Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Dec. 25, 2023:
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is requesting comments on petitions requesting waivers from the agency’s previous decisions to preempt meal and rest break (MRB) laws in California and Washington state.
Waiver petitions were filed by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters; the Truck Safety Coalition, Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways and Parents Against Tired Truckers; William B. Trescott; and the state of California.
FMCSA said it will place each petition for waiver in the “Documents” section of the appropriate docket. FMCSA seeks comments on any issues raised in the above referenced petitions for waiver or otherwise relevant. The agency also asks that commenters address whether and to what extent enforcement of MRB rules have impacted the health and safety of drivers; whether enforcement of state MRB rules will exacerbate truck parking shortages; whether a state’s MRB rules would dissuade a company from operating in the state; and whether MRB enforcement will weaken or impact the resiliency of the supply chain.
Comments can be filed at www.regulations.gov by searching Docket Nos. FMCSA-2018-0304 (California) and FMCSA-2019-0128 (Washington). Comments will be accepted for 60 days beginning Tuesday, Dec. 26.
FMCSA announced in August it was going to consider petitions for waivers from the preemptions.
