Union leaders ‘don’t blame’ truckers for failing to show up to ‘rotten’ port trucking system

[ad_1]

Union officials blame a “rotten to the ground” port trucking system for the perceived shortage of truck drivers in the country.

Union Teamster officials hosted an hour-long Zoom presentation on Wednesday, December 8 to discuss supply chain issues over the past year, and they say the way the trucking system is A major part of the problem is being put in place at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Daily Breeze reported.

“The problem is the way the trucking industry works in the port area,” said Jim Hoffa, general president of the Teamsters. “It’s done on the terrible, terrible basis of misclassification. “

Currently, truck drivers serving the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach can be classified as independent contractors by their companies, meaning that drivers are responsible for their own costs, including fuel and insurance, and are not nothing paid for the time they spend waiting to pick up. pick up or drop off a load.

Because of this classification, Hoffa believes that working on ports is not worth it for drivers, so they just don’t show up.

“It’s rotten to the core,” Hoffa said, “and that’s why the truckers don’t show up. I don’t blame them.

“It is high time to take stock and use this moment with those in power to take action to end misclassification and ensure that cargo owners have codes of conduct,” said said lawyer Julie Gutman Dickinson, who also participated in the Zoom appeal.

Hoffa says he’s spoken to Matty Walsh, the new Labor Secretary for the Biden administration and former union president, in the hopes that something can be done to help resolve the classification issue. Additionally, Senate Bill 338, which comes into force Jan. 1, could improve the situation by penalizing freight owners who operate businesses with drivers who are not technically employees.

“It’s a big battle,” Hoffa said. “It’s going to be a battle until the end. “

Despite these arguments, Harbor Trucking Association CEO Matt Schrap says supply chain issues are far more complicated than just misclassification and the resulting mistreatment of truckers.

“Sea terminals are drowning in empty containers,” Schrap said in a telephone interview. “There were 123,000 empty this morning,” he continued, adding that there could also be a shortage of chassis, making it impossible for drivers to pick up full containers as some of them are in use. to store these empty containers.

Schrap’s organization represents trucking companies that use independent contract drivers, as well as salaried drivers, who are represented by the Teamsters.

“[Truck driving] was a respected job, ”said Mike Munoz, research and policy analyst for the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, which advocates for working families. Now he says the job is a “race to the bottom” and even a “sweatshop on wheels”.

“At the bottom of the supply chain are the port truck drivers,” he said.

Munoz also points out that wages have fallen by about 30% since deregulation in the 1980s put trucking costs “on the backs of the truckers.” They have to pay for everything.

“It created a Wild West situation. There are currently over 18,000 registered drivers to work in the two ports, of which 12,000 make regular or infrequent trips. This suggests that there is no real shortage (of drivers), but a surplus of drivers, ”and a dearth of good trucking jobs.

Still, Schrap argues that many drivers don’t even want to be employees and appreciate the freedom to decide when and where to work that comes with being an independent contractor.

“There are a lot of independent entrepreneurs who have no desire to be employees,” he said.

“Drivers are in high demand right now. “

[ad_2]