On Thursday, a newly proposed legislation was introduced, aiming to modify existing labor laws to ensure that truckers are entitled to overtime pay. The bipartisan Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act was presented in both the House and Senate on November 9, 2023.
This legislative initiative seeks to eliminate the motor carrier provision found in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA), which currently exempts truckers from receiving overtime compensation. The motivation behind this bill stems from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Freight and Logistics Supply Chain Assessment published in February 2022. The USDOT report recommended that Congress revoke the motor carrier provision of the FLSA due to concerns over high driver turnover rates and compensation issues in the trucking industry. The goal is to alleviate stress on the supply chain.
Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) introduced the Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act, along with Representatives Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02) and Mark Takano (CA-39). Notable co-sponsors include Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who also serves as the Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, as well as Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
The proposed bill has garnered backing from several key organizations, including the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Truck Safety Coalition, and the Institute for Safer Trucking.
“From the food we eat to the medical supplies we use in our daily lives, truck drivers make sure consumer goods and commodities reach their destination on time,” said Senator Markey. “However, for almost a hundred years, obsolete labor regulations have denied truck drivers their rightful pay, leading to high turnover and supply chain disruptions. Senator Padilla and I are reintroducing our Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act to fix this injustice and ensure that these vital workers receive their hard-earned overtime pay. I thank Senator Padilla for his continued effort in delivering fair pay for our truck drivers—the vital engines that keep our economy running.”
“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,” said Senator Padilla. “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.”
“Truckers are the backbone of our nation’s economy and an essential component of our supply chain. Without truck drivers, our country would be at a standstill,” said Representative Van Drew. “I am proud to join my colleagues in supporting the Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act to ensure these hardworking men and women are compensated fairly.”
“Truckers have been left out of overtime opportunities due to archaic standards,” said Representative Takano. “The impact of truckers on the supply chain to get Americans the goods they rely on entitles these workers to competitive wages. In an industry plagued with high turnover, the most common-sense solution is to guarantee overtime pay to drivers.”
“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. 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. With this discount on a trucker’s time, ‘big trucking’ has led a race to the bottom for wages that treats truckers as expendable components rather than the professionals they are. We thank Senator Padilla for fighting to right this wrong by guaranteeing overtime pay for truckers through the GOT Truckers Act. This legislation is an investment in truckers, road safety, and America,” said Todd Spencer, President of OOIDA.
“Truck drivers have been denied overtime protections for nearly 100 years,” said Sean M. O’Brien, President of Teamsters General. “The Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act rights this wrong, and would end this inexcusable abuse to hundreds of thousands of drivers across the country.”
“The FLSA Motor Carrier Exemption needlessly puts the lives of truck drivers and all roadway users at grave risk. The notion that it is acceptable for innocent people to die to avoid paying truck drivers for all their time is un-American. I am grateful to my home state Senator, Senator Padilla for taking action to eliminate this lethal loophole. The GOT Truckers Act will undoubtedly save lives and improve roadway safety for all,” said Tami Friedrich, President of Truck Safety Coalition.
“Repealing the overtime exemption for truck drivers is not just an economic issue, but also a safety issue. Experienced drivers are essential to keeping our roads safe, but too many are leaving the industry because they are overworked and underpaid,” said Harry Adler, Principal at the Institute for Safer Trucking. “The GOT Truckers Act would help to retain experienced truck drivers by providing them with the overtime pay they deserve. This would not only improve their quality of life, but also make our roads safer for everyone.”
