ATA Calls for “Immediate Action” on HOS
Leaders of American Trucking Associations called on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Congress to take “immediate action” to address what they said were problems caused by changes to the hours-of-service rule that took effect July 1.
“From the outset, ATA was confident the hours-of-service rule changes were based on politics, not data,” ATA President Bill Graves said in a Nov. 20 statement. “Well, now we’re seeing mounting evidence that rather than solving anything, these rules are creating many problems for drivers and fleets alike.”
Under the new provision, a 34-hour off-duty restart period must include two periods from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. on two consecutive days. Also, drivers must have a 30-minute rest stop every eight hours or less.
“I’ve seen the impact these rules have had on my fleet, and clearly I’m not alone,” said ATA Chairman Philip Byrd Sr., president of Bulldog Hiway Express. He pointed to a survey released Nov. 18 by the American Transportation Research Institute in which carriers said the rule has cut into their productivity, and drivers said it reduced their pay and had a negative effect on their quality of life.
“By now it should be clear that these rules were a mistake — everyone can see it,” Byrd said. “FMCSA should listen to the facts and roll back this ill-advised rule.”
Graves called on Congress to support a bill to stay the rule until an independent review can be completed.
