Cliff Harvison, president of National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC), said February 19 he approves a move by the Bush Administration to ask for hours-of-service (HOS) legislation to convert present rules into statutory law.
"This is a very welcome move by the Bush Administration, Harvison said. "It's obvious that today's hours-of-service regulations have been well received by the driver corps."
Currently, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is reconsidering its 2003 regulations after the HOS rules were voided by a federal court in July of 2004.
"Positive congressional action would remove the uncertainty and confusion that was created by a very questionable decision rendered last year by the court of appeals," Harvison pointed out.
The 2003 regulations remain in effect until September 30, 2005. The court directed FMCSA to more specifically consider the rule impact on driver health, the allowable driving and sleeper birth times, and the 34-hour restart time. FMCSA also was ordered to revisit the costs for implementing electronic on-board recording devices.
The White House proposal also would limit FMCSA jurisdiction over driver health to conditions that would cause death or serious injury. The Bush administration is expected to complete the HOS proposal by May of this year. If Congress endorses it, FMCSA will stop work on its current court-ordered HOS proposal to reconsider the congressional regulations, according to press reports.