A Long Haul: How the government's policy to modernize trucks collides with its policies to promote high-wage jobs

September 8, 2010: The Obama administration has defined the misclassification of employed workers as independent contractors to be an important problem resulting in workers losing legal protections and benefits, and governments losing tax revenue and insurance contributions from employers. Yet at the very same time, the administration's agencies are supporting and encouraging misclassification in at least two sectors of the trucking industry -- port trucking ("drayage") and ground express delivery.

Drayage is that part of the trucking industry that hauls containers from ports to railroad yards, warehouses, and distribution centers, where containers are broken down and the goods repacked for delivery to retail stores. The industry "employs" more than 110,000 drivers at seaports on the West Coast, Gulf Coast, and the Atlantic seaboard as well as at large inland ports such as Chicago.

Click here to read more at The American Prospect.

Get Advice Join TDU Donate

Recent News

Teamsters United Slate Announced for 2026 IBT Election

The O’Brien-Zuckerman Teamsters United Slate for the 2026 Teamster Election has been announced.

IBT Election Supervisor Speaks at Teamsters Unity Conference

Election Supervisor Timothy S. Hillman spoke to leaders and members from almost every local on the Election Rules and timeline for the 2025-2026 Election for International Union Officers and Convention Delegates.

View More News Posts