Further Update on MMTA PPE Request
April 10, 2020
Yesterday we reported uncertainty as it relates to our April 2nd order for personal protective equipment. Subsequent to our newsletter going out, we received notice that our order has been rejected by the Maine Emergency Management Agency and/or the Maine CDC. We do not know why it was rejected, but suspect it is due to there not being enough PPE to go around and that trucking is not considered a “tier 1” industry like healthcare workers.
We then went to the internet to see if we could purchase items that we could then distribute to members. If anyone has done a similar exercise, they know the rabbit hole we went down – given the limited availability from vendors who were unknown to us, the cost was double or triple what it would normally be (if we were lucky) and the delivery date could not be guaranteed.
So now we are asking MMTA members if they know of any reputable companies who might have PPE available to sell to us in bulk for us to distribute to our members. If you know of anyone – a producer, manufacturer, retailer, etc. – who might want to help the Maine trucking industry, please email us the person’s contact information and we will reach out to them immediately.
Alternatively, we understand our counterparts in other states, as well as the American Trucking Associations, are working on bulk purchases that might give MMTA access to some much needed PPE.
