Concerns Among Truckers About Trump’s Economic Agenda
JACKSON, Ga. — President Donald Trump has promoted his economic policies as beneficial for truck drivers, but many in the industry feel they are not experiencing the support they need.
The Promise of ‘America First’
During an event in Pennsylvania in October 2017, Trump stated, “America first means putting American truckers first,” while advocating for the Republican tax reform. Earlier that same year, he made headlines by sitting in a big rig on the White House lawn and honked the horn as a show of solidarity with truckers.
Tax Bill Effects
However, numerous truckers interviewed by NBC News reported that the tax reform has adversely impacted their finances. Before the tax law was enacted, they could deduct everyday expenses such as food and lodging from their taxable income. The new law has removed those deductions for employees who incur work-related expenses that their companies do not reimburse, leaving many drivers financially strained.
A Personal Impact
Truck driver Richard Robinson shared his experience, noting an $8,000 tax increase this year. “I have a young family at home and we didn’t meet the threshold to pay anything with our earning income credits,” he explained, lamenting that the removal of the per diem deduction contributed significantly to his tax burden.
The Formation of ‘Black Smoke Matters’
Robinson is part of “Black Smoke Matters,” a collective of long-haul truckers striving for more recognition of their issues. This group, named after the color of exhaust from big rigs, formed in response to policies they believe favor larger fleets over independent operators. The name is a nod to the Black Lives Matter movement but the group states it does not aim to critique that movement.
Long-standing Issues
The concerns of truckers extend beyond recent tax changes. They face longstanding issues such as state fuel taxes, restrictive hours-of-service regulations, and electronic logging device mandates that complicate their work. Long-haul trucker Greg Anderson voiced his frustrations, explaining he has drastically reduced his fleet from ten trucks and trailers to just one due to excessive taxation and regulation, raising his concerns about leaving the industry altogether.
A Call for Attention
Veteran trucker Billy Bogar expressed disappointment that the president seems to be prioritizing large fleet owners, which he believes undermines independent drivers. “It’s a little disturbing,” he remarked, referring to Trump’s support for the American Trucking Associations instead of individual drivers. Despite assurances from a Trump administration official that new tax reforms are designed to assist drivers, many feel left behind, and recent Democratic proposals to restore deductions have not yet progressed in Congress.
