for their own transportation home. 10. Regulations - Drivers are the only experienced individuals in the field of trucking and transportation. They should be the first voice heard in the regulatory process. 11. Anti Idling Laws - Drivers should be comfortable in their living space and no law should force a driver to shut off the motor in temperatures that impede on a driver's ability to be comfortable. Especially, when a driver's health or life may be at risk. 12. Truckers Right to Carry Firearms - Our Second Amendment Right in the U.S. Constitution guarantees us the right to keep and bear arms. Truck drivers have one of the nation's most dangerous jobs, and one of the greatest threats to a driver's life is the truck routes they are forced to use. Drivers are commonly seen as easy targets to dangerous criminals, especially when hijacking of freight is a multi billion dollar a year crime. Drivers are the backbone of commerce. They are the very reason that any other forms of businesses have the ability to operate and be prosperous, including government entities. All drivers deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, and they should not be treated as second class citizens. © Truckers United For Freedom 2017 |