Tankers See Steep Cost in Hours Changes

CHICAGO — Proposed changes to the hours-of-service rules for truck drivers would come at a steep cost for tanker carriers, according to speakers at the National Tank Truck Carriers Association’s annual conference.

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Participants were told the revised regulations would cause a 20% reduction in tank truck carrier productivity, costing carriers $1.2 billion in additional equipment and $554 million for hiring additional drivers.

The proposed rule, which the Department of Transportation took the wraps off on April 25, would replace many truck drivers’ current 15-hour shifts, including a maximum 10 hours driving time, with 12-hour workdays. It also would make no distinction between on-duty and driving times.

DOT also wants to include waiting as well as loading and unloading times in a driver’s shift. The current regulations allow drivers to go off the clock while waiting at loading docks.

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