A national survey reveals that 70% of Americans believe Congress is wrong to impose trucking regulations on FedEx Express.
According to a survey conducted by Public Opinion Strategies on behalf of Brownbailout.com, the majority of respondents feel that there is already significant competition between the nation's two largest overnight delivery companies, and since the system ain't broke, there's no need to fix it.
Since being founded as an airline in 1971, FedEx has fallen under the jurisdiction of the Railway Labour Act. (RLA), despite the fact that FedEx drivers and package sorters aren't directly involved with the operations of the company's aircraft fleet.
FedEx rival UPS, essentially a trucking company, falls under the jurisdiction of the National Labour Relations Act (NLRA).
The RLA and NLRA have different regulations in terms of unions and industrial action.
UPS has lobbied for a change in FedEx's status, as has the International Brotherhood of Teamsters - the union that represents truck drivers and other workers at UPS. In return, FedEx reportedly threatened to cancel orders for fifteen Boeing aircraft if its labour status changed.
When the recent approval of the FAA Reauthorisation Act closed a loophole that enabled FedEx to "misclassify" its workers, the Teamsters welcomed the decision, but FedEx lashed out at UPS, saying that UPS was a parcel monopoly company that has never liked competition.
61% of survey respondents said that that overnight package delivery is either "extremely" (26%) or "very" (35%) important to the US economy.
75% said that the reliability of overnight package delivery is either "extremely" or "very" important to them, and 58% say they would be concerned if Congress were considering legislation that could make overnight package delivery less reliable.
And 70% of the respondents believe it is unfair for Congress to impose trucking regulations on FedEx's shipping business in addition to the air regulations under which it has always operated.
After hearing arguments on both sides of the issue ("bailout" because it only helps one company vs. "levels the playing field"/makes both play by same rules), 67% of the respondents opposed the proposed action by Congress to impose trucking regulations on FedEx.
81% of the respondents agree that consumers have choices, competitive prices and service options, so there is no need to change the laws.
