(edited out) Truck idling laws have not been passed by the Fed's. They have all been passed by state legislator's and signed by those State's governor.
Only the truck's cab heater is covered by Federal statute, and that says that the heater must be operable and not allow carbon-monoxide into the cab.
Trucking Company Management and Truck Drivers ALL need to get on the same page, and take the idling issue directly to the DOT departments which cover driver health and truck safety. Those are the FMCSA and the Federal Highway Administration, as well as the National Transportation Safety Board. That is were it needs to start.
A driver being unable to get the mandated rest, as the HOS regulations currently exist, in a comfortable heated or air conditioned cab, is not covered.
The NTSB is the DOT body which handles safety issues. Heating and Air Conditioning inside the cab of the truck should fall within their realm, just as airliner safety and railroad safety does.
It should be brought to the attention of the Department Heads at the DOT, the FMCSA, the FHA and the NTSB, that driver health (
this legislation; Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act; A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) is where driver health is currently the HOT topic) includes a comfortable sleeping environment, as defined by the individual, and his or her personal comfort level requirement, not by a clueless State Legislator.
Driver's need to get the DOT on their side, and the best way to do that, is to LOBBY in an appropriate, and intelligent manner.
Here is the link to safetealu;
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)
Something else worth looking over can be seen here;
NTSB - Most Wanted
It is incumbent upon us to inform the DOT that hypothermia and heat exhaustion affect driver health and well being.
Now...How many CAD members, and how many CAD Lurkers, are willing to step up to the plate, and write a cohesive letter to all of the DOT departments I have mentioned, as well as to their Congressional delegation (2 US Senators plus their local US Congress-person)??
If we as truck drivers want to do something in our own defense....THAT is where
WE have to and must start.
Instead of doing something sensible, as I have just suggested though, we as truck drivers will continue to sit on our hands and
just sayin.
Oh yeah.......another point that could be made to all of the Congress critters. Turning off the heat and air conditioning in ALL FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY and CITY buildings, not directly used for PUBLIC HEALTH (re: Hospitals), would save the American Taxpayers countless millions of dollars each and every day, and would have a direct effect on "Greening" the environment.
Let them open their windows!!!
like that is gonna happen
Anti-Idling enforcement
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Originally Posted by Hanzzsolo
Star Trek2009
