And they could affect every trucker in America

The FMCSA sent its first draft regulating how many hours a trucker may drive per work day to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on Monday, July 26, 2010, for what may take up to three months in review.  

The potential change in the trucking and transportation system affects life in America on a daily basis, as it could dramatically shorten the hours a truck driver may spend behind the wheel. This will affect truckers, shippers and carriers of all sizes, as well as brokers, dock workers, corporations and services central to the industry. Details of the proposal have not yet been made available

As a whole, the trucking industry would prefer keeping the current 11-hour rule, but consumer advocate groups have petitioned for a greatly reduced workday, set at the standard 8 hours. The consumer advocate groups feel the shortened workday would lead to greater safety on the road for truckers and other drivers alike. However, trucking experts point out that the nation’s highways and byways would become even more crowded as multiple drivers and trucks would be needed to make the same number of pickups and deliveries within those restricted hours. 

This wouldn’t be a desired result. Bob Petrancosta, vice president of safety at Con-way Freight said, “When you put more trucks on the road, you raise the risk and exposure to more accidents. That contradicts the intended benefit [of any change].”

After the initial review, the proposed changes must be published in the Federal Register and open to public comment, probably in late October or early November of this year.

The FMCSA is scheduled to produce a final rule by July 26, 2011.