Obama-Era Truck Safety Regulations Up for Debate

The Trump Administration has been defending the interests of the truck industry against regulations proposed during the Obama Administration.

1 minute read

December 6, 2017, 10:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Rural Traffic

carlos castilla / Shutterstock

According to a report on NPR, the federal government is considering rolling back Obama-era truck safety rules set to take effect next month. David Schaper reports:

Truckers, who complain they work in one of the nation's most over-regulated industries, will make the case for deregulation at a House Small Business Committee hearing today that is meant to "explore ways to provide regulatory relief to the industry." Dubbed "Highway to Headache: Federal Regulations on the Small Trucking Industry," the hearing will feature testimony from individual owner-operators as well as owners of small trucking firms.

Schafer presents the case of the trucking industry for lessening the restraints of safety regulations, along with the pushback from safety advocates. The main issue on the table is a new cap how many hours truck drivers can work, and an electronic device that tracks drivers to ensure they are following those regulations.

Angie Schmitt picked up on the news, commenting on the Trump Administration's support for the truck industry's interests. Schmitt clearly supports the new safety regulations, and notes that the Trump Administration already rescinded another set of Obama-era truck safety regulations that required sleep apnea screening and treatment for drivers in August. 

Wednesday, December 6, 2017 in NPR via KPCC

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

A Firefighter sprays water from a hose at a tall blaze.

US buildings threatened, destroyed by fires set to triple by 2060

Researchers found a high fire risk for socioeconomically vulnerable neighborhoods in the American West.

November 4 - Inside Climate News

People cross a crosswalk in Los Angeles.

LA residents may be allowed to paint their own crosswalks

Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky put out a motion instructing the Los Angeles Department of Public Transportation to study the feasibility of allowing volunteers to paint crosswalks.

November 4 - ABC7

Two women walking on the sidewalk in Dallas.

Dallas moves to overhaul its zoning code

The city's zoning reform will allow more multi-family and mixed-use developments.

November 4 - Yahoo News