This video recaps the Operation Black and Blue and United Truckers protest that happened last week in Washington.
The organizations protested from October 3 through October 8 in Washington D.C.
Operation Black and Blue is “a coordinated effort by truck drivers who are against the ELD (electronic logging device) mandate and who are in favor of HOS (hours of service) reform and better training standards for new drivers entering the trucking industry.”
The group is against government overreach and over-regulation. They believe that the ELD mandate threatens the livelihood of drivers across the country; to them, it is a matter of public safety and driver privacy.
The truck drivers in attendance were protesting the following:
- ELD Mandate: The driver should be able to have a choice between ELD or paper logs. Their logs should also not be shown to outside parties without the driver’s knowledge or permission
- 14 Hour Rule: Drivers should not be held to a continuous running clock
- Restructure the FMCSA: To include individuals that have real-life trucking experience
- Abolish speed limiters or split speeds: Every state has its own speed limit
- Abolish the CSA Scoring System: Pre-Employment Screening Program, it records all data against a driver regardless of guilt
- Toughen CDL training: States should have to certify CDL trainers
- Educate the public: Add safely passing a CMV to the driver’s license test
- Parking Availability: Due to the lack of safe and legal parking places for trucks, drivers are put in dangerous and illegal situations
- Fines for shippers and receivers
- Abolish government subsidies
- Driver paid miles and on duty: To be paid while on duty but not moving
- Driver’s right to protection and privacy: Countless shootings, stabbings, and robberies
- Lumper Fees/Fines: Drivers should not be held accountable for the company’s cost of doing business
- Limit truck wreck attorneys
- Abolish Emissions control
- Filters should be cleaned for free
- Anti-Idling Laws: If the driver wants the motor to be running, it should be – for comfort, health, and safety
- Reevaluate Map 21 and The Fast Act
- Stop overreaching congress members: Hold public hearings with members of the transportation industry present
- Over restriction in California
- Prohibit the use of tax dollars from giving subsidies to major carriers: this prevents road building and infrastructure