January 4, 2010

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today announced it will hold four listening sessions in January to gather information and comments as the agency prepares a rulemaking proposal on hours-of-service requirements for property-carrying commercial vehicle drivers. The agency wants to hear about topics such as rest and on-duty time, sleeper berth use and the effect the current hours-of-service rule has on loading and unloading times for drivers. A record of the listening sessions will be placed in the public docket for the rulemaking.

"Public input is critical to the rulemaking process," said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. "The public listening sessions will provide opportunities for a broad cross-section of stakeholders to present views, comments and relevant research on this forthcoming federal safety regulation proposal."

Hours-of-service requirements are designed to help prevent commercial motor vehicle-related accidents, injuries and fatalities by prescribing on-duty hours and rest periods for commercial drivers. The FMCSA has scheduled three listening sessions to encourage public participation on this issue and will schedule a fourth listening session in the coming days.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Doubletree Hotel Crystal City National Airport
300 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22202
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST

Friday, January 22, 2010
Hyatt Regency Dallas/Forth Worth Airport
DFW International Parkway, Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas 75261
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. CST

Monday, January 25, 2010
Doubletree Hotel Los Angeles International Airport
1985 East Grand Avenue, El Segundo, California 90245
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST

For more information on the listening sessions, including several questions on possible alternatives to the current hours-of-service requirements, please visit the FMCSA website at www.fmcsa.dot.gov. Interested persons may also contact David Miller, Office of Policy Plans and Regulation, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, (202) 366-5011.

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