Greedy Trial Lawyer
Guess Who Is Fighting To Protect The Health Of Truck Drivers
Category: News Defused
American Trucking Associations is fighting to protect the 24-hour circadian rhythm of America's truck drivers. That's what the press release says.
Trouble in Truckin': Court Limits Hours Behind the Wheel
A federal appeals court on Tuesday struck down the Bush administration's rules that increased the number of hours a trucker can spend behind the wheel. In an article by Stephen Labaton in the New York Times, we read that the Bush approach increased weekly hours to 77 from 60 over 7 consecutive days, and to 88 hours from 70 over 8 days. The rules also permitted up to 11 hours of driving per day.The court found that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration had ignored the results of its own study, [this is news?] which reviewed more than 50,000 truck accidents from 1991 to 2002. Using the data, the study extrapolated a substantially higher risk of fatigue-related accidents in the extra hours of service allowed by the new rules.
The American Trucking Associations have already challenged the ruling. Their press release states:
The current rules limit driving time to 11 hours and mandate a 10-hour rest time. ATA supports the current regulation, which promotes a regular work-rest cycle for truck drivers and a schedule that is closer to a 24-hour circadian rhythm. The 11th hour of driving time safely provides flexibility for trucking operations without increasing driver fatigue. The 34- hour restart gives drivers much greater flexibility to manage their time, relieving stress and allowing more time at home.
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