National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is September 13-19, 2020

*****CALL TO ACTION*****

Alright, Drivers, Transportation Professionals & Friends of Truckers, here we go again. You know the drill. Enough of Violence Against Truckers. Please sign and make this go viral on social media to make our point that TRUCKER LIVES MATTER, too: https://chng.it/JY6878zC

Something to think about during 2020 National Truck Driver Appreciation Week...

Earlier this year, truckers were chic. They were heroes saving America from COVID-19. America recognized them starting in mid March for their service. While everyone else was hunkering down, truckers kept on trucking. By March 21st, it became clear that truckers couldn't find food on the road because of truck stop and rest area closures. A thirteen year old boy named Logan Miller stepped up and using his allowance started feeding truckers with care packages that caught on like wildfire (sorry to all you folks on the West Coast for the pun).

SBTC zeroed in on fast food chains helping them understand their drive thru only service didn't work for big rigs that couldn't fit. McDonalds stepped up. Then Wendy's. Secretary Chao and the President of the United States engaged in pomp and circumstance with ATA on the White House Lawn to "Thank a Trucker" and America seemed to be partnered with the trucking industry to weather the global pandemic storm.

In late April, it became apparent that independent truckers were getting ripped off by price- gouging big brokers. Because of a combination of over supply of trucks and greedy big brokers rates plummeted (their trade group, Transportation Intermediaries Association TIA), desperately tried to make us believe through YouTube videos that their 3PL member only average 16% brokerage commissions when President Trump called them out, and then records were leaked and exposed showing some loads that actually reflected 65% broker margins). So, the SBTC asked the Department of Justice for an anti-trust investigation in late April (again).

Truckers went to Washington on May 1st and held their ground for weeks. Eventually, by honking their horns during a live media broadcast, they got the attention of the President and mainstream media. He promised a DOJ investigation into price-gouging. SBTC and others industry leaders were thereafter interviewed by Federal agents. After SBTC alleged collusion was at play to the Attorney General, it was suddenly announced that the head of the TIA and the acting administrator of FMCSA were leaving their positions within just 60 days of each other. That investigation by DOJ and the US Attorney directed by AG Barr is still in progress. We note SBTC had been pressing DOJ to investigate Big Broker on antitrust grounds since 2013. In 2016, I personally experienced severe political retaliation by corrupt FMCSA government officials in the immediate aftermath of those early calls for a DOJ investigation of their big business pals who have clearly captured the agency.

Then, on May 25th, everything changed. With the death of George Floyd, came protests then riots and massive destruction. Truckers and their cargo were now targeted for violence. A HAZMAT trucker was pulled from his truck and beaten when protesters took over a highway in Minneapolis. Protesters shut down highways around the country. In Atlanta and Miami. More were planned in Chicago. Trucks were set on fire in upstate New York and all Hell broke loose in New York City thanks to the COVID-19 related release of criminals from jails, elimination of bail, and the revolving criminal justice door. Los Angeles, too, freed their criminals and let them loose on their streets.

Indeed, protesters turned to domestic terrorism burning down small businesses. Anger toward President trump fueled the fire and the Black Lives Matter movement was hijacked by radical racists wanting to loot, attack and destroy. ANTIFA joined in seizing the moment to usher in Socialism/Communism and complete anarchy ensued in cities like Portland and Seattle.

SBTC tried to get USDOT officials to act over the summer, taking the Secretary to Federal court arguing she had a duty to enforce the Hobbs Act to stop interference with Interstate Commerce and prevent highway shut downs. She successfully argued before the judge that the law gave her authority but also discretion. And she was within her right to choose NOT to act.

The President could have invoked the Insurrection Act, but didn't. Federal officers were sent in, then withdrawn, then sent back in. But the country seemed to spiral out of control as people eating dinner al fresco were harassed by BLM radicals demanding solidarity and racist Black-on-White acts of violence increased as evidenced by a barrage of YouTube videos of people hitting others on the head from behind with bricks and other random acts of unprovoked violence.

Over the past month, as freight rates have leveled off, SBTC has now aimed its sights at Washington, DC officials who have shirked our request they allow us to paint TRUCKER LIVES MATTER on the street outside USDOT HQ in protest of USDOT's intentional choice not to (1) protect truckers and other motorists on our highways from violence; and (2) offer significant regulatory relief already authorized by the president through executive order. USDOT is about to release a report that, according to their preliminary release earlier this year, will show large truck occupant fatalities are now at a 31-year high, topping last year's record. We all know that this stems from drivers trying to race the clock due to ELDs, yet FMCSA refuses to admit this is true. We have therefore called for Congress to #ReformFMCSA since FMCSA has clearly failed to make the roads safe over 20 years in existence.

When we combine unjustifiable murders of American workers in interstate transportation from @BLS_gov stats & accidental large truck fatalities from @NHTSAgov, that's 76.5 deaths/month versus 20 police-arrest killings of Black Americans/month according to @BJSgov pointed to by BLM as a matter of "social justice," some of which, are justifiable homicides by police.

So, given the times, it is now time for us to call for "occupational justice." SBTC therefore offers this tweet to regulators:

#TruckerLivesMatter too, @FMCSA. Truckers of all races. Everyone knows ELDs cause reckless speeding. Why won't you bureaucrats @USDOT use @RealDonaldTrump @POTUS presidential authority to relax regulatory burdens during COVID 19 recovery and make the roads safe again, @SecElaineChao? That would be the best way to show you appreciate truck drivers. That is how you really #ThankATrucker.

It appears SBTC is now headed back to Federal Court this week as the SBTC Board has voted to sue the city of Washington DC over granting preferential treatment to BLM but denying us the same right to mark the road. The streets have already been painted by BLM under "commission" with murals stating BLACK LIVES MATTER and DEFUND THE POLICE. They are now discriminating against a cause and movement that is almost 4 times worse statistically than the problem BLM wishes for American government leaders to address. We cannot have our government leaders playing favorites to Liberals and ignoring the business community with impunity. So, off to court, we go... demanding truckers' First Amendment rights to expression are also respected in this new era. One way or another, this will result in publicity and any publicity is good publicity if it helps save trucker lives.

We are on a roll here and so we now challenge you to join us in our campaigns and use these hashtags to demand change: #TruckerLivesMatter #ReformFMCSA

Roll on, Drivers. Thank you for what you do. We at SBTC appreciate you. And we will never stop fighting for you.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION TO WASHINGTON, DC OFFICIALS.