The Teamsters Union May 15 urged Congress to pass the Truthful Reliable Understanding of Consumer Costs Act, which would lower fuel costs for non-union truck drivers.

 The TRUCC Act would guarantee that truckers who pay for fuel will be reimbursed the full amount of any surcharge levied by shippers.

 The bill is sponsored by Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine.

 “Non-union owner-operator truck drivers are going broke because of fuel prices,” said James P. Hoffa, Teamsters president. “Since they’re the ones paying for diesel, they’re the ones who should be reimbursed for the entire amount of any fuel surcharge.”

 For most non-union truckers who haul containers from U.S. ports or over the road, their brokers or trucking companies refuse to pay for fuel, maintenance and operating expenses, said the union.

 “This bill won’t affect our members because their employers pay for fuel directly,” Hoffa said. “Still, we stand in solidarity with truck drivers struggling to make ends meet because they have to bear the entire financial burden of owning and operating their vehicles.”

 Web site:

 Teamsters Union

http://www.teamster.org