Bentonville AR-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc has requested that the federal government change new hours-of-service (HOS) rules determining how long truck drivers can be on the road, according to an Associated Press report.
Announced by the United States Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the new HOS rules allow drivers to drive 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off-duty. Drivers may not drive beyond the 14th hour after coming on-duty, following 10 hours off-duty. They may not drive after being on-duty for 60 hours in a seven-consecutive-day period or 70 hours in an eight-consecutive-day period. This on-duty cycle may be restarted whenever a driver takes at least 34 consecutive hours off-duty. These rules go into effect Jan 4, 2004.
Wal-Mart opposes a rule that includes rest breaks and other down time in a driver's official work shift. Implementing this rule change could trim two to three hours per day from a work shift, the company said. It contends it would have to employ another 275 drivers and add 300 tractor rigs, which would cost $25 million, according to the AP report.
