Overdrive

May 2016

Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info

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Logbook 14 | Overdrive | May 2016 The U.S. Senate Appro- priations Committee last month passed 30-0 a bill that corrects a legislative mess-up from December that put the 34-hour restart in jeopardy. The 2017 U.S. Depart- ment of Transportation funding bill makes clear that the restart remains available for use by truck operators should a pending study by DOT find that pre-July 2013 restart rules are more effective for truckers' fatigue levels than those that took effect July 1, 2013. Should that be the case, the bill also would kick in a few changes to hours of service limits. Specifically, it would set a 73-hour cap on the amount of time truck- ers can spend on duty in any consecutive seven-day period, including days prior to beginning a restart. If the DOT study finds that the July 1, 2013-enacted restart regulations are the safer regulations, they would go back into effect. In that case, truckers could use a 34-hour restart to reset their weekly clock, but the restart would be required to contain two 1-5 a.m. periods and be limited to use once per week. The Senate committee's bill, however, still must be passed by the full chamber. The hours of service provi- sions also must be taken up by the U.S. House. The changes to hours regulations were prompted by the need for congressio- nal action to fix a technical problem enacted by last year's omnibus funding act. The provisions in that law pertaining to the 34-hour restart could kill the restart entirely, per some interpre- tations. The Senate's action with the appropriations bill shows Congress may intend to do more than clarify its December mistake. Lawmakers and lobbyists appear to be using the need for congressional action as a means to circumvent the Federal Motor Carri- er Safety Administration and the formal executive rulemaking process to enact hours changes. Other trucking-related initiatives in the transporta- tion funding bill include a deadline for DOT to finish work on a rule to mandate the use of speed limiters on heavy trucks and assigning more federal funds to the deployment of autonomous vehicles. – James Jaillet Bill would revamp hours regs The bill would set a 73-hour cap on the amount of time truckers can spend on duty in any consecutive seven-day period after beginning a 34-hour restart. ROADCHECK, set for June 7-9, will emphasize tire safe- ty this year, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance announced. Inspectors primarily will conduct full 37- step Level I inspections. A FINAL RULE to implement a commercial driver's license drug and alcohol clearing- house was projected to be sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget May 6 and published Aug. 16. The rule will establish a data- base of CDL holders who have failed or refused a drug test. It also would require carriers to query the database when hiring drivers. DAIMLER TRUCKS recalled nearly 9,000 model-year 2015-16 Freightliner Cascadia trucks manufactured from March 24, 2014, through Nov. 9, 2015, over concerns that a possible overheating connec- tion on trucks outfitted with a Bergstrom Parksmart HVAC auxiliary unit could catch fire. TRUCK SMART Parking Ser- vices announced a partner- ship with Omaha-based eX2 Technology to deploy a truck parking information network. COUNTRY SINGERS Clare Dunn and Sammy Kershaw will headline the 2016 Iowa 80 Truckstop Walcott Truckers Jamboree in July. Dani Lynn Howe & Band will open for Dunn on July 14, and local band North of 40 will open for Kershaw. The Jamboree also will feature a truck beauty contest, an antique truck dis- play, more than 175 exhibits, carnival games, fireworks displays and more. MEDICAL EXAMINERS performing physical exams on truck drivers now are required to use the revised versions of the Medical Exam- ination Report Form and the Medical Examiner's Certificate Form.

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