Congress сonsiders overtime pay bill for truckers

The Guarantee Overtime Truckers (GOT) bill was introduced on November 9 in the House and Senate.

Proposed amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 would require truckers to receive overtime compensation if they work more than 40 hours a week.

The 1938 exemption was created to prevent truck drivers from working overtime. However, truck drivers typically work 70 hours a week while earning a base salary similar to what someone would earn in a 40-hour week.

“America’s truck drivers are on the front lines of our economy, spending long hours away from home and too often unpaid wait time in congested ports and warehouses. That’s because truck drivers have been excluded from overtime protections for decades,” the lawmakers said. “If truckers have to wait at work, they need to be paid. This is not just a matter of fairness; This is a matter of public safety. Higher pay will help more truckers stay in the profession. It’s time to guarantee truckers overtime.”

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) supported the proposal. “America’s truckers keep our nation’s economy moving, and without the hard work of these men and women, our supply chain will grind to a halt,” said OOIDA President Todd Spencer.

“Incredibly, trucking is one of the few jobs in America that does not guarantee overtime pay. We as a nation have long failed to appreciate the sacrifices truckers make every single day. It starts with simply paying truckers for the entire time they work.”