In the midst of the aftermath of COVID-19, the trucking industry has seen many effects and points of concern stemming from current and post-pandemic regulations. With long hour drives and constant contact between strangers and packages, a lot of worries were raised within the industry. Our Flint Michigan Semi Truck Repair experts have been speaking with truckers that have come in for service to figure out what the major issues are and how people are trying to work around them. Here are some of the common answers we have heard.
FMCSA Issued C
OVID-19 Waiver for New Truck Drivers
A big controversy of long-term truck drivers was how FMCSA allowed new truck drivers with learning permits to operate during the pandemic without a commercially licensed driver with them. FMCSA granted a four-month period where this was waived, which split truckers 50/50 on being on board or against it. An inexperienced truck driver driving into sometimes congested areas off of little sleep poses a serious hazard for the road. On the flipside, shipping was in dire need at the height of the pandemic when supplies were dwindling. Trucking companies needed everyone possible to get medical supplies around the country.
Equipment
Tying back to the previous discussion, truckers had and still have concerns over their equipment. According to Trucker.com, 21% of all truckers had worries about trucks, communication technology, shop challenges, and much more. With the rise of supply concerns and the inevitable shift to online shopping, the trucking industry is facing more volume than ever, which worries companies and truckers if their fleets can handle it. Truckers have cited a low availability for trucks due to inefficient servicing cycles. These companies should consider investing in garage equipment from Air compressor dealers for truck fleet maintenance. It is also important to maintain a secure and functional garage where you can work on various vehicle maintenance tasks. Seek All Arounf Garage Door Repair services if your garage door needs to be repaired or replaced.
Communication
A lot of truckers have concerns over communication lines between dispatch or the central hub. Truckers have been voicing their opinion on how often dispatch missed calls, no returns, and vulgar language are exchanged by the central hub, which is supposed to support their drivers. This has been a concern for quite some time but has gotten worse due to the pandemic. Drivers were hoping for more clarity and support from the administration, but the quite opposite has seemed to happen.
Salaries
With the shortage of drivers, a lot of new drivers have felt that they were led on by recruiters in order to get them in the door. A lot of broken promises have been a concern over pay, benefits, and so forth. With a large demand for expanding a workforce, a lot of drivers want to be paid a salary that matches demand. However, hazard pay and care packages at rest stops have dampened these concerns well. Only time will tell if the concern resurfaces post-COVID-19.
