Bill Overview
Title: Guaranteeing Overtime for Truckers Act
Description: This bill requires employers of commercial truck drivers to provide overtime pay to such drivers engaged in a workweek longer than 40 hours.
Sponsors: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
Target Audience
Population: Commercial truck drivers
Estimated Size: 3000000
- Truck drivers are a significant part of the transportation industry.
- In the United States, there are over 3.5 million professional truck drivers as of recent estimates.
- Globally, the number of truck drivers is much higher considering regions such as Europe, Asia, and South America have substantial numbers of truck drivers.
- The bill will primarily impact those drivers who currently log more than 40 hours per week.
Reasoning
- The policy impacts those truck drivers who work more than 40 hours a week, which is a significant portion of the U.S. trucking workforce.
- Given the budget constraints, the impact will be more on those consistently working overtime, rather than all truck drivers.
- The policy does not cover drivers working part-time or under 40 hours, leading to a more limited impact on the overall population.
- It is expected that wellbeing improvements will be most noticeable among drivers currently working excessive overtime hours, due to better compensation and potentially reduced financial stress.
- Some drivers may not experience a shift in wellbeing if their overtime is rare or sporadic, requiring simulation across different driving scenarios.
- The overall population of truckers is diverse, including different demographic and socio-economic factors that affect how they will perceive and be impacted by the legislation.
Simulated Interviews
Long-haul truck driver (Dallas, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is going to help me manage my finances better.
- I often feel overworked, so overtime pay will make those extra hours more bearable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Regional truck driver (Chicago, IL)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any increase in wages would help, especially with a family to support.
- I might work less overtime if I can earn more per hour, which is a positive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Owner-operator (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Although it's well-meant, it might increase my costs as a self-employed driver.
- There could be pressure on rates, depending on how companies adjust to this change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Delivery truck driver (New York, NY)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy won't change much for me, as I rarely work overtime.
- It's nice to see the industry standards improving though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Local delivery driver (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This will be helpful as I build my career and might need to work extra hours.
- I hope this policy is part of larger improvements in trucker welfare.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Long-haul truck driver (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Overtime pay will be a good addition, but I love trucking regardless.
- I may use extra earnings to upgrade my living situation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Long-haul truck driver (Nashville, TN)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is beneficial, though I wish it had come sooner in my career.
- It should help new entrants enjoy better conditions sooner.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Freight operator (Miami, FL)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Potentially higher wages might strain my business if the policy alteration affects contracts.
- I want to support my drivers, but implementation details matter.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Long-haul truck driver for major company (Seattle, WA)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Seeing overtime pay is reassuring, hopefully leading to a culture of fairness and respect in my company.
- Better pay may allow me to spend more time with family.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Semi-retired trucker, now part-time (Birmingham, AL)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a move in the right direction for those still putting in long hours.
- I'm glad to see improvements, though my days of heavy overtime are behind me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $8000000000 (Low: $7000000000, High: $9000000000)
Year 2: $8200000000 (Low: $7200000000, High: $9200000000)
Year 3: $8400000000 (Low: $7400000000, High: $9400000000)
Year 5: $8800000000 (Low: $7800000000, High: $9800000000)
Year 10: $9600000000 (Low: $8600000000, High: $10600000000)
Year 100: $16000000000 (Low: $14600000000, High: $17500000000)
Key Considerations
- The policy might increase shipping costs and impact product prices.
- The trucking industry might see shifts toward automation as a cost-cutting measure.
- Labor union negotiations might focus on further enhancements beyond overtime pay.
- Impact on truckers' health and job satisfaction could potentially improve.