HOS Rules Hampering Drivers

Leaders of the American Trucking Associations called for a rollback of the new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Hours-of-Service rules in the wake of two reports showing the rules are having a negative impact on fleet productivity and drivers’ quality of life. The HOS rules, designed to reduce driver fatigue and improve road safety, went into effect on July 1. They limit the maximum average work week for truck drivers to 70 hours and require specific weekly and daily rest breaks.

The American Transportation Research Institute, the industry’s nonprofit research organization, studied the effect of the new rules and reported these impacts: More than 80 percent of carriers experienced productivity loss. 82. 5 percent of drivers surveyed said the rules had a negative impact on their quality of life. 66 percent of drivers said they have increased levels of fatigue. 67 percent of drivers reported decreases in pay since the rules took effect.

ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said, “From the outset, ATA was confident the hours-of-service rule changes were based on politics, not data. Well, now we’re seeing mounting evidence that rather than solving anything, these rules are creating many problems for drivers and fleets alike.”Another study by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) Foundation found results similar to the ATRI analysis.

The OOIDA reported 46 percent of drivers surveyed said they felt more fatigued after implementation of the rules, 53 percent reported no impact on fatigue, and just one percent indicated they felt less fatigued on the road. However, on the income side, the OOIDA reported more than 60 percent of drivers experienced less income after the rules.

The ATA is calling on Congress to stop the new rules until an independent review can be completed, which is proposed by the TRUE Safety Act, a bill introduced by House Reps. Richard Hanna (R-NY), Tom Rice (R-SC) and Michael Michaud (D-Maine).“The TRUE Safety Act will put the brakes on these rules until they can be thoroughly vetted,” Graves said. “We’re confident that once they are independently and objectively reviewed, FMCSA will have no choice but to undo what it has done.” -