How Coronavirus Changed Trucking in 2020

COVID-19 Impact on Trucking and Trade

If there's one thing the trucking industry never predicted this year, it's the way the Coronavirus pandemic would turn supply chains, demand, and trade on their heads. Amid frontline workers such as nurses, grocery store employees, long-haul and vocational drivers have also been heralded as essential and critical to the country as we all continue to ride this wave of the virus.

We've had our finger on the pulse of this pandemic since it first began, and what a ride it's been for all of us. Let's take a look at the ups and downs of coronavirus and trucking.

March: The Pandemic Hits Full Force

Just three months into the year is when the United States began to feel the full impact of this pandemic. With stay-at-home orders issued nationwide, shortages of hand sanitizer, toilet paper, and grocery items caused trucking companies and drivers to do an about-face from business as usual and step in to keep the country running.

Major delays and shutdowns in the global and national supply chain also caused trucking companies to adapt quickly to route and port changes. Having to suddenly social distance and maintain minimum contact throughout the pickup and delivery process wasn't easy, but truckers are resilient.

April: Roadside Inspection Impacted/Drivers Express Safety Concerns

One thing that can usually be counted on, besides death and taxes, is the annual International Roadcheck, or safety blitz, from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. This is typically a 72-hour period that usually takes place in early summer where at least 13,000 inspectors pull commercial vehicles over nationwide to assess vehicle compliance.

Each safety blitz has a specific focus, and the one for this year was supposed to be Driver Requirements. This made headlines as the first time the International Roadcheck was postponed since it first began in 1988.

Although being a driver requires a lot of solitary hours behind the wheel, drivers come into contact with a lot of goods that have been touched by others, and in companies where multiple people drive together or share a truck, it became crucial for both drivers and technicians to make health and safety more of a priority.

May: Truckers Experience Lack of Food & Lodging Options on the Road/Emergency Declaration Extended

With lockdowns and temporary closures also came the widespread shuttering of truck stops, restaurants, and hotels at a time when trucks were really starting to put in the miles for COVID-19 relief. When the country realized that its truckers needed help, assistance started coming in the form of hot food and masks being handed out, and the Drury hotel chain opened its doors to truckers for discounted rooms across the country.

When it was clear that this pandemic wasn't going to end anytime soon, the Emergency Declaration exempting Hours of Service restrictions that were put in place by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was extended, giving Coronavirus relief drivers the break they needed to haul coveted goods across the country on time.

June: National Safety Month Spurs Awareness of Driver Fatigue

The nation's 4 million professional truck drivers are always willing to step up and support the country, but HOS regulation exemptions and longer hours could also mean tired, unfocused drivers. Headlines across the country urged drivers to prioritize their health and sleep among making on-time deliveries, and over the course of the summer and into Fall, America saw its store shelves restocked with necessary items.

Ongoing: Regulation & Process Changes

The United States is continuing to navigate the Coronavirus, and even though the numbers have wavered up and down, major policy and process changes continue to affect the industry, including:

• Adopting paperless processes
• Minimizing vehicle stops
• Practicing daily sanitation and social distancing as a new normal
• A renewed appreciation of truckers from the general public coupled with shifts in demand as lockdowns begin again in some states
• Extension of the Emergency Declaration through the end of the year

The Journey Continues

There's no telling when our country will officially be on the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic, but one thing's for certain – our hard-working and dedicated truckers will be there to get the job done. Here's to our health, safety, and happiness!