Tackling the pandemic has been on the minds of drivers since the beginning. From distributing daily essentials to ensuring vaccines will make it to their administration locations on time, truck drivers have provided a means for all of this to happen effectively. With the return to an almost pre-pandemic volume of trucks on the road, there is a new aspect of the industry to be explored and that is the logistical demands of vaccine transport and delivery.

Logistical Legends

While many transportation vehicles, of all varieties, will be used to ensure that vaccines are being transported throughout the country and worldwide, trucks are the most prevalent means of getting vaccines to where they are needed. Even after a vaccine shipment leaves a boat or plane, a truck will then transport it to its destination. Speed is crucial in the vaccination process, as of right now, due to the need throughout the nation and the requirement that the vaccines be kept cold to remain effective.

Many trucks have been fitted with new equipment to preserve the extremely cold temperatures necessary for the vaccine to be properly stored. Some companies have created specially designed containers to keep everything cool as well. According to CNBC, the only companies shipping vaccinations throughout the nation are the largest logistical organizations in the country, UPS and FedEx. They have decided to divide the states into groups that each respective company will ship the vaccines to in a “divide and conquer” strategy.

A Major Role

Huge shipments of vaccines are currently being transported all over the nation, and this will likely continue until most people have received vaccinations and there is no longer a need. This will likely take a while as vaccines can only be produced so fast. Even with one of the best logistical systems in the world working as quickly as possible, there are still limitations. However, it is truly incredible to think of the speed at which even the smallest of towns and largest of cities are receiving vaccinations to keep their populations safe.

Truck drivers play a crucial role in the supply chain as they are the bridge between producer and consumer. Without the bridge, the entire system would collapse. With the increase in vaccine production and need, truck drivers across the nation have stepped up to ensure that the bridge is strong and wide enough for adequate numbers of vaccinations to be provided. This is a difficult and stressful undertaking, and we would like to thank every driver that has taken part in distributing vaccines.

Unsung Heroes

Truck drivers across the nation, from those who have transported vaccines to those who ensure the store shelves are filled are the unsung heroes of the pandemic. They have transported these items everywhere that they have been needed, even when times were uncertain. Even though many drivers will likely not be a part of the vaccine distribution process, all drivers are important to the health and safety of all people in our nation and beyond.

Truck driving is a difficult, yet rewarding career, and there is definitely no greater reward than knowing that you are keeping thousands of people safe just by doing your job. Thank you to all drivers who have worked during this pandemic. Without you, things would have been much worse. With your hard work and dedication, we are on the path to rebuilding and becoming better than ever before!

The Centers for Disease Control has determined that truck drivers are in the essential workers category. However, there is controversy over the CDC recently pushing transportation workers into the third group of COVID-19 vaccine deployment.

Specifically, it’s the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) who provides advice and guidance to the CDC on which groups of people receive the COVID-19 vaccine first. ACIP initially outlined that truck drivers would be closer to the front of the line than they are currently.

In its initial recommendation made on December 1st 2020, the ACIP determined essential workers, such as those in the transportation industry, to be in the Phase 1b launch. However, transportation workers have now been moved to “other essential workers” to receive the vaccine in the third round (1c).

Keep in mind that these are recommendations, not a ruling, but the ACIP has determined the timing of the vaccination rollouts in the past and these “recommendations” have been followed to the T.

The fact that truck drivers are not included among the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccination has many people disagreeing with the ACIP’s guidelines.

Seeing as how truck drivers have played such a necessary role in the distribution of goods during this pandemic, as well as currently distributing the vaccines in their trucks, it would seem fair that the drivers themselves would have priority access to the vaccine.

The profession of truck driving entails widespread travel at a time when most people are hunkering down in their homes to avoid the virus. The job puts truck drivers at high risk of both contracting and transmitting the virus. Traveling from state to state and interacting with various people puts truck drivers at a higher risk than most of the general population.

The Importance of Truck Drivers During COVID-19

Truck drivers are still responsible for 71 percent of the freight that is transported within the United States. Now, more than ever, Americans everywhere depend on these drivers for their essential goods. However, since the truck drivers don’t interact with the consumers themselves, these drivers are often left out of the discussion. When the topic of essential workers comes up as vaccines are rolled out, truck drivers aren’t the first people who come to mind.

Truck drivers deserve more recognition in the public’s mind for their work during this time and should receive priority standing as Americans begin to receive the vaccine. In serving the public, truck drivers are risking their own lives to save others’. In order to continue serving Americans, truck drivers should be closer to the front of the line as vaccines are given out.

Due to recent events, there are many questions swirling around asking if truck drivers need to wear masks while driving. The President has issued executive orders that require facial coverings to be worn on federal lands and during interstate travel. Does this apply to you? We break it down below.

On January 21 2021, President Biden issued this executive order and there’s been some confusion about it ever since. What is clear is that masks are now required for interstate travel on commercial aircrafts, trains, public maritime vessels, and any kind of hub or facility where people gather to use these modes of transportation.

Since this news broke, truck drivers everywhere have been questioning if this new mandate applied to them.

The short answer is that truck drivers are not mandated to wear a mask while operating their vehicle under this executive order from the President.

There is more to unpack however, so we’re offering a longer answer below.

Since the executive order, there has been an additional order that helps clarify what this new mask mandate means for truck drivers. The follow up order that came from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on January 29 added helpful information as it pertains to commercial motor vehicles (CMV) operators engaged in interstate travel.

Like everyone else, all CMV operators are required to wear a facial covering at transportation hubs. Put simply, where people are out of their vehicles and crossing paths with one another, you have to wear a mask. These places include private facilities, such as shipping and receiving stations, as well as public places such as truck stops.

Here’s what you really might be wondering about: the CDC order specifically exempts truck drivers from wearing a mask if they are the “sole occupant of the truck.”

What does that mean for team truck drivers? What if they are from the same household? Are they exempt?

These are issues that are left unclear from the CDC follow up to the executive mask mandate.

However, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) indicates that team truck drivers are indeed required to wear masks inside the vehicle while traveling. Whether or not the drivers are from the same household.

From the guidance there are, however, some exceptions to the mask requirements. These exceptions include the following:

• Team truck drivers can take their masks off inside the vehicle for brief periods of time when eating, drinking, or taking medications.
• They can also take off their mask if they are communicating with someone who is hearing impaired and the ability to see mouth movement is essential for communication.
• A mask can be removed from another team truck driver is they are found unconscious, incapacitated, unable to be awakened, or cannot remove their own mask for a given reason.
• If a law enforcement officer needs to verify a truck driver’s identity during a traffic stop, the mask can be removed for a short period of time.
• Additional exceptions for removing one’s mask include if a truck driver is experiencing shortness of breath or is sick and vomiting.