New Jersey legislation could destroy trucking's owner-operators
Bulk Transporter News Analysis
The New Jersey General Assembly and State Senate have recently forwarded an “employee misclassification” bill to Governor Chris Christie for his potential signature . This state legislation would hurt every aspect of trucking, including the tank truck sector, and it seems clearly designed to destroy the US owner-operator truck driver.
The bill aims to reclassify drayage operators and parcel delivery operators as employees, not independent contractors. Not surprising, the bill was supported by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and passed on strict party lines. This legislation poses a threat to all truckers who utilize the entrepreneurial owner-operator model and it is strongly opposed by the New Jersey Motor Truck Association, the American Trucking Associations, and even OOIDA.
"Governor Chris Christie has yet to publicly address his position on this bill, so I urge all NTTC (National Tank Truck Carriers) members – particularly those that are based (or have opereations) in New Jersey – to reach out to Gov Christie ASAP to strongly encourage him to veto this wrong-headed bill," says Dan Furth, NTTC president. "Link below has talking points prepared by NJMTA that may be helpful to you as you craft your message. http://nttc.informz.net/nttc/data/images/vetos1450(2).pdf
Address emails and letters to:
Honorable Chris Christie
Office of the Governor
PO Box 001
State House
Trenton, NJ 08625
Fax: (609) 292-3454 for
About the Author
Charles Wilson
Charles E. Wilson spent 31 years covering the tank truck, tank container, and storage terminal industries throughout North, South, and Central America as the editor of Bulk Transporter. Prior to 1989, Wilson was managing editor of Bulk Transporter and Refrigerated Transporter and associate editor of Trailer/Body Builders. Before joining the three publications in Houston TX, he wrote for various food industry trade publications in other parts of the country. Wilson has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Kansas and served three years in the U.S. Army.