ATA membership endorses mandatory EOBR rule

Although ATA backs EOBRs, one of the issues that it says must be addressed is cost-effective device specifications allowing for accurate recording of hours. (The Trucker file photo)

The Trucker News Services

4/7/2011

ARLINGTON, Va. –  The American Trucking Associations announced Thursday that its membership has endorsed a policy supporting federal laws and regulations that would require trucking companies to use electronic logging devices to monitor driver hours-of-service.

“ATA has always been in favor of strong enforcement of safety rules and regulations,” ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said. “This new policy just underlines that support.”

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s own safety monitoring program, CSA, shows a link between compliance with the current hours-of-service rules and carrier safety performance. In addition to showing that the current hours-of-service rules are working, that data shows us that increasing compliance with those rules will further improve trucking’s already impressive safety record.”

Graves said while ATA’s new policy expresses support for an electronic logging mandate, ATA believes any regulation or law should also address several issues including:

1. Cost-effective device specifications allowing for accurate recording of driving hours.

2. Data ownership and access in order to protect the privacy of fleets and drivers alike.

3. Relief from the current, significant burden of retaining additional supporting documentation.

“Many fleets already use these devices and they report not only compliance and safety gains, but also improved efficiency,” Dave Osiecki, ATA senior vice president of policy and regulatory affairs. “Those benefits make supporting an electronic logging requirement good business.”

ATA’s new policy was hailed by safety advocates as a positive step toward making our nation’s highways safer for all drivers.

“We are very pleased that the ATA has decided to add their considerable weight to the call for both electronic logging as well as speed limiter settings at a reasonable top speed for our nation’s heavy trucks. We had been concerned that either of these initiatives, without the other, could lead to unintended dangerous consequences,” said Steve Owings, president of Road Safe America. “We firmly believe that the two together are complementary and will add greatly to our nation’s roadway safety situation. We want to publicly thank the ATA for stepping up and taking a leadership position on both of these common- sense safety matters, which will undoubtedly make America’s public thoroughfares safer for all motorists.”

The Trucker staff can be reached to comment on this article at editor@thetrucker.com.