TruckingInfo FLEET MANAGEMENT House Prepares Short-Term Appropriations Bill Without 34-Hour Restart Provision September 11, 2014 Font Size AAA The House is working on a temporary appropriations measure that does not include a suspension of the 34-hour restart provision of the hours of service rule. The Continuing Resolution is a relatively “clean” bill that leaves out such initiatives as American Trucking Associations’ attempt to suspend the restart. Earlier this summer ATA won consideration of the suspension in the Senate’s version of the fiscal year 2015 appropriations bill. The Senate did not finish debate on the provision, however, due to partisan differences over spending policy. Dave Osiecki, executive vice president and chief of national advocacy for ATA, said the association will continue to try and attach the suspension to the appropriations process. “Our short-term strategy continues to be appropriations-based,” Osiecki said in response to an email query. “While the (Continuing Resolution) may not provide an opportunity, it is only a short-term measure.” The resolution would fund federal programs at current levels until December 15. Congress often uses these types of bills to maintain funding past the end of the October 1 fiscal year. Failure to pass the resolution would lead to a government shutdown. The resolution probably will go to the floor next week after legislators decide how they want to handle funding issues related to President Obama’s plan to suppress the terrorist group ISIS operating in Iraq and Syria. The annual appropriations process will resume after the November mid-term election, at which point the restart issue could be in play again. At issue is the provision in the 2013 hours-of-service rule that requires drivers to take two periods off between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. during their 34-hour restart, and limits use of the restart to once a week. Some members of ATA and shipping interests contend that the provision reduces productivity without improving safety. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, supported by some carriers, the Teamsters union and safety advocates, stands by the provision. So far, the Senate has held some debate on a bill by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, that would suspend the restart for a year while the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration studies its impact. And the House has considered a different approach that criticizes but does not suspend the restart. Under this approach, FMCSA would report its evidence for the once-a-week restriction on the restart, including an assessment of the effect of the restriction on safety. If the restart suspension is not included in the appropriations bill that Congress must eventually pass, ATA will have the option of finding another home for it. Osiecki declined to say if ATA would follow that path. An obvious choice for such a tactic would be the bill to reauthorize the federal transportation program, which will include a title covering truck safety regulations. That bill is due next May, when the current temporary highway program expires, although it is not clear that Congress will be prepared to make a decision on the funding portion of the bill by that time. Meanwhile, the 34-hour restart provision remains in effect. Sign Up For E-Newsletter Sign up to receive targeted news and information for the entire fleet industry. Sign Up Sign Up Comments steve @ 9/12/2014 4:13:11 AM I think the states that r hard on trucks should ban all trucks from thier state see how that works for them .and the tax payers of the states be a bunch of hungry nacked people bob @ 9/12/2014 4:52:52 AM Regulations will increase as an ever growing government with thousands of unneeded trough feeders seek to justify their job. Lobbyists are also a huge problem. These people are pimps pure and simple. As long as Congress is allowed to do insider trading they will pass laws that require purchase of a product they own shares of ie: Nancy Pelosi and E-logs. We are governed by what is essentially a mob of self serving would be gang members who have a ruthless me me me mentality. BarbRRB @ 9/12/2014 5:40:28 AM When I cannot restart, I just recap. Hopefully they will not take that away. My body works, tells me when I need to sleep. I follow what it tells me and NOT what a bunch of know it all government sys I must do. I put safety FIRST! Ben @ 9/12/2014 6:37:36 AM Another fail by ATA leadership. Graves and Osiecki need to go Name: Email: Comment: Post Comment Post Comment Recent News Section of Nevada I-15 May Reopen Friday Western Star Breaks the Mold with the 5700XE Capacity Crunch Changes Relationships Between Carriers, Shippers Fleet Advantage Names New President Avoid Interstate 5 in Olympia the Next 2 Weekends Latest News Articles Blogs Photos Videos Equipment Fleet Management Safety/Compliance Drivers Maintenance Fuel Smarts Aftermarket © TruckingInfoMobile | Desktop
Posted on: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 14:54:13 +0000
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