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May 31, 2000 10:35 AM, EDT

The witness list at the first public hearing on proposed changes to the federal hours-of-service rules shows the extent of concern over the Department of Transportation’s plan to place new limits on the amount of time truck and bus drivers can work.

In addition to several trucking and bus companies, scheduled witnesses include law enforcement officers, representatives of electric utilities, the propane gas and petroleum marketers, snack food, limousine and student travel groups. As of the middle of last week, 50 people had requested time to speak at the hearing, one of seven scheduled over the next month. DOT has also received nearly 400 written comments on the proposal.

any organizations, including trucking trade associations and labor unions, want more time to review the nearly 300-page notice of proposed rulemaking and its effect on safety, the truck and bus industries, and the nation’s economy. American Trucking Associations last week concluded a survey of its members to help quantify the costs and benefits of complying with the proposed regulatory changes. The National Tank Truck Carriers Association estimates DOT’s plan would decrease its industry’s productivity by 20%. NTTC is conducting additional analysis of the proposal, as are numerous other organizations.

For the full story, see the May 29 print edition of Transport Topics. .