The 一本道app is joining the American Trucking Associations in asking Congress members to provide legislative clarification in December鈥檚 appropriation bills to correct the flawed language that has put the 34-hour restart in jeopardy.
Legislators have been asked to include a solution in FY 2017 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (T-Hud) appropriations bills.
Congress passed a short-term spending bill on Sept. 29 to keep the government funded through Dec. 9, but that bill did not include a provision for hours of service rules for truck drivers using the 34-hour restart, as was previously suspected.
Both chambers are in recess until after the Nov. 8 election. In years past, hours of service restart issues were also discussed in December 2014- and 2015-enacted appropriations legislation.
Previous legislation required FMCSA to study the effects and very the restart rules are safer. If so, those rules will go back into effect, requiring two 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. rest periods once a week.
In a letter to Department of Transportation鈥檚 Secretary Anthony Foxx, 51 members of Congress, including Rep. Steve Womack (R- Ark.), Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), requested the FMCSA announce the date the efficacy study will be completed.
