In a recent op-ed, Secretary Sean P. Duffy outlined President Donald Trump's initiatives aimed at supporting American truckers. Duffy highlighted actions taken since the president's executive orders on the English language, which reinsaid penalties for failing English proficiency rules for commercial vehicle drivers. These rules had been previously abandoned.
Duffy announced two key initiatives to support truckers: cracking down on illegal brokering and expanding truck parking facilities. The lack of adequate parking has been a significant issue, with a 2019 survey indicating that 98 percent of truckers struggle to find safe parking spots. This shortage impacts their earnings and poses safety risks.
To address this, $275 million will be invested in building more truck parking spaces. Duffy emphasized the importance of these stops for the national supply chain and highway safety.
Additionally, efforts are being made to lift industry constraints by eliminating certain federal mandates and promoting flexible working hours for truckers. An 1,800-word reduction in federal regulations is expected to save time and money for drivers.
The transportation secretary also ordered an audit of non-domicile licenses to prevent foreign labor exploitation in the trucking industry. This move aims to protect American truckers from being undermined by cheaper foreign labor following what Duffy described as "President Biden’s broken border policies."
These initiatives are part of a broader effort to improve travel safety and affordability while celebrating America's upcoming 250th anniversary.
Information from this article can be found here.
