Truck Driver Opinions on Trump’s Economic Policies

Morris Coffman has spent the last 35 years as a truck driver and has identified as a conservative for even longer. However, he criticizes former President Trump, calling him “absolutely a moron” and warns that his misguided ideas could further harm the economy.

Truck drivers, like Coffman, tend to lean conservative. According to an analysis by Verdant Labs using Federal Elections Commission data, nearly 75% of truck drivers align with the Republican Party, making it one of the most conservative professions in the US, alongside surgeons and farmers.

In a survey by Overdrive magazine during the 2016 elections, a significant 75% of truck drivers expressed intent to vote for Trump, an increase from 66% who supported Mitt Romney in 2012. However, recent downturns in the trucking industry and various tax changes have severely impacted their livelihoods, which many attribute to Trump’s economic policies.

“His policies have negatively affected our business,” one anonymous truck driver stated. “If consumers aren’t buying, there’s no demand. This isn’t about politics; it’s a business reality.” Changes to per-diem laws after Trump’s 2017 tax overhaul led to increased tax burdens for many truckers, with some facing tax bills over $5,000, as reported by accountant Dennis Bridges.

The rising financial pressures come as the trucking industry faces a downturn, described as a “bloodbath” by Coffman. Since late 2018, trucking has been in a recession, struggling with low pay and reduced rates. Research indicates that truck purchases fell to their lowest in nearly a decade, pointing to a significant decline in loads moved within the industry.

Some truckers believe that reduced manufacturing — linked to Trump’s trade policies — contributes to their grim job prospects. JL Sims, another truck driver, remarked on the misleading economic indicators often highlighted in the media, emphasizing that manufacturing reflects the true state of the economy more accurately than unemployment rates.

Despite the frustrations of truckers, analysts remain cautious about making direct correlations between the downturn and Trump’s policies. They suggest that the surging profits of 2018 may have artificially inflated expectations, and the current adjustments in the market could be part of a necessary correction. With truckers being a crucial voting demographic, Coffman emphasizes that economic success cannot be achieved through intimidation.