June 21 - In the USA, trucking companies are making preparations for the new hours-of-service (HoS) regulations that come into effect on July 1.
Some are warning of delays due to the early morning breaks mandated by the new law and some feel that shipping costs may rise due to new regulations.
Others are asking whether it is possible to file for an exclusion from the new regulations and have asked the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) to challenge the new rules in the courts.
The HoS regulations have been highly contested by the trucking industry and The American Trucking Associations has filed a lawsuit seeking to repeal the regulations, claiming that it will cost the industry USD320 million in additional training and administrative requirements.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has stated that it will not delay the enforcement of the HoS rules.
The new regulations apply a 34-hour restart once a week and mandate two breaks between 01:00h and 05:00h which could have a significant impact on heavy cargo transport which typically takes place at night.
