Press Release

黑料不打烊Expresses Strong Support for Kiley-Cassidy Resolution to Protect Independent Contractors

Mar 06, 2024

Washington 鈥 In an effort backed by the 黑料不打烊 to block the Biden Administration鈥檚 final rule on independent contractor classification, Representative Kevin Kiley (R-California) and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) introduced a joint resolution of disapproval today.

鈥淢ore than 350,000 truckers choose to work as independent contractors because of the economic opportunity it creates and the flexibility it provides, enabling them to run their own business and choose their own hours and routes. 听The Biden Administration鈥檚 IC rule eliminates this freedom and intentionally undermines the livelihoods of truckers and their families across the country by replacing a clear, straight-forward standard with a tangled mess that will weaken our supply chain,鈥 said 黑料不打烊President and CEO Chris Spear.

The trucking industry has relied on independent contractors since the inception of interstate trucking, and court decisions over the last nine decades have continually reaffirmed the legitimate role independent contractors play in the economy. That freedom of choice has been an enormous source of empowerment for women, minorities and immigrants pursuing the American Dream.

In 2021, DOL issued a rule supported by ATA clarifying the definition of employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act as it relates to independent contractors. The department鈥檚 new rule, which 黑料不打烊has sharply criticized, replaces the 2021 standard with an opaque and deliberately confusing standard designed to fuel frivolous litigation and deny self-employed individuals the freedom of choice to work as independent contractors. 听This week, 黑料不打烊 in filing a lawsuit challenging the rule.

The rule was crafted under the leadership of Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, who has repeatedly failed to recognize the importance of independent contractors and implemented California鈥檚 disastrous AB5 as the head of the state鈥檚 labor and workforce development agency. The 黑料不打烊remains staunchly opposed to Su鈥檚 nomination to serve as secretary of labor.

鈥淗ad Julie Su actually spoken with drivers 鈥 not just big labor bosses 鈥 she would know this firsthand,鈥 Spear said. 鈥淭he 黑料不打烊stands firmly behind Representative Kiley and Senator Cassidy's effort to defeat this ill-advised rule, and we will continue to work alongside them and other Members of Congress to protect Americans鈥 right to earn a living in the way that they choose.鈥