FMCSA releases 'final rule' about truck, bus driver coercion

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a branch of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), published its Final Rule Friday to end coercion and protect both commercial truck drivers and bus drivers from being forced to break safety regulations.

"Our nation relies on millions of commercial vehicle drivers to move people and freight, and we must do everything we can to ensure that they are able to operate safely," Anthony Foxx, the U.S. transportation secretary, said. "This Rule enables us to take enforcement action against anyone in the transportation chain who knowingly and recklessly jeopardizes the safety of the driver and of the motoring public."

The Final Rule was published in the Federal Register. It gives the FMCSA the power to act against motor carriers, shippers, transportation intermediaries and receivers, if needed.

"Any time a motor carrier, shipper, receiver, freight-forwarder or broker demands that a schedule be met, one that the driver says would be impossible without violating hours-of-service restrictions or other safety regulations, that is coercion," Scott Darling, FMCSA acting administrator, said. "No commercial driver should ever feel compelled to bypass important federal safety regulations and potentially endanger the lives of all travelers on the road."