WASHINGTON — The Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act (GOT) has been introduced in the House and Senate this week in an effort to level the playing field and check book for truck drivers who make sacrifices in the name of supply chain.
The GOT Truckers Act would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require that truckers receive overtime compensation when they work more than 40 hours in a week. The exemption was created to prevent truck drivers from being encouraged to work excessive hours. However, the opposite has happened. It is common for truck drivers to work 70 hours in a week while receiving a base pay similar to what someone would make in a 40-hour week.
Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., introduced the Senate version of the bill, while Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., introduced the GOT Truckers Act in the House. Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., and Mark Takano, D-Calif., also helped introduce the bill.
“America’s truck drivers are on the frontlines of our economy, enduring long hours away from home, and all too often, unpaid wait time at congested ports and warehouses. That’s because for decades, truck drivers have been excluded from overtime pay protections,” Padilla said. “If truckers are forced to wait while on the job, they should be paid. This is not just a matter of fairness; it’s a matter of public safety. Experienced truckers are safer truckers, and better compensation will help more of them stay in the profession. It’s time we guarantee overtime for truckers.”
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has spoken out in support of the measure.
“America’s truckers keep our nation’s economy moving, and without the hard work of these men and women, our supply chain would grind to a halt,” OOIDA President Todd Spencer said. “Unbelievably, trucking is one of the only professions in America that is denied guaranteed overtime pay. We are way past due as a nation in valuing the sacrifices that truckers make every single day. This starts with simply paying truckers for all of the time they work.”
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
this is something that should of been implemented years ago all of the drivers this country have screwed over for years working long hours for no extra pay, high time that gets corrected, of course the companies aren’t interested in hearing this but to bad for them. Been in the transportation industry for over 40 years and this is totally justification for all of use working 60 and 70 hour work weeks.
true
the biggest problem they to regurgitate the brokers from talking to much off top .from the freight. the own operators who use freight brokers ripping us off and its not far
May not be Fair…but is it the job of the government to Right this Wrong? I don’t think so. I get paid to sit. I work long hours, but I get paid for it. The market corrects itself, If a trucker isn’t getting paid enough, he/she can move onto a better paying job. Guaranteed OT is a government overstep.
This would only help the big freight movers and continue to drive the small operations into the ground.
I believe it will help drive more small trucking companies out of business. And the owner operators who do not work hourly to suffer lower rates and work even more for less . Address the actual rates that trucks are payed and the market will fix its self
yall know if “overtime ” is paid,truckers will get taxes that way right? this is the government getting more of drivers hard earned money…if this happens,truckers will get MORE money,but then TAXED more and see LESS of that hard earned paycheck.
Go Union all the way is what this Combat Veteran says. Overtime after 40 hours should be mandatory for all workers. Period.
That’s why I just left semi driving I only worked for 26% of what the truck made each day. Some days I was done in 9 hours other over 14. No hour pay straight load pay. No detention pay nothing. Some weeks I took home 1200 but most times 700 or less I got tired of Chicago traffic and hauling steel. It’s not right what company’s can get away thing taking advantage of drivers and not fair compensation.
you no what I don’t like is detention starts after you sit for 2 hours do you go to work lets say your shift starts at 10 and you get off at 6 but you start work at 10 but they only pay you from 12 to 6 is that right who does that no one but truckers and another thing the miles you get paid for, they don’t pay actual miles they pay dreamed up miles they say from post office to post office but were not going to the post office so every trip they skim off the miles sometimes it be 100 or so miles this is ridiculous ijs.thanks