The industry has also sought to secure a waiver from the federal hours-of-service rules, which limit the number of hours that drivers can spend behind the wheel. The industry wants to be exempt from those rules for a period of six months, according to the American Trucking Associations.The Department of Transportation has until August 25 to respond to the request. However, the agency has said it is unlikely to grant the waiver because “it would severely exacerbate the driver shortage” (McClatchy, July 6).The industry has also called on the Department of Transportation to end the clearinghouse that bans drivers with DUIs or other substance abuse problems.
What’s the government’s response?
While the government hasn’t said it will end the clearinghouse, it is considering whether to extend the time for which a driver can be barred. Currently, the clearinghouse ban is for 10 years, but many of the banned drivers are seeking
The industry also wants the Department of Transportation to allow carriers to pay new drivers less than experienced drivers, who are paid more because they have more experience. The proposed change would allow companies to offer new drivers higher hourly pay but lower per-mile pay.Buttigieg said the department is considering regulatory changes that would allow carriers to pay new drivers less than experienced drivers.“We are looking at ways to improve the entry-level driver pay structure,” Buttigieg said. “We are looking at ways to make the training period, which is a barrier for a lot of drivers, a little more efficient and a little more effective.”The department is also considering allowing trucking companies to pay new drivers less than experienced drivers.“We are looking at ways to improve the entry-level driver pay structure,” Buttigieg said. “We are looking at ways to make the training period, which is a barrier for a lot of drivers, a little more efficient and a little more effective.”