What the Government Shutdown Means for Trucking

We are in another government shutdown at the time of publishing this article, and to the potential surprise of some, there is little that has changed in the private sector’s day-to-day business operations. Here is what impacts the government shutdown will have on the trucking industry.

Safety

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and its over 1,000 employees will continue to remain working day to day, with proper pay. This is because the FMCSA is funded in part by the Highway Trust Fund (which already has established funds set aside) and in part by the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse’s processing fees. All of this is to say that the FMCSA will continue to be working unless the federal shutdown goes on for years, and their enforcement protocols will remain in place, so the roads will not be full of derelict commercial motor vehicles operating without rear guards anytime soon.

Highway Programs

In the same vein as the FMCSA, current highway renovation projects will continue to go underway and state agencies will be reimbursed by the federal Department of Transportation, using set-aside funds in the Highway Trust Fund.

Hazmat Inspections

When it comes to trucks hauling nuclear waste and other hazardous materials, the federal government will continue to monitor already established trucking operations, but will cease in establishing new businesses. If you had a dream of operating your own nuclear waste management business, you will have to wait until the government shutdown is over before you can register.

Piracy

The Maritime Administration, whose responsibility is in part to make sure that thieves at sea think twice before raiding cargo ships filled with goods and materials, will continue to operate using its own reserve of funds. This means that port operations for truckers picking up drayage containers will continue.

Conclusion

The government shutdown targets things that are deemed “non-essential”, which, while vague in its description, seemingly does not apply to trucking considering how hundreds of millions of Americans count on them to get needed supplies every day.

Current cuts apply more to things such as national parks and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, so while we may miss a month of job numbers, the trucking industry will keep on trucking.

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