COVID-19 Information
Introduction
As the COVID-19 crisis continues to develop, we will update this page regularly with useful information, including announcements that have also been sent via email.
Many states are taking drastic measures in order to prevent the spread of this virus, and you will need to be prepared for major disruptions and delays, while also taking care of yourself and practicing caution.
If you have any suggestions or recommendations for this page, please email admin@nationalflatbed.com.
Prevention
HOW CAN I HELP PROTECT MYSELF? - Click Here for CDC Guidance
Avoid close contact by staying at least 6' from others whenever possible. This virus is believed to spread primarily through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
Wear a face covering when in public. See below for more information on making a cloth face covering.
If you feel sick and/or have a fever, contact dispatch so that we can help you get the rest that you need.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds every time you enter or leave a truck stop or any other facility with an accessible bathroom.
Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol to disinfect your hands every time you enter your truck
Use a tissue to cover your cough or sneeze and throw the tissue in the trash, then wash your hands. If you don't have a tissue within reach, cough or sneeze into your elbow.
Do not shake hands and refrain from other forms of physical greetings, such as hugs.
Clean all frequently touched surfaces in your vehicle (i.e. steering wheel, dashboard, door handles etc.) with disinfectant/cleaning wipes or an alcohol solution that contains at least 70% alcohol at the start and end of your shift.
Use your own pen when signing for loads and do not share it with others.
Minimize the exchange of paperwork whenever possible, in accordance with customer directions.
Coronavirus FAQs
***Click here for the official CDC COVID-19 website***
WHAT IS CORONAVIRUS?
The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new virus that causes respiratory illness in people and can spread from person-to-person. This virus was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS?
Symptoms of the COVID-19 can include:
Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath
The symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Reported illnesses have ranged from people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill and dying.
HOW CAN THE CORONAVIRUS SPREAD?
Human coronaviruses spread just like the flu or a cold:
Through the air by coughing or sneezing;
Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands;
Touching an object or surface with the virus on it;
Occasionally, fecal contamination.
What You Need to Know.pdfShare Facts About COVID-19.pdfWhat To Do If You Are Sick With COVID-19.pdfStop the Spread of Germs.pdfEXPANDED EMERGENCY DECLARATION UNDER 49 CFR § 390.23 No. 2020-002.pdfFMCSA Emergency Declaration FAQs.pdfNews and Announcements
Please send in TripPaks - 09/21
Thanks to everyone who was holding on to their TripPaks as we navigated the last few months of COVID. We're ready to start receiving paperwork, so please send in all TripPaks at your earliest convenience. Going forward, please submit your TripPaks each payday.
As states reopen, stay informed of changes. - 06/02
As states reopen, it's important to stay abreast of changes. Click here for an interactive map provided by the New York Times which shows the different stages of reopening by state.
Minimize exchanging paperwork. - 04/06
An increasing number of customers are requesting that no paperwork change hands at delivery. We want to encourage the minimization of paperwork changing hands whenever possible, while honoring each customer's guidelines and requirements. As a general rule, if you are able to deliver without paperwork being exchanged, you will need to do the following:
- Clearly write the name of the person receiving the shipment in the receiver blank on the BOL.
- Write the receiver's phone number under their name.
- Write the date and time of delivery.
- Write "No signature collected as a COVID-19 precaution."
Please refrain from sending in TripPaks at this time. - 04/06
Send in your load documents, credit card forms/receipts, and expense reimbursements/receipts electronically. Continue to collect your paperwork in your TripPak envelopes to send later.
-As a reminder, if no receipt for a credit card transaction is sent in within a month of the transaction date, the charge will be treated as a cash advance and deducted from your paycheck - so please continue to send in pictures of your credit card receipts!
The CDC is now recommending the use of cloth face coverings in public settings. - 04/06
We encourage you to follow this recommendation. Click here for a video on making your own simple face covering.
The link above included a list of essential activities and businesses. Some of you have asked about the impact that the stay-at-home order will have on your families in AZ, and the link above is a useful resource for that information.
If you do not currently have insurance, please take advantage of the company plans that are being offered now, during open enrollment.
Truckers Must Wear Face Mask/Bandana in Laredo Texas or Face $1,000 Fine - 04/03
We will continue to update you as local restrictions are imposed that may impact you in your work.
Truck Cleaning Checklist Added - 03/31
As the COVID-19 crisis continues, we cannot urge you strongly enough to guard your own health and to do what you can to minimize the risk of infection for both yourself and others.
The Federal Government currently predicts 100,000 to 200,000 deaths from COVID-19 "if we do things almost perfectly." Please let that sink in for a second. Please also be aware that this virus hits smokers and people with underlying health conditions harder than it does those who make healthier choices and do not have underlying conditions.
Following the prevention recommendations that we have laid out previous, and which can be found on the COVID-19 Information page on the Driver Resources website, will dramatically decrease your risk of contracting COVID-19. One of those recommendations regards the cleaning of surfaces in your vehicle at the beginning and end of every shift. Below, I have attached a checklist for you to complete each time you clean the interior of your truck.
Currently, we are recommending the use of an alcohol solution that contains at least 70% alcohol. There are many other disinfectants that are also effective against COVID-19, but many of them also create noxious fumes and can be harmful to the interior of your truck.
Stay-at-Home Orders Section Added - 03/23
Because of the rapidly growing number of states with stay-at-home orders, please see the list above for a current list. Each state is linked to that state's announcement/info on the announcement.
New York Orders Residents to Stay Home - 3/20
All workers in nonessential businesses across New York state are required to stay home in an effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced at a press conference Friday morning. Click here for more information.
PA Turnpike to Reopen All 17 Service Plazas Starting Friday Morning - 3/20
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will reopen all 17 of its service plazas Friday, March 20. Starting tomorrow at 7 a.m., restrooms inside all service plazas will be open 24 hours. The outdoor portable toilets will remain in place at the service plazas for approximately one week. Click here for more information and current news releases from the PA Turnpike.
California Orders Residents to Stay Home - 3/20
The California State Public Health Officer and Director of the California Department of Public Health is ordering all individuals living in the State of California to stay home or at their place of residence, except as needed to maintain continuity of operation of the federal critical infrastructure sectors, critical government services, schools, childcare, and construction, including housing construction. For the latest news on California's COVID-19 response, click here.
Pennsylvania Has Ordered All Businesses That Are Not Considered "Life Sustaining" To Close - 3/20
Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday announced that all but “life-sustaining” businesses in Pennsylvania must shut down immediately as the state braces for exponential increases in the number of people sickened by the novel coronavirus. For more information about which businesses are considered "life sustaining" click here.
We are open and ready to serve you.
We at TA and Petro Stopping Centers are doing the best we possibly can to continue to serve you as the COVID-19 situation evolves. Thank you for your patience and support as we navigate through COVID-19 together.
Our operational directives are made relying on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.
The following are our best current updates regarding our services and amenities:
All fuel lanes are open, with no fuel rationing.
All TA Truck Service centers are open and RoadSquad 24-Hour Roadside Assistance is available.
Our showers are open and you can still reserve showers through the app. Our employees continue to use the highest-quality chemicals when cleaning each shower.
We are following individual state mandates regarding closures of full-service restaurant dining. Some states are implementing 50% occupancy caps while others are mandating full dining room closures. Updates by state can be found below. The buffets and soup and salad bars in our Iron Skillets and Country Prides are closed, as are some of our dining rooms. Currently, carry-out at all restaurants is still available. You may order online from Iron Skillet ahead of time. Depending on the applicable government mandate, we may have to bring the food out to you. Specific information will be available at the travel center.
Our quick-service restaurants are open. However, you will not be permitted to eat in the dining areas due to mandates as stated above. Depending on the applicable government mandate, we may have to bring the food out to you. Specific information will be available at the travel center.
We are increasing our cleaning frequency and continue to use best-in-class, food-safe cleaners to disinfect and sanitize common touch points within the restaurants and travel centers. These include showers, restrooms, registers, door knobs, tables, menus, chairs, booths, counters, and all dishes, utensils and cooking surfaces.
We have closed our Fitness Centers and Driver Lounges until further notice.
For customers that usually use a TA/Petro refillable mug, we ask that you discontinue their use at this time. Please use a disposable cup; you will still qualify for the refill price: just tell the cashier that you participate in the refillable mug program.
Our employees have been advised to take care of themselves and be aware of best practices for preventive safety measures. This includes frequent hand washing and staying home when feeling ill.
All truck parking including Reserve-It remain in effect.
Thank you for continuing to allow us to serve you as we navigate through this unprecedented time together. The decisions we make are with your health and safety at top of mind. We will continue to provide updates on our COVID-19 response page.
Thank you for your continued service - we appreciate all you do to keep our economy moving.
TravelCenters of America and Petro Stopping Centers
Restaurant Regulations by State - Please Click Here for Current Information