Key congressional leaders last week agreed to a legislative plan that would delay implementation of new hours-of-service rules for trucking for at least one year, according to congressional sources.
In a major victory for trucking, the agreement would prevent the Department of Transportation from implementing any new driver work rules for 12 months to replace the 63-year-old regulations that govern trucking.
The industry has roundly panned DOT’s proposal, even as it restated its desire for regulatory reform, saying the DOT plan would worsen productivity, safety and profitability.
The leaders of the House-Senate conference committee currently weighing the issue, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), have reportedly agreed on the delay. The panel adjourned for the Rosh Hashanah holiday on Sept. 28 before it could ratify the proposal.
For the full story, see the Oct. 2 print edition of Transport Topics. .
