Up to half of Michigan truck drivers remain barred from crossing into Canada LANSING, Mich. (April 4, 2022) – Following today’s announcement from President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg aimed at alleviating America’s truck driver shortage, the Michigan Agri-Business Association (MABA) called on the Biden Administration to push for open access to the U.S.-Canada border for truck drivers not fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Industry estimates show vaccine requirements to enter the U.S. and Canada have taken 30-50% of Michigan truck drivers out of international service. “The truck driver shortage in Michigan and across America has reached crisis levels, and while the administration is right to focus on solving this problem, let’s start by making sure truck drivers already employed can perform their essential work,” said Chuck Lippstreu, president of MABA. “Our agriculture industry relies on truck drivers who routinely cross the Ontario-Michigan border – often several times daily – facilitating exports to our number-one trading partner and bringing everything from fertilizer to feed ingredients into our state. Today, up to half of Michigan truck drivers are barred from international service due to vaccine requirements to enter both the U.S. and Canada, harming our state’s agriculture industry as we approach the heart of the spring planting season. We continue to call on the Biden Administration and the Canadian government to implement common-sense exemptions to these policies for truck drivers engaged in essential commerce.” In a letter last month to the White House and Congressional leaders, MABA echoed a call from national agricultural organizations for the U.S. and Canada to exempt essential truck drivers from the requirements. # # #
