Yesterday, the Small Business House Committee heard how forthcoming ELD regulations will stifle competition, and how it won’t actually provide safety benefits. The hearing, called “Highway to Headache: Federal Regulations on the Small Trucking Industry,” was an opportunity to provide input on the vital role small businesses play in the overall economy and highway safety. Their arguments revolved around the topic of how the government is over-regulating an industry that will hurt the small businessman, the very ones risking the most.
Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX), introduced the panel, asking for the regulations to be delayed until the “bugs can be worked out.” Today, the Indiana Attorney General asked for the same thing, observing, “This thing ain’t ready for primetime.”
Rep. Steve Chabot, (R-OH) led off the hearing, pointing out that the regulations are adding up and burdensome to the small business owner who already operates on small margins. Ranking member Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), noted in her opening remarks that the meeting provides, “An important opportunity to evaluate the trucking industry to help achieve both safer highways, and a thriving healthy trucking sector,” for which she sees an opportunity for bipartisan support.