Reid Ribble: “My amendment would increase the air-mile radius from 50 air-miles to 75 air-miles for the transportation of construction…”

“My amendment would increase the air-mile radius from 50 air-miles to 75 air-miles for the transportation of construction materials and equipment to satisfy the 24-hour reset period under the hours of service rule. It would also give States the ability to opt out of this increase if the movement would take place entirely within one State's borders. This is a bipartisan amendment cosponsored by Mr. Lipinski, Mr. Hanna, and Mr. Cramer. Commercial motor vehicle drivers in the construction industry face some unique circumstances. They often haul perishable materials like asphalt and concrete from a construction company's central shop or dispatch center to a specific project site within that company's area of operation. These drivers spend long periods of time waiting to pick up materials and loading or unloading equipment, instead of driving, but they are considered on duty for the entire duration of the trip. Current law allows construction industry drivers to reset their weekly on-duty time after a 24-hour consecutive off-duty period; however, this exemption is only allowed if those drivers work within a 50 air-mile radius. Because construction companies operate today in larger areas than they did when the exemption was first put in place two decades ago, I am offering this amendment to increase this air-mile radius to 75 air- miles. I urge all my colleagues to support this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr.…”