Another Hail Mary Pass has been flung to try and slow the advance of the electronic logging device rule. Rep. Brian Babin has introduced the ELD Extension Act of 2017, which seeks to extend the current initial implementation date for the ELD mandate.
David Cullen・[Former] Business/Washington Contributing Editor
Another Hail Mary Pass has been flung to try and slow the advance of the electronic logging device rule. On July 18, Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX) introduced the ELD Extension Act of 2017 (H.R.3282) to extend the current initial implementation date for the ELD mandate from December 2017 to December 2019. The bill has been referred for consideration by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
The day before Babin’s bill came out, the House Transportation Committee attached a rider to the DOT funding bill that could end up delaying or repealing the electronic logging device mandate.
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Both Babin’s bill (either as a standalone act or attached to other legislation) and the committee’s rider would have to survive the legislative maw of the House and Senate — even tougher to do in this very turbulent year on Capitol Hill — to end up as final legislation and then be signed into law by President Trump before the ELD mandate could be slowed or stopped.
The political reality is that it is only remotely possible that either measure will become law. And even if one did, it would more than likely not be in place before the mandate kicks in this December.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association applauded the new bill. “We thank Rep. Babin for realizing the serious problems associated with implementation that can only be avoided by putting off the mandate,” said Todd Spencer, OOIDA executive vice president.
“The agency has failed to answer important questions from Congress and industry stakeholders about this mandate,” he continued. “This includes issues related to enforcement, connectivity, data transfers, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and many other legitimate, real-world concerns.”
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