ATA asks government to stay out of trucker/shipper affairs

The relationship between truckers and shippers is a fairly stable one, but the government has been trying to step in and lay some ground rules, which is cause for concern for many people within the trucking sector.

Today's Trucking reports that the American Trucking Association (ATA) is asking the government to stay out of driver detention issues. Previously, government officials have tried to pass a legislation that would establish a maximum amount of hours that a truck driver can be detained without being paid.

The organization's board of directors suggests that having a set time limit could ultimately affect the relationship between truckers and shippers.

"ATA and its members value the time of our drivers," Bill Graves, president and CEO of the ATA, told the news provider. "However, federal intervention into this area would have significant impacts on the contractual agreements between carriers and shippers."

Transportation Topics reports that this mandate has the possibility of ultimately affecting shipping rates, which could ultimately cause a problem for fleet management.

By Mark Priest

ATA asks government to stay out of trucker/shipper affairs

Thursday, May 19th, 2011