Bill would grant truck drivers a break

By James A. Cooke -- Logistics Management, 3/1/2005

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Several industry groups are rallying behind proposed legislation that would let truck drivers once again take their rest periods "off the clock." Last month, Rep. John Boozman (R-Ark.) sponsored a bill that would allowing truck drivers to count up to two hours a day for meals or a rest break as off-duty time.

Under the current hours-of-service (HOS) rules issued last year by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), truck drivers are always on the clock during the maximum 14 hours per day they are allowed to work. Under the previous rule, drivers did not count break times toward their working hours.

Critics say the new rules actually penalize drivers because meal times now count as part of their daily quota of driving time. That encourages drivers to skip meals and rest breaks in order to get more time on the road, they contend.

Boozman believes that his proposal would improve the overall safety and health of truck drivers. "While FMCSA may have thought that giving the drivers more consecutive rest time would be beneficial, the reality is that the rule has actually forced them to push harder to complete their workload," he said in a statement. "This makes for an unnecessary strain on truckers and creates more incidents of driver fatigue."

Last year, Boozman introduced similar legislation as an amendment to the Highway Bill that failed to secure passage in Congress. This year's proposal is backed by the Corporate Transportation Coalition, which includes such trade groups as the American Bakers Association, the Grocery Manufacturers of America, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the International Food Distributors Association.

"The 14-consecutive-hour duty requirement has caused increased expenses regarding deliveries for my members," says Jon Eisen, director of government relations for the International Food Distributors Association. "This legislation would provide both an economic and a safety benefit."