Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/649008
18 | Overdrive | March 2016 LOGBOOK A bill that cleared the U.S. House Transportation Committee last month seeks to restrict states' ability to regulate truckers' on-duty time, such as required rest breaks, and could have an impact on driver pay reform eff orts at state levels. The bill was sent to the full House for a vote. The provision, part of the Aviation, Innovation, Reform and Reauthorization Act, is identical to an amendment that U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) attempted to attach to drafts of the FAST Act highway bill that cleared Congress in December. Denham's eff orts failed. The language in the Federal Aviation Administration's AIRR bill, like the Denham amend- ment, would prohibit states from requiring truckers to comply with state-enacted hours regulations, such as California's meal and rest breaks. It also would exempt car- riers from state-enforced penalties for not allowing drivers to take state-required breaks. States also would be restricted from requiring carriers to pay truck driver employees "separate or additional compensation." The reinforcement of federal authority over truckers' hours of service regulations and pay comes in response to a 2014 federal court ruling that carriers were not exempt from a California law mandating paid meal and rest breaks for workers in the state. The argument in that case, which was brought by California truck operators, was whether the 1994 Federal Aviation Administra- tion Authorization Act pre-empted California state law. FAAAA bars states from enacting laws that interfere with "prices, routes or services" of motor carriers. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, however, decided Cali- fornia's law should be enforced de- spite the FAAAA language. Several lawmakers, including Denham and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), said the ruling created confusion for fl eets and drivers. The Owner-Operator Indepen- dent Drivers Association and the Teamsters have rallied against the AIRR provision. OOIDA took issue with the potential impact on driver pay, calling it "an ambitious overreach that would limit the states' ability to allow for any other driver compensation except mileage pay." OOIDA also said the language would "unravel mandated fair pay for drivers and would empower large carriers to further reduce driver wages." The American Trucking Associations in litigation over the years has backed FAAAA's federal pre-emption clause. The Senate still has not pro- duced an FAA bill, and it may choose not to include the language from the House AIRR bill. The Senate's version of the highway bill did not include any such pre-emption measures. – James Jaillet Bill would restrict state authority over hours, pay The language in FAA's AIRR bill would prohibit states from requiring truckers to comply with certain state-enacted labor regulations. Why do I have to top-off oil in my engine? Most of you probably check your oil level each day or when you fill your fuel tank. Low oil level can lead to faster degradation (oxidation) of the oil, faster consumption of the oil additives and potentially shorter engine life. When discussing the issue of oil consumption, we must keep in mind that there are only two ways oil is consumed in a diesel engine: oil is either burned in the combustion chamber or it leaks through seals or gaskets. There are also a number of factors or conditions that can affect the amount of oil an engine consumes. Some of the factors that affect oil consumption include engine idle time, driving conditions, load, terrain, engine operating temperature, oil volatility, fuel dilution, and miles on the engine. Another important point to remember is that no two engines are alike. You may have noticed that engine oil consumption has been reduced with late model trucks. New oils help control piston deposits which results in better oil consumption control. Newer piston and piston ring designs, along with changes in engine operating conditions, are also factors. Oil formulation can help provide the best oil consumption control. Premium motor oils are formulated to exceed the most current requirements of all North American truck engine manufacturers, as well as those of the American Petroleum Institute. Shell Rotella ® engine oils are formulated with a careful balance of detergent, dispersant, anti-oxidant and anti-wear chemistry designed to maximize engine protection. Adding a gallon of oil every few thousand miles was once common. We now see late model engines that will go an entire drain interval without requiring that any additional oil be added. However, we still recommend you check your oil daily and top-off as required. To further help monitor conditions in your engine, we recommend having an oil analysis program. It is one of the most effective ways to monitor the condition of your engine. A regular oil analysis program helps you build a historic database and watch for trends in a variety of areas. Ideally, you want to analyze a sample of used engine oil after every oil change. By Dan Arcy Shell Lubricants The term "Shell Lubricants" refers to the various Shell Group companies engaged in the lubricants business. This monthly column is brought to you by Shell Lubricants. Got a question? Visit ROTELLA.com, call 1-800-BEST-OIL or write to The ANSWER COLuMN, 1001 Fannin, Ste. 500, Houston, TX 77002.