Truckers still have time to comment on HOS

The Trucker Staff

2/12/2008

The deadline for comments on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Interim Final Rule (IFR) on the Hours of Service, which keeps the 11-hour driving limit and 34-hour restart, is this Friday, Feb. 15.

Comments must be identified by Federal Docket Management System Number FMCSA-2004-19608 and may be sent by faxing (202) 493-2251 or by clicking here.

Although a court struck down the 2005 HOS in August of 2007, on Dec. 11, 2007, the FMCSA issued their IFR, which kept the 11 hours and 34-hour restart intact. Then on Jan. 24 a federal appeals court decided not to immediately strike down the IFR, denying Public Citizen’s motion to vacate it.

FMCSA spokesmen have said after reviewing the public comments they will issue a Final Rule “before the year is out.”

Some industry stakeholders applauded the court’s latest decision while others did not. The Teamsters vowed to continue to fight what it called “this dangerous rule.”