Truckers concerned about healthcare costs

According to a recent survey conducted by Transport Capital Partners, many trucking companies expect to be affected by the healthcare law changes, with 80 percent of respondents to the survey saying the changes will adversely affect them.

"The cost pressure for driver healthcare and other employees’ healthcare is just another balancing act challenging carriers this year during rate negotiations and amidst uncertainty in the general overall economy," said Richard Mikes, a partner of TCP and leader of the survey.

More results from the national Business Expectation Survey showed 43 percent of respondents are shifting some of the increased healthcare costs to employees, while 37 percent of trucking companies are asking their employees to pay more to cover their families' healthcare coverage.

Despite the increased costs, healthcare may be improved for truckers under the new system.

According to Workday Minnesota, President Barack Obama and his administration have been making an effort to improve health, safety and workers' right rules for all professions with unions, which will give unions more power and room to operate and could improve trucker health.

Truckers concerned about healthcare costs

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012