Trucker rest rules at risk in US budget deal

Washington

CONGRESS is considering adding to a year-end budget deal a provision to roll back safety rules aimed at ensuring truck drivers get enough rest, a measure US transportation secretary Anthony Foxx said should be rejected.

Mr Foxx said he strongly opposes the plan, which was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee on June 5 but never got a floor vote. The House never considered the plan, which has surfaced in negotiations on a funding bill to avoid a government shutdown on Dec 11. Trucker fatigue gained attention when a Walmart Stores tractor-trailer on June 7 hit a limousine carrying comedian Tracy Morgan after the trucker had been awake for at least 24 hours, according to a police report. He was nearing the end of a 14-hour work shift.