Obama Administration Proposes Stricter Rules For Truck Drivers

[The Straight Story]

Obama Administration Proposes Stricter Rules For Truck Drivers

WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- The Obama administration proposed new rules Thursday that would further restrict the amount of time commercial truck drivers can spend behind the wheel, though it stopped short of proposing a new daily driving limit.

The administration said it favors reducing the limit on daily driving time to 10 hours, a move opposed by trucking companies who say the current 11-hour limit is safe. But it did not formally propose a change to the 10-hour limit.

Instead, the Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration invited comments on the issue during a 60-day review period beginning Dec. 29. The administration has already held five public meetings about trucking safety regulations this year.

Ray LaHood, Obama's transportation secretary, said his agency was committed to a rule "that will help create an environment where commercial truck drivers are rested, alert, and focused on safety while on the job.

"A fatigued driver has no place behind the wheel of a large commercial truck," LaHood said.

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=201012231251dowjonesdjonline000390&title=obama-administration-proposes-stricter-rules-for-truck-drivers

[47of74]

1. I wonder how many trucking company managers spend time behind the wheel

I wonder how much time the management of the companies that oppose a 10 hour shift spend behind the wheel. I'm not a truck driver, but 11 hours behind the wheel of any type of vehicle is exhausting. Especially if there's adverse weather or lots of traffic involved. Several years ago I was involved in a project that involved a fair amount of travel, and one time I drove all the way from eastern Iowa to a town in Nebraska that was less than 1/2 hour from the Wyoming border all in one day. That was 13 hours on the road, and I was exhausted by the end of that day.

[Fumesucker]

2. Stricter rules for truck drivers, no rules for banksters..

It's pretty damn clear who is paying off the politicians and it damn sure isn't the truck drivers.

[Telly Savalas]

5. So what kind of a dick advocates truckers being on the road more than 10 hours a day?

[Fumesucker]

15. It's possible to point out disparities in regulation without advocating less regulation..

And of the two, truck drivers and banksters, who has really and truly screwed up more lives?

[vaberella]

8. Don't be an idiot. Besides the fact the "banksters" are being regulated now.

Truck drivers forced to work harder under duress is not only dangerous for them, but dangerous for us and ultimately costly for the company. You'd think you'd hold back your snark to recognize when something is good for people.

[Fumesucker]

14. Eh, it doesn't much look like the banksters are *really* being regulated to me..

I'll believe it when they start getting their bonuses cut and doing some serious prison time.

[Arkana]

11. Except of course for that gargantuan financial regulation bill

that was passed earlier in the year.

You must have missed it.

Also, I'm confused as to why you would WANT truckers behind the wheel more than 10 hours a day.

[Fumesucker]

16. And yet the banksters are getting record bonuses..

While foreclosing on houses that don't even have mortgages on them.

Not to mention that, as I pointed out above, it's possible to recognize disparities in regulation without advocating for less regulations.

The banksters have brought the world economy to its knees and appear ready to apply the coup de grace.

Happy days indeed.

[Cirque du So-What]

3. I am not a truck driver

but I share the road with them on a daily basis. I would feel safer knowing that the big rigs in close proximity are being driven by people who are focused and rested.

[demosincebirth]

4. How about owner-operators? Who polices them.? No one!

[vaberella]

9. Ugh...actually if you read the measure it's them who's being policed.

They are forced to look after the welfare of their drivers. If they force their drivers to work more than the allotted time and an accident happens then they will pay the fees. I don't see what your point is.

[demosincebirth]

10. My point is that they are "owner operators." They own their own trucks, pay for their fuel,

pay for their own insurance, etc, etc. They get their loads from a Broker. After the trucker gets the load its theirs and the Broker pays them when they deliver the load. No bosses and no supervisors. The least turn around time the more $ they make. Most owner ops carry two driver log books. So, driving 16-18 hours a day is common for owner OPs

Union trucking companies stick to the rules because of the union drivers. The don't drive any more than allowed. I drove for YFS for many years and I do know a little about hours on duty and hours off duty. Just sayin"

[Lugnut]

12. My son is an owner-operator.

His log books are one of the first things he's asked for if he's stopped for any reason. Truck drivers are far more regulated than are airline pilots.

[unkachuck]

6. drunk, drugged or tired....

....we've all seen those eighteen wheelers drift from lane to lane....the surest way to the graveyard is to tangle with one of those beasts....

....anything that improves truck safety is okay by me....

[A HERETIC I AM]

13. Yes, of course.

Every single one of us is out here either "drunk, drugged or tired". Yup.

That's how we roll.

Amazing that I have been able to accumulate almost one and three quarter million miles without an accident over a more than 20 year career behind the wheel, being so drunk, drugged and tired.

I've no idea how I did it.

"we've all seen those eighteen wheelers drift from lane to lane.."

I suppose you have NEVER, not ONE SINGLE TIME ever inadvertently crossed a lane, right? Not once.


"the surest way to the graveyard is to tangle with one of those beasts....

Here's a tip; The next time you see a truck in the ditch with no cars involved, it is a pretty sure bet the driver put that truck there while saving the life of a dumbass 4 wheeler who had his head completely up his ass.

I've driven more miles and seen more of this country than almost every other member of this message board and there is one thing I can say with absolute certainty. Most car drivers are fucking clueless.

[Fumesucker]

17. "Most car drivers are fucking clueless"..

As a forty year street motorcyclist I couldn't possibly agree more, the only reason most car drivers take their head out of their ass is to talk on their fucking cell phone.

[vaberella]

7. I support this measure. I remember a horrible accident that happened in New York.

Trucks aren't allowed to go under the crosstown lanes from east to west that cut through Central Park. The guy was tired as hell and he didn't see the sign, went right through it...the reasons they say trucks shouldn't pass is that there are bridges of sorts that trucks normally don't meet the height requirement. The top of the truck had to be ripped off and it was crushed--the driver almost couldn't get out.

So yeah, they need to rest and less time for the same pay is deserved.