Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
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commercial carrier journal | february 2017 53 Republican control in D.C. gives industry hope for loosened regulatory environment, more infrastructure spending BY JAMES JAILLET W hile the federal gov- ernment's electronic logging device man- date likely is shielded from interference by President Trump, Republican control in Washington gives the trucking industry hope for a loosened and more accountable regulatory environment, industry groups say. Opportunities for trucking regula - tory reform do exist, say trucking trade associations and analysts, but not to the extent some may hope. On a broader note, industry lobbyists hope Trump forces the U.S. Depart - ment of Transportation to overhaul the way its Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration develops new trucking regulations and have the agency build better relations with the industry it regulates. "We're all going to find out if Trump and the Republicans can deliver," says Joe Rajkovacz, director of govern - mental affairs for the Western States Trucking Association. "FMCSA posi- tions on many issues are politically influenced. It is now time for Repub- licans to reverse FMCSA's adversarial relationship with the trucking industry. The Federal Aviation Administration doesn't approach the airline industry as the 'enemy of the state.' " Rajkovacz, a former owner-operator, says his group wants Trump to sign executive orders to "significantly beef up" how FMCSA determines the perceived benefits of its regulations. WSTA hopes the new administration places a greater emphasis on results- based regulations than previous administrations, he says. "When it comes to DOT, they always couch everything from a safety perspective, but then there is no retrospective review to find out if their regulations actually achieved what they originally claimed in the first place," Rajkovacz says. The American Trucking Associa - tions also plans to urge the Trump administration to push FMCSA toward "a more inclusive and data-driven regulatory process," says Bill Sullivan, ATA's executive vice president for ad - vocacy, "one focused on good, sound safety and economic outcomes, rather than a process that drafts regulatory solutions in search of problems." Opportunities also exist for derail - ing efforts by states, notably Califor- nia, to regulate truckers and carriers. This would include "things like pre- empting the patchwork of state-level regulations on the trucking industry, such as state meal and rest break rules or unwinding other labor-related rules," Sullivan says. Trump in late November announced Elaine Chao as his nominee for Sec - retary of Transportation. Chao served as Labor Secretary under President George W. Bush. A longtime Wash- ington insider, Chao is seen as a good fit to oversee Trump's push for major infrastructure investments. Trump soon will name a new FMCSA head. ELDS, HOURS OF SERVICE AND EMISSIONS REGS The ELD mandate, which became law last December and gave carriers two years to comply, was required by President Trump has called for greater spending on highways and bridges, but OOIDA warns that his push for greater private investment in infrastructure could lead to more tolls. Trump's pick for DOT Secretary, Elaine Chao, is considered to have experience that will help guide major investments in U.S. infrastructure.