Why bother with the facts?

Miss Strangeworth is the central character in a popular short story centering on perceived facts, “The Possibility of Evil.” First portrayed as a lovely, older woman who dotes on her prized roses, the short story quickly turns dark.

In her mind, Miss Strangeworth is protecting her precious little town from evil as she pens anonymous notes to other residents. The notes are written in childish block print and delivered via the U.S. Post Office with no return address and no signature. The messages peddle rumors and suspicions, all to ward off evil.

As noble as Miss Strangeworth’s efforts are to battle evil, “never knowing where it would lurk,” the notes hurt those who receive them. Her willful ignorance of the facts causes immeasurable harm.

Sound familiar at all? Sound like the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s efforts to mandate speed limiters and automatic emergency braking systems? Sound like the Environmental Protection Agency’s next attempt to lower truck emissions, again?

These pursuits of safer roads and cleaner air are noble. No one can argue that. It’s the methods behind them that must be looked at in the hard light of facts.

To further complicate the issue, we are entering a very big election year. Anytime a presidential election is around the corner – whether the incumbent is running for re-election or term-limited out – a flurry of regulations inevitably occurs. Each and every administration looks to leave its mark on history, wanting to leave a legacy with its presidency.

This is definitely setting up to be one of those years.

New years tend to make people look for new opportunities. It’s not too late for this administration and its agencies to pivot to some meaningful reforms and regulations.

Senior Editor Mark Schremmer compiled a list of New Year’s resolutions that the federal government could adopt and pursue in 2024. Among the hot-button issues that actually would help truck drivers immediately are fair compensation, including detention pay and overtime; cracking down on predatory and fraudulent schemes in lease-purchase agreements and freight brokering; and avoiding technology, like autonomous trucks, speed limiters and automatic braking systems.

He makes some strong arguments that agency officials should take to heart and act on. As truckers, you can borrow from Schremmer’s points starting on Page 14 and make your case to lawmakers and regulators alike. Lawmakers, after all, are going to be angling to keep their jobs come November. Thus they are going to be more open to conversations this year than nearly any other time during an election cycle.

If you’re thinking that I may be blowing things out of proportion, check out Page 18. We have a rush of regulations coming at truckers in 2024 if agency officials get their way. And to say the bad outweighs the good is definitely an understatement.

But there is some good stuff happening right now. Lease-purchase agreements are wrought with pitfalls, and officials are beginning to notice. We have an assessment from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau starting on Page 22. The bureau lends credibility to what OOIDA has been saying for years. The ball has been lobbed into FMCSA’s court. Stay tuned for a reaction from agency officials.

There are three pieces of legislation that need your vocal and consistent support. One is the GOT Truckers Act, which would remove the overtime exemption for truck drivers. Imagine working 60 hours a week and getting time-and-a-half for 20 of that. Especially if you’re on the clock during detention time. Big win there for company drivers.

Then, the DRIVE Act is a congressional attempt to block a speed limiter mandate. It’s gaining support in Congress, but more lawmakers need to sign on and get this legislation across the finish line.

And the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act would allocate $755 million over three years to the construction of parking spots.

You can brush up on all of those issues on Pages 24, 26 and 28, respectively. Then hustle over to FightingForTruckers.com to tell your lawmakers to sign on today.

One last thought: It’s sometimes hard to feel like you matter in the legislative process. But make it your resolution to not be ignored by your representative and two senators. Set a goal. Call once a week, once a month. Set it and do it. Don’t let lawmakers be like Miss Strangeworth and ignore the facts. Facts matter. LL