Economy

ATA and Carriers Seek HOS Relief to Ease Port Congestion

Written by Sandy Williams

November 13, 2014

Congestion at California ports has prompted West Coast trucking associations to craft a petition to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association for temporary flexibility in the hours of service rules to alleviate problems.

The American Trucking Association (ATA), California Trucking Association and Southern California Harbor Trucking Association want waiting time to not be counted as on-duty time. The associations are also seeking relief from the 34-hour restart rule. A regulation required of drivers who reach the maximum 70 hours of driving time in a week which must include two rest periods between 1-5 a.m.

The congestion at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach has been ongoing since September due to a surge in shipment volumes and stalled labor negotiations between the ILWU and PMA. Port workers have been working without a contract since July leading carriers, shippers and the ATA to plea for a federal mediator to forestall a potential shutdown.

Curtis Whalen, executive director of the American Trucking Associations Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference says relief is needed now. He also noted that the long waiting times at the ports are costing truck drivers money and exacerbating driver retention problems.

“They’re taking their CDLs and going to other areas of trucking, and there is no reason to expect that they will immediately come back, assuming we can solve congestion,” he said.

If the petition is successful, the associations will expand their efforts to East Coast ports like New York, New Jersey and Virginia where congestion is also a problem.

Whalen said, however, that solutions must be tailored to each port’s operating characteristics. (Source: HDT Headline News)

Sandy Williams

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