OOIDA Says Thanks for nothing, Congress!

Small-business truckers react to latest COVID relief bill

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association sent a letter to Congress today challenging them to take a long look in the mirror over the most recent stimulus and how it blatantly overlooks small-business truckers.

“We’ve heard them praising truckers all year as essential heroes during the pandemic,” said Lewie Pugh, executive vice president. “And now here we are with a spending package that benefits nearly every other sector of transportation except those that have been keeping goods moving this whole time.”

The letter points out how transit, motor coaches, airlines and others, are getting a big helping hand, while small-business truckers are struggling to stay afloat.

“This is shameful,” continues Pugh.  “Some of these industries already received tens of billions of dollars earlier this year.”

OOIDA clarifies how small-business truckers do not want a handout, even though they have faced an existential threat this year as freight rates dropped in the spring and early summer. 

The Association has instead made several suggestions for relief the past several months, suggestions that have gone unanswered.

“They could have suspended the federal fuel tax, or the heavy-vehicle use tax, or even the Unified Carrier Registration tax to help truckers’ cash flow,” said Pugh.  “Or, they could have tossed in a few hundred million dollars for truck parking projects, so more truckers would have a safe place to park while they work long hours.” 

OOIDA ultimately asks Congress to show with actions, not just words, that they support small-business truckers and do things differently next year.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is the largest national trade association representing the interests of small-business trucking professionals and professional truck drivers. The Association currently has more than 160,000 members nationwide. OOIDA was established in 1973 and is headquartered in the Greater Kansas City, Mo., area.

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