Groups challenge hours-of-service rule

A coalition of advocacy and labor groups, led by Public Citizen, challenged the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) re-adoption of the hours-of-service rule. The rule, scheduled to take effect on Jan. 19, allows truckers to drive up to 11 hours in a shift and reset their weekly hour limit after 34 hours off. The petition asks FMCSA to reconsider the regulation because it jeopardizes the health and safety of truck drivers. FMCSA also said that its inspectors could use electronic information, such as GPS data, to verify drivers’ hours of service.