Federal regulatory “guidance” issued in June restricting the number of oil and gas drivers allowed to extend their workdays beyond the 14-hour limit could have significant adverse economic and safety implications for the trucking industry, several truckers said in comments filed earlier this month.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said that the new provision allows drivers who are waiting at oil or gas well sites to count that time as off-duty, but that the exemption applies only for trucks that are “specially constructed for use at oil and gas sites” and whose operators require “extensive” training for the use of the equipment.
But nearly all of the more than 25 public commenters, including American Trucking Associations, agreed that the guidance should be withdrawn and FMCSA should seek greater input from the industry.
“The operational changes required to comply with the new guidance will require more trucks, more drivers, and could very easily reach into the millions of dollars,” ATA wrote. “At the same time, ATA is not aware that FMCSA has initiated any research as to the safety effects of this change.”
ATA said the guidance changes have the potential to “render some sites economically unfeasible for exploration, hobbling America’s efforts towards energy independence.”
“Ultimately, the unknowns are simply too great,” ATA wrote. “FMCSA needs to pursue further research in this matter before changing the playing field.”
FMCSA said the guidance did not constitute a rule and was done only to clarify current regulations in response to questions raised by carriers.
“A significant increase in oil and gas drilling operations in many states has resulted in a major increase in [truck] traffic to move the oilfield equipment, and to transport large quantities of supplies, such as water and sand, to the sites,” FMCSA’s guidance stated.
The New York Times reported in May that truckers in oilfield operations had higher fatality rates due to longer service hours allowed under federal exemptions.
