FMCSA official shares new approach with truckers at GBATS

Over the past year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has taken a new approach to the way it regulates the trucking industry. The agency has already taken steps to roll back several regulations it believes have no connection to safety. And in June, FMCSA unveiled a Pro-Trucker Package that promised to address the truck parking crisis and prevent a speed limiter mandate.

Speaking to truck drivers at the Guilty By Association Truck Show on Sept. 25 in Joplin, Mo., FMCSA Senior Policy Advisor Michael Hampton explained the new approach.

“Common sense is back on the table,” Hampton said during the OOIDA Town Hall Forum at GBATS. “We cannot sit in an ivory tower in D.C. and shout regulations from the rooftop and expect the millions of drivers on the roads to understand them and to adapt to them.”

The discussion between FMCSA and drivers took place just a few hours after the U.S. Department of Transportation announced new restrictions on non-domiciled CDLs. Top of mind, that drove a large portion of the hour-and-a-half town hall where drivers voiced concerns, suggestions and frustrations over a wide range of regulations. Hampton appeared to be sympathetic to those comments.

During the town hall, FMCSA clarified its updated position on several industry issues under the new administration. The event gave truck drivers a chance to share what’s happening on the ground.

“I hope we can continue on a regular basis to have this kind of dialogue, because working together, we can move the ball forward in the interest of safety,” OOIDA President Todd Spencer said.

ELP and non-domiciled CDLs

FMCSA shed light on the hot topics of English-language proficiency and non-domiciled CDLs.

Many truck drivers raised concerns about untrustworthy CDL schools that churn out unqualified drivers. They asked for more oversight on these CDL mills. Hampton agreed that driver training needs more uniformity across all schools.

“We want qualified drivers on the roads,” Hampton said. “If a driver is not qualified, we don’t want him on the roads.”

On the issue of English-language proficiency, Hampton noted the importance of reading signs. That is especially true with the digital dynamic signs along highways.

“When we are talking about English-language proficiency, that’s not about the color of one’s skin,” Hampton said. “That’s because we want drivers to be able to read road signs and to communicate with law enforcement or emergency officials when necessary. That’s safety. It’s not about anything else other than safety.”

ELDs and HOS

Several truck drivers expressed frustrations with ELDs and hours-of-service regulations, which FMCSA is expected to address with a set of actions.

Many drivers pointed out that crashes have not gone down since the ELD mandate began. Additionally, no data suggests that pre-2000 trucks, which are exempt from the mandate, are any less safe.

Considering that Congress directed the ELD mandate, FMCSA cannot remove it. However, Hampton noted that the DOT’s Pro-Trucker Package announced earlier this year explicitly states that the pre-2000 exemption is not going anywhere.

There is also the issue of ELDs being easily manipulated due to a weak self-certification process. Hampton said FMCSA will start an ELD vetting process. That process will help prevent faulty and vulnerable ELDs from entering the market in the first place.

Broker transparency

A few truck drivers noted that poor rates from a years-long freight recession are being exacerbated by a lack of broker transparency.

Broker transparency is an issue that FMCSA is well aware of and moving to address. Hampton noted that every time OOIDA sits with the agency, broker transparency is brought up.

In the meantime, truck drivers can now report bad brokers. An update to the National Consumer Complaint Database, recently renamed to FMCSA Complaint Center Records, allows truckers to submit complaints against brokers who fail to comply with transparency rules. That can be done at nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov.

Truck parking

It’s not a trucking town hall meeting without mention of truck parking. Hampton acknowledged that truck parking is a problem.

“It’s not only an inconvenience; it’s a safety issue as well,” he said.

More funding is on the way. Part of the Pro-Trucker Package moves forward with $275 million in grants to add more truck parking. Hampton acknowledged that won’t fix the problem nationwide. However, he did say Congress can do more in the upcoming highway bill.

OOIDA Executive Vice President Lewie Pugh reminded truck drivers to urge their lawmakers to support the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act. That bill would provide $755 million to projects that create additional free truck parking. LL