Transport Topics (January 21, 2021)

The Labor Department issued an opinion letter ruling that motor carriers can supply independent contractors safety equipment such as dash cams, speed limiters and driver monitoring systems, and also require that they take safety training, without jeopardizing their independent contractor status. The letter was written in response to two requests, one made by American Trucking Associations, and was based on a number of different scenarios posed by the requesters. ATA President Chris Spear said, “This opinion will make it easier for motor carriers to utilize owner-operators, while maintaining important safety standards, without risking those drivers’ independent contractor status.”

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