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USPS Seeks Waiver of Driving Safety Rule
APWU Web News Article #66-05, Dec. 2, 2005
In an action that could have serious safety implications, the USPS has applied for an exemption from a Department of Transportation rule that limits the number of hours that drivers can spend at work.
If the waiver is approved, Highway Contract Route (HCR) drivers would be permitted to drive more than 11 hours in a day and could be at work (driving and on standby) in excess of 14 hours. HCR drivers work for private mail-carriers under contract with the USPS.
The request for the waiver may also be part of USPS efforts to reconfigure mail-processing operations. The change would give the Postal Service more flexibility in its consolidation efforts, allowing it to merge operations in plants that are even farther apart. In that case, an exemption from the hours-of-service rule would impact all APWU crafts.
The DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will accept comments on this issue until Dec. 16, 2005. The fast-approaching deadline makes this a matter of extreme urgency. The APWU is asking members — and citizens concerned about highway safety — to submit comments in one of the following ways:
Docket number FMSCA-2005-22660 must appear on any submission.
Morning Dispatch, Evening Close-Out
The Postal Service is arguing that the rule change will increase efficiency by permitting the same driver to perform both the morning dispatch and the evening close-out. This would allow the HCR drivers doing the evening close-out and the morning dispatchers to drive additional distances on each trip without being in violation of the rules. Adding drive-time hours makes it easier to consolidate facilities and also will eliminate jobs.
Drivers would have very long standby time under extended-hours tours, which is likely to impact highway safety and even the safety of residential streets. Those working “split shifts” will be able to get other jobs to work “in between.” Since the Postal Service does not track driver hours, there will be no way to know how many hours operators are putting in behind the wheel each day. The Hours-of-Service were reduced because study after study showed that fatigue is a major factor in highway accidents involving heavy trucks.
In January 2004, the Department of Transportation disapproved a request by the National Star Route Mail Contractors Association for an exemption from the hours-of-service rule. MCA is one of the principal private mail carriers that would be affected if the USPS request is granted.
The APWU is asking local and state organizations to utilize their network to get as many members, friends, and safety-conscious citizens to join in this fight to protest the waiver of the limitation of Hours-of-Service.
Please respond as quickly as possible – the deadline is Dec. 16.
