In The News

Family thanks truckers, lawmakers for supporting grassroots efforts for ‘Jason’s Law’

The family of slain New York trucker Jason Rivenburg started an online grassroots petition just two months ago as a way to deal with their grief.

Cassandra Hardendorf, Jason’s aunt, wrote the petition for “Jason’s Law” for safe and secure parking for truckers nationwide after he was fatally shot for $7 while parked at an abandoned gas station in South Carolina.

Their voices have been heard.

So far, more than 6,270 truckers and their families, including many OOIDA members, have signed the petition for “Jason’s Law.” Click here to sign the petition. Bills have has been introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate by lawmakers from New York state.

Tim Hardendorf, Jason’s uncle, said the family has been overwhelmed by the amount of support they’ve received from the trucking community and lawmakers as a result of their grassroots efforts to address this issue.

Hardendorf said one of the positive things that has stemmed from the tragic loss has been the response they have received from those who aren’t in the trucking community, but who have heard Jason’s story.

“One of our goals is to raise public awareness to the point that people understand that trucks need to have somewhere to go. If we can keep them close to the highway or close to where they have to deliver – everybody’s going to be better off,” Hardendorf told Land Line on Wednesday.

U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-NY, introduced his bill, HR2156, on April 28. On May 5, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, introduced a companion bill, S971, for a pilot program to address the truck parking shortage along the National Highway System.

Both bills seek to provide grant money to increase security and improve conditions at rest areas and truck stops nationwide.

“Every day our truck drivers endure long hours on the road transporting goods throughout the state. This law will enable states to improve the conditions and safety at rest stops so that when truckers stop to rest, they are safe and protected,” Schumer said in a statement on “Jason’s Law.”

OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer said this legislation is badly needed to protect drivers, who struggle daily to find safe truck parking while out on the road. Since receiving a Call to Action, OOIDA members have been busy calling their lawmakers about the importance of supporting these bills.

“We can’t imagine anyone in their right mind objecting to this proposal,” Spencer said recently.

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