William B. Cassidy | Mar 28, 2011 3:32PM GMT
The Journal of Commerce Online - News Story
Intrastate private fleets with lighter trucks exempt from for-hire safety rules
Ohio is dropping a controversial rule that extended safety regulations designed for larger vehicles and for-hire truck fleets to thousands of small private carriers.
The rule applied safety rules for trucks weighing more than 26,000 pounds to private fleets with "non-CDL" trucks weighing 10,000 pounds or more.
That includes Class 3 through 6 trucks, which range from pickup trucks such as the Dodge Ram 3500 up to the bulkier Ford F-650 and International Durastar.
The rule in effect extended federal hours-of-service, drug-testing and equipment regulations to thousands of small businesses operating private fleets within Ohio.
Until Jan. 1, intrastate private fleets operating trucks weighing less than 26,000 pounds had been exempt from the safety rules applied to for-hire fleets.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, which regulates intrastate truck safety, first delayed enforcement of the rule until 2012, and then rescinded it March 16.
"These rules deserve additional review," said PUCO Chairman Todd A. Snitchler, appointed to the commission in January by recently elected Gov. John Kasich.
Kasich, a Republican and former member of Congress, campaigned last year against regulations he said impose an undue burden on small Ohio businesses.
Intrastate for-hire carriers, interstate carriers and hazardous materials haulers are still subject to PUCO truck safety rules and are not affected by the ruling.
The commission ordered its staff to file a report on the rule within 90 days containing an analysis and recommendations for possible future amendments.
The Journal of Commerce Online - News Story
Intrastate private fleets with lighter trucks exempt from for-hire safety rules
Ohio is dropping a controversial rule that extended safety regulations designed for larger vehicles and for-hire truck fleets to thousands of small private carriers.
The rule applied safety rules for trucks weighing more than 26,000 pounds to private fleets with "non-CDL" trucks weighing 10,000 pounds or more.
That includes Class 3 through 6 trucks, which range from pickup trucks such as the Dodge Ram 3500 up to the bulkier Ford F-650 and International Durastar.
The rule in effect extended federal hours-of-service, drug-testing and equipment regulations to thousands of small businesses operating private fleets within Ohio.
Until Jan. 1, intrastate private fleets operating trucks weighing less than 26,000 pounds had been exempt from the safety rules applied to for-hire fleets.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, which regulates intrastate truck safety, first delayed enforcement of the rule until 2012, and then rescinded it March 16.
"These rules deserve additional review," said PUCO Chairman Todd A. Snitchler, appointed to the commission in January by recently elected Gov. John Kasich.
Kasich, a Republican and former member of Congress, campaigned last year against regulations he said impose an undue burden on small Ohio businesses.
Intrastate for-hire carriers, interstate carriers and hazardous materials haulers are still subject to PUCO truck safety rules and are not affected by the ruling.
The commission ordered its staff to file a report on the rule within 90 days containing an analysis and recommendations for possible future amendments.