Important House Reps Ask For New Evaluation Of HOS Rules

Two leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee have requested that the Government Accountability Office evaluate the studies used to support the 34-hour restart provision in the federal hours-of-service rule.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) and Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis.), who is chairman of the panel’s highways and transit subcommittee, have formally requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) evaluate the studies used to support the 34-hour restart provision in the  Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)  hours-of-service (HOS) rule.

“Because it is important that federal regulations be based on full and fair scientific research, proper data and analyses, and operational testing, we request the GAO evaluate these studies,” said the April 2 letter from committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) and Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis.).

The restart provision, which took effect with the new HOS rule July 1, requires drivers to rest for 34 consecutive hours that must include two rest periods between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

In adopting the new restart provision, FMCSA said studies showed that cumulative fatigue was damaging to drivers and that to stem such fatigue, the drivers need two consecutive rest periods. Before the rule took effect, drivers were allowed to restart their work week in such a way that they could be on the job six days a week.

The 34-hour restart has been criticized by carriers as causing productivity losses, and some drivers have complained that it cuts into their earnings.

American Trucking Associations said it backed the leaders’ call for GAO to look at the rule.

“We appreciate chairmen Shuster and Petri’s leadership on this important truck safety and operational issue,” ATA Executive Vice President Dave Osiecki said in a statement. ATA believes any new requirements affecting millions of professional drivers must be based on a sound research foundation, good facts and relevant data analysesATA looks forward to GAO’s evaluation of the studies at issue.”

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