The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) is a non-profit organization that would like to hear what truckers are experiencing right now out on the road. This important feedback will help ATRI and the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association Foundation (OOIDA)determine how the Coronavirus is affecting the industry.

Using this information as a guideline, better policies and regulations can be implemented to keep truckers safe during this unprecedented time.

How to Take the Survey

To make it easier for truckers to give their feedback, ATRI has set up a public survey available here. In total, there are 20 questions, including the following:

• What new policies, regulations, exemptions, etc. should the state and federal government implement to address supply chain disruptions during national disasters (e.g. coronavirus pandemic)?
• In response to the coronavirus pandemic, is your company examining possible permanent changes to its business model, driver compensation models, leave policies, or similar?
• What is your average trip length now, DURING the coronavirus pandemic?

Once completed, ATRI will ask if truck drivers would like a copy of the survey results once the analysis has finished.

Why We Need a Clearer Picture

According to Dan Murray, Senior Vice President of ATRI, “Our goal is to complete the data analysis as quickly as possible, as it can provide important guidance to public and private decision-makers”.

Murray went on to state that having a clearer picture of what is happening on the ground will ensure policies being made are on actual facts,rather than guesswork. “The COVID-19 pandemic is a moving target,and we can’t afford to design policies and supply chains around guesswork.”

Needless to say, sharing your experience is a great way to aid the trucking industry as a whole.

Share Your Story

In addition to taking the ATRI and OOIDA survey, consider sharing your story. Doing so will let others know they are not alone in their experience, and they may even be able to pick up a few tips from you in the process. That said, here are a few examples we have that caught our eye.

Prime, Inc. based in Greenville, Missouri

Dee Sova stated business is running as usual, however, more cleaning and sanitizing is being done than ever before. “…using hand sanitizer before we walk into the truck stop. Or we have gloves on.We’re not touching surfaces right now. I’m trying not to touch buttons. When we’re at the fuel island we’re using a pen versus actually touching that surface.”

Sova went on to say that “People are kinder now.”

ABF Frieght, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Ralph Garcia noted an overabundance of semi traffic at truck stops. “I’ve never seen the truck traffic, it’s incredible. Places at night,trying to get parked. The other day I didn’t want to stop because it was so packed. People were lined up on the off ramp, sleeping right there. They couldn’t even get into the truck stop.”

Garcia also raised concerns about the lack of food options available. “It’s getting hard to even get a sandwich in the past week” but remarked that restaurants are “…doing takeout, at least they have that.”

FedEx, based in Crossville, Tennessee

Courtney Emery has legitimate worries about infecting those she cares about. According to Emery, “I’m a little bit nervous. It’s definitely scary. When I go home off the road, I live with my grandparents. I’m afraid to go home and transport it to them.”

Yet despite these fears, Emery and countless other essential workers are braving the pandemic everyday to get Americans much-needed supplies.