The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has updated their vaccine-or-test Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for commercial truck drivers.

The requirements of the ETS “do not apply to truck drivers who do not occupy vehicles with other individuals as part of their work duties.” Additionally, they “do not apply to truck drivers who encounter individuals exclusively in outdoor environments” and have minimal use of indoor spaces where others might be present (for example, using an indoor restroom or dropping off paperwork at an office).

Sheri Call, President and CEO of the Washington Trucking Associations (WTA), said:

"This common-sense guidance offers certainty and relief regarding continual operations, especially given recent disruptions and closures due, in part, to employees leaving the workforce as a result of mandated vaccines.”

Governor Inslee should consider OSHA’s guidance, as he has in the past regarding the vaccine mandate, for the state’s truck drivers, including road maintenance crew at the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) who operate snowplows alone. Given that we are in the middle of winter and disruptive weather events are likely to occur, this would give WSDOT the ability to rehire fired employees and hire new road crew they desperately need, regardless of vaccine status, in order to keep roads clear and safe for the traveling public.