Attempt to allow hastened hours of service reforms withdrawn in House

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Updated Apr 30, 2018
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An amendment that would have allowed the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to potentially expedite hours of service reforms, if any, in the next two years was withdrawn before it was brought to a vote on the House floor.

Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) had offered the amendment to a larger aviation bill in the works in the House. However, when the bill came up for consideration on the House floor on Thursday afternoon, the House clerk noted it would not be offered for consideration. Crawford’s office confirmed Thursday that the amendment had been withdrawn. Overdrive has queried Crawford’s office as to why he chose to withdraw the amendment. A response will be added to this story when it becomes available.

The amendment sought to remove the requirement that FMCSA issue an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking as part of any hours of service reform rules within two years of the aviation bill’s enactment. Crawford’s amendment would have allowed FMCSA to move directly to the proposed rule phase for hours of service changes.

FMCSA spokesperson Duane DeBruyne says an ANPRM isn’t always required for federal rulemakings. â€śIt all depends on the circumstances of the issue/the matter at hand,” he said. “An ANPRM isn’t necessarily required before issuing an NPRM.”

Two other trucking-related measures are still up for consideration as part of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill, debate of which is ongoing on the House floor and could continue into Friday.