ATA Defends Industry Action In Hours Debate

American Trucking Associations rebuked the Department of Transportation Thursday for portraying trucking interests as being engaged in "a raw use of political power … to stop progress" in the development of hours-of-service rules.

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David S. Addington, an ATA senior vice president and general counsel, sharply disagreed with the comments from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which were part of a widely circulated press release issued Wednesday.

Addington said ATA and the trucking industry were exercising their rights under the 1st Amendment to comment on the rulemaking procedure. ATA and various motor carriers have contributed to the development of the rulemaking process, and were in favor of the upcoming roundtable discussions where the rules would be discussed again.

"Contrary to the statements and implications of the FMCSA/NHTSA press release, the trucking industry has worked long and hard to secure hours-of-service reform based on sound science, public safety and the needs of the American economy," said Addington in part of a Thursday four-page response he sent to Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater.

He asked that Slater have the Inspector General's Office review whether the actions of FMCSA and NHTSA personnel might have violated the laws prohibiting use of appropriations for publicity or propaganda purposes to influence legislation.

ongress, when it returns in September, will consider the Transportation Appropriations bill and decide whether the hours-of-service rules will be a part of it.