Shorter Hours for Truck Drivers Would Increase Costs, Retailers Say

The National Retail Federation (NRF) told government transportation officials this week that a proposal to limit the number of hours truck drivers spend behind the wheel each day will not actually have a beneficial effect on the industry. It would actually result in increased costs for businesses and consumers. As a consiquence of the proposed regulations, more trucks will have to be used to carry the same amount of goods per day, resulting in increased congestion, which undermines the whole idea of safety.

“The deployment of more trucks during the night separates truck and automobile interactions, contributing to increased safety. As a result of the current 11-hour daily driving limit, U.S. retailers have been able to achieve significant efficiencies within their supply chains and distribution networks," NRF Senior Vice President for Government Relations David French said.

The changes proposed would result in transportation cost increases from 3 to 20 percent for goods, depending on a specific retailer's supply chain network and operations, according to French. The current 11-hour on-duty service limit for drivers in effect since the beginning of 2004 could be changed to a 10-hour limit. In addition to that, the the 34 hours of time off currently required between each week of driving would now have to include at least two midnight-to-6 AM periods of nighttime rest.

"The proposed change reduces the ability to schedule deliveries at night, placing more trucks on the road during normal commuting hours. This adversely affects a retailer's supply chain performance, potentially increasing congestion-related delays and increasing the likelihood of accidents and a result of greater truck and automobile interactions," French said.