As our highways and interstates become more and more crowded, we need strong safety regulations to protect drivers and passengers. Road safety is important to everyone.

We need rules and regulations that will actually work when implemented. The first Hours of Service rule regulating truck drivers went into effect in 1935 and have remained relatively unchanged. Last year the Department of Transportation proposed rule would replace many truck driver's current 15 hour shifts, including a maximum ten hours driving time, with 12 hour workdays. These proposed rules would also make no distinction between on-duty and driving times. This is not the best way to promote safety on our roads.

These rules should have included input from the trucking industry but, they were not. That is why, for the second year in a row, I have decided to cosponsor H.R. 1008. This bill would prohibit the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Administration from taking action to finalize, implement, or enforce a rule related to the hours of service of drivers for motor carriers.

My decision to support this bill will hopefully encourage the DOT to work with the trucking industry as well as consumer safety groups to work toward a common sense solution.