The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, which represents small-business trucking professionals and drivers, recently expressed mixed feelings on the U.S. House of Representatives appropriations bill.
The bill, Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act, contained four amendments pertaining to the trucking industry.
The association supported the passage for three of the amendments but was disappointed the fourth amendment, which would have delayed the electronic-logging device mandate, did not pass.
“The concerns raised by us, by Congress and industry stakeholders have not changed,” the association’s Executive Vice President Todd Spencer said. “There are too many unanswered questions about the technical specifications and enforcement guidelines of the mandate,” said Spencer. “This includes issues related to enforcement, connectivity, data transfers, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and many other legitimate real-world concerns.”
The government will not certify any electronic logging devices, making it difficult to know if a device is compliant, Spencer said.
Two of the passed amendments prevent federal funding being used to toll certain interstates in Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Washington. Tolling decreases safety, the association said.
The third amendment prevents the use of federal funds to finalize a notice of proposed rulemaking to require speed limiting devices on trucks.
Spencer thanked the representatives responsible for working to get the amendments passed.