In the letter, the representatives question the FMCSA’s decision to implement the hours-of-service rules before a “statistically-valid field study” was complete. Map-21 required the study to be complete by March 31, 2012. To date, the study has not been completed, yet the rules that went into effect on July 1 and are expected to have a tremendous impact on the trucking industry and the consumer.
“These regulations, which strictly limit the use of the 34-hour restart provisions and mandate inflexible rest periods, greatly decrease driver flexibility and rise the costs for the already over-burdened trucking industry,” the letter states.
The representatives estimate that the new HOS rules will cost the industry up to $376 million annually. “Unfortunately, these additional costs will be passed onto our nation’s consumer.”
The representatives have asked the FMCSA to provide a date when the field study will be completed and sent to congress. “It is imperative that the rules governing the commercial trucking industry be backed by statistically-valued and data-driven studies that are fully completed and analyzed.”
“The commercial trucking industry is a pillar of the US economy and small, medium and large businesses across America depend on the on-time, cost-efficient and safe transport of finished products and raw materials each day. It is imperative that the rules governing the trucking industry be backed by factual, statistically-valid and data-driven studies that are fully completed and analyzed before proposed rules come into effect,” the letter concludes.
The letter was written on August 29. The representatives have requested a response from Foxx by September 12.
The following US Representatives signed the letter:
- Richard Hanna
- Tom Rice
- Trey Radel
- Todd Rokita
- James Lankford
- Howard Coble
- Rick Crawford
- Larry Bucshon
- Reid Ribble
- Markwayne Mullin
- Bob Latta
- Marsha Blackburn
- Tim Walberg
- Lee Terry
- Phil Rol
- Bill Huizenga
- John J. Davis Jr.
- Duncan Hunter
- Sam Graves
- Steve Stivers
- Blaine Luetkemeyer
- Scott Perry
- Adam Kinzinger
- Tom Cotton
- Billy Long
- Kristi Noem
- Dennis Ross
- Ted Poe
- Glenn Thompson
- Keith Rothfus
- Roger Williams
- Aaron Schock
- Tim Huelskamp
- Jim Sensenbrenner
- Steve Womack
- Ted Yoho
- Paul Gosar
- Chris Collins
- Lou Barletta
- Sean Duffy
- Andy Barr
- Rodney Davis
- Mike Michaud
- Mike Pompeo
- Chris Gibson
- Steve Daines
- Dan Benishek
