Editorial: The Ongoing Saga

So the latest chapter in the seemingly never-ending saga of the government’s road to a new hours-of-service rule for the nation’s truck drivers has begun, and we can all expect at least a 2% to 3% decline in productivity as a result.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s newest “improvements” are another misguided attempt to increase highway safety while, in fact, cutting productivity with no improvement in safety.

And unless a federal appeals court agrees with us to stop these changes, or unless Congress decides to turn its rhetoric of opposition to the changes into action, we can all expect to pay more for the goods we buy.

And, of course, that’s because when trucking’s costs go up, trucking’s freight rates follow. And that means that consumers will end up eventually paying the bill for FMCSA’s folly in modifying the 34-hour restart provision of the rule in such a way as to guarantee a drop in driver productivity.

As we reported earlier, the American Transportation Research Institute has estimated that the restart changes will cost the nation’s fleets $189 million a year.

While FMCSA has stated that there will be a significant gain in driver health as a result of its changes, we don’t believe it, and agency officials can’t prove it. In fact, some of the loudest voices in opposition to the changes are drivers, who see the rules as costing them pay with no offsetting benefit.

No one is more concerned about highway safety than the companies that use the roadways to deliver our freight. But we continue to seek changes that actually will improve safety and reduce fatigue and to oppose well-intentioned but off-the-mark solutions that end up decreasing productivity and driver satisfaction.

It’s no secret that trucking suffers from a chronic shortage of qualified drivers. And misguided rules such as the newly amended HOS provisions only exacerbate the situation because they make it harder for drivers to earn a good living.

Unfortunately, the appeals court hasn’t seen fit to issue a timely ruling on our challenge to FMCSA’s changes, and Congress hasn’t yet turned its talk into action.

But we remain optimistic that relief will come, and soon. And until it does, the nation’s motor carriers will continue to go about the herculean task of making sure our shelves are stocked and our factories are humming along. And we’ll do it as efficiently and dependably as we always have.