Insurance Blog

Monday, March 30 2020

Orlando, Florida—There was the truck driver shortage challenge was already there, it hasn’t gone anywhere up until now, and then came the coronavirus pandemic. Not only truck drivers are important helping us keep our lifestyles by keeping your stocks supplied of what you need, when you need it —but now, more than ever, they are essential to keep us all going.

There is no doubt these are very difficult times, not only for us in the U.S., but the for rest of the world. Our hearts go out to those families who have lost loved ones at home and/or abroad.

The CDC recently issued a strong Travel Advisory, to be administered by the Governors, in consultation with the Federal Government in order to avoid a quarantine. The CDC does not generally issue advisories or restrictions for travel within the United States. However, cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have been reported in all states, and some areas are experiencing community spread of the disease. The domestic travel advisory does not apply to employees of critical infrastructure industries, including but not limited to trucking, public health professionals, financial services, and food supply

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines for truck drivers delivering into New York City area, which is one of the hardest-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. About a half of all cases reported in the U.S. were in New York – almost 10 times more than any other state.

With that said, the CDC stated that truck drivers and other workers who obtain or deliver needed supplies who live in the greater New York area, may continue to work both within and outside of the greater New York area, but should stay at home and practice social distancing according to instructions of state and local officials when they are not working. When delivering goods and supplies, they should follow the same precautionary measures as those delivering in the city from outside the region.

While the CDC advisory is not currently mandatory, other states are implementing more restrictive quarantines. Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo signed an executive order recently that anyone traveling to Rhode Island from New York must be quarantined for 14 days. State troopers will also be stopping any vehicles with New York plates from entering Rhode Island. RI decided not to stop commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer trucks with New York license plates, that might be carrying food, supplies, or medicine into their area.

Florida, on the other hand, is attempting to keep New York passenger vehicles from entering the state. An advisory on the Florida Trucking Association website has alerted commercial truck drivers that there are checkpoints on I-95 at the Florida-Georgia border and at the eastbound I-10 3.3-mile marker from Alabama at the weigh station. Truck drivers will be guided through a bypass lane.

If you are an owner/operator of a truck company and have insurance issues, or questions please contact us at Florida Transportation Insurance (407) 501-8275 we’ll be happy to assist!