ARLINGTON, Va. — American Trucking Associations president and CEO Bill Graves and association chairman Dan England are questioning Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s contention in a letter to Congress that the administration is drafting a new Hours-of-Service proposal based on the “most comprehensive and up-to-date data and analysis.”

In an Oct. 21 letter to the secretary, Graves and England said LaHood’s contention was well off-base.

“There is little or no comprehensive, up-to-date evidence, data or science supporting FMCSA’s proposal,” ATA wrote. “FMCSA readily admitted it did not have sufficient data on which to base a driving time limit change, yet the agency argued for and stated it ‘currently favours’ reducing the limit.”

Graves and England said this wording is “a clever way of attempting to shift the burden of proof to the industry to justify the current drive-time limit.”

ATA’s letter goes on to point out the flaws in FMCSA’s research and supporting arguments relating to fatigue’s involvement in large truck crashes.

The pair also took issue with the department’s contention that a delay in circulating the final rule would “create confusion and uncertainty” around the regulation, noting that “the record . . . is replete with industry and state law enforcement commentary on how much confusion and uncertainty the proposed changes would cause if finalized.”

Graves and England said ATA agreed with LaHood on the need to do everything possible to promote safety on US highways, but criticized the department for forgoing other, more promising safety strategies in favour of an unnecessary revision of the Hours-of-Service rule.

“Too many other safety-critical opportunities have been lost . . . and we hope your department will stand behind the current rules and shift resources to other high priority issues that will have a meaningful impact on highway safety – issues such as sleep disorders that are not even currently addressed by FMCSA guidelines much less rules,” Graves and England wrote.