ATA, Shipping Groups Push for New Hearing to Spotlight Problems With HOS Proposal

By Rip Watson, Senior Reporter

This story appears in the Jan. 31 print edition of Transport Topics.

More than 30 carrier and shipper organizations, including American Trucking Associations, have banded together to seek a House Committee hearing to spotlight problems with the new federal hours-of-service proposal.

ATA Senior Vice President Mary Phillips told Transport Topics on Jan. 26 that she was “encouraged” that either the Transportation and Infrastructure or the Small Business Committees will have a hearing in the spring.

The groups had sought a hearing before the Feb. 28 deadline for public comment on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s revised hours-of-service plan that was announced last month.

“Even a hearing after the comment period closes would keep this issue front and center and continue to bring attention to hours of service,” Phillips said. 

“If implemented, the regulations would have a substantial, negative impact on productivity and the economy,” said the Jan. 19 letter to T&I Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.). “FMCSA’s proposal ignores the simple fact that the trucking industry’s safety has improved at an unprecedented rate while operating under the current hours-of-service regulations.”

Phillips said Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), who chairs the Small Business Committee, has expressed interest in holding a hearing on hours of service.

Phillips said she was advised that it was unlikely that either committee would have time to address the issue next month for two reasons: the committees had organizational meetings just last week and the House won’t be in session for two weeks in February.

The trucking trade group has focused its criticism on proposed changes to driver rest periods, the insertion of a mandatory rest break that cuts on-duty time and the possible reduction of allowable driving hours from 11 to 10.

Separately, FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro said last week the agency plans a “listening session” on Feb. 17 for interested parties to comment.

The letter was signed by shipper groups such as the National Retail Federation, National Industrial Transportation League and the Retail Industry Leaders Association. Groups that represent construction contractors, and companies in agriculture, chemical, food, petroleum and natural gas also signed it.

On the carrier side, the National Private Truck Council, Truck Renting and Leasing Association, National Tank Truck Carriers and the American Moving & Storage Association supported the drive for a hearing.

UPS Inc., FedEx Corp., YRC Worldwide and Con-way Inc. also sought a hearing.

The move was the latest step in ATA’s broad initiative to block the revisions from taking effect. ATA President Bill Graves labeled the changes “just plain dumb” in a letter to President Obama earlier this month.

“A hearing . . . would help bring attention to the real impacts of FMCSA’s proposed regulations and give members of the committee the opportunity to question both the agency and the business community,” the groups’ letter said.

Mica’s office didn’t respond to requests for comment.

The letter writers said that the changes were not needed because truck-involved fatality and injury crashes fell to historic lows over the past seven years even as truck mileage rose by nearly 10 billion miles.

In addition, they said reducing drivers’ hours will put more trucks on the road, adding to costs and congestion. They also said FMCSA’s latest plan reduced the cost of the changes and inflated the benefits.

Senior Reporter Sean McNally contributed to this report.