In voting for the sixth extension of the omnibus highway authorization bill that has yet to pass the current Congress, the House and Senate added a provision to the legislation that keeps the new hours-of-service rules in effect until Sept 30, 2005, or until the federal courts come to a final ruling on their validity. President Bush signed the extension legislation immediately.
The congressional action relieves fleet operators from the possibility of reverting to the rules in effect prior to Jan 4, 2004. Going back to the old rules would have been costly to fleets and confusing to drivers, industry spokesmen said. With the rules extended for a year, federal agencies will have enough time to produce amendments to the rules that will meet court approval, they say.
The rules extension is included in legislation that set the deadline for the next vote on the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century for May 31, 2005. The numerous extensions have been necessary to maintain highway funding while Congress argues over the size of the final bill. House and Senate versions of the bill are roughly $100 million apart; the White House opposes passage of the larger of the two versions.
The extension is seen as necessary because a federal appeals court in Washington has ruled that the regulations must be rewritten. Although the respondent in the case is actually the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the rules also are supported by the American Trucking Associations, National Industrial Transportation League, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, and Canadian Trucking Alliance. The rules are opposed by Public Citizen, Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways, and Parents Against Tired Truckers.
