Yesterday, NRMCA’s Operations, Environment and Safety (OES) Committee Vice Chairman Jeff Hinkle with Chandler Concrete Company, Burlington, NC, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. Hinkle testified on behalf of NRMCA on how the July 1, 2013, Federal Drivers’ Hours of Service (HOS) regulations changes will affect commercial motor vehicle operators, such as ready mixed concrete mixer truck drivers.

Hinkle told lawmakers that the new HOS rule changes hinder the ability to run a successful business and that they unnecessarily and unfairly affect the delivery of ready mixed concrete, and the practices of the ready mixed concrete business without improving safety. Hinkle also testified that "...requiring this 30-minute break, which more often than not will be required to be taken as off-duty/non-paid time, ultimately keeps drivers away from their families longer and with no additional pay." Hinkle went on to state, "...the easiest and clearest solution to the problem... is to reinstate the pre-December 2011 HOS regulations. We should be smart enough to recognize unique industries and how these types of regulations unnecessarily, adversely affect them."