Members of the trucking industry will have their first opportunity to make an in-person case for preserving the current hours-of-service rules on Feb. 17 when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration conducts a listening session in Arlington, Va.

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.

A coalition including American Trucking Associations, other groups and several large trucking companies has asked a key congressional panel for a hearing on a proposed new federal hours-of-service rule, saying the changes would have a “negative impact” on the U.S. economy.

Hours-of-service regulations have never been a “one size fits all” solution to the number of hours a driver is permitted to operate. Changes to the HOS regulations will always affect carrier operations differently — some slightly, some dramatically.    

American Trucking Associations began its pushback against the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s proposed hours-of-service rule last week by questioning the agency’s analysis and asking Congress to lobby on the industry’s behalf. 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s proposed new hours-of-service rule would cut driving hours, a move that trucking industry leaders said was politically motivated, adding cost and complexity while jeopardizing safety advances made in recent years.

The trucking industry these days can be likened to the proverbial watchful child lurking at the top of the staircase, glancing to see if Santa already has deposited the presents under the tree.