DOT Paperwork Proposal a Good First Step to Reducing Industry Burden

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Aug 01, 2013, 11:01 ET

ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Today, American Trucking Associations said the Department of Transportation's proposed changes to driver-vehicle inspection reporting requirements will provide a much-needed reduction in paperwork for the industry.

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"ATA appreciates the Obama Administration's proposal to provide relief on a longstanding paperwork-related burden in the trucking industry, and we look forward to working with Secretary Foxx to implement it in the near future," ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said. "Though this step will provide modest relief to professional drivers and motor carriers, ATA is optimistic this signals Secretary Foxx's willingness to provide reasonable and appropriate relief to the industry and he will quickly act to provide relief on more substantive issues."

Among the items ATA hopes Secretary Foxx will address are:

A fair CSA crash accountability process;
Unnecessary restrictions on the new rest break and restart provisions of the hours of service rules and
Much needed sleeper berth flexibility to better facilitate driver rest.

ATA also encourages Secretary Foxx to work with his new counterpart at the Department of Homeland Security, once named, to provide Congressionally-directed relief on redundant security background checks to which tens of thousands of professional drivers are currently subjected.

"ATA believes in sensible, data-driven regulations," Graves said, "and we hope we can count on Secretary Foxx to be guided by evidence and scientific research to review, and if necessary, revise the rules of the road for our industry."

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Good stuff. Trucks Bring It!

SOURCE American Trucking Associations