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10 • January 15-31, 2021 Nation THETRUCKER.COM Wyoming truckers note variances in COVID-19 response from state to state THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CHEYENNE, Wyo. — While many Wyomingites’ experiences during the pandemic have been shaped by state- or county-level reactions, truck drivers in the area have been exposed to a patchwork of responses across the nation. Situated at the nexus of Interstates 25 and 80, Cheyenne is a popular stop for truckers hauling goods across the U.S. Truckers who stop in Wyoming’s capital city could be headed to any state in the country, and with that comes the chance to observe stark regional differences. Perhaps no period in recent memory has revealed those regional differences more than 2020. Since last March, the nation has grappled with conflicting views on how to address the COVID-19 pandemic, which has so far claimed the lives of more than 350,000 Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “State by state, things were so different,” said Hamilton Byrd, a longtime Cheyenne resident who drove semi-trucks up until the middle of last summer, when he quit to pursue his event business full-time. “There were places that were really strict that had statewide mask mandates way back in April. With corporate entities, you’d see the same thing, too. You’d show up to a Love’s Aim your camera at the code to find jobs. Travel Stop in Wyoming, for instance, and it feels like business as usual. Then you’d show up to a Love’s in California, and it feels like a different world,” he said. “That was one really interesting observation I had — just seeing how diced up we all were,” said Byrd. He also noted that, from his view, truck stops — like airports or bus depots — are places where people from all over the country — including virus hotspots — congregate. “These were hotspots or relatively volatile areas,” Byrd said. “When you jump into one truck stop that has no care in the world, it was nerve-racking.” Vicente Lopez, who owns True Grace Farm and Truck in Cheyenne and has driven trucks since 1987, said it’s never been difficult to keep to himself on the road, adding that he’s not particularly concerned about the threat of the virus as it is. However, in some areas, he did encounter regulations so strict is affected his life on the road, the Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported. “I anticipated getting my shower and everything when I got up in the morning, and they had shut down their showers,” Lopez recalled about a truck stop he stayed at in Louisiana. “I wasn’t able to get my shower the next morning. That was tricky.” Sheila Foertsch, managing director of the Find the best truck-driving as well news, videos and job resources ... all in one place! Michael Cummo/The Wyoming Tribune Eagle via AP Vicente Lopez poses for a photo at Sapp Bros Travel Center near Cheyenne, Wyoming. Lopez, who owns True Grace Farm and Truck in Cheyenne, said he has noticed regional differences in local responses to the coronavirus pandemic. Wyoming Trucking Association, said a lot of truckers encountered similar issues at the onset of the pandemic. “Early on, drivers who go coast to coast were having difficulties finding places to park and rest, as well as difficulty finding places to eat. A lot of states closed restaurants, and that included dine-in truck stops,” Foertsch said. “But the truck stops did a good job of pushing back and saying that they need to be open — even if it’s in a modified capacity — to serve food to essential workers.” One the pandemic’s biggest effects on the trucking industry, Foertsch said, has been the type of goods truckers are transporting. “Everyone involved at the beginning of the pandemic that was transporting medical supplies and groceries became very busy, but if you weren’t hauling that kind of stuff, you might have seen a slight downturn in business because of the closings,” she said, noting that THE ASSOCIATED PRESS EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Leaders in the Evansville, Indiana, area say they’re expecting action in 2021 toward the construction of an Interstate 69 bridge over the Ohio River between Indiana and Kentucky. The biggest step would be federal approval of a route for the new bridge that would cost an estimated nearly $1.5 billion. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has included that bridge route decision among his administration’s 2021 goals, along with continuing construction of the final section near Indianapolis of the I-69 extension through southern Indiana to Evansville. Funding sources remain uncertain for the bridge project, although Henderson County, Kentucky, Judge-Executive Brad Schneider said the preliminary work for its construction was getting done. Wyoming was less affected because it never fully closed restaurants. Rather, the downturn in the energy industry — which has been caused by reduced travel during the pandemic, the collapse of coal and the Saudi-Russia oil price war — has most affected Wyoming truckers’ profits. “You have trucks transporting equipment for both the coal mines, as well as oil and gas. You have transportation of fuel that goes into the mines and the rigs,” Foertsch said. “Any kind of energy downturn is reflected in the trucking industry.” Booie Bears, a Wellington, Coloradobased trucker who frequently drives through Cheyenne, said about 80% of his business was geared toward hauling oil and gas industry products prior to the pandemic. “When COVID-19 came, the price of oil went way down. The pandemic didn’t just shut 2021 action expected on new I-69 Ohio River bridge b Trainer from page 8 b changes to your workout routine, you’ll increase your motivation and help eliminate the boredom factor. Known as The Trucker Trainer by professional drivers nationwide, Bob Perry brings See Response on p11 m “The states are getting very close to reaching some final decisions and what grants can be sought on the federal level,” Schneider told the Evansville Courier & Press. Plans call for the charging of traffic tolls for crossing the new I-69 span, while the fate of the two current U.S. 41 bridges linking Evansville to Henderson, Kentucky, remains undecided. Local leaders have opposed the I-69 bridge project team’s proposal to shut down one of the U.S. 41 bridges and convert the remaining span to two-way traffic. Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke said he’s confident an I-69 bridge is a high priority for Indiana officials. “I know the states talk on a regular basis on where this project stands,” Winnecke said. “Each state is trying to identify its funding streams for this. I couldn’t tell you what the timeline is, but we feel comfortable with the process of where it is.” 8 a unique perspective to the transportation industry OTR truck drivers. Perry comes from a family of professional drivers and has played a critical role in the paradigm shift of regulatory agencies, private and public sector entities, and consumers to understand the driver health challenge. For OTR workout programs reach out to Perry at trucker trainer@icloud.com. Also, you can now download the Fit to Pass app available for both Android and iPhones. 8
THETRUCKER.COM b Response from page 10 b down our society, it shut down whole industries. Oil and gas seemed like it stopped overnight,” said Bears, who was forced to lay off several of his employees as a result. “I had to scramble and try to find different avenues to diversify the company,” he said, noting that he’s shifted to hauling commodities, such as corn and wheat, as well as consumer products sold by Amazon. The rise in remote working, too, has affected the products Bears’ company has been transporting during the pandemic. “Aside from commodities and household goods, a lot of people are moving from bigger cities to smaller states or cities to try to save money or downsize their homes,” he said. “We’ve pulled a lot of moving trailers.” Bears is hopeful that his business will rebound as the pandemic subsides, but he’s not sure when that will happen. In the meantime, driving across the country in 2020 has shown him the same reality Byrd and Lopez noticed on their routes: Concern over the virus varies dramatically, depending on where you stop. “You could go up into Wyoming or Montana or South Dakota in the middle of the pandemic and still sit down in a restaurant and eat a meal,” Bears said. “It seems like there’s a line drawn in the sand when you hit Colorado and the Southwest. Everything was totally shut down. You couldn’t even get fuel without a mask.” Story by Kathryn Palmer, Wyoming Tribune Eagle 8 THE TRUCKER NEWS SERVICES SEA<strong>TT</strong>LE — Because of increased detour traffic caused by maintenance and repair work on area bridges, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is asking the public to avoid the Low Bridge linking Seattle and West Seattle, leaving the route clear for emergency vehicles, transit and heavy freight. As of Jan. 11, unauthorized use of the bridge could result in a $75 citation for each trip across the structure, according to a Dec. 29 statement from SDOT. Alternate routes for those traveling to and from West Seattle by car include the First Ave. South Bridge or South Park Bridge. The Low Bridge may be used by those who are riding transit, in a vanpool, walking, rolling, riding a scooter or biking. In addition to updating markings on the route, SDOT is adjusting signal timing, improving road signs and working with nearby communities to prioritize projects that will reduce the impact of increased detour traffic, prioritizing transit connections to and from West Seattle, building new bicycle projects, and establishing and improving detour routes. According to a statement released by SDOT, the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge Nation January 15-31, 2021 • 11 Seattle DOT urges public to avoid Low Bridge, leave route clear for emergency vehicles, transit and heavy freight Courtesy: Tim Durkan Keeping traffic moving on Seattle’s Low Bridge is important because it allows safe and timely passage for emergencyresponse vehicles, transit and freight. carried significantly more vehicles because it has seven lanes compared to the two lanes on the Low Bridge. If all the former traffic from the High-Rise Bridge attempts to use the Low Bridge, it will create severe congestion and long traffic back-ups, blocking access for emergency vehicles. Based on data analysis, SDOT has identified and placed a cap on the number of vehicles that are allowed to use the Low Bridge daily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. since the closure of the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge in March 2020. Vehicle restrictions will be enforced with the help of traffic cameras, which were installed Dec. 10; the cameras are designed to record license plates only. The automated photo enforcement system was activated Jan. 11, 2021; unauthorized Low Bridge users will be subject to a $75 citation for every trip across the bridge. Citations will be sent to the mailing address of the registered owner of the unauthorized vehicle that crosses the Low Bridge. From 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day, the following are authorized to use Seattle’s Low Bridge: • Emergency vehicles; • Transit vehicles (King County Metro buses and school buses); • Freight vehicles; • People who are walking, rolling, using a scooter or biking; • Employer shuttles; • Vanpools; and • Pre-authorized vehicles. Personal vehicles (including motorcycles), taxis and ride-hail app vehicles (such as Uber and Lyft) are allowed to use the Low Bridge at night, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily. 8 tHanK yoU to flatbed truck drivers and all essential workers on the front line of covid-19 • Local, Regional & OTR • Percentage Paid Weekly • Great Home Time and Benefits including Paid Holidays apply online now www.thetrucker.com/pii 866.819.8913 • Ask About Our Pay Guarantee & Vacation paid training program for company drivers
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