Bipartisan legislation promises to compensate truckers more fairly for the hours that they work by guaranteeing overtime time pay.
On March 6, the Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act (GOT Act) was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Mark Takano and Jeff Van Drew. Companion legislation will be introduced in the Senate by Sens. Alex Padilla and Ed Markey.
The bill would overturn a provision called the “Motor Carrier Exemption” in 1938’s Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that excludes truckers from the “time-and-a-half” overtime pay that most workers are entitled to earn after putting in 40 hours in a week.
“Truckers are vital for our supply chain, manufacturing, and the American way of life,” said Takano. “It is unfair that they are singled out as somehow unworthy of overtime pay. This legislation will help right that wrong and make sure they are fairly compensated for the hours they work. I am proud to partner with Congressman Van Drew and Senator Padillato build up workers and guarantee more money in their paychecks.”
“Truck drivers keep our supply chain moving, often working long, exhausting hours to make sure goods get where they need to go,” said Van Drew. “But right now, they are not guaranteed overtime pay like most other workers. It is just not right. The Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act is a simple fix—it ensures that truckers are fairly compensated for the extra hours they put in. These men and women do critical work, and it’s time we make sure their pay reflects that.”
The bill is endorsed by the Teamsters and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OODIA).
“The exclusion of truck drivers from federal overtime protections must come to an end,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “The Teamsters Union is proud to support the Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act, which will right the decades long wrong that serves only to harm drivers to the benefit of their employers.”
“America’s truckers are the backbone of our economy, keeping goods moving and ensuring our supply chain stays strong,” said Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association President Todd Spencer. “Yet, despite their essential role, trucking remains one of the few professions in America denied guaranteed overtime pay.It’s long past time the hard work of the men and women behind the wheel are fairly compensated. By discounting a trucker’s time, ‘big trucking’ has driven wages downward, treating truckers as disposable rather than the skilled professionals they are. We appreciate Representative Van Drew, Representative Takano, and Senator Padilla for championing the bipartisan GOT Truckers Act, which will right this wrong by securing overtime pay. This legislation is an investment in truckers, road safety, and the strength of America’s supply chain.”
