The past few weeks have been the most tumultuous North America — and a good chunk of the world — has seen in quite some time. The COVID-19 pandemic and outbreak has moved many major cities and regions across the continent to invoke lockdowns, businesses to shut down for the foreseeable future, and the supply chain to take considerable and consistent hits.
Truck drivers have been categorized time and time again as essential workers. They join the ranks of those who are working around the clock to keep the country afloat, including healthcare professionals, law enforcement officials, restaurant workers, and grocery clerks.
“Many of the men and women who work across our nation’s critical infrastructure are hard at work keeping the lights on, water flowing from the tap, groceries on the shelves, among other countless essential services,” said Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Christopher Krebs.
The CISA also released guidance stating which following workers are deemed essential in transportations and logistics. The guidance includes:
- Employees supporting or enabling transportation functions, such as maintenance workers, dispatchers, and rest area workers
- Employees providing services that enable logistics operations, including packaging and distributing products for retail sale or use
- Truck drivers who haul hazardous and waste materials to support critical infrastructure, capabilities, and functions
Reviewing the list in full highlights just how many essential workers make up the transportation and logistics industry alone. Social distancing, shelter in place, and lockdown measures are being promoted or put in place in many areas across North America. These measures serve many functions — one of which is meant to protect essential workers, like transportation and logistics professionals, who cannot work from home.
Freight keeps moving — but it is changing significantly
Air, land, and sea freight have continued to move around the world, but that doesn't change the fact that COVID-19 has caused significant disruptions. The impact is perhaps felt hardest in air freight, as more and more airlines are suspending services for the time being, which makes it all the more difficult to deliver essential items in an efficient amount of time. In addition, many supplies from Europe are being re-routed to Mexico and Canada to then make way to the U.S., adding up to ample additional time and cost.
Amazon Prime recently stated that their Prime service, which normally touts a one- to two-day delivery guarantee for many items, is facing monthlong delays in shipping due to COVID-19. Amazon warehouses are now only accepting household staples, medical supplies, and other essential items to ship to customers. What essential supply highly outweighing the importance of non-essential demand will mean for the supply chain still remains to be seen, but Amazon’s forced reprioritization highlights just how much COVID-19 is already impacting delivery.
Truck drivers need our support now more than ever
Currently, truckers are working tirelessly to keep stores and businesses stocked, as stores are facing shortages of essential supplies, such as household essentials and food. Hoarding of essential supplies has been strongly condemned as an extreme form of unnecessary panic buying in light of the fact that there actually is no supply shortage in the U.S. The lack of items on store shelves is due to people taking far more than they need, rather than a supposed lack of import.
In addition to scrambling to keep the supply chain under control, truckers are at an increased risk of exposure to COVID-19, as the nature of their jobs requires them to touch shipments and interact with others. To make matters more difficult, many rest areas across the U.S. are also closing, leaving truck drivers without easily accessible places to sleep, eat, or use the restroom.
In light of all of this, here are a few ways you can support the truck drivers who are keeping our economy moving:
- Say thank you: Whether it’s recognizing truck drivers on social media or being especially courteous on the road, there are countless ways to show truck drivers you appreciate them.
- Stay hygienic: Truckers come into contact with many stores, people, and areas. Follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s prevention guidelines to limit COVID-19 exposure to truckers and other individuals as much possible.
- Expand meal options: While this third item applies primarily to food chains and restaurants, many should follow the example McDonald’s has set. The corporation released a statement offering their support to truck drivers by rolling out a new ordering system focused on curbside delivery.
Keep checking back in to our Road Ahead Blog for more COVID-19 topics every week, and be sure to read about how the FMCSA is expanding trucking capabilities by temporarily suspending Hours of Service regulations for COVID-19 emergency relief.