By Staff, Go By Truck News, March 8, 2018
During a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing on the White House’s infrastructure proposal, several lawmakers brought up the ELD mandate. Secretary Elaine Chao’s response to calls by Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, to look into more flexible hours-of-service regulations remained neutral.
Babin told Chao that ELDs are “hurting the economy” and that the mandate is “making our shared goal of rebuilding our infrastructure that much harder.” The Texas representative called ELDs counterproductive as a result of inflexible enforcement of hours-of-service regulations. Babin said drivers are forced to drive during times of high congestion, inclement weather and when they are tired or fatigued.
Concerned about the issues surrounding the ELD mandate, Babin asked Chao if he can have her commitment to work with Congress to explore other options. She responded with “I’m very sympathetic to this issue.”
Chao went on to explain that the Department of Transportation is “very much constrained by the law.”
Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., shared Babin’s concerns, stating that “one size doesn’t fit all” in regard to ELDs.
“Hours of service is a problem,” LaMalfa said. “We need flexibility on this. We need flexibility that really works for the drivers and the people who are striving to do this and do it well.”
