HOS rules spark need for industry cooperation
Jan 20, 2005 11:44 AM
Cooperation between shippers, carriers, and drivers has become even more important with the issuance of new hours-of-service (HOS) regulations. T
hat was a message emphasized at the Chemical Week Transportation and Distribution Conference January 13-14 in New Orleans LA.
"Shippers have to accept the carrier's challenge and acknowledge that time is money," said John A Gentle of Owens Corning and a committee chairman of the National Industrial Transportation League. "This is not the time for passivity."
He suggested shippers work toward reducing loading and unloading times and pointed out that rates may have to be increased because of carriers' increasing costs associated with the HOS regulation, driver recruitment/retention, and new federal fees for hazmat driver background checks.
Fulton Wilcox of Colts Neck Solutions said that "the need is for more collaboration," while at the same time insuring that communications and tracking remain secure.
Gentle noted that the new HOS rules have caused longer transit-to-market times, fewer round trips per day, increased trailer costs, and multiple-stop delivery complications--all elements that erode carriers' bottom lines.
A full coverage of the conference will be reported in the March edition of Modern Bulk Transporter.
