Washington, DC
Who decides when truckers must stop for meals and rest breaks?
The house is currently debating legislation called the Denham Amendment that would change the way truck drivers operate their schedules. A rider, co-sponsored by Reps. Jeff Denham (R-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX), has been lobbied for by the American Trucking Associations. At issue is whether federal rules preempt state legislation. If the legislation goes through, then federal rules regarding meal and rest breaks for truckers will preempt state rules, unifying the standard for when truckers can be on the road.
Commentary
Inadequate rest is frequently the cause of trucking accidents. Unifying the standards so that truckers always know when and how long they must stop to rest is a positive step toward the safety of all drivers on the road.
Source: https://www.truckinginfo.com/channel/safety-compliance/news/story/2018/04/house-approves-rider-to-thwart-state-preemption-of-trucker-hours-of-service-rules.aspx