‘Prohibition of Coercion’ Proposed Rule Clears OMB

A proposed rule that would prohibit carriers, shippers and brokers from coercing truck drivers to violate safety regulations has cleared a review by the White House Office of Management and Budget.

As a result of the April 30 OMB clearance, the proposal, which has not yet been made public, could be published soon in the Federal Register.

The rule was a congressional mandate included in the 2012 MAP-21 transportation law requiring that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration weigh whether coercion of drivers is a concern when developing a new rule.

FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro has said that coercion includes pressure “either by threat of economic damages or threat of physical harm, to violate a core safety rule, whether it’s hours of service or something else.”