WASHINGTON (Dec. 16, 2014) — The American Trucking Associations (ATA) praised Congress this week for rolling back tough new hours-of-service rules in its $1.1 trillion spending package, even as consumer watchdog group Public Citizen condemned the rollback and other aspects of the spending bill.
The spending bill passed the Senate late Dec. 13 by a 56-40 vote after narrowly passing the House a few days before. President Barack Obama is expected to sign it into law.
Among the provisions in the spending package is an amendment — sponsored by Rep. Susan Collins, R-Maine — which suspends the restrictions the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration imposed on truck drivers in July 2013, according to the ACA.