New Survey Shows Public Opposition to Longer Truck Driver Hours

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety and Truck Safety Coalition have released the results of a conducted by Lake Research Partners demonstrating strong public opposition, 80%, to Congress raising the number of hours a semi-truck driver is allowed to work in a week.

The poll was commissioned to gauge public views on this issue after a Senate committee approved legislation that would change current federal law to increase truck drivers’ work week from 70 to 82 hours and take away the two-day weekend.

Survey results available: www.saferoads.org and www.trucksafety.org.

When Congress returns to the Capitol, debate will resume on annual spending bills for federal agencies including the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development FY 2015 Appropriations bill.

The Senate version, S. 2438, includes a rider, sponsored by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), which will substantially increase truck driver hours of service, if enacted.

An amendment to strike the increase, sponsored by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and co-sponsored by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and others, is pending in the Senate.

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