If the shelves in your grocery store have anything on them, after almost a month of “lockdown,” you can thank a truck driver. During the coronavirus crisis, they might be the most unsung heroes in the country and the world right now.
Their work is considered essential, which it is, because if they weren’t trucking, our shelter-in-place lives would not only be less comfortable, we wouldn’t even have basic necessities. Hospitals would not have the supplies they need to treat coronavirus patients or anyone else.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2018 there were almost 2 million truck drivers working in the US. They average about $21 per hour or around $50,000 a year. The trucking industry, in 2019, was worth $700 billion.
These drivers move over 71% of all freight in the country, and without them, the country would not be able to function. They are the reason the almost nationwide lockdown isn’t interrupting our supply chain in a crippling way. Many regulations have been lifted to help truckers get essential goods, like food and medical supplies, to go where they need to go.
According to the Sacramento Bee:
Truckers bringing medical supplies to hospitals are clearly exempt from a long list of restrictions, as are food deliveries. So are truckers carrying cattle. Livestock are a “precursor” to food, and the government is keeping the food production chain, from farm to market, open.
These truckers are vital, just as vital as medical personnel in getting the country through the coronavirus crisis and lockdown. Indeed, the hospitals are also dependent on trucking to get the essentials they need to treat the victims of the virus.
Truck drivers risk getting coronavirus
Many truck drivers fall into risk categories for the coronavirus.
From the Trucker’s Report:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, truck drivers anywhere from two to five times as likely to experience high isk factors.
- Trucker obesity rate (69%) vs American average (31%)
- Trucker morbid obesity rate (17%) vs American average (7%)
- Truckers who regularly smoke cigarettes (51%) vs American average (10%)
- Truckers with Diabetes (14%) vs American average (7%)
- Truckers without health insurance (38%) vs American average (17%)
- Trucker average age (55 years old) vs American average (38.2 years old)
If truckers think they have coronavirus it is hard for them to get tested. It is also hard for them to get home if they are sick.
Essential services missing
In spite of their importance, truckers are finding it difficult to get essential services while they do their important work.
Truckers are facing many obstacles. More and more truck stops are closed, making it harder to fuel up and use a restroom. Many highway rest stops have also been closed, depriving truckers of safe places to rest. Some drivers have quit driving during the lockdown to avoid the virus.
So, be thankful for the truckers when you see the milk, cheese, toilet paper and everything else on the shelves at your stores.
You can meet a few of the truckers in this video below:
1,362 Responses
I like the helpful info you provide in your articles. I will bookmark your weblog and check again here frequently. I’m quite certain I will learn many new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!|
I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an nervousness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again as exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this increase.|
Hi there, You’ve done a great job. I’ll definitely digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I’m sure they will be benefited from this site.|
I’m often to running a blog and i really recognize your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and preserve checking for new information.
It’s actually a great and useful piece of information. I’m satisfied that you just shared this useful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.|
When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new feedback are added- checkbox and now each time a remark is added I get 4 emails with the same comment. Is there any means you possibly can remove me from that service? Thanks!
Hi there! Would you mind if I share your webpage with my zynga group? There’s a whole lot of folks that I believe would actually appreciate your content. Please let me find out. Thanks a lot
I love what you guys are up too. This kind of clever work and reporting! Keep up the fantastic works guys I’ve you guys to blogroll.|
Can I simply just say what a relief to find someone that actually understands what they are talking about on the internet. You definitely realize how to bring a problem to light and make it important. A lot more people have to check this out and understand this side of your story. I was surprised you are not more popular since you surely have the gift.|
I am regular visitor, how are you everybody? This article posted at this site is really nice.|
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my web site thus i came to “return the favor”.I’m attempting to find things to improve my website!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!|
Wow! This blog looks just like my old one! It’s on a completely different topic but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Superb choice of colors!
obviously like your website but you have to check the spelling on several of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to tell the truth nevertheless I’ll certainly come back again.
It’s onerous to search out knowledgeable individuals on this topic, but you sound like you already know what you’re speaking about! Thanks
Quality content is the crucial to invite the tourists to pay a easy visit the site, that’s what this internet site is providing.
773971 443993I gotta bookmark this web site it seems extremely beneficial . 732355
Hi, this weekend is pleasant for me, for the reason that this time i am reading this wonderful educational paragraph here at my residence.|
Asking questions are actually good thing if you are not understanding something totally, however this piece of writing offers good understanding yet.|
Wonderful article! That is the type of info that are meant to be shared across the net. Disgrace on the search engines for not positioning this submit upper! Come on over and discuss with my site . Thanks =)|
Appreciate the suggestion. Let me make an effort it out.
Definitely believe that that you said. Your favourite justification appeared to be at the internet the easiest thing to bear in mind of. I say to you, I definitely get annoyed even as people think about issues that they just do not know about. You controlled to hit the nail upon the highest and defined out the whole thing with no need side-effects , other folks could take a signal. Will probably be again to get more. Thank you|
Howdy this is kinda of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding skills so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!
Greetings! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this website? I’m getting fed up of WordPress because I’ve had issues with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform. I would be awesome if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.
Woah! I’m really enjoying the template/theme of this web page. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of moments it’s rough to get that excellent balance between great usability and appearance. I must claim that you’ve done a incredibly good work with this. In addition, the blog loads extremely quick for me on Opera. Superb Site!
The other day, while I was at work, my cousin stole my iphone and tested to see if it can survive a 25 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is completely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
An intriguing discussion is definitely worth comment. I do think that you ought to write more on this subject, it might not be a taboo matter but generally people don’t speak about these issues. To the next! Cheers!!|
obviously like your web-site but you need to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very bothersome to tell the reality then again IÃll certainly come back again.
Thanks for finally talking about > blog_title < Liked it!|
Highly descriptive post, I enjoyed that bit. Will there be a part 2?|
The crux of your writing while appearing reasonable at first, did not work very well with me after some time. Somewhere throughout the sentences you were able to make me a believer but just for a very short while. I still have a problem with your leaps in logic and one would do nicely to fill in those breaks. In the event you can accomplish that, I would definitely be fascinated.
I believe what you said was very reasonable. However, what about this? suppose you added a little content? I am not saying your information is not solid., but what if you added something that makes people desire more? I mean BLOG_TITLE is a little boring. You could glance at Yahoo’s home page and watch how they write news titles to grab viewers to open the links. You might add a video or a related picture or two to grab readers excited about what you’ve got to say. In my opinion, it might make your website a little bit more interesting.|
It’s great that you are getting thoughts from this article as well as from our dialogue made here.|
I found your weblog web site on google and examine just a few of your early posts. Continue to keep up the excellent operate. I simply further up your RSS feed to my MSN Information Reader. Seeking forward to reading extra from you later on!…
Thank you for another fantastic article. The place else may anybody get that type of information in such a perfect manner of writing? I’ve a presentation subsequent week, and I am at the search for such information.
Thanks for some other informative blog. Where else may just I get that type of info written in such a perfect method? I’ve a challenge that I’m simply now running on, and I have been on the look out for such information.
Simply wish to say your article is as amazing. The clearness to your publish is simply nice and that i could suppose you are a professional in this subject. Well along with your permission allow me to grab your RSS feed to stay updated with approaching post. Thanks a million and please keep up the gratifying work.|
Hi Dear, are you actually visiting this site daily, if so after that you will definitely get good knowledge.|
Very good written information. It will be supportive to anyone who utilizes it, as well as myself. Keep up the good work – for sure i will check out more posts.
Excellent site you have got here.. It’s hard to find high quality writing like yours nowadays. I truly appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!|
Hello my friend! I want to say that this post is awesome, nice written and come with approximately all vital infos. I would like to peer extra posts like this .|