Most truck drivers support Trump and fear a Harris presidency, says bigwig

EXCLUSIVE: Many big rig truck drivers are supporting former President Trump this cycle amid concerns about the Harris administration’s impact on key issues automotive industryadmitted the director of a transport company.

The presidential elections takes place in just five days, and during the campaign, Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris offered different perspectives for the auto industry.

Mike Kucharski, co-owner and vice president of JKC Trucking, Chicago’s largest specialty contract carrier, said there are five reasons truckers are more supportive of a Trump presidency this cycle: costs, increased regulatory burdens, infrastructure, truck range and lower load capacity due to battery.

“Personally, I don’t vote along party lines, but I support candidates through politics. “I would say politics is the gateway to the trucker vote – politics that helps small businesses grow,” Kucharski said in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital. “Right now, many small business owners in the trucking industry are seriously concerned about the impact Kamala Harris will have on our industry if she takes office.”

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According to Kucharski, the number one issue is costs.

“Truck carriers are already struggling to stay afloat due to issues such as skyrocketing diesel prices. It is pouring too much diesel fuel. Truck drivers cover fewer kilometers and pay more for fuel,” he said. “Another blow to truck drivers is the increased regulatory burden. Truck drivers are over-regulated.”

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Kucharski added that truck drivers support electric trucks, but the industry is not ready for mandates such as those imposed by the Biden-Harris administration.

The Harris campaign told Fox News Digital that it does not support electric vehicle mandates. However, the Biden-Harris Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced a final rule in March that would require up to two-thirds of new car sales to be electric by 2032. The agency also set a target requiring 40% of heavy trucks to be zero emission by 2032.

The Previously predicted by the EPA the standards could result in 50% of commercial trucks, 35% of short-haul tractor units and 25% of long-haul tractor units produced in 2032 being electric.

“Small trucking companies simply cannot absorb such extreme costs. People say bigger companies could do this. But I think they will have a problem. It’s a great idea, but I don’t think it will work,” Kucharski said of the final recipe.

Kucharski said many truckers support Trump this cycle because he offers an energy independent future.

“Trump has a slightly different perspective,” he added. “Donald Trump brought truck drivers to the White House during Covid-19 and thanked them for being essential workers.”

“Truck carriers are really hoping that some of these regulations will be waived because we are over-regulating the trucking industry,” he said. “Truck carriers are very excited because when Trump talked about the economic plan, he mentioned tariffs. And Trump says he wants to bring more businesses and more manufacturing back to the U.S., which would be amazing.”

Jeremy Kirkpatrick, a spokesman for the American Trucking Associations (ATA), told Fox that it will work with whichever candidate is elected and advocate for the industry.

“American Trucking Associations works with any official who wants to work with us. Regardless of the outcome, ATA will remain at the table and continue to advocate for commonsense, pro-transportation policies that strengthen the supply chain, grow the economy and deliver for the American people,” he said.

Brian Pannebecker, founder of Auto Workers for Trump 2024, recently told Fox that he believes many auto workers in the Rust Belt, a traditional cornerstone of the blue voting base, will vote Republican this cycle.

“Democrats have been sending our jobs to Mexico and China for over 40 years, so that process has just culminated with Donald Trump, who speaks our language. He knows what we want to hear, that he’s going to protect our industry before it completely disappears, and we’re going to vote for him en masse, I’m saying 65% to 70% of UAW members are pulling the lever on Donald J. Trump,” Pannebecker said. FOX’s ‘Conclusion’.

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In July, Harris won the endorsement of the United Auto Workers union, which said that “our job in this election is to defeat Donald Trump and elect Kamala Harris on her proven track record of advocating for the working class.”

FOX Business’ Taylor Penley contributed to this report.