Despite the fact that the supply chain across the United States continues to hurt American consumers, the Biden administration will begin requiring nonresident truck drivers, government officials, and emergency response officials to be fully vaccinated when crossing the border on January 22.
The White House announced the requirement in October, and a senior administration official said that it was in line with the rules that took effect earlier this month for leisure travelers when the U.S. reopened its borders to fully vaccinated travelers.
Originally, the vaccine requirement was scheduled for November 8, but the deadline was pushed back.
On October 29, Biden’s Department of Homeland Security announced: “Starting November 8, when arriving at a U.S. land POE or ferry terminal, non-citizen travelers should be prepared to (1) provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, as outlined on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)website; and (2) verbally attest to their reason for travel and COVID-19 vaccination status during a border inspection.”
“Any non-citizen attempting to enter the United States through illegal means or without appropriate documentation may be subject to expulsion or removal. Travelers arriving at a U.S. land POE or ferry terminal should be prepared to present any other relevant documents as requested by a CBP Officer.”
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association spokeswoman Norita Taylor slammed the decision, saying it showed “how unnecessary government mandates can force experienced owner-operators and independent truckers out of business,” adding, “These requirements are another example of how impractical regulations will send safe drivers off the road.”
Canadian and American truck drivers will need to get double-vaccinated for COVID-19 by Jan. 15 when crossing into Canada, the Canadian government announced this week, possibly in retaliation.
According to the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA), trucks handle roughly 70% of the $648 billion in trade between America and Canada. “There are 120,000 Canadians who operate cross border and 40,000 U.S.-licensed drivers moving north-south trade,” Heavy Duty Trucking reports.
CTA president Stephen Laskowski blasted Canada’s decision.
“We are extremely concerned there is a perfect storm brewing,” he asserted. “In light of worldwide supply chain disruptions and delays, it’s unclear how the supply chain and the trucking industry, in particular, can withstand further turmoil and maintain the service levels required to deliver critical products Canadians and Americans need.”
The Canadian Trucking Association (CTA), which said their estimate was conservative, said that 10-20% of Canadian truck drivers crossing the border (12,000-22,000) and 40% of U.S. truck drivers traveling into Canada will give up due to the vaccine requirement.
“It is entirely unclear how the industry and supply chain can compensate for thousands of drivers abruptly exiting the system overnight,” Laskowski noted. “Make no mistake, if this mandate moves forward as planned, it would bring significant consequences for the cross-border economy, which will be felt by the Canadian and American public.”
Let’s see if I have this correct: I have to take a vaccine that doesn’t stop me from catching, passing on, or dying from a disease. If I don’t get the prick I can’t work, travel, or be in public for all practical purposes (without my papers).
I have a countrywide shortage of workers, but people can’t work without the vaccine because the Government has enlisted the Labor Department to instill punitive fines on the Employer for not enforcing a mandate that is not a law. Yes, the employee CAN pay for weekly testing, but why should they even have to be tested?
I have a shortage of healthcare workers but I am losing many more; see above.
