Hundreds of social media posts in recent days have called for truck drivers to boycott picking up and delivering freight in Florida on Saturday — the date the state’s new law targeting undocumented immigrants takes effect.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed SB 1719 into law in May, which targets undocumented immigrants by requiring employers to check that workers are authorized to work in the U.S. The new immigration law expands requirements for businesses with more than 25 employees to use E-Verify, a federal system that determines if employees can legally work in the U.S.
With the law set to go into effect this weekend, some truckers have called for a one-day statewide boycott.
It’s unclear how many truckers plan to participate in the boycott, but seasoned industry veterans say, regardless, the protesters’ efforts will likely fail.
In today’s rocky economic climate — and if shippers are forced to raise their rates in order to get their freight moved — there’s always going to be an owner-operator or company driver, who has little say in where they are being dispatched, that will break ranks with a convoy or boycott “if the price is right.”
“I sympathize with those calling for a boycott in Florida, but our industry is in survival mode right now and I have a family to feed,” an owner-operator, who didn’t want to be named for fear of retaliation, told FreightWaves on Friday. “If the rates are there and I can make money on the load, you bet my truck will be fueled up and ready to roll.”
Will Florida truckers be impacted by new law?
Joe Rajkovacz, who is the director of governmental affairs and communications for the Western States Trucking Association, told FreightWaves he started receiving media calls in mid-May seeking comments about how truck drivers will be affected by Florida’s new law, which invalidates out-of-state driver’s licenses held by people living in the country illegally.
However, Rajkovacz said the law wouldn’t impact Florida truck drivers with valid CDLs because, under federal law, states can’t issue a CDL to a truck driver who doesn’t have a green card, which authorizes them to live and work in the U.S. on a permanent basis or isn’t a U.S. citizen.
“When it comes to operating a big truck, the Department of Homeland has always recognized that a truck could be used as a major weapon to attack civilians and infrastructure,” Rajkovacz wrote in a recent article in his association’s magazine.
He said that what happened on 9/11 is why the industry has seen an uptick in “credentialing requirements for truckers, from the TWIC card to expanded vetting just to be issued a hazmat endorsement on a CDL.”
Rajkovacz, who hauled produce for nearly 30 years, said Florida farmers, which rely heavily on migrants to work the fields in the state, will be hit the hardest by the new law.
Prior to Saturday’s planned boycott, some truckers on TikTok have been spreading misinformation about the impact the state’s immigration law is already having on the trucking industry in Florida, posting FreightWaves’ articles from March, including one about a Miami-based trucking company and freight brokerage that filed for bankruptcy protection and another article about Medley, Florida-based Flagship Transport Logistics and its affiliates, which abruptly ceased operations leaving 455 truck drivers unpaid, as occurring in late June.
Alix Miller, president and CEO of the Florida State Trucking Association, said she’s “aware of the reports [of a boycott] but am not aware of any issues.”
One truck driver, who lives in Georgia, said if spot rates don’t spike dramatically in Florida, he plans to stay home, barbecue and enjoy the July Fourth holiday.
“I will be checking spot rates throughout the night,” he said. “If I see something good, I’ll head out because if I don’t, someone else will take it — that’s just how this industry works.”
Noi Mahoney and Joe Antoshak contributed to this report.
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Mike
DeSantis is an idiot. Just because he has the power to, because he is the governor, he is writing and rewriting law after law discriminating against GLBTQ+ people. I can’t stand him. He is also trying to allow discrimination against GLBTQ+ people. – This is just not right. Being gay is not a choice. Does anyone think that a person would choose to be gay? Especially with all the discrimination that comes along with it? If you feel like discrimination against GLBTQ+ is OK or to discriminate against any group of people is OK there is something wrong with you… What if you were a little different than the “NORM” and were being discriminated against and picked on just for being yourself?? How would that really make you feel?? Just think about it. – It’s NOT right. WE ARE ALL HUMAN BEINGS ! This world is going backwards not progressing. I say again that being GLBTQ is NOT a choice… it is being true to yourself and living the way a person feels that they were born.
Kate
If people move to this country, use it’s resources, take citizen jobs, get free medical, free education and they WANT to stay in this country…GET LEGAL!!! Take the test and the oath instead of whining and holding your hand out. Do you know how hard it is for a US citizen to obtain a license…how are illegals getting one!!🤔
Phillip P Khamoo
I agree with the Governor Ron DeSantis illegals immigrants should not be operating Commercial vehicles on our soil and not only that they running rates into the ground these hungry POS destroying our industry I have been driving for 32 years and it is just horrible what I see on the load boards .
semihappy
Why support a boycott that is supporting people here illegally?? I’d support deporting them. Can’t speak the language most drive like crap.
Shad
I’ll be damned if I’m gonna boycott a state that’s making laws that protect Americans. Better question is how are illegals getting a cdl if their here illegally? Liberals ruin everything they touch.
Christopher Proutt
We never stick together in this industry because most truck driver doesn’t know how to save money so we’ll never be able to boycott anything.
Juana Martin
I like to know why you whant to make boy cot to Florida because the Governm make the law to emigrant this is the only country. The illegal came to here like this is park and every can enter we law. If you whant came to United States have to go in line. This people came to take advance to all program now whith this administration whant give every vary free thing hause money. You no. Netting beaut the constitution come back to school and star study I am give my help to Mr. Santy,, and Republican. This people estay in his country and work and study and I forget. Some people came from Mexico and work here for 6 month and then comeback to they country stop to rain liars
George Washington
Are you nuts? I would not park my truck for some pinko commie can smuggle fentanyl in the country. I know of no truck driver who supports the theses liberals and their Marxist plans to smuggle children sex slaves accross the border. Get you liberal little Winnie’s out of Florida you leftist rainbow licking child molesters.