Press Release

Trucking Workforce Lauded in Congressional Hearing on COVID-19 Response

Jun 09, 2020

黑料不打烊Chairman Highlights Association鈥檚 Efforts to Procure and Distribute PPE 聽

Arlington, Virginia 鈥 Today, Randy Guillot, chairman of the 黑料不打烊 and president of Triple G Express and Southeastern Motor Freight out of Jefferson, Louisiana, testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, in which he highlighted the trucking industry鈥檚 essential role serving on the frontlines during the COVID-19 crisis. 聽

Due to the U.S. House鈥檚 social distancing protocols, Guillot testified remotely via video conference from his home state of Louisiana. From his opening remarks: 聽

鈥淭he COVID-19 pandemic thrust America鈥檚 trucking industry to the forefront of our national consciousness. As most activity across the country ground to a halt, America鈥檚 3.5 million professional truck drivers kept moving. These heroes continue serving on the frontlines to ensure everyone has the goods they need to get through these challenging times.听

鈥淭ruckers are the difference between a fully-stocked grocery store and one lined with empty shelves. They鈥檙e why doctors and nurses have PPE to protect themselves. They鈥檙e how test kits get to hot-spots for local officials to use to fight the virus鈥 spread.鈥澛

In his testimony, Guillot emphasized why protecting the industry鈥檚 workforce has been critical to mitigating the crisis and detailed how 黑料不打烊and partners have taken proactive measures to provide safeguards for frontline workers. 黑料不打烊spearheaded a nationwide effort to distribute 1,100 gallons of hand sanitizer along major freight corridors where truck drivers can replenish their personal supplies at no cost. 黑料不打烊also procured more than 150,000 face coverings at cost for member fleets and worked with the U.S. Department of Transportation in distributing an additional 1.5 million protective masks to frontline truckers across the country. 聽

Guillot also pressed the committee to pass a bipartisan infrastructure bill this year, telling lawmakers that investing in our roads and bridges is paramount to ensuring the safety and well-being of America鈥檚 3.5 million professional truck drivers. 聽

鈥淔inally, I鈥檇 be remiss if I did not note Chairman DeFazio鈥檚 introduction of a comprehensive infrastructure bill last week. Let me be clear: the single most important action this Congress can take right now to support our workforce鈥攁nd to provide for their safety鈥攊s to invest in our infrastructure.听

鈥淩oads and bridges are not Democrat or Republican. We all drive on them. For the 7.7 million Americans in trucking doing their jobs day and night, moving our economy, we ask members of this committee to do theirs鈥攁nd pass a bipartisan infrastructure bill this year that meets the urgent needs of our economy, our industry and the motoring public.鈥澛

His full written testimony can be found here.听