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Monday, September 16, 2024

Shippers, Carriers Team Up to Defend HOS Rules

A large shipping association has lined up with the American Trucking Associations’ against special interest groups over the battle to change commercial driversโ€™ hours of work.

NASSTRAC has thrown its hat into the court by challenging a lawsuit seeking shorter daily hours for truckers.

The group intervened in a lawsuit filed in federal court by special interest group Public Citizen, which wants to limit allowable hours to 10 hours and eliminate the 34-hour restart provision.

Last year, the FMCSA issued its revised HOS rule, keeping the current 11-hour driving limit intact, but making significant changes to the 34-hour restart provision and rules affecting mandatory rest time.

The U.S. Court of Appeals consolidated the Public Citizen lawsuit and a challenge to the rule the American Trucking Association filed in February.

NASSTRAC supports ATA’s challenge to the 34-hour restart changes, also pointing out that truck-involved fatalities have decreased under the current rules and that the changes won’t reduce driver fatigue but will damage productivity.