When it comes to their HOS rules – and specifically the 34-hour reset rule – the FMCSA can’t seem to catch a break. The widely criticized rule has been catching flak from all corners of the industry and even from congress, but through it all, the FMCSA has pointed to two sleep studies that they based their rulemaking on. Now, those two studies have become the target.
Rep. Bill Shuster, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has criticized the rule in the past. Now, since two sleep studies are the only legs the FMCSA have to stand on, Shuster is looking to take the rule out at the knees. Along with Rep. Tom Petri, Chairman of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee, Shuster has called for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to do an evaluation of the two studies.
“Concerns have been raised that these regulatory changes may have been enacted without proper data or analysis,” said Shuster. “And if the Administration is going to change the rules on truck drivers, we need to know that the changes were thoroughly vetted and will improve safety.”
But despite the heavy fire, the FMCSA is standing firm. In a statement issued to the online publication The Trucker, FMCSA spokesperson Marissa Padilla said that the FMCSA remains confident in the rule they created using “the latest sleep science, data-driven analysis and robust input from stakeholders.”
Next Story: Chameleon Carrier Owner Could Face 25 Years In Prison
Source: thetrucker
Ray says
I hope they do away with the two 0100 – 0500 periods as well as the no more than one reset per week rules. Both are senseless.
EPASUX says
When they say “Stakeholders” I wonder who they are talking about?!
Tim says
The phrase “robust input from stakeholders” probably refers to those online polls they provide to make it look like they’re listening.
WING says
Perhaps ELD and EOBR salesmen.
Insurance companies…MADD,PATT, Public Citizen…ATA,etc… the cards are stacked in favor of those who squeak the most…..studies or not….
FMCSA should identify the stakeholders…cowardly not to and obvious they are loading the deck on HOS.
Ed says
They didn’t take into consideration drivers who drive night shifts when putting this into effect. Agree, both are senseless.
Madcracka says
Hmm here is a thought. 14 hour straight time, including on duty driving and not.
10 hours off, 34 hour restart.
Dave says
Exactly!
Ray says
Nice and simple.
Jerry Cook says
Exactly! Unfortunately, not simple enough for the MOST SIMPLE MINDED PEOPLE ON EARTH–GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS!
Joe Skeptical says
+1
Jamard says
Why don’t they just get rid of EVERY rule Anne Ferro came up with during her tenure as the head dumb ass at the FMCSA!!!
Chris says
How about getting rid of the 14 hour rule altogether. How many drivers have had to drive sleepy because taking a 60 minute nap would destroy their entire day. Or have had to drive in or out of a major city during rush hour because the clock was ticking…
I don’t care one way or the other about the 34 hour rule, but the 14 is just a bad rule.
Ray says
I ‘d rather see the 70 hour clock go. The 10 hour break is enough time to ensure the driver is rested.
Ed says
Bring back splits for us short circadian rhythm peeps!
Ray says
You mean split sleeper berth? Don’t we still have them?
J Ossowski says
We can split the sleeper into one 2 hour minimum and one 8 hour minimum break. I think what Ed means is the old split where we took at least 2 hours on one break and the rest of the break could just be the remainder of the 10. Like 5/5 or 6/4 or 3/7 hours splits that still total 10 hours. I am in favor of doing that.
Ray says
Thanks J.O.
Joel says
I have been saying that very thing for years, Chris. Do away with the 14 hour rule and many issues would go away.
Better yet, keep the 34 hour reset prior to the last change and revert the rest back to the HOS regs that worked for decades.
Taylor says
I too, am vrry curious who the “stakeholders” are…
cheyenne says
Idiots!’ Glad im about done. Getti.g dangerous put here with ppl telling me when to.sleep vs letting me sleep when im tired!!
wisetracka says
Thanks to the bureaucrats, now I know when I am tired and when I am good to go. Before all these rules, I did not know what to do. I was lost. It’s a good thing we have a group of Mothers who are Against Drunk Driving as opposed to the vast majority who like drunk drivers. MADD as the name itself suggests, is highly qualified to impose themselves on the professional driver. After all we ( the drivers ) are all irresponsible, cross eyed drunks and druggies, just waiting to cause mayhem and distraction on the roads and highways. I love MADD. I also love all the amateur, armchair experts – fourwheeler drivers out there ( most of the public, politicians and rule makers and DOT, Police included ). They are especially qualified to tell me when and how I should be driving. Without them, I would be dazed and confused. I love listening to their “horror” stories of sharing the roads with us truckers. Everyone has one. I have thousands, but who is asking? After all, I am just a dumb monkey turning a wheel.
Joey says
If these people did this job for a living we wouldn’t have stupid laws like this. They rely on sleep studies and data analysis and not understand what it takes to make a living out here. I am against the 34 hour rule however it make sense. I think it needs to be revised. As a night driver I have to take 3 days off from work in order to take a 34 hour. It should state two periods between 1-5 am or pm. What it boils down to is that they want to limit the amount of trucks on the road between 1-5 am. That’s when they believe most accidents involving trucks occur. And I know that FMCSA reads these comments so message to FMCSA most truck accidents are 95 percent the car would be at fault had it been two cars. I get cut off by cars at least 5 times a day even when I am driving at the posted speed limit. Officers need to step up speed enforcement and crack down on cell phone usage by all drivers.
Matthew says
As a night driver the current 34 hour reset rule leaves me getting less sleep and driving tired by taking a 34. Yeah I could take a 48 hour reset but why should I be penilized for wanting to drive when the roads are at their safest? When no one is on them. 48 hour resets cost me money and time but for now it’s all I can do I guess.
shakenbake says
Of course fmcaa is going to stand firm. Once we the people as drivers, and carriers get a slight chance to make them show they are required (by the millions of u.s. Voting people) to answer for there outlandish and unacceptable tactics, illegal and Un American ways allowing govt dictatorship to be pushed thru dot, csa, just one weak link of there foundations of all these crazy and incompatible ways truckers, carriers , industry in general. All are being destroyed slowly within our own government vindictive ways……..