Time. Why do we think we have so much time, yet we continually run out of it? The second half of this year has been one of the busiest ever. So, as I write this column, I hope that the Fleet Owner editors can certainly understand my truancy when it comes to deadlines.
This past year shaped up as the year of “just in time to wait,” a term often thrown around in today’s world, especially trucking. But in reflecting upon 2015, no truer words could ever be uttered as our industry awaits significant rules for which we have spent the year preparing. Two rules come to mind that often are reflected in time. The industry waits for an ELD rule to record time behind the wheel. We continue to wait and listen to the varied reasons as to why the rule has not yet appeared. Also, speed limiters themselves are an example of trying to slow time and keep our vehicles at a safe, manageable speed.
Still, our industry waits for both. Whether or not you are for or against speed-limiting devices, we still are waiting for the rule that will inevitably make its way through the rulemaking process.
Time became essential early this year as our industry partook in a negotiated rulemaking for guess what? Finding and defining time behind the wheel for training entry-level truck drivers. Time and time again, the subject of training drivers rose to relevance, and the advisory committee developed and endorsed a recommendation that prescribed time spent to train them: 30 hours to be exact. Thirty hours that would prove, at last, that our drivers can achieve a level that defines them and our industry to be the safest on our roadways.
Regardless, 2015 will come to an end, and we will be faced with a new year with hopes that it will deliver some of the same things we had expected this past year. Hours of service should again rear its ugly head as our industry continues to provide data in hopes of promulgating a time-based rule that actually makes sense and that allows our drivers to comply with the rule and still deliver freight safely while bringing home a salary that allows them to put food on their table.
Yet here we are again. I write this column during an extension of time that inevitably gives Congress more time to write a highway reauthorization bill—a bill that would provide life support for our roadways and hopefully increase funding so that our crumbling infrastructure can be improved. We as an industry have wasted time waiting for this to happen as Congress extends its time to do this for what I believe has to be a record 34th extension, all in the hopes of continuing funding and creating additional time to develop a rule that makes sense.
Time is all around us and our industry awaits a 2016 that will provide answers to questions that we have asked over and over again. As you enjoy your time this holiday season, know that 2016 could be the year in which our time for waiting has finally paid off.
Happy holidays and Happy New Year to all of my readers.
David Heller, CDS, is director of safety and policy for the Truckload Carriers Assn. He is responsible for interpreting and communicating industry-related regulations and legislation to the membership of TCA. Send comments to [email protected].
