The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced the nine individuals who will serve on a task force that examines leasing agreements in the trucking industry, the U.S. Department of Transportation reported May 1.

The DOT's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has selected "representatives from labor organizations, motor carriers, consumer protection groups, owner-operators, and other businesses, as well as attorneys and educators" to serve on the Truck Leasing Task Force (TLTF), the news release states. The task force will "evaluate lease agreements in the industry and their potential safety and financial impacts on owner-operators"

"Truck leasing is an important step that many owner-operators in the trucking industry take to get started in the business," the release states. "Leases that contain terms that are inequitable to drivers may discourage safe drivers from continuing to work in the industry."

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg | transportation.gov/

The nine individuals selected to serve on the TLTF are Tamara Brock, Brock Logistics LLC and Lewis Logistics LLC; Paul Cullen, the Cullen Law Firm PLLC; Troy Hawkins, TTOH Consulting and Logistics LLC; Jim Jefferson, Independent Driver Association; Joshua Krause, OTR Leasing LLC; Kaitlyn Long, International Brotherhood of Teamsters; Steve Rush, Carbon Express Inc.; Lesley Tsa, Animal Defense Partnership Inc.; and Steve Viscelli, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania. 

The TLTF is charged with creating best practices for truck drivers to evaluate lease agreements for potential predatory practices before entering the lease, and to suggest updates to laws to push for fair leasing agreements, according to the release. The task force's efforts will increase those of the FMCSA to safeguard drivers' access to fair lease agreement, the release reports. 

“At a time when our country needs truck drivers more than ever, we must do everything we can to support the men and women who work in this vital industry,” DOT Sec. Pete Buttigieg said in the news release. “The Truck Leasing Task Force is taking a hard look at leasing agreements as part of our effort to ensure every truck driver in this country has good working conditions and can make a good living.”