NATSO, ATA: Drivers facing costly delays at some truckstops

The National Association of Truck Stop Operators (NATSO) and the American Trucking Associations (ATA) say many local officials are exceeding recommended social distancing guidelines and enforcing strict occupancy limits at travel centers, delaying truck drivers who stop for food or fuel.

To help keep critical freight moving during the COVID-19 pandemic, the associations are urging state and local governments to keep in mind the operational differences of essential businesses when implementing guidelines to ensure truckstops and travel plazas can safely serve truckers, without holding up delivery of critical emergency relief supplies.

“Truck drivers have one of the most important jobs at this unimaginable point in history, delivering critical supplies including medical equipment to hospitals and essential items to keep store shelves stocked for the everyday needs of Americans,” said Jon Pertchik, CEO of TravelCenters of America. “It is crucial that they have quick and easy access to fuel, food, restrooms, showers and other services so they can get back on the road in a timely manner.

“The entire country is relying on the whole-hearted commitment of these drivers and we have a responsibility to help them to do their jobs as safely and efficiently as possible.”

Truckstop workers and commercial truck drivers are included on the list of “essential critical infrastructure workers” by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in its “Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce.” But some localities are enforcing occupancy limits of as few as 5-10 people, including employees. In certain parts of the country, this is resulting in drivers waiting in long lines to enter nearly empty truckstops in order to purchase food and use the facilities, extending the time required for transporting goods in support of relief efforts.

Truck drivers have the ability to move through a truckstop while practicing safe social distancing. Truckstops and travel plazas frequently have a very large footprint and can average 28,000 square feet, giving them the ability to safely serve drivers with the 6-foot guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control, without imposing extreme caps on the number of customers in a location at one time. 

“Varying interpretations of the CDC guidelines are creating exceedingly long wait times for truck drivers to buy food, use the facilities, and get back on the road, hindering their ability to deliver medical supplies or keep grocery store shelves stocked,” said Lisa Mullings, NATSO’s president and CEO. “What should be 20-minute stops are turning into more than two-hour layovers. It is imperative that local enforcement officials enforce occupancy caps in truckstops in a manner that adheres to CDC social-distancing guidelines without unnecessarily disrupting the efficient movement of essential supplies throughout the country.”

NATSO and the American Trucking Associations expressed their concerns in a letter to the National Association of Counties; National Association of County and City Health Officials; the National League of Cities; and the United States Conference of Mayors. 

“Each day during this pandemic, truck drivers are out on the road making critical deliveries to markets, hospitals and consumers, (and) if local governments impede them from making those deliveries, they are putting lives at risk,” said Chris Spear, ATA president and CEO. “We urge officials at all levels of government to help our industry keep those deliveries rolling by keeping facilities open and accessible for drivers to use in a safe and efficient manner.”