ATA petitions White House for trucking exemption from vaccine, testing mandate
Interesting article with the supply chain disruption and already existing truck driver shortage in the news lately. I didn’t know that Canada had exempted their truck drivers from their vaccine mandate either.
I’m stocking up on essentials before the vaccine mandate guidelines are released, could see more shortages at the stores if even a modest amount of truckers resign from the 100+ employee companies. I usually have at least a month on hand but I’m planning on buying an extra month’s worth this week.
On the flip side the less than 100 employee companies will have the pick of the litter hiring drivers if they are exempt from the requirement. The big mega carriers, like Swift, Werner, etc (that carry a lot of grocery items) and have thousands of drivers are gonna be most affected.
https://www.overdriveonline.com/life/article/15280369/ata-petitions-white-house-for-trucking-exemption-from-vaccine-testing-mandate
American Trucking Associations (ATA) President and CEO Chris Spear on Thursday submitted to the White House a formal request that truck drivers be exempt from President Joe Biden's looming vaccine and COVID testing mandate, expected to apply to companies above a 100-employee threshold.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) last week sent its vaccine mandate recommendation, the details of which have not been made public, for review. Spear said his group has been in "constant communication" with administration officials to convey its "serious concerns over the impact such a policy will have on the trucking industry and our ability to keep the nation’s supply lines moving."
Spear penned the letter to Sharon Block, acting administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs – the White House office responsible for reviewing the draft Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) before it can go into effect.
Spear asked that truck drivers employed by mandate-affected companies be exempt from the ETS, like Canada has done in its national vaccine mandate, and "deferring coverage of truck drivers to the traditional regulating agency with transportation expertise rather than OSHA.”
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