Truck stops providing an essential service to essential workers

Workers, they're are providing a place to eat, sleep, shower and safely socialize with others.

Been on the freeways lately, the first thing you probably notice is the lack of cars... but there is no lack of trucks.

New tonight at 11... kezi nine news reporter connor mccarthy is live here in the studio and shows us how truckers are keeping the economy moving... and how truck-stops are making sure that continues to happen.

According to the oregon trucking association... 72 percent of of goods transported in oregon was by truck.

In order to keep goods flowing through the pandemic... truckers are becoming even more esstential... and also the places where drivers can rest and refuel for 11 plus hour days.

Shaw: "hard, it's really been hard."

Working long days... shaw: "people are realizing they need trucks as bad as we need them, they need us."

Driving long nights--providing the public with essentials to stay at home or to fight the coronavirus.

Shaw "we need to supply them they need to buy so we can supply again."

Truckers are fighting to keep the economy in its lane.

But drivers are finding it hard to find truck stops to relax and re-fuel themselves.

Shaw: "i've been to places where the restroons are closed, showers are closed they wont let you in the building.

They will bring you your fuel receipt at the door."

The ones that are open... like travel centers of america in coburg... truckers say those truck stops are just as important as the supplies they carry.

Anderson "they're grateful for the truck stops and the truck stop industry."

Jim anderson is the genaral manager and he says truckers are happy to be able to pull up to a place thats safe... clean... and open.

Anderson: "where they can go is kind of limited and so being able to come here and find a place to park, rest, eat, shower, and converse with other people is good."

Anderson says they are following all of the governor kate brown's executive orders by keeping social distance... making their resutrant take- out... and keeping his truck stop open.

Shaw: "i really appreciate the big chains you know, making sure we still can get food.

Some way to get cofee.

Some way to eat."

And truck stop workers are providing something else that's not for sale.... appreciation.

Anderson"these guys are working long, lonely hours and now they're faced with this coronavirus and they're literally on the front lines.

Just going in and out of unkonw places unsure of how clean it is, how sanitary it is."

Shaw says the gratitude is a two way street.

Shaw: "they help us, we help who we can."

In oregon... truck stops are considered an essential service so majority are open in the state.

But truckers say many truck stops outside the state have shut their doors during the pandemic.

Reporting live in the studio connor