This story was originally published in July 2020.
Protests over police violence have been ongoing since the summer, with protestors and police often clashing and, occasionally, protests spilling onto highways, which could make it difficult for drivers to continue routes through cities where protests are taking place.
If a truck driver gets caught up in a situation where he or she is surrounded by protesters, such as Kenan Advantage Group independent contractor Bogdan Vechirko, fleets need to be able to tell their drivers how to handle such a situation.
In the case of Vechirko, he was found to have inadvertently driven into a crowd of hundreds of protesters on I-35 West in Minneapolis on May 31. He didn’t hit anyone, and no one was hurt, but after he came to a stop, he was pulled out of his cab and beaten until some protesters stepped in to shield him until police arrived.
The best piece of advice offered to carriers and drivers is to do everything possible to avoid areas of civil unrest and find alternate routes if possible.
“Even a peaceful protest can transition pretty quickly into a violent situation,” said Collin Mooney, executive director of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. “I recommend if any truckers are operating in any area where protests are gathering or plan to gather, avoid the area altogether. Not just for their safety, but for preserving the equipment and supplies as well.”
The American Trucking Associations, ATA Safety Management Council (SMC) and the ATA Transportation Security Council (TSC) released a list of recommendations in the wake of the Vechirko incident that includes tips on avoiding unsafe situations, as well as advice on what drivers should do if they do find themselves in the midst of a protest.
