The Colorado Trucker Strike: Unpaid Detention Time and Double Broker Fraud Spark Protest

The trucking industry in the United States has been plagued by issues such as unpaid detention time, double broker fraud, and lack of overtime pay, leading to a growing frustration among drivers. Recently, a group of around 75 truckers with Truckers Movement for Justice held a protest outside the US Department of Transportation (DoT) offices in Washington DC to demand action on these issues.

One of the key concerns is unpaid detention time. According to William McKelvie, a truck driver with over 25 years of experience, drivers are often forced to wait for extended periods at ports or terminals without being compensated. 'We can be on duty 12 hours a day and we're not getting paid for those 12 hours,' he said.

Another issue is double broker fraud, where false identities are used to bid on loads from customers, taking the fee and then posting the load again, leaving a legitimate broker or company to fulfill the shipment without payment. TriumphPay, a carrier payments platform, estimates that at least $500m to $700m of shippers' and brokers' freight payments go to double brokers annually.

Ray Randall, a truck driver with over 20 years of experience, has spent hours in line at ports, unpaid. 'We believe all drivers should be paid for all hours worked, because once you come on duty, you're working,' he said.

The issue is not just about individual experiences; it's also about the industry as a whole. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, when adjusted for inflation, the average pay for a truck driver in the US in 1980 was around $110,000 annually, compared to about $48,000 today.

The lack of federal action has only added to the frustration among drivers. In 2021, Truckers Movement for Justice met with senior officials from the DoT as part of Joe Biden's trucking action plan, but so far, there has been no movement on their three core demands.

The protest outside the DoT offices was a call to action, demanding change and accountability from the government. As one driver put it, 'My whole week gets wrecked because of one customer that just didn't care about the time. Even if there's an appointment, they just don't show much that they care about wasting my time.'

The Colorado trucker strike is a reminder of the need for change in the industry and the importance of addressing issues such as unpaid detention time, double broker fraud, and lack of overtime pay. As drivers continue to fight for their rights, it remains to be seen whether the government will take action to address these concerns and improve working conditions for truckers across the country.