U. S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, is asking leaders in the infrastructure and freight transportation industry how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected elements of their industry.
Wicker said he wants to know how COVID-19 has impacted the supply chain, freight movement, transportation networks, and consumers, as well as how to ensure that the freight transportation network can react to future unforeseen events.
“The COVID-19 crisis has brought serious new challenges and hardships to our nation,” Wicker wrote in his letter to the heads of critical infrastructure and freight transportation industries. “As these difficult times continue to affect our lives, the resilience and resourcefulness shown by our frontline workers has been remarkable. They are providing critical care, services, goods, and supplies to the people and communities that need them. These contributions are seen across industries, and the surface transportation sector is no exception. Our truck drivers, railroad workers, port operators, pipeline engineers, and many others are working to ensure that our freight transportation network and critical infrastructure continue to deliver during this unprecedented time.”
The May 4 letter was sent to representative from the American Trucking Association, the American Association of Port Authorities, the Association of American Railroads, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, the American Petroleum Institute and the Inland Rivers, Ports and Terminals.
Wicker asked if critical infrastructure employees have been affected during the pandemic and what have member organizations done to protect that staff. Wicker also asked if the authorities from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation and whether or not additional authorities were needed to provide additional support to the transportation sector.