ATLANTA (December 12, 2023) — In response to the Senate Study Committee on Truck Driver Shortages final report, Senator Nabilah Islam Parkes (D- Duluth) released a comprehensive minority report, opposing the Committee’s recommendation to repeal the direct-action statute. This statute, a key legal provision in Georgia, allows individuals injured in trucking accidents to sue the insurance companies of the trucking firms directly, ensuring accountability and safeguarding citizens’ legal rights.
The Committee’s mandate involved three primary tasks: evaluating the current and projected shortage of licensed truck drivers in the state’s west-to-northwest region, assessing the impact of this shortage on businesses, and examining the potential of public educational resources, especially in technical colleges, to bridge educational gaps and alleviate the truck driver shortage.
“Repealing the direct-action statute fails to address the underlying issues fueling our truck driver shortage and jeopardizes the safety and legal protections of Georgians,” asserted Sen. Islam Parkes. “It’s crucial to maintain this statute to ensure that trucking companies and their insurers are held accountable for road safety and fair compensation in accidents.”
She emphasizes the need for multi-faceted strategies that genuinely reflect the transportation sector’s intricacies. Factors such as high retirement rates among truck drivers, the underrepresentation of women in the industry, stringent drug test requirements, and lifestyle challenges related to trucking careers have been identified as key contributors to the current shortage.
In conclusion, Sen. Islam Parkes expressed, “I am honored to contribute to this Committee’s vital work. Although I disagree with the proposal to repeal the direct-action statute as outlined in my minority report, I fully support the other Committee recommendations, which are crucial in tackling our state’s truck driver shortage effectively.”
To view Sen. Islam Parkes’ minority report as well as the final report of the Senate Study Committee on Truck Driver Shortages, please use the following link: https://www.senate.ga.gov/committees/Documents/TruckDriverShortagesFinalReport2023.pdf
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Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes represents the 7th Senate District, which includes a portion of Gwinnett County. She may be reached by phone at 404.463.5263 or by email at NabilahIslamParkes@senate.ga.gov.