U.S. Stays With Controversial Trucker Rule

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" Zepp " <zepp

Fri, 19 Aug 2005 13:46:24 -0700

U.S. Stays With Controversial Trucker Rule

 

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5221406,00.html

 

 

 

 

U.S. Stays With Controversial Trucker Rule

 

Friday August 19, 2005 9:01 PM

 

AP Photo WX104

 

By LESLIE MILLER

 

Associated Press Writer

 

WASHINGTON (AP) - Truckers can still spend six days on the road during

the week and drive for 11 hours at a time, thanks to a rule the Bush

administration decided to leave intact even though truckers and safety

advocates say it's unsafe.

 

For 60 years, truckers could drive for 10 consecutive hours. On Jan. 1,

2004, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration changed the rule

to allow them another hour behind the wheel.

 

A federal court, however, threw out the changes.

 

On Friday, the truck-safety agency announced that a revision to the rule

would still allow the big rigs to roll for 11 hours, three hours more

than safety advocates say they should.

 

The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety said the Bush administration

had simply repackaged an unsafe rule.

 

Studies show the risk of deadly crashes significantly rises after the

10th and 11th hours of driving, said Joan Claybrook, president of the

safety group Public Citizen.

 

``Trucks are going to continue to be rolling time bombs on the

highway,'' Claybrook said. ``So many drivers are tired, and that's what

causes so many crashes.''

 

More than a year ago, a federal court struck down the rule, saying it

was ``arbitrary and capricious'' and failed to consider truckers'

health. The Bush administration was left to revise it.

 

Annette Sandberg, chief of the truck-safety agency, said the new rule

was designed to reduce the number of crashes caused by fatigued drivers.

 

``The research shows that this new rule will improve driver health and

safety and the safety of our roadways,'' Sandberg said during a press

conference.

 

She said the rule requires drivers to take at least 10 hours off between

shifts, two more than before, and reduces the maximum work day from 15

hours to 14.

 

But Claybrook said that drivers can drive 20 percent longer and spend 30

percent more time on duty under the new rule.

 

She said the agency's own data show that deaths resulting from large

truck crashes are up 3.1 percent from 2003 to 2004.

 

The American Trucking Associations, which represents trucking companies,

said in a press release that the rule improves safety but offered no

specifics as to why.

 

The Bush administration also announced a new set of rules for truck

drivers who travel less than 150 miles in a day and don't need a

commercial driver's license.

 

Those drivers, who typically work for retailers and small

package-delivery companies, would be partially exempt from the 14-hour

workday. For two days a week, they could work 16-hour days, including

breaks.

 

Wal-Mart and other retailers have lobbied Congress to extend the workday

for truckers to 16 hours, something labor unions and safety advocates

say would make roadways more dangerous for all drivers.

 

Some members of Congress had a similar proposal, but the legislation was

withdrawn in March when safety advocates and unions representing

truckers opposed it.

 

Sandberg said it makes sense to let short-haul drivers work longer

because they're 18 times less likely to be involved in a crash caused by

fatigue than long-haul drivers.

 

Sleepy drivers cause only 5.5 percent of all truck crashes, she said.

 

She said the rule, which will take effect Oct. 1, will cost long-haul

trucking companies $10 million and save short-haul companies $280 million.

 

 

 

 

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