Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/26876
SPECIAL REPORT: HOURS OF SERVICE Politicians Support Current Hours Rule hours-of-service proposal and retain the current safety rules. A “The rules currently in place are working well and do not need to be changed,” 122 representatives wrote to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Since the current rules were implemented seven years ago, the trucking in- dustry’s safety performance has improved at an unprec- edented rate.” The letter notes that since the rules went into effect in 2004, the number of fatal and injury crashes involv- ing large trucks has fallen to historic lows, even as trucks have driven almost 10 billion more miles. “If the proposed changes are put in place, companies will be forced to increase the number of trucks on the road necessary for delivering the same amount of freight; adding to final product costs and increasing congestion on our nation’s highways,” a group of 23 senators wrote in their letter to LaHood. bipartisan group of Congressmen and senators has called on the Obama administration to abandon its STAFF REPORTS Lawmakers added that the proposed rules are much more opaque and complex than the current standards and “such complexity will only serve to hamper both in- dustry compliance and motor carrier enforcement.” Previously, the ATA contended the Federal Motor Car- rier Safety Administration misapplied scientific studies’ findings to support its proposed changes to the current HOS rules. ATA said FMCSA used the work of Dr. Francesco Cap- puccio, a physician, professor and researcher at Warwick Medical School in the United Kingdom who reviewed 16 published studies on the effect of sleep duration on mor- tality and co-authored a 2007 study used by the agency to support its proposal. FMCSA used this study to conclude that short projected increases in sleep could generate roughly $690 million in annual health benefits for drivers. According to ATA, Cappuccio said FMCSA misused his sleep research and concluded that the agency can- not use it to quantify benefits to justify its regulatory changes. vice rules, Werner Enterprises driver Alan Parker said he was less produc- tive, more stressed and wasted time. Parker made his comments at an HOS listening session Feb. 17 held by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Ad- ministration. Many drivers and in- dustry trade groups have criticized the proposal as too complex and 14 TRUCKERS NEWS APRIL 2011 Carrier Tests Proposed Hours Rule D uring a four-week test of pro- posed changes in hours of ser- MAX KVIDERA unnecessary. Parker, a 24-year driving veteran, was asked by Werner to conduct the experiment, record differences in his work and comment on the changes. “In my experience having 10 hours a day to drive caused me to stop sooner and start my day soon- er,” said Parker about the proposal to reduce daily driving to 10 hours from 11. He said he had to start as early as 2:30 a.m. compared with 5 a.m., when he would normally start. During a route that runs from Ne- braska to Utah, Parker said he drove 1,837 miles over 30.75 hours of drive time. Under the 10-hour provision, it took him three full days and part of a fourth to complete the run. Under 11 hours, it takes him less than three days to do the same route, “with less stress and less pressure,” he said. “It gives me that little bit of leeway I might need.” On the proposal to extend the work window from 14 hours to 16 continued on page 17