Letter to the Editor: Hours of Service

would like to see the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration eliminate the 14-hour maximum for daily on-duty time and maintain the 11-hour driving maximum and the 34-hour restart provision.

I feel the 14-hour rule in the driver hours-of-service regulations forces the driver to stay behind the wheel once his day begins. He is unable to take a break if he has miles to cover, for fear of any unforeseen delays such as inclement weather, accidents, poor directions or road construction. Besides, the regulators aren’t addressing the real problem.

The shippers and receivers are the ones they should look at. They detain the driver for hours of loading and unloading, making it so that he is unable to rest. At other times the driver is subject to breaking down the receiver’s freight and fulfilling their customer orders.

Elaine McKenzie

I>Safety Director

oint to Point Express

maha, Neb.

This letter appeared in the Dec. 20 & 27 double issue of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.