Deputy Secretary of Labor Julie Su joined with members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters March 3 for an online discussion of strategies for improving trucking job quality and for retaining and recruiting drivers.
The discussion stemmed from the partnership between the departments of Labor and Transportation as part of the Driving Good Jobs Initiative, the Department of Labor said.
“Truck drivers from across the country who are members of The International Brotherhood of Teamsters – the nation’s largest private-sector union for truck drivers and related industries – provided us with invaluable insight about the importance of ensuring truck drivers receive family-sustaining wages and benefits, work in safe and healthy working conditions, have a voice in the workplace and access to training opportunities,” Su said.
As part of the partnership, a series of listening sessions have been created to engage drivers, unions and other trucking industry stakeholders to improve labor standards and ensure the concerns of workers are heard and addressed.
This session touched on the misclassification of drivers as independent contractors, better compensation for drivers, support for collective bargaining and enhanced industry training and safety standards, the Department of Labor said.
The importance of addressing racial and gender inequities in the industry and increasing outreach to drivers of color and women also were discussed. A focus was given to personal safety to attract more women to trucking.
