ASSOCIATION INSIGHTS: TCA
Defending the American Dream: The impact of new DOL regulations on trucking opportunities
*This article was originally published on January 23, 2024 on
CCJDigital.com.
A
s supply chain stakeholders with a genuine interest in the well-being of the trucking industry, each one of us has a responsibility to raise our
voice when something isn’t right. With the onslaught of legislative and regulatory action being considered or implemented, sometimes we wonder if anyone is even listening. When we step back and consider the compounding impact of these rules, there is a point where we have to say enough is enough. That may be right now.
maintaining a semblance of law and order. But again, this is not a new issue.
For centuries now, people of all nations have flowed to the borders of this country. So, what is it that draws so many people to want to cross the border and begin a life in the United States? I would guess that there are many reasons, but chief among them would likely be opportunity – the opportunity to exercise freedom; the opportunity to work hard and get ahead; the opportunity to own land; the opportunity to own and operate a business; the opportunity to worship and believe what you want to believe. The list goes on. This is the American Dream. For all the criticism aimed at how imperfect or dysfunctional this country is, people from other countries are still desperately trying to get in. The entire concept of the American Dream is important, and I believe that we have an obligation to protect it.
A recent rule released by the United States Department of Labor (DOL) appears to potentially limit the opportunities for truck drivers to live out their American Dream. The rule changes the definition of an independent contractor
On the southern border of the United States, thousands of individuals have been lining up trying to get into this country by any means possible. This is not a new issue and it will likely take some time to resolve the deep- seated issues that surround immigration policy. As a nation, we will continue to debate the balance that takes place between showing empathy for those looking for a better life, increasing the supply of labor, understanding the costs and impacts of unregulated immigration, and
by now looking at six factors: (1) the degree of the alleged employer’s right to control the manner in which the work is to be performed; (2) the worker’s opportunity for profit or loss depending upon their managerial skill; (3) the worker’s investment in equipment or materials required for their task, or their employment of helpers; (4) whether the service rendered requires a special skill; (5) the degree of permanence of the working relationship; and (6) the extent to which the service rendered is an
® 45
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
