Good day,
A bill to modify the Hours of Service rule by tacking on three hours to the day has been introduced in the House of Representatives. Brian Babin (R-TX) introduced the legislation late last night. Details on the legislation remain sketchy. As of Friday morning, the text of the bill was not on the main Congressional website.
Babin said the bill is called The Responsible and Effective Standards for Truckers Act (REST). “The REST Act would allow drivers to take one rest break per shift, for up to three consecutive hours,” Babin’s office said. “The single off-duty period would not be counted toward the driver’s 14-hour, on-duty allowance and would not extent the total, allowable drive limits.”
The REST act would only make one significant change in the Hours of Service rule: to extend the day by three hours from its current top limit of 14 hours. It would also eliminate the 30-minute rest mandate.
Earlier this week, FMCSA Chief Martinez said any sort of regulatory process to change a regulation, short of changing a law, would probably take a year to implement. “You don’t want to open yourself up to a challenge in the courts,” he said. “You can only have certain latitude and the regulatory process is not short.”
Hours of service, on the other hand, are a regulatory requirement and do not need congressional intervention to be changed. Congress can do that if they wish, but Martinez said to be careful what you wish for.
Did you know?
In the United States, the average length of a semi-trailer without the cab is 53 feet, and with the cab is about 70 to 80 feet. The maximum these trucks haul is 80,000 pounds. In Australia, however, “road trains” roam the roadways. Road trains are tractors with four trailers that are capable of hauling more than 300,000 pounds!
Quotable:
“The idea that by regulating hours worked we somehow magically ensure drivers are well-rested for the next shift is completely flawed.”
-Dean Croke, FreightWaves Chief Analytics Officer
In other news:
Air cargo shippers facing many new challenges, says prominent analyst
The logistics manager without sufficient and correct data is just a person with an opinion. (SupplyChain 247)
Teamsters, Trucker ABF Freight Reach Tentative Contract Deal
Agreement covering more than 8,000 drivers comes as existing five-year contract was set to expire. (WSJ)
US ports, freight network get federal funding boost
There’s been little progress regarding the Trump infrastructure plan, but shippers will benefit from $1.5 million in TIGER grant funds appropriated in the current federal budget — triple the amount of last year. (JOC)
U.S. Annual Inflation Posts Strongest Increase in Nearly a Year
Data may prompt the Fed to continue raising interest rates. (WSJ)
Last-Mile Delivery Models to Revolutionize Urban Logistics by 2025
Spiraling last-mile delivery costs and changing customer demands are causing retailers to look at click-and-collect, locker boxes, on-demand, and autonomous solutions. (MH&L)
Final Thoughts:
The lack of transparency between shipper, receiver and trucker has changed forever with the advent of electronic logging devices. Data is king and for the first time every trucker has ELD data at their disposal that can quantify the opportunity costs of loading dock inefficiency.
The ELD mandate will ultimately force shippers and receivers hands–get trucks on and off docks quicker or be prepared to pay detention verified by electronic log data which records truck activity down to the minute.
Hammer down everyone!
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