Trucking industry groups want feedback from drivers, carriers on COVID-19 impacts
by March 25, 2020 11:20 am 506 views
Two trucking industry organizations are seeking feedback from drivers and carriers to determine how COVID-19 (coronavirus) is impacting the industry.
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), a research organization of the American Trucking Associations, and the Owner-Operation Independent Driver Association (OOIDA) Foundation announced Wednesday (March 25) a joint research study to understand the impacts the COVID-19 pandemic is having on trucking operations. The research will focus on a survey that requests input from truck drivers and motor carriers who are facing COVID-19 impacts, such as limited shipper access, changing distribution patterns and traffic-related issues.
“This survey will help us confirm what we know anecdotally,” said Tom Weakly, director of the OOIDA Foundation, “that the trucking industry is leading the charge in responding to food and medicine shortages among other critical supplies. We need everyone’s input on this effort.”
Link here for the survey. Anyone involved in trucking operations is asked to respond.
“Our goal is to complete the data analysis as quickly as possible, as it can provide important guidance to public and private decision-makers,” said Dan Murray, senior vice president at ATRI. “The COVID-19 pandemic is a moving target, and we can’t afford to design policies and supply chains around guesswork.”
The United States has 55,243 cases of COVID-19, and 802 deaths are attributed to the respiratory illness, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.