Contributor Post: Small carrier writes open letter asking to finally be heard

I am writing this letter in the hopes that I, along with thousands of other Independent Owner Operators and small fleet owners, get the opportunity to have our voices heard and that some form of relief will be provided to save many small businesses in the trucking industry. Many within the trucking industry are patriots, veterans, fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers that came into this industry to live the American dream, start a small business and provide a better life for their families; while also being the backbone of the American economy and supply chain. 

I am a retired disabled Army Veteran of 11 years. I was injured while serving in Afghanistan in the Parwan province. My injuries prevented me from living my dream and achieving my goal of 20 plus years’ volunteer service to my country, but I would not change a minute of it for anything. After my discharge in 2013, I was lost in the world and my mental scars soon overtook my physical injuries. I fell into a very dark hole and only sought solace in narcotics and prescription opioids to deal with the pain. At my lowest point of almost committing suicide, I found my saving grace when I was directed to the trucking industry. This new direction immediately brought life back into my broken soul and body and restored my sense of service. After about a year at a company, I was nominated for and awarded a commercial motor vehicle by Progressive Commercial Insurance and St Christopher Truckers Relief Fund, as a part of the Keys to Progress Program. Since that day, my life has changed and I have continued to fulfill my duty to my country and continue to give back to as many drivers and individuals as I can. In less than two years, I have grown my company from one truck to four. 

I have been featured in many publications and news reports, most recently on the NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, in the hopes that the trucking industry could be seen for what we are. We are a very vital and important part of the American economy. Yet, what we are seeing is blurred, at best. Yes, the public is showing an overwhelmingly positive response in support of our industry but many like myself are seeing the opposite response from our government. Especially on the independent side of the industry which includes approximately 400,000 one truck operators, Independent Contractors (IC’s), authority owners, and small fleets (per OOIDA Data). 

During this Corona Virus Pandemic (COVID-19) we as truck drivers immediately responded to the nation’s need for vital supplies and positioned ourselves in strategic locations to quickly and efficiently move those supplies our citizens desperately needed for relief and sustainability in their everyday lives. Most of those locations were epicenters of this invisible enemy. Independent contractors and smaller fleets have moved the majority of these critical supplies. My company alone, a small four (4) truck fleet, committed to relief loads from Edwardsville, IL to Sumner, WA to supply the Seattle area with essential supplies including disinfectants, hygiene products, etc from Proctor & Gamble. We were able to turn these relief loads in about two and a half days once the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) provided relief on the hours of service and other regulations. So far, our small fleet alone has delivered over 300 tons of essential relief products. These trips are not easy on the drivers or on the equipment. Hauling such heavy loads through 2100 miles of some of the hardest terrain in the country, from the northern Midwest and pacific Midwest, takes a toll on our equipment. Yet, we accomplished it as did many other small fleets just like us. Today we have been shifted to provide relief loads from the same location in Illinois to the Salt Lake City Region. 

Like so many others out here on America’s highways, we have not been home in 45 plus days to see our families and loved ones. Many fears exist, as we have had to fashion homemade masks, use makeshift gloves, etc. to protect ourselves. With the growing concern of asymptomatic carriers, when is it safe for truck drivers to go home? We are also front line heroes in this fight yet we cannot receive the PPE needed to protect ourselves properly. Truck stops do not carry the PPE we need and if we attempt to go to a local Walmart, or stores of that caliber, we run a high chance of returning to our trucks and having a boot on them and then we are forced to pay anywhere from $3000 – $8000 to have it removed. I personally received a parking ticket at a Love’s Travel Center in Ottawa, KS for stopping to shower, eat and sleep, when all the rest areas within 100 miles were closed, after delivering a relief load to a local distribution center at the beginning of this pandemic. We fear taking COVID-19 home to our families and we want to know if there is going to be mandatory testing provided for the trucking industry. Are we going to be provided the same PPE to protect ourselves as we go in and out of these hotspots and epicenters? 

As this COVID-19 Pandemic has progressed, and the economy quickly deteriorated, the ripple effects have caught up with the independent trucking industry. The Spot Market freight saw a small incline as trucks were needed to move freight quickly, efficiently, and most importantly, safely; but that is no longer the case. I would like to provide some numbers to give a big picture look at our portion of the industry. Independent Contractors, Owner Operators, Small Fleet Owners, and Small Carriers (known from here on out as Independents) are roughly 480,000 strong. We control 9% of the power units (trucks) in the industry. Compare that to 76 Mega Carriers (JB Hunt, Swift, Fed-Ex) that control 53% of the power units and the rest is covered under Air Freight, Rail; Intermodal and sea transports. Even though the independents are greatly outnumbered in regard to power units, 76%-86% of all freight is moved by the independent truckers. Why is that? Because Independents are able to move freight quicker, respond to the needs of our customers and the country faster and we have higher safety ratings. Yet, we do not have a voice on the council, or get to be a part of the discussion, to reignite the American economy. 

President Trump spoke to the nation and recognized JB Hunt, UPS, Fed-Ex, Yellow Roadway Consolidated (YRC) and the teamsters. During his thank a trucker speech he recognized Big G Express, DHL, UPS, and Fed-Ex. Each of the companies mentioned above is affiliated with, and members of, the American Trucking Association (ATA); which does not have the drivers or independents interests at heart. They would just as well see the independents removed from the market place. Proof in point is the fact that the Treasurer of the ATA is also the CFO for Fed-Ex (Mr. Smith). The teamsters have attempted to push the independents out of business. JB Hunt has forced open market prices into the dirt and openly admitted the intention of forcing the market down in order to force independents out of business so they have no choice but to come and work for them. Can that be done you wonder? Yes! As of two years ago, JB Hunt had 12,000 power units and over 100,000 in their trailer pool. 

With the current council and the stimulus packages put in place, small business owners in the independent trucking world are being completely overlooked. We have followed the guidance and steps outlined by the SBA, President Trump, the banks and so on yet funding has either been denied or not received because the big companies such as Fed-Ex, JB Hunt, Harvard, Shake Shack, etc, have taken unneeded stimulus loans for their billion dollar companies. We as independents have been forgotten. As this pandemic has progressed and the economy changed, so has the freight market. Approximately 2 weeks prior to me writing this letter, freight rates were steady at $1.80- $2.00 a mile. When out of nowhere the market drops to an average of .75-.90 cents per mile with $1.00 being the best in most cases. Most trucks cost an average cost of $1.30-$2.00 a mile to run. That includes fuel, maintenance, insurance, driver pay, plates, etc. As you can see with this brief description, we are keeping America moving at an extreme loss. Many independents are on the verge of losing their trucks, trailers, and livelihoods. We as independents want the American dream and look to better our families lives all while being the guardians of the highway. The ripple effect of the declining economy is just now catching up to the trucking industry. 

In closing, I am requesting an opportunity to speak with someone directly to share more details about the circumstances I, and thousands of independents in this industry are facing. Even if it’s only for 10 minutes we feel it needs to be known and heard how this virus is affecting us as independents in this industry. We feel as though our government and organizations that are supposed to be representing us, have severely failed us. Will you please grant me the opportunity to speak with you further and present a possible solution to assist the independent truckers and small business owners in this industry before it is too late and a vital part of the American supply chain is lost and not recoverable. Our nation has labeled us as HEROES, yet I do not know of any movie or story where the Hero is left to die a slow, painful death due to no fault of their own. STAND AGAINST ALL ODDS! 

James – Owner Spartan Direct LLC.