OOIDA thanks FMCSA for including trucker’s concerns

Focus on hours-of-service changes, need for flexibility

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association thanks the federal government for taking into consideration its concerns regarding hours-of-service regulations for a newly announced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. The announcement was made by Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky.

OOIDA had petitioned the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in 2018 regarding changes needed to the regulations that govern commercial truck drivers and the hours they work and drive. FMCSA did not provide specific details on the rulemaking today, but OOIDA is optimistic the NPRM will provide drivers with much needed flexibility in their daily schedules. 

“We have long supported efforts to reform and modernize hours-of-service regulations,” said Todd Spencer, President of OOIDA. “Current regulations are overly complex, provide no flexibility, and in no way reflect the physical capabilities or limitations of individual drivers,” said Spencer. 

OOIDA members, which are small-business and professional truckers, have said for years that current regulations force them to be on the road when they are tired, during busy travel times and in adverse weather or road conditions.

Today’s announcement from the Secretary also included anticipated plans for addressing other industry issues such as the shortage of truck parking, improved infrastructure, a crash preventability program and military truck drivers.

“We thank the Secretary and the agency for hearing the concerns of our members,” said Spencer. “We look forward to working with them on finalizing solutions that meet the realities of freight movement and truly improve highway safety

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