To: U.S. Department of Transportation, Department of Labor, State Legislators, and Industry Leaders

Our earnest cry for change comes from a deeply personal place. My husband, like many of his friends, works in the sand hauling industry—a vital pillar of the oil and gas sector. These men are the backbone of operations that fuel the economy, yet they endure conditions that are nothing short of inhumane.

Despite the significance of their labor and the immense risks they face daily, sand haulers are chronically underpaid, dangerously overworked, and shamefully overlooked.

Too many of these hardworking men spend months away from their families, living in their trucks, sacrificing their health and well-being to put food on the table. Their lives are consumed by long hours, limited sleep, and constant pressure. The price they pay is steep—heart attacks, strokes, cancer, and even death—consequences that can no longer be ignored.

And it doesn’t stop there.

The roads they must travel—lease roads—are often treacherous and poorly maintained, threatening not just the drivers, but the public. Unsafe work environments have become the norm. What’s more, the hiring of undocumented workers using fake CDLs is putting untrained drivers behind the wheel, leading to accidents, injuries, and fatalities on a near-daily basis. Still, those in power look the other way.

These issues are not just violations of labor rights—they are violations of human dignity.

We demand immediate action:

Fair and Increased Compensation: Current pay rates have fallen behind inflation and living costs. Sand haulers deserve wages that reflect their vital contributions and the risks they take.
Mandatory Demurrage Pay: Waiting at well sites—sometimes over 24 hours without pay—is exploitation. This time must be compensated fairly and transparently.

Enforce Road Safety Standards: Lease roads must be maintained to ensure safety for both drivers and the general public.
Accountability in Hiring Practices: Illegal hiring practices are costing lives. We need stronger enforcement and stricter verification processes to ensure qualified, legal CDL holders are behind the wheel.
 

To the Department of Transportation, the Department of Labor, state representatives, and industry leaders—we are calling on you to do your job. Protect these essential workers. Give them the dignity, safety, and compensation they have earned.

Let’s build a future where sand haulers no longer have to sacrifice their lives for a paycheck. Let’s create a standard that honors the values of fairness, safety, and respect.

Sign this petition to amplify their voices, support their cause, and demand the justice they so deeply deserve.

With urgency and hope,

McKenzie Pond