By Trent Rosser

The store shelves were empty of cleaning supplies. Canned goods were at a bare minimum. Meat and frozen food were slim pickings. Police guarding the toilet paper aisle. Grocery store parking lots were full and people were scrambling to get the basic necessities. That was the scene just a few weeks ago. The country was in a panic to get supplies and other people were hoarding everything that they could. Is it over with? I don't know. We are now in a "stay at home" order from the city mayor. Only "essentials" are to be out. The rest of the time we are to be home, more or less. You can still go out exercising, and going to get fast food, etc. You can also go to the grocery store, but will there be anything left. That I do know the answer to, it is yes. Eventually everything will be stocked back up. The trucking industry to the rescue.

Now don't get me wrong, I am not taking anything from the nurses, doctors, cleaning personnel and other "essentials". They all deserve credit for being on the front lines of this epidemic. Today though, I want to talk about the truckers and the men and women in the trucking industry that are fighting to keep us stocked up with supplies. Nurses and doctors are constantly in contact with people that have been tested and will possibly be tested for the virus. But what about the truck driver? He is constantly going into different businesses and cities. They are repeatedly coming into contact with people from all over the states.

I talked with Jason Kelley, the Corporate Safety Officer with Plains Transportation on the impact that the Covid-19 has put on the transportation industry. I asked how this has affected the drivers. He replied, "As for the drivers, we deliver to places where they are no longer allowed in the building. Some of them will take the driver's temperature before being allowed in the gate."

I asked what happens if the drivers temperature is too high or if the driver is having symptoms of the virus. He said that if their temperature was too high for them to get in the gate, then they would find another driver to get the product delivered.

"As for drivers showing symptoms of the virus, the first thing we do is get them off the truck. We recommend that they get tested and let us know of the outcome. And depending on the outcome they probably need to stay home for 10 days, 2 weeks,” Kelley said.

Most trucking companies and their employees, from the drivers to the secretary, are considered "essential". It all depends on the commodities that they haul. Plains Transportation delivers mainly food products, meat, water and they even deliver toilet paper.

Jason and I talked a little about how the demand for loads have increased since the media started reporting on the virus. He said, "Our loads started increasing when the media started blowing everything up. Every week they increased and last week we seemed to hit the plateau. I don't know if it is that the public is over the panic stage, or if they have restocked and there is no need for us right now."

One of the things that I have seen quite a bit on social media is how certain places have become lenient on some of their policies. A good example is that fast food restaurants are now allowing drivers to walk up to the drive thru to get food. It is impossible to get a truck and trailer in a drive thru, so truck drivers would have to stop and go in. Most restaurants are now drive thru and carry out only and at first they were still enforcing the policy of no walk up at the drive thru.

"It was rough at first, even the truck stops closed down their buffets, they became a carry out only. It still is a carry out only but a lot of drivers have reported that groups in communities are coming together and bringing food to the truck stops." Kelley said.

As I was wrapping up with Jason, I asked him if there is anything else he would like to add or let the public know about the trucking industry during this pandemic. His heartfelt answer was, " Drivers in general, they care about their job, they also care about their families. A lot of them are…..maybe not stressed out, but worried. They care about their jobs, but their families are in the back of their minds. Are their families taken care of? They are more stressed than normal. But they realize, they are ‘essential.’ Years ago, even just last year, truck drivers were kinda frowned upon. Four wheelers wouldn't give in. You know, trucks are too slow, they don't start off fast, they brake slowly. But all that right now has gone by the wayside because, ‘hey, he is a truck driver, he is delivering food he is doing this he is doing that.’ And that is what we need right now, so yes, the outlook of a driver has changed some. I hope it stays that way after this."

I agree with Jason. I hope the respect that the drivers are currently experiencing will not cease. One of the things I also wanted to express. The drivers are not only worried about their families, but now they are worried about transmitting the virus to multiple people as well as bringing it home to their families. Yes, the drivers and the transportation industry are also on the front lines. Unsung heroes are delivering food, water, medical supplies. One last thing, if you see a driver having issues getting food, please help them out. Take them through the drive thru, or get it yourself and bring it to them. After all, if you wear it, eat it or live in it, a truck brought it.