I wrote my Representative Again
We have a new Congressman. Mike Gallagher has replaced Reid Ribble. Congressman Ribble believes in term limits and served 4 terms. He felt that was long enough. Mike Gallagher won the election to replace him. Over the last 8 years I made a habit of writing Ribble's office. I did the same thing with the Congressman Kagen. You get to know who some of the staff are. You learn to write directly to the staff member who specializes in transportation. I support term limits, but admit to getting a little disappointed in losing contacts within an office.
My letter to Congressman Gallagher congratulated him on his victory. My subject was the adverse weather exception. The adverse weather exception was around long before the 14 hour rule. It gave us 2 extra hours to drive in case we faced weather related delays. When the 14 hour rule was put into effect – the 14 hours were not extended by the extension. My letter asked that they also extend the 14 hour rule in case of adverse weather. That would support the original intent of the law.
Congressman Gallagher's aide has written me back to clarify my request. I was able to use an actual example with 4 companies within our congressional district. My example used my company (Clark Trucking), Masterfleet, Paper Transport, and the paper mill that I was delivering for. I have been told that the use of a real life example helps make the example clear.
In this case, I picked up an empty trailer in Green Bay. From there I went down to Kaukauna where I was able to drop and hook. Dropping and hooking at this facility takes about 30 minutes. Then I fueled in southern Wisconsin because in winter time I prefer Wisconsin's treated fuel. Normally this run takes about 10.5 hours of driving time. If I get my foot into it, I can trim 15-30 minutes off the run. Either way, it is a run that I can normally do without a 10 hour break. It is a run that I routinely do, and can sleep at the consignees. Now, if you add in the mandatory 30 minute break, add in another coffee exchange, and you get close to 2 hours of non-driving time. Normally, that would lead the necessary run to be completed.
The snow started in Chicago and lasted until about Lafayette, IN and cost me close to 2 hours in delays. If I could have added 2 hours in drive time with the adverse weather extension, I could have completed the run legally. Because I couldn't add the full 2 hours, I could not. Local drivers can use a 16 hour extension once per week. I think that road drivers should be able to get the full extra 2 hours as well – if needed to complete a run that can normally be completed.
Make yourself heard.