WASHINGTON, D.C. — The US government yesterday scrapped a requirement that would see trucking companies file equipment inspection reports, whether or not defects were present, Bloomberg News reported.

The report said the move will save the industry US$1.7 billion a year.

The American Trucking Associations lauded the change, particularly since it was one of the first from Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in his new role.

“ATA appreciates the Obama Administration’s proposal to provide relief on a longstanding paperwork-related burden in the trucking industry, and we look forward to working with Secretary Foxx to implement it in the near future,” ATA president and CEO Bill Graves said. “Though this step will provide modest relief to professional drivers and motor carriers, ATA is optimistic this signals Secretary Foxx’s willingness to provide reasonable and appropriate relief to the industry and he will quickly act to provide relief on more substantive issues.”

Next, ATA would like to see Foxx: introduce a fair CSA crash accountability process; remove unnecessary restrictions on the new rest break and restart provisions of the HoS rules; and add sleeper berth flexibility to better facilitate driver rest.

“ATA believes in sensible, data-driven regulations,” Graves said, “and we hope we can count on Secretary Foxx to be guided by evidence and scientific research to review, and if necessary, revise the rules of the road for our industry.”