Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/221538
Voices Talk of the road: Bill would delay restart restrictions Following the introduction of H.R. 3413, or the TRUE Safety Act, M. Rick Richards asked the million-dollar question on Overdrive's Facebook page: "Are they just pandering to us, and they know it won't get passed?" The bill would put a moratorium on restart changes until the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration completes a study, mandated by the highway bill, on economic impacts of the changes. Richards may well have a point. The stand-alone bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.) isn't the first time he and others have attempted such a moratorium. A July effort to defund enforcement of new rule provisions failed before it got underway. This one, however, has been referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee by Hanna, with two cosponsors from both parties. For supporters, the time is now to make it known to members of Con- gress. That's just what Jason Haggard was doing as news emerged. "I literally just got off the phone with the offices of Hanna and also Michele Bachmann from here in Minnesota," he wrote on Facebook. Shortly following the July 1 effective date of the new hours provisions, Haggard said he presented Bachmann's office with a petition, signed by hundreds of drivers, that asks "for the same thing that this bill is asking for. … They wouldn't respond to it." Now, at least, he added, "Hanna's staff knows that Bachmann has it in her possession, so hopefully they will acquire a copy from her to use in their fight." Brad Lambert: On average this year, I have seen a $750-$1,000 decrease in weekly income to the truck. … I am losing a load per week. Commenting as safetygirl: Where drivers really suffer is the two 1-5 a.m. [periods in the restart and the limitation of] one restart per week. Every customer wants their delivery before workers show up. We had to hire a couple more drivers per terminal to make up for the early-morning loads that drivers could not take Monday morning. Clinton Seals: The old rules worked just fine for us, and I feel they would work now but with some modifications with some simpler rules to follow, so they give discretionary powers back to the truckers. Call 530-40-VOICE (530-408-6423) to comment on the hours changes or other top issues. Leave your name, location and any opinions you'd like to contribute to Overdrive's podcast series. You can find the series, including recent hours of service discussions ("If it ain't broke" and "Drivers need more professional discretion") at OverdriveOnline. com/podcasts. To view a video interview with independent Tom Quinton about the hours changes, search Quinton's name on the site. Has the new hours of service rule caused your revenue to decline? Too early to say 11% No 14% Revenue is up since July 1 3% Revenue is flat since July 1 11% }14% OverdriveOnline.com poll Yes 75% Though most owner-operators took a revenue hit from the hours rule, there were exceptions. "I am making a few more bucks now because several of the larger, cheaper motor carriers are not able to move their customers' freight 24/7," reported a commenter on OverdriveOnline.com. "I am picking up customers who normally would go for that cheaper rate." Make your voice heard • Capitol switchboard number: (202) 224-3121. • Write your representative or senator via their local office or the U.S. Capitol, or via online contact forms available on their central websites. Find a directory of addresses for the current Congress at writerep.house.gov and senate.gov/general/contact_ information/senators_cfm.cfm. 2 | Overdrive | December 2013 Voices_1213.indd 2 11/26/13 9:05 PM