Letter to the Editor: FMCSA Decision

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he U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., has issued a 3-0 decision that the hours-of-service rules are no good for driver health and the motoring public’s safety. Good for the judges.

I am in total agreement and feel the parties need to get back to the drawing board and devise new hours rules. Beyond being fair and acceptable for all parties — including demonstrating respect for drivers’ ability to make a living — a new HOS solution should increase highway safety and reduce accidents, injuries and fatalities.

At least three other items need to be addressed when considering new, workable HOS rules:

1) Driver’s quality of life. Promote workable and fair time off away from the truck for personal needs such as dental and doctor appointments, family time beyond just a short weekend, national holidays, etc. Does management work on July 4th?

2) Devout religious beliefs. There are many potential drivers who will not enter the industry because of their personal beliefs that they should be in a house of worship on a given day. The vast majority of the industry will not accommodate these potential drivers because of the operational demands of shippers. This flaw needs to be addressed.

3) Eleven hours driving a truck without quality rest is too long and too much to ask of a worker in any industry, no matter what the pay and benefits. A “quality job” should not be so demanding. Ever think about asking drivers what they wanted?

Dennis Anderson

I>1977 Ohio Twin-Trailer Driving Champion

eamsters Local 413

olumbus, Ohio

This letter appeared in the Aug. 2 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.