SBTC Launches Online ELD Suspension Petition to White House, Immediately Collects 10,000 Signatures in Under 72 Hours
WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- One week after appealing an unreasonable delay by the United Stated Department of Transportation's ("USDOT") Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ("FMCSA") in the publication of its resubmitted Electronic Logging Device ("ELD") exemption application to the Secretary of Transportation, and taking the matter of suspending ELDs to Congress the Small Business in Transportation Coalition ("SBTC") has now launched an online petition to the White House in an attempt to get the attention of President Donald Trump, its president James Lamb said today.
The Petition states:
"On October 22, 2019, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) released new data that show that in 2018, the first full year the new ELD rule was in effect for the trucking industry to enforce commercial motor vehicle operators' compliance with hours of service regulations, more than 2 occupants of large trucks died. Every. Single. Day. This is the highest number of such deaths since 1988, making this stat a 30-year high. We believe ELDs have caused drivers anxiety to such levels that many now recklessly speed to beat the clock. We call on the Whitehouse to direct the USDOT to act on NHTSA findings and immediately suspend ELDs until unintended consequences can be studied to decide if the rule is ripe for repeal."
Lamb pointed to how the Petition immediately took off over the weekend after it was launched on Friday at 5PM. "It's spreading faster than a California wildfire," Lamb said.
"When 10,000 people immediately go out of their way over the weekend to sign a petition, you know you're dealing with an issue that must be addressed," Lamb said. "That requires the President, Congress, the USDOT bureaucracy, and the media to feel the passion of members of the industry and listen to their concerns," he added.
Trucking media have begun to cover the progress of the petition. Lamb issued a statement today calling for all trucking media outlets to follow the lead of Transportation Nation and help publicize the campaign so that truckers can know about the push to eliminate ELDs.
Lamb said he hopes to collect the required 100,000 signatures within 30 days needed to secure a response from the White House. Lamb indicated the SBTC would be simultaneously pursuing "other channels" to get the President's attention on this issue.
USDOT stats released last week show that during the first full year of ELD implementation, more than two occupants of large trucks died in accidents every single day on average. Lamb and others in trucking media were quick to point out last week how that is a 30-year high. "The last time the fatality rate was that high, I was 20 years old and student body president," Lamb said. "Two people dead every day is just two high. We blame the anxiety caused by ELDs and the race against the clock that Big Trucking causes through the pay-by-mile paradigm," Lamb stated. "We have told Congress and USDOT that if they really want to address motor carrier safety, they need to address with the underlying problem and root causes and remove the motivation to cheat and speed by switching drivers to a salary model. I would think the safety advocates would concur," he added.
Also on Friday night, Lamb received word from the USDOT's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration officials that the group's ELD Exemption Application will finally be published in the Federal Register this week. "I guess our letter to the Secretary last week did the trick, he asserted. Lamb said the group appeared to be on track to acquire the 3,333 petition signatures needed per day. He looks forward to announcing the group reached the 100,000 mark right before the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
According to the SBTC website, "(t)he SBTC is a network of over 15,000 transportation professionals, associations, and industry suppliers that is on the front lines when it comes to issues that affect transportation professionals operating small businesses. We seek to promote and protect the interests of small businesses in the transportation industry. SBTC encourages ethical business practices and support teamwork, cooperation, transparency, and partnerships among truckers, carriers, brokers, and shippers who seek to do business with the utmost integrity. SBTC is a Florida non-profit corporation with IRS 501(c)(6) exempt status with offices in Washington, DC. It also operates through the domain http://www.Truckers.com."
SOURCE Small Business in Transportation Coalition
