NSWMA Comments on FMSCA Hours of Service Rules

Expresses Support for the Flexibility Allowed by the 34-Hour Restart Provision

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2011
Contact: Thomas Metzger, 202.364.3751

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) submitted comments to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) in support of the current federal hours of service rules.NSWMA expressed support for the flexibility allowed by the 34-hour restart provision, as it allows solid waste industry drivers to continue to collect garbage and recyclables when collection schedules are thrown off by holidays.

The FMSCA hours of service rules are federal regulations that govern the number of hours a commercial motor vehicle operator can drive and work in a day. The rules cover interstate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), but also are applied in all states to intrastate CMVs. Garbage trucks are CMVs by weight. Garbage trucks currently operate under the “local routes” provision of the hours of service rule – all that means in real terms is that the solid waste industry shows compliance by time cards, not by the so-called “logs” or records of duty service.

NSWMA Director of State Programs Chaz Miller stated, “NSWMA is fully supportive of FMCSA’s efforts to reduce the impact of fatigue on CMV drivers.However, because refuse and recycling routes are local, and FMCSA has acknowledged that local route drivers are much less likely to suffer from fatigue, it’s important that federal rules maintain the flexibility allowed by the 34-hour restart provision.”

###

NSWMA – a sub-association of theEnvironmental Industry Associations (EIA) – represents for-profit companies in North America that provide solid, hazardous and medical waste collection, recycling and disposal services, and companies that provide professional and consulting services to the waste services industry. NSWMA members conduct business in all 50 states.