Trucking trade group lauds US Supreme Court ruling on vaccine mandates

HOUSTON (ICIS)–The American Trucking Associations called a US Supreme Court decision on Thursday that blocks the implementation of the Biden Administration’s vaccine mandate “a victory on behalf of the trucking industry and workers and employers everywhere”.

Chris Spear, the president and CEO of the industry trade group, said the court’s ruling validates the ATA’s claim that the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) far overstepped its authority in issuing an emergency temporary standard that would interfere with individuals’ private health care decisions.

The ATA was part of a coalition of business groups that challenged the OSHA mandate that would have required companies with 100 or more employees to either get vaccinated or be regularly tested for COVID-19.

The chemical sector has been coping with trucking issues – mainly a shortage of drivers – for years, and the ATA argued that a vaccine mandate would make it harder to hire and retain drivers.

Full testing requirements for unvaccinated employees was set for enforcement on 9 February.

“Trucking has been on the front lines throughout the pandemic – delivering PPE, medical supplies, food, clothing, fuel, and even the vaccines themselves,” Spear said. “Thanks to this ruling, our industry will continue to deliver critical goods, as our nation recovers from the pandemic, and we move our economy forward.”

Earlier in the week, OSHA issued guidance clarifying that its mandate would not apply to solo truck drivers.

Meanwhile, Canada will require all truck drivers entering that country from the US to be fully vaccinated beginning on 15 January.