WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Rep. Freeman Leading Efforts to Protect Independent Truck Drivers

Drayage 300x300Rep. Roger Freeman, D-Federal Way, is sponsoring legislation that would offer greater protection for port contractors who are being taken advantage of under the current system.

“Right now there are two Washingtons: one where hard workers earn living wage that lets them support their family, and one where hard workers are trapped in poverty without protection,” said Freeman. “It is time to reconcile these disparate narratives in our state.”

The bill would classify independent port contractors who do short-haul, regional transporting – known as drayage truck operators – as official employees of the port they work for. By doing so, the drivers would be covered under important safety and labor laws, such as the Industrial Welfare Act, the Wage Payment Act, and the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act.

“This bill is not just about the drivers; it’s about the commuters who want safe streets and the families who want clean neighborhoods. Protecting these drivers helps us protect our communities as well,” added Freeman.

Without coverage under these laws, most independent contractors lack health insurance, shift breaks, legal recourse for wage theft, and industrial safety protections. Until recently, most were barred from using port restroom facilities. Many divers have faced employer retaliation for speaking out about the issue.

“In our faith tradition we promise at the baptism of a person into the faith, that all of us will ‘respect the dignity of every human being’,” said Reverend Dick Gillett, a leader in Washington’s Episcopal community. “Our Seattle port drivers, regardless of their own faith tradition, are due that respect that they are currently denied.”

Most drayage truck drivers own their trucks and pay for new part and maintenance, the cost of which leaves their rigs some of the oldest and most dangerous on the road. The majority of drivers are first-generation immigrants from East Africa and Eastern Europe