New Trucking Regulations Unnecessary, Hurt Small Business

Press Release

Colorado Businessman Warns Congressional Panel about New Rules

Congressman Mike Coffman (R-CO), chairman of the Oversight, Investigations and Regulations Subcommittee for the Small Business Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, presided over a hearing today on the concerns of small business leaders regarding proposed new rules limiting the trucking industry's ability to efficiently transport goods across the nation.

Coffman convened the hearing to explore the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) proposed new Hours of Service rule that would reduce the daily maximum driving limit, decrease the maximum on-duty time limit, require mandatory breaks, and change the current 34-hour restart provision.

"The proposed FMCSA rules are completely unjustified as they were derived using outdated truck-related crash figures. In fact, current figures from the Department of Transportation show a reduction in truck-related crashes by over 40 percent since the current Hours of Service rules were implemented in 2003," Coffman said. "It is clear this is another example of bureaucratic overreach by the Obama administration into the private sector-- unnecessarily restricting businesses and creating yet another burden on small businesses."

Paul James, president of Rex Oil Company, one of the largest and most diversified petroleum distribution businesses in Colorado and a constituent of Coffman's, said not only would the changes harm small businesses, but also would decrease safety by forcing businesses to put more inexperienced drivers on the road.

"Short haul petroleum drivers are largely paid at an hourly rate. Reducing their maximum daily drive time would also reduce their paychecks," James said, testifying on behalf of the Petroleum Marketers Association of America.

"With fewer hours to drive each day many companies would be forced to hire additional drivers or delay deliveries to the following day," James said. "Moreover, given the chronic shortage of experienced drivers, small business petroleum transporters who already operate on very small margins will be forced to hire less experienced drivers at lower hourly rates. The daily reduction in driving hours would thus decrease overall safety by putting less experienced drivers on the road."

"We have one of the most superior transportation systems in the world--and trucking plays an enormous role in this. However, requirements such as these will be a huge detriment to small businesses that transport goods and, as a result, do more harm to our already unstable economy. Ensuring that truckers remain safe, as well as other motorists on the road is vitally important. However, we must find a balance between maintaining safety and an effective transportation system without crippling small businesses with more mandates," Coffman said.

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