Washington – A federal appeals court on Tuesday threw out a Bush administration decision to allow long-haul truckers to drive for up to 11 hours straight.
For 60 years, truckers could drive for 10 hours at a time. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has been trying to change the rule to allow truckers another hour of driving time.
But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said in Tuesday’s ruling that the FMCSA did not adequately explain its reasoning for adding the extra hour.
The court’s decision repealing the 2005 rule takes effect Sept. 14.
“We are analyzing the decision issued today to understand the court’s findings as well as determine the agency’s next steps to prevent driver fatigue, ensure safe and efficient motor carrier operations and save lives,” the FCMSA said in a statement.
The American Trucker Association, which supports the existing 11-hour rule, said it would ask the court to stay its decision and keep the current rule in effect.
“ATA believes the existing rules have proven to be a significant improvement over the old rules in terms of reducing driver fatigue and related incidents,” said Bill Graves, ATA’s president and chief executive officer.
But opponents of the new rule cheered the decision.
“We never thought it was a good idea to allow drivers 11 hours behind the wheel of a heavy piece of machinery,” Teamsters president James Hoffa said. “I hope this ruling forces the Bush administration to start paying attention to highway safety.”
