The American Trucking Assns. (ATA) sees no immediate problems as a result of Friday's U.S. Court of Appeals ruling vacating the new federal hours of service regulation for truck drivers
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The regulations remain in effect while the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) decides what to do about the court order.
"It's important for America's consumers and the marketplace to know that the court's decision will not immediately affect our ability to deliver freight," the ATA said in a statement. "Grocery shelves will continue to be stocked and consumer goods will continue to be delivered safely, efficiently and on time for at least the next several weeks.
"In the meantime, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will work to meet the court's requirement to consider the impact of the current rule on driver health.
"We consider the effect to be a positive one as the rule allows sufficient time within which a truck driver can get adequate rest."
In its decision Friday, the appeals court (for the District of Columbia) sent the federal government's hours of service regulations back to the FMCSA for review.
The court agreed with Public Citizen, a public interest group, that the hours of service rules failed to consider the health of truck drivers.
The opinion is posted in full on the court's web site, http://www.cadc.uscourts.gov.
FMCSA has 45 days from last Friday to review the decision and decide whether it will appeal, said administrator Annette Sandberg. She said the agency will advise all enforcement officials that carriers still are obliged to comply with the rules.


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