Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, April 7, 2020:
N.Y. senator calls for $25k for truckers, frontline COVID-19 workers
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) wants truck drivers and other frontline workers to receive $25,000 in what he is calling “heroes pay” for their roles in the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. His request comes as Congress tackles a second COVID-19 economic rescue package.
In addition to truckers, Schumer’s proposal would include nurses, grocery store clerks and others he said are essential to keeping Americans safe.
Schumer says the payment would be equivalent to a raise of $13 per hour from the start of the public health emergency until December 31, 2020. His proposal also calls for a $15,000 essential worker sign-on bonus to attract and secure the workforce needed to fight the public health crisis.
Between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 28th, the ExpressTruckTax company provided 100 meals from a location of Hwy 55 Burgers to professional truckers at the at the NB and SB rest areas just south of Rock Hill, S.C., on I-77, near milepost 65.
“We would like to do this again,” says Charles Hardy, director of administration at ExpressTruckTax parent company SPAN Enterprises.
SPAN CEO Agie Sundaram pointed out that while much of the world is shut down, “truckers are expected to keep going to keep our shelves stocked. With most restaurants closed, it makes it harder for these drivers to find food options, and their trucks are way too big for a drive-thru.” Reports of even some truck stops closing their doors, or not accepting cash payments, Sundaram added, make it “harder for these Americans to find food on the road. We at ExpressTruckTax.com wanted to take this opportunity to show our appreciation to these great folks.” Find a video from the event at this link.
