Sandberg: FMCSA Seeks to Write HOS Rules Into Law

img src="/sites/default/files/images/articles/fmcsalogo.gif" width=100 align=right>WASHINGTON - The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will seek to have its current hours of serve rules written into law and avoid future court disputes over driver-health issues by adding amendments to the new highway bill Congress will consider this year.

FMCSA Administrator Annette Sandberg Tuesday told the executive committee of American Trucking Associations that the agency had sent its proposals "on an informal basis" to Capitol Hill.

She said the plan was "to make permanent the current HOS rules," which a federal appeals court overturned last year. Congress later restored the rule, pending further actions by FMCSA.

Sandberg Tuesday said the agency intended to clarify the definition of driver health, in an attempt to prevent the court from interfering with its rulemaking.