Within the trucking industry, the Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act (GOT Act) has generated a great deal of debate, with proponents and opponents debating the merits of the bill. The bill, which was introduced by Representative Jeff Van Drew, intends to solve the issue of truck drivers’ just compensation and grant them overtime pay eligibility.

For the GOT Act

Pro-worker groups that advocate for fair wages are in favor of the GOT Act. They contend that truck drivers should receive overtime pay because they are vital employees, bringing their rights into line with those of workers in other sectors of the economy. The bill’s supporters argue that paying truckers fairly is essential to the workforce’s health and helps create a more equal working environment.

Against the GOT Act

American Trucking Associations (ATA) are one of the organizations opposed to the GOT Act, led by CEO and President Chris Spear. According to Spear, the proposed legislation would not help truck drivers and would instead have unfavorable effects, such as lower pay and job losses in the trucking sector. By mandating overtime pay, the ATA argues that trucking companies would simply cut back on the hours worked by truck drivers in order to save money.

Possible Repercussions of the GOT Act:

The GOT Act would significantly alter truck drivers’ working circumstances if it were to become law:

Overtime Eligibility: The bill’s goal is to give truck drivers overtime pay in order to bring their pay scale in line with other professions. Currently, most OTR truck drivers are on-duty for longer than 8 hours a day.

Fair Compensation: The GOT Act’s supporters contend that the bill acknowledges the difficult nature of truck driving and solves the pay inequality in the trucking sector. Fair pay is regarded as an essential measure in keeping skilled and experienced drivers as well as drawing in new drivers for the industry.

The current discussion around the GOT Act is representative of the larger conversation in the trucking industry about fair compensation and worker rights, especially in light of ELDs, HOS, and other debates. There has been much discussion about the bill’s possible effects on the workforce and industry as it moves through the parliamentary process.