A group of 51 lawmakers led by Reps. Richard Hanna (R-NY), Trey Radel (R-FL), Tom Rice (R-SC) and Todd Rokita (R-IN) has sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx seeking a field study and subsequent report on the most recent revisions to the hours-of-service (HOS) rule.

 

As part of the current transportation law (MAP-21), FMCSA was required to conduct a statistically valid field study and issue a report on the new HOS rule to Congress by March 31, 2013. Despite not completing a field study and issuing a report to Congress, FMCSA still finalized and enacted the HOS provisions on July 1, 2013.

 

In the letter to Secretary Foxx, lawmakers raised their concerns over new requirements limiting the 34-hour restart requirement to once per week, which they note decreases driver flexibility and adds up to $376 million in annual expenses for the trucking industry. The congressmen have asked FMCSA to respond to their letter by September 12, and indicate a date on which the study and report required under MAP-21 will be completed and submitted to Congress.

 

NASSTRAC is continuing to work with Congress on this issue, and believes sound data and research is needed to support new and expensive regulatory requirements.

 

Click here to view the letter to Secretary Foxx.