OOIDA offers insights to improve the trucking industry

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association expressed its support for the U.S. Department of Transportation's plan to eliminate costly and excessive regulations.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) expressed its support for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) plan to eliminate costly and excessive regulations. In April, the DOT launched a deregulation process by inviting the public to suggest which regulations could be modified without compromising safety. The initiative received nearly 900 comments, many of them from truckers.

OOIDA took this opportunity to submit a total of 17 pages of recommendations, in which it criticized the current regulatory approach as burdensome and harmful to small carriers. According to LandLine, four key issues are highlighted in OOIDA’s document: speed limiters, hours of service, language requirements, and broker transparency.

OOIDA: key reforms to enhance the trucking industry

Speed Limiters

Although the speed limiter mandate has not yet reached the regulation stage, OOIDA has strong opinions on the matter. Speed limiter proposals were introduced in 2016 and again in 2022. While no specific speed cap has been finalized, some safety groups have suggested limiting heavy trucks to 60 mph. However, truckers warn that this would create dangerous speed differentials on the highways.

In response, OOIDA argues that speed limiters reduce a driver’s ability to control the truck effectively, particularly in hazardous situations. The association also contends that these devices increase driver stress and fatigue by forcing them to work longer hours to meet schedules under current service rules. Furthermore, OOIDA emphasizes that speed limits should continue to be set and enforced by individual states, as allowed under legislation since 1995. Therefore, OOIDA recommends that the DOT formally withdraw the proposed regulation.

Hours of Service

In 2020, an OOIDA petition led the FMCSA to modify the hours of service (HOS) regulations. However, the association still believes the current rules are too rigid, overly complex, and fail to consider individual drivers’ needs.

OOIDA proposes solutions to improve driver rest quality and alertness. One suggestion is to allow truckers to pause their work clocks and use more flexible sleeper berth splits. This would offer drivers greater adaptability to match driving and rest periods with real-world conditions, ultimately enhancing road safety.

English Proficiency

OOIDA stated that the Department of Transportation should focus more on regulations that have a direct impact on safety and ensure they are properly enforced. The association welcomed President Donald Trump’s decision to strengthen enforcement regarding the lack of English proficiency as a criterion for placing drivers out of service.

OOIDA supported this measure, calling it a positive step toward restoring common-sense safety standards. The organization also urged the DOT to collect more data on non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) holders operating in the country, aiming to ensure fair and safe conditions for all stakeholders in the industry.

Broker Transparency

In 2020, OOIDA asked the FMCSA to enforce and strengthen broker transparency regulations. While the previous administration initiated the regulatory process, OOIDA now urges the Trump administration to complete the proposal. The FMCSA received about 6,900 comments on the rule, which would mandate brokers to provide transaction records to carriers and deliver electronic copies within 48 hours of a request. According to OOIDA, proper enforcement of this rule would promote a more ethical, fair, and efficient brokerage market.